🐈 🦮 Cats Raise Blind Dog

💌 Cats Raise Blind Dog

🐾 Understanding Paw-Licking Behaviors

⛓️‍💥 Chained Dog Inspires New Legislation

💸 Lotto Winner (at Bottom)

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Cats Helps Raise Blind Dog
 

• 🦮 Daredevil was born blind, and he was scheduled to be put down if a home wasn’t found for him.

• 💌 A family that typically fostered cats received a call wondering if they’d like to foster a blind little golden retriever puppy who may otherwise be put down.

• 🐾 There was no world in which the family was going to let that happen, so they brought him in. They didn’t realize the type of relationship that Daredevil would have with his cat siblings, though.

• 💕 Daredevil and his four rescue cat siblings share an incredible relationship, with the cats even guiding him through the house through obstacles and showing love. Watch this wonderful rescue tale below.

 Weekly Learning 📖 🐾

Latest Read:

• 🫐 🐈‍⬛ Can Cats Eat Fruit?

Learn about Giant Mastiff Breeds:

• The Neapolitan Mastiff

• The Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff)

• The English Mastiff

Newest Video: Safe vs. Toxic Fruits for Cats 🍇 ⚠️

^{Front Page Pets}
🌊 🐕 Chained Dog Inspires New Legislation

• 🐶 Trooper’s Story Changed the Law: After being left tied to a fence during Hurricane Milton, a rescued bull terrier named Trooper inspired a new Florida law making it a felony to abandon dogs during natural disasters.

  📜 What Trooper’s Law Does: Signed this week, the law makes it illegal to restrain and leave a dog behind during an evacuation—punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

  ❤️ A Happy Ending (and Beginning): Trooper was adopted by a loving family, survived cancer, and is now officially Parkland’s “Favorite Dog”—and a symbol of hope, resilience, and better protection for pets statewide.

Understanding Excessive Paw Licking 📖 🐾

So… while Lola was casually pulling a strip of bacon from her paw like it was a party trick, we figured it was time to actually answer the question behind all that licking.

Because as funny as Herbie’s “leftover snack theory” was, chronic paw licking usually means there’s something deeper going on.

Here’s a breakdown of what might be driving it, what usually doesn’t help, and what actually works (no bacon required):

🧠 Why Dogs Lick Their Paws (And What It Could Mean)

Excessive paw licking isn’t just a quirky habit—it’s usually a response to discomfort. The most common causes include:

• Environmental allergies: Think pollen, grass, mold, or dust mites. These irritants can trigger inflammation in the skin, especially between the toes.

• Food allergies or sensitivities: Proteins like chicken, beef, or dairy are often culprits. When the immune system reacts, it can show up as itchy paws.

• Pain or injury: Dogs may lick a joint or paw to soothe pain from arthritis, sprains, or even something as small as a thorn.

• Behavioral triggers: Anxiety, boredom, or compulsive disorders can drive repetitive behaviors like licking, even in the absence of a physical issue.

In short, paw licking is usually a symptom, not the core problem. That’s why identifying the underlying cause is the real key to helping your dog.

🧴 What Doesn't Usually Work (and Why)

Many common remedies provide surface-level relief but fail to address the root issue—so the cycle continues:

• Soaks (Epsom salts, vinegar, etc.) can temporarily reduce inflammation or disinfect, but don’t tackle allergy or anxiety causes. Plus, frequent soaking may dry out paw pads over time.

• Topical ointments like hydrocortisone creams may reduce irritation short-term, but they’re often licked off unless paired with a cone, and can lead to overuse if applied too frequently.

• Cones or booties protect the paws but only block the behavior—they don’t resolve the cause. Once removed, licking resumes.

• Frequent washing or overuse of wipes can backfire by stripping the natural skin barrier, especially if you’re not using gentle, dog-safe products.

If you’ve tried all the basics and your dog is still licking, it’s a clear sign you’re dealing with something deeper.

✅ What Does Work (According to Vets)

Solving chronic paw licking means stepping back to investigate, adjust, and support:

1. Identify the cause

   • Try an elimination diet: Switch to a limited-ingredient food with a novel protein for 8–12 weeks under vet guidance.

   • Get allergy testing (intradermal or blood-based) to check for environmental triggers.

   • Schedule a vet checkup to rule out joint pain, interdigital cysts, or nail bed infections.

2. Target inflammation naturally

   • Omega-3 fatty acids (from fish oil or krill) have anti-inflammatory properties.

   • Full-spectrum hemp oil with CBD may help with both inflammation and anxiety.

   • Supplements like quercetin or bromelain (sometimes called "natural Benadryl") can offer histamine support for allergy-related licking.

3. Improve the environment

   • Wipe paws after walks using a gentle, hypoallergenic cloth or rinse with water.

   • Wash bedding frequently to reduce dust mites.

   • Consider air purifiers to reduce airborne allergens in the home.

4. Support mental health

   • Mental stimulation, regular exercise, and anxiety-relief tools (puzzle toys, calming chews, pheromone diffusers) can help break compulsive licking cycles.

🐾 The Bottom Line

Paw licking is your dog’s way of saying “something’s not right.” Quick fixes rarely solve it for good—but with a little detective work and a tailored plan, you can usually get to the bottom of it and help your dog feel better, fast.

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Muzzled Pittie Finds The Perfect, Happy Home

^{_{The Tail Wag Tribune}}
This Week’s Key Pet News

Stay on The Lookout for Unusual Algae

• 🌊 A Hidden Water Hazard: A new type of toxic benthic algae—which grows on rocks at the bottom of rivers and lakes—has been linked to sudden pet deaths, even in areas where algae blooms weren’t previously a concern.

  🐶 It Doesn’t Always Look Dangerous: Unlike surface algae, this kind isn’t always visible. Dogs can be exposed just by playing in shallow water or digging near riverbeds.

  ⚠️ Check Before You Splash: If you’re visiting lakes or rivers with your pup this summer, look up local water safety alerts—especially in the Pacific Northwest, where this strain was recently detected for the first time.

New Research Connects You & Your Cat

• 👃 Cats Know Your Scent: A new study from Tokyo University shows cats can tell the difference between your smell and a stranger’s—just by sniffing!

  🐱 Sniff First, Judge Later: When presented with samples, cats spent more time investigating unfamiliar scents, suggesting they recognize their owner’s scent as familiar and safe.

  💛 You Smell Like Home: While researchers stop short of saying cats can ID you specifically by scent, it’s clear your smell is part of what makes you you—and your cat knows it.

Crooked-Tailed Cats Fill Town with Luck

• 🐾 Bent Tails, Big Charm: In Nagasaki, Japan, cats with curled, hooked, or bun-shaped tails—known as omagari neko—are considered symbols of good luck and protection.

  🛕 Shrines and History: These “hook cats” have their own Shinto shrine and trace their legacy back to Buddhist monks and 17th-century trade routes, where they kept ships free of rats.

  🎨 Feline Tourism Goals: With nearly 80% of Nagasaki’s cat population sporting bobtails, locals hope their unique charm will attract curious visitors—and maybe a little extra good fortune, too.