In today's issue:

-Meet our adoptable dog of the day

-Enjoy a laugh with our dog meme of the day

-Get great information in our featured article

-Take our action of the week

-Check out our family photo of the day

Join our Facebook group - Post Your Pooch!

12 Surprising Money Mistakes Even Smart People Make

You’re smart about saving money, like shopping clearance racks, limiting eating out, and choosing affordable streaming services. However, there are still some cost-cutting tips you might not know yet. Once you discover these, you could quickly find extra cash in your pocket.

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Why Do Dog Eye Boogers Stain Their Fur?

While it might look like your pup has been sneaking into a jar of tomato sauce, those rusty eye boogers are a completely normal phenomenon. But why exactly do they stain their fur?

Meet Porphyrins

The main culprit behind those rusty streaks isn’t dirt or food. Instead, it’s a naturally occurring biological molecule called porphyrin.

Porphyrins are iron-containing compounds produced when your dog’s body breaks down red blood cells. While humans primarily excrete these compounds through bile and digestive waste, dogs naturally eliminate excess porphyrins through several fluids:

• Tears
• Saliva (which is why dogs who lick their paws get reddish-stained feet!)
• Sweat from their paw pads

When porphyrin-rich tears pool under your dog's eyes, the iron inside the molecule reacts with sunlight and air. Just like an iron nail rusts when exposed to oxygen, the porphyrins oxidize and turn a reddish-brown color, leaving behind those classic rusty stains on light fur.

Why Do Some Dogs Get More Tear Stains Than Others?

Have you ever wondered why your neighbor’s Golden Retriever has clean eyes while your Maltese sports prominent tear tracks? A few different factors come into play:

1. Coat Color

All dogs produce porphyrins, but they are simply much more visible on white, cream, or light-colored coats. On a black or dark brown dog, the iron staining blends right in!

2. Facial Structure & Facial Folds

Breeds with short snouts or prominent, rounded eyes such as Pugs, Shih Tzus, French Bulldogs, and Poodles often have shallow eye sockets or narrow tear ducts. Their tears naturally overflow onto their faces rather than draining neatly inside the tear duct system.

3. High Tear Production (Epiphora)

When a dog’s eyes produce excessive tears, it's known medically as epiphora. This can be triggered by minor, everyday irritants like:

• Dust, pollen, or seasonal allergies
• Stray eyelashes or hair poking the eye
• Tap water minerals or diet sensitivity

Keeping Tear Stains Under Control: Easy Tips

While tear stains are usually harmless, keeping the skin beneath your dog's eyes clean and dry helps prevent skin irritation and keeps your pup feeling fresh.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                         DAILY EYE CARE ROUTINE                         |
+-------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Gentle Wiping     | Dampen a soft cloth or warm cotton ball to gently |
|                   | wipe away eye discharge daily.                     |
+-------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Keep It Dry       | Gently dab the fur beneath the eyes with a dry    |
|                   | tissue to prevent moisture buildup.               |
+-------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Trim the Fur      | Keep hair around the inner corners of the eyes    |
|                   | neatly trimmed so it won't trap tears or poke.    |
+-------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Filtered Water    | Try switching to filtered water, as high mineral  |
|                   | tap water can sometimes enhance staining.         |
+-------------------+---------------------------------------------------+

When Should You Check In with the Vet?

For most dogs, rusty tear stains are a harmless cosmetic trait. However, a sudden change in tear production or appearance warrants a friendly visit to your veterinarian to rule out underlying issues like:

Redness, swelling, or squinting in the eyes.Thick, greenish, or yellowish discharge (which indicates an infection rather than normal porphyrin staining).A foul odor around the eyes or facial folds, which can point to a yeast or bacterial skin infection from lingering moisture.Blocked tear ducts or scratch/ulcer on the cornea.

Embracing Your Pup's Unique Look

At the end of the day, those little reddish-brown eye boogers are just a quirky sign of your dog's normal biological processes at work! With a gentle daily wipe and plenty of love, you can keep your furry friend comfortable and camera-ready.

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• FI - Pet Supplements: Potential Salmonella Contamination
• Northwest Naturals - Chicken Recipe: Potential Salmonella and/or Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
• Fromm - Wet Canned Dog Food: Potential Metal Contamination
• Oma's Pride - Canine Food: Contaminated with Salmonella

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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.