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The Healthy Hound Newsletter #14

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
| January 25, 2020

In This Issue

● Dangerous Cleaning Product
● Emergency First Aid
● “Scary” Dog Finds Love
● Are You Causing Your Dog’s Bad Behavior?
● Adopting A Special Needs Pup
● Pet Dental Health Month

Recent Food Recalls

01/16/20 – Happy Hounds Frozen Raw Food (UK)
01/16/20 – Black Hawk Raw Dog Food (Aus/NZ)
09/26/19 – Performance Raw Dog Food
08/31/19 – Aunt Jeni’s Frozen Raw Dog Food

HEALTH ALERT #1

Popular Cleaning Product May Be Dangerous To Dogs

Consumers in the UK love Zoflora Concentrated Disinfectant for its multi-room cleaning versatility, wide variety of powerful scents, and inexpensive price point. But what users may not know is that it contains a chemical that may be harmful to dogs, cats, and other household pets.

According to the product website, Zoflora can be used in just about any area of the home, including pet litter trays and crates as long as it is allowed to dry completely before pets come in contact with it.

Unfortunately many pet parents have overlooked this caveat, resulting in hundreds of calls to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service – a 24-hour helpline for pet parents.

While there have not been any reported deaths, the chemical in Zoflora can cause painful ulcers of the mouth, swollen eyes, loss of appetite and drooling.

Learn more about this potentially harmful chemical, what to do if your dog comes in contact with it, and how to keep your pets safe while cleaning.

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

Tired of hearing about all the things you CAN’T give your dog? Here are 12 human foods you CAN share!

HEALTH ALERT #2

8 Must-Know Emergency Dog First Aid Procedures

Despite our best efforts, accidents happen and dogs occasionally become injured or ill. Should one of these situations arise, are you prepared to perform CPR or rescue breathing to save your dog’s life?

Do you know how to apply a pressure wrap to a bleeding wound or recognize the signs of deadly heat stroke?

You should always seek prompt veterinary attention if your dog experiences an emergency, but performing these procedures in the mean time could very well mean the difference between life and death.

QUIZ OF THE WEEK

By the age of three, __% of dogs have some form of dental disease.

  1. 15%
  2. 50%
  3. 80%

Not sure? Read on to find the answer!

IN THE NEWS

Dog’s Appearance May Be Shocking, But She Is 100% Happy & Healthy

Meet Bethany. She was born to a Romanian street dog and brought to the UK by Safe Rescue For Dogs.

As you can see, her appearance is very different from your average pup, but despite her “twisted” muzzle and droopy eyes, veterinarians say she is perfectly healthy.

Not only is she physically fit, Bethany is one of the happiest, most playful pups you’ll ever meet!

When her story hit the internet, thousands of emails flooded in from interested adopters, but Bethany’s friends at SRFD feared that some of them were interested in her for the wrong reasons.

Find out how this perfectly imperfect gal’s story ends and check out a video of her living her best life!

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

To treat tear stains naturally, add a teaspoon of white or apple cider vinegar to your dog’s drinking water.

BEHAVIOR & TRAINING

6 Ways You Could Be Causing Your Dog’s Bad Behavior

Well behaved dogs are not born, they are made through proper training and consistency. That’s not to say that all dogs are “bad,” it’s just that normal canine behavior varies widely from what most people expect from their house pets.

The problem is, many humans do not fully understand what their dogs need in order to succeed at training and conform to our rules.

In this post, seasoned trainer, Kristina Lotz breaks down the six most common mistakes dog parents make, and how they inadvertently reinforce bad behavior.

VET CORNER

What You Need To Know Before Adopting A Special Needs Pet

by Dr. Karen Shaw Becker

Some people would never consider adopting a special needs dog. It’s not that they don’t think they are worthy. They fear they cannot provide the level of care the animal needs and deserves.

Others see a special needs pooch and make a snap decision to adopt right then and there. While this is certainly noble, bringing home any pet – especially one with unique health needs – is not a commitment that should be made lightly.

Dr. Karen Becker has seen clients struggle at both ends of the spectrum. She recommends asking lots of questions and doing your research before coming to a decision.

In addition to a list of questions to ask the rescue or shelter, she offers her professional advice on caring for a special needs pet.

TIS THE SEASON

February Is The Time To Prioritize Your Dog’s Dental Health

February is National Pet Dental Health Month and it’s just around the corner!

Why is it important to prioritize your dog’s dental health? According to research, approximately 80% of dogs have some form of dental disease by the age of three.

This can lead to more than just bad breath. Periodontal disease causes inflammation of the gums and can eventually result in oral infections that break down and destroy teeth.

As you can imagine, this process is quite painful. Even worse, advanced dental disease puts dogs at risk for more serious illnesses like heart disease and organ failure when bacteria from the mouth enters the bloodstream.

Is your breed prone to dental disease?

This February, make an appointment with your vet to assess your dog’s oral health. Keep in mind they may need a professional dental cleaning before you begin an at-home care routine.

CHECK OUT THESE 11 HACKS TO KEEP YOUR DOG’S BREATH FRESH

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:

3. 80%. According to the AVMA, periodontal disease is the most common health problem small animals face, and 80% of them show signs by the age of three.

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