Health Matters

Between hiking, swimming, and fetching Frisbees at the beach, dogs get ample exercise all summer. But as days grow colder and shorter, their activity levels dip and their weight creeps up. Here’s how to help Spot stave off excess pounds this fall.

Professional teeth cleanings for dogs and cats may seem like overkill, right up there with pet-specific strollers and spa treatments. But 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats develop oral disease by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society.

Sigmund Freud considered nail biting a sign of oral fixation. But aside from messing up your psyche, is gnawing your nails really that bad for you? Yes, says Elizabeth K. Hale, MD, clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York University. “Not only can you transmit viruses between your mouth and hands, but if you break the skin, it’s more prone to infection.”

Millions of people around the world work grueling 10-hour days, live in constant fear for their safety, and never know if they’ll see a nickel of compensation.