Wednesday, September 5, 2007
There are many possible reasons that could be causing your dog to itch so much. Parasites in the skin, skin infections, mange, dry skin, allergies, or your dog may not be getting the proper nutrition they need.
If you suspect that your dog is itching because of a skin infection, or a parasitic infection, here are a couple of herbs that may help with your dog's skin conditions. Whenever my dog is itching, I am always wary to put on store bought itch relievers, as my dog tends to lick the area as well as scratch it. These two herbs are safe to use, and you won't have to worry about your dog getting sick from licking it off.
Calendula, also known as Marigold, is great for skin infections. Thyme is also great for skin infections, and it has natural antiseptic properties that will that will clean out and help to heal your dog's skin issue. Thyme also helps to fight parasitic infections that may be causing your dog to itch so much.
To take advantage of these herbs you can make a strong tea with a calendula or thyme tea bag. Use 2 tea bags for one cup water. When it cools you can either put it in a spray bottle to spray directly onto the problem areas, or you can put the tea into your dog shampoo and use it as a rinse.
If your dog's skin is flaky and appears dry, instead ofusing the herbs above you can try olive oil. Dogs with dry itchy skin may not be getting the essential oils they need to condition their skin. Canned and dry dog food does not give a dog nearly enough of the nutrients they need. If this is the case it is a good idea to put a tablespoon of olive oil in their food.
Olive oil contains healthier fat than corn oil and butter, and it contains no cholesterol. Olive oil is very helpful for the skin and hair, and it helps in digestion. It will help your dog have a shiny coat.
Olive oil can also be applied directly to the skin to further help condition and soothe an itchy dog's skin, just be careful of it rubbing off of them onto other things, such as your couch or the carpet.
Fish oil is also a good choice for giving your dog healthy skin. I give my dog a fish oil capsule once a day, as well as some olive oil in her food. Both olive oil and fish oil will help with dry skin.
If you are looking for at home remedies, olive oil and fish oil will help your dog have healthier skin and coat, while Calendula and Thyme will help combat skin infections, and skin conditions, all without side affects or the warning of possibly causing any type of harm to your dog.
The author is a full time breeder of Yorkies and Maltipoos, along with several other dog breeds. Author runs and operates Yorkies Galore where there are many cute Yorkshire terriers, Maltese, Maltipoo and other breeds of puppies for sale.
How to Make Sure the Hummingbirds Find You
Springtime in the Rocky Mountains brings flowers, rain and our favorite wild bird - the hummingbird. We can while away hours watching these colorful creatures from our window or back patio. We get so many hummingbirds to visit our yard that we have to fill the feeders twice a day sometimes. Here's how we do it.
We're fortunate to have very good soil in our yard, while most of this part of the country is poor, rocky soil. This makes growing perennials easier and more bountiful. I say easier because we are in a high-desert climate and must water constantly to keep things green.
Those two things: certain flowers, and running the sprinkler system help attract the hummingbirds to our yard. With their specially designed beaks and long tongues, they just love the flowers suited to their anatomy. Our columbines, torch lilies and butterfly bushes are like giant billboards advertising a hummingbird-friendly play land.
We've tried to plant perennials that bloom at different times throughout the summer so that we always have something to attract the hummingbirds. What a difference it has made. We usually get to enjoy the hummingbirds at least a full month before they discover our next door neighbors yard.
While you may not need to run a sprinkler in the summer months like we must, you can install a fountain or bird bath that will attract just as many hummingbirds. They love the splash and spray of the water and we've seen them many times hovering and dipping over the nearby river where the water hits the rocks and sprays up.
Besides the flowers and water, we offer our hummingbirds feeders filled with sugar water. While you can purchase commercial food mix, it is less expensive to make your own at home and it's very simple to do. Here's the recipe:
-One part sugar
-Four parts water
-Boil for 2 minutes
-Cool and fill feeders made for hummingbirds
There is no need to add food coloring to the feed and it may actually be detrimental to the birds. Why take the chance?
A little trick we've learned over the years is to put a short piece of transparent tape around the stem that holds the bee guard in place. That way it keeps the larger, more aggressive birds like the Orioles from pulling out the bee guard and guzzling the food.
We've tried many different designs of feeders and found that the birds like the ones with hard plastic "flowers"' surrounding the bee guards. We've not had much luck with the drip-type feeders.
Be sure to rinse the feeders well with very warm water between use. It is not recommended to put any part of a hummingbird feeder in the dishwasher or use detergent. To make sure the feeders are perfectly clean before storing for the winter, we use a tiny bit of chlorine bleach and water. You must be sure to rinse the feeders very well if you do need to use bleach.
So if you're looking to attract beautiful hummingbirds to your yard, remember the flowers, the water and some food. You'll soon have your own flock of hummingbirds who return to your yard each year!
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Cindy Dykstra writes for Article-DirectorySite.com where you can find articles on pets and animals, nature, and every other subject under the sun. Free content for your web site, blog or newsletter and free RSS feeds. Free article submission too!
Providing Premium Nutrition through Homemade Pet Food
With the current problem on the hazards brought by the massive scale of contaminants on commercial pet food, most pet owners resorted to homemade pet food. The all natural ingredients of homemade pet food guarantees safety and nutrition to pets plus an added bonus of enjoyment that pet owners experience as they prepare the food.
As a result, the move towards preparing and creating homemade pet food became even stronger. For the past fifteen years, more and more people have become convenient in preparing pet food for their companion animals. There are a number of stellar benefits associated with creating homemade pet food for your pets.
Wholesomeness and Safety
Of course, as has been mentioned previously, many people have become concerned about the safety of commercially made pet food. And, as has also been mentioned, this has driven more and more pet owners towards making their own food for their companion animals. Thus, one of the most obvious and most significant benefits associated with homemade pet food is the fact that you can be assured of its safety and wholesomeness. You will surely know what is in your pet food since you are the one who prepared it. You will not be worrying that you are taking some sort of crap shot by purchasing pet food off the shelf at the market or pet store.
Nutrition and Homemade Pet Food
When all is said and one, nutrition is the second most important consideration in regard to pet food after the safety issue. When you obtain food your pet, one of your primary concerns needs to be the nutritional content.
The problem is trying to dig through all of the claims and counterclaims associated with commercially produced pet food. It becomes very hard to determine what fact is and what fiction is when it comes to commercially made pet food.
By preparing the food of your pet, you have the opportunity to ensure its nutritional content. You have 100% control over what goes in and what stays out of your pet's food items.
Saving Money with Homemade Pet Food
Many people have found that maintaining their pets can be an expensive proposition. Because pet owners overall have become more astute about what their pets should eat, many pet owners are investing more money in commercial pet food products. In truth, this really can become more expensive.
Other than having the ability to prepare high quality pet food you can also save yourself from paying too much for other pet meals since you are personally making the food yourself.
Homemade Pet Food -- Variety for Your Companion Animal
Pets have a number of things in common with people. For example, most pets like at least some variety when it comes to their food. By making your pet's own food, you have the ability to provide you friend with choice, change and variety when it comes to its menu.
Creating Homemade Pet Food can be Enjoyable
Many people have found preparing pet food to be an enjoyable task -- particularly people who have a penchant for cooking and baking. If you are such a person, odds are strong that you will also enjoy making pet food for your favorite friend.
Conclusion
There are, indeed, many benefits associated with homemade pet food. Through this article, you will have the chance to weigh and balance your options in order to determine whether making pet food for your companion animal is the right choice and the right solution for both you and your friend.
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The best way to keep those special moments with your pets last forever is to turn those pictures into eternal pet portrait oil painting. See how Tracy Hargraves along with other professional portrait artists can capture the true likeness of your pets through pet portrait paintings.
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