Senator George Vest's "Tribute to the American Dog"

Gentlemen of the jury, the best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son and daughter that he has reared with loving care may become ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him when he may need it most. Man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees and do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our head.

The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his DOG. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground,where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wing and reputation falls to pieces, he is as content in his love as the sun in its journey throught the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an outcast into the cold, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard him against danger, and to fight against his enemies. When the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws and his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death.

-Senator George Vest, 1870.

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     "MY WHAT PRETTY TEETH YOU HAVE"- Dental Care for Pets
                                 Dr. Jeff Werber, Century Veterinary Group, Los Angeles

           The more we, as veterinarians, learn about animal health care, the
 greater our mission to educate pet parents, and the greater all our
responsibility to convert education to action and incorporate these
 advances into our daily schedules.

          One of the most rapidly expanding fields in veterinary care is Animal
Dentistry. Not only have we learned to correct bite problems that would
otherwise produce painful pressure points or make eating difficult, and
treat abscessed teeth without extraction, we have learned that unchecked
gum disease often results in serious heart and kidney problems which can
be avoided with home dental care, includimg regular brushing. And our
pets can't do it themselves, folks, so it's up to us.

         Brushing your pet's teeth is really not so bad. It's easier to start when your
 puppy or kitten is young, but it's never too late to start, no matter
their age. Introduce the toothbrush gently in a calm comfortable
setting. Always offer a treat afterwards. It may take several sessions to
get the hang of it and establish a routine. Be creative, be calm,
be persistent! There are a variety of toothbrushes/fingerbrushes designed
to simplify the task, as well as dental wipes and other plaque reducing
products available. If you plan to brush your dog or cat's teeth every
day, hopefully you'll actually get to it at least three times a week, and
I can live with that. You can supplement the brushings with some of the
chew toys and bones geared toward dental health, but you shouldn't rely
on them as your sole defense against this potentially deadly disease.

        I also recommend yearly professional cleanings to address plaque build
up. Depending on your pet's personality and extent of its dental
condition, anesthesia is often required for the process, although many
veterinarians are able to do a thorough job with only light sedation, or
even acupunture, As always, consult your veterinarian for the best
recommendation for your pet. We do not recommend having groomers do
anything more than brush your pet's teeth. In fact in many states it is
against the Veterinary Practices Act for anyone but a licensed
veterinarian to provide dental services to a pet.

      We all have demands our time and it's hard to add to our busy days, but
we make time every day for what we understand to be important. Our pets
devote themselves to our wellbeing and rely on us for their care. A few
minutes of prevention easily outweighs the pain of regret. Grab a
toothbrush and let the games begin

Gentle Ear Cleaner

Dr. Jeff Werber Products

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Phospholipids

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Fragrance

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Blue 1

Yellow 5

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