Archive for April, 2009

Dog Health Issues: Hot Doggy! Dog Safety in Warm Weather

Friday, April 24th, 2009

Dog Health Issues: Hot Doggy! Dog Safety in Warm Weather

If you live in a climate that has sticky, hot, summer days, you may find yourself longing for cooler days. Your cat will definitely agree! In warm weather, it is necessary for you to care for your dog so that he or she does not become overheated and develop heat issues. Remember, a pet is like a newborn baby—your dog cannot tell you that he or she is hot or uncomfortable or developing health issues. You have to notice warning signs that your cat is developing health issues and provide a good living environment so that your cat does not get too hot.

When you take your pet places during the summer, never ever let your dog inside of a parked car, even for a short time. Cars quickly become ovens in the summertime, even when you park in the shade, or even if you have the windows cracked. Your pet will not be able to alert people in order to get out of your car safely and can develop dog health issues. In as little as ten to fifteen minutes, your pet could die from the heat in a parked car, and parking in the shade does little good to prevent this, since the sun continuously moves and the heat of the air alone will be bad for your pet. If your pet will be going with you, make sure that cats are allowed wherever you will be.

When the heat index is high, keep your dogs inside to prevent him/her from developing health issues. Dogs should have a . The Canine Cooler bed is much more than simply a dog bed- it’s a canine comfort device. Cooling by nature has the therapeutic effect for a dog’s health just like it does for people — it slows, relaxes, and helps treat pain and swelling. The Canine Cooler bed acts as a radiator for your dog. It has tremendous cooling power without refrigeration. It feels like that cold tile floor on your bare feet. It readily absorbs heat from your dog, and loses this heat back to the surrounding air. Your pet enjoys a lasting, dry, and powerful cooling sensation!

Dogs that are not outdoors most of the time won’t know where the cooler places to hide are, or they may find these cooler places and not return home. The Thirsty Dog Portable Pet Water Bowl is a great tool to keep your dog hydrated on the go!
Thirsty Dog Portable Pet Water Bowl – 20 ounces
GREAT for anywhere anytime! The Thirsty Dog Portable Pet Water Bowl is great for TRAVEL- anywhere anytime! Comes with its own pan, and that’s all you need…for HIKES, ROAD TRIPS, SUMMER days, BEACH, CAMPING etc. . .At only $3.35. . .it is a great price too!
Hot asphalt can also wreak havoc on a dogs’ health, as it can burn his or her sensitive paw pads. If your dog goes outside, make sure that he or she is let back inside after only a few hours on the hottest days of the summer and has a water source outside. Basically, if it is recommended that seniors and children stay inside, it is good for pets to stay indoors as well.

Keep your dog well groomed during the summer as well. Brushing you dog often will help get rid of the excess hair that has been shed and is weighing down the animal. If your dog has very long hair or is overweight, provide him or her with an air-conditioned room if possible. Pet Favorite Groom Glove (As Seen On TV)is an easy and cheap way to give your pet a smart, tidy look all the while avoiding dog health problems by keeping your dog cool. Gromming Mate is your pets favorite friend. No pet can resist its feeling. Grooming Mate gives an ultimate massage & lifts up all the unwanted hair & dust. One size fits all. Easy to clean with no fuss or mess. It is also available at:
Pet Favorite Groom Glove (As Seen On TV)
As always, make sure your dog has access to clean, fresh water. This can be tap water, but should be cool and changed multiple times a day when it is hot outside. Your dog is very important in your life, so make sure that he or she gets proper care when the summer days make your sweat. A great way to do this is with the Kool Dogz Ice Treat Maker!
The Kool Dogz Ice Treat Maker has all the components necessary to create a customizable cool treat that’s perfect for outside playtime. Kit includes reusable, freezable bucket and durable stainless steel construction.

Kool Dogz contains:
Heavy-duty steel base & extension rod
Deep water reservoir to collect water as it melts
Ice treat recipes
Reuseable/freezable bucket with lid
Stainles steel cap bar

  • Share/Bookmark

Moderate Protein Intake Plus Exercise Promotes Weight Loss

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

When learning about healthy eating, one of the most important nutrients is protein. Of course, all nutrients are crucial for our bodies to be as healthy as possible, but without protein in our diets every single day, our bodies will not be as strong as they should be. Protein can be found in a number of food sources, so if you’re interested in eating a healthier diet, you should consider learning more about protein.

Increased protein intake helps people lose weight. We need to eat foods rich in protein every day because, unlike some other nutrients, it cannot be stored in the body. That means that if you eat more protein than necessary, your body will simply cause it to pass through your system. Therefore, you really can’t eat too much protein! However, because protein cannot be stored in the body problems may arise surrounding this nutrient as well. If you don’t get enough protein on any given day, your body has no back-up plan for producing protein on its own or using reserved protein from previous days. Therefore, protein is very important to consider when you are planning your meals.

Essentially, protein builds muscles, which is why you will see bodybuilders especially concerned with protein. When you lift weights to work out, you body makes tiny tears in the muscles. Proteins are then used to repair these healthy tears in the body, building the muscle slightly bigger with every workout. Even if you do not work out, your body’s muscle deteriorates, as you body needs the energy. Muscle provides energy, just like fat. Having protein in the body helps you to rebuild any muscle lost.

Protein also helps a person’s body in other ways, mainly with the maintenance of hormones. Hormones in the body do a number of things, such as regulate organ function, account for stimulation, create metabolism, and affect mood. Proteins are used in the making of some of these different hormones, so if you go more than a day or two without eating foods rich in proteins, your entire body will suffer.

How can you make sure that you re getting enough proteins? Simply put, look for foods with protein as a key component on the label. Some great foods to consider include chicken, beef, pork, eggs, and fish, although vegetarians can also get proteins into their diets by eating nuts, beans, soy products, and a variety of other foods. You should have some of these foods in your diet every single day to ensure that you are providing your body with the proteins it needs to stay healthy.

Beware, you can take too much protein! The USDA recommends that proteins make up 15 percent of the total calorie intake! Increasing protein intake to 40% promotes weight loss as well, but high protein intake, can have metabolic side effects such as elevated levels of uric acid. Elevated levels of uric acid increases the risk of heart disease, kidney disorders, and gout.

A recent study found that moderate protein diets (25% of total calories) plus exercise (aerobics and weights) promoted weight loss without the risk associated with high protein intake.

  • Share/Bookmark

Metabolic Syndrome Treatment: Walking Fights Metabolic Syndrome

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Health and Fitness advice from the First Lady of Fitness, Fashion, and Fun, Jackie Omotalade, a Pittsburgh personal trainer, lifestyle coach, and Independent Beachbody Coach:

Have you been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome? Metabolic syndrome is a group of disorders linked to heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. Some of the symptoms included abdominal obesity, blood fat disorders — high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol — that foster plaque buildups in artery walls, blood clotting problems, inflammation, elevated blood pressure, and insulin resistance.

The American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend that the metabolic syndrome be identified as the presence of three or more of these components:

* Elevated waist circumference:
Men — Equal to or greater than 40 inches (102 cm)
Women — Equal to or greater than 35 inches (88 cm)
* Elevated triglycerides:
Equal to or greater than 150 mg/dL
* Reduced HDL (“good”) cholesterol:
Men — Less than 40 mg/dL
Women — Less than 50 mg/dL
* Elevated blood pressure:
Equal to or greater than 130/85 mm Hg
* Elevated fasting glucose:
Equal to or greater than 100 mg/dL

A study conducted by Duke University and published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that walking 30 minutes 6 times per week for 8 months caused a reduction in symptoms of metabolic syndrome in middle aged men and women without changing their diets.

The study involved groups who either ran, jogged, or walked 12 miles per week and a group which did no exercise (control). The study found that people who participated in moderate exercise gained the most benefit from physical activity.

So what are you waiting on? Start walking today!

  • Share/Bookmark