Halloween & Health Safety for Dogs

October 2014 Please visit http://doghealthnewsletter.com/newsletters/doghealthnews101.htm if your email browser is not html-compliant, to view through your Internet browser.
	ASK DR. SCHELLING DEAR DR. SCHELLING, Trick-or-treaters banging on the door, revelers at parties down the block, junk food everywhere . . . how's a poor pup (like our dachshund) supposed to have a safe, non-traumatic Halloween? –Concerned for our "Howl-a-wiener" Dog
Dear Concerned, Your apprehension about this holiday is appropriate. Luckily, there are a number of well-established preventive measures you can take to help ensure that your dachshund and you have a delightful rather than frightful Halloween; they're explained in this new article HALLOWEEN HAZARDS AND SOLUTIONS FOR DOGS. Click here to learn more about: HALLOWEEN HAZARDS AND SOLUTIONS FOR DOGS … … … … Become a fan of Dr. Schelling on Facebook! Get up to date information on dog health, care, behavior and much more! Have a question? Email us at: comments@doghealthnewsletter.com
Dear Max, My humans have been stalking up on these yummy smelling, sweet bags of treats and pouring them into big bowls that look like pumpkins. As usual, I figure they must be for me, especially since they're putting them in bowls, so I've been sniffing these plastic things to let my humans know they can let me sample the contents any time. But my humans are not complying with my wishes. Why not? –Sweet Tooth … … … … Dear Sweet Tooth, Because they love you. Let me explain . . . Your humans are celebrating Halloween, a special day when humans dress up in costumes, give out candy and go trick-or-treating for some sweet treats of their own. These plastic pumpkin bowls probably contains candy, most likely chocolates, that they will be giving out on Halloween night. Trust me, your humans have your best interests in mind by not sharing any with you. Candy and chocolate can be very dangerous for us non-humans. My canine veterinarian friend, Dr. Samoyed (who already has the white coat) warns: "The high fat content in many confections and desserts can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and even result in a potentially lethal medical condition called pancreatitis. Too much sugar can also cause stomach upsets. Even sugar-free candy can produce serious problems: The ingredient xylitol can lead to a life-threatening drop in blood sugar, and theoretically liver failure as well." The biggie is chocolate, though. Humans savor it, but it's toxic to dogs. An added issue with us dogs is that we tend to like the sweet stuff. Here's more information, written by a knowledgeable veterinarian, on why chocolate must never be fed to dogs (or cats or other animals): Chocolate: Toxic to Dogs. As an alternative, maybe you can talk your humans into buying you some tasty dog treats. Or maybe have them take you on an extra-long walk, followed by a big lovey session with you and your human family—that might be the best treat of all! Click here to learn more about: CHOCOLATE: TOXIC TO DOGS
–Max Have a question for Max? Throw him a bone here: askmax@doghealthnewsletter.com
Max's Mini-Reviews   HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN : I may not get to carve my own Jack-Russell-o-Lantern, but I can chomp on this squeaky pumpkin chew toy! This soft berber pumpkin is as kind to my mouth when I play as it is for the planet, since it's made from 100% recyclable materials. The pumpkin has a squeaker to scare off all those things that go bump in the night, and it's machine-washable, so it will look new well into Thanksgiving and beyond!   BERBER BAT HALLOWEEN TOY : I'm getting into the spooky spirit with the Berber Bat chew toy. It has two squeakers, one in each wing, for a tail-wagging good time. The Berber Bat is also made from all-recyclable materials and can be machine washed, so I can keep the Halloween spirit alive long after all the goblins, ghouls, and ghosts have gone.
DR. SCHELLING'S OTHER PROJECTS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: Dr. Schelling is interested in human health and wellness, as well as pet health. Her latest venture is with a weight loss supplement called garcinia cambogia. This amazing supplement was touted by Dr. Oz as the "Holy Grail of Weight Loss." Garcinia cambogia has become popular for helping in the following areas: Suppressing appetite Inhibiting fat production -- preventing fat from being formed in the body Lowering cholesterol & triglyceride levels Improving mood by increasing serotonin production Decreasing cravings and emotional eating Decreasing cortisol -- which also helps to reduce belly fat Click here to get more information about GARCINIA CAMBOGIA.
What topics would you like to see covered in future issues of the Dog Health Newsletter? Let us know at: comments@doghealthnewsletter.com
DOG FACT Dogs can only make 10 vocal sounds—as compared to a cat that can make about 100 vocal sounds.		TO QUOTE: "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself. " –Josh Billings
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