SKIN ALLERGY vs. Cleaning

SKIN ALLERGY vs. Cleaning
By Amie Porter

Lots of people think that skin allergies are caused by pollution and dirty environments. This is true but the good news is that there are positive things you can do to reduce allergic reactions and symptoms, such as asthma.

Dust mites are too small to be seen with the naked eye. You can find all sorts of information about dust mites on the Internet. However here we will talk about how to control dust mites effectively and reduce symptoms from them.

* Change bed sheets, pillowcases and blankets at least once a week. To kill dust mites, you have to wash bedding in a washing machine at a temperature of at least 130 F. So we recommend you to choose light coloured bedding so that their colour will not noticeably fade.

* Protect your mattress, box springs and pillows with allergy-proof covers. This keeps dust mites away from the flakes of dead human skin cells which are a primary food source for them.

* Keep stuffed toys away from your bed. You might be amazed to learn that stuffed toys can attract dust mites.

* Reduce humidity. It helps if you can lower the relative humidity in your house, normally lower than 50% is sufficent. When dust mites can't absorb moisture from the air they will shrink and die. You can use air conditioners and dehumidifiers to achieve this benefit.

* Use stone, hardwood or laminate flooring instead of carpet if possible This eliminates an ideal dust mite territory. If you cannot choose your flooring, make sure that you use asteam cleaner on your carpets at least once a year.

* Dust and vacuum your home at least once a week. You need to clean your house regularly. Find a cleaner if you cannot afford the time. Regular dusting and vacuuming will help to control dust and therefore dust mites in your house. Use a damp mop or damp cloths on hard floors and furnishings as dry cloths stir up dust mite remains. Vacuum carpets, sofas, curtains and window blinds regularly with a powerful vacuum cleaner, preferably with a special filter.

* Keep away furry and feathered animals from your bedroom. Your pets' dead skin cells are another food source for dust mites. So it's best to have your pets sleep as far away from your bedroom as possible. You can treat your pets' sleeping areas the same as yours, i.e. regular cleaning and use allergy-proof covers.

Every little helps. For more information, use our special cleaning team, if you are based in London or the South East.

Amie Porter recommends London Rate Cleaning Services to minimize your allergy to dust and dust mites. Visit us at http://www.londonrate.com for Cleaning Services London, Cleaners London, Builders London, etc.

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Allergy In Dogs What Do I Do?

Allergy In Dogs, What Do I Do?
By Candice Lee

Oh no...allergy in dog...what do I do? Today there seems to be so many dogs with allergies. Pet owners are frantically trying to find answers to help their faithful companions. So what does cause allergies in dogs? One place to start looking for answers is right in front of your dog's nose...his dog bowl! So, what ARE you feeding your dog?

Dog food today is filled with all kinds of grains that are often difficult to digest (corn, wheat, gluten and soy), and which are often used as a protein source instead of meat. Allergies in dogs are sometimes related to these grains in their food.

In an effort to feed our dogs a healthy diet, we are led to believe that these grains are good for them. But don't let that fool you......... it's not because it's healthy for our dogs. It's because the grain is cheap and dog food manufacturers make a much bigger profit using grains. So, just what is the best food for our faithful companions?

Often the answers to our questions can be found in nature. We need to remember that dogs are canines and their ancestry dates back to wild dogs and wolves. These animals hunted in packs. If you examine their teeth, you will find that they were designed to rip and tear flesh, muscle and bone.They were created to eat meat and by nature, they are carnivores. The Native Americans of North America raised dogs and their diets consisted mostly of protein.

Many of the maladies, diseases, and allergies that our dogs are experiencing today are, unfortunately, directly related to the food they eat.

Three years ago our dog Elly became very ill and had to have her spleen removed. After the surgery, we started researching about dog foods and what we found was very shocking. We decided to give her a dog food that was much more balanced and included more protein and antioxidants.

Gradually her health improved, her coat became full and soft, and today she is an active 11 year old dog and doing quite well.

We have a responsibility to take care of our faithful friends and giving them a good, balanced nutritional food, without added grains like corn and wheat, will help ensure a long and healthy life. And hopefully, allergy in dog, be gone!

Candice is a wife, mom, author and proud owner of her faithful companion Elly. If you'd like to know what we feed our dog Elly:-) visit: http://www.EllysFood.info

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The Flea Allergy in Dogs and Cats

The Flea Allergy in Dogs and Cats
By Grace Palce

Fleas multiply fast and do not voluntarily leave the body of the pet, the flea allergy will last for a long time.

There are symptoms that will tell the pet owner that the dog or cat is being troubled by a flea allergy. Some symptoms displayed by dogs are slightly different to those found in cats. But in general, the symptoms of a flea allergy are continuous itching, loss of hair, occurrence of sores, and unexplained depression.

Among dogs, the specific symptoms are:

Massive loss of hair
Presence of red and swollen sores
Irritation and scratching in certain areas, such as:

Along the tail

On the rump area

All over the hind legs

The region of the groin, which is the sensitive area between the hind legs

Among cats, the symptoms of flea allergy are:

Constant scratching in various parts of the body
The formation of painful scabs in sensitive areas, such as:

The neck

The face

The groin

The main body

A diagnosis of flea allergy no longer involves skin tests and blood tests. The mere presence of fleas indicates that flea allergy has befallen on the pet. The owner can even conduct his own examination by looking for fleas in the coat of the dog or cat. Fleas are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of their host. They are tiny but can cause powerful irritations. They are usually black in color, which makes them more difficult to detect especially if the coat of the pet is also dark-colored.

Fleas also move fast. This makes it impossible to individually catch the fleas. They scatter their dirt all over the pets body and this adds to the skin irritation. The flea dirt looked like regular black dust when dry. But when wet, the flea dirt shows a reddish old copper-like color.

Fortunately, there are proven ways to remove the fleas and allow the pets body to heal itself from the allergy.Using flea combs These devices can be purchased from any pet supply store or from the veterinarian. Flea combs are designed so that they can sweep out the fleas along with the flea dirt from the coat of the pet.

Bathing or immersing the pet in a recommended solution The solution is usually a mixture of water and a detergent which is recommended by the vet. The detergent can immediately kill the fleas and loosen their hold on the skin.

The pet owner will find the dead fleas floating in the bath solution. This solution may also turn reddish due to the presence of so much flea dirt.

Cleaning the environment A good general cleaning will get rid off the source of fleas. Cleaning the pet will not prevent the recurrence of flea allergy. The environment must be cleaned too.

Applying anti-itch medications These medicines can be administered orally or by direct application on the affected area. They will reduce the painful itching and prevent further infection.

Grace Palce is writing articles for pet meds 101, a comprehensive dog medicine site.

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