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Lending a Helping Paw

Service Dogs Offer More Than You Might Think by MATT NORMAN When you think service dogs, what comes to mind? You probably think of a beautiful lab in a vest and helping the visually impaired. While many service dogs are used for guiding those who are blind, there are a lot more ways service…
Caring Canine

Meet Victory Ridge Academy’s Superstar, Dub the Service Dog by TERESA SCHIFFER If there’s one face familiar to all at Victory Ridge Academy, it’s Dub, the dog. Dub, short for Dublin, has been working at the school for children with special needs for the last 10 years. Dub is a Labrador retriever who has been…
Riding for Therapy

Equine-Assisted Activities Offer Heartfelt Help for Vets, Children with Special Needs by Mary Toothman At TiAnViCa Riding Academy, more than a dozen horses are on hand to allow people to ride — and heal. Sara Meadows, executive director and co-founder of TiAnViCa Riding Academy, says horseback riding for people with special needs has been offered…

Avoid Stained Teeth with These Helpful Tips

Luz Cubero-Perez Dental Assistant, Haines City Dental Having a healthy smile is important for your overall mental and physical health. Maintaining proper hygiene goes beyond just brushing twice a day and flossing, it includes taking into consideration the foods you eat and the liquids you drink. Certain food and drink can stain your teeth and…
Macular Degeneartion (AMD)

By Neil J. Okun, M.D. Board Certified Ophthalmologist Macular Degeneration affects one in five people aged 70-84. The major risk factors for Macular Degeneration include family history, smoking, uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol and obesity. Nine times out of ten, macular degeneration presents as the “dry” type. In Dry Macular Degeneration, the…
Don’t Let Your Teeth Get Scary this Halloween

Halloween is fast approaching meaning mounds of sugar-filled candy from trick-or-treating are soon to be within reach. It never hurts to have your favorite treat on Halloween, but large amounts of candy are bad for your teeth. Fortunately, there are ways to enjoy your candy and keep your teeth safe at the same time during…