By Utpal Dholakia Ph.D. 

Gregory Treverton, a national security expert at RAND Corporation, famously distinguished between two types of problems, puzzles and mysteries. He was describing the modern challenges faced by the American intelligence community. According to Treverton, puzzles are problems having a definitive solution once the relevant information and insight is found and used. Solving puzzles requires taking a specific sequence of steps or actions to get to the answer. Mysteries, on the other hand, don’t have clear-cut answers. The solution is a moving target, depending on a host of factors that change over time.

So far, this has been a three-bears summer where I live in Lafayette, swinging from a too-cold foggy chill to a too-hot swelter with the sun beating down and the temp pushing past 100 degrees. I’m missing those “just-right” days we usually count on at this time of year.

Every summer, people pack their bathing suits, sunscreen, flip flops and a good book for a trip to the beach. Or, perhaps where you live, you are fortunate to have beach weather for the greater part of the year. Regardless of how often you get to sink your toes into the sand, the American Red Cross has some beach safety tips and steps you can take to be make sure you and your family remain safe.

There are many physical features that make our pets so adorable and Instagramable – from floppy ears to goofy faces. 

But many of those same features come with specific health considerations. Veterinary care is not one-size-fits-all. That’s why it’s so important to develop a relationship with a veterinarian you trust, so you can take proper care of your pet in every environment. 

Yes, just like your mother taught you. Good health starts with brushing your teeth – and the same is true for your dogs and cats.