Disturbing (snicker, snicker) images from the Philipino Humane Society.

This is simply not funny....smirk.

Technorati Tags: Pets Animals Cats Dogs Cartoons Del.icio.us Tags: Pets Animals Cats Dogs Cartoons

Humans and pets can suffer together in allergy season

15% of dogs and 5% of cats afflicted, veterinarians say

By MARY ANN ROSER
Austin American-statesman

AUSTIN — It's ragweed season again, and for years, Jodie Gordon and her dog, Daisy, suffered together.

Gordon wheezed and sneezed while Daisy, a West Highland white terrier, licked her paws raw, broke out in sores and scratched her infected ears. She lay around the house, a shadow of her playful self. One night, Daisy was so sick her whole body trembled.

"I said to my husband, 'What is going on with her?' "

That was before Gordon, like a lot of pet owners, had a clue that dogs and cats get the same allergies as humans.

No one knows exactly how many dogs and cats are allergic to trees, grasses, dust, food and insect bites, said Bonnie Beaver, a professor at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Beaver estimated that 10 percent to 15 percent of dogs and probably fewer than 5 percent of cats have allergies, although, she added, "it's probably underdiagnosed in cats."

Most pet owners are blissfully unaware of pet allergies, unless their dog or cat is stricken, Beaver said.

Even then, it can take time to sort out what's wrong.

Gordon said that in October 2000, when Daisy wasn't even 2, she was diagnosed with a shaking syndrome. It took many more vet visits before Gordon learned her Westie is allergic to "everything."

Symptoms
Daisy is a particularly bad case, and terriers, as a breed, are especially susceptible to allergies.

She is allergic to 40 things, Gordon said, including most local trees, grasses, dust and tiny organic particles called dander, including human dander. Between 2000 and 2005, Gordon said, she and her husband spent $7,000 on antihistamines, steroids, antibiotics and other treatments — the same therapies pursued by humans — to calm Daisy's allergies.

But not until Daisy was referred to Dr. Patrick Nichols, one of the few animal dermatologists in Central Texas, did she get what she needed: allergy shots, the same treatment that relieved Gordon's allergies.

Pollen, or inhalant, allergies don't cause most dogs and cats to sneeze, though some do, Nichols said. Most experience allergies through their skin, and excessive licking of the paws, the place where animals carry in allergens from outside, is a big sign. So is biting, chewing at the paws, ear infections and scratching.

Hyperreaction
Indoor animals can become allergic to pollens, too, because they blow into the house, he said. And because Austin is one of the nation's allergy capitals and has something in the air almost all year, animals also can suffer year-round.

Allergies, which can take hold at any age, are a hyper-reaction of the immune system to a source, whether the protein in a flea's saliva or tree pollen, Nichols said.

He sees allergies in horses and birds, too, he said.

Pet owners should be on the lookout for allergies and then gauge whether the treatments are working, especially if they want to avoid spending thousands of dollars, said Dr. Jenise Daigle, an animal dermatologist with offices in Austin and Round Rock.

"A lot of vets manage them too long on steroids," which can have serious side effects, such as liver disease, joint problems and weight gain, Daigle said.

Generally, about 25 percent of pets won't get relief from regular treatment and will need shots, Beaver said.

Technorati Tags: Pets Animals Dogs Cats allergies Del.icio.us Tags: Pets Animals Dogs Cats allergies

An Archer fish doing his thing....

Archerfish catching prey...



Technorati Tags: Pets Animals Dogs Cats archer fish fish Del.icio.us Tags: Pets Animals Dogs Cats archer fish fish

Selling Your Own Home – Pet Issues

If you are selling you own home, you need to consider the effect of pets. People who are working with a real estate broker are sure to get coached about the potential negative effect of pets. If you aren’t working with a broker, this article discusses the pet issue.

When You Show Your Home

If you are selling you own home, you must realize a lovable pet might cause the following problems:

1. The potential buyer may be so nervous about dogs that she doesn’t picture herself living in the home,

2. The potential buyer doesn’t like pets and thus doesn’t see her furniture in the home in her mind’s eye,

3. She doesn’t picture the route she’d drive to and from work, and doesn’t imagine where she’d stop for errands or fun along the way home.

In short, the presence of pets makes it difficult for the potential buyer to see the house as their own. Is a potential buyer in that frame of mind likely to buy that home? No.

Defense Against Pet Damage

If you have pets and you’re selling your home as a FSBO, take heed. Board your pet or pets while your property is on the market. You can visit it, and take it for walks and to the park, but don’t take it home. Have carpets shampooed. If they’re really holding odors, you might even replace all or some of the carpet. Get any damage the pet has done repaired. Store or get rid of furniture you do not want to repair. Reseed the lawn and repair any damage to plantings. You’ll find this is money and labor well spent.

Pets are an integral part of many people’s lives and rightly so. While you may love your pet, keep in mind potential buyers may not.

By: Raynor James is with www.fsboamerica.org - providing homes for sale by owner, "FSBO", properties. Are you thinking, "Should I sell my home?" Visit www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to sell your home sale for free for one month.

Technorati Tags: Pets Animals Dogs Cats Home real estate Del.icio.us Tags: Pets Animals Dogs Cats Home real estate

Pet Business Project Ideas for You

There are numerous animal business ventures you can start from your home using Internet access. For pet lovers there are numerous ideas, with millions of caring pet owner customers all over the planet Earth.
Here are some ideas that can be started from your home on the Internet.

The most popular pet service is pet photography. This is the easiest to promote and complete a purchase on the Internet.
Almost all of us love pictures of our dogs and cats. We can make them up anyway we want and feel that they are very cute, which they are. Customers have digital cameras they can use to email photos to you. You can crop, enhance, frame and even engrave them. They then can be sent back to your customers by delivering the finished product to them.

There are vendors specializing in offering these personalized services including many products on which photos can be displayed, such as coffee mugs, golf balls, footballs, banners and tee shirts. You can subcontract these services out or make them yourself.

By subcontracting part of your own services you can buy items wholesale from a bulk distributor.You can then complete the photography work as ordered by your customer.

People who own common or different pets like horses, birds, fish and even reptiles love to capture their pets forever in photos. The reason for this being they are a big part of their lives.

A common means of running businesses nowadays is by offering them as a mobile service. You can promote it cheaply over the Internet. To get repeat business you now introduce special offers and coupons by using targeted email.
For instance you can have holiday specials, with pet pooches and cats in their Santa hats, or customer bunnies against an Easter backdrop.

As recently as yesterday I went to a crowded Petco pet supply store that had many customers waiting to have their pets photographed in halloween costumes.
Greeting cards with the family pet are popular as well with the photo projects. Bumper stickers are popular when presented to the buying public.

Keep track of your customer and family birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions and send e-mail reminders. Suggest several items, to give a choice, of what would be the perfect gift for that special someone who is impossible to shop for.

Pet sitting is an increasingly popular service. Many people are terrified to leave their pets in a lonely kennel while they are on vacation. This is another business you can easily start from your home via online promotion.

Per above, most people abhor leaving their pets in kennels and live alone or without extended family or friends nearby. They travel frequently on business. They need you bad.

They may be wealthy retirees who take off frequently for lots of travel but cannot take the lonely dog or cat along. You can start marketing this unique enterprise from the Internet plus you can also set up scheduling from the Web as well.
People can log in, tell you what pets they have, their locations and what days and times they need your services. You can post your fees and indicate the dates already filled and those that are available.

Contact your customers to confirm and tell them your terms.

This might easily link to a pet photography, dog walking, grooming and other business projects in a fairly short time. You can care for the family cat, give him grooming and then the newly beautiful feline could have her picture taken before the family returns from their outing.

This will hook your customers for life on you. The second time you sit, tend or walk the pets will be easier and more fun for you because the pet will recognize and look forward to your company and appearances.

I know this from experience. You will make new fun friends.

See, you can do lots of things to start a pet business from home. You can use the internet to promote it entirely and help to manage it. Enjoy and profit.

Technorati Tags: Pets Animals Dogs Cats "Pet Business" Home based business" Del.icio.us Tags: Pets Animals Dogs Cats "Pet Business" Home based business"