That's Fit

It's clear what kinds of foods are bad for us. Anything loaded with sugar, trans fats, and sodium for starters. But do you know what kinds of foods are bad for pets? Think human foods, not pet foods.

It's best to stick with pet foods for the nourishment of your beloved pup. But it's tempting to treat your furry friend to a little table food now and then. And that's what many people do. In 2007, the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center received more than 130,000 calls regarding animal poisoning caused by common human foods and household items. Here are the top culprits.

• Avocados

• Beer

• Chocolate

• Candy

• Caffeine

• Grapes and raisins

• Nuts

• Onions

We have all heard that pets can help teach kids patience, responsibility, and empathy, but according to a recent study, having a dog in the home during childhood, especially during the first year of infancy, seriously decreased a child's likelihood of developing sensitivities to allergens like pollen. Our own Maggie first broke this story a few days ago but it's worth repeating for those thinking about investing in a canine commitment -- and for those who like photos of cute kids and cute dogs. See gallery that follows.

So the science behind this theory is that dogs bring germs inside on their coats and in their mouths, thus exposing kids to them and boosting the child's immune system. Older generations were often exposed to more dirt and germs as children (you know, because kids used to actually play outside instead of sitting indoors playing video games), and therefore developed a greater resistance to many allergens than kids today.

This study in particular has taken blood samples from 3,000 six-year-olds and will test the samples for hints that the child might become allergic to things like pet hair, dust mites, and pollen. The children will be retested at age 10, but the lead researcher has already stated with confidence that, "Our results show clearly that the presence of a dog in the home during infancy is associated with a significantly low level of sensitization to pollens and allergens."

I just washed and refilled my single-use water bottles. Put them in the fridge to chill. Will pull them out one by one as needed. Oops. Shouldn't do that, says this TIME magazine article.

Single-use water bottles -- you know, the ones with names like Dasani or Aquafina -- are made of polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. It's a lightweight plastic used in many drink bottles. But it's not intended for re-use. Here's why: PET degrades with use and its wrinkled surface can host germs. And backwash too.

Should you re-use your bottles, then? Not for drinking. Use them for a flower vase. Or recycle. Just don't wash, refill with water, and chill. Like I just did.

I know that people who don't have pets or who aren't big animal lovers can't understand how those of us with furry friends can possibly think of dogs and cats and friends, family members and even children. I suppose these people think it's ridiculous to shell out perfectly good money on specialty treats for pets. To an extent I can see where they're coming from -- fancy clothing for cats and dogs is a bit extreme in my opinion -- but I will happily spend hard-earned cash on fun stuff for my dog.

I know that I'm not the only one. Most major, dog-friendly cities (Vancouver being the first that comes to my mind) have got fancy dog salons and boutiques in pretty much every trendy neighborhood. While I usually stick with funny squeaky toys and the occasional cute new collar, other dog owners out there will open their wallets for specialized grooming products, accessories, clothing, bedding and more.

The majority of Americans have, or have had, a pet as part of their family. Studies have shown that having pets can be really good for your health (lowering heart rate and reducing blood pressure and cholesterol) but pets, like all animals, can also carry disease. If you don't take the right precautions you and your family could end up getting really sick. The very old, the very young, pregnant women, and anybody with a compromised immune system are at the most risk, but anybody could catch any number of nasty things. Here are a few pointers for avoiding pet-related illnesses:

You probably have a favorite brand of bottled water, but what about your dog? When you're out hiking or jogging you may bring water along for your dog in a bottle, but have you ever considered buying water already bottled, specially branded, and marketed just for your four-legged friend?

Fortifido is just that -- bottled water for dogs. Available in flavors like "parsley," "peanut butter," and "spearmint," Fortifido is fortified with vitamins to help promote healthy bones, healthy skin, fresh breath and healthy joints in your dog.

Will you buy it?

Have you ever heard the old adage, "If your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise"? Well, that apparently isn't getting through to plenty of pet parents because in addition to new doggie diet drugs entering the market, we now have low-calorie snack options for our furry friends.

Pup-Peroni is now offering 50 calorie snack packs so we can monitor how many snacks our pooches should get. They're portable, so you no longer need to worry about how to stuff all those treats in your pockets without making your jeans smell like meat for days. Just what I needed.

I don't think it's any surprise anymore that pets can be a great thing for the health of older adults, especially seniors living alone. But for those on restricted incomes (and that's quite a few) the cost of owning a pet can simply be too much. But the Humane Society in Colorado Springs, CO is making a difference in the lives of pets and people through a program called The Senior Citizens Pet Companionship Program. The program not only does the obvious of matching up seniors with happy companionship animals as new pets, but it gives them an annual allowance to help offset the costs of caring for them.

One 77 year old woman named Joan lost almost 40 pounds, stabilized her diabetes, and feels happier and less lonely since adopting a little Jack Russell Terrier named Monty through the program. Now doesn't hearing a story like that just give you the warm fuzzies?

Pets have been shown time and time again to benefit people's wellbeing by helping to lower stress, relieve anxiety, and even boost our immunity. In a nutshell, here are some of the great things our furry friends do for our health:

• Dogs and cats are allergy fighters. Studies have shown that children who grow up in households with pets have a reduced risk of developing allergies and asthma.
• Dogs are date magnets. This is not one I would have guessed would be on this list, but it's true that dogs are natural conversation starters and can help people find new friendships and relationships.
• Pets greatly benefit the aged. Whether it's a dog getting an elderly person out for a short walk or a cat curling up on the lap of an Alzheimers patient, studies have shown that animals have a way of improving the quality of life (and sometimes the length of life!) for older adults.
• Pets are good for their owner's mental and spiritual health. People with debilitating diseases and high stress jobs have been shown to suffer less depression and lower blood pressure when they own and love a pet, and petting your cat or dog has been shown to release positive and calming brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin.
• Pets benefit your heart. Not only do pet owners generally have fewer symptoms and risk factors for heart disease (like cholesterol) but also people who do suffer heart attacks tend to survive longer afterwards if they're pet owners.

So it's been proven scientifically that having a dog is good for your health, and it's not just because they provide that unconditional love and affection that earned them the title "man's best friend." Having a dog also makes it much easier to get outside and get moving, either walking or jogging, or for some people biking (although that always scares me a little). Well now there's a handy gadget that makes it so you don't have to hold the leash the entire time: the Cardio Canine human harness and dog leash system. It's a belt that goes around your waist with a clip to attach your dog's leash, a place for your water bottle, and pocket for keys or whatever.

This looks great, although make sure your dog is trained well enough not to bolt after a rabbit or other dogs -- getting pulled out of stride like that without your arm to soften the jolt you could easily end up laying on your face or twisting an ankle .


Via Fitsugar

Who would think that a darling little baby turtle could pose a deadly health risk? Well they can, and they do. Salmonella is often found in turtles as they can carry the bacteria without getting sick. This is nothing new as there was actually a law passed way back in 1975 that prohibited the sale of turtles with a shell smaller than 4 inches in the hope of lessening the risk, but there's no reliable way of telling whether any specific turtle is a carrier. It's possible to contract Salmonella poisoning, or pass it on to others, from simply coming in contact with the turtle itself or its feces. Sadly this issue has come to the forefront recently due to a tragic incident where a 4 week old baby died from Salmonella poisoning transferred to her from a pet turtle.

I'm not a big fan of turtles as pets anyway -- all too often they're scooped up out of the wild only to end up dying a slow horrible death in the hands of people who don't know how to care for them. I say if you're thinking about getting a turtle, don't, and if you've already got one then care for it carefully and wash your hands, etc. Whatever you do, don't go dumping it somewhere -- the little guy can't help it. If you must, find him a good home.

Anybody who has ever lost a pet knows that it can be almost, if not as, devastating as losing a human loved one. Sometimes those who aren't huge animal-lovers don't get why you can't just get over the death of a beloved cat or dog, but those of us who have been there definitely know how you're feeling.

It's important to remember that it is OK to feel very sad and to keep in mind that it is completely normal to go through the grieving process. For some people, losing a pet is like losing a best friend and it is appropriate to act accordingly. This article by the Humane Society of the United States suggests that holding a memorial for you pet might be a good idea, as is searching the Internet for support groups.

The piece also gives good advice for seniors whose companion animal has passed away, as well as information on how your other pets will react and how your kids will feel. The most important thing to remember isthat you're not alone and that it's totally OK to be devastated when an animal passes away. Eventually you'll move on, but until then it's fine to take your time to feel better.

Obesity isn't just a health issue for ourselves, but for our pets also. As our society gets larger and larger our dogs are getting fat right along with us. So it makes sense that as you work for a healthier lifestyle and pounds lost you can take your dog along for that trend too. Whether you're putting Spot on a diet or taking him out with you walking (or both), now you can easily monitor how much progress he's making. There's a new handy body fat checker for dogs that will give you a reading just by touching it to the dog's back. So far it's only available in Japan, but I wonder if there's really a market for something like this over here? How often would you use it, honestly?

I have an English Bulldog who, like other snub-nosed breeds, has a really hard time in extreme temperatures. In the winter, he'll ask to go outside and then do a moonwalk away from the open door when he feels the bitter cold. In summer, he goes outside for a little while and opts for the shade of the carport when he can. More often than not, he chooses to stay in my temperature-controlled home and just survey the neighborhood from his perch on the back of my couch. (He's a bit of a pampered pet.) While I sometimes wish he were a bit more energetic, I know that heat can actually be dangerous for him so I have to be careful. We take our walks in the early morning or evening to avoid the hot sun of the afternoon. If, like me, you have a snub-nosed breed (bulldog, shih tzu, pug, Boston terrier, etc.), if your dog has a heavy coat, or if your dog is getting up in years, it's important to take steps to avoid heat exhaustion when exercising them in the summer sun.

This article offers some suggestions for exercising your pet in hot weather. If you normally jog or walk with your dog in the afternoon, consider changing your schedule to the morning or evening when the sun isn't at its hottest. Carry a water bottle and perhaps a collapsible dog bowl with you to keep your pet hydrated. If you notice your pet panting excessively, wet their tongue, ears, and extremities, then their whole body and seek shade immediately. (Better yet, get them indoors or to a vet's office.) For more tips on safely exercising with your pet, see this post by Bethany.

You know obesity is becoming an epidemic when it not only affects both adults and children, but now pets as well. So enter the "Happy Runner" treadmill for dogs. I couldn't help but post on this, but not because I like it. It actually strikes me as sad, a little cruel, and just as an all-around bad idea. Sure, some dogs out there might get a kick out of it, but most dogs aren't hamsters and I imagine them being more stressed than happy on this contraption.

Besides, what's the point here? Strap your dog to a treadmill while you sit on the couch?

Wow, I'm usually a lot nicer even when I disagree with something, but for some reason this really rubs me the wrong way. It's just a lot of energy focused in a completely not helpful way.