Humans and animals are different in so many aspects and because of these differences, first-time pet owners are finding it difficult to understand their dogs. Some of them even go as far as finding a dog behaviorist to help explain why their dog behaves the way it does. As pet owners, your dog is your responsibility and part of that responsibility is to discipline your dog to be well-mannered. You need to understand dog behavior so you can determine what behaviors are acceptable and what aren’t. Identifying bad and destructive dog behaviors is crucial so you can find ways to get rid of them.

The following is a list of common dog behaviors and what they mean so you can address them accordingly.

What Are Examples of Dog Behavior Problems?

Scavenging and aggression are two of the most notorious dog behavior problems pet owners complain about. Although there are plenty other annoying dog habits, these two are far worse as it puts your dogs in danger as well as the animals and people around them.

How do you deal with scavenging and aggression? If this is the first time your dog has manifested these behaviors you should take your dog to a vet to rule out other possible health issues. It’s also worth mentioning that annoyance is subjective. There are certain dog behaviors that you find annoying while others don’t. Basically, you’ll be the judge as to whether your dog’s behavior is considered a problem or not.

Symptoms of Common Dog Behaviors

There are many reasons why your dog misbehaves. It could be because they are suffering from an illness or injury or it could be due to malnutrition or simply because they are bored. It’s also possible that you send your dog the wrong signals. For instance, if your dog growls at another dog and you pet them or you pick them up it will make your dog think that growling is okay since it gets rewarded.

This also applies to other dog behaviors like howling, barking, and whining. If you react by playing with your dog or by giving it treats, your dog will think that the behavior is acceptable and it will continue to do it.

Instincts

All dogs dig, chew, roll, chase, poop, and get dirty because these are all hardwired to their nature. You can’t get rid of them but you can minimize them through dog training. Yes, it can be uncomfortable but you just have to learn to accept these natural dog behaviors.

Annoying Habits

Examples of annoying habits include climbing up on furniture, being clingy, jumping on guests, guarding, and begging for food. All of these behaviors can be controlled through consistent dog training. For example, if your dog likes to climb on furniture you should set boundaries. Offer alternatives like if your dog is seeking comfort, provide that so it won’t invade your space.

Health Problems

Another reason why your dog misbehaves is because of underlying health conditions. Some health issues cause your dog to bite, growl and show aggression. One example of that is separation anxiety. Dogs tend to destroy personal items in the home when their masters leave them alone. When your dog eats poop or deliberately urinates inside your home it could be a sign of injury or an illness.

Takeaway

These dog problems are going to be your problem if you don’t spend time disciplining and training your dog. The moment you buy or adopt a dog is the moment your responsibility as a dog owner begins. You can choose to train your dog yourself or you can hire a professional dog trainer to correct bad behavior. Either way works, just make sure you’re using training methods that are safe and backed up by science and research.

Nick White

Nick White is the owner of Off Leash K9 Training. He has over 80 dog training franchise locations throughout the United States. He currently hosts the A&E show, America's Top Dog.

Why do dentists refer you to oral surgeons? The answer depends on your dental needs. Some patients prefer dental implants to dentures and bridges and the only way to place those implants safely is if the patient goes through oral surgery. An impacted wisdom tooth is another example of why patients are required to undergo oral surgery. When a wisdom tooth is causing pain or causing your teeth to shift out of place, the best way to deal with it is to extract it.

It’s normal to experience pain, swelling, and slight bleeding after surgery but you can overcome these quicker if you follow your oral surgeon’s post-op after-care instructions. When you diligently follow the instructions, you’ll avoid complications and infections and your wounds will heal faster.

Controlling Bleeding

Bleeding is expected after surgery but you can minimize bleeding by not rinsing, spitting, smoking, brushing your teeth within twenty-four hours, and avoiding using straws when you drink. When you suck or spit the bleeding will continue.

It’s normal to experience slight bleeding twenty-four hours following surgery. All you need to do is to apply pressure on the site by biting into a clean gauze pad for thirty minutes. Doing so should stop the bleeding. But, if the bleeding becomes excessive and if it doesn’t stop after several days let your oral surgeon know about it.

Preventing Pain and Infection

Pain and discomfort are also expected after surgery but this can be controlled if you take your medications religiously as prescribed by your oral surgeon. However, if you develop allergies in the form of a rash don’t continue taking the meds and inform your oral surgeon about it. Another reason to take the medications prescribed is to avoid infection.

Minimizing Swelling

Swelling is not unusual for patients who had just undergone surgery. To lessen the swelling, you should apply an ice pack on the side of your face near the surgical site for twenty-minute intervals the moment you get home. Do this for the first forty-eight hours. The peak of the swelling should manifest on the second or third day but after that, it should start to subside.

Modifying Your Diet

On the day of the surgery, you’ll be required to follow a liquid diet. After surgery, you will transition to soft foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals and are high in protein. The soft diet should last several days. While you’re on a soft diet, you should increase your water intake. Eventually, you can go back to your usual diet.

Reducing Nausea

When your taking narcotic medications don’t take them on an empty stomach. This will be explained to you before surgery so makes sure you take notes. If you’re nauseous, drink sips of a carbonated beverage and then drink clear soup or mild tea. Now is not the best time to feast on dairy products and oily foods. If you experience severe nausea, let your oral surgeon know about it.

Oral Care Routine

After surgery, you’re not allowed to go back to your oral care routine. To keep your mouth clean you just need to rinse it with warm saline water. To prepare the saline solution you’ll need half a glass of warm water and half a teaspoon of salt. Mix them together and gargle them after having your meal and before bedtime. Avoid using mouth rinses that contain hydrogen peroxide. You may brush your teeth after but don’t brush on the surgical site not unless it’s completely healed.

Avoid Smoking

This is a problem for chronic smokers because it can be really challenging to stop smoking. But, if you just had oral surgery you don’t have much of a choice. You need to stay away from cigarettes at least three days after your surgery. If you continue smoking you will increase your chances of bleeding and the healing period will be delayed as well.

Takeaway

You can’t afford to get infected or suffer from complications after everything you’ve been through so it’s best if you follow the instructions carefully and diligently to expedite your healing.

You’ve been made to believe that you only start losing your permanent teeth when you get “old” and by old we usually think those over 65 years old. The truth is, if you don’t care for your teeth you can start losing them as early as 20 or 30 years old. In today’s beauty obsessed world we’re sure that you’d want to hold on to your natural teeth far much longer, right? Even though cosmetic dentistry has created artificial teeth that look like the real thing, you can’t deny the fact that you’ll feel more confident smiling with natural teeth. How do you care for your teeth and what is the role of Modern Family Dentists in Kenosha in keeping your teeth and gums healthy?

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), you are advised to see your dentist twice a year but if you are suffering from oral diseases you’ll need to schedule more frequent visits like every 3 to 4 months. The reason is because your dentist is part of your journey in achieving and maintaining optimum dental health. How does your dentist care for your teeth? In what ways do dental health specialists contribute to your oral health? Here’s how:

Dental X-Rays – x-rays are usually taken when you visit your dentist to check for the presence of cavities and to evaluate the height of your jawbone. This is also done on children to check the position of their developing teeth.

Oral Examinations – during a dental examination your dentist will inspect your teeth for visible signs of decay and check to see if there are soft spots on your enamel. Soft areas indicate early stage of cavity development. Aside from checking for signs of cavities and tooth decay, your dentist will also measure the pockets that surround your teeth as this can indicate gum disease.

Screen for Oral Cancer – according to statistics nearly 50,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every year and around 10,000 die because of it. The good thing about oral cancer is that it can be treated and metastasis can be prevented if you see your dentist regularly. During a routine dental checkup your dentist will screen you for oral cancer that means he or she will inspect your lips, neck, mouth, tongue and head for signs and symptoms of the disease. Early detection means early treatment.

Professional Teeth Cleaning – do you know that even if you are the most diligent brusher and flosser plaque can still make its way in your mouth? The reason is because there are certain areas in your mouth that your toothbrush and floss can’t reach and these are the areas that are prone to plaque buildup. The only way to remove plaque is to have your teeth scaled and polished by your dentist, which is why it is advised that you have your teeth professionally cleaned at least once every six months to keep plaque and tartar at bay. Your dentist has special tools to effectively remove plaque and tartar to keep your mouth clean and healthy. Just so you know, when plaque is left to linger on your teeth it will predispose you to cavities, tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss.

Home Care Instructions – you were told to brush and floss your teeth at home but the question is, are you doing it right? There is a certain technique to effective brushing. Similarly, there is also a technique in flossing. If you do it right you won’t be able to remove food particles in your teeth an in between it. During a dental checkup, your dentist will show you how it’s done.

So you see, you can’t really maintain the health of your teeth and gums by yourself. You’ll need the help of Modern Family Dentists in Kenosha.

When you were younger, you had no choice but to tag along with your parents to the dentist’s office for a checkup but now that you’re older no one is going to be there to remind you to book an appointment with Dr. Gerald Regni – dentist. You have absolute control over your life, which means you can choose whether or not to see your dentist. Unfortunately, most people never outgrow their fear of the dentist (or their fear of dental fees) and as a result, they deliberately avoid their dentist. While there are people who are lucky enough to be able to preserve the health of their teeth and gums despite the very rare occasions, they see their dentist if at all, there are those who end up with very bad and unhealthy teeth and gums. When is the best time to call your dentist? The following are dental health problems that require a trip to the dentist ASAP.

Toothache

If you are experiencing tooth pain outside regular dental hours you can just simply take over-the-counter pain medication or gargle with warm water and floss to remove food debris in between your teeth while you wait for the office to open. However, if you start noticing pus surrounding your tooth accompanied by painful swelling and fever then you definitely need to see an emergency dentist ASAP as these signs indicate a serious dental health problem.

Stained Teeth

Do you cover your mouth with your hand when you talk? Do you purse your lips instead of flashing a smile when you see someone you know? You don’t have to tell us why; we pretty much know that it’s because of your severely yellowed and heavily stained teeth. There are many factors that contribute to discolored and stained teeth including aging, smoking, drinking dark colored beverages like coffee, tea and wine and certain medications. When your stained teeth are taking a toll on your self-esteem you need to see a dentist fast. Your dentist has the necessary tools and bleaching solutions to safely and effectively whiten your teeth.

Dental Cavities

Dental cavities can happen to anyone. Yes, even adults are prone to develop cavities. Cavities occur when plaque accumulates on the surface of your teeth and along the gumline. Unfortunately, if plaque isn’t removed it will eat away your enamel creating a cavity. To prevent the formation of cavities it is recommended that you brush and floss your teeth and see your dentist regularly at least twice a year for a checkup and for a professional teeth cleaning treatment. Your dentist has the necessary tools and instruments required to remove stubborn plaque and tartar from your teeth. When cavities are already evident you should see your dentist to have it treated.

Impacted Teeth

When a permanent tooth does not move towards the surface of your gums it is considered impacted. If the impacted tooth doesn’t cause pain you can just leave it alone but if it starts to hurt it will create more problems in the future. The best course of action when a person suffers from an impacted tooth is to have it extracted.

Chipped Tooth

When an accident or an injury results to a chipped tooth you must see a dentist. Usually, chipped teeth can be corrected through procedures like dental veneers and dental bonding. If the chip is large that it has affected the pulp, a root canal may be necessary before a dental crown or veneer is applied.

When you experience any of these dental issues don’t hesitate to call Dr. Gerald Regni – dentist for an appointment. Even a seemingly minor dental problem can worsen and complicate fast if you don’t have it treated.

Taking care of your teeth is important for many different reasons. Your teeth help you eat and play a role in your appearance. Not only that, but your oral health can influence your overall health. There are things that you can do to help keep your mouth healthy. Brushing and flossing are important to do daily. Visiting your dentist on a regular basis is also important. When you visit your dentist, they will clean your teeth. Also, they are able to examine your teeth, tongue, and gums. This cleaning and examination can reveal any issues that you may be having with your mouth. That means that these issues can be addressed quickly before they turn into bigger problems.