Category Archives: Longevity Medicine

Editors note: This is Part 3 of a four-part series on longevity in the High Country. The series is being produced in partnership with The Aspen Times, Vail Daily, Glenwood Post Independent, Summit Daily News and Steamboat Pilot & Today. Read more at SteamboatPilot.com/longevity.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS Across the high country and Western Slope, hospitals during the past two decades have significantly increased their offerings to patients through adding specialized medicine, technology and facility upgrades.

Patients living in more isolated and rural communities are experiencing less of a need to drive to the Front Range or other metropolitan areas for certain surgeries, treatments and other specialty or emergency care.

At UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center, the list of expansions, additions and upgrades during the past 15 years is extensive, from the Gloria Gossard Breast Care Center in 2014 and the Jan Bishop Cancer Center in 2017, to the Level III trauma center designation in 2018 and the opening of the Steamboat Surgery Center in August, which the hospital operates in partnership with Steamboat Orthopaedic & Spine Institute.

Today, Yampa Valley Medical Center CEO Soniya Fidler said many second homeowners wait until their time in Steamboat Springs to schedule appointments.

We have some advanced technology unheard of even in larger cities, she said, also emphasizing improvements to patient experience and noting patients come to the hospital in Steamboat Springs from outlying areas that may be just as close in proximity to the Front Range.

And it goes beyond comfort and convenience. In the rare life-or-death situation, time spent on the road can play a deciding role in the outcome.

The Level 3 trauma center designation at the hospital has been huge, Fidler said.

The designation provides emergency care for people who would otherwise have been on a flight to Denver or Grand Junction. And with the addition of Telestroke technology, specialists are able to rule out strokes to prevent unnecessary transportation. From its implementation in the hospitals emergency department in November 2018, 123 patients have benefited from the technology.

Patients who had even a sign of stroke were often previously flown out, she said. But now, the quick access to a neurologist can provide an immediate, and more thorough, assessment.

On the flip side, people with special care needs, such as oncology, cardiology and chronic pain management, often choose where to live based on the services available within the area.

Fidler also observes travel time and ease of access can make the difference between patients getting non-emergent care and neglecting it.

Working to keep more patients in Steamboat a more geographically remote location is also enticing some to stay close to home instead of traveling to the Eagle or Roaring Fork valleys.

Many of Colorados recent leaps and strides toward better, more accessible health care were facilitated in part by the states expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act in 2013, said Cara Welch, the Colorado Hospital Association director of communications.

At Yampa Valley Medical Center, growth was already well underway, but the merger of the hospital in 2017 into the UCHealth network led to a more rapid expansion of offerings from the opening of the endocrinology and ear nose and throat clinics, in 2018 and 2019 respectively, to the 2020 addition of a midwifery program in theUCHealth Womens Care Clinic and the opening of a full-time neurology clinic and rheumatology clinic just in recent weeks.

The merger, referred by some community members as more of a takeover, was not without challenges. There was strong sentiment against the move from both hospital staff and community members over concerns of what a corporate union would do to the independent community hospital.

Several years later, it is unlikely all discontent has disappeared, but Fidler said on the recent marking of the three-year anniversary, the decision to seek out and choose a partnering organization has only been solidified.

Not only by the list of accomplishments, she said, but also in the past six months going through the unprecedented experience of a global pandemic.

There is a lot of pride in our workforce and community in being associated with UCHealth, Fidler said.

On the merger, UCHealth Communications Specialist Lindsey Reznicek added the move was made proactively to ensure the community maintained access to high quality care.

While there are rural hospitals struggling and closing in many parts of the country, a rural hospital has not closed in Colorado since the 1980s, according to the hospital associations data.

Reznicek said the timing of the merger was important to ensure the hospital in Steamboat had control of the decision and was an attractive partner. Fidler also pointed to the importance of making sure the values and mission were aligned between the two organizations.

Another expansion not without strife was the partnership with local orthopedic surgeons to open the new ambulatory surgery center. The negotiations took years and began with significant disagreement between hospital administrators, the community and the surgeons. Ultimately, the voices of the surgeons and community were elevated, and the process became much more amiable.

Of course, all of this expansion costs money, and that takes careful planning, Fidler said.

There is a certain profit margin we need to achieve, she explained. We have to ask: What do we need to reinvest back into the community, and what do we need to reinvest back into our facilitys growth and strategic planning?

At this time, cancer patients still have to travel for radiation and oncology treatments. Fidler said they are closely monitoring demand and need for that service and are planning for how to fund an addition when the numbers dictate enough business to make the investment sustainable.

The UCHealth merger gave a big infusion of cash with about $105 million in profit for the local hospital. From that, former CEO Frank May said in 2018 about $50 million went into strategic capital, $20 into the Yampa Valley Health Care Foundation and $35 million in IT integration and routine capital.

Fidler said philanthropy also plays a significant role. In 2012, for example, the simulation lab opened, thanks to the generosity of a donor. In the lab, physicians and staff are able to practice high acuity, low frequency care protocols, ensuring theyre ready for whatever patient need may arise, Reznicek described.

In terms of the concept of access to care, Fidler noted that it has a broad definition. It can be something basic like transportation, or a much bigger barrier, especially in the high country, ofcost. In Colorado, the mountain areas have the highest rates for insurance premiums in the state.

Fidler said the hospital is constantly working to reach more underserved populations, and it is very aware of the need for more local resources in the area of mental and behavioral health care.

Fidler noted the importance of the community health needs assessment, which takes place every three years, on informing decision-making on where to make investments. The assessment takes a deep dive into the data and involves a survey of the community and health professions.

It sets the base on how we decide what the community needs, Fidler said.

That also translates to investment priorities outside the hospital.

In June, Yampa Valley Medical Center Foundation awarded 14 nonprofits a total of $275,000 in grants from the Community Health Benefit Fund. The grant aligned with the funding priorities of access to health care, mental health and substance use disorder.

Keeping Colorados rural hospitals open is one of the best ways to ensure residents maintain a high level of access to care, Welch said.

Welch said community support and strong hospital leadership also played major roles in keeping Colorados hospitals open.

Collaboration of our hospitals as a system is another factor, Welch explained. At times, they may compete for some business, but they collaborate in a number of ways that benefits all the hospitals throughout the state.

Reznicek noted Yampa Valley Medical Center has been able to share best practices with bigger hospitals, while also benefitting from the experience and expertise of others.

A lot of the higher acuity specialty care does still tend to come to the Denver metro area, Welch said. But, all our hospitals have really focused on what services they need to provide their communities, so people dont have to travel as far.

Glenwood Post Independent reporter Ike Fredregill contributed to this article.

To reach Kari Dequine Harden, call 970-871-4205, email kharden@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @kariharden.

Link:
The Longevity Project Part 3: Investing toward access: High country hospitals spend millions to increase residents' access to care - Steamboat Pilot...

Dr. Alex Meininger didnt just know he wanted to be an orthopaedic surgeon someday. He specifically knew he wanted to practice in a ski resort town.

As a skier, competitive cyclist and outdoorsman, he understands the opportunity for work-life balance that living in a community such as Steamboat provides. It also offers him the chance to relate and socially interact with his patients, almost all of whom are fellow athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.

Maintaining an active lifestyle can also be an outlet and decompression for a stressful occupation, Dr. Meininger said.

Dr. Meininger specializes in sports medicine and minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques, with a focus on joint preservation and knee injuries, at the Steamboat Orthopaedic and Spine Institute (SOSI). He has gravitated toward knee injuries such as ACL tears and meniscus injuries because theyre prevalent among so many of his athletic patients.

My practice is about saving lifestyles, not lives. Were giving people the function theyre seeking to pursue the lifestyle they want. Dr. Alex Meininger

I enjoy taking care of athletic people and the problems common to them, he said. Ive developed my practice as a knee specialist to care for complex and advanced injuries, and also as an educator of arthroscopic surgery.

Saving lifestyles

Performing more than 500 knee surgeries a year about 150 of which are ACL reconstructions in addition to numerous hip and shoulder procedures, Dr. Meininger focuses on helping patients return to their passions.

One of the best things about being an orthopaedic surgeon is that its a tangible specialty. We identify a problem that we can see, feel and touch; and offer a repair or other ways to physically solve that problem, he said. My practice is about saving lifestyles, not lives. Were giving people the function theyre seeking to pursue the lifestyle they want.

Instructor and author

Dr. Meininger is a leader in the field of arthroscopy, serving as an Associate Masters Instructor of Arthroscopy and volunteering regularly with the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA).

As an instructor, I take away a lot of pearls myself just by interacting with fellow leaders in the field, he said. Meetings and conventions provide opportunities and time to brainstorm and develop new techniques.

Dr. Meininger is also a respected author of multiple scientific publications; including two books dedicated to the treatment of sports injuries, author of numerous scientific articles and an invited author of textbook chapters on orthopaedic surgical techniques. Steamboat Springs truly has access to world-class orthopaedic sports medicine care right here in our resort community.

Orthopaedics is a lifelong passion, and its truly one of the greatest things of my life, Dr. Meininger said.

Orthopaedic innovation

Dr. Meininger is an expert in joint preservation, taking measures to restore the joint and prolong longevity in order to avoid joint-replacement surgery. He uses advanced tools for regenerative medicine such as platelet-rich plasma or stem-cell injections, as well as MACI surgery, which repairs cartilage defects of the knee.

Given Steamboats active population, many patients suffer multiple injuries, Dr. Meininger said. He wants these patients to know that when injuries get complicated, SOSI can provide the latest and best treatments right here in town.

We can accomplish anything the big cities can offer, he said.

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A passion for taking care of Steamboat's active patients - Sky Hi News

The rise of China to the status of economic superpower has been the dominant narrative of the last three decades. Chinas rise as the main feature of globalisation, in conjunction with a beneficial sweet spot in demography, drove output up and inflation down in the advanced economies. But these trends are now reversing. Chinas economic success depended on many factors, a strong historical social and cultural background, political single-mindedness, a flexible and competent labour force, fed by internal migration, capital controls, developing satisfactory infrastructure and absorption of Western technological know-how. But Chinas greatest contribution to global growth is now past. Its working age population is now shrinking, while the ranks of the old expands.

This great demographic reversal will lead to a return of inflation, higher nominal interest rates, lessening inequality and higher productivity, but worsening fiscal problems, as medical, care and pension expenditures all increase in our ageing societies. Below are key pointsin ournew book.They arethe executive summaries of some of its chapters.

Output growth will decline

The surge in the labour force working in the worlds trading system in previous decades is now reversing. The ratio of the retired-old to workers will worsen, as longevity out-distances retirement age, particularly in those countries which earlier grew fastest. Overall output growth depends on a combination of the growth rate of the working population and their productivity. With the former declining, unless offset by a major rise in the participation rates of the elderly, growth has to be based on higher productivity per worker. While there are some reasons for hoping that we may improve on recent disappointments on this latter front, we are reasonably confident that overall output growth will now generally decline.

Dependency, dementia and the coming crisis of caring

Extra longevity is not such a boon if it is accompanied by enhanced morbidity. Ageing leads to a greater incidence of neuro-degenerative diseases, e.g. Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Unlike their success with cancer and cardio-vascular ills, medicine has been largely unsuccessful in dealing with dementia; research, diagnosis and treatment are all under-funded and unsatisfactory. The costs of such diseases are bound to grow rapidly, partly by diverting a growing proportion of the available workforce into care for the dependent old. Even then, the availability of properly trained carers will probably be insufficient, leading to a greater burden for the affected old and their families. Combine this with the rising age of having children and the result is a markedly changing life-cycle pattern, one that we argue will reduce the household savings ratio.

The resurgence of inflation

The great demographic reversal and the retreat from globalisation will bring back stronger inflationary pressures this is our highest conviction view. Worsening dependency ratios naturally raise inflation. The lesser availability of labour at home and abroad will serve to restore the (previously diminished) bargaining power of labour. It will also end up raising the equilibrium natural rate of unemployment. Households will save less, and invest more in housing, than some mainstream models suggest. The non-financial corporate sector may have to invest more to hold down unit labour costs, though we are agnostic about the various causes for recent low investment rates. But we doubt that politicians, facing rising health and pension costs, will be prepared or able to raise taxes enough to equilibrate the economy via fiscal policy.

The determination of (real) interest rates during the great reversal

The rising inflation that we foresee in the future will raise nominal interest rates, but not necessarily real interest rates. There are multiple factors influencing the equilibrium real interest rate, r*. We doubt whether the prospective slowdown in world growth will depress r*. While slower growth will tend to reduce both ex ante saving and ex ante investment in the private sector, we tend to believe that savings will fall by more. If so, the public sector should ideally move back towards primary surplus to balance the economy. But rising health and pension costs, and the political unpopularity of tax increases, will hinder that. Political pressures may force central banks to hold short-term rates below the level consistent with inflation targets, thus keeping short real rates low, while market pressures lead to stronger increases in long rates, both nominal and real. The yield curve will become much more upwards sloping.

Inequality and the rise of populism

After two centuries of growing global inequality, faster growth in Asia compared to the West has seen this trend start to recede. Inequality within countries, however, has generally risen, though perhaps more in perception than in fact. The allocation of responsibility for this, between technology, growing monopoly power, and the surge in labour supply due to globalisation and demography, is complex and uncertain. One might have expected such rising within-country inequality to benefit left-leaning political parties, (and it did in Latin America). But in North America and Europe it has led to rising support for right-wing, populist parties. We attribute this largely to the publics distaste for large-scale immigration. Immigration is an issue that sharply divides the views of mainstream economists, who mainly welcome it, and the public at large, who want it to be restricted.

A switch from debt to equity finance?

The best way to reduce excessive debt leverage, and perhaps to rescue capitalism, is to remove the fiscal advantages of debt over equity finance. There should be a greater equity element in both housing and student financing, and the public sector should start issuing nominal income bonds. But the main change should occur in corporate finance. Here there are two proposals on the table, an allowance for corporate equity and destination-based cash flow taxation. A general problem, however, is that the remuneration and incentive structure for corporate managers encourages them to maximise the return on equity (RoE), which is most easily achieved by increasing leverage. We suggest a reformulation of limited liability for those equity holders with the power to influence corporate strategy, in order to mitigate this concern.

Future policy problems: old age and taxes, and the monetary-fiscal clash

Demographic trends will place increasing pressures on public policies, fiscal and monetary. An ageing society will require greater medical and pension expenditure, just as a declining workforce is slowing output growth, and hence taxable capacity. We consider four ways for enhancing taxable capacity: 1) reforming the basis of corporation tax; 2) land value taxation; 3. acarbon tax; 4) destination-based cash flow tax.

But we doubt whether politicians will be able to raise taxes enough to equilibrate the economy. Hence inflation will rise. That will lead central banks to raise nominal interest rates in pursuit of their inflation targets. In turn, that will put them at loggerheads with ministers of finance and prime ministers/presidents, especially those of a populist inclination. In any such conflict between politicians and central bankers, we would back the former to win that conflict has already begun.

Swimming against the (main)stream

From 1750 until 1950 inflationary expectations, and nominal and real interest rates, remained roughly constant, in the UK at least, while inflation was a function of occasional wars and the vagaries of harvest. After the 1950s there was a strong upwards trend in inflation, inflationary expectations and nominal interest rates (1950 1980), followed by an extraordinary downwards trend in inflation, inflationary expectations and both nominal and real interest rates (1980 2020). The earlier trend can be ascribed to a doomed, but well intentioned, attempt to keep unemployment below its rising natural rate, with the monetary regime allowing that to happen. We ascribe the subsequent downwards trend to underlying demography and globalisation factors. Given the expansionary intent of monetary policies, it is hard to claim that such disinflation was a monetary phenomenon. But in that case the forthcoming reversal of the previous demographic and globalisation trends should lead to a revival of inflation and nominal (but not necessarily real) interest rates. But this view is at odds with most current mainstream analysis, even of those who do focus on demography, who generally continue to foresee secular stagnation, lower for longer. We outline why they differ from the mainstream. Our view of the future is not encouraging, but it is coherent and plausible.

Notes:

Charles Goodhart, CBE, FBA is emeritus professor of banking and finance with the Financial Markets Group at LSE, having previously, 1987-2005, been its deputy director. Until his retirement in 2002, he had been the Norman Sosnow professor of banking and finance at LSE since 1985. Before then, he had worked at the Bank of England for seventeen years as a monetary adviser, becoming a chief adviser in 1980.

Manoj Pradhan is the founder of the independent macroeconomic research firm Talking Heads Macroeconomics. based in London, with a specialisation in the analysis of global and emerging markets macroeconomic trends, and their implications for financial markets. He has a Ph.D. in economics from the George Washington University and a Masters in Finance from the London Business School.

Continued here:
The great demographic reversal and what it means for the economy - USAPP American Politics and Policy (blog)

By Maria M. Lameiras, Joe Montgomery for CAES News

Poultry researchers at the University of Georgia are partnering with a team from Kansas State University to study how to effectively control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the nations meat and poultry processing facilities.

The study seeks to protect meat plant workers and their surrounding communities from the spread of COVID-19 through practical solutions. The research is funded through a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Harsha Thippareddi, John Bekkers Professor in Poultry Science at UGA, and Manpreet Singh, poultry science professor and interim head of the UGA Department of Food Science and Technology, are co-directors of the project along with A. Sally Davis, an assistant professor of experimental pathology in the Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine. Thippareddi and Singh provide extensive poultry experience and industry connections from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and, with backgrounds as food safety specialists, will lead the grants industry outreach efforts.

A key objective of the project will be verifying the effectiveness of many of the approved cleaners and sanitizers for inactivating SARS-CoV-2 during plant processing and sanitation operations.

Because there have been a number of outbreaks among employees in meat processing plants, there is always a perception that food or meat can be contaminated as well, said Thippareddi. Frozen chicken wings imported to China from Brazil in August tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, he said. This is a potential issue and we need to know the answers to what the risks to humans are if the coronavirus is present in food, and will it survive in the food or will it be destroyed during cooking and other food processing operations?

Using Kansas StatesBiosecurity Research Institute, a high-containment research facility, researchers will study various potential contamination methods for meat and poultry, how long the virus survives on meat products, how various storage and preparation methods influence the infectivity of the virus and what product-treatment methods can be used to mitigate the virus on food products.

Nationally and internationally, many facilities that produce meat and poultry products have been temporarily closed because of COVID-19 outbreaks, said Davis, Kansas States project director of the grant. This has put a major strain on food production, limiting the amount of meat and poultry on grocery store shelves and disrupting food and feed supply chains across the globe. Research is necessary to understand why SARS-CoV-2 is such a problem in meat and poultry processing environments and how we can mitigate the problem.

While animals, such as cattle, swine and chickens, do not carry the virus, infections with SARS-CoV-2 are primarily thought to occur by exposure to microdroplets in the air generated by infected workers.

The ultimate goal would be for us to better understand how the SARS-CoV-2 virus if at all can be transmitted through meat and poultry and through contact surfaces in poultry plants, Singh said. Thippareddi added that, people working in meat processing plants may have the illness and, if it is aerosolizing, the virus can get onto the meat. If it is on the meat, it can get to people. All the poultry processing plants are taking preventive measures to stop the spread of the virus, because if you can prevent people from getting the virus and keep the virus from being aerosolized, you can prevent it getting onto the food.

The team will evaluate potential sources of exposure and determine the amount and the longevity of infectious virus that is present during and after meat processing and packaging activities. Researchers seek to identify, develop, validate and deliver practical cleaning and disinfection strategies, in addition to developing mathematical models to predict and reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in meat and poultry processing facilities.

The project will also rely on input from an industry advisory board composed of senior level directors of food safety and plant operations at Hormel Foods, Smithfield Foods, National Beef Packing Company, Cargill Protein North America, JBS USA, Wayne Farms, Jennie-O Turkey Store, Tyson Fresh Meats and Costco Wholesale.

Thippareddi and Singh will conduct site visits at various meat and poultry processing plants to evaluate current processing methods and to lead discussions with processors on COVID-19 mitigation strategies, develop new food safety training materials based on the needs of meat processors of varying sizes, conduct web-based trainings based on the research outcomes of the project, and assist in publishing the research findings.

The goal is to provide guidance to the meat-processing industry in the form of science-based best practices, Singh said.

For information on the UGA Department of Poultry Science, visit poultry.caes.uga.edu.

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UGA Faculty Will Collaborate on Evaluating COVID-19 Control Methods in Meat Processing - Southeast AgNet

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS An increase of recreation proved to be a double-sided sword in Steamboat Springs.

Stores have reaped the benefit and recorded a historic summer of sales. However, the nearby Routt National Forest has suffered a bit of abuse from the rising number of recreators.

As restaurants and boutiques in downtown Steamboat Springs limited capacity and saw a thinner stream of people coming through the door, sporting good stores, outfitters and bike shops saw more traffic than ever.

In May, the city reported that sales tax collection was down 4% from the previous May, but that sporting good sales tax was up nearly 67%. The next month, city sales tax collection was down 11.3% compared to June of 2019, but sporting goods was up 41.7%. Meanwhile, lodging and amenities were down 49% in June.

I have never seen anything like this from one category being way up and a different category being way down, said Kim Weber, city finance director. This was definitely a surprise for us to see our restaurants and lodging down, yet sporting goods up in large percentages.

Weber said the 2009 recession brought on similar drops in sales tax collection, but those drops were more widespread across all categories, except for groceries, utilities and liquor stores, which were stable.

The increase is only determined by stores that are deemed sporting goods stores, of which there are 97 in Steamboat Springs. The figure doesnt include any sporting goods sold at stores designated under a different category. Anything sold at department stores such as Walmart or Walgreens isnt considered.

John Duty, owner of Bucking Rainbow Outfitters, expected a slower summer with the pandemic, so he didnt have as much staff on hand. Still, with less staff and, therefore, fewer fly-fishing trips for patrons, the business had a successful summer. Even from a retail standpoint, they had a busy few months, watching apparel and fly-fishing equipment fly off the shelf.

If we had more staff, we probably would have had a record-type year, said Duty.

Duty said people typically choose to book with Bucking Rainbow on weekdays, spending the weekend participating in one of the many events that fill the Steamboat summer calendar. However, with fewer events, Bucking Rainbow ended up being busy on the weekdays and weekends.

From mid-June on, Bucking Rainbow was booked solid, and only recently started to see a lull in business.

Ski and Bike Kare had a far different experience. As people realized being outdoors was one of the only things they could do amid mass closures, they cleared the market of low-end bikes, then the mid-range bikes. The spike in demand led to bike shortages across the globe, but it also led to a massive surge in sales.

Foster Martin, general manager at Ski and Bike Kare, said the store saw $150,000 more in June of this year than the previous best June.

June was our biggest month ever in 25 years of business, said Martin. August and September have slowed down just because we ran out of stuff to sell. If we had as many bikes as we would have liked to, August and September would have been huge as well.

More recreation is a double-edged sword.

Its hard to measure how much people use places on national forest land, such as Buffalo Pass.

Unlike national parks, there arent staffed gates that tally how many people are coming in national forests. Places, such as Fish Creek Falls that require a self-pay pass, have a rough tally of usage but cant always be trusted since many may not pay for one. Additionally, those numbers are skewed this year since locations opened later than usual due to the pandemic.

That being said, there is no denying that over the past few years, Buffalo Pass has seen increased use.

This year followed that same pattern, but the summer of 2020 seemed to be particularly busy, according to Aaron Voos, national forest public affairs specialist for the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland.

We dont go out and ask visitors why they are in the forest, he said. But it does seem like there is an additional desire for people to get out and experience the outdoors this year.

Voos said Buffalo Pass is one of the most high-profile recreation locations not only in Routt National Forest, but in the entire administrative unit.

Due to the obvious increase in usage in recent years, the U.S. Forest Service enlisted the help of Routt County Riders and the city of Steamboat Springs to track just how many people take advantage of the trails on Buffalo Pass. Both the city and Routt County Riders have collected data during the past two years and are in the process of tallying their counts.

Voos said Forest Service staff members and law enforcement officers havent kept official tallies, but have observed increased usage this summer.

Some of that is positive. Its just more people on a trail or in a parking lot or along a stretch of creek, said Voos. Thats fine. The national forest can handle some of that increased usage. Some of the observations though have been negative, regarding how people are handling themselves while on forest land.

Voos said negative aspects of that include additional trash in heavy-use areas like parking lots and campgrounds, as well as violations. People drive too far off the road with their vehicles to get to a dispersed campsite and off-road violations with ATVs. There has also been a notable amount of unattended campfires.

Fire hasnt been a huge issue this year, though. The Middle Fork Fire is burning in North Routt County, but has been ruled a lightning-caused wildfire. Voos said this summer showed an improvement over prior years, with the number of human-caused fires down in 2020.

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Increase in recreation good for business, but could be bad for the forest - Steamboat Pilot and Today

If you want your cat to live a long, healthy, and happy life, give your cat healthy treats and snacks.

As you know, cats love treats. They will run around the house when they hear you open the closet. When they see the treat in your hand, the winds between your feet will begin to meow until you give them the treat.

If you give them treats every time they start meowing, thats not a great thing. It will affect their health like humans, because the treats can result inunhealthy weight gainand serious health problems, including heart problems, diabetes, and osteoarthritis.

However, healthy treats and snacks can help with training and other behavior problems. In this article, we will discuss what healthy treats and snacks for your cat are and how they are beneficial for your cat.

What Makes a Cat Treat Healthy?

Marla J. McGeorge, DVM, an Oregon veterinarian, says, Its okay to feed your cat treats, but they should be a tiny part of the diet.

Many feline nutritionists recommend that healthy snacks and treat not exceed more than 10% of the total calories a cat can eat.

John K.L Ph.D., says that, Most cat treats add nothing but calories to your cats diet.Try to meet your cats caloric needs by feeding them high-quality cat food.

Benefits of healthy Treats and Snacks

Feeding your cat healthy treat and snacks will help your cat live a high-quality life. There are many benefits your kitty will receive from eating high-quality cat treats. Some of them are:

Healthy and increased life span

As you know, the fact that the quality of food can seriously affect your lifes vitality and longevity is the case with cats. Feeding your kitty low nutritional quality treats and snacks overly processed and full of chemicals will put her at greater health risk and a shorter lifespan.

Healthy appearance

The pets appearance says a lot about its health, the appearance of the cat is basically a direct reflection of its overall health. A better-looking pet will feel better because healthier treats and snacks will have a good effect on your cats health.

The type of treat you give your cat, whether commercial or homemade, will directly affect its skin, coat, nails, etc. Healthy, organic treats, and snacks contain sources of grains that have super nutritional value. In contrast, most commercial inorganic treats contain chemical additives, artificial flavors, artificial colors, and toxic agents.

These unhealthy snacks and treats can develop rashes, lesions, and open sores on your cats fur and the coat will lose its shine, color, and eventually fall off entirely.

Less allergic reactions

While giving your kitty treats and snacks, you will find many ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction to your kitty. Sometimes these reactions are to a single element or to the real treat. Unfortunately, a single component can ruin the whole treat by producing a mild irritant reaction to a life-threatening reaction. If you use organic and healthy treats, there is less chance that your cat will have an allergic reaction.

Fewer hairballs

As you know, cats are excessive groomers and spend most of their time grooming themselves. Excessive grooming often results in hairballs. If you give your cat a high-quality treat containing good quality protein, your kitty will have a silky coat, healthy skin, and will swallow less hair while grooming.

Consistent healthy weight

You are always trying to feed your cat a healthy diet to maintain a healthy weight throughout her life. Dont interrupt her efforts by giving her unhealthy treats that have no nutritional value.

Healthy snacks and treats are high in nutritional value and will not increase your kittys weight. If your cat maintains a healthy weight, she will have excess energy for exercise and other physical activities.

Tips for giving treat and snacks

There are some tips to keep in mind when giving your cats a treat or snack. These tips will help you keep your cat healthy and full of energy.

Always feed in moderation

Cats sometimes behave like children, as if they develop a taste for some treats and then begin to avoid their usual food. That is why always feed your cat treats in moderation, such as no more than two to three times a week.

Dont give human food

Special cat foods are best for cats because they contain minerals, vitamins, and amino acids necessary to maintain the cats excellent health. On the other hand, human foods do not have all the essential vitamins and probiotics, so they must be consumed in minimal quantities. You must give thebest vitamins for catsto avoid any deficiencies.

According to veterinarian advice Dr. Chyrle Bonk, Probiotics contain microorganisms that live in your cats digestive tract and improve digestive and immune health. They work by balancing the good bacteria within your felines intestines to ensure that your cat stays healthy and happy.

You can give your cat small bites of chicken, tuna, liver, or fish as an occasional snack, but dont feed him regularly. You can also provide them with a tablespoon of milk every now and then, but dont give it to lactose-intolerant cats.

Avoid toxic foods

While looking for healthy treats and snacks, always be careful of toxins in food. You may like to feed your kitty grapes, raisins, onions, salt, and alcohol, but they can be very toxic. So before adding anything to your cat treats, talk to your vet.

Dont award begging

Dont give your cat treats at the dinner table or reward her when she begs for treats. Since rewarding begging behavior will induce many behavior problems.

Dont feed treats to obese cats

As you know, overweight cats are more prone to health problems. So feed your obese cats very carefully. Cat treats and snacks are packed with calories, and these extra calories are bad for your kitty. So, provide them very carefully. Simply cutting out the treats is not an ideal solution. You can consult your vet and develop a healthy and safe diet plan for your kitten to help her lose weight.

Feed green

Catnipcan be used in cat treats and is low in calories. Actually, cats love cat grass and catnip. Cat grass is cereal grass like oats or wheat. It is effortless to grow both at home and can be easily found at a pet store. While feeding your kitten any type of plant, first make sure they are safe for her. Cats generally regurgitate after eating grass, so dont be alarmed if your cat does this. For such cats, just stick to the catnip.

Use treats for fun activities

Use cat treats in keeping your cat fit and doing fun activities. You can use treats to exercise your cats body and brain. Cats can learn a few tricks in the love of treats. These activities are ideal for indoor cats.

Use treats after training and grooming sessions

Cats typically dont like brushing their teeth, trimming their nails, and taking a medicine dose. You can use treats for doing these activities. Giving treats and petting and praise can play an important role in calming cats that are forced to do something unpleasant.

Dont replace your love with treats

Cats are adorable animals and have no additional needs to stay happy. They just need a safe home, a healthy diet, and your attention.Anthony Herrig says, When youre late for work, and you think about giving your kitty a handful of treats to build the same bond as a hug or a pet. Im not sure it really works that way.Basically, its the physical contact that your cat likes the most. She likes when you pet her, play with her, and hold her to help a cat bond with you.

Make your own cat treats

Try feeding your cats natural homemade treats because commercial treats are packed with calories. You can provide your kitten with some cooked fish, liver, and eggs. But dont use them as part of your cats daily diet.

Dont feed them table scraps

A common mistake people make is feeding their cats table scraps. Avoid doing this because every day, human food contains caffeinated beverages, raisins, onions, chocolates, and other toxic things to cats.

Similarly, say this to your whole family because if you are avoiding and not giving these treats to your kitty, it does not mean that your family will start feeding them. This is especially true in the case of children. So, make them understand that they should give treats only when you are there to supervise, as something terrible can happen to them.

Can some treat help with health conditions?

Some healthy cat treats claim to be great for your cats teeth by preventing gingivitis and reducing tartar. Certain treats claim to overcome the problem of nutritional deficiencies in cats. Dr. Murray suggests that, It is always good to contact your veterinarian to recommend a treatment for your cats health.

Conclusion

If you want your cat to live a long, healthy, and happy life, give your cat healthy treats and snacks. Always decide why, what, and when to give your kitten a treat. Also, keep in mind that these treats cannot replace your love, so a scratch behind the ear or a friendly hug can also work as a great treat for them.

Read more:
Healthy Cat Treats and Snacks - Legal Reader