|Social media platforms are known as great digital hangouts to visit when you want to feel inspired or entertained with endless scrolling opportunities showcasing photos of people, places, and of course, lots and lots of adorable animals. It was only natural for pets to take center stage and become superstars of their own social media accounts. In fact, if you have not yet seen a hedgehog wearing socks, please take a moment to search for that now... don't worry, I'll be here when you get back (trust me, it's fantastic).

​Okay, back? Great! (And you're welcome.. adorable, right?). So with all this attention that animals and pets are getting on social media, the pet influencer was created. What is a pet influencer you ask? Essentially, it's the same as any other influencer who shares their opinion on brands or services, but this time the stories and products come from the expertise of the pet influencer.

What are all these animals doing with their new found fame and fortune, you might ask? We explore this more throughout this article, but in a nutshell, pet influencers are literally making the world a better place in the most adorable and selfless ways possible. Keep reading to learn how they're doing it!

Please note: This article does not contain medical or therapeutic advice. If you are concerned about your health or well-being speak with a health professional or visit your nearest medical facility in an emergency. This is a collaborative post.

Some of the ways pet influencers are making the world a better place is through fundraising, advocating for adoption, as well as education. Let's find out more!

Fundraising

One of the main good deeds of these furry social media celebrities is to raise funds for other animals. Some of the most popular pet influencers have raised millions of dollars for their animal friends in need. The proceeds of their fundraising efforts go to many different causes, including:

• prosthetics and carts required by handicapped animals
• building farms for rescued and neglected farm animals
• animal shelters with funds going towards food and treatments

There are so many responsible and caring pet owners in the world, it can be difficult to believe that some humans neglect or even abuse their pets. Animals deserve to be cared for and kept safe, and I am truly grateful for all of the organizations around the world take care of animals in need, and for pet influencers for shining a light on this need. 

Advocating for Adoption

It should go without saying that there are so many reasons to adopt a pet rather than buy one from a pet store or breeder, and pet influencers have been helping to shine a light on this very worthy and important cause through their ability to reach thousands, and sometimes millions, of people around the world.

Education

Now a household name, Cole and Marmalade are YouTube stars of the feline-kind and are featured in both fun and quirky but also educational videos on topics such as household hazards for cats, how to brush your pets teeth, and safe ways to introduce new cats or kittens to each other for the first time.

In a world with so many tragedies and inhumane acts being shared on the news every single day, these pet influencers are bringing light and positive-vibes to their social media followers daily. As a pet parent myself, I am grateful for the thoughtful owners for turning their best friends into online celebrities who are helping out so many less-fortunate animals around the world.

In a previous article, I shared about the powerful impact that pets can have on a persons mood and mental health, and whether you are viewing an adorable photo on social media, or interacting with an animal in person, the change to a more positive mood can be instantaneous.

​Owning a pet can even promote healthy lifestyle changes including increase in exercise from taking your pet for walks and creating opportunities to socialize and meet new people, to lowering levels of anxiety and increasing feelings of happiness.

Pets have also shown the remarkable ability to support individuals who are seeking support during therapy. Some of the benefits for a client of including an animal within the therapy session includes:

• increasing self-esteem
• encourages trying out new activities
• boosts motivation to become more social with others
• reduces symptoms associated with anxiety & depression
• provides comfort; increases rapport building between therapist & client

So the next time you are scrolling through your social media feed and come across an adorable photo or video of an animal, be sure to check out their profile to see if they advocate for a cause and consider doing your part to make the world a better place by helping out those less fortunate animals around the world.

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|Living in such a fast-paced world can make it difficult to prioritize health goals, let alone find the time to make it to the doctor’s office. Often times, a person’s health needs are put on hold or places at the very bottom of the to-do list until there is an urgency to seek help or advice about a specific concern. Instead of putting off a visit to the clinic, what if there was a simple way of taking charge of your health? Seems too good to be true, right!

Technology has enabled us to make life easier, and online healthcare is proving that it can make us healthier and less stressed, too. Totally a win-win in my book! This article will explore how accessing online healthcare can help empower you to make regular and positive changes for your overall health and well-being.

Please note: This article does not contain healthcare or therapeutic advice. If you are concerned about your health or well-being, speak with a health professional or visit your nearest medical facility in an emergency. This is a collaborative article and all opinions expressed are my own.

​Let’s first talk about how online healthcare differs from the traditional doctor’s office, and then explore the benefits of having access to a real physician at the click of a button, and finally discuss how it all works.

Why Online Healthcare?

As a mental health professional, I have talked to many clients who admit that it took awhile to reach out and start sharing their concerns within therapy, and healthcare is no different. Seeking help for any reason can be difficult, anxiety-provoking and downright scary. Mustering up the courage to ask others for support with a health issue might seem daunting to you, or perhaps you had an experience of feeling judged or been made to feel as though your concerns were insignificant and unimportant. It’s completely normal to feel apprehensive after these experiences.

I firmly believe that everyone deserves judgment-free support, and accessing healthcare online can provide a sense of safety since you can literally access the platform from anywhere that has an internet connection.. and in an environment that feels comfortable to you, like your home or office. Imagine being able to share your concerns without feeling the stress and urgency that you might feel at a regular doctor’s visit. Ask yourself, how might this change your perception of accessing healthcare for yourself?

Or perhaps you’re the type of person that is always there for others. You stop everything so that you can help a friend, yet put your own needs on the back burner. It might seem impossible to change to the role of now being the one in need.. after all, you need to be there for others, right? Giving yourself permission to put yourself first, and ask for the help that you need, can feel incredibly empowering, and can allow you to let others in, giving you greater peace of mind knowing that your needs are being cared for.

What are the Benefits?

I will confess that as a millennial who was brought up as the internet was invented, I feel at ease going online to research health concerns, book appointments, or even do my banking.. let’s just say if it can be done online, I’m there! So when I found out that accessing healthcare online was an option for Canadians, I was so excited! Gone are the days of going to a clinic on a specific day, at a particular time, and waiting with a sense of dread for hours just for your name to be called.

So clearly, I’m convinced.. But just in case you’re still wondering what the benefits are of accessing online healthcare, let’s recap the mental health benefits:

• less stressful
• judgement free
• reduce the stigma of getting help
• empowers you to put your own needs first

And add to the list of other benefits:

• no more waiting rooms
• convenient and discreet
• easy application process 
• receive the care you deserve

Consider your own situation for a moment.. what benefits might you experience in your life by accessing healthcare online?

​Okay, You Have My Attention... But What Exactly is the Process?

Before we talk about the process, let me first share the company that has made online healthcare a reality - Felix is an online healthcare provider in Canada making it easier to get prescriptions for common personal health medication including acne, birth control, erectile dysfunction, and male hair loss. Their healthcare approach empowers you to take your personal health into your own hands, in a way that feels comfortable to you and meets your schedule demands.

Here’s their incredibly simple process:

• Fill out an online medical assessment, anytime (even at 2am sitting on your couch in your pajamas eating a bag of Cheesies).
• A licensed Canadian doctor will review your assessment and, if they deem that you are eligible, write you a prescription.
• In less than 24 hours your prescription will be filled and shipped to your door by an accredited pharmacy in 2 business days (delivery is free).
• Decide on an auto-refill schedule so you never have to worry about running out of your prescription.

Naturally you might have some questions about accessing healthcare online, like.. is it actually safe to share your personal information? And, who are you actually chatting with? Let’s clear up some concerns you might have with a few Q&A’s...

Q. Are they real doctors? 

Absolutely! The accredited doctors at Felix do not provide prescriptions unless they deem it medically safe and appropriate to write them based on your medical profile and assessment answers. The assessments have been crafted by the specialists on their medical team.

Q. Is my information safe?

Yes! Personal health information provided during your medical assessment is strictly and legally confidential between you and the Felix doctor. Felix is compliant with The Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) of Ontario and LegitScript certified.

The days of waiting rooms are over.. set a goal this year to start using technology to your advantage when it comes to taking better care of your health and try out Felix to see how easy and convenient (not to mention way less stressful) it can be to order your prescriptions online.

For $10 off a Felix online visit, use code HEATHER10 at checkout:

​|Have you ever wondered if some sort of cosmetic surgery would be right for you? If so, don’t feel alone. Every year, people of all genders decide that they want to do something about sagging skin, the shape of a nose, or get rid of bags under the eyes. The motivation for these types of procedures vary, but they are all valid. After reading this article, you might decide to explore the option of cosmetic surgery further. If so, it’s time to schedule a consultation and find out what a professional like Dr. Kristina Zakhary recommends.

|Your dental health has a serious impact on your physical health and your mental well being. From time to time, you may find that some sort of dental procedure can aid in dealing with an emotional illness. Removing a wisdom tooth that’s making things a bit crowded is a prime example. ​