Just About Jacks

Archive for July 21st, 2009

One of the amazing hidden ’secrets’ of this century is xylitol. It is truly astonishing on two points. This five carbon sugar can help to prevent both tooth decay and gum disease because the bacteria that eat it cannot utilize xylitol as they can glucose (six carbon table sugar). 

The second fact to know about xylitol is that it has been both well known in one country and almost unheard of in many other countries at the same time. This astounds me because it clearly demonstrates the limited nature of our human awareness.

Let us take a closer look. Xylitol has been used and well documented to reduce the incidence of dental disease in Finland for over five decades now.  Yet here in the United States and many other countries you will hardly hear of a dentist that promotes it. There are a few, but they are not very many.

How can something as beneficial as xylitol, in today’s world, be so unknown to most people despite the fact that Finlanders have been using it since the second world war when regular sugar became scarce.  Later, the dentists and doctors of Finland discovered that their levels of dental health improved due to the use of xylitol as a substitue for sugar. Another product worthy of renewed discovery is the
oral irrigator.

Xylitol has one third the calories of an comparable amount of table sugar. It does not promote tooth decay or the growth of the bacteria that cause gum disease or stale breath. It does not require insulin to be metabolized and therefore should be interesting to diabetics. 

Few things in this world are perfect and xylitol does have some drawbacks. Pets really should not be given xylitol. While a human being has a special metabolic pathway to digest xylitol, many pets do not. Therefore it can be toxic to pets and can even kill them.

You can learn more about xylitol at Xylitol.org. There is plenty of research and information about xylitol there. Oramd is different in that it is an essential oil mix for helping to fight dental disease.

We tend to think that if something is good, that everyone should know about it.  Yet, as this example shows, that is not always the case. There are so many things we do not know.  Perhaps we should resolve to reach further beyond our limited awareness and discover the truth of this world and the universe that is around us.

Author: David S.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to provide advice on any health condition nor does it intend to provide diagnosis or treatment. If you have a health problem, or think you might have one, visit your doctor for advice diagnosis and treatment.  The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products in this article.

When thinking of typical pet beds you probably think of a huge pillow thrown on the floor; you might also think of an old blanket or even a typical and simple mat. These used to be the bed choices for many pet owners in the past years; some make the same choices now as well, but today the pet bed technology has improved and evolved significantly. Those who want to make a difference buy dog sofa beds, which are available in all possible shapes and sizes. Look into Dog sofa bed.

Dog beds come in all possible sizes and styles; ranging from plush sofas to iron beds or stylish pieces of furniture and simple divans, dogs have their own style now. Sofa beds are supposed to be the latest craze among the pet owners, simply because they are pretty cool and cute items; they also look like typical sofas, in smaller dimensions. Dogs are animals that sleep for many hours per day, thus, they need something that offers them the necessary comfort.

Finding the right sofa bed for your dog is not hard; you will probably need to spend some time so as to determine which size and type fits your house and living space more. You will also be amazed to see the quantity and quality of the available sofas.

An additional advantage of dog sofas is that they are quite easy to clean and they save space as well; some people tend to buy different beds for their dogs: a simple and typical bed and a huge pillow for the living room or the place where dog spends most of his time.

How can you make sure though that your pet will like the sofa you will buy? First of all you need to define what your dog’s habits are. Most dogs tend to prefer soft materials and warm fabrics. The smaller they are, the more secluded places they need, while big dogs prefer spaces that allow them to stretch and rest. Sofa beds are made to be very comfortable, ensuring that your dog will rest happily on them.

The great advantage of sofa beds for pets and dogs in particular, is that they are pretty practical and versatile – dog sofas manufacturers take under consideration the particular needs and requirements of dogs so that they can meet their needs more successfully.

If your dog is quiet and doesn’t damage things, you can check the leather sofas as well; they could be a great option, especially if thinking to place it in the living room. A leather sofa could complement the rest of furniture ideally. All dog beds are made of materials that protect both you and your animal from illnesses and bacteria; there are liners that resist bacteria and mold.

The frames are usually made either of wood or metal; wooden frames are far lighter, but they can be damaged by dogs easily, especially if your furry friend likes chewing on furniture items. Metal frames are heavier and sturdier, but they are much more durable and can take the weight of a huge dog, or more than one at the same time. These Dog bedding are the Dogs Accessories that you need to be getting your dog.

As in any pet care, the wild origins dictate a lot of what is important in Guinea Pig care. The guinea pig is a species of rodent sometimes known as the Cacy. They are not in fact pigs, as their name would have suggested.  They come from the moutains of South America, and studies have shown they have been breed from closely related species such as Cavia aperea, C. fulgida, or C. tschudii, and do not exist as a wild species.
The guinea pig plays an important role in both the folk culture of many Indigenous South American tribes and more importantly as a food source (how could they?). Guinea Pigs were domesticated 5000 years ago for nourishment and have appeared in many folk stories and are often used in metaphors.
They came to Europe in the 16th century by European traders and since then has seen common popularity as a household pet.  In the early days they were seen as an mysterious pet and even Queen Elisabeth I had one. They were widely used for biological experimentation since the 17th century, giving way to the metaphor “guinea pig” for a test subject, though more recently they have been replaced by mice and rats.
They are extremely gentle easy to look after and are responsive to handling and feeding and are therefore popular with pet sitters. They are timid explorers and rarely attempt to escape. Guinea pigs will often whistle on occasions of interest, like for when the owner comes – or they hear the food container opening.
There are many types of domesticated guinea pigs, which vary in color and hair differences. The most common types are the shorthair (or American shorthair), the Abyssinian whose coat is ruffled. More particular long hair types include the Peruvian and the Sheltie (or Silkie) and the curly long hair Texel.

So is a Guinea Pig the right pet for me?

They are very companionable animals – so you need to be able to dedicate enough time for them, or else they will feel lonely and this might cause them to be stressed and go ill. This could be important if you are buying one for children, on the understanding that the kids will care for the guinea pig. Consider carefully that they typically live for four or five years, but may live for 8 years and the Guinness Book of Records has the record age for a guinea pig at 14 years.
Guinea pigs are relatively large for rodents, weighing between 700 and 1200g (1.5-2.5 pounds), and measuring between 20 and 25 cm (8–10 inches) in length. Which means that you need to have more space for the cage. Though as a tough animal, this could be located in a shed or a protected corner outside. They put up with cold better than excessive heat. Try to avoid wire mesh floored cages, as this can damage their feet and potentially lead to infection.
As for many animals you do not want to put two males together as they will fightfor domination when they are mature at 6 months or so. However you can have as many females together as you want, and they will get along very well. Obviously you do not want to add a male to the group as they breed very easily.

Grass is their normal diet in the wild, which they digest with the help of their long colon. This is however not long enough, so if they are eating a lot of grass you will see them eat their faeces. Like us they cannot synthesise vitamin C and will need to attain this through their diet, otherwise scurvy will kill them. Scurvy shows itself through sluggishness.  So give them often fresh, raw fruits and vegetables (such as broccoli, apple, cabbage, carrot, spinach and celery). Alternatively, but not a preferred option through dietary supplements. They are fussy eaters when older, so with a young guinea pig give a varied foods. They feed continuously, so ensure there is hay available for them to eat.
They, as well as scurvy, can also suffer from respiratory tract infections, diarrhea,  abscesses due to infection (often in the neck, due to hay embedded in the throat, or from external scratches), and infections by lice, mites or fungus.

They are energetic throughout the day, with periods of sleep inter dispersed with activity. Guinea pigs like to groom themselves and will groom others.

It has long been suspected that smoking and gum disease are interrelated. Thanks to recent studies, that link has been proven. We have all long known that smoking is dangerous to your health. It can cause heart disease, including heart attacks. It could lead to strokes and aneurysm. Naturally it might lead to lung and throat cancer, not to mention many others. Your breath smells, your teeth get stained, and respiratory problems and infections are practically a given. As it turns out, smoking can negatively affect your oral health as well.

Smoking is one of the main risk factors associated with gingivitis. This because smoking practically opens wide the door for bacteria to flock into your mouth. Bacteria is what ultimately causes gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis. However, that is not the only reason smoking can lead to gum disease.

Both the smoke which comes from the tobacco and the nicotine in cigarettes can make your blood vessels constrict. That makes it harder and harder for nutrients and oxygen to get to parts of your body – including your gums and gum tissue.

Smoking is not the only thing which causes this to happen. Chewing tobacco can as well. Further, they can both make it more difficult for your body to adequately fight off infections. Meaning, it cannot fight off the infection which causes gingivitis. If you are a smoker, it may even be more difficult for your body to respond to the proper treatment methods for gm disease.

How can you, as a smoker, decrease your risk for gum disease? Well, naturally, you have got to stop smoking. Think of all the aspects of your health smoking will negatively affect? You also want to do your part by rigorously taking care of your teeth. Brushing, flossing, and regular checkups are absolutely necessary.