​Today, I want to talk about some common misconceptions regarding crate training dogs/puppies. First, you should understand that dogs are den animals. A wild dog’s den is their place of security, where they sleep, raise young, recover and hide from danger. Crates are not a place of punishment, not a place for your dog to spend all day, not a place to send your dog when you have company over and "just need the dog out of the way", and no dog should ever be crated so much that they are missing out on life. Crate training is meant to take advantage of a dog’s natural instinct and allow you to keep a close eye on your new puppy/dog while they are still learning what is expected of them. It is unusual for a puppy to soil its den, therefore, crates are a great tool to housebreaking, while also limiting access to the rest of the house, like furniture, shoes, and other potential dangers.  Crates are also a safe way to transport your dog in the car.
   
    Now that you have a better understanding of why many professionals recommend crate training young dogs, it’s important to select the proper size crate. A crate must be large enough that your dog can stand up, lie down, and turn around in their crate comfortably. You should also remember that as your puppy is growing, the size of their crate needs to as well. You should purchase a crate with a divider, or be ready to provide new crates as the puppy grows. A crate that is too small for your dog will be very uncomfortable and a crate that is too large may allow your puppy to have enough room to soil his/her crate without ruining his/her bedding. This behavior can lead to behavioral difficulties down the road. 


    After you have selected a crate appropriate for your dog’s size, it’s time to make the den appealing to your new puppy, who might be hesitant at first. You can make the interior comfortable by providing bedding if safe to do so (chew resistant material), adding a few chew toys (like kong toys), sometimes by covering the crate with a lightweight blanket can mimic a den environment and make your puppy feel more secure (always make sure if you do this, it is still well ventilated), and choosing an appropriate location for the crate is also essential to your puppy’s training. A crate should be located somewhere that your puppy will not feel excluded from the family, somewhere well ventilated, and somewhere that you can keep a close eye on them. 


    Finally, you must never crate a dog longer than they can hold their bladder. A dogs natural instinct is to not soil their den, but if they are crated so long that they are forced to do so, they will lose that instinct to keep it clean (side note: some puppies cannot be crated with bedding until fully potty trained as the bedding may soak up urine and allow the puppy to urinate in its kennel without having to lay in it). If you are crate training an already house-trained dog, who understands he/she should not soil in the house, and they are forced to do so, it can make them feel anxious and unhappy as they know they have done wrong. This can lead to crate associated anxiety problems. How long a puppy can hold their bladder depends on how old they are, and your veterinarian can provide you this information. Puppies need social interaction and mental stimulation to become positive members of society. If crated too much, and not properly stimulated, behavioral problems caused by boredom can develop and can lead into fear, anxiety, and stress. In conclusion, crates are a massively beneficial tool when used correctly. To use a crate correctly, you must understand when it should be used, and when it should not. 
 

Carrie Savino is the author if this blog. She is one of the veterinary assistants with Companion Veterinary Health Center. Carrie comes to us with a strong interest in dog behavior and training.  If  you have any dog training questions please reach out to us at 860-779-6070. 

​I wanted to share some great tips on oral health care at home.  Did you know that oral hygiene can make a huge difference in your pet’s comfort and health?  There are many products and options to choose from but keep in mind anything you can do to help prevent plaque and tartar accumulation will pay off big time.  What really matters is whether or not oral hygiene will be provided over the long haul.  
Tip #1   :    BRUSHING IS BEST.  USE PET-SPECIFIC TOOTHPASTE. THEY COME IN FLAVORS LIKE POULTY OR SEAFOOD SO YOUR PET WILL ACCEPT THEM.
Tip #2:       BRUSH THE OUTSIDE OF TEETH (YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET ALL CRAZY AND OPEN THE MOUTH…IT WOULD BE TOO STRESSFUL FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED!)
Tip #3:       BRUSH DAILY FOR BEST RESULTS OR AT LEAST 4-5 TIMES A WEEK.  ANYTHING LESS IS NOT WORTH IT. 
Tip #4:       DENTAL DIETS REALLY HELP!  THEY ARE FORMULATED TO KEEP PLAQUE FROM ACCUMULATING. FOOD ADDITIVES ARE HELPFUL TOO…WE LIKE A PRODUCT CALLED PERIOSUPPORT.
Tip #5:      DENTAL CHEWS ARE GOOD BUT COW HOOF, DRIED BONES AND NYLON PRODUCTS ARE NOT RECCOMENDED BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO HARD AND DO NOT MIMIC THE EFFECT OF TEARING MEAT OFF A CARCASS.
 
I think incorporating a few modalities is even better.  I like brushing best, but adding a dental diet such as T/D made by Hills is a really nice combo.  Even just the act of wiping the plaque off the tooth near the gum line is a good thing.   I am passionate about pets and helping care for them is what I love to do.  I will admit, I cannot pass up looking in a patient’s mouth… (ears too!).   Hope these tips help! Lesley Coviello, CVT  

     February is Pet Dental Health Month. ​ We are sharing information about dental surgeries and more. 
     We know you want the best for your pet and often pet owners are nervous about taking their pet for a professional dental cleaning because they are fearful about their pet being put under anesthesia for the procedure.  First, we want to assure and reassure pet owners that under the correct protocols, anesthesia is very safe and is far less dangerous then the periodontal disease that will develop without proper cleanings.
Did you know that your pet’s mouth it the gateway to the rest of its major organs? It is true that bacteria found in the mouth can settle and cause even more damage in the liver, kidneys, and heart. Think about an infected mouth trying to lick at its paws or chew at an itch. The mouth is leaving that bacteria everywhere it licks. Think about that for a moment. Prevention is key and we are here to help you and your pet.
Here are some of the things we do to ensure your pet’s safety and health:

• Bloodwork to evaluate your pet’s internal organ function.

 

• Trained veterinary technicians monitor your pet’s blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, end tidal carbon dioxide, electrocardiogram, respiratory rate and body temperature. Intravenous fluids are administered throughout the procedure to help maintain your pet’s blood pressure and provide intravenous access for additional drugs if they are needed. Warming blankets and pads are used to keep your pet warm as well because we know the importance of maintaining body temperature during anesthesia.

 

• Just like your dentist, we perform full mouth radiographs. This is the only way to identify other painful problems that may exist in your pet’s mouth under the gum, in the bone or involving the tooth root due to periodontal disease. We can see 40% and often less of the tooth above the gum line. That means 60% of the potential damage is BELOW the gum line. We can’t see that without the aid of digital dental x-rays or when they are awake. We need the pet to be sedated to do a proper oral exam, probe for pockets of bacteria around the gum line, and get a deeper look at their mouth. 

 

• We pride ourselves on reducing stress, anxiety and pain in your pets.  We reduce pain by using local nerve blocks, in addition, pain medication is administered prior to extractions. This helps reduce the amount of anesthetic and makes your pet’s recovery faster and less painful.

 
 
Often times, halitosis (bad breath) is the first thing pet owners notice.  Other signs can be changes in eating habits, such as crying while eating, blood tinged saliva is noticed on chew toys, and drooling.  If you are concerned about your pet’s oral health, call for an evaluation appointment. A healthy mouth will add years to your pet’s life.
 
February is National Pet Dental Health Awareness Month.  Companion Veterinary Health Center Doctors and staff are passionate about caring for your pet and an oral health assessment is provided at every visit.
 Call us today to learn about our special programs for Dental Health Month 860-779-6070.
​
This guest blog has been provided by Lesley Coviello, CVT. 
 
 
 

​One of the most important pillars to your new puppy's health is routine veterinary care. As veterinary professionals, we are often faced with adult dogs that are uncomfortable being restrained for routine healthcare (nail trims, blood draws, physical exams, etc.). This not only makes it a stressful visit for the dog, but there is also more risk to the veterinary staff, and it is difficult for the doctor to accurately perform a physical exam on a fearful, anxious, or stressed dog. Here at CVHC, we want to take the fear out of these visits by promoting a Fear Free experience through "happy visits"  and educating our clients on the importance of puppy training and handling. 
    Imagine the variety of ways your dog may be approached throughout its life by an unfamiliar stranger, whether it be an innocent child reaching out for a hug, a passerby on your daily walk attempting to pet your dog on the head, or a veterinary staff member restraining for care. Of course, a properly exercised, mentally balanced dog should react positively to these scenarios, but I want to talk about the importance of cultivating a dog that is a "mentally well-balanced" member of the family. I believe it starts with teaching them to calmly accept handling. This "training" can start as soon as your new puppy joins the family at 8 weeks old. Studies say that the most critical socialization window is when a puppy is between 6-12 weeks old.
    You should get your puppy accustomed to their gums/teeth being touched, each individual toe being manipulated, being "bear hugged" similar to how a veterinary staff member might restrain, their ears being cleaned, their bodies being stroked similar to how a groomer might brush them, etc. to teach them that these treatments are non-threatening. An important aspect of this training is that they should enjoy this attention and remain calm and accepting of these treatments, therefore you should conquer these steps slowly and over time, being careful not to stress the puppy and achieve the opposite effect. If your puppy is resisting or uncomfortable, you should seek out the help of a professionally trained member of the dog community such as a trainer, or puppy classes to help you move forward with a happy, well-balanced dog. It is important to remember every dog is different, and every dog does not fit the same training mold, but it is our job as owners to provide the best possible environment for our new puppies to grow. Remember, a fearful, anxious, or stressed dog is not a happy dog. We recommend bringing your dog for "happy visits" to practice getting on the scale, and to learn that a visit to the vet is not always a stressful event.  
 
This guest blog was provided by our veterinary nurse assistant Carrie Savino.  Carrie has a passion for pets and it truly comes through in all aspects of her work here at Companion Veterinary Health Center. ​

     If you're anything like me, you are probably carrying around a small arsenal of items that you have already forgotten about. I cannot tell you how many times my dog has helped herself to a granola bar hiding at the bottom of the abyss that I call my purse. If this is at all a familiar scenario to you, you should be aware that many of the common over the counter medications we carry around in that bag contain very dangerous ingredients if consumed by our pets (cats or dogs). Some of the most common OTC products are eye drops and nasal sprays (ie. clear eyes, visine, congestion relief nasal sprays, and of course- prescription medications. 
    Whether its human or animal medications, they should be used as directed. Just because your pet has been prescribed an ocular medication, never assume that it is also safe if consumed. If your pet ever accidentally gets into your pharmacy, or even their own pharmacy, it is best to call the Pet Poison Helpline and then your veterinarian. It is very important that as responsible pet owners, we prevent access to any harmful products such as medications and supplements. 
     Things to keep in mind and on hand such as important phone numbers. The Pet Poison Helpline 1-800-213-6680, if your pet is microchipped with HomeAgain please call them first they have a 24 hour pet poison line too 1-888-466-3242. You should also have the number to a local emergency vet and your regular vet. 
          Any question's about this blog or other blogs please call us at 860-779-6070.



This guest blog was provided by our veterinary nurse assistant Carrie Savino.  Carrie has a passion for pets  and it truly comes through in all aspects of her work here at Companion Veterinary Health Center. ​
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This guest blog was provided by our veterinary nurse assistant Carrie Savino.  Carrie has a passion for pets  and it truly comes through in all aspects of her work here at Companion Veterinary Health Center.