Living naturally, with pets

Mad Dog Monday #8

2009-11-09T06:14:00.002-05:00

"I'm sure glad this wasn't a frosted mug!"

(photo origin unknown)

Improve your home's energy efficiency

2009-11-07T07:16:00.000-05:00

With colder weather moving in for the winter, it's a good time to look at ways to keep your home warmer and make it more energy efficient. Insulating the attic, installing electrical outlet insulation plug kits, and weather stripping around doors is a good place to start. And you should also assess your windows as they can cause a good deal of heat loss and air leakage.

There are many products available at home improvement centers to help make older windows more energy efficient. And don't discount the benefit of curtains to cut drafts. We have dual pane energy efficient windows on our home, but can still feel a draft at times, especially on really windy days. Following decorating trends, over the past few years I have had only window blinds and valances on my windows. But curtains are making a comeback for visual appeal as well as energy savings, and I recently added curtains to my windows. I was pleasantly surprised at how homey and fresh the pleated curtains made my rooms feel, not to mention how much warmer the rooms feel at night and when it's windy.

Curtains are an easy way to cut drafts, make you feel more comfortable, and also update your tired looking rooms for holiday entertaining too.

The Friday Funny....The Lottery

2009-11-06T00:18:00.000-05:00

A woman came home, screeching her car up the driveway, and ran into the house. She slammed the door and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Honey, pack your bags, I won the lottery!"

The husband said, 'Oh my God! What should I pack, beach stuff or mountain stuff."

"Doesn't matter" she said, "Just get out."

(contributed by Ron Heisler)

Inhalant Allergies in Pets

2009-11-05T00:01:00.001-05:00

Part 3 on pet allergies will cover inhalant allergies, also called atopy and is very common. The same allergens that cause allergies in humans can cause inhaled allergies in cats and dogs. However, while a human will sneeze, cough, and have watery eyes, a cat or dog will usually have itching skin, much the same as a food allergy or flea bite allergy.

Cause and symptoms: common allergens are grass, weed and tree pollen, fabrics, dander, dust mites, and mold. Seasonal itching for an inhalant allergy usually begins at age 1 to 3 years, whereas a flea bite allergy usually begins at age 3 to 5. The inhalant allergy may start out seasonally, but then as the pet ages it can affect him all year long. In dogs, atopy causes itching around the eyes and mouth, armpits, belly, legs, around the anus, and can also cause ear infections. In cats, it causes itching around the face, neck, back, and thighs with tiny seed-like scabs and possible hair loss.

Treatment: Steroids such as Prednisone are often prescribed to block the allergic reaction. Some allergens are believed to absorb through the skin, so hypoallergenic shampoo can help relieve itching, along with fatty acid supplements. Keeping grass or weeds mowed so that they don't pollinate will help somewhat. If your cat or dog requires more than 2 shots annually, or is taking steroid pills every other day for more than 4 months out of the year, consider alternative treatment. Side affects of prolonged use of Prednisone are:
*excessive appetite, thirst and panting
*immune suppression
*inflammation of the pancreas
*urinary incontinence
*weight gain
Alternative treatments are: antihistamines, Omega 3 fatty acid supplements, and herbal topicals such as calendula, comfrey, and chamomile. Using an air cleaner inside the home may also give relief. I would also suggest feeding only a food that has no chemicals and preservatives as it can improve your pet's general health and immune system's ability to deal with the allergens.