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The Healthy Hound Newsletter #31

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
| May 23, 2020

In This Issue

● Airport Dogs To Detect COVID-19
● Does Your Dog Need Joint Support?
● Yes, Dogs Belong On Our Beds
● Nurse Adopts Patient’s Pup
● Build Your Shy Dog’s Trust
● Care For Hotspots
● Avoid This Deadly Seasonal Plant

Recent Food Recalls

3/23/20 – IcelandicPlus Fish Treats
2/14/20 – Aunt Jeni’s Frozen Raw Pet Food
2/07/20 – Happy Hounds Frozen Raw Dog Food
1/16/20 – Black Hawk Dry Dog Food

HEALTH ALERT #1

Airport Dogs Will Soon Sniff Travelers For COVID-19

The working dogs that help protect our airports are trained to sniff out drugs and explosives, but in a matter of months they may have some very important canine coworkers.

Medical detection dogs can already detect cancer and malaria, so why not COVID-19 in weary travelers?

Scientists think it’s a no-brainer. If they are right, people who don’t even know they are sick could be prevented from spreading the virus from city to city or even country to country.

Find out more about the “Super Six,” the first batch of dogs currently undergoing training for this life-saving task.

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

A homemade spritzer of apple cider vinegar and water can help make your pooch less tasty to fleas & ticks.

HAPPY, HEALTHY MUST HAVES

6 Signs Your Dog Would Benefit From A Daily Joint Supplement

Dog parents have the challenging task of recognizing the signs of pain and illness in their pups. Some conditions are easy to spot, but achy joints can be tricky. Dogs are very stoic, and not all of them present with tell-tale limping.

The tips in this post can help you decide when it is time to begin giving your pooch a joint care supplement.

Keep in mind, joint pain isn’t just for seniors. In fact, some dogs begin suffering from hip, knee, and/or elbow pain before they are even full grown!

iHeartDogs’ Happy, Healthy Advanced Hip & Joint Support with Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM and Organic Turmeric helps keep joints strong and functional in dogs of all ages and breeds.

QUIZ OF THE WEEK

What percentage of dog parents let their pups sleep in the bed with them?

  1. 15%
  2. 45%
  3. 85%

Not sure? Read on to find the answer!

HEALTH ALERT #2

Science Says Once & For All: Your Dog SHOULD Sleep On Your Bed

There has been a lot of debate regarding whether or not dogs belong in the bedroom. Everyone seems to have an opinion, including members of the scientific community.

Some find that dogs are too squirmy or too eager to steal the covers, while others feel safer and more relaxed with a canine cuddle buddy.

Ultimately the choice is yours, but if you are on the fence, science has 5 compelling reasons to share the bed with your best friend.

IN THE NEWS

Nurse Adopts Terminally Ill Patient’s Dog

Nurse Penny Manning of the Norton Audubon Hospital in Kentucky is going far above and beyond her duties to save a senior dog and put a terminal patient’s mind at ease.

In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the gentleman was unable to arrange care for his 12-year-old Pug, Duke. Finally, he turned to his kind nurse for help.

Not only did she rescue Duke from the patient’s abandoned apartment, Manning agreed to bring the pooch for a visit just as soon as the facility’s pandemic restrictions slacken.

Should that day never come, the patient can rest easy knowing Duke will be safe and loved for the rest of his life.

Learn more about this heartwarming story and how Manning’s coworkers are honoring her generous spirit.

DID YOU KNOW?

Dogs that maintain a healthy weight live up to two and a half years longer!

BEHAVIOR & TRAINING

How To Build Trust In A Shy Dog

Sharing your home with a shy dog is a big challenge. You must always be aware of their limitations. Visitors to the home and well-meaning strangers can accidentally send your timid pooch into a panic.

Even more concerning, shy dogs are more likely to bite – not because they are “mean” or vicious, but because they are so easily frightened. This puts your dog and everyone around them at risk, so behavior modification is a must.

Professional dog trainer, Katie Finlay offers her best tips for building trust in a shy dog.

VET CORNER

Hot Spots On Dogs – Causes, Treatment & Prevention

by Dr. Ernie Ward

Dr. Ernie Ward refers to acute moisture dermatitis, commonly known as hot spots, as “one of the most dreaded dermatological conditions veterinarians confront.”

Hot spots are ugly, bloody, sticky, and stinky. Plus, dogs seem to create these self-inflicted sores at record speed. A simple itch turns into a massive infected wound seemingly overnight.

So what is the solution? How do we get to the bottom of this intensely irritating problem? Dr Ward has everything pet parents need to know to treat and prevent itchy, ouchy hot spots.

TIS THE SEASON

Why Foxtails Are So Dangerous To Dogs

Foxtail plants are seasonal, grass-like weeds most commonly found on the West Coast. However, according to the U.S. Forest Service, they grow in all but seven southern states.

Foxtails are in season from May through early summer, and it is important for pet owners to understand the risks they pose. According to FETCH by WebMD:

“The barbed seed heads of the foxtail plant can work their way into any part of your dog or cat, from the nose to between the toes and inside the ears, eyes, and mouth. They can even simply dig themselves directly into a patch of skin.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY PLANT

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:

2. 45%. According to the American Kennel Club, 45% of the owners they surveyed share their beds with the family dog.

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