Stay Healthy This Fall: Advice from Your Less Concerned, More Judgmental Pup, Winston!

Oh, dear reader, your favorite pup is back and ready for another tale but I don’t know how much more of this I can take. The weather is getting cooler and with that cool weather has come lots of fun things: pumpkin spice candles, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice cookies, pumpkin spice lotion, pumpkin spice muffins, pumpkin spice meatballs, pumpkin spice cereal, pumpkin spice jam, pumpkin spice hummus, pumpkin spice pancakes, pumpkin spice gum, pumpkin spice PopTarts, pumpkin spice granola, pumpkin spice SPAM. All kinds of awesome things.

However, with the cold weather has also come something so unfathomably awful it makes my stomach churn: disease. That’s right, you heard me. Everywhere I go, someone is hacking, coughing, sneezing, and wiping their nose with their hands. Uh, it’s making my skin crawl just thinking about it.

I know people can’t help that they get sick. Sometimes, it just happens. It doesn’t happen to me, of course, because despite my impeccable vocabulary, I’m still a dog, and most viruses that affect your human body can’t affect mine (except for Tuberculosis, I can catch that). But there are some things you can do to prevent spreading your cooties around. This will make it much easier for me to go about my business at the grocery store without having to give you some major side-eye. Oh, yeah, and you’ll feel better. Your well-being is also important, I guess.

Anywho, here are my top tips for staying healthy:

1. Wash your paws regularly – This may seem obvious, but it’s one of the best ways to reduce the risk of spreading germs. Make sure you use soap and scrub your paws for at least 20 seconds before rinsing.
2. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing – Please don’t be that person who coughs or sneezes without covering their mouth. PLEASE.
3. Stay home when you’re sick—I know it can be tempting to go to work or school even when you’re not feeling well, but trust me, I will thank you for staying home and not coughing all over my dog treats.
4. Get enough rest—Your body needs time to recuperate and fight off potential illnesses, so make sure you get enough rest every day.
5. Eat a balanced diet – Make sure to scarf down plenty of fruits and vegetables. They are rich in vitamins and nutrients that can help boost your immune system.
6. Exercise – Staying active, unlike me, can also help keep your immune system strong.
7. Avoid touching your face – Your hands come into contact with all kinds of germs throughout the day, so please, try to keep your grubby little fingers away from your nose and eyes.
8. Stay hydrated – Gulping down water like your life depends on it can help flush out toxins and keep your body functioning properly.
9. Keep your surroundings clean – Regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, countertops, and phones to prevent the spread of germs.

Remember, staying healthy not only benefits you but also those around you. So let’s all do our part in keeping our spaces cootie free. And if we all follow these tips, maybe I won’t have to hide under the bed every time I hear someone sneeze. But let’s be real, I’ll probably still do that anyway because, well, it’s just real comfy under there. Stay well, my friends! #PumpkinSpice4Eva #DoYouCoughOnYourMotherWithThatMouth

-Winston