With all this concern about global warming, emissions controls and lowering our carbon foot prints; I am proud to say that no stone is being left unturned, as even our furry friends learn to reduce their little carbon paw prints on the world, along with their humans.   And there is no reason that we shouldn't all join in, as it encourages a pet friendly earth for as long as possible.    My own pets and I, have been experimenting with the process of reducing our waste and making better use of what we buy and use. It's been fun to put the internets best methods to the test and find out the best ways for everyone to contribute to making the earth a healthier place to live.   I think the easiest method was switching over to chemical-free pet shampoo's and conditioners. It turns out, they are actually gentler on my pets skin, which is a definite bonus on top of knowing that most of the ingredients were fair trade and made from natural ingredients. My dog and I found out over time, that we didn't need to bath nearly as much with the good stuff either, as it allowed the natural oils in his skin to quickly come back after a bath and last for a good long time, keeping him cleaner and lowering the number of pests he would come inside with during the day.   One of my fondest memories of lowering our carbon paw print, was when I found instructions for making our own cardboard kitty scratcher pads out of our old cardboard waste. It was a bit of a challenge, but the great things was that we saved a bunch of money, which meant I could afford some locally grown catnip to throw on top. And I tell you want, all four of my cats were in kitty-heaven when I brought home both ingredients and laid them out for them. My son and I spent a good hour watching them play and enjoy themselves on something as simple as recycled cardboard. I very much doubt they knew or card that it wasn't brand new cardboard.   Last, but certainly not least, my favorite experiment in reducing waste and spoiling my pets, was when my oldest son and I spent the day making new beds for our 4 cats and 1 dog. We found an article that showed us how to turn old pillowcases, clothes, sheets and t-shirts into dog and cat beds, which took us all day, but by the time we were done, it was quite impressive.   That was several months ago when we did it, but everyone still looks amazed anytime they see our pets lounging on their artistically designed bedding.   I would definitely encourage any of my readers to try out their own ways of reducing their pets carbon paw prints. Anything from getting locally made pet foods, to repurposed toys, all the way up to adopting a new family member from a local shelter. There definitely is no lack of things you can try!

Everyone knows it’s a good idea to spay and neuter your pets. Bob Barker, (rest his soul) made sure we knew. However, not everyone knows the many reasons behind this practice. It’s not as cut and dry as simply preventing unwanted, neglected, and abandoned puppies or kittens, although that is certainly the most prescient motive. The fact is that there are a multitude of reasons concerning health, behavior, and genetics that make it very important to keep your pets from copulating. So let’s take a moment to try and understand the causes behind the castrations. Let’s start with diseases. A wide range of dog diseases can be completely neutralized by eliminating the testicles. Everything from skin disorders to small cancerous tumors around the anus can be avoided simply by making a quick snip. This is because elevated testosterone in the blood of dogs can be very toxic to their systems, and produce a boat load of problems. For example: BPH, or benign prostate hyperplasia Prostatitis Prostatic abscess Perianal or perineal adenomas (those aforementioned tiny cancers occurring around the anus of male dogs) Perineal hernias Some forms of dermatoses, or castration-responsive skin disorders And these are just the conditions that can be brought on from testosterone! There’s a whole other list of conditions that can occur just because your dog’s testicles are out and exposed to the elements. Needless to say they’re even less pleasant to think about than the ones listed above. Then there are the behavioral issues that neutering can solve. If your male dog is super aggressive, and still running stock with all the equipment nature gave him, the chances are a quick trip to the vet will make him a lot friendlier to the mail man. Not only that, but it greatly reduces the chances of an embarrassing humping episode from playing out in public. Neutered male dogs are much less likely to mark territory inside the home, they aren’t as prone to roaming about looking for females, and they shouldn’t be as aggressively protective of their resources: toys, food, companions, etc. Finally, neutering is important so as to keep the gene pool free from defects. Dog breeding is a prestigious profession for a reason. It’s hard work that entails a lot of research into family lines, and genetic histories of different dogs. The reason being that they don’t want a pup with a family who has a history of canine leukemia. If your dog even has a recessive trait that could be passed on to his pups, it’s very important that he not be allowed to procreate. It’s up to human beings to keep our best friends a healthy and happy domesticated species. And of course, it would be silly not to at least mention the fact that millions of puppies are annually abandoned, neglected, and/or euthanized for the simple reason that no one has the time or resources to take care of them. So unless you know for a fact that your pup is fine breeding material, do the smart thing and visit your local vet!

Pet allergies are the worst. They can hinder your ability to live with pets, and make you miserable if agitated without treatment. Sniffling, sneezing, and a runny nose are the least of the problem for some. At the very worst stages of allergic reactions, asthma attacks can even prove life threatening. Unfortunately, some pet owners don’t even realize that they’re allergic to their dog or cat until after they’ve brought them into the home! Luckily, there are some preventative measures for highly allergic people to take to avoid family pet deportation. First off, there is some basic information that needs to be addressed; there are no allergy free dogs or cats. All pets have dander, (the skin flakes in an animal’s fur) and all dander has an effect. The determining factors are your own sensitivity to the stuff, and the amount of dander that your pet produces. As a general rule, a cat allergy is more prevalent than a dog allergy. However, the results are highly variable, as some people are allergic to specific breeds, or species to a greater degree than others. Another counter-intuitive pearl of allergenic wisdom is that breeds with softer continuously shedding coats are normally better for people with pet allergies. Which is somewhat odd, considering most people associate shedding with sneezing. So what to do? Begin by making certain of your allergies and go see an allergist to diagnose the cause. After all, it would be bad to blame a poor innocent puppy for something that your moldy polyester blankets in the back of the closet are responsible for. After you’ve made certain the pet is to blame, invest in an air purifier. Ideally you would want a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) Purifier. These bad boys will pick all the worst bits of allergens out of the air and leave you breathing easy. If the dander your pet exudes is really out of control, you might need one in every room. Make sure to leave at least one room off limits to your pets, that way you always have a safe haven if the atmosphere becomes too disagreeable. Weekly baths are also a must. Keeping your dog or cat clean will immeasurably reduce the amount of pet pollution they’re producing. And if all else fails, you may consider getting some allergy treatments to help you deal with the dander. There are a wide range of treatment options for all but the most meager of budgets. The most common treatments can include: Antihistamine pills Antihistamine nasal sprays Steroidal treatments Allergy shots-->this one is particularly effective Beyond these treatments, the best method is to employ every method at your disposal. Proper house cleaning, weekly pet baths, air purification, and regularly scheduled appointments at your local allergist’s office are almost certain to clear up any avoidable allergic reactions. So unless you are just having a good time of suffering through the consistent nasal drip, try to make a trip to see a medical professional as soon as possible!

Getting down and dirty with the behaviors of parasitic worms commonly found infecting pets, is one of the best ways you could ever reward yourself and your family. This holds especially true if you have young children, as they are the most at risk for sharing unfriendly parasites such as roundworms, hookworms or ringworms.   Our young children are not the only ones susceptable to worms though, as plenty of adults and seniors find they can contract worms as well. It's simply more difficult for worms to infect adults, as we tend to avoid the objects and places where worm-infected pets might have played. The reason our innocent little angels and their furry companions, are able to quote: "share", is because our young children enjoy the pleasure of putting just about everything in their mouths and they love playing where the pets play. And despite our best efforts to keep our kids squeaky clean, there will still be times when they do something that puts them at risk of contracting parasitic worms.   More often than not, it is usually the household feline that is responsible for contaminating the kids, as they enjoy pooping in the sandbox and in other areas where little ones will play. Though that doesn't leave our canine friends any less innocent, as puppies as much as any other pet, have a habit of relieving themselves in inappropriate places in the house. This leaves the opportunity ripe for kids to get worms.   It can happen this way, because most worm-like parasites, are able to live dormant for very long periods of time. If the environment is fertile enough, like in soil or sand, they can live as long as seven years. They get there, more often then not, when your loving puppy or kitten, goes to the bathroom in un-designated areas. If your sweet canine or feline, happened to have worms at that time, they will have had released worm eggs along with their feces. Now, even though we all dotefully clean up after our pets indoor messes, worms have evolved to be very tricky creatures. Even when we think we have eliminated them, they can often sneak away unseen.   Hookworms in particular, are especially challenging, as they has extra survival mechanisms that roundworms and ring worms do not. Hookworms have the unique ability of entering our bodies through this skin. Many parents will recognize when their children have hookworms, because their children will have developed a strange and itchy rash. All other types of worm must enter through your digestive system, rendering them useless from only skin contact. Still, all worms are harmful to your child's health and well-being.   Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to be proactive about prevent, and there are plenty of worm fighting antibiotics that your child can take, to rid them of worms. The more important factor to focus on, is the first aspect - prevention.   Keeping your family pets free from fleas, is the best way to ensure your home stays worm-free. Helping them stay away from gourmet fecal meals from other animals, is the second best way to make sure that your pets don't get worms. It also keeps their breath smelling nicer.   Now, while there are plenty of alternative health remedies, prevention treatments and supplements that you can use to help prevent your animals from getting worms, your best plan of action is to invest in a once a month prevention treatment from Drontal or other top name brand medications. By doing this, you will save yourself the time and money of both a vet visit and a human visit, to de-worm you or your child, and your pet. By being so proactive, you will also be ensuring that your pup or kitten will not be spreading parasite to other animals in the neighborhood.

Only those who truly care about their families health, search for posts and articles like this one, which highlight the symptoms and potential side effects of different pet treatments. Which is why I know that you are a kind and compassionate person, who only wants the best for every member of your family.   And knowing that makes me proud to blog about the side effects of Revolution for cats and dogs, because I know that you will use it to compare against other pet parasiticide products, so that you make sure you get your pet's the highest quality of pest deterrent available.   Now, to start us out, I've always felt it's best to get the worst out of the way first. So let's discuss the worst potential side effects of Revolution Pet Treatment (as well as most other treatments available today).   If you notice your dog or cat showing signs of any of these symptoms, call your vet right away:   Muscle Weakness/In-Coordination - In 1% of clinical trials, some pets experienced extreme muscle weakness which lead to difficulty standing or walking. This can happen if your pet gets too large of a dose, or if they have a natural undiagnosed allergy to anything in the treatment. If this happens, your pet will need to see a vet right away. Because of this risk, it is always best to try any new pet treatments in the morning, so that if any adverse reactions appear, you will have plenty of time to get your pet into a vet within the same day.   Rapid Breathing/Panting - Because Revolution enters the blood stream, it can sometimes have a negative effect on your pets heart. In a small minority of pets, this can cause hypertension, which can lead to stroke or heart attach. If you notice these your pet is panting excessively or breathing very rapidly, take them into the near vet as soon as possible.   Muscle Tremors - If you notice that your pet is shaking uncontrollably or experiencing heavy muscle tremors, call your vet and schedule an appointment for as soon as possible.   Skin Burning - Out of 1743 animals tested, less than 2% had an adverse reaction that caused their skin to burn after application of any chemical pet treatments. If you notice that your pets skin appears is covered in a rash, peeling or your pet seems to be in great discomfort around the application site, you will want to take them into a vet right away.     Most of these reactions rarely occur in 5 out of 100 animals, meaning that it is not likely that your pet will have a serious reaction. Though being armed with this knowledge, helps you care for them if they do happen to be a part of the 5%.   And now that we've gotten through the tougher parts of this discussion, let's cover the more common side effects and some ways that you can help your pet cope with them, while the treatment relieves them of pests.   Temporary Hair Loss - More often then not, this happens with animals who already have sensitive skin, and with most of those cases, the sensitive pet is even more in need of pest treatment than pets who are not so sensitive. Though because the pet has sensitive skin, they will sometimes lose some of the fur around the site where you put the treatment. So long as they do not appear to have been burned, they should regrow the hair within a week or two at most.   Digestive Upset - Diarrhea, vomiting and stomach upset are the most common digestive side effects. They can cause your dog or cat to not want to eat or play for a little while until their body has processed the parasiticide. You can help them through these side effects by making sure they drink plenty of fresh distilled water, which will help keep them hydrated and help them process the treatments more easily.   Hyperactivity - When Revolution enters your pets bloodstream through their skin, it can sometimes cause them to have an elevated heart beat, as their body deals with the treatments reactions. This will make them anxious, as they will not be sure about what is happening to them, and that is usually what causes the hyper activity. You can help keep them calm by giving them their treatment in a dark and quiet room, and then staying with them for at least 30-45 minutes after the treatment.   Drowsiness - On the other side of the coin, some dogs and cats have seen the alter-reaction to hyperactivity, which is Drowsiness or Lethargy. As their body gives into the process of the pest treatments, they might need to sleep while the battle between bugs and love, wages on. If your animal finds themselves with this reaction, the best thing you can do is to help them get comfortable, and then check on them from time to time, to make sure they are still able to get up, walk around a bit and drink some water.   Drooling - It is recommended that every pet who gets a dose of Revolution, gets it right between their shoulder blades, to prevent them from ingesting the medication. That being said, we all know that our pets have a way of reaching the spot, no matter how crafty you try to be, and that means that there is still a chance that they might ingest the treatment.   When this happens, it most often causes excessive drooling as their body works to get the taste and the chemicals out of their mouth. You can help your pet through this by offering them plenty of fresh water to drink.   In most cases, the worst you're going to see is a displeased cat or anxious dog, whom are not very happy to have been treated, but who will be very happy in an hour or so, as they are finally flea and parasite free again.