much faster than most pet owners expect. For every year you age, your dog’s body ages seven years.
With accelerated aging, health problems develop much more quickly than they would in a human — for example, diabetes. These impacts on their health can be sudden and often occur before you realize your furry best friend is unwell.
No. 2: Ongoing pain isn’t always obvious. With certain pets, owners can understand a little “grumpiness” as part of their pet’s personality. It’s understandable to not always assume that there’s something wrong. However, keep in mind that showing weakness or vulnerabilities is often against a pet’s natural instincts for survival. Annual exams help pets go through routine tests that ensure they aren’t in pain and unable to communicate it. No. 3: Save time and money with early detection. If I had money, I’d spend it all on my favorite treats. So, I think your pet would appreciate it if you had a little extra money to use for treats, too! With annual exams, any developing medical conditions or diseases can be caught and treated early, saving you money from a potential surgery in the future. No. 4: Prolong your pet’s life. A visit every year can help ensure your pet is in tip-top shape and prolong their life, giving you extra time with your best friend. There’s no price tag I could put on that, even if I tried. Thanks for reading, friends. Don’t feel bad if you haven’t brought your pet in for an exam lately — just give us a call and the best vets in the whole world will take care of you! Disclaimer: I might be biased as they pet and care for me every day. Many herbs in your late summer garden are beneficial for your dog’s health. These easy sweet potato fries are the perfect vessel to deliver those benefits to your canine friend. INGREDIENTS • 1 yam or sweet potato, plus your choice of dog-safe spice combination Spice Combinations Italian-Inspired Blend to Help With Pet Arthritis • 1 tsp dried or 1 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped • 1 tsp dried or 1 tbsp fresh oregano, finely chopped Warming Blend to Help Regulate Blood Sugar and Improve Dental Health • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/4 tsp ground coriander DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 250 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Cut yam or sweet potato into fries by slicing it lengthwise into 1/3- inch slabs. Then, slice each slab lengthwise into 1/3-inch rectangles. 3. Place fries onto the baking sheet in a single, well-spaced layer. Sprinkle your herbs of choice on top. 4. Bake for 3 hours. Let cool, then serve as a treat to your pup.
2 Fun Family Card Games to Play With 1 Deck Whether you’re hanging out at home or camping with the family, card games are a great way to relax. A single deck is versatile and easy to pack, so if you have one on hand, try these two games that go beyond the classics like War and Go Fish. 1. Slapjack (2+ Players, No Jokers): The goal of this War-style game is to win all of the cards. To start, deal all of the cards face down, then have everyone form their cards into a pile without looking at them. Each player then flips a card face up into the center. Continue doing this until one of the cards played is a jack. When that happens, the first person to slap the jack wins it and the cards beneath! They add them to their deck, and play continues until one player has all of the cards. To keep things interesting, if you accidentally slap a card that isn’t a jack, you have to give up one of your cards to the player with that pile, and if you run out of cards, you can reenter the game by slapping the very next jack. 2. Spar (2–4 Players, No Ace of Spades or Cards Below 6): This easy game is played with just 35 cards, and the object is to win the last round (aka trick). To start, deal five cards to each player. Then, have the person to the left of the dealer lay one of their cards face up. Each person in the circle then plays a card in the same suit if they can or another suit if they can’t. Whoever has the highest card in the original suit wins the trick and starts the next one! The winner of the fifth trick wins the game. If you want to keep score, award three points if the winning card is a six, two points if it’s a seven, and one point if it’s an eight or higher. Then play again! We found these games on BicycleCards.com, but you can learn about them and dozens of others by checking out “The Ultimate Book of Family Card Games” by Oliver Ho from your local library.
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