Q: Labs are prone to obesity, which can ultimately cause problems with their hips, joints, and spine. Follow your vet's instructions for feeding your dog, and avoid overfeeding him. Stick to a healthy dog food, and try not to give too many treats. Dogs can enjoy healthy fruits and vegetables in place of normal dog treats. Things like blueberries, bananas, watermelon, apples, carrots, sweet potatoes, and cucumbers are great options. Avoid fruits and veggies that are toxic or harmful, such as grapes, onions, and avocado. Consider sticking to dry food with a little bit of warm water added to it before feeding your lab. This makes it more enjoyable and easier to digest. Also, try to avoid foods with animal by-products or meals in the ingredients list. Stick to foods with real meat as the first ingredient, rather than grains like corn. Chicken is a good choice for meat in dog food. Labs can be a bit mischievous when it comes to eating things they aren't supposed to. They're known for ingesting all sorts of non-food items, and sometimes having to have them surgically removed. Keep small toys and objects out of reach. Labs are also known to jump onto kitchen counters and eat anything they think might be food. If you don't crate your lab when you leave home, make sure there isn't anything for him to get into left out on table or countertops. Injured or broken toes, broken or curled toenails, small cuts or scrapes, and even minor burns on the pads of their feet can all happen while playing outside or going for a run. Make sure you keep an eye on your dog for any signs of injury or distress, and see your vet if he acquires any injuries, minor or otherwise. Keep your dog off of hot pavement. The pads of their feet are sensitive and can possibly be burned by these surfaces. If you wouldn't walk barefoot on a given surface, think twice about asking your dog to do so. Hip dysplasia is common in larger breeds of dogs, and labs are prone to developing it with age, especially if they are overweight. It causes problems in the joint of the hip, which can be painful and debilitating over time. If your dog has issues standing up after lying or sitting down, is visibly in pain when his hips are touched or moved, appears to be limping or has a change in his gait, or even shows hesitance to run, walk, or go up stairs, see your vet. These could be signs of issues with your lab's hips.
A: Feed your lab properly. Keep objects your lab might try to eat out of his reach. Watch for minor injuries after vigorous activity. Monitor your lab for signs of hip dysplasia.

Article: Pollen counts typically peak in the mornings, so it's best to remain indoors between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. On windy days, pollen is blown about the air, so it's also a good idea to avoid going outdoors when it's windy. Make sure to keep your windows shut and limit how often you open doors. This will help limit the amount of pollen which enters your home. You can track the pollen counts in your area by contacting the National Allergy Bureau. Typically, local news and weather stations also post current pollen counts. Avoid exercising outside. Try to avoid letting pets out for long periods of time when allergens are high, as they can carry pollen in their fur. It might not be fashionable, but a mask will filter out some of the pollen and mold that gets kicked up when you're mowing the lawn or weeding the garden. It's also a good idea to wear a mask when you're out and about on days with high pollen counts during peak season. If you can avoid it, don't do yard work in the morning. It's tempting to roll the windows down to feel the breeze on a car ride, but during peak season, that breeze is loaded with allergens. Instead, run the air conditioning to keep temperatures at a comfortable level. This will prevent most of the pollen, dust, and mold out from entering your automobile. Be sure to point your air conditioner vents away from your face to avoid irritating your nasal passages and exacerbating your allergies.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Avoid going outdoors when pollen counts are at their highest. Wear a mask, especially when doing yard work. Keep your car windows up when you're driving.

Q: If you are not sure that you have actually sprained your thumb, it is helpful to know what symptoms to look for. These symptoms include: Sharp, pulsating and/or excruciating pain Swelling Bruising While you can sprain your thumb in a variety of ways, the most common causes of a sprained thumb include: Repetitive activities that involve the thumb and put excessive pressure on its joints. Sports like basketball, volleyball, and other sports where there is a good chance that the ball will put a lot of pressure on your thumb Contact sports like rugby and martial arts. Wrapping a sprained thumb does not only help stabilize the injured thumb, but also compresses it. Compression aids in stimulating the flow of lymph fluid, which carries important nutrients to the damaged tissues surrounding the injury. Lymph fluid also removes waste from cells and body tissues which is an important function during the tissue regeneration process. Wrapping the thumb also speeds the recovery process and keeps the injury from getting worse. In order to be completely effective, the bandage must be removed, the injury left to rest, and the bandage re-applied a few times a day. In this way, the lymphatic system can complete its evacuation of the injury site.
A:
Identify the symptoms of a sprained thumb. Familiarize yourself with the most common causes of a sprained thumb. Understand why thumb wrapping is beneficial.