This product emits a series of ultrasound pulses that are harmless and imperceptible to both humans and animals. During flea and tick season, attach it to the collar and have it worn continually, even indoors. It becomes fully effective in 24 hours after activation. Continuous wearing ensures 9-10 months of efficient protection against parasites.

Here in Miami Beach we have "super fleas," fleas that don't respond to topical flea and tick medications, neither over the counter nor prescription. The abundant feral cat population keeps these fleas strong. One tube of topical flea medication usually lasted about 24 hours before fleas re-infested my dogs, when those products are supposed to last a month. These fleas also don't respond to oral flea medications. I'd get about a day out of those as well. As you know, it's not safe to double and triple dose pets with these products--and the products are expensive. 

Last fall, I spent at least an hour a day, every day, picking fleas off my dogs, or bathing them daily with Dawn dishwashing detergent. I removed hundreds of fleas per month and was extremely frustrated. And itchy. I suffered many bites on my legs and arms. I spoke with all of my neighbors who have dogs, and they were all experiencing the same situation. I also found a tick on Pearl, which was distressing because of my past Lyme Disease infection. On top of all of this, Pearl was diagnosed with nasal cancer, so I was extremely hesitant to continue to give her topical or oral flea medications. 

​But I'm here to sing the praises of this product. Nine after simply clipping it to my dogs' collars, I have found no fleas or ticks on Pearl, and exactly two fleas on Jasmine. In this flea endemic area, that's a miracle. I used to pick 25 fleas off Jasmine every day. This product works. Jasmine has somehow unfortunately broken her first one, so I just ordered another. 
​

Can good dental care make your dog live longer? I recently had a veterinarian tell me that my mutt, Pearl, has pretty bad teeth. This doesn’t surprise me, since three of her five years on earth have been spent slightly neglected due to my bout with Lyme Disease, when I was too sick to tend to the finer details of life. Now that I’m healthy again, I’m focusing on getting my dogs back into top physical shape, and part of that includes their dental care.

I caught up with my friend, California veterinarian Dr. Patrick Mahaney, to ask him a few questions about canine dental care. 

NKP: How much time can you potentially add to a dog's life by paying attention to his dental hygiene? Any anecdotes?

PM: It's hard to say how much time you can potentially add to a dog’s life by regularly providing home dental care. As some dogs never have any attention paid to their periodontal health and live well into their senior years, it's not as though the dedication to regular dental care will definitively result in longevity. Yet, there's a higher likelihood that the internal organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, etc.) will stay healthier when an owner provides periodontal care to his canine companion. 

NKP: What illnesses can a dog get if his dental hygiene is ignored? 

PM: When a dog’s dental hygiene is ignored, a variety of ailments can develop inside the mouth including gingivitis (gum inflammation), gingival recession (receding of the gums away from the diseased tooth), periodontal ligament damage (which weakens the attachment of the tooth to the socket in the alveolar bone), bad breath (from bacterial proliferation), and even oral cavity bleeding. The internal organs, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and others can also be negatively impacted when dental hygiene is ignored.

NKP: How can people best take care of their dog's dental needs? 

PM: People can best take care of their dogs dental disease by scheduling an examination with their veterinarian. Based on the dog’s current degree of periodontal disease, the most appropriate plan for cleaning can be recommended.

The most thorough type of cleaning occurs under anesthesia, as the veterinarian is able to scale under the gumline, take x-rays (an important means of assessing what occurs under the gumline that is invisible to the eye), and even extract any disease teeth.

If a dog’s mouth is a relatively clean slate, then daily rushing with a soft bristle brush with a pet-appropriate tooth product (gel, liquid, paste, etc.) is very doable means of preventing periodontal disease.

Not making the time to provide your dog with regular dental care actually amounts to neglect, as periodontal disease is completely preventable and has potentially life-threatening consequences when allowed to develop and progress.


Catch up with Dr. Patrick Mahaney and his dog, Cardiff, on Facebook and Twitter!

No one wants to shorten their dog’s lifespan, but you may be inadvertently taking years off your dog’s life if you’re not taking into account these ten things: 

2. Poor diet. A diet of dry dog food that contains a surplus of chemicals and preservatives will eventually cause kidney and liver issues in your dog, which can lead to death. These chemicals build up in your dog’s system, especially if you’re feeding the same brand and flavor, year after year.

Instead of going cheap on the kibble, or even purchasing “premium” brands of dog food, it’s best to buy “super premium." This is like the difference between gasolines – do you want your dog on regular or high test? 

TELO-20 for Dogs also has a human counterpart, TELO-100, which I take every day, and I also give TELO-20 for Dogs daily to my canine companions. 

3. Obesity. I have to admit, I’m guilty of having chubby dogs. When I was sick with Lyme Disease for several years and in bed most of the time, my dogs didn’t get the kind of exercise they were used to, so they put on a few pounds. A Purina Lifespan study showed that being overweight takes two years off of a dog’s lifespan. Two years! It’s time to hit the doggie gym – or at least take more walks. 

5. Lack of veterinary or preventative care. Veterinarians recommend that you take your dog to the vet for a yearly check up, where the doctor will administer vaccines, take blood work, and do a physical exam on your dog. Dogs that aren’t vaccinated are at risk for dying from parvo or distemper, among other nasty diseases. 

Heartworm medication is crucial, especially for dogs living where there are mosquitoes. I give my dogs a monthly dose of ivermectin (the active ingredient in heartworm medication) that I buy online rather than paying a fortune for a commercially prepared brand. I’m not recommending that you do this because you have to dose very carefully, but it’s definitely a money saver. Some breeds can’t tolerate ivermectin, so do your research before you dose.

Finally, you must apply flea and tick protection to your dog. Ticks carry Lyme Disease, Babesia, Ehrlichia, and a host of other infections that can cause lameness or death. 

7. No spay or neuter. Female dogs that aren’t spayed can get mammary cancer and tumors. Intact male dogs can get testicular cancer and tumors. Talk about high veterinary bills! Not to mention all the needless pain and suffering. Also, intact male dogs tend to roam in search of females in heat, and can be hit by cars or become lost forever. Please spay or neuter your pet!

8. Roaming loose. Speaking of roaming loose . . . dogs that are allowed out of the confines of the home or yard without a leash are at high risk for being attacked by another dog, being hit by a vehicle, being stolen, or being picked up by animal control.

6. Lack of dental care. Not cleaning your dog’s teeth can take years off of his life. The teeth are host to a variety of bacteria that are swallowed daily. The body has to deal with all of these bacteria, which can cause stress on the immune systems of older animals. The bacteria eventually create tartar, which can lead to gum disease, and finally, to teeth falling out or having to be pulled.

It’s easy to clean your dog’s teeth – you just need a child’s toothbrush and plain water. Once a day, rinse the toothbrush and run it lightly over the outside of your dog’s teeth – no need to brush the insides. If your dog balks, add a little coconut oil to the brush for flavor. You can purchase a specific dog toothbrush and toothpaste – these are nice to have, but not completely necessary. 

10. Lack of supervision or dog-proofing. Your home and yard should be 100% dog proofed. This means no chemicals, food, garbage, or medicines within your dog’s reach. No holes in the fence. No electrical wires for your dog to chew. Remove anything your dog could chew and choke on, such as remotes, cell phones, and socks.

If your dog is not reliable inside the house by himself, if he tends to chew or destroy furniture, crate train him or keep him in a safe dog-proofed room when you’re not home. Never leave your dog in the yard alone – someone could steal him, poison him, or he could dig under the fence and run away.

Keep your dog healthy and safe!