Ask the Vet About Nail Care + Posture

by Dr. Julie Buzby, DVM

Buffer

courtesy ToeGrips.com
Nail Care the Right Way

During 2014, I’ve been contributing posts in a series titled, “Ten Tips for Fido’s Longest Life.”  To date, we’ve covered topics such as weight management, dental care, nutrition, and vaccinations—all mainstream concepts.

This month we veer off into unconventional territory in the discussion of canine longevity: dog nail care. 

“How can my dog’s toenails affect his life?” you ask with a healthy dose of skepticism. 

This blog post will answer that question and hopefully convince you that frequent, appropriate nail trims are one of the best gifts you can give your dog!

As a general rule, our domestic dogs’ toenails are entirely too long.  In their natural environment, dogs run, dig and climb.  These activities wear down the nails and keep them short.  In contrast, our canine companions live on fancy hard flooring, lounge around on the furniture, and get brief leash walks for exercise.  This lifestyle sets up for obesity, behavioral problems, and long toenails.

Long nails are not merely a cosmetic concern.  In truth, long toenails change the way a dog’s toes interface with the ground—impacting gait and posture.  Dogs’ toes contain an abundance of proprioceptive receptors.  These receptors feed information to the central nervous system about the body’s spatial position with respect to the ground and gravity.  Long nails cause skewed input to be sent to the brain.  The brain makes adjustments accordingly.  The result is a dog who stands with chronic bad posture.

More specifically, a dog with long toenails won’t stand with his legs perpendicular to the ground.  Rather, he will compensate by adopting the “goat on a rock” stance, where his front legs are “behind” perpendicular and the hind limbs must shift forward under him to prevent him from tipping forward.  A lifetime of standing in this position causes chronic stress on the system and predisposes to injury.

On top of that, this dog will move with an altered gait.  Walking with long toenails can be likened to walking in oversized clown shoes.  When presented with a new patient, after taking the history, I generally begin with an effective (and pain-free) toenail trim because it will instantly change the dog’s gait and stance.  Then, when I gait the dog to evaluate for lameness and body mechanics, I can focus on deeper issues, not compensatory problems from long toenails. 

The moral of this post is that nail care is drastically undervalued.  It’s a surprising confession, but I’ve concluded that a simple pedicure is one of the most valuable changes I make for my patients, and a nail trimming tutorial is one of the most valuable gifts I give my clients.  A ten-minute, short-nail makeover is the fastest, least expensive way I know to help a dog stand and walk better instantly.

Just like humans, there is individual variation on how fast nails grow, but most grow fairly quickly.  I trim my own dog’s nails every 1-2 weeks, and recommend a maximum interval of 4 weeks for my patients.

Need some tips? Here's a video created by Dr. Julie to educate dog owners about proper nail care:

Dr. Julie Buzby is a homeschooling mom of seven, American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and International Veterinary Acupuncture Society certified holistic veterinarian, and passionate advocate for canine mobility.In her free time she serves on the Advisory Board for The Grey Muzzle Organization. She can be found at Twitter @DrBuzby and on Facebook.com/ToeGrips. You'll also find more of Dr. Julie's posts at our Ask the Vet Archives page.

Here are a few of her articles that may be of interest:

• Ask the Vet About Giardia
• 10 Tips for Fido's Longest Life
• Leaner Pets Live Longer
• Finicky Eaters
• Our Vet's Best Advice on Nutrition

Dr. Julie's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian.

Doggie Dental Health for a Long Life

by Dr. Julie Buzby

Buffer

courtesy Photonquantique via Flickr.com
Brushing is Best

Though no scientific studies have been done to prove that appropriate dental care will extend your dog’s lifespan, I am convinced that it will. 

Dental disease is perhaps the most common malady seen in dogs today, especially small breed dogs.  This is not just about “dirty teeth”.  Dogs with periodontal disease suffer from infection and inflammation that can lead to tooth loss, gum disease, and significant pain.  Bad odor coming from a dog’s mouth is not normal.  The smell comes from bacteria and is my first clue that a dog has an unhealthy mouth.

Besides the effects on the gums and teeth, dental disease can cause problems in other body systems.  In people, there is a conclusive link between heart disease and periodontal disease.  Longstanding inflammation and infection in the mouth set up for bacteria being released into the bloodstream.  The kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart can all be damaged by this bacterial shower.

Many of my clients are surprised when I point out problems in their dog’s mouth on a routine physical exam.  A thorough oral exam is one of the most important parts of my examination.  Most dogs will develop some degree of periodontal disease during their lifetime depending on breed, age, genetics, and home care. 

Now for the good news: periodontal disease is preventable and treatable.  As for prevention, we can’t change your dog’s DNA, but home care is a vital part of keeping your dog’s mouth healthy.  I recommend daily teeth brushing, ideally beginning as a puppy.  It takes less than 12 hours for bacteria to attach to a tooth's surface. The bacteria then absorb calcium from saliva and become mineralized, forming tartar. This is why brushing is recommended daily, to continually break this cycle.  While any type of toothbrush is fine, do not use human toothpaste, as it may cause tummy upset and the fluoride can be toxic.

There is simply no substitute for brushing, because it mechanically breaks up the plaque, but there are other home care options when brushing simply is not possible. Ask your veterinarian to help you develop a custom dental home care plan for your dog. 

Based on what is discovered during your dog’s oral exam, your veterinarian may also recommend a professional dental procedure, which will involve cleaning the teeth, and possibly dental x-rays and extractions.  For many dogs, these therapeutic dental procedures are like a drink from the Fountain of Youth.  Clients are stunned by the dramatic positive changes in their dog’s attitude and vitality after pain and infection in the mouth have been resolved.

While it’s my opinion and observation that a healthy mouth will extend a dog’s quantity of life, it is a fact that a healthy mouth will enhance a dog’s quality of life.  That should be enough to make all of us take dental care more seriously!

Dr. Julie Buzby is a homeschooling mom of seven, American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and International Veterinary Acupuncture Society certified holistic veterinarian, and passionate advocate for canine mobility.In her free time she serves on the Advisory Board for The Grey Muzzle Organization. She can be found at Twitter @DrBuzby and on Facebook.com/ToeGrips. You'll also find more of Dr. Julie's posts at our Ask the Vet Archives page.

Here are a few of her articles that may be of interest:

• Tweaking Your Dog's Vaccinations
• Insight on Friendship Changes
• Our Vet's Best Advice on Nutrition
• Skin Rashes

Dr. Julie's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian.

10 Tips for Fido's Longest Life

by Dr. Julie Buzby

courtesy Dr. Buzby

I’m smitten with my dog Luke.  And like most of you, I want my dog to live forever.  I dream of growing old with my husband, children and grandchildren, and our beloved rescue mutt.

While immortality may be a stretch, a twenty year life span may not be.  I have no control over Luke’s DNA, but I do have direct control over many factors that are proven to extend longevity and quality of life.

Want to help your own dog maximize his potential?  Consider these ten tips for transforming your dog into his bionic alter ego!

1.  Keep him lean!  It’s common sense.  It’s scientifically proven.  Dogs with a healthy body condition score live longer (2 years longer in one study) than their chubby counterparts.

2.  Don’t over-vaccinate/over-medicate.  Vaccine protocols should be customized for your dog’s age, lifestyle, and environment.  Medications may be necessary, but understand that every one has side effects. 

3.  Become a label reader.  You are what you eat, and so is your dog.  Most dogs in America are eating extruded dry kibble made of corn and “by-products”, with a hefty shelf life.  Diet directly correlates to wellness, or lack thereof.  Quality food, with meat as the first ingredient, is pricey.  But what you invest in nutrition will be saved in veterinary bills.

4.  Brush his teeth daily.  80% of dogs over the age of two have dental disease.  This is a sad statistic, because, in most cases, it is preventable.  Brushing helps prevent gingivitis–which can lead to internal organs being pelted by mouth bacteria via the bloodstream.

5.  Schedule regular chiropractic adjustments.  Western medicine evolved for crisis intervention.  Chiropractic medicine seeks to prevent dis-ease and restore balance.  Chiropractic adjustments free the nervous system of interference so the body can do what God created it to do–heal itself!

6.  Don’t underestimate the importance of nail care.  Long nails are not just a cosmetic concern.  They change the way a dog’s toes interface with the ground.  Long toenails impact a dog’s gait and posture, resulting in chronic stress, compensations, and injuries.

7.  Provide your dog daily exercise sessions.  Dogs in the wild MOVE exceedingly more than our domestic dogs.  Gaiting is vital to a dog’s physical and mental well being. 

8.  Don’t underestimate the importance of your dog’s mental health.  If you live with a dog from the herding group, you understand this perfectly!  Dogs need appropriate mental stimulation based on their genetic bent.  

9.  Consider adding dietary supplements.  My “snake oil” panacea is Omega-3 Fatty acids, based on deficiencies in our processed diets.  Eskimos please disregard.

10.  Schedule regular veterinary examinations with a doctor who makes time to be thorough.  Bloodwork and urinalysis provide a non-invasive window into your dog’s health.  Establishing a baseline, monitoring trends, and early intervention if abnormalities are detected, are all investments in your dog’s quantity and quality of life.

Look for upcoming AllThingsDogBlog posts expanding on these ten points!

PS–The oldest dog lived to be 29.5 years of age.

Dr. Julie Buzby is a homeschooling mom of seven, American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and International Veterinary Acupuncture Society certified holistic veterinarian, and passionate advocate for canine mobility.  She can be found at Facebook.com/ToeGrips or Twitter @drbuzby.

Ask the Vet: Dogs Who Love Bugs

by Mark Nunez, DVM

© Oblivion9999 via Flickr.com
Facial Swelling
Common in Bug Bites & Ingestion

Dear Dr. Mark: Skipper likes to eat bugs. Are there any bugs Skipper shouldn't be eating? All Summer long I had to watch him because of the bees. Lucky we did not have any bees for snacks. Today Skipper was out chasing a bug and he managed to catch it for his snack. Spiders are another thing he wants to snack on...Help! I don't want Skipper to get sick.

Sharon G.

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Hello Sharon,

This is a good question.  Most bugs are not toxic in the sense that they will cause liver and/or kidney damage if ingested, but there are a few notable ones that I will discuss.  The main problem is the same problem that people have, anaphylaxis (allergic reactions) to stinging insects.  

Fortunately, for our canine friends, their immune cells are distributed a little differently as compared to ours and they do not have the issue of their throats swelling shut like we do.  Their faces swell (angioedema), they break out in hives, they get very itchy, and could also have vomiting and diarrhea.  Occasionally, the diarrhea can be very bloody.  The good news is that they usually respond very well to Benadryl and corticosteroids (Prednisone).  Eating caterpillars with spines or non-venomous hairs can cause a localized itchy response due to mechanical irritation and foreign body that can result in hives, drooling, difficulty swallowing and tongue, lip and oral irritation.

 

The notable mentions that can cause major problems are listed here with images at the links:

• Monarch butterfly caterpillars.  These guys feed on milkweed which contains cardiac glycosides so they can be toxic to the heart. Some caterpillars have stiff spines or hairs that can do physical trauma and cause oral and GI irritation.
• The puss or asp caterpillar, flannel moth larvae (Megalopyge opercularis) is considered the most dangerous caterpillar in the US (Primarily SE) although over 40 genera worldwide are reported to cause problems.
• The slug caterpillar, or saddleback, is in North America and is a stinging caterpillar. They have 2 horns with spines. The hag moth, or monkey slug, also stings and is primarily east coast and SE NA. The gypsy moth (New England) can envonmate (inject poisonous material) as well; lots of others as also.
• Probably the absolute worst is the Lonomia species (Brazil, etc). It can cause deaths, coagulopathies ,etc. 

It can be very difficult to stop your dog from eating bugs.  Usually a good sting is motivation enough.  Fortunately, most dogs are not allergic and should learn their lesson once they experience the unpleasantness of a sting, or a bad taste as well :-).

© courtesy m.n.
Dr. Nunez

Dr. Nunez is a practicing veterinarian while also assisting patients through The Balanced Canine blog and his own online veterinary pharmacy. Have a question for Dr. Mark? Send it to AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. You can also follow Mark on Twitter.

Want to read more from Dr. Mark? Try these, or visit his archives:


The Dangers of Animal BonesTuberculosis and DogsTiming of FeedingArthritis Treatment and Prevention
Dr. Nunez's advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian.