162 days ago by aluv4dogs | 33 views | 0 barks

My New Discovery

Hi There...Micah here!  Well, flea season is soon to be upon us BIG TIME!  I always dread it because I am allergic to flea bites!  So every year ALuv4Dogs uses the traditional products on me, the house, and the yard.  Last year a Major once-a-month spot-on was not effective in eliminating the problem of the fleas picked up during my walks and additional measures had to be taken.  So, trying to alleviate this again we began researching for another effective preventative.

ALuv4Dogs would much rather use a natural non-toxic preventative but as difficult as the infestation in this area has been that has not been investigated.  She figured if the BIG Brands aren't working how will the natural ones work... In her research one all-natural method came up with very successfull results...it is called Diatomaceous Earth (DE). 

Finding this research too good to be true, she purchased some DE and was amazed at how well it really worked!  Internally, I no longer have the remanants of parasites as DE cleans out the intestinal tract of parasites.  Used Externally, the powder is non-toxic and has thus far kept the crawling varments off of me!  Performing further research, she found out that the only DE to use is the Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth and never the type used for pool filtration. DE is actually not earth or soil but microscopic shell particles which puncture the outer area of the flea or parasite and the silicon in the DE causes the flea to dehydrate.

Previously being a researcher, Aluv4Dogs questioned the claims of DE and decided to try the powder on her climbing roses where she found some aphid infestation.   She lightly dusted the entire plant and then checked it early the next day for bugs...the roses looked like they still had bugs on them so she was going to check out a larger green one she could easily locate to find it was not only dead but dehydrated (as were all the others).

So I was next...both Internally and Externally!  It works great!  I am so happy not to have that intense itching, swelling, and hair loss that a flea bite brings me.

I would like to share our research with you and you can make a decision regarding DE's effectiveness.  I might note that some of the research showed also using Pyrethrins with the DE.  This might be a good natural preventative combo during the heavy flea infestation months.

Here are a few of the DE links we found:

Enjoy your time outside this year...Have a HOWLING Great Day!

http://www.diatomaceous-earth.net/

http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html?gclid=CPvW6_y33IkCFR1EWAod2imFKA

http://www.foodgradede.com/

http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=11&idproduct=39

http://www.bulkfoods.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamTxt=4717&txtsearchParamCat=24&txtsearchParamType=ALL&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearchParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch

 

236 days ago by aluv4dogs | 108 views | 5 barks

Itching and Allergies

Hi, Micah here...I don't know about the rest of you, but I live in a

Valley (Ohio Valley) and allergies here are year round.  Today I

would like to discuss one of my biggest concerns this time of

year...my itching skin and allergies.  My friend ALuv4Dogs checks my skin

regularily and makes sure the skin reactions are not from parasites

like fleas (I am allergic to flea bites also).  I receive a monthly dose of

flea and tick preventative as well as house and bedding being

treated.  My problem is itching and scratching this time of year.   If

you seem to be really itchy, are constantly scratching, have a rash,

or seem to be losing fur, you may have allergies. Unlike humans who

react to allergens with sneezing, running noses, and sinus

symptoms, we usually react with skin allergies. In the allergic state,

the dog's immune system overreacts to a foreign substance (the

allergen or antigen) to which it is exposed. The most common way

those ‘overreactions' are manifested is through the skin, and can

evolve into everything from itchy skin, a red bumpy rash, hot spots,

fur loss, and/or a poor coat texture. We may react to an allergen by

simple scratching or licking, or more seriously by biting, chewing, or

gnawing until your skin becomes so irrated and uncomfortable you

just have to keep biting and gnawing.

So exactly what causes me to have this allergic reaction?
First understand that an allergy is a reaction to an allergen .  An

allergen can be almost anything manmade or natural in the dogs

environment such as flea saliva, grass, pollen, dust, fabric, and yes,

even food.  These allergens (lets say the allergen is from wool fabric)

can enter your body when you inhale, eat, get bit by an insect or

parasite, or simply by contact with your body.
First exposure to the allergen will not usually cause an outward

reaction. However, at this time your body develops antibodies to the

allergen as a defense to ward off what it sees as something harmfull.
Second exposure your body has antibodies built up to fight this

specific allergen (wool fibers) and the additional exposure causes the

antibodies in your body to overproduce. To simplify a complex

process the overproduction triggers your bodies defenses to produce

a protein (named IgE) which binds to cells in your skin (called mast

cells).  This causes the noted histamine reaction in your skin which

can open up the capillary blood flow and tighten up your muscles to

contribute to the intense itching.

The next BLOG will continue with the different types of allergic symptoms and possible treatments for the itching. 

See you then...I'm going to get my before bed walk and snack.