Archive for May, 2010

Canine Allergy Symptoms What You Need to Look For

Thursday, May 27th, 2010
Steve Obrien asked:


When many of us think about the phrase’dog allergies,’ a human allergic retort to dogs is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Yes, some people can have dog allergies, but that very same phrase may also be used to explain allergies that plague dogs. Yes, your cherished pet could be affected by allergies. What are the commonest dog allergy symptoms and can you provide your pet with relief?

Itching. There are many differing types of dog allergies, including those brought on by food, airborne allergens, and flea saliva. Though the symptoms can sometimes vary depending on the sort of allergy in question, itching is always common and present. Seasonal scratching in dogs is common, but constant out-of-season scratching is not. An obvious rash is another one of many dog allergy symptoms you should be on the lookout for.

Rashes. These two dog allergy symptoms go side-by-side. For instance, dogs that have a food allergy usually have rashes on their neck or face. On the other hand, dogs with a reaction to airborne allergens, like pollen, will develop a rash where that allergen made contact with the skin. This may be anywhere on their body.

alopecia. Dogs should not have patches of bald spots on their body. If yours does, they may be afflicted by a pet allergy.

Biting. They step it up and start biting themselves. As with itching, biting can also lead to hair loss and rashes, as well as bleeding festering wounds.

When dogs eat something that doesn’t agree with their body, they will display dog allergy symptoms that are like humans. It’s common for a dog to barf and pass gas. These symptoms are not common in a reaction due to an airborne allergen or flea saliva, so you can usually identify immediately it was caused by food.

The above mentioned dog allergy symptoms are the commonest. If your dog has these symptoms, schedule an appointment with their vet.

Visit Dog-hospital.com for more total articles on dogs and dog training Click here

lasturl.



Hands On CPR
Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Bumpzee
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Furl
  • Mixx
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google

Kids Living with Food Allergies

Thursday, May 27th, 2010
faiusa asked:


What is it like to be a kid dealing with food allergies? Find out from these children, who spend every day avoiding peanuts, milk, eggs, and other foods all of us take for granted. Luckily, through existing science a cure is possible: Visit the Food Allergy Initiative at www.faiusa.org for more information.

Heat Pump Ratings

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Bumpzee
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Furl
  • Mixx
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google

What allergies do I need to fake to keep out of a vegetarian restaurant?

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
eateverywhale asked:


I’ve got a new acquantiance that will probably be asking me out to a vegetarian restaurant because he’s a vegetarian. I want to know what allergies I need to fake in order to avoid it. I figure that if I say I’m allergic to eggs, soy, and all legumes that should nuke the possibility of having to go to one. Does that combination of allergies sound plausible and is it enough to rule out every dish at a typical vegetarian restaurant?

Stainless Steel Paint
Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Bumpzee
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Furl
  • Mixx
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google

Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy

Monday, May 24th, 2010
Kelly Marshall asked:


All dogs scratch themselves at times, but if you find that your animal scratches himself non-stop during the springtime, then the problem might be allergies. The first thing you should do when you notice your dog scratching much more than usual is to give him a flea and tick bath. Fleas and ticks are the most common reason that dogs scratch and a simple flea and tick shampoo should do the trick. If after repeated bathing your pet is still scratching himself, then it is time to confront his allergies head on.

What are you options?

Many pet owners simply decide to subject their dogs to steroid treatments. While steroids can get rid of the problem, they have a number of side effects and are often very unpleasant for you animal. No, the best way to treat your furry friend is to find out exactly what he is allergic to. Once the veterinarian discovers this, he can have a medication made that will instantly help reduce allergies and keep you friend comfortable and happy.

In the next few paragraphs, we will be discussing the most common methods used by vets to determine what allergies your pet has.

Diet Trial

The first thing the veterinarian will do after he has checked your dog for fleas or ticks is to examine your pet’s diet. Make sure you bring all his foods and snacks with you. Oftentimes an allergic food reaction comes from the introduction of a new type of food into your dog’s diet.

Once the vet has determined that you pet does in fact have food allergies, he will immediate put him on a prescription diet that is often known as an elimination diet. These diets include ingredients like meat, fish, lamb, and potato. It is called the elimination because if your pet improves while he is on it, that means he has food allergies.

After that, your pet’s normal diet is re-introduced one food at a time. Once the symptoms of his food allergy reoccur, the allergy is identified and you can simply stop feeding your pet that food.

Skin Testing

If it is believed that your pet’s allergies are not caused by food, then skin or intradermal testing may be required. This is a test that is quite common and can be performed by any vet. It is also considered the most reliable and accurate way to identify pet allergies.

The test itself is simple and fairly painless for your pet. To start, a small section of hair is shaved bare and markings are made on the skin in a certain pattern. At each marking, an allergic substance is injected. In a day or two, the skin is checked by your vet for signs of allergy. If the skin is red or discolored, the likelihood is that you pet is allergic to one of the specific injected substances. If there is no discoloration, that means you may have missed something earlier and that something in your pet’s diet is the culprit.

Blood Tests

Blood tests for pet allergies are probably the most popular method because they can be performed right there in your veterinarians office and there’s a fast turnaround. The test is simple and it works by measuring a particular substance in the immune system known as IgE. If the IgE levels are higher than they should be with regard to a suspected allergen, then you pet is allergic to that substance.

Treating the Allergy

Once the allergen is identified, a treatment plan can be determined by your veterinarian. The most common treatment is a vaccine that will be injected into your animal over a period of several weeks. Gradually you will notice that your dog is scratching less and less and that his symptoms are going away.



Rapala Fishing Lures
Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Bumpzee
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Furl
  • Mixx
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google

How Anithistamines Work For Allergies

Monday, May 24th, 2010
aggernodi asked:


Animation of how anithistamines help folks with allergies.

Give Your Kitchen A Makeover

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Bumpzee
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Furl
  • Mixx
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google

Different Types of Allergies

Friday, May 21st, 2010
Steve Marshal Caldwell asked:


Allergy is the most common condition through which every individual suffers at least once in his lifespan. Allergy is caused by the naturally occurring substances known as allergens. When these allergens react with your body, it release the histamines to control the effect of the allergens, hence allergy is caused. Pollen, dust, and bee venom are the types of allergens. Allergy is the result of excessive activation of certain white blood cells called mast cells and basophils by a type of antibody known as IgE, resulting in an extreme inflammatory response. Another definition of allergy explains it as an abnormal reaction by an individual’s immune system against a normally harmless substance. Some common well-known allergic reactions are allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergies, hay fever, hives, and eczema.

Allergies are categorized in the different types on the basis of the body parts they affect and on the basis of allergens. Different types of allergies are as follows:

1. Food Allergy

Food allergy is the one of the most common type of allergy. You can not decide that who is allergic to which food item. The most common symptoms of the food allergies are runny nose, itching, urticaria, vomiting, nausea, coughing, and angioedema. When this reaction becomes severe it is called as anaphylaxis. Children suffer from the food allergic reactions the most because there immune system is not well developed and they take that food for the first time.

2. Gastrointestinal Tract Allergy

Gastrointestinal tract allergy is caused when you eat any item or inhale any item that contains allergens. The allergen enters the gastrointestinal tract and causes the irritation of the tract. Abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea are the symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract allergy.

3. Pet Allergies

Many individuals are allergic to pets. Allergens are found in the skin, hairs, saliva, and urine of pets. These allergens cause the eyes, nose, and skin allergies. Rashes, such as eczema and hives (urticaria) and irritation of eyes and nose are the symptoms caused by the pet allergies.  

4. Tree or Grass Pollen Allergy

Maximum number of individual suffers from the allergies caused by the pollens that are released by the trees and plants during the flowering season. These allergies are generally called as the seasonal allergies. It is called as the allergic rhinitis. Sneezing and coughing are common symptoms caused by pollen allergy.

5. Dust Allergy



Dust allergy is caused when the dust particles (allergens) enters your nose, eyes, ear, and skin. Dust allergy is the one of allergies that can lead to the dangerous consequences. Swelling of nasal mucosa, impaired hearing due to entrance of allergens in eustachian tube, dead skin as the pores of the skin are filled with dust, and redness of eyes are the common symptoms of the dust allergy.

6. Smoke Allergy

Air pollution is growing day by day because of the smoke released from the different places. Some individuals are allergic to smoke released from vehicles, some are allergic to smoke released from factories, and some individuals to the smoke from cigarettes. These allergic show the symptoms like coughing, bronchoconstriction, wheezing and dyspnea, sometimes outright attacks of asthma.

7. Insects Stings and Bites Allergies

Allergies are caused when the insects stings or bites. Throat swelling, hives over the entire body, difficulty breathing, nausea, diarrhea, and shock are some of the symptoms caused by insect bites. Rashes on the skin are also noticed on the part where the insect bites.

8. Latex Allergy

This is the allergy seen among the individuals who are allergic to the rubber latex. Latex allergy may cause allergic reactions ranging from sneezing or a runny nose to anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition. Doctor should be consulted immediately in case of severe allergic reactions.

9. Clothes Allergy

Yes, it is true that some people are allergic to clothes. Laundry detergents can cause people to break out in an itchy rash; some individuals are particularly allergic to cotton or nylon and they get red rashes on their body when they wear those clothes. Even eczema is noted in some cases.



10. Hay fever


A very common allergy caused by the pollens or anthers released by the trees or plants during the flowering season and by the release of leaves during the shedding season. Sneezing, itchy nose and/or throat, nasal congestion, and coughing are common symptoms of hay fever. You can also notice fever in the individual suffering from the hay fever.

11. Medicines Allergy

Some cosmetics or some medicines cause allergic reactions on the people either externally or internally. Antibiotics are the most common medications that cause the allergies. If you suspect a medicine allergy, talk to your doctor first before assuming a reaction is a sign of allergy. Note: Please take the medications only and only after taking the permission from the doctor.



12. Chemical Allergy


Dyes, household cleaners, and pesticides used on lawns or plants can also cause allergic reactions in some people. Sometimes even the harmful chemicals are released in the water bodies by some chemical factories and thus cause the allergic reactions when we drink that water or wash the face with that water. Please note that this is the most severe case of allergy.



Alcoa Vinyl Siding
Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Bumpzee
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Furl
  • Mixx
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google

Allergy-free Dog Food - Best Ways To Deal With Your Dog’s Food Allergy

Sunday, May 16th, 2010
Abhishek Agarwal asked:


After a hard days work, it’s definitely refreshing to play with your pet dog. For many of us, they are part of our family and we love dogs as much as we love our family members. Like how feel sad when our children or spouse or any other family member feel ill, we have the same feeling towards our dog too when it is ill. Am I right? The worst part is that many times we do not the reason for it to become ill. When we take it to the vet, he would say the ailment is due to food allergy.

You would definitely be worried if you hear that the illness is due to the food that your dog eats. One symptom through which you can identify food allergies in dogs is excessive scractching due to itching. If you closely watch, you can understand that main food items that cause allergy would be corn, soy, wheat, beef, chicken, etc. Don’t ever waste time if you feel your dog is not well. Immediately take it to the vet for diagnose and treatment.

Few symptoms of food allergy in dogs include itching, scratching, licking the foot, biting or chewing his body parts. You may introduce lamb as a subsititute for proteins.

Normally, vets give hypo-allergenic formulas to treat food allergies in dogs and these forumals are quite expensive. The fact is that it is possible to understand food allergies in dogs without even going to the vet. Anti-allergy dog foods are in market, which you may give them to your best friend, dogs. Start giving these allergy-free food items. Lots of nutrients are avialable in these food mixes and are formulated especially for dogs.

You get two variant of dog mixes, one is chicken-based and the other fish protein. Experiment with various food items that are protein rich. Observe keenly and check for the reaction. You can finally understand which food mix your dog likes and at the same time not allergic to it. Stick to this food mix.

Few points to ponder when introducing new food mixes to your pet dog:

a) You should give it for at least six days continuously.

b) Ratio should be 4:1, that is, 4 parts of old food : 1 part of new food

c) Slowly increase this proportion for six days. Once you have started to give the new food mix completely, stick to it for a minimum of seven days.

d) Check for any allergic reaction before you take a call on whether to stick to old food mix or the new one.

It is impossible to solve food allergy at once. Start giving a neutral food. Ensure that it is grain-free. Once you find the protein that is right for your pet, introduce grain to the diet. Check for the reaction. It is definitely possible to save huge amount of money if you start to experiment things by yourself. Like how we require nutrients like vitamins, minerals, proteins, etc., dogs too require a balanaced diet.

You might have two pet dogs in your home, may be even same breed. However, it doesn’t mean that food habits should be similar for both of your pets. One pet may be allergic to certain kind of food mix; however, the same food mix may do good for the other pet. Do not jump into conclusions if a particular food is allergic for one pet, it will be the same for other too.

Once you understand the symptoms, it will definitely be easy for you to know what has to be done to resolve the problem.

Take good care of your pet…all the best!



Wood Pellet Stoves
Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Bumpzee
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Furl
  • Mixx
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google

Wheat Free Dog Food: A Convenient Way To Fight Pet Allergies

Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Thomas Kearl asked:


Lots of wheat gluten and other proteins are routinely added to dog food. Wheat free dog food is less common, because the majority of large-scale pet food manufacturers do not cater enough to the health needs of pets, especially those puppies or adult canines that might be allergic to wheat.

But just as humans are often allergic to wheat, the same is true for dogs. So these days many pet food companies are beginning to recognize the need for more dietary restrictions, as they respond to consumer demand for products such as wheat free dog food. If you shop carefully – especially in better pet stores or in places like health food grocery stores that have a pet food aisle – you can find plenty of wheat free food for you dog. And if you are not near a store that has that kind of product – which is the situation for many people who live in small towns or rural communities – then you can even order dog food that doesn’t contain wheat over the Internet. The delivery truck or post office will bring it right to your doorstep.

The most alarming cases of pet food problems are, of course, those that upset pet owners across the USA last year when it was discovered that dogs were dying from tainted pet food imported from China. These toxic foods were contaminated with melamine, a chemical sometimes used in industrial products as a binder or thickening agent. The melamine-tainted food is banned, and hopefully it will never return. But pet owners who are still concerned that imported dog food might once again slip through inspections and harm their dogs can buy brands that stick to a higher standard. Many companies now offer organic dog food, wheat free dog food, and gluten-free dog food, plus specially blended foods that are rich in nutrients and vitamins that growing puppies and older dogs both need.

Keep your dog safe and healthy by shopping for dog food that is made to the highest possible health standards. To find out what brands are the top rated and offer the most nutrition per meal, just ask your local vet for some brand name recommendations. You can be sure that whatever he or she feeds his or her own pets is a good choice for you and your furry friend.



Bamboo Indoor Fountain
Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Bumpzee
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Furl
  • Mixx
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google

What is a good pet for people with dog and cat allergies?

Thursday, May 6th, 2010
Cookie asked:


I want something friendly and cute. Something you can interact with? Not fish.

Shimano Fishing Reels
Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Bumpzee
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Furl
  • Mixx
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google

How long before allergies start should you start taking your med’s?

Thursday, May 6th, 2010
Joel B asked:


I have been prescribed allegra and I am wondering if you have to start taking it before your allergies start?

Carrier Heat Pumps
Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Bumpzee
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Furl
  • Mixx
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google