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The Healthy Hound Newsletter #53

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 December 5, 2020

In This Issue

● Aflatoxins In Dog Food
● Why Is My Dog Always Hungry?
● Only REAL Service Dogs To Fly Free
● Holiday Dog Crimes & Culprits
● Canine Liver Disease
● Indoor Dog Parkour

Recent Food Recalls

11/13/20 – Albright’s Raw Chicken Recipe
10/8/20 – Sunshine Mills, Inc. (20 Brands)
9/22/20 – Billy+Margot Wild Kangaroo & Superfoods
8/24/20 – Nature’s Menu With Chicken & Quail
7/13/20 – Benyfit Natural Raw Dog Food

HEALTH ALERT #1

What Are Aflatoxins & Why Are They Contaminating So Many Dog Food Brands?

In every edition of The Healthy Hound we include a list of recent dog food recalls. For the past several months that list has featured an ever-growing number of brands found to be contaminated with aflatoxins.

Aflatoxins are highly toxic, cancer-causing byproducts of Aspergillus mold. They contaminate wheat, rice, corn, and grains used in pet food due to fungal infections during pre- and post-harvest conditions.

Find out which diets are currently affected and the symptoms of aflatoxin toxicity in dogs.

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

Snow can muffle familiar scents increasing a dog’s risk of getting lost. Always keep them on a leash or in a fenced yard when outdoors!

HAPPY, HEALTHY MUST HAVES

Cannanine™ Hemp Oil + 10 FREE Omega Boost Large Krill Dental Sticks

For a limited time when you purchase any concentration of Cannanine™ Organic Full Spectrum Hemp Oil, your pup will get 10 Happy, Healthy™️ Antarctic Krill Omega Dental Sticks absolutely FREE!

Cannanine offers unparalleled support for your dog’s endocannabinoid system to help him battle pain, inflammation, and anxiety while our omega-packed Krill Sticks boost skin and coat health AND scrub your pup’s teeth as he chews.

Take advantage of this incredible offer before it’s gone!

QUIZ OF THE WEEK

The Transportation Department banned which species from flying as service animals on commercial flights:

  1. Tortoises
  2. Peacocks
  3. Cats
  4. All of the Above

Not sure? Read on to find the answer!

HEALTH ALERT #2

Why Does My Dog Always Act Hungry?

In the wild, dogs are opportunistic hunters/scavengers. They eat as much as possible when food is available because they never know when their next meal will come.

This is both a positive and a negative for domestic dogs. On one hand, their constant drive for food means they are extremely responsive to treat-based training. On the other, it puts them at risk for poisoning, bloat, intestinal blockage, weight gain, and all the medical problems that go along with it!

In this post, Dr. Jules Benson, VP of Veterinary Services at Petplan Pet Insurance, explains the behavioral and medical causes of high food drive in dogs – and how to tell the difference.

IN THE NEWS

Transportation Dept: Only Legitimate Service Dogs Allowed In Airplane Cabin

The United States Transportation Department issued a final ruling this week that dogs are the only pets that may fly for free as service animals.

In the past, travelers boarded commercial aircraft with cats, turtles, pot-bellied pigs, and more. All they needed was a doctor’s note declaring them an emotional support animal, a title that requires no official training to obtain.

The decision will hopefully put an end to people “fraudulently representing their pets as service animals,” and allow real service dogs and the people who rely on them to travel in peace.

A Tip From +THE HEALTHY HOUND

Never leave your dog alone in a running car. Not only can it get too cold this time of year, there is the added danger of carbon monoxide from the engine.

BEHAVIOR & TRAINING

Survey Reveals All The Ways Our Dogs “Ruin” The Holidays

The holidays are a time when family, friends, and all their pets come together to celebrate – and wrestle, and chew up presents, and knock over the tree!

Research conducted by Itchpet found that around 12.5 million pets will commit a Christmas ‘crime’ — and Jack Russell Terriers are the most likely canine culprits.

Find out the Top 20 Christmas Pet Crimes and which 12 Dog Breeds are most likely to commit them!

VET CORNER

Liver Disease In Dogs

by Amy Flowers, DVM

The liver acts as a filter, straining out toxins from the blood and aiding in digestion. If it is not working correctly your dog can become very ill.

Because this organ is involved in so many important body functions there are several things that can go wrong. Certain medications or an overly fatty meal could be enough to inflame your pup’s liver.

In this Fetch by WebMD post you’ll learn the causes and symptoms of liver disease in dogs as well as treatment and prevention options.

TIS THE SEASON

This Winter, Try Indoor Dog Parkour!

When winter weather cuts into your pup’s outdoor exercise, try indoor dog parkour! This energetic activity combines human parkour techniques and dog agility for a fun day of cardio.

Dog parkour builds confidence and can be done anywhere. It gets your dog jumping, climbing, balancing, crawling, and weaving around obstacles you find in the everyday world. The fun is only limited by your imagination.

LEARN HOW PARKOUR CAN KEEP YOUR DOG ACTIVE THIS WINTER!

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:

4. All of the Above. The new Transportation Department rule says only dogs can qualify as service animals, and they have to be specially trained to help a person with disabilities.

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