Life as a Pet Parent

Everyone that knows me knows about Bowser.  My almost 2 year old yorkipoo, who I affectionately refer to as 12 pounds of pure fury.  He's my cuddle bug and fearless protector who thinks he is a 100 pound pitbull.  He goes with me on vacation and pretty much everywhere else.  He is my baby, and the pet parent mentality is certainly growing. Here is an article I found which brings up some interesting points about Pet Parents, I can tell you I would certainly benefit from the pet care tax deduction!









Check it out below or see it in its original format here:  http://www.petparentadvice.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30&Itemid=103

Pet Trends

Surprise, surprise – the impact of the recession on consumer spending and attitudes will continue to dominate economics for pet-related small businesses in 2010. It has long been thought that pet-related spending is recession proof and 2009 certainly tested that theory. As a result, I think we can certainly say the pet category is at least recession resistant, with pet-related sales growing slightly in 2009. There aren’t too many categories that can say that in this difficult economic environment!

The overall trend continues to be value for money, which doesn’t necessarily mean spending less, but less frivolously. Pet-related spending will continue to increase from 2009 levels though as pet owners breathe a sigh of relief that the world didn’t end in 2009. Trends include:
1. Pet parents continue to spend on supplies and OTC medicine thoughtfully
Spending on pet supplies and over-the-counter medicines was projected to increase 5.1% in 2008 from $9.8 billion to $10.3 billion according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) but it turned out to be more modest growth of 2% to $10.0 billion, a major slow down from the 6+% increases of the recent past. The APPA projects continued growth of 2% in 2010, although I would not be surprised if it bounced a little higher in the range of 4%.
People will continue to spend above and beyond on their pets as the population ages and pets take the place of children at home; however, pet parents will continue to focus their dollars on quality necessities, such as food, leashes, and bedding, or low dollar frivolities such as the Pet Snuggie. High-end specialty pet stores are going to feel the pinch as the casual shopper won’t be dropping in as much and I expect we will see a drop in numbers of these stores in 2010 as the economy slowly improves but not fast enough to save all these stores.
2. Pet services for your pets continue to grow
According to the APPA, $3.2 billion dollars was spent on pet services in 2008, projected to grow over 6% to $3.4 billion in 2009. I don’t think anyone will be particularly surprised to see this growth continue for several years to come, particularly as retail behemoth Wal-Mart expands its pet grooming facilities further into its stores.
Pet parents are including their pets in their own lifestyles so visits to the spa, exercise regimes, and restaurants have become more common in urban areas. With the recession and decline of investment capital, my impression is that the number of day care accommodations are growing in number more modestly than prior to the recession; however, the business of doggie day cares continues to be a profitable one.
3. Growing interest in pet health care
While growth in pet supplies might be “languishing” in the 2% range, veterinary services are projected to grow 9.9% in 2009. I wouldn’t be surprised to see actual growth a little lower (veterinary inflation slowed significantly in late 2009 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics from about 7% early in 2009 to just over 4% 6 months later) but I still expect growth in the 6-8% range. Pet lovers continue to want the same treatment options for their pets as they can get for themselves and veterinarians are able to supply it.
4. Pet insurance continues to move towards the mainstream
We estimate the size of the US pet insurance market to be $332 million in premium in 2009, up from approximately $272 million in 2009 (a 22% increase) and I expect it to reach $400 million in 2010. We project that the market will grow to $600 million in 2013. There are 10 pet insurance companies in the US selling under 14 brands. The pet insurance market is seeing an increase in interest from private equity investors looking to get in early on the huge market potential. It remains to be seen if any of them open their check books in 2010 though.
5. Teacups join the tea party
If 2009 was the year of the “hybrid”, 2010 will be the year of the “teacup”. Puppy mills are turning their attention to “miniaturizing” certain breeds or passing off genetic misfits as a one in a million dog rather than the sickly pet they no doubt will be. Celebrity dog owners have not helped in that respect, carrying around their petit-pooches in their designer purses, and driving their admirers to want smaller and smaller dogs. Here’s hoping that this craze will be short-lived to spare the lives of these poor little dogs.
The business environment continues to challenge in 2009. Pets have drawn the attention of large retailers and institutional investors who have been expanding into the pet space. Savvy small businesses will take advantage of change to successfully place themselves uniquely in the market. Trends here include:
6. Pet businesses and non-profits thrive socially.
Social networking was not new in 2009 but the successes of the early adopters such as @PetsitUSA and @petrelocation are driving more and more pet businesses online. Pet-related small business owners have always known the power of numbers and are turning online to get noticed, one shopper or one business partner at a time, on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Many rescue organizations are using social networking as part of their funding drives such as the ASPCA and The Humane Society.
7. Larger players get larger.
Target and Wal-Mart are both expanding their pet selection and in the case of Wal-Mart, their services. Big box pet specialty retailers, such as PetSmart, continue to grow and PetSmart recently saw 9+% growth in its pet services, fueled by grooming services and new pet hotels. If PetSmart is feeling any pinch from Wal-Mart’s entry into pet grooming, there is no evidence of it at this point.
8. Customers tell it like it is, whether you like it or not.
Sales of items such as electronics and books have long benefited (or not) from online reviews and passionate customers stating their views on their purchases for good (or bad.) Pet products and services are now catching up with the growing popularity of review sites such as www.petinsurancereview.com, product reviews on Amazon.com, and instantaneous feedback on Twitter. Companies that ignore the impact of these sites are going to be playing catch up in future years.
9. Increased online sophistication from pet-related businesses in ecommerce, design, and usability.
In 2009, several new players joined the pet health and pet adoption space. The web giant WebMD, known for its online human health information, has launched into the pet health expertise websites that appeared in 2008, in an attempt to use its brand and reach to take the top spot in this market. On the other hand, Petango.com, an upstart online adoption database, launched to compete with the dominating market leader, PetFinder. We shall see in 2010 whether these two plays will be successful in their chosen niches. Overall, newer websites are more sophisticated in design and ecommerce, reaching their target audience via web-site usability, SEO, paid search, and word of mouth. These websites are still in the minority of a largely fragmented pet marketplace even in 2010, but this gives a savvy small business an opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
10. Pet-related blogs continue to grow their influence.
The power of pet-related blogs really showed up during the pet food recall in the middle of 2007. Blogs such as Pet Connection, Pet Sit USA and Dolittler continue to provide high quality commentary on all aspects of pet news and issues, and are expanding their reach and depth across the pet web. The number of quality pet bloggers continues to grow and the best are even more accessible on the blog list website Alltop pets.
And one final bonus trend
11. Pets and taxes
There are a few initiatives involving pets and tax. First, the HAPPY Act, the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years Act, which is a proposal to allow taxpayers to deduct up to $3,500-a-year in pet care expenses, including vet care. I would be surprised if it went through but then again, legislators never cease to surprise. On the down side, California would seriously love to tax veterinary services, something it considered in 2009 but removed in the final budget. I fully expect that issue to raise its head again in a year or two although it would be vigorously opposed by pet lovers across the country. Finally, the Pet Health Consortium, a new group lead by AVMA (the American Veterinary Medical Association) to educate Congress and the public on the importance and benefits of pet health insurance, has a primary goal to include pet health insurance as an optional pre-tax benefit provided to employees through Section 125 cafeteria plans. This initiative, should it go through, won’t occur until 2011 at the earliest but we will likely see public discussion in 2010

This article was written by Laura Bennett, the CEO of Embrace Pet Insurance.  It is Part of the Small Business Trends 2010 Trends Series.

Is there a connection between Fibromyalgia and Hypothyroidism?

This is a question I have long been asking myself.  My symptoms of both appeared around the same time and seem to intensify together as well.  I research the two topics separately all the time, but researching them together I stumbled on an article that sums up my suspicions pretty well.  The article also brings up some great points to keep in mind for all hypothyroid and fibromyalgia patients.  Read the article below to learn more, find the original article here: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/fibro_friends/107625/1

The Fibromyalgia/Hypothyroidism Link

Apr 1, 2004 - © Elaine Moore

Elaine Moore says "The link between hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia has recently intensified. It's long been known that about 15 percent of patients with primary hypothyroidism go on to develop fibromyalgia." Further discussion will be found within this article.The link between hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia has recently intensified. It's long been known that about 15 percent of patients with primary hypothyroidism go on to develop fibromyalgia. However, with the new TSH range, which is currently 0.3-2.5 mu/L according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, many patients who previously tested negative for hypothyroidism would now be diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Furthermore, two related conditions described in this article, thyroid hormone resistance and thyroid autoimmunity, conditions in which thyroid hormone levels may be normal, are also associated with fibromyalgia.
In many ways hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia are overlapping conditions because symptoms are so similar. Both conditions have an autoimmune element and are associated with predominant symptoms that change over time and with symptoms that wax and wane, worsening in times of stress. Both conditions are known to cause fatigue, depression, diffuse muscle pain, poor or restless sleep, cognitive difficulties, problems with attention and memory, weight fluctuations, allergic symptoms, hypersensitivity to environmental stimuli and medications, shortness of breath, and increased prevalence of depression. In addition, both conditions are known to worsen during the menstrual cycle and affect 7-9 times as many women as men. In both conditions the erythrocyte sedimentation rate or ESR is normal although it is elevated in other types of thyroiditis and other rheumatological conditions.
Both fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism are also considered to be one of a series of symptoms-based conditions. And both conditions are thought to have several subtypes. Both conditions are also known or suspected of being triggered or exacerbated by viral and infectious diseases, chemical exposure or sensitivity, yeast infections and food allergies. Both conditions are associated with the autoimmune disorder gluten sensitivity, which is a sensitivity to the protein component of wheat, rye and barley. Individuals with gluten sensitivity who have other autoimmune conditions experience heightened symptoms when they ingest gluten and have elevated IgE levels. Both hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia are also associated with low calcium levels and may be associated with low serotonin levels and low substance P levels. And while many people with fibromyalgia experience improvement with the expectorant guaifenesin, many people with hypothyroidism use guaifenesin to reduce congestion and mucus production.
Studies by Aarflot and Bruusgaard show that thyroid peroxidase or TPO antibodies are seen in a subset of women with fibromyalgia who have widespread musculoskeletal complaints. Patients with thyroid autoimmunity have thyroid antibodies present in their blood but normal thyroid function tests. Many of these people go on to later develop autoimmune thyroid disorders. A study by Neeck and Reidel showed that patients with fibromyalgia produced less TSH than normal patients when given injections of thyrotropin releasing hormone or TRH, indicating they have a blunted response or thyroid hormone resistance. Normally, when the brain sees that thyroid hormone levels are low, the hypothalamus secretes TRH. TRH, in turn, causes the production and release of TSH. TSH is a hormone that directs thyroid cells to produce thyroid hormone.
Unlike primary hypothyroidism, resistance to thyroid hormone is generally an acquired condition associated with a chronic coagulation defect that is primarily the result of chronic infection. In thyroid hormone resistance, thyroid hormone levels are within the normal range but adequate thyroid hormone may not be produced due to the blunted response described in the previous section. The studies of Garrison and Breeding suggest that most cases of fibromyalgia are associated with thyroid hormone resistance rather than primary hypothyroidism. Besides supraphysiologic doses of thyroid hormone, other treatments that may have merits include anti-hypercoagulants, anti-infectives and hyaluronolytic therapies. Hyaluron is a chemical known as a glycosaminoglycan. High levels of hyaluron are seen in fibromyalgia and in mucin, which is present in myxedema.
References: Neeck G, Riedel W. Thyroid function in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome, J Rheumatol, 1992 Jul; 19(7): 1120-1122. Aarflot T, Bruusgaard D, Association between chronic widespread musculoskeletal complaints and thyroid autoimmunity. Results from a community survey, Scand J Prim Health Care, 1996 Jun; 14(2):111-115. Garrison RL, Breeding PC A metabolic basis for fibromyalgia and its related disorders: the possible role of resistance to thyroid hormone. Med Hypotheses, 2003 Augl61(2):182-189.

Do you need a blog or a facebook page?

I've recently read an interesting article which debated on whether or not it was useful to have a blog if someone already has a facebook page.  Check it out below!  You can find the original article here: http://www.indiebusinessblog.com/blog-vs-facebook-page-do-you-need-both/ 


Liana Spiegel, an IBN member at our FaceBook Page, asked an interesting question recently. She wondered whether she needs a blog if she already has a FaceBook Page. After all, if she can quickly engage people and generate sales on FaceBook, why invest the time to also maintain a blog? This is a very good question, especially since it was FaceBook and not blog interaction (I have never visited Liana’s blog), that resulted in my purchase of some of her products last week.

If a FaceBook Page is fun, efficient and delivers new sales, does a small business owner need to maintain a blog too? Well, it depends on what your goals are. Here are some things to consider.

1. A Blog Gives You Control. Relying too heavily on technologies that are owned and controlled by third parties to market your business is risky. If FaceBook disappears, is purchased by a company that changes it in ways people don’t like (which FaceBook does frequently already), or stops working (as it has done previously), and you have no way to quickly connect with people, you will be invisible.
   A branded blog is the best low-cost, interactive online marketing tool (email newsletters are great too!) that you both own and control. This means you are never at the mercy of other people to stay in touch with your customers. It’s a powerful marketing advantage you hope you will never need, but if you do, you’ll be ready with a blog.
2. A Blog Strengthens Your Personal Brand. If you are famous or are a consultant or a coach by profession, then you are already connecting personally with people simply by being your famous self or offering your services to the public. But if the bulk of your income comes from product sales, you are most likely strengthening people’s relationships with your products, and not with you personally. This is fine if you don’t want to create new income opportunities that flow from your personal brand. But if you want to capitalize on the expertise you have garnered as the leader of your business, a blog can help you do that in ways that FaceBook cannot.
   As people see consistency, expertise and focus at your blog, they will begin to see you as a trusted resource. As you define yourself in your niche, your sphere of personal influence in that niche will expand. This will result in new connections and recognition, both of which lead to new opportunities and new streams of income. There are fantastic examples (here’s one) of people whose blogs led directly to book contracts, movie deals, speaking gigs and other unexpected income opportunities. If you’d like to get a piece of that pie, a blog can set you apart in ways that FaceBook cannot.
3. Blog Posts Are More Easily Shared Than FaceBook Updates. FaceBook status updates originate with you and pretty much stay at your FaceBook page. While Google and FaceBook recently formally agreed to display FaceBook status updates in Google search results, unless you are FaceBooking life-changing world news or someone is searching specifically for you, your FaceBook conversations will probably remain on FaceBook.
   Conversely, blog posts are easily shared on Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn, MySpace and elsewhere.
   Look at the Twitter and FaceBook share links at the top bottom of this post, just under the heading. With the click of a button, you can share this blog post on Twitter and FaceBook. Try it! Look at the social “Share & Enjoy!” icons at the bottom of this post. Pick your favorite social network and simply click and share.
   Posting FaceBook status updates is great. But if it doesn’t spread, it’s dead. To give your ideas legs, you have to make them easily shareable. Try one of the share icons you see here and see how easy it is to empower your readers to spread the word about what you do.
4. Blog Posts Have An Infinite Shelf Life. Because of the way FaceBook Pages work, new information is quickly replaced by newer information. Once your status update is pushed down on your page, it’s gone and most people aren’t going to go searching for it. But with a blog, because of the search window that appears in the upper right corner, anyone in the world, anytime, can quickly and easily find what you said about something that interests them.
   In my case, this means that if someone refers a friend to this blog for small business success tips, they can use the search box to find information that is helpful to them. On the other hand, if they go to my FaceBook Page, they may have a good time, but they cannot search for anything. Your customers use the Internet to search for information, and a blog makes it easy for you to share the information your customers are looking for.
   You can categorize content at your blog, but not on a FaceBook Page. This provides people with another easy option to find the information they are looking for.
   I am amazed at how frequently I get comments and retweets on blog posts I wrote months ago. For example, yesterday Peter Houck, a man I do not know, retweeted Tips For Single Moms In Business, an article I published way back in June. Because Peter has nearly 300 followers, my ideas and expertise were shared with that many people and I didn’t have to do anything additional to make it happen. With a blog, your ideas enjoy potentially eternal life because they are so easy to share. That’s not the case with FaceBook.
   For example, let’s say you are an aromatherapy expert who sells essential oils, aromatherapy books and other accessories. If you blog consistently about aromatherapy, your blog can become a mini-search engine on the topic. After a few years, you can have hundreds of relevant text articles, videos and audio recordings that people will turn to again and again for the information they need to successfully use essential oils and aromatherapy products to enhance their lives.
   With a blog, you give your customers, prospects, industry colleagues and other stakeholders (like the media!) opportunities to discover you as a resource to help them solve a problem or accomplish a goal. And if your blog also makes it easy for people to purchase your products, they will be more inclined to do so because your blog has shown that you are committed and trustworthy.
   The consistent sharing of your expertise leads inevitably to opportunities to sell your products. You can also use the columns on the side of a blog to link to your e-commerce site. With a PayPal link, you can even easily sell products right from your blog if you’d like!
5. Search Engine Benefits. As noted earlier, while FaceBook status updates can appear in Google, as a small business owner, your updates are not likely to appear at the top of Google’s search results. Also, your FaceBook Page allows you to use FaceBook Markup Language (FBML) to customize tabs like this one containing content that is picked up by search engines.
   While FBML pages make FaceBook amazingly valuable, they are time consuming to create and most busy business owners won’t update them regularly. And since search engines prefer regularly updated pages to static ones, a well maintained blog does a far better job than a FaceBook page to keep you fresh in the search engines.
   You can also make your FaceBook Page even more search engine friendly when you use a blog to cross-promote it. For example, my FaceBook Page contains a “Social Media Training” tab that links directly to one of my blogs. The blog of course links directly to my FaceBook Page. The whole truly is better than the sum of its parts!

Final Thoughts
Every business is different, and every business owner has different goals. If you cannot find another hour in the day to maintain a blog, then skip it. Even the most attractive blog is a waste of resources if it’s a ghost town. But remember that a blog does not have to have page after page of articles and fancy videos. Even a post once a week engages your customers and helps them relate to you in ways that helps you be successful and sell more products.
Even if you pass up the blog option now, I don’t recommend that you write it off entirely. Technology changes fast today, and small business owners must always be aware of the new strategies that are available to help them promote their products and services. Even if you reject the blog option today, keep your options open by reading articles about how blogging is helping other small business owners achieve their goals. (I blog about blogging a lot, so feel free to subscribe to my blog using the “Subscribe Via Email” link in the right column. You can also read the posts in the Social Media category here.)
If you want to have maximum control over the social technology you use to run your business, you want to grow your personal brand and you want to make it easy for people to find, spread and comment on your ideas, a blog will get you all of that practically for free.