The importance of dental hygiene in our pets

Dental disease affects up to 80% of pets over the age of three and there can be serious consequences of poor dental health. Dogs start out with 28 baby teeth, Cats with 26. By 6 months the baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth, 42 in dogs and 30 in cats. If the baby teeth don’t fall, the permanent teeth erupt underneath leading to problems, increased tartar, gingival irritation and bad bite.
Start caring for your pet’s teeth as early as possible.

With the help of your vet be on the lookout for retained baby teeth and bad bite problems. Your vet can show you how to care for your pet’s teeth and gums early on.

How will I know if my pet has dental problems?

Bad breath is often a first sign of gum disease. Check for tartar, inflamed gums, or for any missing or broken teeth. Cats may show signs of increased drooling. Dental disease progresses in stages but if caught early, you can prevent further damage and save as many teeth as possible.
Infected gums and teeth can cause internal problems affecting the heart, kidneys, intestinal tract, and joints. The tartar and infected areas of the mouth contain a multitude of bacteria that can spread to other parts of the body. With regular dental care, you can prevent some of these more serious side effects.
If your pet is an adult over 3 years of age, it would be wise to schedule a dental check up with your vet. If a dental cleaning is necessary, it is advisable to do pre-anesthesia blood tests to make sure that your pets liver, kidneys, and blood counts are within normal ranges and to reduce any health risks possible prior to the anesthesia. Many pets with bad teeth will be put on a course of antibiotics prior to the dental clean to reduce any infections.

With good dental care, your pet can enjoy a long and healthy life.
To book a Free Dental Check up Tel Pet Care Benijofar on 966712443 and receive a 10% discount on Dental Cleaning when you mention the Female Focus at the time of booking.

Can you give one of these beauties a home.

The poor things were found thrown in a rubbish container. If you can help please contact Sally from Ciudad Quesada Tel: 966 716 613 or 637 585 689.

APAH October

We now have loads of puppies desperate for new homes. Call us for more details on 616 210 850 or contact us by e-mail info@apahrescue .org. (especially if you are able to foster long or short term) For Cats and kittens call 630 422 563.
We are always happy to have your unwanted, saleable items for our shop or market stalls. They can be left at our shop Avda Siete Higueras 14, Pilar de la Horadada between 10 am and 1pm Mon to Sat.

Alicante, Sta. Pola area.

Many animals are waiting for you, ADOPT one instead of going to a shop. Help needed constantly to the abandoned, maltreated, etc. in shelters and ferals that we volunteers sterelize to prevent overpopulation and roads accidents. Any help accepted, fund raising, volunteers, food, cat´s sand, blankets, baskets, cleaning products such as Lejía with or without soap for the Alicante area Shelter run by private people where they are not put to sleep. If you cant come we can collect up to 30 Kms. from the city. Call Shell on 697 574 199 or mail adechy@gmail.com

SAT kennels October Dog of the month

BLUTO is a 6 month old crossbreed.He was brought to the kennels after being thrown from a car. Luckily he suffered no serious injures. He’s had all his vaccinations and is microchipped. Please call 966710047 or visit our website at www.satanimalrescue.com for more details.

Animal Aid October dog of the month

LITTLE LULU is only about 5 months old. She is quite tiny & was found struggling to live on the streets. Lulu is very pretty, gentle & very clean in the house. She gets on well with other dogs and cats. Love Lulu? Please call Linda, Animal Aid, 965725794.
‘Animal Aid are really desperate NOW for loving foster carers to home a dog on a temporary basis, costs met, backup provided. Please call Linda URGENTLY tel: 965725794.’

K9 Club October dog of the month

Mat is very friendly, his tail wags excitedly when a person approaches him, and he is very good with other dogs. If you can give him or any other dog a home please call Mark on 966 797 570 or 676 447 682. Email: k9club@lamarina.info or visit their website for other pets looking for your love. www.petsinspain.info

APAD October dog of the month

‘This is ‘Harry’ who is a one-year-old mixed breed dog. He is a fabulous little fella who is desparate for a new home. If you feel you can give him his new start, then please contact Steve Allen at the Denia Dog Sanctuary on 699 872 157, or see website at www. apad-denia.es

Aldea Felina October Cat of the month

Matilda is a loving little black cat who needs a home now. Her kittens have been adopted and it is now her turn. If you would like to adopt Matilda, or any of our other cats/kittens, please call Lynda on 628 498 813 or Lucy on 650 214 909 today. Aldea Felina is a charity registered in Spain. If you can spare a couple of hours on a Wed. morning and would like to spend them helping at the shelter please call Lynda – 628498813.

Easy Horse Care

“Caring for you and your horse in Spain”

Your one stop English equestrian shop. We really do have it all. Even if you do not have a horse we have everything to kit you out to ride one.

We are stockists and suppliers of all Shires equestrian products, Naff products, Barrier animal health care, Gold Lable etc. We also stock electric fencing, medical items, stable equipment and quality rubber stable matting and so much more. Call us or log onto the website for your free Shires catalogue.

We also stock Allen & Page horse feeds including the amazing fast fibre. This low protein balanced complete GM free feed contains every vitamin, mineral, oil and herb your horse needs for optimum health. This feed is perfect for all horses, ponies and donkey’s as it mimics their natural diet. Make colic, laminitis etc. a thing of the past!

For all of you in the Benidorm area we deliver there every month. Please telephone for details.
Right now we are having a 25% discount promotion on our Freemax treeless saddles. Remember these saddles fit any horse. Why not try one?

Don’t forget we will also sell your secondhand saddles for you, pin notices on our board for shows, horses for sale, services etc. We also offer a help and advice service.

We are open 7 days a week and based in Rojales. Please telephone Sue for directions 652 021 980 or 965 967 033 e.mail   sales@easyhorsecare.net or visit www.easyhorsecare.net

Noahs Ark

Hi Folks, we’ve all heard the story of Noah’s Ark and we are all so pleased that some of the animals he saved evolved into the waggly-tail, loyal, chew-woofers and the purring mushy-tats on our laps; but some wild animals were hurt during the rescue, physically and mentally, so who saved them?

Now in the twenty first century there is a man who does just that: - Serrafin. He has a refuge in Benimantell (very near Guadalest) where he nurses, cares and saves the lives of many wild animals (like the crocodile with no teeth, the giraffe with a broken neck, and the bunny with no ears).

He is a person I have admired for many years, have visited and made a donation, so when I read in the English and Spanish newspapers that a new law had been made, prohibiting him from showing his animals to the public for an entry fee, he is now so short of cash (like all of us) that he has to budget to feed them. So I went to see the mayor of Benimarfull (4kms from Muro towards Pago) and between us, came up with the idea to hold a rastro/boot sale/fun day in Benimarfull on Friday September 26th, 11am – 3pm.

So, come on you lot, come on up to Benimarfull on that day, call into Muro market in the morning for your fruit and veg, then take the Planes/Page road to Benimarfull and have a look at the stalls. Participate at throwing wet sponges at the man in the stocks, put your baby into the “Most Beautiful Baby” comp., judged by a local dignitary, wear a funny hat for the comp, have your children’s paintings seen and judged by a well known artist, enter the best cake competition, have your face painted, have a game of Bingo, be entertained by local talent, buy a raffle ticket which will be drawn by the Mayor, have a bootiful bacon butty, cooked by Annie and maybe have your hair stylishly cut by talented Lynn.

There will be something for everyone on the fun day, but I need plenty of stalls (no traders) so come on ladies, get that box of bitsa out of the wardrobe, bring along Gran’s old chair and sell at the boot sale.

Ring me for details 686569663 (leave message if no answer).

At the end of the day we can watch the Mayor present the cash we’ve raised to Serrafin (Mr Noah) who will then take it to Benimantell, for food for the many wild animals he lovingly keeps in his ark and they in turn, will give him a lick to say thank you so much for saving us.
He will also be the bearer of prizes for the comps, but it’s a secret what they are until Friday the 26th at 11am

C U There!!
Sue Dearson: 686569663

When you need to see your Vet

As your dog grows older it goes through a number of changes like reduced activity or a change in eating habits but you may not always know what’s normal and what isn’t. So how do you know that your dog’s change in appetite isn’t due to a more serious problem and not just because his sense of smell is lessened due to old age?

Even though your dog may appear to be in good health you should consider taking him to see your vet for a yearly check-up. The key to noticing any changes in your dog is to be well-tuned to his normal habits. Taking action right away is especially important when you have an older dog as conditions can progress very quickly. Below is a list of symptoms and situations that would require a veterinarian’s immediate attention:
*Any unusual lumps on your dog’s skin. Older dogs often get lumps that end up being benign; however, you should always bring them to your vet’s attention. Make it part of your regular grooming routine to inspect your dog’s skin or if you have your pet professionally groomed by us we will check for you. Don’t forget to check the mouth - tumours there tend to be the most serious. Other warning signs of cancer tumours include foul odours or unusual discharge or bleeding.
*If your dog is experiencing shortness of breath, it could indicate a heart problem.
*A sudden change in appetite is often a sign of kidney failure or other serious problems.
*Sudden loss or gain in weight.
*Drinking more water than usual and urinating more frequently could indicate kidney disease or diabetes; a simple blood test can often pick this up.
*Sudden changes in temperament. If your dog is normally very gentle and suddenly becomes aggressive, it could indicate a medical problem.
*If your dog is lethargic for 24 hours or more.
*Continuous vomiting
*Abdominal tenderness or swelling are signs of bloat.
*If you notice lameness when getting up, or a limp in your dog’s walk.
*Diarrhoea for more than twenty-four hours or diarrhoea with blood should be an alert to call your vet immediately.
*Rashes, fur that is falling out, excessive shedding or chewing at spots on the body should be brought to your vet’s attention.
*Should the eyes look hazy or your dog seem to have trouble seeing or there is an abnormal discharge from the eye.
*Bad breath and yellow teeth indicate dental issues – though this is not an emergency it will need to be addressed. However, if the breath smells sweet, there could be other problems. Pale gums can be a sign of a much more serious problem. Anything that seems out of the ordinary for your dog should be cause for concern, and would recommend taking him or her along to our Clinic for a FREE Health Check. Remember “Prevention is always far better than cure”.
In next months edition of Female Focus we will be talking about some of the many diseases that we have here in Spain, especially at this time of year, and how simple it is to avoid them. If you have any questions that you would like answered by one of our Veterinary surgeons you can email us at petcare24hr@yahoo.es and we will endeavour to answer all your questions either directly or in future editions of Female Focus.

Petcare, Benijofar can be found opposite the Citroen Garage, Tel 966 712 443.

DONT PUT YOUR PET AT RISK

Heartworm is a deadly, but preventable disease that some pet owners are not aware of. Without proper prevention and protection, it is possible that 50 to 90 percent of Dogs could be at risk for contracting heartworms.

When a mosquito bites an infected animal, young heartworms called microfilariae enter into the mosquito’s system and within two weeks develop into infective larvae which in turn are injected into your dog when bitten by the mosquito. The larvae travel through the animal’s body reaching the blood vessels of the lungs and the adults enter the animal’s heart, living in the right side of the heart and the large arteries running from the heart to the lungs (the pulmonary arteries). They continue to grow up to 14 inches and in time damage the blood vessels resulting in severe lung and heart disease robbing the dog of its ability to play comfortably or participate in normal activities. Your dog may not initially show any signs of the heartworm disease but as the disease progresses, your dog may develop a cough, become lethargic, have difficulty breathing, lose its appetite and may tire rapidly after only moderate exercise. If the larvae develop into both female and male heartworms, mating begins. Heartworms do not lay eggs like other worm parasites, instead they give birth to live babies which are called microfilariae. These are released into the circulatory system in the hope that they will be sucked up by a mosquito taking a blood meal and in turn carry this to a new host.

Some dogs manage to live almost normal life spans despite being infected with heartworms but they are very lucky. Don’t allow your pet to become the next victim! Protect it with a simple treatment.

If you have any questions relating to the health of your pet please send your enquiries to petcare24hr@yahoo.es or telephone 966 712 443.

Please support PAWS animal rescue

We are currently preparing to produce our 2009 calendar. The calendar is an annual fundraiser, usually we just feature businesses but this year we have decided to make it more interesting by featuring people’s beloved pets (not necessarily animals rescued from PAWS) as it will make for a cuter calendar. As it is to raise very much needed funds we are asking for donations of just 30 euros for one space and 50 euros for two spaces. They can be in the month of your choice, you will receive one free calendar for every picture (we can also put some personal words in too if you like). Alternatively you can support us by buying a calendar. They will be sold for only 5euros each, please pre order yours now to help us with production costs. Please email info@pawsanimalrescue.com or visit
www.pawsanimalrescue.com

How To Avoid A Lost Pet

Be a responsible dog owner and Microchip your pet.

There are so many methods of identification available there really is no reason for your pet to get lost for any length of time. If you make sure that he has some clear identification on him, most conscientious people will help to avoid the heartache and will contact you as soon as they can if they find him alone. There are several options when choosing a form of identification for your pet.

Temporary types of ID, such as tags or embroidered collars, the main advantage being that everyone knows how to look for a tag or collar if they find a lost pup but the disadvantage is that they can be removed or lost. On the other hand permanent identification such as tattoos or microchips, are there for the life. In this instance the animal will need to be taken to a vet or animal shelter as not everyone knows how to look for a tattoo or scan for a microchip if they find a lost pet.
The ideal combination is one of each. This gives you the best coverage possible and you really can’t be too thorough when it comes to your pup’s safety.

Microchips - These tiny pieces of technology are about the size of a grain of rice and are inserted by a vet under your pets skin in a matter of moments. The discomfort he feels is compared to what he experiences when he gets a vaccination. Microchips serve as a lifelong identification system that can’t be lost or removed. When your pets microchip is scanned, his unique microchip number appears on the scanner and this number is checked on the National Registry and then the owner can then be contacted based on your registration information.

Tattoos - are numbers permanently placed on your pup’s abdomen by specialists.
This form of Id cannot be removed and is positive proof of ownership but sometimes the tattoo becomes obscured by fur as the puppy grows.

Whichever method you choose, few things are as upsetting as a lost pet. With proper identification you reduce the likelihood of him not being returned to you when found.

Telephone Pet Care on 966712443
for your Free Health Check and your Microchip Discount when you mention the Female Focus.