Two different cases of doggie breath

Dear Dr. Abbie:  My husband took your advice and avoided the chocolate this Valentine’s. He gave me sugar free gum. How romantic! My dentist says Xylitol is good for my teeth. My dog’s breath smells like low tide. Will this gum help her? – Signed, Drowning in low tide

Dear Drowning:  Please don’t let your dog anywhere near that Xylitol gum. It’s very toxic to dogs. It causes severe low blood sugar, and so can cause seizures. But even worse, it’s been shown to have toxic effects on the liver. As little as 30 pieces of gum can be fatal for a Scotty dog. What’s good for the goose may be good for the gander, but what’s good for the people isn’t always good for the pooch.

One thing that is good for both people and pooches (cats, too!) is getting those chompers professionally cleaned once or twice a year. You probably can’t imagine not brushing your teeth for even a day. Imagine what your breath would be like if you didn’t brush your teeth for a few years! We love them, but dogs do lick some rather unclean areas. Combine that with no oral hygiene and, whoa! That’s fish breath worse than Dooney’s gas attacks!

February is dental health month for pets, so many veterinarians are promoting dental cleanings for pets.  Think about it!  – Dr. Abbie

Dear Dr. Abbie:  My old Labrador has been panting lately. It is not warmer than usual in our house.  Do old dogs have trouble regulating their body temperature? He’s keeping us up at night.  Thanks,
Sleep deprived

Dear Sleep deprived:  Do you have kids? If so, you are familiar with sleep deprivation. From the hiccups and kicking when your soon to be a bundle of joy decides it’s time for intrauterine Kung Fu fighting every time mommy lays down to sleep, to the teenager with car keys in hand, parenting is fraught with sleep deprivation. Dog parenting is similar. When they’re puppies, it’s the 2 a.m. potty breaks (remember the moon?), then it’s the game of ‘throw me the stick’ during your Sunday afternoon nap time. When dogs get old, it’s many things, most of which you should get checked out by your vet.

Chances are your older dog is not responding to the effects of Global Warming, albeit when they are up in your face it seems the panting is contributing to it! Pain is the most common reason for old dogs to pant when they are not exercising.

Maybe your dog is exercising when you are not looking, like the cows in the Far Side who stand around on their hind legs chatting until the lookout yells “CAR!,” then drop down to all fours and begin to solemnly graze.  You should check his tennis balls for warm saliva.

Pain can be from varied causes like arthritis, back pain and abdominal pain.  Many pets respond to adequate pain control.  Of course, it is important not to give your dog human pain medicines like ibuprofen and acetaminophen as these can be toxic. –

Thanks for writing,
Dr. Abbie