Vaccinations --- Pfizer's Porphyromonas Vaccine For Periodontal Disease

Last spring I received a newsletter from Gracie's veterinary office. One article is written from the viewpoint of a dog named Harry. The dog recounts his experience with periodontal disease. The article reads, in part:

"...when the infection spread from my mouth to my internal organs I spent days in intensive care and was so sick I could barely wag my tail... I could have prevented it by brushing and flossing but I don't have any thumbs so now I rely on my family to protect my health by having my teeth and periodontal tissues professionally cleaned on a regular basis...My dental health is maintained by the use of Pfizer's porphyromonas vaccine to help prevent periodontal bacteria. I now feel great and plan on telling all my friends about regular dental care."

Should anxious pet owners run out and buy yet another vaccination for their dogs? Of course periodontal disease is a serious issue, but do most dogs really need to get a vaccine to prevent it?

The Merck Veterinary Manual online states, "Mechanical control, in the form of toothbrushing and diets designed to remove tartar and calculus from teeth, can be used proactively to prevent periodontal disease."

Regular toothbrushing is really all it takes to prevent periodontal disease in most dogs.

I try to brush Gracie's teeth once or twice a week. Click here to see my post about Doggie Dental Care. Too often I've been lazy about doing it. Occasionally I've gone as long as two weeks without brushing her teeth. Even so, her vet has commented on how well her teeth and gums look. Her teeth aren't perfectly white and tartar-free, but they're healthy.

In most dogs, periodontal disease can be prevented with a little owner effort and common sense.

Pet dogs already receive too many vaccines. Most dog owners don't even think to ask questions or say, "No thank you," when their veterinary office staff tells them it's time for another vaccination.

According to the ASPCA's (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals) website, the American Animal Hospital Association’s Canine Task Force published a revised version of canine vaccination guidelines in 2006. The ASPCA's website states,

"The guidelines divide vaccines into three categories—core, non-core and not recommended.

Core vaccines are considered vital to all dogs based on risk of exposure, severity of disease or transmissibility to humans. Canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis and rabies are considered core vaccines by the Task Force.

Non-core vaccines are given depending on the dog’s exposure risk. These include vaccines against Bordetella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi and Leptospira bacteria."

No mention is made about any "not recommended" vaccines.

I've read several sources describing core, non-core and not recommended vaccines for dogs and they're not always the same!

The most enlightening information I've read about canine vaccinations is in the 1999 book, "The Nature of Animal Healing," by Martin Goldstein, DVM. Click here to read my review of this book.

Better yet, click here for a link to Google Books where you can read most of Chapter Four, "The Dubious Legacy of Vaccines." It's worth reading if you're concerned about vaccinating your dog.

I'm sure Pfizer's porphyromonas vaccine is totally unnecessary for most dogs. Gracie won't be getting it any time soon.

Chicken Organ Meats Dinner 9-21-10

Chicken heart, liver, gizzard and neck meat; cooked in corn oil

White rice

Whole wheat bread

Fat-free yogurt

When There's No Time For Homemade Dog Biscuits

It's been several weeks since I've made Homemade Doggie Chef Biscuits (click here for the recipe). Time constraints and some warm weather days prevented me from baking a batch. Yet Gracie expects a crunchy treat after breakfast and dinner, and when she comes in from her afternoon backyard break.

When there's no time to bake Doggie Chef Biscuits, or when the weather is too hot to bake, I try to substitute one of the treats pictured above. The treats shown are, clockwise from the top: sliced French baguette bread (dried out in a paper bag for a few days until crunchy); plain, rye crackers; and Melba round crackers.





Gracie's STILL full of energy!

I had a lot of fun taking action photos of Gracie in the yard this past weekend. Well into her 11th year, Gracie is still full of vitality. She's ALWAYS ready to play. Even the very hot days we had this summer didn't seem to dampen her desire to play outside.

I'm certain her good health at this age is due to the homemade meals she's eaten every day for so many years. I hope these photos of my strong, active 11-year-old dog will help others see the benefits of being a Doggie Chef. It's truly rewarding to feed a beloved pet homemade meals!

Heartgard Plus --- Are So Many Doses Necessary?

Last week I was supposed to give Gracie her last (fourth) Heartgard Plus chewable for the spring-summer season (Click here to read my June 1, 2010 post about Gracie's heartworm prevention regimen this year). I didn't give it to her.

I don't like the idea of over medicating my 11-year-old dog. Right now mosquito activity around here isn't as bad as it was earlier this summer. I think and hope that three Heartgard Plus chewables this season are enough protection for Gracie from heartworm. If the chewables had been plain Heartgard I probably would have given her the fourth chewable. Yet this year my vet gave me Heartgard Plus. The additional chemicals in Heartgard Plus (to treat ascarid and hookworm infections) make me more hesitant to use it.

Do dogs really need all the vaccinations and preventive medications veterinarians suggest? I doubt it. Yet it's scary to take matters into your own hands and risk your pets safety based on doubt. If I decide to give Gracie heartworm preventive next year,  I'll be sure to get plain Heartgard for her; the kind just for heartworm prevention.

Canned Herring Dinner 8-31-10

Canned herring

Whole wheat bread

Fresh spinach leaves

Sure Fit Slipcovers --- Pet Covers

When we first adopted Gracie we decided she wouldn't be allowed on any of the furniture. Not on the couch. Not on our bed. Well, that didn't last long.

As we fell in love with her, and she with us, we wanted to be close to each other all the time. One of the great pleasures in life is cuddling up with a beloved dog. Especially while watching TV or reading in bed. And it's so cozy to lay your feet next to a warm, furry dog on a cold winter's night!

Now Gracie's allowed to sit on the couch whenever she wants to. At first I covered the couch with throws or old blankets to protect it from dirt and odors. The throws and blankets never stayed on properly and always looked terrible. I soon discovered Sure Fit slipcovers. They looked a little better but were a bit of a pain to put on. The slipcovers made of stretchy material took the most work to put on but they looked much neater.

I recently visited the Sure Fit website and learned they now sell Pet Throw Covers for sofas. I bought one because it was described on the website as, "100 percent cotton." It was on sale, plus they offered a 15 percent promotional discount. After I sat on it I realized it's not, "100 percent cotton." I called the company and was told it's a cotton front only. The backing is a synthetic material. I couldn't return it because I'd already washed it.

Unfortunately, the pet Throw Cover doesn't fully cover the part of the sofa Gracie likes to sit on most --- the end. It's not quite long enough. In order to protect that part of the sofa I have to make sure there's a pillow there for Gracie to lean on. Yet even with the pillow in place, part of the couch remains exposed. Here's a photo of Gracie testing out the new Pet Throw:

Another downside to the Sofa Pet Throw Cover is that it looks very rumpled when anyone --- dog or human --- sits on it. It might work for you if your dog prefers lounging in the middle of your sofa only. 

I think I'll try covering my sofa with a blanket again. Or maybe two --- one for the arms and seat and one for the back. That might provide more coverage and look neater. I'll use the Pet Throw Cover in my car when I take Gracie for a ride.

**** August 30, 2010 POST EDIT & UPDATE: After using the Sure Fit Sofa Pet Throw Cover for a while I don't recommend it. As soon as you sit on it, the back and sides slip down and the sofa back and arms become uncovered. The bottom section bunches up easily too. It's no better looking than an old blanket and you'll get better coverage from a blanket. And after only a few washings, the synthetic threads from the backing poked through the cotton front. I'll stick to covering my sofa with a blanket or quilt.