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The Healthy Hound Newsletter #3

Written 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
| Published on November 9, 2019

In This Issue

● Recent Recalls
● K9 Blood Donors
● Paralyzed Dog Recovers
● Treating Joint Pain Naturally
● Performing A K9 Cancer Check
● Vet Corner: Dangerous Dog Chews
● Reader Q: Why Is My Dog Afraid Of People?

Recent Food Recalls

10/30/19 – According to FDA & CDC: Pig Ear Salmonella Outbreak “Appears To Be Over”
9/26/19 – Performance Dog Raw Pet Food
8/31/19 – Aunt Jenny’s Frozen Raw Dog Food
8/14/19 – Texas Tripe Raw Dog Food

THE SCIENCE OF HEALTH

Blood Donor Dogs: These Unsung Canine Heroes Save Countless Lives

Accidents, illnesses and complicated surgeries can leave patients desperately in need of blood transfusions. There are 2,370 independent blood banks devoted to humans in the U.S.

For pets, there are just 10.

To compensate for the deficit in life-saving canine blood, many veterinary colleges and clinics have established volunteer donor programs.

The everyday family pets that donate save hundreds of lives each year.

Of the eight canine blood types, only one is considered a “universal donor.” These dogs are essential to the survival of their sick and injured cousins the world over. Nearly three quarters of all Greyhounds are universal blood donors, but any dog could potentially carry this lifesaving trait.

Does your dog have what it takes to become a canine life-saver? Learn the criteria for donor dogs, and the many perks these furry heroes enjoy!

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

If your dog hates having their teeth brushed, try massaging the teeth and gums with a moist washcloth and a dab of pet-safe toothpaste. It’s less invasive and feels great!

IN THE NEWS

Paralyzed Dog Makes Miraculous Recovery

Starfish was abandoned at a New York shelter two weeks after an unknown injury left her hind end paralyzed.

Despite the pain and stress of her ordeal, she never lost hope – or her infectious smile.

That must have been what inspired Second Chance Rescue NYC to take a chance on her. Dogs with paralysis are especially hard to place due to the extra care they require, but SCRNYC knew Starfish was worth the risk.

After she appeared on Facebook, thousands of dog lovers rallied around Starfish. Their kind donations helped provide her with a snazzy custom wheelchair.

Starfish was a happy dog, indeed. She poured her heart and soul into her physical therapy, and soon, her efforts paid off!

See Starfish walk into a brand new life – without her wheelchair!

QUIZ OF THE WEEK

What disease accounts for up to 60% of deaths in dogs over 10 years of age?

  1. Heart Disease

  2. Cancer

  3. Diabetes

Not sure? Read on to find the answer!

IN THE NEWS

Finding A Natural Solution To Canine Joint Pain

Joint pain is a uniquely difficult problem in dogs. Surgery is expensive and invasive with no guarantee of success. Prescription pain medications provide relief, but may come with devastating side effects.

So what’s a loving pawrent to do when their dog is suffering?

Justine’s dog River battled excruciating hip and joint pain from the time he was six-months-old. He was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia which worsened as he grew.

Prescription pain meds helped, but Justine worried about their long-term effects, especially for a dog so young.

Learn what happened when she put River on natural joint supplements including CBD.

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

In honor of Pet Cancer Awareness Month, we encourage you to perform a canine cancer check on your dog once a month!

Check out our in-depth post on how to perform a head-to-toe canine cancer check!

VET CORNER

Popular Dog Chews That Are Actually Dangerous To Dogs

by Dr. Jason Nicholas

According to the CDC and FDA, the recent Salmonella outbreak associated with pig ear dog treats is now over. The major scare brings up an often contentious point: which items are safe for your dog to chew on?

As Dr. Jason Nicholas, Chief Medical Officer of Preventive Vet, writes:

“Dogs have an innate desire and need to chew. Unfortunately, they’re not always great at picking the best things to chew on. This is where you come in.

It can sometimes feel like there are as many types of chews and chew toys as there are dogs to chew them. And just about everyone has a personal pick for their dog, no matter what they hear to the contrary.

The truth is, there are some types of chews and chew toys that are best avoided if you want to keep your dog safe. Even if you decide that you still want to give your dog the following chews and toys, you should at least know the inherent dangers and risks.”

Find out the 8 chews Dr. Nicholas advises against, and which he recommends in their place.

SUBSCRIBER QUESTION

Why Does My Dog Act Hesitant & Scared When Approached By Humans?

Healthy Hound reader, Kris L. emailed us with a behavioral concern regarding his one-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier, Luna.

Kris has had Luna since she was six-weeks-old and made a strong effort to socialize her with both humans and other dogs. Despite this, Luna becomes very frightened and hesitant when people approach her.

According to Kris, he and Luna are together almost 24/7. This may mean that Luna feels possessive of her dad around other humans. However, she is friendly and calm when other dogs approach.

It could also be that Luna’s early socialization training has been forgotten due to spending so much alone time with Kris.

Regardless of the underlying cause, help is available. In fact, New Jersey-based trainer, Fernando Camacho covers this very issue in his blog post, The Best Tool For A Dog Fearful Of People.

A professional trainer in Kris’ area can help him implement these techniques and have Luna making new human friends in no time!

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

Quiz Answer:

2. Cancer. Canine cancer accounts for up to 60 percent of dog deaths, depending on size and breed.

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