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

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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 Your Dog Keeps Sneezing

While a sudden sneeze-fest from a human usually means a cold is brewing, canine sneezes are a whole different story. Dogs don't just sneeze when they have a tickle in their nose—they use their snouts to talk, play, and navigate the world. Here is the warm, weird, and wonderful truth behind why your pup sneezes so much.

The Play Sneeze

Have you ever watched your dog wrestle with a puppy pal or do a goofy play-bow in the living room, only to break into a sudden fit of sneezing?

This is known as the play sneeze. In the canine world, play-fighting can look pretty aggressive to an outsider—there's growling, flashing teeth, and tackling. To make sure their playmate knows it is all in good fun, dogs use a soft, huffy sneeze as a non-verbal signal that says: "Hey! I'm just goofing around, no hard feelings!" It is the canine equivalent of a cheerful giggling fit.

Sniffing Out the World (Literally)

A dog's snout is an absolute masterpiece of engineering. Packed with over 300 million olfactory receptors (compared to our meager 6 million), a dog's nose is constantly vacuuming up information.

When your pup buries their nose in a pile of autumn leaves, high grass, or a dusty corner under the sofa, they are inhaling fine particles of dirt, pollen, seeds, and dust. Sneezing is simply their body’s natural power-wash system, sweeping out foreign debris so their nose can get back to its full-time job of detecting what the neighbors had for breakfast.

Pure Doggy Joy

Dogs are creatures of intense emotion, and sometimes, happiness just overflows. When dogs get extremely excited—like when you pick up their leash, open a fresh bag of treats, or come home after a long day at work—their breathing rapidly accelerates. This sudden influx of air can trigger an involuntary sneeze. It’s essentially a happy squeal, expressed through their nose!

Reverse Sneezing

If your dog has ever extended their neck, widened their eyes, and started making a dramatic, snorting, inhaling sound that sounds like a goose honking backward—congratulations, you’ve witnessed a reverse sneeze.

Though it looks and sounds terrifying to dog parents, reverse sneezing is completely harmless. It usually happens when the soft palate or throat gets mildly irritated by an allergen, rapid drinking, or pulling on a collar. It passes in a few seconds, and gently massaging your dog's throat or covering their nostrils briefly to force them to swallow can help it pass even faster.

When Should You Actually Pay Attention?

While most sneezes are completely benign, an unusually high volume of sneezing can occasionally point to something that needs a vet's attention:

• Foxtails and Foreign Objects: If your dog was just running through dry brush and suddenly starts sneezing uncontrollably while pawing frantically at their nose, a plant awn or foxtail seed might be stuck inside.
• Seasonal Allergies: Just like us, dogs can react to seasonal mold, dust mites, and pollens. Look out for companion symptoms like itchy paws or watery eyes.
• Breed Traits: Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds like Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Boxers have compressed nasal passages, making them far more prone to sneezing fits and reverse sneezing.
• Infections or Dental Issues: Persistent sneezes accompanied by thick nasal discharge, blood, lethargy, or loss of appetite warrant a quick checkup with your veterinarian.

At the end of the day, those adorable, dramatic sneezes are just another part of the joyful, quirky package that makes living with a dog so special. So the next time your furry best friend lets out an enthusiastic achoo mid-playtime, just offer a gentle "Bless you!" and enjoy the laugh.

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• Oma's Pride - Canine Food: Contaminated with Salmonella
• Pedigree - High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor Wet Dog Food: Potential Plastic Contaminants
• Steve's Real Food - Freeze-Dried Chicken Recipe Cat and Dog Food: Possible Low Thiamine Levels (B1)
• Raaw Energy - Dog Food: Potential Listeria Contamination

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