Your Monthly Tailwag!

May 2024

Welcome to the following pup that had his first stay with the Caledon Tailblazers in April!

  • Maui (Poodle)

 Happy birthday 🎂 to these pups that are celebrating a birthday in May!

  • Chewie

  • Jazz

  • Suds

  • Johnny

  • Oscar

Wow it's starting to feel a bit like summer with temperatures creeping into the 20's! This was a big month in our household! Lauren's hockey team won the OWHA Provincial championship on April 14th after a hard fought battle against their rival team the Etobicoke Dolphins. This was a huge achievement for Lauren and her team and we are very proud of her! We also found a prom dress for her upcoming prom in June. Hard to believe my baby is graduating hight school!! Jaime completed her third year of psychology and will begin her second co-op job in Exeter, ON in May. Nik completed his first year of welding at Conestoga and started a new summer job this week. The Mooneys have been busy! We also had a steady flow of visitors, both for doggy daycare and overnight boarding and the month has flown by! With the nicer weather we have been hitting the trail a bit more. We're enjoying it now before the bugs get really bad, however, we need to be pretty diligent with our tick checks as they are very active! Having had such a mild winter, I don't think they ever really went away. Get those lint rollers out and get into the habit of rolling yourself and your pets when you come in from outdoors.

 

Rob & I are looking forward to our upcoming vacation to St. Lucia from May 19-26th. It's our first vacation with just the two of us since Rob's 40th birthday and it's only our 3rd vacation ever where we haven't brought the kids! It's more than past due! I am also looking forward to a mother daughter mini get away May 31-June 3rd with Jaime and Lauren. We will celebrate my birthday and Lauren's 18th birthday in NYC! I'm really looking forward to spending this time with my girls.

 

This month we are talking about oral hygiene. Our dogs teeth and gums are as important to take care of as the rest of the dog. Keep reading to learn more about this very important topic and learn about how you can keep your dogs mouth healthy and smelling clean! Make sure you check out our News & Announcements section for updates to any rules as well as dates when Caledon Tailblazers will be closed. We have booked some summer holidays so please take note of the dates listed. Hope everyone has a great month and please be sure to get out and enjoy some of the beautiful spring weather!

 

Katrien

Why should I brush my dog's teeth?

How would you feel if you never brushed your teeth? Constantly having lots of plaque and an unpleasant taste in your mouth would probably be more than you could tolerate. Not to mention you wouldn't be very popular with friends & family! Well your dog's mouth isn't much different and without proper dental care your dog will be at risk of developing dental disease. Dental diseases in dogs are quite common. By age 3, over 80 percent of dogs have some form of dental disease, also known as periodontal disease. Dog dental disease has serious consequences, so maintaining good dog dental care is very important.

 

What Is Dental Disease?

Dental disease affects the teeth, gums and structures that support and surround a dog’s teeth. It begins with plaque buildup on the teeth. This plaque contains bacteria and food particles.

Plaque that stays on the teeth hardens into tartar. When tartar is above the gumline, it's easily visible, and your veterinarian can remove it relatively easily during a professional dental cleaning.

However, looks can be deceiving. A set of pearly whites doesn't necessarily mean that your dog's mouth is healthy. Tartar that makes its way below the gumline is the real problem.

Tartar below the gumline causes inflammation and not only damages the structures supporting the teeth but also causes infection. When dental disease reaches this stage, dogs can experience serious dental problems and pain.

Signs of dental disease in dogs include:

  • Broken teeth

  • Loose teeth

  • Bad breath

  • Painful and bleeding mouth

  • Refusal or inability to eat and drink

  • Drooling

 

Why Dog Dental Care Is Important

As a pet parent, you certainly want your dog to have a healthy mouth. Here are five reasons why good dental care for dogs is so critical to your dog’s overall health:

  1. Preventing tooth loss. When the structures supporting a dog’s teeth become damaged or infected, the teeth loosen and fall out. Good dog dental care will ensure that those teeth-supporting structures stay healthy and keep the teeth in place.

  2. Preventing bad breath (halitosis). If a whiff of your dog's breath makes your nose hairs curl, it's time for some good dental care. When your dog has a healthy mouth and healthy dog teeth, bad breath won't be a problem.

  3. Preventing oral pain. Dental disease, especially when it's severe, can be quite painful for dogs. Keeping your dog's teeth and gums healthy will help prevent oral pain.

  4. Preventing organ damage. Bacteria in the plaque can enter the bloodstream and spread to the heart, kidneys and liver. This spread of bacteria, called bacteremia, can damage organs and make dogs quite sick. Good oral health will help prevent bacteremia and subsequent organ damage.

  5. Preventing worsening dental disease. Because so many dogs have dental disease by the time they're 3 years old, it can be difficult to prevent it from developing in the first place. However, good dog dental care can prevent dental disease from becoming severe and causing problems throughout the body.

 

How Can I Get Plaque Off My Dog's Teeth?

Dental care for dogs includes not only annual professional dental cleanings done at a veterinarian’s office but also regular at-home dental care. Here are a few things you can do at home to help maintain healthy dog teeth:

  • Brush your dog's teeth. Brushing your dog's teeth a few days a week is a great way to maintain good oral health. Make sure you get a safe, dog toothpaste from your local pet store. Do not use your toothpaste for your dog!

  • Give your dog dental treats. Not all dogs like their teeth being brushed. If this is your dog, try some dog dental treats, such as Merrick's Fresh Kisses, Whimzees, Greenies, or locally owned Crumps Natural Plaque Busters. If your not sure what is the best treat for your dog then it's always best to consult with your vet.

  • Provide your dog with dental toys. Some dog toys, such as the Nylabones are designed to clean a dog's teeth and even freshen breath. These toys are durable, so your dog can chew on it to their heart's content.

 

Professional dog teeth cleanings require general anesthesia to allow your veterinarian to clean above and below the gumline and ensure that your dog's entire mouth is cleaned. So, talk with your veterinarian to figure out the best schedule and options for your dog’s dental care routine.

 

Although dental disease is common in dogs, proper dog dental care can keep a dog's mouth as healthy as possible.

 

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News & Announcements!

 

We have booked some holidays for 2024 and I would like to make note of the dates that we will be unavailable for dog sitting:

 

May 19 - May 26

May 31 - June 3

June 21 - June 23

July 20 - July 28

Aug 29 - Sep 1

 

Please remember to book early to avoid disappointment! I am limited with how many dogs I can accommodate at one time.  If your plans change be sure to let me know asap so that I can open up the spot for others.  Please see our new rules regarding deposits & cancelations.

 

Tailblazer Guidelines:

 

All reservations of 4 nights or more do require a $100 non-refundable deposit one month prior to the first night of the booking.  Full payment of the reservation is due 48 hours before the beginning of the reservation for all lengths of stay (overnight only).

 

Reservations of 4 nights or more must be cancelled at least one week in advance or the deposit will be forfeited.  If the reservation is cancelled with a week or more notice then the deposit will be applied to a future visit.

 

Overnight reservations <= 3 nights must be cancelled at least 24 hours ahead of time otherwise a $50 cancellation fee will be charged (for a single dog and $85 for two dogs).  Doggie daycare must be cancelled 24 hours in advance or a $25 cancellation fee will be charged (for a single dog).

 

Please note, holiday long weekends, Christmas, and March break will be subject to the same rules as our 4+ overnight bookings and the cost for overnight visits is $60/night for dogs over a year old ($70/night for dogs under a year).

 

Please do your best to drop off and pick up at the agreed upon time.  If you are going to be early or late please contact me as soon as possible by text. I accept drops offs as early as 7am and pickups by 8pm for overnight boarders. Daycare hours are 7am - 6pm.

 

If your dog pulls when being walked on a leash then some type of training collar is required.  If one is not provided then I will use one of my own. I will discuss the use of a prong collar with you prior to using one.

 

Dogs must get along with other dogs and be tolerant of cats.  I am limited in my setup to separate dogs and it causes a lot of extra stress when dogs are reactive to other dogs or to cats.  My cats are very dog savvy and can handle a curious or energetic dog.  However, if a dog shows aggression towards a cat then unfortunately I am not able to accommodate that dog.

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Questions? Reach out to me through our website!

 
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29 Larry Street, Caledon East, ON, Canada
647-393-1877

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