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Your daily dose of doggy goodness!
Every day, we celebrate our shared love of dogs and hopefully brighten your day. Enjoy!
Dog of the Day:
Billiejean!
Meme of the day: The multi dog struggle.
Myth: Pet insurance doesn’t cover everything
Many pet owners worry that insurance won’t cover everything, especially routine care or pre-existing conditions. While that’s true in many cases, most insurers now offer wellness add-ons for preventive care like vaccines, dental cleanings, and check-ups, giving you more complete coverage. View Money’s pet insurance list to find plans for as low as $10 a month.
Emotional Support Dogs are a Gift to Nursing Homes
In the quiet, often predictable world of a nursing home, a simple sound can be a joyful revolution: the soft thump-thump of a wagging tail. Emotional support dogs—whether they are visiting therapy teams or an animal specially integrated into the facility—are more than just a welcome diversion; they are a vital source of comfort, health, and profound connection for elderly residents. Introducing these furry friends into the care environment is not just a nice idea—it’s a powerful path to a richer, healthier life for our seniors.
The benefits are far-reaching, touching on the physical, emotional, and social well-being of residents.
The Antidote to Loneliness
One of the greatest challenges in long-term care is combating feelings of loneliness and isolation. An emotional support dog offers a priceless gift: unconditional love and non-judgmental companionship.
A Familiar Friend: For many residents, dogs evoke warm memories of family pets and a time when they were more active at home. This connection can be a powerful emotional anchor, reducing the feelings of displacement that often accompany a move to a care facility.
The Power of Touch: The simple act of petting a soft, warm dog releases "feel-good" hormones like oxytocin and serotonin in the human brain. This biological boost can dramatically lower stress hormones, anxiety, and symptoms of depression, bringing immediate calm and a sense of peace.
Dogs are nature's best icebreakers. Their presence instantly transforms the atmosphere, encouraging interaction among residents, staff, and visitors.
Conversation Starters: A dog provides a natural, non-threatening focal point for conversation. Instead of struggling to find a topic, residents can share stories about the dog, their own past pets, or simply talk to the gentle canine. This improves social engagement and fosters a stronger sense of community.
Motivation for Movement: Even gentle interaction with a dog can encourage physical activity. Reaching out to pet the dog, brushing its fur, or even just taking a short, supported walk down a hallway with a dog can improve mobility, dexterity, and general cardiovascular health. These small acts add structure and purpose to a day that might otherwise be sedentary.
For residents dealing with cognitive challenges, such as Alzheimer's or dementia, a canine visitor can be especially therapeutic.
Reducing Agitation: The calming, consistent presence of a trained dog can lessen distress and agitation. Studies show that these interactions can help stabilize emotions, promoting a sense of well-being even when memory is failing.
Sensory and Cognitive Stimulation: Interacting with a dog engages multiple senses—touch, sight, and sound.This stimulation can help spark memory recall, improve focus, and encourage communication, all of which are vital to maintaining cognitive function.
A Benefit for Everyone
It's not just the residents who benefit. A dog can lift the spirits of the hardworking staff, offering a momentary break and a boost to team morale. The dogs act as a beautiful bridge, easing communication and building warmer relationships between caregivers and residents.
A nursing home is a place dedicated to care, and the heart of care is connection. Emotional support dogs, with their boundless love and intuitive nature, are a wonderful, evidence-based way to inject joy, purpose, and a sense of home back into the lives of our most cherished seniors. A wagging tail truly is a prescription for a happier, healthier old age.
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Dog Food and Supplement Recalls
Here are the recent recalls and advisories:
Raw Bistro - Frozen Beef Dog Food for potential Salmonella contamination.
Foodynamics - Freeze Dried Pet Treats for potential Salmonella contamination.
Nature’s Own - Pet Chews Bully Bites Treats for potential Salmonella contamination.
Viva - Ground Beef for Dogs and Ground Chicken for Dogs and Cats for potential Salmonella and Listeria contamination.
The Smile Section
Family Photo of the Day:
Bailey!
We want to feature your pup!
We want to share your pup with our pack. Email us your favorite doggy pic or video with your pup’s name, and we'll try to feature it as a family photo in one of our upcoming newsletters or on our Facebook page.
Share our newsletter with your friends!
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Meme of the day: kiskaandkoda
