Protecting Pets in the Summer

It’s that dreaded time of year again.  Outdoor temps are climbing, moods are getting cranky, sometimes it’s too hot to even move.  Summers in North Texas can be brutal for all of us, including the animals who count on us for their care.   Keep the following tips in mind when making plans for your animal friends during this hot and steamy season.

•    Never leave an animal inside your vehicle while unattended.  Unlike humans, dogs and cats lack the ability to regulate body temperature through perspiration. A car parked in as low as 75 degrees can become a deadly trap for animals locked inside, where they can soon suffer heat exhaustion, stroke, brain damage, or death.  Cracking windows also does very little to provide relief from sweltering heat. Check out www.mydogiscool.com, a site dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of leaving pets inside vehicles on warmer days.  There you can find out just how hot a parked car can become, download a printable flier to place on unattended vehicles with pets left inside. Note: Contact police immediately if you witness an animal in danger or child left unattended in a vehicle.

•    Always transport animals safely inside the cab of a truck, or inside a tethered kennel in the pick-up bed.  Each year countless pets are killed by riding in the back of trucks, due to flying debris, being tossed out inadvertently, or jumping out on their own.  Each year, local animal groups, newspapers, lost pet websites, and animal controls are contacted by those who have lost animals because they were thrown or bolted from the back of a truck.  In warm months, restrict animal transportation to the inside of cabs only, as a pick-up bed can become dangerously hot in a hurry.

•    Many dogs are terrified in thunderstorms and by July 4th fireworks.  Leave animals at home when attending summer celebrations, and whenever possible, bring them indoors when neighborhood fireworks and summer storms explode.

•    Lawn fertilizers and insecticides can be fatal for pets and children.  Take extreme caution when using them in your yard.  Also, there are over 700 plant varieties that can be toxic to animals and children.  To find a complete list, visit www.aspca.org.

•    Whether indoors or out, make sure animals have access to plenty of water, and change several times a day.  When possible, keep pets indoors.  If your animals must be kept outside, make sure to provide constant shade, as well as bowls of water and food that will not tip over.  While exercise remains important, limit daily walks and play sessions to early morning or evening hours.  In days of extreme heat, skip outdoor activities.  Apply sunscreen on light-colored ear tips and noses, and never have coats clipped shorter than one inch.  Cutting fur too short can lead to sunburn and overheating.

•    Most animal bites occur in summer months.  Spay or neuter pets to reduce negative behavior, such as aggression and anxiety, and to help prevent thousands of unwanted litters born each year.   For information about low cost spay/neuter, call the Denton Humane Society at 940-382-PETS.  The incidence of rabies rises in summer months, too., so make sure pets are current on vaccines.  Heartworm is spread through mosquito bites, which increase in summer as well.  Keep animals on heartworm preventative to keep this potentially fatal disease at bay.  Summertime is also flea season.  Maintain your animal’s health and comfort by using a flea/tick control product recommended by your vet.  Always make sure your pet has a collar and ID tag, or have your vet implant a microchip, to insure your pet can be found in the case she becomes lost.

•    Use caution when exposing pets to pools and lakes.  Don’t assume your dog will automatically know how to exit the pool if he happens to go in.  Teach him where the steps are and never leave him unattended.  When boating with your dog, always use a canine lifejacket.

•    Make yourself aware of the signs of heatstroke and know what to do if your pet is in danger.  According to www.peteducation.com, signs of a heatstroke include:  panting, bright red tongue, slobbering, thick and sticky saliva, depression, weakness, reluctance to move, convulsions, eventual death.   If you see any of these signs, it is vital to lower your pet’s body temperature immediately:  move your pet to the shade or air conditioning, place wet towels on his body (on head, neck, and chest only), provide cool (not cold) water and allow him to drink in small amounts, offer ice in small amounts for him to lick, and call your vet immediately.

This issue features Texas Peaches.  Nutritional deficiencies can lead to disease – are your multi-vitamins enough? An article on Cyberbullying informs parents of how to lower the risk to their children. And, “The Heat Is On,” gives advice on protecting your pets in the summer heat.

Check out the special 4th of July events page containing information on area celebrations.

Click here to view the current issue.

Turn on any news program today, and it won’t take long to hear another heartbreaking story about cyberbullying and its tragic consequences.  With unrestrained access to texting, cell phones, and social networking sites, bullying is no longer limited to the playground or the school hallways.   While this alarming trend has increased in parents a fear of the cyber world, it is important to note that research shows that with proper information and execution, this cycle can be minimized. Equipped with information and a few simple tools, parents can prepare themselves for the role that technology plays in their child’s life, helping to curtail the growth of this detrimental epidemic and its harmful impact on their children.

Cyberbullying is defined by the Cyberbullying Research Center as “when someone repeatedly harasses, mistreats, or makes fun of another person online or while using cell phones or other electronic devices.”  In their February 2010 survey of 4000 students, ages 12 -18, the Research Center found that 20% of students report experiencing cyberbullying on a regular basis, with rumors and disparaging comments being the most commonly identified forms.  Even more disturbing, in a study on cyberbullying and suicide, researchers found that cyberbullying victims were twice as likely to attempt suicide as those individuals experiencing other forms of bullying.

Recent news reports describe one horrific story about Alexis Pilkington, 17, a West Islip soccer star, who committed suicide in March 2010 following vicious bullying on a popular social networking site, which continued after her death, adding to the grief her family and friends were experiencing.  Formspring.me, the site where the bullying took place, advertises to be a place where youth can “ask questions, give answers, and learn more about your friends.”  The danger with this site and many others is that these question and answer sessions can be done anonymously which creates a greater outlet for bullying as kids can make any statement without the risk of being identified.  Alexis’ death is a costly example of the role that cyberbullying plays in the lives of our youth.  It also exemplifies how wide open the door is for youth to communicate with complete insensitivity and without consequence.
While this epidemic seems to be spiraling out of control, there are a number of precautions that parents can take.  It is important to educate children on using the Internet and social networking sites.  Kids need a clear understanding that nothing posted on the Internet is truly “private.”  Teens must learn to appreciate and utilize discretion in posting pictures and comments.  It is important to help kids understand that comments made through email, text, or over the internet are not the same as in person communication and may be misunderstood.  Young people also need to understand that compromising pictures taken by friends can end up on the Internet or sent via text message.  These are opportunities for parents to discuss with and teach their children about the balance between desired community and privacy and about good communication skills.

Parents should be willing to discuss dangers with their kids, helping them understand that predators are on the Internet.  Discuss how to stay protected by avoiding strangers and personal discussions and never giving out personal information.  Implement safeguards, such as parental controls and filters and parental monitoring of texts and social networking sites.  Parents should engage in this process not as a time when they have to fight with their kids, but as an opportunity to show their loved ones they are fighting for them.

Education, awareness, and safe practices, both on the part of kids and teens and their parents, can provide peace of mind and safety for the entire family. Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, put it best when he said, “The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn’t understand.”  It is important for parents to have their own understanding of the Internet and social technology, so that they can guide their kids in its proper use and place in life.  Parents must recognize that social networking and technology are a vital part of an adolescent’s world and should not be completely disregarded.  A few simple steps and open communication with teens will significantly decrease the risk of the dangers associated with today’s communication.

For more information visit the Cyberbullying Research Center at http://www.cyberbullying.us/index.php

by Lisa Houk, F.N.P.,B.C. Nurse Practitioner

William Shive, PhD, of the University of Texas at Austin, stated that “50% of those taking supplements will remain deficient.”  Overwhelming scientific evidence confirms that vitamin deficiencies are affiliated with disease processes and the condition of a person’s health.  Vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant deficiencies suppress immune function and contribute to chronic degenerative processes, such as arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and heart disease as affirmed by the Journal of American Medical Association, (June 19, 2002, Vol 287, No. 23).  Are you getting enough out of your multi-vitamin?

Heart disease can be directly correlated to high levels of homocysteine.  This is because of functional deficiencies of folic acid, Vitamin B6, and B12.  Furthermore, a person greater than 85 years old has a 50% chance of developing Alzheimer’s.  Clinical correlation has been made with Alzheimer’s and lack of antioxidants, particularly Vitamin B12, C, and E.  The Framingham Health Study Cohort found that the elderly population is 30% deficient in folate, 20-25% deficient in B12, and 20% deficient in B6.  Lastly, diabetes mellitus has been associated with a widespread of nutritional deficiencies.  Magnesium, Chromium, Vitamin B1, B6, and E are commonly found to be low in diabetics.  Magnesium and Chromium, particularly, can lead to insulin insensitivity and fluctuations in blood sugar.  If you are at risk for heart disease, Alzheimer’s, or diabetes, pump up the volume on these nutrients to fight it off, beginning now!

Do some of the prescriptions you take deplete your nutrients?  According to the Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook, 2nd Edition, they do.  Antacids, such as Pepcid, Zantac, and Prevacid, deplete Vitamin B12, D Folic Acid, Iron, Zinc, and Calcium.  Antibiotics, such as Tetracycycline and Penicillin, take away Vitamins B, K, B6, and intestinal friendly bacteria.  Anti-diabetic drugs, such as Glucophage, take away Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin B12, and Folic Acid.  Cholesterol lowering agents, such as Lipitor, Zocor, and Pravachol, lower Coenzyme Q10, Vitamins A, B12,D, E, K, Beta-Carotene, Folic Acid, and Iron.  Oral Contraceptives and synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy deplete Vitamins B2, B3, B6, B12, C, Folic Acid, Magnesium, Selenium, and Zinc.  If you are on these products, supplement the nutrients to minimize the deficit.

What do we have to worry about with regards to these vitamins?  For example, low levels of Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) can lead to anemia, fatigue, constipation, loss of appetite, numbness, and tingling in the hands and feet, depression, dementia, poor memory, and oral sores.  It is found in fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products.  Another example, Vitamin E regulates oxidation reactions, immune function, and protects against cardiovascular disease, cataracts, and macular degeneration.  If it is deficient, then problems will occur with skin, hair, anemia, bruising, PMS, hot flashes, eczema, psoriasis, muscle weakness, and sterility.  Thirdly, Vitamin D, for example, is found in sunlight, milk, egg yolk, liver, and fish.  If weak, then it can lead to Osteoporosis, poor calcium absorption, and thyroid problems.

I take a Multi-Vitamin.  How do I know that it has everything I need and that I am absorbing it?  Look on your bottle.  Does it have a USP label for quality?  Do not buy “cheap off brands.”  You may be receiving less than 10% out of your product and wasting your money.  Ask the pharmacist.  Vitamins and nutrients are graded by Levels I-IV.  They can direct you to the best quality.  Lastly, look them up on-line.  Go to consumerlabs.com for comparison of price, quality, quantity, and absorption rate.

So, how do I know if I am getting enough?  Measuring levels of nutrients are done best through looking at the lymphocytes, the white blood cells.  They are produced in bone marrow that regenerate new cells every four to six months.  Lymphocytes measure minimal amount of each essential micronutrient that is needed to support lymphocyte growth or microgenic response.  Plus, they reveal the total antioxidant function, which shows the ability of cells to resist damage. Spectracell Labs, based out of Austin, TX developed a process to look definitively at these nutrients in 1993.  Consider a Total Nutrient Functional Intracellular Analysis (or go to spectracell.com for more information).

Now is the perfect time to rethink your skin care regimen.  Winter is hard on the skin.  Outdoor cold and dryness, as well as indoor artificial heat, take their toll on the skin by taking moisture away from the skin.  Hydration in excessive amounts makes up for the loss by environmental causes.  Excessive is the key word here.  Drinking water is not the best water replacement tactic, although it helps.  The   skin is the last body organ to benefit from drinking water.

Hydration can come in the form of hydrating mists and water based products.  Your skin has to have a perfect balance of water and oil to be in perfect balance and have that natural occurring glow.

Another very important issue is using an SPF, even in winter!  Daily use will help to control damage and prevent further damage that the sun’s rays do to our skin.  Another important aspect is reapplication. That is what SPF is all about.  Usually foundation and moisturizers have SPF in them.  Basically a 25 – 30 SPF is recommended.  Mineral make up is an excellent sun block.  There is a difference in sunscreens and sun blocks.  Sunscreens take the sun and disperse it after it has penetrated the skin.  Sun blocks diffuse the suns rays and do not allow them to touch the skin.  All skin types and colors need protection.  Skin cancer is not skin color specific.

Be sure to know your skin care products and have a skin care regimen that you can stick to.  These two steps in themselves will make a lot of difference in your skin’s health and appearance, especially during this season of cold.

Gloria Prince is the Esthetics Instructor for the Cosmetology Department at North Central Texas College in Gainesville.

Are your kids constantly arguing and trying to be in control? Have you been searching for ways to get along with your kids? One of the keys is to provide consequences with empathy, which makes the consequences the “bad guy” and the parent the “good guy.” Who would not want to be “the good guy” with their kids?

Using genuine empathy with kids helps soak up emotions and puts the problem back on the child. The use of genuine empathy helps to maintain a positive child-parent relationship while allowing a child to learn from his or her mistakes. Good Love and Logic^® parents pick one statement they like and use it over and over again. For example, the parent might say, “I cannot imagine how bad that feels.”

Neutralizing childhood arguing begins by giving the child a big dose of empathy by saying, “I love you too much to argue.” As a parent, you continue to say this one statement and refuse to be pulled into a power struggle with a child who is drunk on control. A parent might also back that up by saying, “I will be happy to talk to you when your voice is as calm as mine.” This is an enforceable statement that encourages thinking rather than fighting.

The consequences that follow are usually natural and logical in nature and may involve a child paying back our time and energy they sucked away by arguing. For example, the child may need to spend time doing one of your chores.

Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home (CPCH) believes so strongly in the Love and Logic^® philosophy of behavior management that they train their staff with these techniques and they find they help them maintain positive relationships with the children and families they serve.

Becoming a Love and Logic Parent^® is a research-based parenting program that focuses on preserving a child’s self concept while teaching them to own and solve their own problems.

CPCH teaches Becoming a Love and Logic Parent® monthly to community members as well. Their next classes will be held on Jan. 9, 2010, concentrating on early childhood, and on Feb. 13, 2010, concentrating on children six and older. If you want to learn more about CPCH’s parenting classes or to register, 940-382-5112 x 252.

Lifestyles is gazing ahead and anxiously excited about 2010.  I am hopeful for our economy as we are starting to see some relief from the wilting of our businesses.  With the look ahead, I naturally reflect on what made the hard times good, and the things I rely on to make life good again.

These may not make the “Oprah List,” and most assuredly extravagant gifts won’t be distributed about. Lifestyles magazine may not compare to Oprah’s hoopla, but then the one thing Oprah doesn’t have that we do is the wonderful spirit of Denton County.  I really do love this place, so I want to start 2010 with “My Favorite (Denton) Things” list. While writing the list, I quickly found that everyone here at Lifestyles wanted to add some of their favorites as well!

Big, Orange and Frenchy
Frenchy’s sense of community is unsurpassed, he supports our vets with his heart and his time and he keeps us informed of the happenings around the area.

A Remnant Cake from Candy Haven
My family has been enjoying this strange looking but GREAT tasting treat for years – we even prefer it over the conventional cake and enjoy it for all family birthdays.

Carol Roberts, CPA in Cross Roads
A ‘numbers’ gal that understands you might not necessarily get it, but she teaches and explains as she goes along.

Bill’s Garage in Ponder
Great mechanic that takes the fear out of bringing your car in.  Honest, quick and a pleasure to deal with.

Café China
An egg roll worth waiting five years for – aren’t we all glad Peiling came back?!

Trucks with the name Sinocola
Construction on University Drive is moving at such wonderful speed, where were you when The Loop needed you?

RV Que in Krum
Some really good barbeque, just a little RV and a couple of real championship pit masters.

Recycled Books
A quiet haven in Downtown Denton, grab a few literally treasures and cuddle up for an escape that can last hours.

Pumpkin Muffies
A delight and surprise at our Panera Bread.  A just enough treat.

Music on the Downtown Square
I always take out-of-town visitors to see the beautiful area and the music addition is a special treat.

Krum
A community with heart, this small town brought Christmas to a five-year old girl in July.  The love, kindness and giving nature of this town taught us all about reaching out and caring.

Beth Marie’s has TWO locations
Need we say more.

Write to Lifestyles of Denton County, and tell us some of your favorite things about the area. Your responses may be featured in an on-going article entitled “My Favorite Denton Things”

editor@dentonlifestyles.com

This is the third in a series on local farms in and nearby Denton County

Traci grew up on a farm in Wisconsin that was established in 1827. It was there that she inherited her parent’s passion and love of farming. So it seemed perfectly reasonable that when Traci’s mother became ill a few years ago,  for Traci and her husband, Todd to find a couple of those doe-eyed, brown and white Jersey calves to pick up her spirits.  That was in 1999. Traci’s mother is no longer with them, but you can still feel her spirit on their family dairy in Krum, Texas.

Dairy farming is a very demanding, stressful occupation. It requires someone be on the property to milk every 12 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Todd works off the farm during the day leaving Traci to manage the operation. Someone has to be available morning and night for milking the 8 Jersey cows currently producing 20-25 gallons each day. Shannon, a part time relief milker has helped out to give the couple an occasional night off, but a recently recruited full time farm intern – Mandy, has been able to give them a much needed break. Just returning from 10 days in Wisconsin visiting family and friends, as well as attending the annual World Dairy Expo in Madison, it’s the 1st time they’ve been away from the farm in 3 years.

This is a raw milk dairy. The unpasteurized milk & cream are sold on the farm directly to its members. The pasteurization process slows down the microbial growth by destroying both the good and the bad natural occurring bacteria.  The proponents of raw milk claim that by not pasteurizing it retains more of its beneficial qualities.

There’s no question that these are happy cows .They’re pastured and fed extra hay when needed and because of the healthy life-style, there’s no need for any hormones or added antibiotics.

Cleanliness is an essential aspect of the milking process.  The cow’s udders are cleaned with antibacterial solutions and wipes ensuring the most sanitary transfer of milk from cow to milk jug.  The cows are milked one at a time using a single cow milking machine known as a bucket milker.  From the bucket milker it’s transferred to a holding container where it’s bottled into 1 gallon jugs for sale. If there’s an excess of daily milk, Traci will run it through a cream separator to offer members pints of wonderfully thick cream.  They always sell only fresh milk daily.

At the present time, membership is full. New members come to them because they know someone who’s already a member.  The next time you talk with your friends, you might ask them where they’re getting their milk!

For more local farm info try:
www.SlowFoodUSA.org
www.LocalHarvest.org
www.NaturallyGrown.org
www.EatGreenDFW.com

If you know of great farm in your community, email:  suenewhouse@yahoo.com

Development and use of gross motor skills in children and adolescents is good for their overall well-being and health. However most people do not realize these skills also play an important role in a child’s academic success, their brain development, self-esteem, ability to participate in group events and in social skills. Gross motor skills involve the bigger muscle groups like arms, legs, feet and torso whereas fine motor skills involve smaller muscles such as hands, fingers and toes. All motor skills, both gross and fine motor require a connection between the brain and the muscles in your body. Generally gross motor skills develop sequentially and they need to be mastered before fine motor skills are mastered. Unfortunately, once a child has mastered locomotion (i.e., walking) and other general gross motor milestones it is all too common that the emphasis shifts to the development of fine motor skills. Both gross and fine motor skills are important and should be optimally developed. The development and enhancement of gross motor skills plays a significant role in a child’s academic success, positive self-esteem and confidence.

Good gross motor development has been found to be beneficial for academic success. Research has shown good eye-hand and eye-foot coordination skills can enhance the vision aspect of reading skills (Dequiros, 1979). Proper upper body support is critical for handwriting.

Gross motor activities also help increase the flow of glucose which is the brain’s chief source of energy. This activity helps develop normal connections during their critical years of child and adolescent development (Gabbard, 1993).

Both children and adolescents continue to develop increasing coordination and motor ability with proper instruction and guidance. This allows a child to gain greater physical strength and endurance. In addition, continued gross motor instruction and development will help foster better distance judgment, motor planning and hand-eye coordination which are beneficial for play and sports participation. All of this promotes greater self-confidence, and a willingness to attempt new challenges. Social inclusion is another positive attribute to good gross motor coordination. A child who is more confident engaging in activities and who has the gross motor skills to do so is frequently invited to participate in many fun group activities.

Awareness and development of good gross motor skills begins during infancy and the toddler years, however it should continue to be a focus throughout childhood and adolescence. Overall good gross motor coordination helps contribute to a child’s positive self-esteem, a desire to be active and healthy, academic success and overall confidence.

I have always recognized the ways it can be good for my family. It’s really a great way for us to save money on practically new clothes. We can buy gently used brand-name items that we could not have afforded new retail, and on the flip side, items that we bought and used very little or cared for during their use with our family, can be consigned and sold for some cash or donations.

All the really good basic reasons have always made sense. But there is more to the story. Do you realize the impact that buying consignment can have by simply keeping tons of packaging as well as perfectly good items out of our landfills? The packaging for new baby strollers, car seats, baby beds and toys is tremendous. It is bad enough to break it all down to get into the trash can for curbside pickup, but it has a massive impact on our landfills. Realizing the impact of that packaging alone for the items I have been buying, I was amazed and somewhat dismayed

My time is money. I have done my share of the garage sale circus and the one thing I am sure of, is that I have never really made enough money to pay for the pain and suffering I go through. Need I refresh your memory of the: borrowing of racks/tables from a distant cousin (hauling and returning it after that l-o-n-g weekend), cleaning out the garage to even start displaying the items, waking up the first morning to six cars in your driveway at 6 am (early investors!), getting haggled down to almost nothing for some wonderfully cared-for items that you had priced low to begin with, and ugh…on and on.

Consigning just makes sense, so buy, sell and donate through consignment. It is a shade of green that looks good on all of us.