Is Your Dog the Worst Behaved Dog in America?

Is your dog bad to the bone? Does your sweet Jack Russel guard all doors from intruders – friends and family included? Or is it your Boxer puppy that won’t stop shredding socks and underwear? Some of the cutest pooches have the worst manners. Whether you’re at work or just in another room, their mischievous play may lead to anything from home repairs to staggering vet bills.

Pets and owners alike can relate to this common problem, but getting the magical, behavioral transformation you’ve always dreamt of is closer than you think.

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Pet Oral Care Can Prevent Other Harmful Effects

Yuck! We all hate the smell of smelly doggie breath. And we will often go to great extremes to eliminate or cover it up. But pet oral care goes beyond preventing bad doggie breath. Poor gum health allows nasty bacteria to make a beeline straight for a pet’s circulatory system, which can have harmful effects on vital organs.

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Include Recovery Time In Your Exercise Plan

Five words or less(NewsUSA) – When you think about getting in shape, you might flash back to ’80s movie montages of jogging up stairs, hitting punching bags and practicing martial arts moves. But if the movies had it right, they’d also show the hero kicking back with a glass of chocolate milk — when it comes to getting in shape or improving performance, recovery time is just as important as working out. Exercise creates micro-tears in muscle fibers. The body repairs those muscles, making them stronger than they were before the workout. But muscle repair takes time. If you exercise before your muscles recover, you increase the damage. Over a period of time, you’ll actually sabotage your performance by repeatedly breaking down muscle without giving it a chance to rebuild.
The faster your body can recover after exercise, the stronger you’ll get, because you’ll be able to exercise at a higher level more frequently. Here are some tips for improving muscle recovery for better performance:
* Fuel your muscles. Muscle recovery starts right after a workout, so you should give your body the nutrients it needs to rebuild muscle as soon as possible. Drink water and electrolytes immediately after exercise. Exercise uses up muscles’ glycogen energy stores, so replenish them with simple carbohydrates. Make sure to eat protein within two hours after working out. In one study, those who drank chocolate milk after exercise recovered more quickly than those who drank a sports beverage, probably due to milk’s balance of minerals, carbohydrates and protein.
* Increase circulation. The more blood going to your
legs, the better. Stretching
and massage can help your muscles release toxins. You may also want to try a pain-relieving liquid, such as Absorbine, Jr. (www.absorbinejr.com). The natural herbal formula provides temporary relief from muscle aches by improving circulation and reducing pain, so you can speed up your recovery time and get back to your sport.
* Rest. Getting a full eight hours of sleep will help your body recover. On a similar note, give your body time to rebuild between workouts. Most athletes include one or two recovery days in their training programs, when they will either not exercise or will perform a low-intensity activity, such as walking.

After the Games, Olympic Venue City Comes to Life

Five words or less(NewsUSA) – Nearly 3 billion people watched the 2010 Olympic Winter Games on television. Those who tuned into the long track speed skating competition received what was probably their first view of Richmond, British Columbia, the city that hosted the competition in its Richmond Olympic Oval.
But as visitors to the games can attest, there’s more to Richmond than the Richmond Olympic Oval. The Games gave visitors a chance to discover a unique city with plenty of dining, shopping and multicultural attractions — and more are following in their stead. The city is fast becoming a growing tourist destination with a variety of activities for all ages and abilities.
Richmond, which is located where the Pacific Ocean and the Fraser River meet, is home to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), a vibrant city center and the new Canada Line rapid transit system, which connects visitors to Richmond and Vancouver in under 25 minutes.
The city offers attractions all its own. Richmond’s 65 percent Asian population results in one of the most authentic Asian food scenes in North America. On Alexandra Street, which is known colloquially as “Food Street,” visitors can enjoy dim sum, as well as Cantonese, Szechuan, Shanghainese, Northern Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Malaysian cuisine. Richmond has over 375 Asian restaurants and three modern Hong Kong-style malls, where a day of shopping can include a tea ceremony and karoake.
History buffs won’t want to miss picturesque Steveston Village. The historic fishing village has two national heritage sites, as well as London Heritage Farm, which recreates life in Steveston from 1880 to 1930 with furniture, clothing, quilts, farm implements and a garden. Today, Steveston houses the largest commercial fishing fleet in Canada, not to mention boutiques, views and local seafood. Animal lovers should book a whale-watching tour to see orcas, as well as seals, sea lions and porpoises.
There are opportunities for recreation as well. In the months following the Olympics, the city transformed the Richmond Olympic Oval into a sports and wellness facility, where families can take a walking tour or get involved in other activites. Visitors can also enjoy 1,500 acres of parks and open spaces, including 80 kilometers of interconnecting dike trails, cycling routes and walkways.
For more information, visit www.allinrichmond.com.

Healthy Habits for Pets and Their Owners

Pets are the lights of their owners’ lives. And keeping pets healthy is key to extending the warmth and love for years.

Dr. Ernie Ward, nationally renowned veterinarian, pet author and founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, offers his ‘Top 5 Healthy Habits’ for pet owners to help ensure pets stay happy and healthy throughout the year:

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How Do You Define "Natural"?

Five words or less(NewsUSA) – It’s safe to say neither cats nor dogs give one whisker about whether the products they use are eco-friendly. Yet more pet owners do — and the pet industry is responding.
The exploding popularity of sustainable living has manifested itself in an increasing number of products being marketed as eco-friendly options for earth-conscious owners of all types of pets. Walk down the aisle of your local grocery store, and you’ll see countless bags and boxes whose now-leafy labels boast “green,” “natural,” or “organic” claims.
However, the definition of “green” remains the subject of much debate. Look no further then cat litter for an example of how the “natural” line is blurred: Clay — the main ingredient in a large majority of litters — is often touted as being “natural,” but it requires strip-mining and can contain silica dust that carries the potential of damaging the lungs of people and pets. In fact, most cat litters are made out of minerals that can technically be described as “natural,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are sustainable, biodegradable or healthy if ingested or inhaled.
The question you must ask yourself, as a pet owner, is whether the products you choose actually live up to their eco-friendly billing or whether they are using “green-washing” — a term used to describe how companies use marketing gimmicks to make their product only seem more natural.
One company, World’s Best Cat Litter, urges customers to scrutinize labels to make sure that you’re getting the type of natural products you demand. They define “natural” as products made of naturally occurring ingredients that are biodegradable, healthy, safe and derived from renewable resources. World’s Best Cat Litter uses the power of natural, whole-kernel corn to stop odor in its tracks. It’s grown and is digestible, dust-free and lacking any chemical additives.
Reinforcing their commitment to high standards, in addition to the original Clumping and Multiple Cat Clumping Formulas, World’s Best Cat Litter has also launched a truly “natural” scented formula providing consumers who prefer a scented litter with an all-natural lavender oil option — once again proving you don’t have to sacrifice the planet to meet consumer demands.
For more information, visit www.worldsbestcatlitter.com.

Understanding Your Pet’s Immune System

Five words or less(NewsUSA) – In my practice, I’ve always used probiotics in general -; as animals need probiotics just like humans. Adding beneficial bacteria to a pet’s diet helps the digestive system combat intestinal parasites and improves digestive function.
The gastrointestinal tract is such an important foundation to pets’ immune systems because the gut is an entry point for pathogens. If you’re using probiotics, the immune system is supported and strengthened to fight infection quickly and aggressively. Probiotics also help stop the immune system from over-reacting and creating inflammation.
One common issue for pets is ear infection. I’ve observed that whether we used conventional or alternative treatments, adding a probiotic product for immune system support shortens the length and reduces the severity of the infection. I usually see a better outcome by adding Del-Immune V (www.delimmune.com) to treatment, and generally don’t need to do additional treatments, as is common with ear infections.
Another common issue with pets is skin problems, including mange. I have found that skin problems improve quickly with a probiotic product, like Del-Immune V. I use it for immune system support with all types of mange, including the problematic demodectic mange. Some animals have genetically inherited immune weaknesses that allow mange-inducing mites to overgrow. Dogs can inherit the mites from their parents. You will know the mites are out of control if mange becomes a problem.
Probiotics help immensely by supporting the immune system in mounting an appropriate response to the mange mites. Traditional treatments for mange can include strong antibiotics and dips in toxic medicines. But many dogs, if provided a good diet and Del-Immune V, can get over it on their own — unless the infection is too severe. Most dogs survive with veterinary intervention, but if severe enough, mange can be fatal.
See your local veterinarian if your pet begins to display any symptoms.

Minimize Pet Stress With These Helpful Moving Tips

Moving with pets? You’re not alone. According to a recent study by the American Pet Products Association, 11 million families move with their pets annually. So how do you keep Fluffy happy when prepping for a new move? Easy: plan ahead.

While exotic pets require extra-special attention during moves, Penske Truck Rental is focusing on dogs and cats – the most common furry friends among Americans. Their experts and the Humane Society recommend the following additional tips to help pet owners and their four-legged friends have a safe, comfortable and stress-free move.

Before the Move:

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‘Tis the Season to Help Hungry Pets and Their Owners

Five words or less(NewsUSA) – During a tough economic climate, it can be a stressful time for many homebound seniors, if not for their pets. Many seniors, when strapped for resources, choose to feed their pets instead of themselves. This means neither the pet owner nor the pet get the nutrition they need to stay healthy.
To keep both pets and their owners fed, Banfield Pet Hospital and the Banfield Charitable Trust (BCT) partnered with the Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), which provides home-delivered meals to people in need, to create a pet-feeding program called Season of Suppers, which is now in its fifth year. As part of the program, more than 760 Banfield locations are collecting pet food and monetary donations to help homebound seniors feed their pets.
Despite the current economy, the BCT hopes to collect 40 tons of pet food and raise $100,000 to fund pet food distribution programs, which is an increase from last year.
Season of Suppers does more than provide meals. The funds it raises each year help sustain and expand pet-feeding programs throughout the country. As a direct result of the Season of Suppers campaign, more than 100 pet-feeding programs have been funded or received much-needed support.
Season of Suppers runs until Dec. 31. There are three ways to help feed hungry pets this year:
1. Purchase pet food and place it in the Season of Suppers donation bin in any Banfield Pet Hospital (located inside PetSmart). The BCT suggests items that are easy to transport, such as small bags and cans.
2. Donate money at any Banfield Pet Hospital in the Season of Suppers donation box. To find your nearest Banfield location, visit www.banfield.net
3. Contribute online by visiting www.BCTSOS.org and clicking the “donate now” button. Your donation of $30 will help feed one pet for an entire month.

Five Tips for Frugal Pet Owners

For many pet owners and their pets, money is no object. But expenses like food, grooming, routine vet care, toys and kenneling can add up quickly, making it difficult for budget-conscious pet owners to afford their shaggy partners.

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, the average annual cost of keeping a dog exceeds $1,200. For frugal pet owners who want to provide the best possible care to their furry friends while keeping costs low, here are five tips:

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