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Jessica Andersen is our guest blogger during the week of December 8th. If you have any questions for Jessica Andersen, add a comment to any of her posts. Here is some more information about Nightkeepers:

In the first century A.D., Mayan astronomers predicted the world would end on December 21, 2012. Modern scientists say dire solar flames and magnetic fluctuations will all occur on that exact day. In these final years before the End Times, demon creatures of the Mayan underworld-The Makols-have come to earth to trigger the apocalypse. But the Chajinal, descendants of the Mayan warrior-priests, have decided to fight back.

In Nightkeepers, a Makol uses a lost rite known as The Godkeeper to call a demon to earth. During the ritual, a sky god attempts to possess the demon's human sacrifice, a narcotics detective named Leah Ann Daniels. The rite is unsuccessful, but gives Leah magical powers, and strands the god between planes. Warned by a cryptic message from an ally, King Jaguar Striker arrives just in time to save Leah...but is exiled when he breaks Chajinal law. Leah and Striker must bond together to defeat the embodied demon and gain support of the Chajinal army-all before the next solstice, when another demon will try to pass through.

Nightkeepers combines Mayan astronomy and lore with modern, sexy characters for a gripping read. Fans of paranormal romance and urban fantasy will not want to miss Jessica Andersen's The Final Prophecy series!

Your dog's wellness is all about balance. Spot's body has to maintain symmetry to sustain health. The term for this inherent balancing act is homeostasis. When homeostasis, or systemic equilibrium, is not sustained, your dog's body becomes dirty, and vulnerable to disease. In Stretch Your Dog Healthy, I refer to this as "dirty dog syndrome". Luckily, billions of cells are created in Spot's body everyday. This allows us some influence over this symmetry and balance. By making the best hound health choices, given each individual situation, we ensure cellular repair versus breakdown. We can keep "dirty dog syndrome" at bay and be sure of one clean canine, inside and out.

A "dirty dog" is susceptible to disease and health issues. This is because the body functions most efficiently if it is clean. When toxins start to build up in your dog, it hinders the natural, necessary functioning of every body system, thus weakening your pup's immune system. Toxin build-up can come from questionable food additives (sugar, hydrogenated oils, preservatives, low-grade ingredients); chemical exposure (yard fertilizers, household cleaners, heartworm/flea/tick preventatives and shampoos; excess vaccination); lack of movement (stretching, exercise, massage); and impure drinking water.

At a glance, some simple steps to avoid "dirty dog syndrome": stretching and massage (facilitates toxin flushing); exercise (provides movement thereby stimulating repair/healing); a wholesome natural diet (organic when possible); clean, filtered water (enhances blood cleanliness); vitamin and nutrient supplementation (enhances cellular repair); limit chemical exposure (natural shampoos, natural flea/tick preventives, keep prescription use to a minimum); good hygiene (don't forget the teeth!). Adopt a preventative and you will be well on your way to a healthier hound!