10.11.2011
Did you know animals could have seizures??
2 Nights ago our baby boy bully had a seizure! I was devastated. Even thought I am a nurse and have seen plenty of people have seizures, it was totally different witnessing my helpless dog have a seizure for the first time. Our 2 year old male American Bulldog seemed to be having a typical day. He played with the kids, appetite was good and was doing absolutely nothing unusual until bedtime. Around 9 o'clock Sunday, the kids were already in bed, my husband was at work and it was just me and my buddy up watching t.v. As I was in the middle of watching Desperate Housewives I noticed what looked like my dog was scratching. He was laying on his left side and his right hind leg was jerking very rapidly back in forth. I got up to see what he was doing and I noticed his tail stiffened, all 4 legs began to jerk but right was worse than left. His eyes were fixed and glazed over, and he began to drool uncontrollably. I began to call his name and he would not respond. It all happened so fast but yet it seemed like he went through this uncontrollable shaky spell forever and there was nothing I could do but make sure he was safe and protected from his surroundings. My poor dog went through this horrible ordeal for about 3 minutes. When he finally came too he had no idea as to what happened. He looked at me as if he needed some answers, what in the world happened. I then consoled him just to let him know that everything was ok. He had trouble standing for a minute and then he just popped up on his feet. After about 30 minutes he was back to his normal self, but I couldn't stop watching him fearing he would have another. He was extremely thirst after the seizure and was drinking nonstop! I called a friend and she gave me a few tips as to what to do if your dog have a seizure.
1. Make sure he is safe and there is nothing around that could hurt him while he is seizing.
2. Try to stay calm
3. Keep in mind animals just like humans after they have a seizure they become very confused and disoriented and at times unaware of their surroundings so they may be a little aggressive.
4. Comfort your animal to let them know everything is ok
5. Take your pet to the Vet ASAP especially if it is their first seizure
Well my husband took him to the vet in the morning and they did blood work and found absolutely nothing wrong with him. We were advised to just watch him. They said sometimes dogs usually start having seizures around the age of 2 and may have 1 or 2 a year after the initial one and sometimes more frequently. If he starts having them more frequently he may need to be put on medication. I hate he has to go through this and hopefully he won't have another one. I would hate for my kids to see that. They would be devastated! Hopefully this story will help someone else and you will know what to do in the event.
Thanks Scott & Kendra for talking me through.
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10.8.2011
11 Steps to becoming addicted to running
Ugh! Running is something I use to love to do, but now I don't even like to think about it. I think after reviewing these 11 steps I might get my Mojo back! Check out these steps from LifeDev
- Don’t give yourself any excuses. Everyone’s got reasons why theyshouldn’t be exercising. But if you make it an important part of your day, it will be harder to make excuses not to.
- Run with other people. Nothing helps develop a habit like a little accountability.
- Reward, reward, reward. Give yourself little rewards for your diligence. There’s nothing wrong with a little superficial indulgence for diligence. It’s amazing how much these can help your overall outlook at running. Small bits of motivation add up.
- Run at the same time every day. Creating a running routine can help you quickly become accustomed to releasing those endorphins at the same time every day. Pretty soon you’ll be looking forward to your running times (no joke!).
- Run first thing in the morning. While it takes a bit to get your body accustomed to running in the AM, you’ll find that this is probably the best time for running, no matter where you live. While the rest of the world sleeps, you can navigate the streets or countryside without the heavy traffic of the rest of the day. It’s quieter, and there’s nothing like waking up to a beautiful
- Slow down, Tiger. One of the biggest problems people encounter while starting running is that they try do to too much too quickly. This will only burn you out, give you some injuries and quickly instill a hatred for running. Start slooooow. Build up your endurance. The only way to keep running every day is to take it slow at first.
- Be mindful of the benefits. Notice how much weight you’re losing, how much better you feel and all the other benefits that running gives. You’ll start seeing/feeling some of them instantly.
- Set goals. There’s nothing more empowering than accomplishing running goals. It boosts confidence and adds a little swagger in your step because you know you’re a champ. If that’s wrong, then I don’t want to be right.
- Find a running routine that fits you. Plenty of people smarter than me have published running routines and goals to help you gauge how much to run each day. I’d recommend the Runner’s World Smart Coach to tailor a running plan that’s going to work for you.
- Track your progress. Like any activity, tracking your progress will keep you motivated to improve. If you’re into digital tools, try the Runner’s World Training Log. If you’re into paper, a paper calendar works fine. Just record your progress each day.
- See running as a release, not a chore. You’ve got to develop the mindset that this isn’t something you have to do, but rather something you get to do.
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Since I am a nurse I didn't think my blog was complete without me sharing some health tips with you. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month I think this would be a great way to kick off Health Nuts!
10/8/2011
Save the Tatas!!
Did you know that something as simple as performing monthly self breast exams could save your life? Well it can! If you are over the age of 20 you should be doing breast exams every month. I suggest you wait a few days after your cycle when your breast is less tender, if you no longer have a cycle pick a day out of every month and make that your day to do your breast exams. If you are not sure how to do them this video will help guide you through!
Statistics show about 1:8 women in the U.S will develop breast cancer over the course of her life. Those are very scary statistics. Both women and men can develop breast cancer but it is more prevalent in women. Be sure to do your monthly breast exams and women 40 and above be sure to get your annual mammogram screenings. If you have a family history of breast cancer consult with your doctor about when to start getting mammograms. You could save your own life just by doing monthly breast self exams and reporting any symptoms to your doctor. Spread the word and lets Save the TaTas!
