Dr. Jane Bicks on Organic Pet Food

People have been asking Dr. Jane Bicks the following question: WHY DON'T
YOU HAVE ORGANIC FOOD? Here is the answer that she'd like me to share
with you for your customers:

I would love to have an all organic food as long as it fit my mission
statement. My mission is to formulate and produce food with the best
nutrition I can give to a dog and cat.

Unfortunately, organic meats are still hard to come by. Just go to your
supermarket and you will see the small section of organic meats. The
price is high because there simply are not enough organic meats produced
yet.

I can't find enough HIGH QUALITY organic meats for my formula every
week. (We sell millions of pounds of food). You see, the best cuts of
the organic meats go to the supermarkets and health food stores. The
left overs (the trims) can be used for pet food. While the meat would be
organic it would be the "throw away" parts such as the tendons,
ligaments, and visa versa. Muscle meat and organ meat deliver optimum
nutrition, not the later. Using organic meats today would violate my
mission statement.

If you look at the label of organic foods you will notice that they
contain large amounts of carbohydrates. While I believe that
carbohydrates are necessary in a well formulated diet, the organic foods
use more than I deem acceptable. They have to use carbohydrates to keep
the cost down and to add some protein (carbohydrates have protein)
because they can't get enough meat protein. I must have a fixed formula
which means that the ingredients (type, amount) will never vary from bag
to bag or can to can. Many dogs and cats will get GI upsets if amounts
or types of ingredients change. Organic foods have non fixed formulas
because they have to take what they can get.

I understand the importance of organic ingredients and embrace it. If
you look at my Instinctive Choice you will see that I have a portion of
organic chicken. Unfortunately there is not very much CONSISTENT organic
chicken to use and unfortunately not enough for my entire formula.

IN SUMMARY: My mission is to give the dog and cat the best nutrition I
know how to. Using organic ingredients would be a plus, above and beyond
the excellent nutrition. It will take a few more years before organic
becomes more available.

Dr. Jane

Read more about Life's Abundance Pet Food.

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FDA Update on Nutro

FDA Statement on Nutro Products, Inc.

FDA is clarifying that Nutro Products, Inc. is not currently under investigation. FDA does not typically confirm or deny the existence of an FDA investigation. It has recently come to our attention, however, that a media report incorrectly concluded and reported that Nutro Products, Inc. was the subject of an investigation.

read the entire article.

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EPA Advistory on Flea and Tick Medications

The EPA has put out an advisory about the topical flea and tick applications. Click here to read the EPA article. Some of the products being reviewed are Promeris, Frontline, Zodiac and BioSpot.

Robin's Note: With a bit more research at the EPA site, I found the ingredient list for the products that the advisory is out on: "The active ingredients in these products are amitraz, cyphenothrin, dinotefuron, etofenprox, fipronil, imidicloprid, metaflumizone, permethrin, pyriproxyfen, and S-methoprene."

If you are looking for some natural alternatives, Click here

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Soy - Canine Cancer

Soy May Aid In Treating Canine Cancers
www.sciencedaily.com
ScienceDaily
Apr. 11, 2009

Researchers at North Carolina State University are looking to soy as a way to make traditional canine cancer therapy more effective, less stressful for the dog and less costly for the owners.

Dr. Steven Suter, assistant professor of oncology, and NC State colleagues studied genistein - a molecule found in soy that has been shown to be toxic to a wide variety of cancer cells in humans - to determine whether it would also inhibit the growth of canine lymphoma cells.

The researchers found that a commercially available form of genistein called GCP was effective in killing canine lymphoid cells in a laboratory setting, and that GCP is "bioavailable" in canines - meaning it is absorbed into the bloodstream where it can affect cancer cells in the body. The researchers hope that their findings will lead to the use of GCP for their canine patients in conjunction with traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy.

The researchers' findings were published in Clinical Cancer Research.

"Humans have been using soy in conjunction with traditional chemotherapy for some time as a chemo potentiator," Suter says. "This means that the GCP makes the chemotherapy work more efficiently and faster, which translates to less stress on the patient and less money spent on chemotherapy."

Since dogs absorb GCP in much the same way that humans do, Suter hopes that veterinarians will be able to offer this therapy to canine patients in the near future.

"Since GCP is a dietary supplement, it is harmless to patients," he adds. "Plus it's inexpensive and easy to administer in a pill form. There's really no downside here."

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Puppy Mills Exposed

Animal Planet Airs Special: Puppy Mills Exposed


Deborah Howard President of Companion Animal Protection Society Helps Expose Inhumane World of Pet Shops and Puppy Mills

(Cohasset, MA) – On Monday, April 27, 2009 at 10:00 pm (ET/PT) Animal Planet will take viewers into the world of puppy mills with “Puppy Mills: Exposed” a special episode of Animal Cops: Philadelphia. The one-hour segment features the President of Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), Deborah Howard an expert in the field of puppy mills and pet shops, as she explains the national issue of pet shop and puppy mills for viewers.

The segment uses CAPS undercover video evidence taken in USDA licensed kennels. This imagery showcases the minimum standards required by federal regulatory framework intended for wholesale kennels. In its release about the special, Animal Planet stated that “like most people, the owner had no idea that virtually all pet store puppies come from large commercial breeding facilities — many of which can be considered puppy mills.”

Please check local listings for channels and show times. For more information on the Companion Animal Protection Society please visit www.caps-web.org.

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Honda Goes to the Dogs

NYIAS: Honda releases dog-friendly Element concept
Posted: April 09, 2009, 1:57 PM by Jodi Lai
Honda, Auto News, New York Auto Show

With the help of some playful pooches, Honda released a concept of a dog-friendly version of its Element SUV today at the New York International Auto Show.

The SUV, which is scheduled to be released in the fall, is likely to be equipped with canine-ready add-ons such as a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area, second row and cargo area pet restraints, an extendable cargo area loading ramp, a rear ventilation fan, second-row seat covers with a dog bone pattern design, all-season rubber floor mats (matches seat covers) and a built-in spill-resistant water bowl.

"In an interesting turn of events, cars are now chasing dogs," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. "Factory integration of a cushioned pet bed, restraint systems and other components is intended to transform the Element into the ultimate dog car."

The pull-out ramp stores underneath the bed platform and can be conveniently accessed when the rear tailgate is down.

The Element has long been recognized for its dog-friendly interior with an easy-to-clean, waterproof urethane floor and expansive, flat cargo area, wide-opening side cargo doors, low lift-in height and accommodating dimensions for tall items and big dogs, according to a press release.

The consumer pet travel advice Web site, Dogcars.com, honored the 2007 Honda Element with its first-ever "Dog Car of the Year" award.
read the entire article.


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Sander's Book

SANDER’S BOOK: The Education of a Dog Owner
By Connie Burnet

In 1998, when Connie Burnet’s Sheltie, Sander, was 7 years old, he was diagnosed with cancer in the form of a malignant oral tumor. The vets said it was inoperable and unstoppable, and they doubted that Sander would live more than a few more months.

Knowing that conventional cancer treatments were not an option for her dog, Connie worked with an herbalist to support Sander’s immune system, to arm it to fight the cancer, and to keep the quality of his life at the highest possible level. They met with amazing success. Sander died of old age when he was a few months short of his 15th birthday, in early 2006. He still had the cancer: it never went away, but it also never grew significantly, and it did not kill him. He lived with cancer for 7 years, half of his life. read the entire article.

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Alabama Rabies Challenge - Update!

AL Rabies Law SB 469 --Contact Rules Committee Now

Urgent -- there are only 7 session days left for the Legislature and SB 469 schedule for a 3rd reading in the House of Representatives after receiving an "ought to pass" vote from the Alabama Agriculture & Forestry Committee. To make sure SB 469 gets put on the "consent calendar," please contact the House Rules Committee members below and ask all the pet owners you know to do the same. The e-mail addresses for the committee members are below.

A 3 year protocol is almost there -- one more reading and vote, this is the final push.

Alabama House Rules Committee
RULES

Ken Guin, Chair; James Buskey, Vice Chair; Ron Johnson, Ranking Minority Member; Barbara Boyd, Craig Ford, Blaine Galliher, Todd Greeson, Randy Hinshaw, Richard Laird, Jack Page, Arthur Payne, John Robinson, Rod Scott, Pebblin Warren, Cam Ward


repkenguin@aol.com; james.buskey@alhouse.org; ron.johnson@alhouse.org; barbara.boyd@alhouse.org; craig.ford@alhouse.org; blaine.galliher@alhouse.org; todd.greeson@alhouse.org; randy.hinshaw@alhouse.org; richard.laird@alhouse.org; arthur.payne@alhouse.org; john.robinson@alhouse.org; pwarren@alhouse.gov; camjulward@aol.com; scotthrod@yahoo.com; reppage@bellsouth.net; rjlsr@teleclipse.net;
_________________________
Kris L. Christine
Founder, Co-Trustee
THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND
www.RabiesChallengeFund.org


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FDA Investigates Nutro

By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com
Copyright 2009 © All Rights Reserved
April 20, 2000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that the agency is investigating NUTRO pet food, following a series of unexplained illnesses and deaths. Consumers have been complaining for more than two years that their pets have become ill after eating NUTRO products; many have recovered when they were switched to other foods. The company has steadfastly denied that its food is to blame. read the entire article.

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Ann's Walk

Mooresville, N.C. resident Ann McLaughlin gives her dog Diego a hug during a walk at Stumpy Creek Park on Friday afternoon. Diego, a rescue dog, is the inspiration for McLaughlin’s personal quest to walk 300 miles to raise funds for Noah’s Ark, a non-profit Children's Home and Animal Rehabilitation Center in Locust, Ga. The Walk will begin on Sunday April 19, 2009 at 7AM. The "Start" Location is Saint Therese Catholic Church, 217 Brawley School Rd., Mooresville, NC, 28117. Please check back for Information regarding her Route to Noah's Ark and for a Link to a Photo Journal of her Trip. read the entire article.

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EPA Warrant at TreatCo Plant

EPA executes warrant at dog treat plant

The Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies executed a federal search warrant Thursday at one of the nation's largest suppliers of natural dog treats.

EPA spokesman Rich Hood said the agency is investigating environmental and other alleged federal crimes at Wichita-based TreatCo, 2300 N. Broadway.

Thursday's operation involved about a dozen people from the EPA's criminal investigative division and EPA technical experts along with agents from the state Health Department and Wichita police.

Officials with the city of Wichita who were involved with the search referred calls to the EPA.

Attempts to reach Hood for further comment after the search were unsuccessful.

TreatCo's receptionist told the Associated Press she was too busy and could not refer a call to anyone else for comment.

A woman who answered The Eagle's phone call later Thursday said: "It's just a witch hunt. That's all I've got to say."

According to the EPA's Web site, TreatCo has been in significant noncompliance with the handling of hazardous waste since Dec. 7, 2006.

Significant noncompliance is EPA's most serious level of violation. The company has not been fined by the EPA.

The company's Web site says TreatCo processes more than 2 million pounds of product monthly. It buys beef byproducts from Kansas and Texas slaughterhouses to make dog treats.

Attempts to reach Ken Thomas, who is vice president and plant manager of TreatCo, were unsuccessful.

Thomas ran for the District 6 City Council seat this spring but was eliminated in the primary. Thomas has said that the company has more than 30 employees in Wichita.
read the entire article.

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Aversive Training Questions

Questions about ‘aversive’ training
By Tim Hyland

Cesar Millan is one of the superstars of the canine world.

As the host of the National Geographic Channel show, “Dog Whisperer,” Millan has rocketed to fame based on his ability to reform and save misbehaving, over-aggressive dogs. It’s something he accomplishes through “firm” discipline—a “firm correction, a firm grab on the neck, which is what dogs do to each other,” as he says on his web site.

Millan’s show attests to his success, and he’s earned millions of loyal followers.

But according to a new study from Penn’s School of Veterinary Science, Millan’s approach may not be quite so effective as he makes it out to be. In fact, the study suggests “firm” discipline—and so-called “aversive” discipline techniques, in which dogs are corrected using aggressive measures—may actually backfire, making dogs more likely to lash out at other dogs, people and even their owners. Read the entire article.

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Aversive Training Methods

If You’re Aggressive, Your Dog Will Be, Too, Says Veterinary Study at
University of Pennsylvania
February 17, 2009


PHILADELPHIA –- In a new, year-long University of Pennsylvania survey of dog owners who use confrontational or aversive methods to train aggressive pets, veterinary researchers have found that most of these animals will continue to be aggressive unless training techniques are modified.

The study, published in the current issue of Applied Animal Behavior Science, also showed that using non-aversive or neutral training methods such as additional exercise or rewards elicited very few aggressive responses.

“Nationwide, the No. 1 reason why dog owners take their pet to a veterinary behaviorist is to manage aggressive behavior,” Meghan E. Herron, lead author of the study, said. “Our study demonstrated that many confrontational training methods, whether staring down dogs, striking them or intimidating them with physical manipulation does little to correct improper behavior and can elicit aggressive responses.”

The team from the School of Veterinary Medicine at Penn suggest that primary-care veterinarians advise owners of the risks associated with such training methods and provide guidance and resources for safe management of behavior problems. Herron, Frances S. Shofer and Ilana R. Reisner, veterinarians with the Department of Clinical Studies at Penn Vet, produced a 30-item survey for dog owners who made behavioral service appointments at Penn Vet. In the questionnaire, dog owners were asked how they had previously treated aggressive behavior, whether there was a positive, negative or neutral effect on the dogs’ behavior and whether aggressive responses resulted from the method they used. Owners were also asked where they learned of the training technique they employed.

Of the 140 surveys completed, the most frequently listed recommendation sources were “self” and “trainers.” Several confrontational methods such as “hit or kick dog for undesirable behavior” (43 percent), “growl at dog” (41 percent), “physically force the release of an item from a dog's mouth” (39 percent), “alpha roll”physically -- rolling the dog onto its back and holding it (31 percent), “stare at or stare down” (30 percent), “dominance down” —- physically forcing the dog down onto its side (29 percent) and “grab dog by jowls and shake” (26 percent) elicited an aggressive response from at least 25 percent of the dogs on which they were attempted. In addition, dogs brought to the hospital for aggressive behavior towards familiar people were more likely to respond aggressively to some confrontational techniques than dogs brought in for other behavioral reasons.

“This study highlights the risk of dominance-based training, which has been made popular by TV, books and punishment-based training advocates,”Herron said. “These techniques are fear-eliciting and may lead to owner-directed aggression.”
Read the entire article.

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Pets-Adverse Drug Reactions

www.fda.gov/cvm

Veterinarians and animal owners are encouraged to report adverse experiences and product failures to the government Agency that regulates the product in question. Pretesting by the manufacturer and review of the data by the government does not guarantee absolute safety and effectiveness due to the inherent limitation imposed by testing the product on a limited population of animals. read the entire article.

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Mothballs

Pet Poison Alert: Move Away from Mothballs

Spring has sprung, and it’s time to put away your winter woolens! But beware, pet parents—take care when storing your cold weather gear with mothballs. These strong-smelling deterrents contain pesticides that repel sweater-loving moths but can wreak havoc on the health of our furry friends.

In the past year, the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) has managed 113 cases of mothball poisoning, and most of those accidents happened during the spring and summer months. According to the APCC’s Dana Farbman, CVT, the ingestion of just one mothball can produce significant illness. Naphthalene—an offending chemical found in some brands of mothballs—is toxic to dogs, cats and other animals, and if ingested, can cause serious illness, including vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, swelling of the brain tissue, seizures, damage to the liver, kidneys and blood cells, coma and even death.

Farbman also advises pet parents to look out for mothballs that contain dichlorobenzene. “This insecticide is somewhat less toxic than naphthalene,” she says, “but it can still cause stomach upset and potentially even neurological effects if consumed in large amounts.”

Like other toxic exposures, it’s important to seek immediate attention if your pet has ingested mothballs. Prompt treatment can make the difference between just another household accident and permanent tragedy. The prognosis for those pets who receive immediate care is quite good, provided no other underlying conditions like liver disease or anemia are present.

If you suspect that your pet may have ingested mothballs—or any other poisonous substance—please call your local veterinarian or the ASPCA’s emergency hotline at (888) 426-4435. For more information about keeping your pet safe from household poisons, please visit APCC online.

www.aspca.org

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Easter Lilies

Pet Poison Alert: Lay Off the Lilies
www.aspca.org

Spring is here, people! Whether you’re celebrating Easter, Passover or the arrival of daffodils, it’s time to show our fur kids some love by keeping them safe from one of the season’s most popular—and poisonous—plants, the Easter lily.

In the past year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center fielded 442 cases of pets who ingested some variety of the lovely lily. The vast majority of those cases occurred during the spring and summer months, and 83% involved our feline friends. Some examples of common lily varieties that are dangerous for cats include Easter lily, tiger lily, rubrum lily, Japanese show lily and certain species of daylily.

“All lilies belonging to the plant genus Lilium are highly toxic to cats,” explains Dr. Steven Hansen, Senior Vice President, ASPCA Animal Health Services. “Consuming even small amounts can cause a life-threatening situation.” Certain species of the genus Hemerocallis are also known to produce similar toxic effects. Lilies may cause a cat to vomit, become lethargic or develop a lack of appetite. Without immediate and proper care, a cat may develop life-threatening kidney failure within 36 to 72 hours of ingestion.
“Time is really of the essence for treatment,” says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. “If an owner suspects her cat may have eaten any part of a lily, she should seek immediate medical care.”

The ASPCA recommends leaving lilies out of Easter baskets or Mother’s Day bouquets destined for homes with cats, or using safer flower varieties as substitutes. Some pretty alternatives include Easter orchids, cacti and daisies, as well as roses and violets.

For more information about household flowers that can hurt cats and dogs, check out our online guide to toxic plants. As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.

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Easter and Your Pets

Easter can be perilous for pets
By Peter Mucha

Easter isn't just dangerous to marshmallow chicks and chocolate bunnies.

Real pets are often put in the peril, too, warns webvet.com, which just released its "Seven Deadly Sins of Easter."

Chances are you've been warned before about getting a live bunny: Most wind up in shelters or "on the streets, which is a sure death sentence," the website says.

Chocolate's another familiar no-no: Chemicals caffeine and theobromine can trigger problems in dogs and cats, ranging from vomiting to abnormal heart rhythms to even death.

Less well known are the hazards of other seemingly innocent holiday traditions.

Which of the following might make your dog or cat quite ill?

(a) An Easter lily.
(b) Plastic Easter basket grass.
(c) Xylitol, the artificial sweetener.
(d) Rotten eggs.
(e) Candy wrappers.
(f) All of the above.

Gee, the answer's (f).

Lilies. They're toxic to cats. "All portions of the plant are poisonous to a cat's kidneys when eaten and, even with prompt veterinary care, treatment is not always successful," says webvet.com.

Plastic grass. This indigestible stuff can cause choking or gastro-intestinal obstructions that require surgery. Appetite loss and vomiting are symptoms.

Other candies, especially ones with xylitol. Jelly beans, marshmallow critters and other candies can, if eaten, disturb a pet's digestive tract. In a half-hour, a "small amount" of xylitol can cause a host of maladies, from low blood sugar to seizures to liver failure, webvet.com says.

Rotten eggs. Keep track of what gets hidden during an egg hunt. Animals do get sick finding real eggs left to spoil. Plastic eggs should also be rounded up, because dogs might go for the goodies inside or choke on the egg itself.

Wrappers. Pets shouldn't be ingesting shiny noise-makers either.
Read the entire article.

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Smoking and Pets

Risk to Pets Motivates Smokers to Quit
Survey Shows Smokers Would Quit to Protect Pets From Secondhand Smoke
By Bill Hendrick

Feb. 9, 2009 -- Smokers are motivated to quit the habit to protect their pets from secondhand smoke, a new survey shows.

Researchers led by Sharon M. Milberger, ScD, of the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, found that 28.4% of smokers who participated in an online survey said learning that secondhand smoke was bad for their pet's health would motivate them to quit. And 8.7% said knowing the potential adverse health effects of secondhand smoke would spur them to ask their partners to quit.

The results are published in Tobacco Control, a BMJ specialty publication. The researchers write that 3,300 people responded to an online survey for pet owners; 66% were dog owners, 53% kept cats, and 10% had birds. Most of the survey participants were white females from Michigan.

Sixteen percent of nonsmoking pet owners living with smokers reported they would ask their partners to quit smoking to keep their dog, cat, or bird away from secondhand smoke if they had information about the pet dangers of secondhand smoke. Another 24% said they'd tell their smoking partners to go outside to smoke.

The survey shows that about 40% of smokers -- and 24% of nonsmokers living with smokers -- said they'd like to know more about the effects of smoking, secondhand smoke, and how to kick the habit.

The researchers say public health campaigns aimed at getting people to quit might benefit from reminding smokers that breathing secondhand smoke is unhealthy for their pets as well as for people.

Published evidence is convincing that secondhand smoke is dangerous not only for humans, but for pets, too, according to the article.

Exposure to tobacco smoke has been associated with certain cancers in dogs and cats, allergies in dogs, and eye and skin diseases and respiratory problems in birds, according to the researchers.

"This new source of motivation could be particularly strong for smokers who, aside from their companion animals, live alone," the researchers suggest.

http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20090209/risk-to-pets-motivates-smokers-to-quit


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Skin and Coat

Maintaining healthy skin and a glossy coat is a day-to-day challenge for many pet parents. In fact, skin and coat problems are cited as the sole reason for a significant number of vet visits every year.

For all of the hair support systems to function properly, they require a variety of nutrients, including fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. The body first delivers these nutrients to the primary organs (heart, lungs, liver), and the remainder is sent to the sebaceous glands in the skin. A healthy coat requires a great deal of protein. In fact, at optimum nutrition levels, almost 95% of the protein that’s ingested is used by the body to support hair production and maintenance. That’s why it is advisable to give your companion animals a balanced supplement that provides the additional nutritional support necessary to achieve the utmost in a healthy coat and skin.

Skin & Coat Formula is a unique formula that provides superior protein content pets need. And it also contains the perfect balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These oils are certified-free of contaminants and are microencapsulated to increase absorption, so that your companion animal will receive the maximum nutritional benefit.

Additionally, Skin & Coat Formula contains vitamins A, D, and E, all of which are necessary for the maintenance of healthy skin and a glossy coat.

And Skin & Coat is manufactured in a human pharmaceutical plant, so you can be confident that you are providing your pet with the highest quality product possible. Not only that, it also has a delicious roast beef flavor that dogs and cats love!


Click here for more information.

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Supplement for Cats

Life’s Abundance Wellness Food Supplement for Cats is formulated with a wide variety of naturally nutritious ingredients to help maintain overall health. The proteins in this superior supplement are sourced from high-quality chicken, herring, chicken liver, salmon and pork meals. We have also included chicken cartilage, a natural source of glucosamine and condroitin sulfate. This supplement also contains other nutritious ingredients such as alfalfa sprouts, tomato pomace and fish oil. Last but not least, even the most finicky felines will enjoy the savory taste of these nutritious nuggets! Click here for more details.

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10 Rules for Dog Leadership

Ten Rules to Great Leadership with Your Dog or Puppy

Leadership, in short, is the ability to guide, direct or influence. Nowhere in the definition does it say “dominate,” intimidate, or control, and yet over the years many dog trainers skewed and twisted the definition so out of shape a contortionist would be hard pressed to keep up. Even today with all the science to the contrary, there are popular books and videos for sale that insist on rough and harsh treatment of dogs to obtain optimum obedience. These misshapen ideas leave many pet parents
confused— and if they are confused, just think how the dog must feel with so many conflicting messages!

Luckily, there is so much more information about learning theory, behavior and, frankly, dogs today, that it is a breath of fresh air to finally let go of those old ideas and get back to the real meaning of leadership with our dogs. Read the entire article.

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Spring is in the Air!

Spring’s Not the Only Thing in the Air
Manager Extra (5/1/2006)

The itchy, watery eyes, constant runny nose and unending sneezing are telltale signs of airborne irritants. Not everyone has seasonal allergies, but anyone who suffers from them knows that spring can be a difficult time to celebrate.

For most of the U.S., the allergy season begins in mid-March. A seasonal allergy is the body’s reaction to an airborne particle such as pollen or mold. These allergies surface at specific times of the year when certain trees, grasses or weeds are in flower or when molds release spores into the air.

It’s thought that people with allergies have hyper-sensitive immune systems that are triggered by foreign substances. When pollen or other substances that aren’t actually harmful to the body are breathed in, the body views it as a dangerous invader and turns on its defense mechanisms. The runny nose, watery eyes and frequent sneezing are meant to flush the allergen from the body.

In general, the allergy season runs from March through October, though in the South, it can start as early as January. But this doesn’t mean you’ll have allergies all season, as several factors determine the severity and duration of a reaction.

In the spring, trees and grasses are the main pollen providers while weeds tend to be the main culprit in the late summer and fall. If tree pollen causes your allergies, you’ll be hardest hit in the springtime, but should improve as summer arrives. Weather also plays a role in spreading allergens. Hot, dry, windy weather helps blow pollen around, often increasing allergy triggers.

Perhaps the most important factor is sensitivity. Depending on an individual’s sensitivity, some may feel the effects only when the pollen levels are the highest, while others feel symptoms at the slightest hint of pollen in the air.

10 Ways to Conquer Seasonal Changes

Though the spring and summer growing season is an inevitable part of the year, you can take a proactive approach to supporting your body and your environment at this time of year. Some of the suggestions are common-sense activities you can do in your home. Nature’s Sunshine also provides an array of products that work to support and maintain your respiratory system during this potentially stressful season.

1. CleanStart®. CleanStart acts as a gentle, whole-body cleanse to help support the natural elimination of waste buildup and toxins that can affect your overall health.

2. ALJ®. NSP’s key product for the respiratory system, ALJ nourishes the immune and respiratory systems, supports healthy lung function and encourages the respiratory tract to gently cleanse itself.

3. HistaBlock®. A powerful combination of stinging nettle, quercetin, bromelain and immature orange peel,
HistaBlock supports the respiratory system during times of stress and helps maintain mucous membrane health and nasal passage tissues.

4. Seasonal Defense. A blend of andrographis and other immune-supporting herbs, Seasonal Defense strengthens the immune system and may help maintain the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

5. Sinus Support EF®. This ephedra-free formula supplies nutrients that may support nasal passages and proper respiratory function.

6. Clean. Do a thorough spring cleaning. Windows, bookshelves and vents collect dust and mold.

7. Close your house and car. Limit your exposure to the particles in outside air and run your air conditioner, which filters the air as it cools it.

8. Wash. As you come in from being outside, you bring particles and dust in with you—on your skin and your clothes. Wash exposed skin and, if you need to, change clothes once you’re inside. If you have outdoor pets, wash them before bringing them in, or arrange to leave them outside.

9. Stay away from chemical irritants. Fumes from tobacco smoke, paint, insect sprays and other chemicals can affect the lungs and nasal passages.

10. Homeopathic Remedies. NSP offers three homeopathic remedies for both general and specific allergy concerns: Allergies—Mold, Yeast & Dust


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