Having animals in your house can make you and your family healthier! Recent studies show that when children grow up with a furred animal in their home  their risk for allergies and asthma decreases by at least 13%. Why? Because your animals track in bacteria and other dirt, having the effect of actually strengthening the immune system in your children. Children with animals in their homes have higher concentrations of immune system chemicals which makes them less likely to become sick or develop long-term allergies.

Cartilage is the bone-like stuff that is in your nose and ears. Healthy joints have the same material around them to absorb the pressure of your bones pounding or rubbing together. Arthritis is caused when this cartilage is worn down, therefore creating extra pressure on your joints. This can happen in several different ways. You may just be experiencing the woes of years of hard work, or a general breakdown of cartilage over time. Arthritis can also manifest as a result of a broken bone. In other cases, arthritis may be indicative of an autoimmune disease or an infection, where your body or a foreign bacteria or virus is attacking your cartilage.