by Dr. Jay King, DVM 

(NAPSI)—By the age of three, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of dental disease. If your pet has smelly breath, it could be a warning sign. Pet parents might not know that bad breath is caused by harmful bacteria and can be an indicator of oral disease. Harmful bacteria in the mouth can also work its way under the gum line, cause gum disease and get into the bloodstream. It gets worse. Bacteria in the blood can harm joints, damage organs and lead to chronic disease.

Doctor’s Advice

As a veterinarian, I want you to know it’s important to be proactive when it comes to pets’ oral health, and how easy and affordable it can be to vastly improve it with an oral-care probiotic. ProBiora3®, a proprietary blend of three beneficial bacteria strains, found only in ProBioraPet®, is all natural and packed with beneficial bacteria. This abundance of “good bacteria” crowds out the “bad bacteria” and does away with the source of bad breath. Simply sprinkle one scoop daily into your pet’s food. There’s no odor and no taste. Pets still happily enjoy their chow—and you can enjoy sweeter pet kisses. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—It’s still Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment season and many fitness-minded folks are choosing to sign up for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans because they appreciate the extra benefits such as subsidized gym memberships. If you have one of these plans, or you’re thinking of enrolling in one, then you may be ready to take the next step in your exercise journey by joining a new fitness center. Here are three tips to help you select the best fitness center for your needs: Continue reading →

Strawberries stuffed with lightly-sweetened cream cheese and walnuts are perfect for that romantic evening. They go great with champagne! Pecans also work well in this recipe.

• 20 fresh strawberries
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
• 1 ½ tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

Dice two strawberries and set aside. Cut the stems off of each of the remaining strawberries, forming a base for strawberries to stand on. Starting at the pointed ends and cutting most of the way, but not completely through the stem end, slice each strawberry into four wedges.

Beat the cream cheese until fluffy; stir in the diced strawberries, walnuts, and powdered sugar. Spoon or pipe about a teaspoon of mix into each strawberry.

More recipes at www.allrecipes.com

by the We Can Do This 

COVID-19 Public Education Campaign 

(NAPSI)—January is a month when people make New Year’s resolutions that often include pledges to take steps for better health. With new variants of COVID-19 moving rapidly throughout the world, 2022 resolutions that involve COVID vaccines and boosters can go a long way toward making the new year healthy for everyone. And it can be an easy resolution to keep.

“Vaccines are wonders of medicine that have prevented suffering and death from deadly diseases such as smallpox, polio, and diphtheria,” said Dr. Danielle Zerr, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Seattle Children’s Hospital. “When thinking about how to be healthy in 2022, COVID-19 vaccines and boosters should be high on the list of important and simple steps to good health.”  Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Every year more than 5 million homes change hands in America, almost 35,000 of those are in Broward County. For most people, that can be pretty daunting—but it doesn’t have to be.

The Problem 

Selling a home is often cited as one of the most emotionally difficult life events. In fact, 77% of respondents told pollsters at 1000watt they might be willing to take 5 to10% less for their home to avoid the hassle.  Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—With each generation’s expected retirement time growing longer and longer, you may need to plan for 20 to 30 years of life after you stop working. And when it comes to ways to save for the future, many Americans think first of the 401(k), the most popular and well-known retirement savings option.

Saving for Your Health

Lesser known—and understood—is another way to save for your future: the Health Savings Account (HSA). With rising healthcare costs that can exceed $10,000 annually during the retirement years, HSAs are gaining more recognition as a smart way to complement 401(k)s and other retirement savings options by helping you plan and save for healthcare costs encountered now and in the future. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—I remember one specific day in first grade like it was yesterday. It was the day when my teacher saw me hesitate as I started to read aloud to the class. “You can do it,” she told me, as I slowly started speaking. Lo and behold, she was right. I could do it! Her nudge of inspiration changed my life.

Reading isn’t every kid’s passion—some prefer physical science, videography, foreign languages, or global affairs. Whatever their passion may be, a caring teacher and the right learning fit can help children discover their interests and their talents.

That’s what school choice, and National School Choice Week (Jan. 23-29), is about: Championing how wonderful it is that kids have different talents and celebrating the different learning environments that inspire them.  Continue reading →

Making Life More Fun

(NAPSI)—In the midst of a pandemic, family drama and the passing of Prince Phillip, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were shining examples of grace and optimism over the last couple of years. Picking up the pace of their Royal engagements, the couple has provided a glimpse into what the Monarchy might look like in the future.

In 2022, expect to see a lot more of this powerful pair as they embark on a heavy schedule of events around the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Celebrating the Queen’s 70 years of service, the Platinum Jubilee will consists of festivities throughout the year, with the bulk taking place in June when the Queen’s birthday is traditionally celebrated. William and Kate will play a central role at these events, which will include a live concert from Buckingham Palace that will bring together some of the world’s biggest entertainment stars to celebrate the most significant moments of the Queen’s seven-decade reign. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—For many, the past year has been a reminder that they can take important steps in taking charge of their own health and well-being. Now that it’s time for new resolutions, making a positive change for some can mean quitting tobacco. Whether it’s cigarettes, dip, e-cigarettes or some other form, quitting tobacco is often at the top of lists of health-related resolutions. However, one reason it’s frequently on resolutions lists is it can take several attempts to quit for good.

One thing to know if you’re planning to quit is you absolutely don’t have to do it alone. Consider talking with your doctor or health care provider for any tips, tricks or suggestions that can help improve your chances of quitting.  Continue reading →