Blogs & News

By Herb Weisman, KOMONews.com, November 15, 2016 Millions of people take glucosamine or glucosamine with chondroitin to reduce the stiffness and pain caused by arthritis. And they swear by it. But despite years of testing, there is no scientific proof that these supplements really work any better than taking a placebo. Dr. John Swartzberg, head of the editorial board at the UC Berkeley Letter says these supplements may appear to help because arthritis pain comes and goes. "So if you start glucosamine when your knee is really bad, it's likely going to get better whether you took it or not,”...

Senior Horses: 4 Tips for Caring for an Older Horse Each horse ages differently, so it’s difficult to assign one blanket age to represent an “old horse.” Overall, horses are living longer these days, even well into their 20’s and 30’s. But genetics and the life a horse has lived (and the care he has received throughout) plays a large factor in his physiological age, which may not match his calendar age. A 20-year-old horse may act like a youngster, while another horse only twelve years old may appear much older. This means it is just as important - really,...

  Colder temperatures are here, which means it’s time to review how to protect our pets in the winter season. Here are 7 important tips for a safe and healthy winter for dogs, cats, & horses. 1.   Shelter Dogs and cats will do best living indoors. However, the dry heat in your home contrasted with the cold outdoor temperatures can lead to dry itchy skin. Keep your home humidified to help guard against dry, flaky, and itchy skin. If your pet must live outdoors, he must have access to a dry, draft-free shelter that is large enough for him to...

Whether you are recovering from surgery or fighting a nagging injury, there are several remedies to naturally promote healing and recovery. These tips are also wise to incorporate as preventative measures before surgery as well as before an injury strikes. [Please note, regarding surgery recovery: any alternative healing therapies should be cleared with your physician to ensure there will be no harmful interactions with your existing post-op treatments.] 1. Probiotics + Fiber Probiotics (“good bacteria”) provide well-documented immune-boosting benefits. Most people are aware of these benefits, but fewer are aware that for probiotics to do their job, they need their...

  Not all dogs are considered senior dogs at the same age. So, how do you know when your dog has reached “senior” status? Genetics, nutrition, and environment all play a factor in how quickly your dog ages, but generally speaking, giant breed dogs (like Great Danes) are considered senior by 5-6 years old, small breeds (like Chihuahuas) don’t usually qualify as senior until closer to 10-11 years, and large breeds are somewhere in the middle (a Golden Retriever usually qualifies as senior around 8-10 years of age). Clearly, a key to knowing how to best care for your aging...