Come – Sit – Stay

Hot Weather is here. Do not leave your pet inside a parked vehicle – especially one parked in the sun. The temperature can reach 120 degrees within minutes in a closed vehicle. Cracking the windows means that it will take a few more minutes for the car to be an oven.
If you are planning to exit the car at any time during your excursion, leave your pets at home during hot weather.

If you see a car with a pet inside you should call 911 and if that pet is exhibiting signs of distress you can use whatever means are necessary to save its life.

At home when your pet is outside, make sure it has shade and access to clean water at all times.

Probiotic Therapy

Digestive disturbances are very common with companion animals and often digestive upsets are the first sign your pet has a larger health problem. If you have a pet with frequent or chronic digestive issues it’s very possible his intestinal tract is overrun with bad bacteria.

Your pet’s digestive tract is the largest immune organ in its body and they have more bacteria in their digestive tract than you do – this is because the digestive tract is equipped to handle what they would eat in the wild. If bad bacteria overwhelm the system your pet can lose its vitality and become susceptible to illness. This can happen if there is a sudden change in diet; a poor quality diet; ingestion of fertilizers, mulch, pesticides, or chemicals in the water supply; vaccinations; antibiotics &/or steroids (cortisone, prednisone); surgery; boarding at a kennel or pet hospital; travel; emotional stress usually caused by changes in routine.

When the balance of good to bad bacteria is upset it can create nutritional and other health problems, including poor food absorption and intermittent or chronic diarrhea. It also can trigger a host of other health problems from allergies to auto-immune disease.
Holistic veterinarians have been using probiotics (good bacteria) for years. Traditional veterinarians, however, have until recently dismissed probiotics as ineffective and a waste of money.

A good pet probiotic should contain enough live organisms to colonize the intestines. It must contain the correct strains of bacteria beneficial for pets, not people. It should be easy to give to your pet and it should remain stable under normal storage conditions.
For more information about this subject I urge you to watch a video by Doctor Karen Becker.

5 Great Reasons To Give Up UV Tanning

Are you a UV tanner? A landmark study has confirmed that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light (whether from the sun or from a tanning machine) is the most common cause of melanoma. Before you head to the tanning salon or to the beach, please consider the potential risks.

Studies link UV rays to the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma. Scientists have analyzed the DNA information for melanoma and according to a definitive study the vast majority of mutations found in this potentially deadly disease are caused by ultraviolet radiation. In July 2009, the World Health Organization added radiation from UV-emitting tanning machines to its list of the most dangerous forms of cancer-causing radiation. Studies show that first exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma by 75%!

Tanning bed users have 2.5 times the risk of squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times the risk of basal cell carcinoma. People with a history of Non-melanoma Skin Cancers face twice the risk of developing other malignancies, like lung, colon and breast cancer.

Up to 90% of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by UV exposure. The damage caused by UV radiation is cumulative and leads to wrinkles, sagging and a leathery texture.

Tanning is no longer fashionable! Celebrities, models and fashion insiders know that tanning is no longer in style. A healthy glow to one’s skin does not mean a deep tan.

The new Healthcare Reform bill will levy a 10% luxury tax on the use of indoor tanning beds. That cost will be passed on to the consumer – you!
How to stay healthy? Get some sun exposure – we need vitamin D- but use a Sunscreen that protects from UVA and UVB rays. Know what the SPF rating of a product really means. Also, use a lip protect with sunscreen.

If you have other questions, go to the Skin Cancer foundation web site or contact me for more information contact Judy Muir.