Several of us have been suffering with allergies and hay fever lately and, like their owners, many pets are sensitive to airborne annoyances. Pets are likely to get downright itchy. To soothe their skin and help keep allergies under control, here are a few tips:
- Calm it with cool water: Giving your pet a cool-water soak is a quick way to ease itchy skin. Bathe your pet for five to ten minutes. Make sure the water is cool as warm water can aggravate the itch.
- Ease it with oatmeal: To make soaks additionally soothing, vets sometimes recommend adding colloidal oatmeal (like Aveeno) to the bathwater.
- Alleviate it with antihistamines: You can often bring allergies under control with antihistamines. Your vet may recommend an over-the-counter drug like Benadryl. The typical dose is one to three milligrams for every pound of pet, but you should ask your vet for the precise dosages.
- Subdue it with supplements: To help calm itchy skin, try giving your pet fatty acid supplements, which are also used for relieving mange and other skin disorders. Getting a dog or cat to swallow a capsule can be tricky. An easier way is to take the capsules apart and squeeze the oil into your pet’s food.
- Clean and clean again: Vets recommend vacuuming and dusting often. It’s also a good idea to change furnace or air-conditioning filters monthly. Plan on washing your pet’s bedding at least once a week. This will help reduce the build up of dust mites.
- Look to the litter: Many litter box products contain certain chemical scents to make your cat’s bathroom more appealing. In some cases, however, both cats and dogs may be sensitive -- both to the smell of the litter and to its dust.
- Give her a foot soak (for dogs only): Dogs with allergies occasionally suffer from itchy feet, and soaking them in Epsom salts can be a big relief. Fill the tub with just enough cool water to cover your dog’s paws. Dissolve several cups of Epsom salts crystals in the water. Stand your dog in the tub for five to ten minutes, then gently dry her feet. Don’t let her drink the water, however, since Epsom salts can act as a laxative.
*These tips are home remedies only and should not ever be used as a substitute for any treatment that may have been prescribed by your veterinarian. If your pet has a medical problem, we urge you to seek competent medical care.
Alice England
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Dog and Cats with Hay Fever? You Bet!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
October is Guinea Pig Month!
(That's just my own declaration!)
This month I'll be sharing some interesting and fun facts about my pets. Starting with ...their name!
Guinea pig is the common name for cavy. They originated in South America. These rodents have no visible tail, four toes on the front feet, and three toes on the back. They are neither from Guinea nor are they pigs. They are said to have gotten their name because they squeal and were sold by British sailors for a guinea, an Old English coin.
If they are properly cared for , they will live 5 to 7 years. I have had several live to that age. They are strictly herbivores. Plants only, please!
There are 11 recognized breeds of guinea pigs at this time which is the focus of today's post. Within each breed there are 23 varieties which include a number of colors and color patterns. Silkies have longer smooth coats, but the head and face are not covered like the Peruvians. Satins have a hollow hair shaft that gives the hair a nice sheen. Teddies have short wiry hair. Abyssinians have rosettes or tufts,and Americans have smooth short hair.
Here we go!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
SHOW AND TELL TUESDAY
by Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by people like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Monday, October 4, 2010
RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS....
Bustin' out the galoshes again and buckling down for some long, rainy days....but, hey, at least it's not SNOW!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Ask The Petsjubilee Pets: Frito Feet?
Warning: The advice and comments in the Ask The Petsjubilee Pets posts are for fun only and not meant in any way to represent real advice. Since the pets are the ones responding to the questions, the humans shall and forever remain blameless for whatever the animals post.
Well, we were a bit short this week on ask the Petsjubilee Pets e-mails. Unless, some have magically been misplaced which does tend to happen when you have paws like mine. So I asked a fellow on-line wienie friend of mine who shall remain nameless, if he had any pressing questions on his mind. This is what he wrote:
To Sasha And Any Other Critter Out There:
Why do my paws smell like corn chips? Also, why does my mommy likes to smell them? She puts her nose right on my little paws and sniffs and sniffs. Seriously, it is not the same thing as sniffing butts and you knows human noses aren't cold or wet like ours so it feels so gross when they put their warm noses on our sensitive tootsies. Any help would be greatly a-pee-ciated.
From:
Face Book Frito Feet
Next, week we will answer this one and hopefully by then we will have more e-mail letters. Oh, and feel free to put your thoughts and answers to this letter in the comment section below, too.
Please, e-mail your questions for Ask The Petsjubilee Pets to SassySashadoxie@yahoo.com. Also, please put APP in the subject of the letter so I don't have to open up e-mails about money requests to Nigeria. Apparently, SPAM e-mails even come to wiener dogs.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Saturday Pet Blog Hop 10/2/10
We're having Pet Photo Contest!This month's theme is "Costumed Critters & Autumn Animals." Show us your pet in costume, or in an Autumn or Halloween setting. Send in your photo, slide show, or video of your pet. Add some words to be posted with their pic to go along with the theme. Click on the "Furbabies" link at the top to go to the contest.
We'll be accepting entries from October 1st through the 31st noon EST. Visit us in the forums where we'll be hanging out and introducing the new entries.
We welcome all pets: dogs, cats, birds, gerbils, hamsters, geckos, chickens, frogs, turtles, snakes, pigs, horses, just to name a few.
Sometime later on the 31st, we'll choose a winner using random.org and announce the results here. So comment as often as you like for as many furbabies as you like.
Click here to sign up for our email list and
Click here to see our team Pet Sampler boxes.
Friday, October 1, 2010
The Poop Scoop- Sasha and Oscar's Looooove Connection
Today we are going to highlight another team looooove connection. Yep, you have to say it like its spelled looooove connection! You all may have heard on the team forum about Sasha the wonder wiener and her beloved Oscar. Now I am sure we will all hope and Pray for poor little Oscars quick recovery!
I wonder what the wonder Wiener puppies would look like?
Here is what Athena told me about their romance and how it came about:
They met on an on-line doxie blog back when she was just a pup. It was puppy luv at first sight of his photo and she was quickly smitten at his romantic letters. Of course, it was all supervised at first since she was such a youngster and Oscar was a bit older and wiser wienie than her. But, he held her paw through the new discoveries of life and her first BBQ. She was a bit worried with all the talk about roasting hot dogs and all. But, he guided her through all the tough times (vet visits, trips to the groomers, and of course her OD on mushrooms) and was right by her side. Then, a couple years ago he purposed and of course she said yes, but they are now waiting for the economy to turn around and to save up enough to be able to afford a nice wedding on the mere kibble wages the two are earning. Then, of course recently, Oscar had to have back surgery and Sasha was oh so worried about that. She sent him get well smooches and FB messages. Now, she is wondering with the vet bills and all how they will ever afford the wedding. But, she holds firm that she is Oscar's beloved and no furry man will ever take his place.
I See, May December romances CAN work! Here's hoping to see another Wedding soon!
Oscar's Mommy does KritterKraze shop on etsy with all the doggy clay pins she makes by the way. Oscars Daddy does Woodnwonders shop, too.
Lorin,