IN CELEBRATION OF PET DENTAL HEALTH MONTH
AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY LITTLE VALENTINE, REESE
Before singing this dynamic organization’s praises, let me first explain why I am passionate about dental health care for canines.
As the pet parent to puppy mill rescues, I am all too aware of the result of malnutrition and neglect. Two of my dogs received extensive dental cleaning while under anesthesia; they also had multiple teeth removed.
It is customary to sign a consent form before such procedures. Because Reese had a grade four heart murmur, I received additional verbal details of possible complications during the surgery.
It is generally estimated that approximately 1 in 100,000 animals will have some sort of reaction to an anesthetic agent.
I will never forget how nervous and guilty I felt handing Reese to Dr. Mudde and walking out of the clinic. I felt nauseous and cried the entire drive home. Yes, I had to leave my baby overnight!
Because of her heart murmur, Dr. Mudde had to adjust the standard procedure and closely monitor the patient to avoid a cardiac episode.
I cried again, with relief, when I learned Reese had come through the procedure without complication. After overnight monitoring and hydration Reese would be ready to go home the next morning.
Why did I put Reese through that?
Our vet felt that reducing inflammation by treating her periodontal disease by extracting a rotten tooth and thorough cleaning would be less risky than leaving her system to fight this infection.
Always consult your vet regarding the medical concerns of your pet.
Dental Disease Increases the Risk for Dog Heart Disease
I thought I was thorough; I brushed my dog’s teeth regularly and used supplements to aid with plaque removal, my efforts in vain.
THE BOTTOM (GUM)LINE:
Maintenance is what happens AFTER treatment. I’m not sure how I expected to remove that amount of plaque and tartar with a rubber finger brush and toothpaste!
Dental disease is more than just a cosmetic issue, and Kissable K9 Care is more than just a cosmetic teeth cleaning service.
Your dog’s teeth are cleaned while your dog is awake!
Our dog groomer had a poster in the window advertising an upcoming teeth cleaning clinic with Kissable K9 Care. An affordable cosmetic tooth cleaning includes brushing and scaling with hand instruments above the gum line to remove tartar gently. Although Jack is fearful, he desperately needed treatment, so we booked him an appointment.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR APPOINTMENT
Upon arrival, you are greeted by your Kissable K9 technician. While you complete your client form, the procedure is explained, as well as any questions answered.
Our technician, Maddie, assured me Jack would be fine and would call me to get him if he was too nervous.
We inform our clients that if their dog, for whatever reason, doesn’t want it done, we call the owner without charge. The health and wellbeing of the dog is our top priority
Maddie took the greatest care ensuring Jack was relaxed and comfortable, swaddling him in a towel and cradling him in her lap, providing a gentle massage and soft-spoken conversation to gain his trust. Soft music playing in the background and lavender in the air. No, sorry, they do not treat pet parents.
Once the scaling was done, Jack’s teeth were brushed and polished, and Maddie sent me a before and after photo by text.
The treatment only took one hour, and the results were incredible!
When I arrived to collect a very calm and relaxed Jack, I was encouraged to maintain the results with an at-home dental care routine, outlined by the technician: book an annual cleaning appointment, and brush pup’s teeth at least three times a week.
Kissable K9 Founder Jill says,
I would love pet owners to start brushing as soon as they get their pup. Get them used to toothbrushes and chew toys. Oral care is critical. Parents should feel free to contact us anytime with questions
ABOUT KISSABABLE K9
As a certified dog groomer for eight years and seeing how many dogs needed help, Jill Thompson was inspired to find a way to help her clients. After attending a veterinarian facilitated course in the United States, Jill started Kissable K9 in 2012, the first person to bring this service to Ontario.
My clients were my inspiration as I was up and close and personal with these dogs brushing their teeth during the grooming process didn’t make a dent. They needed something more. Some pups can’t go under for health reasons. I’ve always been clear that our service is not a substitute for vet care. What we do should be in combination with veterinary care.
The Kissable K9 team comprises wonderfully talented individuals; a paramedic, Vet tech, breeder/trainer, and Vet Assistant. Each is invested in the animal community outside of the company. All members go through an intensive training program.
Each day, Kissable K9 Care team members drive to their scheduled clinic across Ontario to provide service at 70+ Pet Valu stores, grooming salons, and doggy daycares. The number of locations is rapidly growing. They also hold clinics for animal charities. Each team provides treatment to twelve dogs per day.
Click here to find a clinic near you.
THE EXCEPTION
If a dog is a fear biter, this is not the service for them. Most dogs can be calmed. Dogs with a history of aggression are not candidates for this service.
The Mobile service is excellent for clients who don’t drive, their dog is not good with other dogs, or they get car sick. The van is completely sterilized, climate-controlled, and very comfortable.
Kissable K9 has completed thousands of cosmetic cleanings with 680 five-star reviews in the last two years.
Please consider booking your beloved pet a treatment. It is my pleasure to introduce Kissable K9, and I hope this information helps others avoid the need for anesthesia and tooth extraction.
Are you paying attention to your pet’s oral health? Do you get their teeth cleaned professionally? Let us know in the comments below!
Ruth Epstein says
WOW what a great service and I wish they had one in SF, I watch Layla’s teeth like a hawk as I do not want her to get sick and thank goodness we are ok phew. I brush her teeth twice a day plus put water additives into her water. Am so happy to Reese is ok and Layla wishes both of you Happy Valentines Day.
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Ruth Epstein says
WOW what a great service and I wish they had one in SF, I watch Layla’s teeth like a hawk as I do not want her to get sick and thank goodness we are ok phew. I brush her teeth twice a day plus put water additives into her water. Am so happy to Reese is ok and now has clean teeth. Layla wishes both of you Happy Valentines Day.
Ruth Epstein recently posted…Pet Theft Awareness Day
Rebecca Sanchez says
A wonderful service for helping to keep dog’s teeth clean! I love this – wish it was in my area. This is a great reminder that dental disease can lead to heart disease – that’s one of the reasons annual teeth cleaning is so important. I felt for you when you wrote about having to leave Reese for overnight monitoring – it often is a hard decision to do the right thing (even if it makes our hearts ache).
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Kamira Gayle says
Kissable K9 provides a great service. Those before and afters are amazing. Wow! Yes, dental cleaning and brushing is so important, although not the easiest thing, but necessary. Kuddos to Kissable K9 for their mobile service. This is especially helpful during COVID19 and those that are unable to drive.
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Jana Rade says
Dental health is so important as part of overall wellness and health of our dogs. With my dog, we brush daily with an enzymatic toothpaste as well as she gets raw meaty bones. I was pleasantly surprised when she got her first dental x-rays last December and her mouth didn’t need any work other than minor cleaning of one of her back molars.
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Beth says
What a difference the cleaning made! I will have to see if there is someone near us that offers this service. My 13 year-old Maltese is in need of a dental cleaning.
Britt K says
This looks like an INCREDIBLE option to stay on top of your dog’s dental care. The idea of being able to do it while your dog is awake is a huge win in my eyes. When I started reading this, I found myself wishing that we lived closer so that I could take advantage of this if/when needed (we do stay on top of their dental care with preventative maintenance at home). However, you can imagine my surprise to find that there’s a clinic listed just 25 min from me!
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