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avoid costly vet bills?  By Morieka Johnson, February 24, 2012
-- Updated 1245 GMT (2045 HKT) Costly treatments can be avoided
by taking preventative measures to promote your pet's health.
• Set a goal of brushing your pet's teeth at least three times a
week   • Feline lower urinary tract disease can be avoided by
increasing their water intake   • Make sure windows are tightly
framed and avoid letting cats free on the balcony  ( -- My dog
has a preference for shoes, but some dogs and cats have a knack
for finding and consuming more dangerous items, in spite of our
best efforts to deter that behavior. When those things get
stuck, pets often need a trip to the vet for emergency removal.
"Picture what would happen if you literally never brushed your
teeth," says Dr. Louise Murray, vice president of the Bergh
animal hospital. "With proper dental care, dental treatments are
shorter, less complicated, less invasive and less uncomfortable
for your pe