In This Issue

● Recent Food Recalls
● Puppy Defies All Odds
● Dangers Of Retractable Leashes
● A New Way To Calculate Dog Age
● What Vets Wish Every Dog Owner Knew
● Why Take A Healthy Dog To The Vet?
● Canine Holiday Hazards

Recent Food Recalls

10/30/19 – Pig Ear Salmonella Outbreak Appears To Be Over
09/21/19 – Performance Dog Raw Pet Food
08/31/19 – Aunt Jeni’s Frozen Raw Dog Food
08/14/19 – Texas Tripe Raw Dog Food

SUCCESS STORY

Puppy Survives Death Row, A Brutal Dog Attack & A Deadly Virus

Nova truly is a star! This little fighter was saved from euthanasia at a Los Angeles shelter by Love Leo Rescue. She had been attacked by another dog, and required immediate veterinary care for her infected wounds.

Despite her dire condition, Nova beat the odds and began to recover; but she wasn’t out of the woods just yet.

Her foster parents noticed that the normally bright, happy puppy had become listless and lethargic. Back at the vet, Nova was diagnosed with life-threatening Parvovirus.

Find out how this brave little gal fought her way back to health, and what she’s up to now!

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

Dieting dogs care more about quantity than size when it comes to treats. Instead of one large treat, break it into several pieces to give throughout the day.

HEALTH ALERT

5 Reasons To Ditch Your Dog’s Retractable Leash

Some people swear by their dogs’ retractable leashes, but veterinarians, trainers, and those who have suffered leash-related injuries strongly disagree.

Retractable leashes provide little control, resulting in dogs suffering serious injuries or even death.

And dogs aren’t the only ones at risk. Leash-wielding humans have lost fingers, suffered partial blindness, and sustained wounds or fractures.

Learn all about the pitfalls of retractable leashes, and what type of lead you should use instead.

QUIZ OF THE WEEK

How often should you wash your dog’s bowls?

1. Every Day
2. Every 3 Days
3. Once A Week

Not sure? Read on to find the answer!

IN THE NEWS

Scientists May Have Found A Better Way To Calculate Your Dog’s Age

Have you ever wondered where the “dogs age seven years for each chronological year” theory came from?

Scientists took the average human life expectancy of 77 years and divided it by the average canine life span of 11 years.

While this method is helpful in young dogs, it goes off the rails when dogs live well into their teens. It also fails to take breed or size into account – factors veterinarians believe play a major role in canine aging.

Recently, a group of geneticists took yet another approach to estimating the “biological” age of dogs through “epigenetic clocks”—changes to the packaging of DNA that accumulate over time in all mammals.

Learn more about this fascinating study and use the Age Calculator to see how old your dog is based on the new formula.

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

Cars cool down rapidly in cold weather, making them almost as dangerous as hot ones. Whenever possible, keep your pup safely at home!

VET CORNER

3 Veterinarians Share The Things They Wish Every Dog Owner Knew

Being a responsible dog parent takes a lot of work and even more patience. Our pups may drive us crazy sometimes, but when you factor in all the joy they bring, they are definitely worth it!

No one knows this better than veterinarians, Yolanda Ochoa, Sara Ochoa, and Gary Richter. They recently chatted with Insider to offer up their most valuable advice for dog owners.

Check out the nine things they wish all of us knew about our dogs’ health.

READER QUESTION

When/Why Should I Take My Dog To The Vet If He Is Showing Healthy Signs?

When I saw this question from a Healthy Hound reader, I knew I had to answer it. As a former veterinary technician, I have seen the value of routine physical exams firsthand.

Healthy dogs that visit the vet for “routine” physicals have the benefit of complete, thorough exams as opposed to those that come in with problems.

For example, if a dog comes in with hair loss, hotspots and itchy skin, the majority of the vet’s time is going to go towards addressing these issues.

With a healthy dog, the vet can focus on assessing your pet from head to toe. He or she can search for red flags like lumps and bumps, limping, or swollen lymph nodes.

These visits are also a great time to get your dog’s baseline vital signs and blood values. This way, when your dog is feeling under the weather, your vet can compare the results.

There are plenty more reasons to to keep up with your dog’s routine wellness visits. Find out how often your pooch should visit the vet at each lifestage.

TIS THE SEASON

Canine Holiday Hazards To Avoid This Month

December is a time for fun, family, friends, and food. With all the decorating, shopping, and parties, your home will be packed with potential hazards.

Dogs have a tendency to get into mischief when temptations abound, so be sure to doggy-proof your home and yard.

Not all dogs see ornaments and Christmas lights as snacks, but even picky pups can get drawn in by the allure of delicious holiday meals and treats.

Take special care if serving sugar-free candies, mints, gums, or candy canes. Many of these products contain the artificial sweetener, Xylitol which is deadly to dogs.

Sadly, a beloved pet named Isa lost her life just this week to Xylitol poisoning.

Below you’ll find our list of the top 10 holiday foods you should NEVER let your dog get hold of!

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. Every Day. According to veterinarian, Gary Richter, “Food and water bowls should be cleaned with hot water and soap daily. Toys and bedding should be washed at least monthly, or even more often depending on how quickly they get dirty.”

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