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The Healthy Hound Newsletter #5

By: Dina Fantegrossi
Dina Fantegrossi is the Assistant Editor and Head Writer for HomeLife Media. Before her career in writing, Dina was a veterinary technician for more than 15 years.Read more
| November 23, 2019

In This Issue

● Recent Recalls
● Is It A Cold Or Something More Serious?
● No, Hemp Oil Won’t Get Your Dog High
● The Dangers Of Dogs Riding In Truck Beds
● Puppy Born With Tail On His Forehead
● Are You Stressing Your Dog Out?
● The Most Important Thing You Can Do For Your Dog
● Cold Weather Safety Tips

Recent Food Recalls

10/30/19 – FDA & CDC Report Pig Ear Salmonella Outbreak “appears to be over.”
9/21/19 – Performance Dog Raw Pet Food
8/31/19 – Aunt Jenny’s Frozen Raw Dog Food
8/14/19 – Texas Tripe Raw Dog Food

HEALTH ALERT #1

How To Tell If Your Dog Has A Cold Or Something More Serious

Cold and flu season is here. Is your dog at risk?

Very few viruses cross from one species to another. Cold germs tend to stick to their own kind, so the chances of you passing on your cold symptoms to the family dog (or vice versa) are slim to none.

However, dogs have their own viral strains that may cause cold symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, and runny nose.

We can usually tell our own colds from something more serious, but we must rely on our dogs’ behavior to determine just how sick they are.

Read on to learn what colds look like in dogs, when to seek veterinary attention, and how to protect your pup.

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

If doggy breath is ruining your one-on-one time, try sprinkling fresh parsley over your pup’s food!

THE HEALTHY HOUNDS SPOTLIGHT

“Hemp Oil Will Get Your Dog High.” I Learned That’s Not How It Works!

That’s what I thought would happen. Hemp. THC. Marijuana. All the same, right? Not at all. Apparently, THC is found in high concentrations in marijuana. That’s the stuff that gets you “high.” While it also contains hemp, it’s only in very small amounts. Conversely, hemp has high levels of hemp and lower levels of THC. And the hemp oil derived from hemp for animals has no more than 0.3% – definitely not enough to have psychoactive effects – like getting high.

Recently, one of my dogs, a 10-year old mixed breed named Tony (he looks like a tiger – no points for creativity?) started slowing down even limping on occasion, especially long ball-throwing sessions with his younger siblings. It was heartbreaking, but I knew he was getting old. Heck, I can’t run around much anymore either.

A good friend mentioned how she had been giving her senior dog hemp for old age issues (I can relate). He had been suffering from joint pain, which my friend noticed had slowly started about a year prior. That’s when I started looking into hemp as a possible benefit for Tony. There is so much information out there regarding hemp for dogs. It can be overwhelming. My friend turned me onto Cannanine – made from organic hemp & 100% THC-free Hemp oil.You read that correctly – 100%. Cannanine removes all THC from their hemp oil products.

I must say, the results have been pretty amazing. Not only is Tony keeping up with the two younger dogs, he seems to be more active in general. While these are my results, I encourage everyone to do their homework. Check out hemp and the potential benefits for your dogs. Some of the other benefits include:

  • Helping limit seizure activity
  • Anti-inflammatory qualities
  • Reducing nausea & vomiting
  • Alleviating pain & pain-related disorders
  • Helping with anxiety/depression

Cannanine has loads of helpful information on their site – even a FAQ. If you’re skeptical, like I was, it can answer a lot of your questions. While it may not be for everyone, I can definitely say that this product has improved the quality of my dog’s life.

HEALTH ALERT #2

4 Reasons Your Dog Should NEVER Ride In The Bed Of A Truck

According to American Humane, more than 100,000 dogs die each year in accidents associated with riding in the back of pickup trucks.

Not only are they at the mercy of the elements, they could also jump or fall from the truck bed resulting in severe injuries or death.

Even leashed dogs are at risk for dragging and strangulation. Not to mention the horror they could endure if there is a traffic accident.

The Animal Rescue Site offers four excellent reasons to keep your dog safely in the cab of your truck when you ride together.

QUIZ OF THE WEEK

Which hormone level do scientists primarily monitor to determine canine stress levels?

  1. Cortisol
  2. Oxytocin
  3. Progesterone

Not sure? Read on to find the answer!

IN THE NEWS

Rescue Puppy Is Born With A Tail On His Forehead

Narwhal the rescue puppy is taking the internet by storm! This adorable little guy was found earlier this month on the streets of Jackson, Missouri.

What makes Narwhal so special? He has a tiny little tail growing right between his gorgeous brown eyes!

The answer to the question on everyone’s mind: No, the extra tail cannot wag!

So far, veterinarians say there is no need to remove the tail, but that may change as Narwhal grows.

Whether it is a rare genetic defect or the remains of a parasitic twin, one thing is for sure: Narwhal is a very unique pup!

See this special unicorn pup in action, and find out more about his fascinating condition.

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

Worried about your dog gaining weight over the winter? Blow bubbles and watch your pup chase them all over the house!

BEHAVIOR & TRAINING

Are You Stressing Your Dog Out?

Several studies have shown that dogs tend to mirror their owners’ emotions. When we are happy and upbeat, so are they. And when we are neurotic and stressed out, our dogs may take that on, too.

A new study monitored stress hormones in 58 dogs and their owners over the course of months. By testing hair samples for the stress-related hormone cortisol, the scientists verified what was already suspected: dogs are quite sensitive to human stress.

“If the owner is stressed, then the dog is also likely to mirror that stress,” explains Lina Roth, a professor at Linkoping University in Sweden and an author of the study published in Nature’s Scientific Reports.

Find out how the researchers arrived at their findings, and what it means for your relationship with your dog.

VET CORNER

The Single Most Important Thing You Can Do For Your Dog’s Health

by Dr. Joanna Paul

You’ve probably heard time and time again how important it is to provide your dog with a balanced diet, lots of exercise, and semi-annual vet visits.

While this is certainly true, Australian veterinarian, Dr. Joanna Paul says there is one thing you can do above all else to help keep your dog healthy: Pay attention!

“How can we possibly tell if something is wrong if we aren’t aware of what our dog looks like, acts like, and feels like when everything is okay?” Dr. Paul writes.

Find out how to recognize your dog’s personal “normal,” monitor for changes, and determine when it’s time to worry.

TIS THE SEASON

How To Keep Your Dog Safe During Extremely Cold Weather

Extremely low temperatures can be deadly for pets, and all 50 states have animal cruelty laws regarding dogs left out in freezing conditions.

Just like humans, dogs can develop hypothermia and frostbite. The general rule is: if it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them!

Learn what to watch for, how to warm a dog accidentally left outside too long, and what to do if you witness a neighborhood dog in extreme conditions.

Do you have a question or topic you’d like The Healthy Hound to address in an upcoming newsletter? Click here to let us know!

Quiz Answer:

1. Cortisol. There are three main stress-related hormones in both dogs and humans: cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine. However, cortisol is the most frequently studied, and is often referred to as the “stress hormone” because it is released into the bloodstream during stressful situations.

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