Helloo !

Ringworm is a fungus called dermatophytes. Dermatophtytes means ‘plants that live on the skin’. In the past, because of the circular lesions made by the fungi they were thought to be caused by worms, hence the name ringworm. The fungi live on the surface of the skin and in the skin follicles feeding on dead skin tissue and hair. There are three different types of fungus that can cause ringworm, but the most predominant ones found on dogs and cats is microsporum canis.

Signs and Symptoms

The usual symptom is a round hairless lesion. The characteristic “ring” that we see on humans doesn’t always appear as a ring on dogs. This lesion will grow in size and often become irregular in shape. The fungi cause the hair shafts to break off and this results in patches of hair loss. Ringworm are commonly found on the face, ears, tail and paws. The lesions are scaly and may or may not be itchy; often the skin is reddened and inflamed.

Causes

Transmission of ringworm can happen by direct contact with another infected animal or person. It can be passed from dogs to cats and vice versa, and from pets to humans and from humans to pets. The fungal spores can live in the environment for a long time and can be found in carpets, bedding, grooming equipment, etc. and can infect your dog when it comes into contact with them. The incubation period is 10-12 days.  This means that following exposure to the fungus, about 10-12 days will pass before any lesions occur.

In rare cases ringworm can be spread by contact with infected soil. The fungus can live for months in soil if the nutrients are right.

You can contract ringworm by touching an animal with ringworm. Ringworm can spread while petting or grooming dogs or cats. You can also get ringworm from cows, goats, pigs and horses.

Healthy adult dogs usually have a resistance to ringworm. Young dogs and puppies are more susceptible because their immune system hasn’t fully developed. Many dogs are carriers of ringworm but show no symptoms. They can, however, infect other animals or humans.

Diagnosis

To diagnose ringworm your vet will need to do one of the following tests. It is not possible by just looking at the skin to make the diagnosis.

Wood’s Lamp  -  An ultra violet lamp also known as a black light. Your vet may use this as 50% of microsporum canis will glow under the lamp.

Microscopic diagnosis  -  Your vet may look at part of the hair or skin from the lesion under a microscope.

Culture  -  Your vet may decide to take a scraping from the lesion and send it away to the laboratory to see what the culture grows.

Treatment

If no treatment is carried out, ringworm will run its course in two to four months and the symptoms will resolve themselves. However, treatment is recommended to save your dog from suffering any longer than necessary and to cut down the period of time that they are contagious.

Recommended treatment can consist of one or more – or all – of the following:

• An anti-fungal drug which inhibits fungal reproduction, usually taken over the course of 5-7 days.

• Lime sulphur dip is very often beneficial. The dip, mixed with water, should be given twice a week and can be done at home.

NOTE: Be prepared that Lime sulphur smells very much like rotten eggs or stink bombs. And it will stain clothing and jewellery, and cause temporary yellowing of your dog’s hair.

• Decontaminate the environment. Use bleach mixed at 1:10 on any surface that you can. It will kill 80% of the spores. Vacuum on a daily basis and, if possible, steam clean carpets and furnishings which will kill off a large number of the fungus spores. Wash your dog’s bedding in very hot water and use a bleach solution to clean the dog kennel. If your dog is an indoors dog try to confine him to only one room of the house.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Getting rid of fleas on your dog alone does not treat the overall flea problem. During the flea cycle only about 5% of fleas are actually living on your dog or cat. The other 95% of fleas are living in your house or yard. That is why it is so important to get rid of the fleas and in your house and on your dog at the same time.

Set aside a couple of hours to tackle the flea problem. It is important to treat all of your pets and your home on the same day.

STEP 1 – GET RID OF THE FLEA INFESTATION IN THE HOUSE

The first step is to vacuum. It has already been mentioned that only 5% of the fleas are living on your pet and that the other 95% are living in your house or yard. If you have dogs that live inside or regularly come inside the house you need to get rid of the vast majority of the fleas quickly and easily. You can achieve this by vacuuming them up. The vibrations from vacuuming also stimulates the fleas to emerge from their cocoons and they will be exposed to the insecticide that will later be used. Flea eggs fall randomly wherever your dog or cat goes, but once the eggs hatch they become larvae and have hair like bristles on the outside of their body that enable them to move around. This allows them to move to places they feel most comfortable in. They like to get out of the light and into crevices, so when you vacuum pay lots of attention to places such as near base boards, cracks in floorboards and under furniture, beds and rugs.

STEP 2 – SPRAYING INSECTICIDE FLEA TREATMENT FOR YOUR HOUSE AND BACKYARD

You will need to purchase a flea spray containing IGR (Insect Growth Regulator). It is recommended that you remove any living creature from the house while spraying, including any pet fish or reptiles. After spraying the insecticide try not to vacuum for about a week if possible as the IGR component will have a residual effect.

Fleas can live outside the house in sand and gravel. Spray patios, under decks, verandas, kennels, crevices, along fence lines and anywhere your dog sleeps. It is not usually necessary to spray the entire backyard or areas which are exposed to sunlight as the larvae avoid bright places. The flea spray you use in your house is fine to use in the yard too.

Next wash all of your pets bedding and soft toys. Shake them well and hang them in the sunlight to dry.

STEP 3 – USING A FLEA PRODUCT ON YOUR DOG

The latest treatments are top-spots, which are much safer for both pets and humans. These are applied to the skin, usually between the shoulder blades and disperse through the dog’s coat. Usually applied monthly they include Advantage, Frontline and Revolution. Most top-spot flea treatments can be used on puppies from 8 weeks of age.

Fleas feed on your pet’s blood and make your dog uncomfortable A heavy infestation of fleas can cause your pet to become anaemic and unwell. Flea infestations have been known to kill puppies. Some individual animals are allergic to flea saliva and this causes the pet misery with constant scratching and self-mutilation. The most common allergy dermatitis in cats and dogs is flea allergy. Fleas also spread tapeworm from one animal to another.

If after two weeks you still have a lot of fleas you will need to repeat the 3-STEP treatment again in your house and on your dog. Keep an eye out for tell-tale scratching and act quickly if you suspect even a single flea.

The contents of this post are reproduced from an article that arrived in one of my emails not so long ago. Unfortunately, I have since deleted this email and do not know the original source. A quick Google search showed that this article is reproduced on many different websites. I personally found the content to be so precise that I would not even attempt to rewrite what the original author has written. So credits and a thumbs up to whoever first wrote this useful article.

1.   Write about things that interest you or that you are an expert at. The articles will be more believable if you are coming at it from an angle of passion or expertise. You only have to hang out in article directories for a few minutes to tell the difference between a well-written article based on expertise or passion versus one based on keyword research. There are some very well-written articles in article directories today and there are some that are not worth the paper they were written on.

2.   Keep your articles timely and based on what’s going on in the marketplace. Any niche has things that are topical and therefore will be more interesting to the reader. To become better at this you should constantly research for new article ideas. You should also keep a swipe file of ideas you can refer to quickly to come up with topical articles.

3.   Spend an adequate amount of time researching your articles before you write them. If your articles are informative and provide useful information, people will be more likely to click on the URL in your resource box. You can tell the difference between an article that’s been thrown together versus one that is well researched. You will also find that the amount of time it takes to write an article drops when you spend a little bit of time researching before you start writing.

4.   Write using words that are easy to understand. We’ve all read articles by people who are using big words to try and impress readers. Generally these words do not make any sense or don’t flow with the article. One rule of thumb is to write like you talk. If you do this, the article will be easier to understand and more appreciated by your audience.

5.   Write numbered list articles so readers can scan them. Most people do not read an article word for word. They tend to skip to the highlights so you might as well give those to them. Numbered list articles make it easy for the reader to read what each paragraph is about and then read it in more depth if they want to.

According to a latest survey, the top ten most filling foods are, in no particular order:

1. Potatoes
2. Fish
3. Porridge, oats, oatmeal
4. Apples and oranges
5. Wholewheat pasta
6. Beef
7. Beans and lentils
8. Grapes
9. Wholemeal bread
10. Popcorn

The foods listed above contain one or more of the following:

Protein - foods such as wholemeal bread, beans and lentils are all a good source of protein.

Fibre - wholemeal bread contains energy-giving complex carbohydrates.

Water Content – foods such as apples, oranges and grapes contain a high water content promoting a feeling of fullness.

Volume - popcorn is only 55 calories per cup, and takes up a lot of room in the stomach making you feel full up quicker.

Chemical Compounds – beans and lentils contain anti-nutrients which delay their absorption.

“Chew-ability” – chewing fruit such as apples promotes satiety partly because it slows down eating, but also because it encourages the release of enzymes which the brain interprets as fullness in the stomach.

In a healthy person, faeces (stool) is normally brown in colour. If the intestinal contents travel at a normal speed, stool is light to dark brown. If the intestinal contents travel more rapidly, chemical changes to bile (bilirubin) can change the stool green. If there is no bile (bilirubin) in the stool, the faeces is a grey colour, which signifies that the flow of bile into the intestine is blocked. Bleeding that occurs in the lower part of the intestines, particularly in the colon, is likely to cause red or maroon stools since there is less time for chemical changes to take place to the haemoglobin.

The most common ailments of non-brown faeces are:

Gastric or Peptic or Duodenal Ulcers - Bleeding from an ulcer may occur in the stomach or the duodenum, and sometimes is the only symptom. Rapid bleeding causes bowel movements to become black or even bloody.

Gastrointestinal Bleeding – Black, tarry stools usually result from bleeding that occurs high up in the digestive tract – for example, in the stomach or first segment of the small intestine (duodenum). Blood in the stomach turns black when exposed to stomach acid and enzymes. A single severe bleeding episode can produce tarry stools for as long as a week, so continuing tarry stools do not necessarily indicate persistent bleeding.

Pancreatic Disease – When pancreatic enzymes are not present in the intestine, fat is not fully digested. If the content of undigested fat is high enough, stool may become a yellowish colour. The stool will also appear greasy and smell bad.

The most common pancreatic diseases that cause this are pancreatic tumours that block the pancreatic duct through which the enzymes reach the intestines and chronic pancreatitis – usually due to damage from excessive ingestion of alcohol – that destroys the ability of the pancreas to make enzymes. If there is both blood and undigested fat in the stool, the stool may become silver.

Carcinoid Cancer – Significant blood in the stool from a carcinoid tumor can cause bowel movements to become black.

The ingestion of black liquorice, or blueberries, beet and food dyes used for colouring food can all cause black stools or false melena. As can iron and bismuth-containing medicine, e.g. Pepto Bismol.

Most teenagers need to find ways of earning pocket money to support their social life. They can do odd jobs for their family, friends and neighbours. Or work part-time doing a paper round or helping in a restaurant.

It is also possible for teenagers to earn money online, depending on their skills and overall computer knowledge. Below are listed a few ideas:

1.   Start a website or a blog. For example, if you are good with art and graphics you could sell banners, theme layouts, backgrounds, avatars and the ever-popular signatures. If you are under 18 you would need to ask a parent to open a PayPal account on your behalf to accept payments and donations.

There are many examples and resources available on the Internet to give you some inspiration.

2.   You can also earn some pocket money by taking surveys online or reviewing products. Some companies will pay you in the form of a cheque, and others will give you discounts on products or vouchers.

I would recommend that if you are going to do this kind of online work that you open up a new email account specifically for taking the load of emails you will receive from the numerous companies asking you to take their survey or review their products since your personal information will be passed on to other companies. If is far more time-consuming otherwise having to sift through your current personal email account looking for your friends’ emails in the midst of the countless companies’ emails you will receive promoting their products.

3.    If you have a talent for writing you can make money by writing articles for other people. A quick search on Google will bring up many websites where people are specifically wanting – and paying for – skilled writers to write articles for them on a regular basis. This work can all be done at home online, and will bring in enough cash to not only support your social life, but also for you to save up for the latest gadget.

4.   If you have a skill for taking photos and a decent camera you can submit your photos online to companies such as iStockPhoto who will give you a commission each time someone buys your photo from their website.

5.   You can make good money by selling things on eBay and Craigslist. You would need to get your parents permission first, and ask them to open an account on your behalf if you are under 18. This is a good way of also clearing up any clutter you may have lying around the house, or that has been stored in the attic or garage for some time just accumulating dust. When pricing your items make sure you take into account the extra money needed for you to pack and post the items.

6.   If you have quite decent grades at school or college in a particular subject such as mathematics, physics or a foreign language – and have patience – you can work part-time at teaching other children or teenagers to help them improve their grades. This can work online, and there are many people out there requesting help. I would recommend doing a Google search and finding this type of work locally – or as close to your home as possible – because this way you can supplement the help you give online with possibly physical home-to-home work. Your local online newspapers and your local area or town’s online website would be the first place to start looking for teaching jobs.

Feline leukemia is a disease which tears at the immune system of the cat, making the cat more susceptible to illness and disease. A cancer of the white blood cells, feline leukemia is actually a virus, which travels between cats. It does not infect dogs, humans, or any other species of animal.

Feline leukemia is transmitted between cats through saliva, mucus, urine, feces and blood. Any mutual grooming, fighting or sharing food and water dishes leaves your cat vulnerable to the devastating effects of feline leukemia.

A “leukemia test” is often performed at a vet’s office to find out whether or not the cat has the feline leukemia virus. There are three different methods to test cats, including blood tests, tear tests, and saliva tests. The earlier feline leukemia is caught, the better chance of survival your pet has.

Just because your cat may have been exposed to the virus, this does not neccesarily mean that the cat will suffer any ill effects. Age plays a factor in illness; very young and very old cats who have been exposed to feline leukemia will most likely develop the full-blown effects of the disease. Weakened immune systems, infections or the presence of other diseases also make it more likely that cats will test positive for feline leukemia. Some cats are immune (or develop immunity) to the virus. A cat that is infected can fight the virus, experience short-lived symptoms, and completely recover.

Symptoms of feline leukemia include: fever, poor appetite, swollen glands in the neck region, lethargy and vomiting.

There are only a small number of treatments available today to treat an infected cat. Some types of cats respond well to traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, although they will continuously face the possibility of relapse. Other, more experimental treatments are now being tested, which involve boosting your cat’s immune system. When considering which treatment option is best for your pet, its best to consider the current condition of your animal and whether or not treatment will be worse than the actual disease. The easiest way to prevent feline leukemia is to have your pet vaccinated against the virus. There are several different vaccinations available today. Your vet can help you decide which preventative treatment is best suited for your cat.

More than half of all those infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) suffer from sleep problems. This can be due to the health of their liver and/or a side effect of combination therapy.  Sleep is as important to liver health as are a healthy diet and regular exercise. Regular insomnia can lead to  severe fatigue, cognitive difficulties,  depression,  anxiety and  metabolic disturbances.  Long-term sleep deprivation will increase the severity of chronic HCV.

Insomnia is a common side effect of interferon therapy, the current standard treatment for HCV. For those who are infected with Hep C and cirrhosis of the liver,  histamine levels in the brain are often altered. Histamine regulates the sleep-wake cycle, therefore if levels of this chemical become unbalanced than so do sleep patterns.

Natural approaches to promote sleep include: eliminating caffeine, taking a hot bath in the evening, reducing your bedroom’s temperature, turning off the TV early and setting aside time for unwinding before bed.

Certain types of food in the diet can also promote a healthy and regular sleep pattern. These foods are:

1. Whole Grains – High fibre grains such as brown rice and oats which contain large quantities of tryptophan (an amino acid that increases the calming neurotransmitter serotonin) and boosts melatonin (a sleep-inducing brain hormone).
2. Pecans - Pecans which are nutrient-rich with B vitamins, particularly Vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is known to help calm an overactive nervous system. Pecans also contain pyridoxine which produces serotonin and stimulates the production of melatonin.
3. Cherries - Cherries which contain melatonin.
4. Bananas - Bananas which contain both tryptophan and potassium.
5. Warm Milk – Milk contains sleep-inducing tryptophan and calcium which has a natural calming effect on muscles and the central nervous system. Warming up milk reduces the energy required to digest it.
6. Turkey - Turkey contains tryptophan. A cold turkey sandwich (ideally with a glass of warm milk) should produce sleepiness.

Colourful open log fire which we had in our living area for most of the cold winter months. It was beautiful to look at, and to listen to (cackling wood; sometimes imitating a mini fireworks display if the wood was too wet). But it didn’t really warm up the living room, let alone the rest of the house – unless you sat right in front of it in the rocking chair. And it did make the room messy, to the point where I need to get it repainted shortly when the weather improves. The open log fire is now replaced with a cassette-type iron fireplace. Very clean and sending out enough heat to warm up most of the house. I miss the open log fire, but this new one is more practical. And just as “pretty”. And works out cheaper too: don’t have to buy so many logs from the log merchant.

The video below reminds me of christmas time, 2009.

I was hunting on the Internet to solve the problem I was getting with my new cassette fireplace. It made such a big difference in heating up the lounge area and other parts of the house. However, I noticed that the glass door was turning black inside in places with grained-on soot. Soapy water did not work, nor did a spray-on glass cleaner, and I knew that I mustn’t use a brillo pad or other abrasive on the glass door. I found this article written by Crystal Ray, which I have reproduced below. I hope it helps many other readers who have expereinced the same problem as me. In the end I opted for a watered-down ammonia solution with a hard (but not abrasive) rag. There are still two finger-size areas around the hinges which are still resilient to my cleaning, but on the whole the glass door came out satisfactorily clean even though it took me over 40 minutes to get it looking as it does now. I’m sure there is a quicker and simplier – and less messy – solution; perhaps someone could let me know what it is!

And now… I need to tackle the inside of the oven again. *big sigh*.

Many people have glass fireplace doors, and like glass shower doors, they can be difficult to clean. Fireplace doors coated with soot don’t do anything for the appearance of a room, and what good is it to start a fire if you can’t see it behind the glass? Cleaning fireplace doors can be a messy job, and it’s important that abrasives aren’t used since they can scratch glass. Unfortunately, ordinary glass cleaners meant for regular windows usually won’t cut through layers of baked-on soot.

Those who have glass fireplace doors can try the following safe and easy methods to clean their doors and enjoy watching the dancing flames of a beautiful fire on a cold fall or winter night. These are methods used by people who keep their glass fireplace doors sparkling clean, and they’ve found success with these simple household products, natural remedies, and a little elbow grease.

Fight Ashes With Ashes
It’s hard to believe that fireplace ashes would remove black soot from glass fireplace doors, but many people swear by this method of cleaning. Wad a sheet of newspaper into a ball, and slightly dampen it with water. Dip the newspaper in ashes, and use it to wipe away soot and grime. Repeat the process if necessary.

Household Ammonia
Ammonia is a fantastic product that’s great for a number of cleaning purposes, and it’s very inexpensive compared to name-brand cleaners that may or may not work. Next time you need to clean your glass fireplace doors, try ordinary household ammonia and a damp rag. Be sure to provide adequate ventilation, and remember to never mix the ammonia with any other household cleaners.

A Flat Razor Blade
If layers of soot are baked, consider using a flat razor blade to scrape it off. Use masking tape or duct tape to completely cover one side of a flat razor blade (not a utility knife), and carefully begin scraping the soot off the glass beginning at one corner. As long as the razor blade is used at a sharp angle, almost flat against the surface, it shouldn’t scratch the glass.