In our current era of iPhones, iPads, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Digg, Google, Bing, (you get the picture) we have reached a point in time where virtually everything we could ever want to know is at our very fingertips at all times. These modern day conveniences have allowed us to fit more and more into our daily lives, which if used effectively, can mean an improved life balance. But for so many of us, the ever-diminishing lack of simplicity in our lives can also manifest itself in the form of stress.
In our last blog, we wrote about some of the health benefits of owning a dog or cat (5 Reasons why you should consider adopting your next pet from a shelter). We came across this great list which lays out even more (101 to be exact) simple ways that we can relieve stress in our lives. Enjoy!
Courtesy of the Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
Get up 15 minutes earlier
Prepare for the morning the night before
Avoid tight fitting clothes
Avoid relying on chemical aids
Set appointments ahead
Don’t rely on your memory … write it down
Practice preventive maintenance
Make duplicate keys
Say “no” more often
Set priorities in your life
Avoid negative people
Use time wisely
Simplify meal times
Always make copies of important papers
Anticipate your needs
Repair anything that doesn’t work properly
Ask for help with the jobs you dislike
Break large tasks into bite size portions
Look at problems as challenges
Look at challenges differently
Unclutter your life
Smile
Be prepared for rain
Tickle a baby
Pet a friendly dog/cat
Don’t know all the answers
Look for a silver lining
Say something nice to someone
Teach a kid to fly a kite
Walk in the rain
Schedule play time into every day
Take a bubble bath
Be aware of the decisions you make
Believe in yourself
Stop saying negative things to yourself
Visualize yourself winning
Develop your sense of humor
Stop thinking tomorrow will be a better today
Have goals for yourself
Dance a jig
Say “hello” to a stranger
Ask a friend for a hug
Look up at the stars
Practice breathing slowly
Learn to whistle a tune
Read a poem
Listen to a symphony
Watch a ballet
Read a story curled up in bed
Do a brand new thing
Stop a bad habit
Buy yourself a flower
Take time to small the flowers
Find support from others
Ask someone to be your “vent-partner”
Do it today
Work at being cheerful and optimistic
Put safety first
Do everything in moderation
Pay attention to your appearance
Strive for Excellence NOT perfection
Stretch your limits a little each day
Look at a work of art
Hum a jingle
Maintain your weight
Plant a tree
Feed the birds
Practice grace under pressure
Stand up and stretch
Always have a plan “B”
Learn a new doodle
Memorize a joke
Be responsible for your feelings
Learn to meet your own needs
Become a better listener
Know your limitations and let others know them, too
Tell someone to have a good day in pig Latin
Throw a paper airplane
Exercise every day
Learn the words to a new song
Get to work early
Clean out one closet
Play patty cake with a toddler
Go on a picnic
Take a different route to work
Leave work early (with permission)
Put air freshener in your car
Watch a movie and eat popcorn
Write a note to a far away friend
Go to a ball game and scream
Cook a meal and eat it by candlelight
Recognize the importance of unconditional love
Remember that stress is an attitude
Keep a journal
Practice a monster smile
Remember you always have options
Have a support network of people, places and things
Have you been thinking about adopting a new addition to your family lately? Below are a few reasons why you should consider checking out your local animal shelter as a great option for finding the perfect dog or cat for your household.
1. Save a life. Did you know that nearly 5 million dogs and cats are put down each year because they do not have a place to call home? This alarming statistic should be reason enough to consider rescuing a pet from your local shelter. Luckily there are plenty more!
2. Best Selection. Contrary to popular belief, animal rescue shelters have a wide array of selection to help you choose the right pet. Whether you are looking for a puppy, adult, purebred, or specific mixed breed, your shelter has the most selection of animals anywhere – each one screened for good health and behavior. Most shelters will even help you with spaying and neutering.
3. Free Spaying and Neutering. In this day and age, with the words of Bob Barker still reverberating in our collective consciousness, you would think spaying and neutering was just a given by now. But as the previous numbers suggest, our homeless pet population is still wildly out of control. Most shelters will offer this service for free.
4. Alternative to Puppy Mills. Picture a dog, confined to a small wire cage, without toys, comfort or any human interaction for their entire lives. This is a typical scenario for a breeding dog kept at a puppy mill. It is easy to be swayed by those cute doll-like puppies at the mall, begging for your attention. Tempting as it may be, when you buy your pet from many of these one-stop-shops, you are helping to continue this vicious cycle of abuse.
5. You might live longer. According to a recent study which followed 4,000 cat owners over the span of 10 years, owning a cat can dramatically reduce a person’s chance of dying from heart disease. We can suspect that similar findings would be revealed with dog owners as well. I always knew the cat lady down the street was on to something!
Please feel free to comment or share your personal stories below! Warmly,
With skin less than half the thickness of our own, it’s no wonder that our pets are prone to dermatological problems for every reason under the sun. Typically, veterinarians classify these skin problems into 6 main categories.
1. Environment
2. Nutrition
3. Allergies
4. Fleas/Parasites
5. Neurogenic
6. Infection
Comparison between dog skin and human skin
Understanding the main causes of skin problems in dogs and cats
1. Environment. Whether they’re digging away in the garden, rolling around in the front yard, or dutifully returning the tennis ball you threw on the beach, our furry friends are notoriously sensitive when it comes to all of the pollens, allergens and other irritants floating around out in the world.
So, what are your options in lieu of keeping them in a bubble?
Recommendation. Use the AvenaPro Soothing Spray as required, combined with the Natural Pet Shampoo every few weeks to provide sustained soothing relief and protection from itching, as well as nourish and hydrate the skin and coat to help reduce excessive shedding and dandruff.
2. Nutrition. With so many brands of dog food out there, it is no wonder that so many dogs and cats suffer from malnutrition. Many foods contain fillers such as corn as their main ingredient. While these foods may succeed in feeding their hunger, they can be seriously lacking in proper nutrition. Symptoms of malnutrition can present themselves in a number of ways including lethargy, itching due to poor immune system, a dry unhealthy coat, or excessive shedding.
Recommendation. We recommend investigating the ingredients in your pet food. One trick you can use is to make sure that the first ingredient on the label is meat (such as chicken, beef or lamb). This will help to ensure that your pet is getting the proper nutrients that they require. The AvenaPro Soothing Spray and Natural Shampoo will help kick start them in the right direction, helping them to overcome the itching, dryness, and dingy coat.
3. Allergies. As many of us are reminded in the Spring time, allergies can often sneak up on us when we least expect it. Allergies can present themselves in a number of different ways, making our dogs and cats awfully uncomfortable and quite helpless to deal with it in any other way but scratching. Itchy skin, itchy ears, hot spots, and excessive shedding, are all telltale signs of pet allergies. Unfortunately, finding the causes can be a challenge. Diet, pollens and other environmental allergens can all be potential sources of pet allergies.
Recommendation. Visit your veterinarian or local veterinary dermatologist to help you determine the root cause(s) of the allergies. Help relieve their discomfort and provide protection from potential environmental irritants safely, and without harsh chemicals or steroids with the AvenaPro grooming system (Pet Grooming System).
4. Fleas/Parasites. Often times, there is no way around it; at one point or another, your dog or cat will likely come across a group of parasites that will want to come along for the ride. They often make themselves present through intense itching and scratching, and can in some cases even lead to serious skin infections or other unpleasant diseases. Particularly, watch for scratching specifically in the head, neck or tail regions of your dog or cat, as these are common areas where fleas like to bite.
Recommendation. If you have suspicions that your pet’s discomfort might be caused by parasites, be sure to keep your house nice and clean, by vacuuming everywhere. Under couches, over couches, under pillows under carpets…everywhere. In order to take care of the fleas, there are a number of natural and homeopathic solutions available which can be taken topically or orally. The AvenaPro system will help to safely relieve your buddy’s discomfort, skin inflammation and hair loss and restore that long-lost healthy glow.
5. Neurogenic. Sometimes dogs and cats scratch for no apparent reason at all, other than they are experiencing itchiness. This is an unexplained phenomenon that can happen for many reasons unknown.
Recommendation. Common prescriptions for this kind of frequent itching and discomfort are often dips, steroids or other potentially harmful chemicals which may cause a loss of appetite, low energy, or hair loss among other adverse effects. The AvenaPro Soothing Spray and Natural Shampoo have clinically proven natural active ingredients to help relieve their discomfort, and restore a healthy skin and coat.
6. Infection. Skin infections often occur when the itching, and scratching has gone on unabated for too long. The pathway to skin disease looks something like this: Itching gives way to skin flakes and dander, and skin redness and inflammation. The skin inflammation leads to wounds, lesions and hair loss.
Recommendation. The AvenaPro Soothing Spray and Pet Shampoo is formulated to address these unpleasant symptoms expressed by an unhealthy skin and coat. Learn more about how you can put a stop to their discomfort here.
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