Talk to Your Kids About Meth

Methamphetamine (or meth) has reached all corners of the country, moving from rural areas to cities and suburbs. Television stories have reported on mobile meth labs parked across the street from schools. You may live in a "nice" neighborhood, but there may be meth labs in your neghborhood.

Your kids are the pusher's target. While some kids know about the dangers of meth, others don't know what it can do to their bodies. If you haven't talked to your kids about meth do it today. Even if you're talked to them, share these facts with your kids and grandkids.

* Meth is made from toxic stuff: paint solvent, engine starter, gasoline additive, brake cleaner, cement cleaner, drain cleaner, battery chemicals, to name a few.

* One-time meth use may cause instant addiction, according to the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

* Meth causes permanent damage to the blood vessels in the brain. In other words, it makes you stupid.

* The chemicals in meth rot teeth and turn them into black stubs, a condition called "meth mouth." Eventually your teeth fall out.

* Meth causes a dangerous surge in blood pressure and heart rate.

* Meth use also causes dangerously high fever (as high as 110 degrees) and may lead to convulsions.

* Long-term meth use can lead to stroke.

* Meth makes you so jittery you can't sleep. Soon you're tired all the time, not a good match for learning or sports.

* Chronic meth use makes you anxious, depressed, and paranoid.

* Long-term meth use can cause permanent psychological damage.

* Chronic users think "crank bugs" are crawling under their skin, so they pick at their skin and scratch constantly, causing ugly red sores.

* Meth users smell like cat urine.

* Long-term use causes extreme anorexia and makes you look like a walking skeleton.

* Meth makes you look really old really fast.

Because meth is made with toxic chemicals, illegal labs can blow up without warning. Just being near a meth lab is dangerous. If you come across one, do not touch anything, leave as fast as you can, and call 911.

Copyright 2009 by Harriet Hodgson.

Lymphadenopathy - What Are Some Basics on This Condition?

Lymphadenopathy is a term commonly used to describe lymph nodes that are enlarged or swollen. The literal meaning of the word means "disease of the lymph nodes." It is slightly different than lymphadenitis, which is inflammation, however, the difference between the two conditions is rarely made in actual practice. Causes for the condition can be any one or more out of many possibilities, some of which are mentioned later in this article.

There are two forms of the disease, one of which is localized lymphadenopathy. In this case, a particular location of infection can lead to the swelling. On the other hand, in generalized lymphadenopathy, an infection throughout the body can lead to enlarged nodes in various locations. PGL, the "persistent" form of the general type, can stay for a long time with no known cause.

The potential causes of enlarged lymph nodes are numerous. For this article, we a few are introduced. Tumors and cancers are one section of possibilities, including items such as both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, breast cancer, hair cell leukemia, neuroblastoma, and others. Some bites from venomous snakes and spiders can also bring it about. An acute or chronic infection also can in some cases, such as infectious mononucleosis, cat-scratch disease, and toxoplasmosis.

Treatment methods are often aimed at the underlying medical cause behind the lymphadenopathy. Additionally, symptomatic treatment may be desired by some in order to make the symptoms easier to go through. The main symptom of the condition is the swollen lymph nodes, however, other such as fever are also possible.

Cat Bites - Dangers and Disease

Myth: You can't get a disease from a bite from your own cat.

Fact: Anyone can get an infection from any cat bite.

Cats carry a germ called Pasteurella multocida in their mouths, a bacterium that can cause severe infections in humans. Both humans and animals have a mouthful of germs, but normally the body's own immune system keeps them in their place. The skin is one of the most important natural barriers. When this is disrupted by a bite, especially a puncture wound, bacteria are introduced into the deeper tissues, where they are nourished by a constant supply of blood. Cat teeth are often sharp and needle-like, and may penetrate to underlying tendons and ligaments, where infection can endanger the use of the effected limb.

Any cat bite should be cleaned immediately with soapy water and rinsed for several minutes. Even with thorough cleansing, infection is likely. However, taking antibiotics before signs of infection develop does not seem to decrease the likelihood of a wound becoming infected.

Infections from cat bites spread quickly, especially when the bite wound is on the hand. Within hours redness, swelling, pain, and warmth may develop at the site of the wound. A red streak may extend upwards as inflammation spreads along the lymphatic channels and veins that lead away from the wound. If these symptoms occur, call your doctor right away. He may decide to offer you an antibiotic over the phone, or more likely will want to see you. Either way, you will need an antibiotic. Penicillin or amoxicillin left over from a sore throat or ear infection is not likely to be effective. If you decide to wait a few days and see how things develop, you're likely to end up in the hospital on intravenous antibiotics.

Cats carry other diseases as well. Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae. Infection with this organism produces a crusted, red bump or pustule at the site of the cat scratch or bite within 3 to 10 days of exposure. Swollen glands develop within the next 2 weeks. Bites on the arm or hand produce swollen glands in the armpits, whereas those on the lower extremities cause lymph nodes in the groin to swell. Along with the swollen glands comes fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and headache. In general, no antibiotics are needed for this infection, which takes 2 to 5 months to resolve.

Contracting rabies from an unvaccinated cat is a possibility. In the US, the highest incidence of cat rabies is clustered in the lower New England states. If your own cat bites you but has been vaccinated, the risk is practically nonexistent. If a ferrel cat bites you, you should contact your doctor or health department right away to see if you are a candidate for rabies immunization. If you wait until you have symptoms, you'll be dead soon. Don't skimp on immunizing your pet - spending $20 now could save you $2,000 or more in the long run.

Copyright 2010 Cynthia J. Koelker, M.D.

Cat Scratch Fever - What is It?

Bringing home a new kitten not only means exposing your kitten to your home, but exposing your pet health issues to your household as well. Kittens are notorious Petri dishes of bacteria and unwanted germs. While most people have images of the song when they hear the term Cat scratch fever, but it is a devastating and terrible bacterial infection which can be fatal in certain individuals.

The bacteria Bartonella henselae is responsible for cat scratch fever in humans, mostly in young children, as they are the ones who have the most contact with kittens. Though the infection is not limited to children only. Adults can contract the infection which causes lymph nodes in the body to swell profusely. While the bacterium has limited stress on pet health, it can be fatal in immune compromised individuals and children.

A cat can become infected with the bacterium through a flea bite, which is why flea control is so important in pet health care. Most individuals contract the bacterium through a scratch or bite from kitten, though some adult cats can expose people to the bacterium. The bacterium is passed into the cat through a flea bite but does not affect the cat in any certain terms. The cat can live with the bacteria their entire life with the bacteria simply living as a flora of their system. It lives within the saliva of the feline and can only be transmitted to a human when saliva comes into contact with broken skin. This is why kitten bites are likely to expose a person to the bacteria. Since kittens are more likely to play and bite, they are more likely to expose their owners to the bacteria. However, once a person is exposed to the bacteria, they will be immune to future exposure.

While the bacterium does not affect pet health, what it can do to human health is agonizing. The person develops swollen lymph nodes that are tender to the touch and can be upwards to two inches in diameter. Depending on the location of the bite, the bacterium will infect surrounding lymph nodes, that is, if a person is bitten on the arm, the lymph nodes in the shoulder and neck area will become infected. A mild fever sometimes accompanies the swelling. The enlarged lymph nodes are generally the indication for diagnosis, though there are a few blood tests which can be run to search for the bacterium. However, if the bacterium is left untreated, it can spread into the liver, eyes and brain, causing greater infection and even seizures. While it can take some time to recover, most individuals make a full recovery with treatment.

There is little an individual can do to ensure their pet health is not exposed to this bacterium. The only thing pet owners can do to prevent any exposure is proper flea control. As fleas can transmit many different bacteria which can affect pet health, it is a good idea to properly manage fleas with flea control. A topical flea control can help keep the little monsters off your cat and household treatments can eliminate and possible future attacks.

Feline Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis)

Your felines kidneys play an important role and at approximately 20 percent of function is required for survival. I can tell you from firsthand experience that a feline kidney infection (especially in old and/or sick cats) if unrecognized, or recognized and left untreated, can strike quickly and become life threatening in a matter of days.

What to look for?

Every cat seems to react slightly different to a feline kidney infection but there are some common threads that are almost always present. First your pet will tend to have a change in energy and behavior. They will tend to want to be alone, and may not meet you at the door when you come home from work. You may also notice panting or labored breathing. Another common sign is a change in urinary odor (becoming pungent) and voiding in inappropriate places, finding a pool of urine on the floor or in their sleeping area is not uncommon.

In a few instances a feline kidney infection may even cause your pet to become incontinent. Other common symptoms are tenderness around the kidneys and bladder, fever, loss of appetite, excess water consumption, bad breath, and blood in the urine. As mentioned above symptoms vary greatly from cat to cat and much will depend on how badly infected the bladder and kidneys are, as well as your cats personality. But for our cat Holly a noticeable change in behavior and litter box habits told us that something was wrong. What we didn't know was that Holley was very, very sick, falling victim to a serious feline kidney infection.

Diagnosis

When we did get over to vet he ran all the standard tests including a manual hand palpitation, a urine analysis, a blood workup, and insisted she stay a night or two to give him a chance to figure out what was wrong. He also put her on intravenous fluids and with vitamin B12 to try to restore her strength. After all she was 16 years old and very weak.

The first set of tests came back negative but our vet decided to run another bacterial culture and sure enough the escherichia coli bacteria (the bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections) showed up. He explained that sometimes the bacteria can be so deeply embedded in the bladder lining that it may not be detected initially. He went on to say that this was not common, but in our particular case additional testing was called for.

Treatment

Once identified a feline kidney infection is treated with antibiotics such as amoxicillin or baytril. In very sick or old cats the antibiotic likely will be administered intravenously until the felines condition starts to improve. Once better your pet will be sent home and may need to stay on antibiotics for 6 weeks or longer to completely eradicate the infection.

What else? Along with antibiotics many pet owners have found homeopathic urinary tract supplements containing berberis and cantharis to speed recovery and help prevent future infections. Additionally, all stress should be eliminated from your felines life until they recover completely.

Lower Back Tattoos Pain - Just As Needles Hurt, So Will Getting Lower Back Tattoos

Lower back tattoos are one of the sexiest forms of body art, but with that, comes the pain that you have do endure for this privilege. People ask all the time if it's going to hurt, how much it will hurt, and how long it will hurt. Some areas will feel like a sharp pain, others like a sunburn, and yet others like a cat scratch or bee sting.

Yes, getting a lower back tattoo design hurts, as any tattoo will. Imagine being poked by a needle just once. That would hurt, right? Now think about being poked thousands of times repeatedly... you get the idea.

A tattoo machine works similar to a sewing machine, in that a foot pedal is used to turn the needle off and on. While the needle will only need to go 1/16 of an inch into the skin to be sufficient, it can be very painful in certain areas.

The first part of the tattoo, the outline, is usually the most painful. Perhaps that's because this area takes the longest. Or maybe because it's the first session of needle penetrations, and your natural endorphins haven't had a chance to kick in yet to cause you do get a little numb.

During the Process of getting the outline of a lower back tattoo, the vertebrae area is very painful because of the thin layers of skin over the bone, which feels just like what it is, a sharp poking pain. Just outside of the bony area is a different kind of, and less pain. At first it feels like a constant deep cat scratching session on the same spot. But after a few minutes, the area becomes a little numb, and therefore much more tolerable.

Toward the outside of the lower back tattoo design, the love handle area, is yet another kind of pain. This area is less painful than bony areas, and feels like a bunch of bee stings. This area will eventually become more tolerable also.

The worst of the pain instantly stops once the needle stops; you will feel like you have a sunburn though. Just let the tattoo artist know when you need a break, and he/she will stop.

Songs About Cats (Or Are They?)

Perhaps the most famous Cat Song is The Siamese Cat Song recorded by Peggy Lee. The song is from the Walt Disney 1955 classic "The Lady and The Tramp", an animated film about a classy Cocker Spaniel named Lady who falls for Tramp a scamp of a mongrel. The song however is about two arrogant cats, Si and Am, who have given Siamese cats a bad name ever since.

The Siamese Cat Song was penned by Lee along with Sonny Burke and over the years has also been recorded by Freddie and The Dreamers, Mitch Miller, Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin, Haylie Duff, and Bobby McFerrin. "We are Siamese if you please, We are Siamese if you don't please."

Both The Turtles and Petula Clark stepped into recording studios to make very different versions of The Cat in the Window, a song that compares a cat trying to get out of a window with the singer wanting to fly away. "There's a cat in the window, and he's watching all the birds go passing by, he'd love to fly out the window, go where the wind goes, and so would I."

Who can forget the Muppets recording of The Cat Came Back, a song about a kitty that just kept finding its way back no matter how far it was taken from home. "But the cat came back, she wouldn't stay away, she was sitting on the porch the very next day."

In 1950 folks were flooding into record stores and asking for I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat. Mel Blanc recorded the song, written by Alan Livingston, Billy May and Warren Foster, about the cartoon cat and canary duo Sylvester and Tweety. "I tawt I taw a puddy tat a creeping up on me, I did I taw a puddy tat as plain as he could be."

The Rooftop Singers followed up their 1963 number one hit Walk Right In, with Tom Cat a ditty about 'Ringtail Tom' who liked to go "strutting round the town" "And when he steps out all the other cats in the neighborhood they begin to shout." Fast forward to 1981 and the Stray Cats record a musically different song but with a very similar theme, the rockabilly Stray Cat Strut. "Stray cat strut, I'm a ladies' cat, a feline Casanova, hey man, that's where it's at, get a shoe thrown at me from a mean old man, get my dinner from a garbage can."

Norma Tanega apparently owned a cat that she named 'Dog' and liked to take that
cat for walks, hence her 1966 hit Walking My Cat Named Dog, which does seem to be about her real life experience of strolling around town with her pet feline.

Most songs though that include the word Cat in the tile, are not truly about cats at all. A great example is the fine song, Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin. No cats make an appearance in this song; instead the lyrics contain a very chilling message that every dad should pay heed too.

Bent Fabric, real name Bent Fabricius-Bjerre, had a hit in 1962 with Alley Cat, but this was an instrumental recording so it's not a song about cats. Instrumental too was Aaron Copeland's The Cat and the Mouse.

Cat People (Putting Out Fire) by David Bowie was recorded for the 1982 remake of the film Cat People. Great dark and menacing feel to the song but the words have no relationship to cats.

The cat in The Cat Crept In, recorded by Mud was actually a girl, as was the cat featured in The Rolling Stones' Stray Cat Blues, this one with exceedingly sharp claws.

They Call Her the Cat, by Elton John is about, well it's not about cats! Neither is Honky Cat, another Elton tune, that one is about a country boy moving to live life in the city.

Three Cool Cats, is a song that was first recorded by the Coasters in 1958 and covered by The Beatles in 1962 (but not released until 1995.) Of course this song is not about cats, but about three teenage boys and three teenage girls. The Beatles also recorded Little Willie John's Leave My Kitten Alone, no surprise to find that the song is not about a kitten.

U2 recorded a song titled An Cat Dubh, which apparently means The Black Cat in
Gaelic, no cat in the song though, black or otherwise.

No cats are in Year of the Cat by Al Stewart, Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent,
The Lovecats by The Cure or in Cool for Cats by Squeeze. Who can say what The
Cat's In the Well by Bob Dylan is about?

There must be countless other songs that have the words Cat, or Cats, in the title but are not actually about our feline friends. No doubt there are more songs that are about cats than those listed on this page, but those songs sadly seem few and far between.

But wait . . . wasn't there a stage musical all about cats. Cats, the musical by
Andrew Lloyd Webber, was first shown in London, England in 1981. Based upon T.
S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats the show features song after song about . . . Old Gumbie, Grizabella, Mungojerrie And Rumpelteazer, Skimbleshanks, Old Deuteronomy, Gus, Macavity, and Mr. Mistoffelees. All of these characters are, of course, . . . Cats.

Where is the Most Painful Place to Get a Tattoo?

This question can actually refer to two different things. One, where (as in location of studio) is one aspect of this question. The other, where (on the body) is the least painful place to get a tattoo is the other aspect of this question.

Attacking the first reference, obviously, the least painful place to get a tattoo is in a licensed, professional tattoo studio. A lot of people will ask why. Here's the reasons. If you go to someone doing tattoos out of their home, or perhaps in a flea market, or an outdoor event, where a tattoo artist is working out in the dirty environment, you risk having an inexperienced tattoo artist butcher your skin. One of the reasons they don't work in a licensed studio may be because their skills just aren't up to par with what is expected of an artist in a studio. Another reason may be that they are just learning. Another reason may be that if they did tattoos in a studio like they do in their homes, chances are they would get no repeat business and this would have a negative effect on the studio. Another reason may be that they cause scarring when they tattoo because of the mistaken assumption that to get the ink to stay better in the skin, they have to go real deep. This is not so.

A professional tattoo artist has been trained to put the ink below the dead layer of the skin at the outside. If the ink is put into the dead layer that sloughs off the ink will not stay and lines and fill in areas will appear splotchy and weak. If the artist puts the ink below the living layer where new skin cells are generated, they are going too deep. This can cause the ink to spread under the skin so edges become spider webbed or there is a bluish or greenish glow around the edges of the tattoo. By going too deep, they also risk causing permanent raised scars on the client. Inexperienced tattoo artists have difficulty in controlling their needle depth and clients complain that the tattoo experience hurts excessively. It also causes healing to take an unusually long time to heal and because the ink is put too deeply into the skin, the tattoo can appear murky and indistinct, colors appear dull, and spread in uncontrollable ways under the skin in the fat layer below the skin.

Now on to the second part of this question. Where does it hurt the least to get a tattoo? The places on the body that seem easiest for clients to tolerate are the upper back, outer arms, outer calves, and buttocks. These areas get more friction in normal daily actions and so are more used to being touched. On the arms and legs, some of the more painful areas are the elbows, inside the elbows, the knees, inside the knees, the wrists and ankles.
Ribs, front torso, underarms are very uncomfortable. Feet and hands are not easy either. Necks can be good or bad, depends on the person. Lower backs seem to also be painful.

Pain is a funny thing. If you have had pain in your life, you tend to take the feeling of getting a tattoo better. If you are young, never had significant pain in your body or are one of those with a low tolerance for pain, chances are you will be uncomfortable no matter where the tattoo is put. Women in general tolerate the feeling better than men. But, men who have been through military or law enforcement training seem to do better.

If you have never had a tattoo, it is difficult to describe the feeling. Some relate it to a cat scratch or bee sting. Some say it feels like being burned or branded. Some say it feels like razor cuts. Without a doubt it is an acquired taste. Since the body has never had this sensation before, it tends to try to relate it to something within your realm of experience. After you get one or two, it gets easier to take. The trick is to relax during the process. A relaxed body is not fighting the pain by tensing up. Tensing up makes the surface of the skin harder and thus makes it harder to get the tattoo ink in the proper layer of skin. Holding your breath will make you pass out. By all means, make sure you have a good meal about 2 hours before starting the tattoo process. Getting a tattoo on an empty stomach can cause problems. The sensation of pain releases endorphins from the brain that is the body's way of protecting itself from pain sensations. It can also cause a drop in the blood's sugar level that can lead to passing out. Many people claim to be addicted to tattoos, and this may suggest that they are really more into getting the endorphin release than the tattoo, imho.

The best thing to remember when getting a tattoo is that there is an end to the process. A small tattoo can take under 10 minutes. Larger pieces take longer. My experience has been that the body has a natural tolerance barrier. This is about 3 hours. After 3 hours, I find that clients become more uncomfortable, more of the plasma leaks from their skin, this dilutes the ink and makes it harder to get good coverage. At this 3 hour mark I also notice that the skin can become pebble-like with areas where it appears to be harder thus making giving the tattoo more difficult.

Large tattoos can be broken into several sittings. The first sitting usually will involve getting all the outline work done. This is because matching up stencil pieces can be difficult to nearly impossible and if only part of the outline is completed in one sitting, chances are the second sitting produces inferior results. Once the outline has been completed, there is no problem letting the outlines heal before beginning any of the fill in process. Dark colors seem easier to get into the skin. Lighter colors may sometimes need to be gone over twice to get the full effect of the pigment. It is not uncommon when doing large black tribal pieces and pieces with large pastel colors to have the customer come back within 3 weeks to have a second 'coat' of ink put in the tattoo. This gives the artist a good look at how you take care of the tattoo during the healing process and the opportunity to 'touch up' any small spots that may need it.

Clients will swear that they followed the after care instructions, but as a trained professional in the business for many years, I have come to recognize the tell-tale signs of neglect or picking at the tattoo during the healing process. Letting the tattoo dry out, using petroleum products, picking at the scabs, exposure to sun and water, wearing tight clothes or shoes over a fresh tattoo, not washing the tattoo frequently, and using too much lotion on the tattoo during healing can all have adverse effects on the final outcome of the healed tattoo.

The final result of where hurts the least are variable. A lot depends on whether it is your first tattoo or not, where you desire the tattoo to be placed, how large the tattoo is, how well you tolerate pain and how well you take care of it during the healing process. During the actual process of tattooing, if you need to take a break, remember, don't take too long of a break or once you sit again to continue the tattoo, you may find it more painful than if you took no break at all. Getting tattoos in unusual locations on the body can be more painful than getting it in the normal locations. You must weigh your desire for placement with how well you tolerate pain. You must make logical decisions based on how large the tattoo will be and whether you are up for sitting for a longer period during the process. You must decide what is best for you. Unfortunately, I know of no areas on the body where it doesn't hurt to get a tattoo, but it doesn't hurt that much, and as an adult, you can always let your mind wander instead of concentrating on the sensation. Go to your happy place and you'll do fine!

Keeping Up With Your Pet's Health - Vaccinate With Rabies Shots

A slow, agonizing virus leading to extreme lethargy, madness, and an eventual, but certain death - doesn't sound very appealing, does it? If you do not vaccinate with rabies shots, your dog or cat faces an uncertain future. Rabies is one of the worst viruses that can affect your pet, and with no preventative measures, such as its annual rabies shots, mortality is, unfortunately, assured. When you vaccinate with rabies shots, you are choosing to extend the life of your pet, protect the community, and follow the letter of the law.

All pet owners should know that rabies is a disease that is caused by a virus that is transmitted from animal to animal and animal to human via a scratch or bite that causes a break in the skin. The virus is in the saliva of an infected animal. Because rabies is fatal to the animal or a human who contracts it, it is vitally important for pet owners to have their vet vaccinate for rabies with either a one year or three year vaccine. In certain regions and/or states with high levels of rabies reports, such as Texas, Virginia, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania (1), you must vaccinate with rabies shots at least once a year.

What Is Rabies Anyway?

The rabies virus is spread through the saliva of infected animals. A huge problem in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, rabies kills more than 50,000 people and animals worldwide each year; however, most pet owners do not vaccinate for rabies in these regions. Once contracted through a bite or scratch, the virus begins attacking the peripheral nerve cells and central nervous system, which largely consists of the spinal cord and brain (2). The virus works fast, but it is a drawn-out, painful death at best.

Depending upon where the animal was bitten, it may take awhile for symptoms to show. Without any preventative rabies shots, the symptoms begin to appear and the animal normally only has a week to a week and a half to live. Contraction of the rabies virus in animals is broken down into three phases: prodromal, furious, and paralytic (3). During the prodromal phase, the dog or cat will show signs of apprehension and anxiety as well as develop a fever, although cats often exhibit more irregular behavior. The furious phase sees cats and dogs highly irritable, more vicious, and lashing out at anything that moves. The paralytic phrase can occur after either the prodromal or furious phases - breathing becomes more labored and vital organs freeze up. There have been stories of pet owners trying to dislodge a foreign object from the animal's mouth because they were unaware that the dog had contracted the rabies virus. The animal eventually lapses into respiratory failure and dies (4). When you vaccinate for rabies, you help your dog or cat avoid all of this pain and suffering, which can easily be prevented with annual rabies shots - quickly and rather inexpensively.

Practice Caution - Vaccinate for Rabies Regularly

Animals most at risk for exposure to rabies are stray dogs and cats that frequently roam in and around wooded areas that bring them in close proximity to wildlife that are the carriers of rabies. Wildlife carriers often include raccoons, foxes, coyotes, skunks, and bats.

Pet owners should also be cautious by avoiding contact with wildlife that are normally nocturnal (active at night) and are normally fearful of and avoid contact with humans. Rabid wildlife are not fearful of humans and may aggressively attack. Be careful of leaving food outside for cats and dogs, which tends to attract wildlife and brings them up close and personal with our pets. Also, be careful about approaching cats and dogs that appear to be feral or roaming about. One bite or scratch is all it takes for exposure to rabies to occur, and if the animal that bites cannot be captured, prophylactic treatment for rabies may be necessary. Unfortunately as well, any preventative measures in the form of rabies shots are far too late to be administered at this point.

It is also vitally important to report all animal to animal and animal to human bites to the animal control agency in whichever county or area the bite occurs. Many people are reluctant to do this if the offending animal belongs to a neighbor or someone they know. However, if the vaccination history of the dog or cat that bites is not known, then the animal or person bitten is at risk for exposure. Pets should be safely confined and dogs should be on leash when off their property. Finally, once you vaccinate for rabies, make sure your pet wears its rabies tag at all times.

Neglect is Costly: Maintain Current Rabies Shots

Rabies shots for dogs and cats are required by the law for the life of the pet. Neglecting to keep you and your family, your pet, and your community safe from rabies is a costly mistake and one that should never be allowed to occur. You have the power to vaccinate your pet from this easily preventable virus. Remember, keeping up-to-date and choosing to vaccinate with rabies shots is the first line of defense to keep the public safe from this deadly disease.

Sources

1. CDC.gov/ncidod/dvrd/kidsrabies/Statistics/usmap.htm
2. CDC.gov/ncidod/dvrd/kidsrabies/TheVirus/rabvir.htm
3. PetEducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1556&aid=347
4. Ibid.

Measles Rash - Symptoms, Treatment and Information on the Vaccine

Though not spoken about as much today, catching the measles is still a reality for children as well as adults. Also known as rubeola, the measles are caused by the measles virus which is very contagious and brings a painful, spotty, red rash that starts on the face and spreads downward. It is accompanied by a fever, coughing, runny nose and watery eyes; in rare cases, pneumonia or an ear infection may develop. If not treated, it may bring fatal results or permanent brain damage.

Though the symptoms themselves may last a week on average, the process of catching this rash can occur over a period of time if not careful. It usually starts when a person with the measles virus coughs or sneezes into the air. The infected mist is contagious for at least two hours, whether it stays in the air or lands on a surface. The measles virus can be spread four days before getting a rash and four days afterward. A measles rash can appear almost two weeks after being exposed to the virus.

The best way to treat a measles rash is to use a cortisone cream or calamine lotion to relieve itching. Ibuprofen or aspirin may be taken to reduce fever along with plenty of fluids and bed rest. There is no actual cure but it can be prevented with a vaccine. The Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine can be given to children as young a one year. Anyone who has not received the MMR vaccine but anticipate traveling to Europe or other parts of the world are strongly encouraged to get a shot as there have been recent outbreaks in the United Kingdom. I personally had the measles when I was young and was told my fever was over 104 degrees. The vaccine was available a year later.

How To Treat Cat Bites And Prevent Getting Bitten Again

All cat owners will know that there are times when the cat will nip at you. A cat bite can result in anywhere from a little gash to an open wound. For those who are cat owners or simply have infrequent contact with cats

Why Would a Cat Bite Someone?

Typically, cats bite for two reasons only. Firstly, you may have been playing too rough with your frisky feline, which causes your cat to respond with a chomp. Also, cats may bite if they are annoyed with something you did or if they are simply feeling annoyed. Cats love to have their own space and they may respond angrily if someone does not respect that.

How to Treat Cat Bites

You could treat cat bites by washing the cut with soap, applying antibacterial cream and pasting a plaster over the wound. The ensures that the wound is clean and the chances of a bacteria infection is eliminated.

What is the Cat Scratch Disease?

A bite or scratch from a cat may lead to a more serious disease known as the cat scratch disease. The cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection caused by a cat's bite or scratch. It can also be caused when a cat licks an open wound. The bacteria is transmitted to cats by fleas, which is in turn transmitted to people via the cat's saliva. Cat scratch disease in cats does not harm the cat itself but provides problems for the person bitten, scratched, or licked.

Symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease

The main symptom of cat scratch disease is the swelling of the lymph nodes. Other symptoms may include fever, loss of appetite, headache, fatigue or sore throat.

Treatment of Cat Scratch Disease

Practically all occurrences of cat scratch disease will go away on their own. Over-the-counter medication love Tylenol or ibuprofen could help relieve the pain in the lymph nodes. When in doubt, consult a doctor to seek treatment because some of the more severe cases of cat scratch disease may require prescription antibiotics to heal.

Prevention of Cat Scratch Disease

The simplest way to avoid getting cat scratch disease is by the prevention of cat bites and scratches. You should step back whenever a cat shows any of the following warning signs love hissing, meowing in an angry tone, moving their ears backwards or harmlessly swiping you. Also, always remember to wash your hands after you have touched a cat. Thirdly, if you are bitten or scratched by a cat, be sure to wash your wound right away.

Facts About AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or commonly known as AIDS is a disease caused by immune system breakdown. The main source of this is the HIV or human immunodeficiency virus.

AIDS claims 4.87% of all deaths worldwide per year, ranking it 8th overall killer disease according to World Health Organization. Don't be confused about the characteristic of this virus because this won't be the main cause of death. The virus attacks the immune system of the body making it very weak then our body becomes more susceptible to many diseases and infections which leads to death itself.

According to Wikipedia, HIV can be acquired by transmitting or direct contact of the bloodstream with a bodily fluid which has HIV. Fluids such as semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, preseminal fluid and blood. Activities like anal, oral or vaginal sex, blood transfusion, breast feeding, mother and child pregnancy, contaminated hypodermic needles and other means of physical contact with fluids mention above are main cause of acquiring this virus.

AIDS is now a worldwide problem. Making everyone prone to the disease even children. It is said that developing or third world countries are hit mostly by this virus because of the status of their economy. Making people strive for sexual activities as their main occupation. World governing bodies such as United Nation, are always looking for solutions to lessen the number of cases in these areas. Solutions such as proper use of condoms, safe sex and needle disposal programmes.

Symptoms of AIDS are commonly seen with people having a weak immune system. Carriers of this virus always posses the following diseases.

High fever
Chilling
Abrupt weight loss
Swollen Glands
Always sweating
Skin allergies
Cancers and tumors

If you are diagnosed with AIDS, you can still prolong your life by strengthening your immune system. Remember that infections will kill you, not the virus itself. By strengthening your immune system, the virus will take less impact in your health.

Some of the simple ways to strengthen our immune system.

Exercise regularly
Eat healthy
Skip sweet foods
Don't eat fried foods
Eat fruits and vegetables
Always be clean and tidy
Stay away with your vices
Avoid sick people
Take enough sleep
Take supplements especially Zinc which is the main core of our cell's DNA. Zinc also provides to keep our immune system intact.
Always be happy and treat every moment as a blessing.

Our main protection against this virus is still prevention. Prevent to have multiple partners in life. Be faithful to your partner all the time.

What is Scarlet Fever - Tips For Treating it Properly

Scarlet fever, an illness caused by the same bacteria found in cases of strep throat, was once a deadly disease greatly feared by parents of young children. However, due to modern antibiotics, it is no longer considered a serious ailment but is similar in intensity to catching a bad flu, strep throat, or the chicken pox. It mostly affects school-age children, though usually not toddlers, and while uncomfortable, with proper treatment should not cause any major complications. This article should inform the reader not only how to diagnose scarlet fever, but what should be done to treat it.

Scarlet fever is a tricky condition to diagnose because at first, it appears as strep throat would, with a fever and a sore throat. However, 1-2 days after the fever begins (usually 101 degrees or more) a reddish rash should begin to appear on the neck and chest, later spreading across the body and sometimes to the face as well. The identifying feature of this rash is that it should be bumpy and 'sandpaper-ish' and at the start may simply look like a bad sunburn. Because it may be itchy, it's important to use a soothing lotion with ingredients like chamomile or aloe vera to avoid skin damage. Other important signals are the characteristic 'strawberry' tongue, or a bright red tongue, abdominal pain, and swollen lymph nodes along the throat.

While scarlet fever may not seem to be more serious than the flu in its symptoms, it is critical to treat it seriously and immediately go to a physician to get antibiotics. This is not the sort of illness you can wait out or simply buy over the counter cold medicine for; if left untreated, scarlet fever can cause serious complications, most notably rheumatoid fever, a condition that can permanently weaken the heart valves. The doctor will most likely give you a clinical examination, swab your throat to check for signs of the strep bacteria, and prescribe you a 10-day course of standard antibiotics. Remember to continue to take the antibiotics for the full duration of the prescription even if your symptoms appear to disappear after the first couple of days; this ensures that you will remove all bacterial infection from your body.

Upon beginning to take the course of antibiotics, the fever should begin to fade after a couple of days and the sore throat should subside quickly. The skin around the area affected by the rash will begin to peel off 3-4 days after the rash's appearance and may continue peeling for 10 days, but the rash itself may not go away fully for up to 2-3 weeks. People infected will no longer be contagious 24 hours after they begin taking antibiotics, but until then, it is highly contagious. If you should develop new symptoms or there does not appear to be an affect after taking antibiotics for 24 hours, you should contact your doctor immediately because there may be a new infection that needs treatment.

Cat Diseases - Feline Leukaemia

Just as humans can, cats can suffer from fatal health issues. One of the commonest and most deadly cat diseases is feline Leukaemia.

It is often thought that feline leukaemia is a cancer but it is actually a virus and highly infectious, which can cause cancer. In fact it is a retrovirus known as FeLV which means that as a cat disease, it can only affect cats and cannot be passed to humans or dogs.

FeLV is estimated to infect one to two percent of normal, healthy cats. Cats which regularly go outside are at far greater risk than cats which are kept inside and males contract the infection more often than females and kittens even more so.

This cat disease is commonly transmitted in saliva, through communal food and water bowls, nose to nose greetings and bites. Other means of transmission are urine and faeces so shared litter trays can be a risk. There are additional risks of a pregnant cat passing the disease to her kittens.

If a cat is infected with FeLV the virus will be detectable in the bloodstream about two to four weeks afterwards. However, the infected cat may not display any symptoms; if it does, these are likely to be fever, lethargy, diarrhoea and swollen lymph nodes.

Some cats will not develop the infection because exposure was slight, others will develop an infection which is latent in other words it is suppressed by the cat's immune system and is usually not infectious. Yet others will be permanently infected with FeLV and will carry and pass on the virus. These cats will almost certainly develop other cat diseases within a couple of years and these could be related to immunodeficiency and consequent infections, anaemia, enlarged lymph nodes or platelet disorders or cancer. Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg and there are likely to be many other manifestations.

There are vaccines against feline leukaemia and cat owner should have all their cats vaccinated annually. However, these vaccines are not one hundred percent effective, so animals which go out a lot and share a house should be tested for this cat disease.

7 Signs That Your Cat Has a Bladder Infection

It's unbelievable how many pet owners don't even realize that their cats are suffering from a bladder infection until it gets severe. A cat bladder infection is also known as a silent killer because so many pet owners fail to notice it before it's too late.

In order to prevent your cat from developing a life-threatening feline bladder infection, you need to learn how to spot changes in his behavior. Here are 7 signs of bladder infections in cats.

1. A cat bladder infection will cause your cat to urinate more or less frequently than usual. If you notice a change in your cat's urination patterns, you can suspect that an infection is the cause. Give your cat a homeopathic remedy to see if that will improve his condition.

2. A feline bladder infection will may make your cat act lethargic.

3. Is your cat urinating outside of his litter box? This is an almost surefire sign of a bladder problem so you should take your cat to the vet for diagnosis.

4. Your cat may have a fever and tender abdomen due to bladder problems. Frequently check his temperature and see how his abdomen feels, especially if you notice other symptoms of infection.

5. Urinary problems may cause your cat to stop urinating completely. A urinary blockage can become fatal in just 2-4 days of being left untreated so this should be addressed immediately. Administer a homeopathic remedy, give your cat plenty of water to drink, and call your veterinarian.

6. One of the most common symptoms of cat bladder infection is frequent grooming of the genitals. This may signify that your cat is suffering from a urinary infection, especially if it's accompanied by crying.

7. Feline bladder infection symptoms include foul-smelling urine. If you notice a change in the smell of your cat's urine, tell your veterinarian. If possible, give him a homeopathic remedy to soothe his bladder and alleviate the symptoms of infection.

Cat bladder infection can be easily treated in its early stages with a homeopathic remedy. Homeopathic remedies restore balance at a cellular level and maintain a healthy bladder, urine flow, and urinary tract with minute doses of plant-based substances like uva ursi and cantharis.

In conclusion, start shopping around for a homeopathic remedy to have on hand in case you notice these symptoms in your cat. For the best results, give your cat a homeopathic remedy on a regular basis to prevent his infections from ever returning. By learning to spot and treat urinary infections early, you can avoid unnecessary medical bills and pain for your cat.

How to Cope With Infectious Diseases

There are four main kinds of germs that cause infectious diseases. Bacteria are single-cell germs that have the ability to multiply rapidly and release chemicals that will make you sick. Viruses are capsules containing genetic information and use your own cells to multiply.

Fungi are vegetable-like mushrooms or mildew that will make you ill and protozoa are single-cell predators that are looking for a host where they can eat and live. The idea of contracting communicable diseases is enough to make anyone want to live in a bubble, but the body is naturally very resilient, so simply washing your hands can avoid most trouble.

There are viral, contagious diseases like AIDS, Smallpox, Ebola, Hepatitis, sexually transmitted Herpes or HPV, Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Rabies, SARS, West Nile, Meningitis, Mono, Pneumonia and Yellow Fever. Then there are bacterial, transmittable diseases like Anthrax, Botulism, Cat Scratch Fever, Cholera, Diphtheria, Gonorrhea, Leprosy, Lyme disease, Strept Throat, Salmonella, Scarlet Fever, Tuberculosis, Typhus and Shingles. Some transferable diseases are transmitted via parasites, such as Chagas Disease, Malaria, Pinworm Infection, Scabies, Trichomoniasis, Giardiasis, Echinococcosis and other rare diseases. Other times, diseases are transmitted through fungus or prion (proteins).

When dealing with an infectious disease, the first step is the infection, when microbes enter your body and begin to multiply. Health experts say the infection becomes a disease when cells in your body become damaged and the symptoms of illness appear. White blood cells and antibodies will attempt to ward your body off from the infection, which results in fevers, coughing, sneezing or other ailments.

Once the disease takes hold, medication will be needed. It's important to know the difference between infectious diseases caused by bacteria or by a virus because medications that may treat one are ineffective against treating the other. Bacterial infections caused by single-celled living organisms are treated with antibacterial antibiotics. Viral infections, which alter genetic capsules, cannot be treated with medication directly but may have the symptoms assuaged with lozenges, rest, water, decongestants, cough syrups and pain relievers.

Infectious diseases are no laughing matter. If you are coughing and nose blowing all over the place but feel tempted to go to work, then resist and rest. Not all diseases are contagious, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Avoid sharing drinks or personal items with people and remember that prevention is the best cure.

According to the Center for Disease Control, there are seven steps you can take to prevent infection at home: always wash your hands, routinely clean AND disinfect all kitchen and bathroom surfaces, follow food safety precautions to prevent under-cooking meat or cross-contaminating surfaces, get immunized, use antibiotics properly, keep your pets clean and stay away from wild animals. Don't be one of the 160,000 Americans who die from an infectious disease each year!

How to Care For a Kitten With a Cold

If your kitten comes down with a cold, there are several steps you can take to aid the recovery process. Keep your kitten isolated from other pets to prevent them from becoming infected. The best place for your kitten to recover is a quiet area of the house with little or no traffic.

Wrapping your kitten in a warm blanket will help maintain adequate body temperature; however, it is a good idea to check your kitten's temperature regularly with a rectal thermometer in case he or she develops a fever, which for cats is defined as a temperature higher than 103°F. If your kitten develops a fever, it is probably best to consult a veterinarian.

Give your kitten small meals four or more times throughout the day as well as plenty of water. Dehydration is a serious risk, so monitor closely your kitten's water intake. Your kitten may also be experiencing a loss of appetite. It is reported that many kittens will eat baby food chicken, even if they won't eat anything else. If you have vitamin C, try mixing some in with your kitten's meals to help boost her immune system.

Change your kitten's bedding frequently and disinfect it before using it again. You should also clean and disinfect your kitten's toys and dishes. Be sure not to use any product that is phenol-based, as phenol is toxic to felines. Bleach is probably your best option.

Clean your kitten's eyes, nose, and mouth with a warm, damp washcloth. If she has trouble breathing through her nose, then try putting a few drops of saline into her nose and then wiping it.

If your kitten experiences a prolonged fever, has not eaten for twenty-four hours, or appears to be getting worse, take her to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Will You Make These Three Lethal Mistakes Before You Bring Your New Cat Home?

Bringing your new cat home can be fraught with dangers that many people don't realize. You can make mistakes that can be lethal both to your new cat and to the cats you already own even before you introduce your new cat to the household.

Mistake #1: Failing to provide your cat with her basic vaccinations. This can happen if you adopt your cat from a friend, pick up a stray, select a kitten from a litter, pick up one from a cattery or purchase one from a pet shop.

The 5 basic vaccines a cat needs are:

o Rhinotracheitis. This is one of the upper respiratory infections (URI) which cats can catch from other infected cats. It's characterized by sneezing, drooling, and runny eyes and nose.

o Feline Calicivirus (FCV). This is another URI, which has many of the same symptoms of Rhinotracheitis. Mouth ulcers may make it difficult for your cat to eat and drink.

o Feline Chlamydiosis, also known as feline pneumonitis, affects birds but can also be found in cats. Your cat will experience loss of appetite, fever, coughing and difficulty in breathing. This can lead to pneumonia.

o Panleukopenia, otherwise known as "distemper". If your cat contracts this, her white blood cell count will fall below normal and her immune system won't be able to fend off other diseases. Since the lining in her stomach can become damaged, she may begin to vomit and have severe diarrhea.

o Rabies. This is the feared "disease of all diseases", which can be transmitted to humans through animal bites. Your cat's brain will swell and she will initially experience severe thirst and ultimately go mad. You must have her vaccinated for Rabies.

These vaccinations are automatically taken care of when you adopt a cat from the Animal Shelter or the Humane Society, but many people who acquire cats in other ways are either not aware that their animals must be vaccinated, or think that "their cat will be the exception" and escape infection.

Keep firmly in mind that your cat probably will contract one of these (or all of them) if she is not vaccinated, and will expose you and your feline household to serious danger, particularly in the case of Rabies.

Mistake #2: Failure to get a complete medical checkup.

Strays that show up on your doorstep, or cats acquired in other ways, can have latent viral diseases that can be transmitted to the other cats in your household. If your new addition is already infected, vaccinating her will be a futile effort. If your existing cats are not infected but also not vaccinated, your new cat can infect them.

These infections are:

o Feline Leukemia (FeLV). Your new cat will have a poor appetite and a dull coat. She may have a fever, which manifests itself as a warm, dry nose. Her mouth and gums may be inflamed.

o Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). This is an immune disease similar to FeLV but with symptoms that may not be readily apparent. It is similar to HIV in humans.

o Feline Infections Peritonitis (FIP). Look for difficulty in breathing, weight loss, anemia, and fever.

Giardia is a parasite that can appear in cats kept in pet stores or catteries. It can kill aged cats and kittens.

Worms. There are three main varieties of worms, and all can be transmitted to your uninfected cats. Be sure to have your veterinarian check her for worms when you take her for her medical exam.

Mistake #3: Not collaring your cat and providing her with a nametag.

This should be done before you bring her home. Your cat might panic when you try to introduce her to the household (particularly when she meets the family dog), and if a door is open or there is some other way to get to the outside, she may bolt through it and escape.

She will not know where she is, and attempt to return to her former residence (wherever that was). In short, you may hear one terrified "meow" and never see her again.

Unless, that is, she is wearing a collar and a nametag (preferably metal) with

o her name

o your name

o your telephone number

firmly stamped on it. Getting a microchip embedded between her shoulder blades is also a good idea: it can give Animal Control complete information to return your kitty if she becomes lost.

Keep your new cat and your feline family safe before and after her first introduction. Be sure your cat has all her vaccinations, has been examined by a veterinarian, and is identified in case things don't work out as well as you might hope.

© John Young, all rights reserved.

How To Keep Your Cat Healthy - Your Guide to Cat Diseases and Conditions, and How to Cure Them

Even with the best care, cats can become ill. Sometimes this means a simple "kitty cold," at other times the disease might have a more lasting or even fatal result. The following are some of the more common causes of serious illness in cats.

An upper respiratory infection (URI) is the medical term for what many cat lovers call a "kitty cold." Indeed, the symptoms match those of a human cold, sneezing and discharge from the nose. While they seem similar, the human and cat version of this infection are different, and one species cannot be infected by the other. However, URI is highly contagious among cats. If you have a multi-cat household and notice URI symptoms, isolate the cat immediately.

The best treatment for URI is time and loving care. Use a warm, moist cloth to keep your cat's eyes and nose free of discharge. You might need to warm her food to enhance the smell to encourage your cat to eat.

URI symptoms, which include a decreased appetite, can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Watch your cat carefully; not eating or drinking can lead to dehydration. Also, if your cat becomes extremely lethargic, it may mean the URI has turned into something more serious.

The symptoms of URI may last a few days to several weeks. Cats with URI may also be lethargic and have a decreased appetite. Monitor the cat carefully; a growing lack of appetite and fever can lead to dehydration. Not eating can lead to liver problems. Lethargy can mean a minor URI has become a more serious problem, such as pneumonia. If you notice this occurring, or if the discharge becomes very thick and yellowish-green, contact your veterinarian. Severe URIs may need to be treated with antibiotics.

Chlamydia is a type of bacteria that has many variations. Usually, each variant is species specific; feline Chlamydia is not transmitted to humans. In cats, the bacteria usually infects the eye, causing conjunctivitis. Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics.

Symptoms of Feline Chlamydia

* Anorexia (loss of appetite; may occur as the disease progresses)

* Coughing

* Difficulty breathing

* Fever (may occur as the disease progresses)

* Pneumonia (in young kittens 2 to 4 weeks old, which could be fatal)

* Runny nose (rhinitis)

* Sneezing

* Watery eyes due to conjunctivitis (either one or both eyes)

Panleukopenia is a condition in which a cat's white blood cell count drops dramatically. Since white blood cells are vital to the cat's defense against disease, this condition leaves cats vulnerable to deadly infections. The virus is transmitted via body secretions. Feces are particularly common transmitters. It can be carried in water or on shoes.

Panleukopenia is often referred to as a number of different terms, such as

* Panleukopenia (often shortened to "Panleuk" in verbal discussion)

* FPV (Feline Panleukopenia Virus OR Feline Parvo Virus)

* FP (Feline Panleukopenia)

* Feline Distemper

* Feline Infectious Enteritis

* Feline Infectious Gastroenteritis

* Feline Agranulocytosis

* Cat Plague

* Cat fever

* Show fever

* Psuedomembranous Enteritis

* Maladie du jeune chat

* Feline Typhus

* Feline Tyfoid

* Colibacillosis

* Agranulocytosis

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) causes a variety of diseases, one of which is leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells. Infected cats often appear healthy in the early stages of the disease. The illness may take months or years to cause death. For a long time, FeLV was the most fatal disease among cats. Today, although vaccinations are available to protect cats from this disease, it continues to be a leading cause of death, as there is no treatment.

FeLV is usually transmitted through cat fighting with each other. Because large quantities of the FeLV are shed in puncture wounds and cat saliva associated with fighting result in the injection of PeLV into other cats. Other less frequent routes of viral spread include sharing food and water bowls, cats grooming each other, and transmission from mother to kittens before birth.

Feline UTI - How to Use a Natural Treatment For a Cat With a Thickened Bladder

If you have a cat with a thickened bladder the most routine parts of her life can become nothing short of an ordeal. Pain, discomfort and loss of appetite can become a regular fact of life, turning a once happy pet into a listless, uncomfortable one. If your cat is prone to developing a thickened bladder, you can avoid the unpleasant effects by using safe, gentle natural products to both treat symptoms and boost the immune system.

Bladder and urinary tract infections can lead to thickening of the bladder wall, which in turn can cause blockage and other urination problems. If you have a cat that is prone to thickened bladder you need to be aware of potential symptoms so that they can seek treatment as quickly as possible to prevent serious complications.

If your cat strains to urinate, has blood in her urine or begins to urinate in unusual locations, this could be a sign of a urinary tract problem. A cat with thickened bladder can also become lethargic, experience loss of appetite and run a fever. If any of these symptoms present, it is important that you take your cat to the vet right away to find out the underlying cause. Once your vet knows what is causing the symptoms, he can suggest proper treatment.

In most cases, a course of antibiotics will be prescribed but this treatment is not without its risks. Not only can antibiotics weaken the immune system, they will also commonly kill off helpful bacteria in your cat's system along with the harmful bacteria which is causing the infection. When it comes to treating a cat with thickened bladder you need to be particularly careful about using antibiotics. Antibiotics shoot a hole in your cat's protective immune system which opens the door for recurring infections.

Treating a cat with a thickened bladder really needs to be a multi-pronged approach, including natural products which can ease symptoms as well as boost the immune system and promote good overall health. With a special blend of herbs and other plant based ingredients, these products can provide healing without the harsh side effects of antibiotics.

When dealing with a thickened bladder cat you still need to provide proper diet, plenty of fresh water along with these natural remedies. Avoid commercial pet foods and turn to a raw meat diet if possible. Also be sure that your cat has a clean litter box at all times to promote normal, healthy urination habits.

Proper hydration is always important but it is even more crucial when your cat is suffering from a bladder infection as it helps to flush out toxins. Natural immune system supplements can also be of great benefit, especially to a cat with a thickened bladder that may be prone to recurring infections.

If thickening of the bladder is an issue for your cat, there are steps you can take to make life easier for both of you. A balanced diet, plenty of water and exercise can all help your cat to live healthier as can the use of natural products to ease uncomfortable symptoms. Consider all your options and find a safe, gentle natural solution to keep bladder problems at bay.

Cat Scratch Fever

What is cat scratch disease?

Cat scratch disease, also called cat scratch fever is an infection caused by bacteria that is carried in cat
saliva. Cat scratch disease usually occurs when an effected cat scratches or bites
a person, usually a child. Cats can get the bacteria on his claws after licking
himself. This bacterium is also known as Bartonella hensel.

You can also be infected with the disease in the eyes after rubbing a cat that
has the bacteria on his fur and then rubbing your eyes.

Cat scratch disease seems to occur more often in the fall and winter. There are
approximately 22,000 cases of cat scratch disease each year. People under the
age of 21, especially children are more prone to be infected with the disease,
perhaps because they are more likely to play with cats and risk being bitten.

Experts believe that almost half of all cats have a Bartonella hensel infection
at some point in their lives, usually occurring in cats less than 1 year old.
Researchers believe cats get the bacteria from fleas, although this has not been
proven. The disease does not make cats sick, although they may carry the bacteria
for months. Cat scratch is not contagious from person to person. At times, multiple
illnesses may occur within the same family however, it is most likely from being
in contact with the same cat.

Symptoms

Cat scratch disease is not a severe illness in people who are healthy. However,
it can be a potential problem in people with weak immune systems. Most people
who contract cat scratch disease may recall being around a cat but not being scratched
or bitten.

A small bump or blister usually develops with 3 to 10 days after being bite. Sometimes
it is mistaken for an insect bite. The sore is generally not painful although
it may take a long time to heal.

Within a few weeks of the bite, an infection of the lymph nodes around the site
of the scratch or bite will develop. The swollen lymph nodes most often appear
in the underarm or neck area, however if the sore is on the leg, lymph nodes in
the groin are will be affected. The size of the infected nodes ranges between
½ to 2 inches in diameter. They may become warm and red, and occasionally
drain pus.

In most children and adolescents, the swollen lymph nodes are the primary symptom
of cat scratch disease. About a third of those infected have flu-like symptoms
such as, fever, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, sore throat, and even a rash.

Those who are infected in the eye may get Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome, a
problem similar to conjunctivitis ("pink eye") which usually affects
only one eye and is accompanied by nearby swollen lymph nodes and fever.

In more serious cases of cat scratch disease a person my develop infections of
the liver, spleen, bone, joints and lungs.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will probably be able to diagnose cat scratch disease based on the
fact that a person remembers being bitten or scratched by a cat, and then became
infected with painful and swollen lymph nodes. In children, cat scratch disease
is the most common cause of prolonged swelling of lymph nodes in a localized area.
If needed a blood test may be performed to help your doctor make a diagnosis.

Treatment

In most people, cat scratch disease clears up without any treatment. Antibiotics
may be needed in cases where the lymph nodes stay painful and swollen for two
or three months. Antibiotics can also be useful if you have a fever for a long
time or if the infection is in the bones, liver or other organ. In some cases
a physician may need to drain the lymph node to help relieve the pain if it is
very large and painful.

Prevention

It is not usually necessary to get rid of your cat in order to prevent the disease.
Having your cat de-clawed may help curb infections. It is also important to wash
your hands each time after handling your cat. If your child is bitten or scratched
by the family cat, thoroughly wash the area with soap and water. Because the illness
is relatively rare and usually mild, there is no need to panic. Keeping your cat
and home free of fleas will reduce the risk that your cat will become infected.

When to Call the Doctor

Contact your doctor if your child has swollen or painful lymph nodes, or if your
child has been bitten by an animal. Call your doctor if the area around the scratch
or bite continues to get bigger, or if it does not heal within a reasonable amount
of time. Also call if your child has a fever that last several days after receiving
a bite or scratch.

If your child has been diagnosed with cat scratch disease and seems not to be
improving or is getting sicker be sure to call your doctor.

Tips For Spotting 5 Hot Cat Health Symptoms Needing Immediate Attention

No matter how much love and attention you give, felines experience cat illnesses. Recognizing cat health symptoms is challenging because, unlike their human caregiver, cats are rather stoic soldiers. They don't go around grumping when they have a belly ache.

Here are 5 Hot Cat Health Conditions that should alert you that your feline is fighting off sickness or injury.

#1-- A Loss of Appetite

Train yourself to be a responsive and observant caregiver. Take notice when a cat has stopped eating or skipped a meal. If your cat experiences trouble eating, drinking or swallowing, then there is a cause for concern. It is a big RED, FLASHING LIGHT that something is wrong.

A change or lack of appetite can happen slowly or suddenly. Recognizing a change in appetite can be complicated if food is left out for cats to share in a multi-cat household. Her appetite may be off because she is struggling with a hairball or she ate a bad mouse. Far worse, she consumed a poisoned mouse and she is now poisoned, or she is in the early stages of a serious illness like kidney disease or fatty liver syndrome.

When your cat misses a couple of meals it is time for a visit to the vet. Do not wait to see if she is going to suddenly start eating. The sudden drop in food intake causes damage to the liver. This turns into a vicious cycle where the cat won't eat because her liver is sick and no food intake aggravates the liver damage.

#2 -- She Is Lethargic

A noticeable change in your cat's energy levels is also a good indicator that something is awry. Cats do sleep a lot, as much as 18-20 hours a day. However, if you notice she has zero interest in her beloved toys or catnip, she is quietly telling you something is wrong. She has pain or a fever and feels lousy.

#3 -- She's Losing Weight

She probably isn't eating well. When cats are sick they stop eating. When you lift your cat does she feel lighter than normal? Weight loss goes hand-in-hand with loss of appetite, but it can also be a sign of kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes and cancer. Weight loss is considered a serious sign of cat illness and should prompt an immediate trip to the veterinarian.

#4 -- She's Drinking A Lot of Water (Urinating A Lot Too!)

Does she fall to sleep while drinking at the water bowl? The good news is that she's still drinking. A increased need for water leads to an increase in urine. Obviously the two are linked together. After all, if she takes a lot of water in, it has got to go out sometime. Common causes of excessive thirst and urination include kidney disease, diabetes and elevated thyroid levels.

#5 -- Urination Is Painful or Interrupted

When a cat strains using the litter box, has accidents outside the box, squats for a long time, cries, or repositions herself over and over, you have spotted a problem indicating one or more cat illnesses. If you could view her urine under a microscope, odds are you would find traces of blood.

Male cats may lick at the tip of the penis or suddenly lose his appetite, vomit or become very vocal during urination. More than likely he is experiencing a complete blockage. A male cat that is straining during urination is having a fire-alarm emergency. Get him to the vet pronto.

When a female cat strains during urination it may not be a complete blockage because her urethra (the tube that drains the bladder to the outside) is wider than a male cat's and is less likely to clog. However, if she can't urinate that means she can't eliminate her body's liquid waste. A blocked cat becomes ill in 24 hours and can die in 72 hours -- don't wait for the weekend to pass!

Your veterinarian can unblock the urethra by inserting a catheter. This removes the obstruction allowing the urine to drain. It is most easily accomplished with early detection of the problem.

Urinary problems can be caused by a number of things, including bladder stones in the urethra, dietary causes, bacterial infections and the least understood problem, feline lower urinary tract disorder (FLUTD). This illness can be related to stress or a virus similar to a human's cold sore.

Some cat illness can be handled with gentle care and love at home, but other conditions are potentially life-threatening requiring immediate medical attention. As a feline caregiver, there is a certain amount of on-the-job training, but delaying a trip to the vet or waiting to see if things improve can be expensive or even cost your feline her life.

Your relationship with your cat is what helps you get through your personal trials and rough times. If you lost her because you failed to recognize a life-threatening, but treatable condition would you always regret your ignorance? The answer is obvious isn't it?

Bottom line: Don't be shy about calling your vet. Also, find a trusted resource to coach you through cat behavior or cat care questions and your chances for having a delightful, loving and long-lived feline partner become a whole lot better.

Spear Hunting

Spears have been used as a weapon for hunting since the dawn of man. Even highly functioning animals, such as chimps and orangutans, have been observed fashioning spears from twigs and tree branches. Originally, the hunter would simply sharpen the end of a long stick by peeling away the bark and gnawing at the wood until the desired point was achieved. As humans advanced in intelligence and knowledge, rocks such as obsidian and bronze or iron metals were fashioned into tips shaped like triangles and tied to the end of a pole with rawhide. Evidence of ancient spears used by man can be traced back to over 300,000 years ago. Spear hunting was common on virtually every inhabited continent. Stone arrowheads, used by North American Indians can be found in fields and pastures all over North America, especially in the Midwestern United States.

Often the hunters would throw the spears, especially if they were hunting wild game. Boars, deer, gazelles and other animals that ran in herds or groups were usually the targets of spear throwers. Throwing into the herd or group would frequently slow down at least one animal to allow for an easy catch. Another target for spear hunting was birds. An experienced spear hunter easily brought down waterfowl such as ducks and geese as well as land birds including quail, wild turkeys and pheasant.

Spearing fish was also a common practice, although thrusting the spear rather than throwing it over large distances was usually done. The hunter could stand at the edge of a stream or lake or crouch on a rock midstream and quietly wait until a fish, crab or lobster came within reach of the spear. Rushing streams that contained spawning fish such as tuna and salmon were a favorite of human and animal hunters alike. Spears were viewed as a symbol of virility and manliness just as firearms are today. Those who were expert with the spear and brought home the most food to eat were revered as leaders and were the most desirable among the females of the group. Spears were often decorated with carvings and beads to represent the personality of the owner.

Spear hunting is still practiced today by Alaskan Eskimos and isolated African tribes as well as those who wish for the challenge not afforded with a firearm. Rocker Ted Nugent, famous for such hits as "Cat Scratch Fever" and "Stranglehold" practices spear hunting along with the many environmental issues he advocates.

What "Key" is a Song In?

"Key" can refer to a several things. They include:

1. The key signature or parent major scale
2. The root
3. The first note or chord of a song.
4. The mode

In most cases when a guitar player says "key," he is referring to the chord or note that sounds like the tonal center of the song. This root may not always match the actual key which should be based on the parent major scale. For example, "Gloria" by Van Morrison revolves around, and resolves on E, but the chords are derived from the A major scale's V IV and I (this produces E mixolydian mode).

Sometimes guitar players will name a key simply by whatever note or chord is first. For example, "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd starts on D, but G is the strongest tonal center, and the chords are derived from the G major scale's V IV and I. The majority of the melodies, riffs and solos are based on G major pentatonic and G major scale. It's more correct to say the song is in G, but most players call it D.

As you can see, guitar players have different meanings for the word "key," and musicians can examine a song's structure from different perspectives. Understanding how to recognize parent major scales and roots is critical to applying scales correctly for playing melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos and bass lines. A good approach to learning guitar theory is to always start with the parent major scale, then identify which note is functioning as the root.

Cat Illness Symptoms - Keeping Your Kitty Healthy

Cat illness symptoms can be easy to spot, like vomiting up a hairball, or harder to determine, like when they are running a temperature. Some of the more familiar symptoms of illness are eye and ear discharge, hair loss, sneezing and coughing, and diarrhea or constipation. Hairballs are quite normal, and not usually a problem. Other signs require some attention to notice, such as loss of appetite, excessive thirst or abnormal urination, skin problems, and depression.

Cats normally alternate periods of sleeping and rest with periods of play and activity. Some cats eat whenever they are hungry if you allow them to self feed, or daily when you set down some food. A loss of appetite, of course, will be seen by their food dish remaining full, or if they turn away from it. When you clean out their litter box, you would notice any loose stools from diarrhea, and if constipated, you may notice them spending a long time in the litter box trying to defecate.

One symptom alone is not usually serious, but in combinations, cat illness symptoms may indicate real problems only a veterinarian can diagnose. If your cat is lethargic, not acting normally, there could be other causes. Combined with thirst and weight loss, it could point to chronic kidney failure. While not curable, this is controllable with diet and medication.

Cat flu, or a respiratory infection can be fought with antibiotics and care. Symptoms include what you might expect, coughing, sneezing, runny eyes, fever, heavy breathing, loss of appetite and fever. Just like in humans!

Abscess can be from an injury or cat fight, when infection sets into a wound. Symptoms will include swelling, fever, and lethargy. This is treatable with antibiotics or occasionally surgery is needed.

Combinations of cat illness symptoms can mean more serious problems like feline diabetes or distemper. The signs of feline diabetes are similar to human diabetes symptoms, increased thirst and urination. Other signs include weight loss, poor coat condition, loss of appetite, and general lack of energy. This condition can be treated, again as in human cases, with insulin injections and diet.

Other cat illnesses symptoms the vet can diagnose include feline distemper, leukemia, ringworm, urinary tract infections, worms and cat AIDS (FIV). Cat illness symptoms mirror our human symptoms, and if you take your cat in to see the veterinarian on a regular basis, just like seeing your own doctor, prevention is the best medicine.

Keeping your cat healthy is part of cat care and your responsibility as a caring cat owner. Your kitty may need special food, or medicine, and testing only a vet can provide. Most cats enjoy happy, healthy, long lives and become part of the family. And you can usually tell when your cat is not feeling right because their activity patterns will visibly change. That is the time to stop and pay attention closely, so you help your little friend through a problem time in their life. They depend on you for everything!

About Cat Scratch Disease

Owning a family or personal pet is a common joy for many people throughout the United States. Among the most common domesticated animals that people choose to adopt are cats. Cats are more low-maintenance than other types of common pets, and they can live either inside or outside the residence. Certain breeds of cats also offer up benefits such as maintaining pest and rodent control around the home.

How do I catch cat scratch disease?

While cats are sources of pleasure for many, however, they also can pose certain threats to you, your family, or anyone else who may come into contact with them. Cats can be temperamental, and often times they may -- even unintentionally -- scratch or bite people. When this happens, the attacked person is at risk of developing what is known as cat scratch disease (also known to some as cat scratch fever).

Only 40% of cats are liable to ever carry with them Bartonella henselae, the bacterium that causes cat scratch disease. Those that do have this type of bacteria in their systems carry it in their saliva. When the infected felines scratch or bite a human, they are liable to pass it along to the wounded victim. While cats themselves do not show any signs of infection from Bartonella, affected humans can experience many undesirable and painful symptoms.

What are the symptoms?

Typically, the first sign of cat scratch disease is a bump or blister on the skin, similar to one that may develop as a result of a bug bite. Over time, roughly a couple of weeks, the individual's lymph nodes will swell up and become tender. Other common symptoms include fatigue, headache, achiness, and fever. People may also suffer from a sore throat, loss in appetite, or weight loss.

People who are more likely to develop cat scratch fever and suffer from the more severe symptoms include those who have depleted or deficient immune systems, such as those who are suffering from HIV/AIDS or who are undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment. In these victims, cat scratch disease may be fatal if it is left untreated.

How do I prevent cat scratch disease?

If one is looking to prevent the development of this disease, he or she should always thoroughly clean any open wound sustained from a cat bite or scratch. One should apply anti-bacterial ointment to the wounded area and then cover it up with a sterile bandage. If symptoms begin to develop, the afflicted individual should seek medical attention.

Cat Scratch Disease - From Claws To Humans

Symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease

Cat scratch disease is a malady spread by cats, but that affects only humans; it's also called cat scratch fever. Disease symptoms are most frequently diagnosed in the colder winter and fall months of the year for reasons scientists don't understand; it's possible that cats are more likely to be indoors at this time, increasing the chance of human exposure overall to feline diseases.

Cat scratch disease is produced by bacteria called Bartonella henselea that usually lives in the mouths of cats. They spread it to their claws through routine grooming. Interestingly, it is not transmitted through cat bites, only through cat scratches.

Most Americans have been exposed to this malady, and 5% of the US population has antibodies in their blood but no history of clinical malady. Because antibodies are only made in response to the invasion of a disease, it is clear that they were exposed to Bartonella directly. It is possible that they did not subsequently become ill, or that the disease was mistaken for the flu.

This disease presents flu-like symptoms. The most common symptoms include fever, chills, and lethargy, but they last for only a few days, much shorter than most flu's.

There is a more severe kind of that causes high fever, anorexia, weakness, and badly swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the armpits and groin area. Sometimes the lymph swelling gets so severe that the swelling spontaneously ruptures; at other times, doctors choose to surgically drain them to prevent the rupture and relieve the pain.

Typically, the most serious form of the disease is seen in younger children and the elderly, and people with frail immune systems, such as those who have HIV, are receiving chemotherapy, or who have been the recipient of an organ donation. When the serious form of the disease presents itself, the consequences for the victim can be disability or even death.

If the disease in humans is treated immediately with antibiotics, the outcome is generally good, but it's very hard to diagnose because cat scratch disease symptoms it's so similar to flu and because it is not a oft-seen disease. The symptoms are often overlooked in its earliest stages, and only caught when the lymph nodes are involved. Almost every documented case follows a cat scratch wound; a few occur after a bite, and a few even crop up with no noticeable cause.

Another oddity of cat scratch disease is that occasionally are adult cats involved in the transmission. Generally, a kitten passes the disease. This does not mean you should not worry about it with an older cat, but only that you should worry more about kittens. It is infectious for only about two or three weeks in a kitten, after which it goes dormant. It can return, however.

Kittens can be diagnosed as carriers by a simple blood test, and positive kittens can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Because this disease can come back, however, this is not a silver bullet for thwarting it. De-clawing kittens at an early age is the best way to prevent infection. You should be aware of the consequences to the cat before de-clawing it, however. Not only can it be dangerous for the cat to go outside, it can also be psychologically traumatic and cause unexpected complications like arthritis.

There are a few alternatives to de-clawing your cat, such as claw covers or trimming back their claws, but you will have to be wary if you are in a home with an immunocompromised person.

Fewer than ten percent of family members scratched by a cat carrying the disease will develop the sickness, and very serious illness from the disease is rare. If you've been exposed once, you are almost surely immune to it afterward.

Cat scratch disease must not be confused with other feline malady's, such as the cat-borne disease, toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is poisonous to a pregnant woman's fetus, but presents in different ways and is more likely to be inhaled when a woman changes the litter box. Symptoms can be risky to a pregnant woman as well, but in an entirely different way.

Stone in Right Ureter

I was busy in the operation theater in a fibroadenoma surgery. A call was received from my medicine counterpart regarding a case of pain in the right lower abdomen. He has hinted in his note towards an acute appendicitis. I visited the patient pending a thyroid goiter surgery. The patient only had pain in the right lower abdomen and nothing else viz. vomiting or fever etc. I quickly examined the abdomen there was no pain on pressure on the part and abdomen was calm. These are against an acute appendicitis. However ultrasonogram and blood test were ordered. I returned for the thyroid surgery. When I concluded the surgery the ultrasonogram was ready. That showed a stone in the right side ureter as well as one in the right kidney.

A stone in the right lower ureter always confuses the surgeon with appendicitis. Clinical catch points include lack of typical symptoms of appendicitis i. e. the sequence of event of pain, vomiting and fever. Apart from this patient with a stone in ureter roles about in pain in contrast to appendicitis where patient prefers to remain still. There is lack of pain on pressure over the site, no resistance to pressure and no pain on releasing the pressure. An ultrasonogram clinches the diagnosis where as a plain X-Rays may be helpful in about 40 to 50 percent of cases. An intravenous urogram is confirmatory and gives functional status of kidney and may show other abnormalities in the urinary system if present.

A stone may come out through the urethra if small in size and a plenty of water drinking is advised. A larger stone can be removed either surgically , laparocopically or endoscopically according to the suitability. Stone formation can be prevented by drinking as much water so that there is urine of 2 liters in 24 hours. Supplementation of vitamin A and prompt treatment of urinary infection are important. Long term intake of calcium and steroid should be avoided . A parathyroid hyperactivity if present is to be treated. A congenital abnormality in the urinary system is to be looked at and treated.

Cat Allergies - Causes and Treatments

Itching is the most common sign of allergies in cats and dogs. Allergic dermatitis is inflammation of the skin that occurs after it has been exposed to something to which it is allergic, known as an allergen. The number-one sign of allergies in pets is itching. Cats lick, bite, chew and scratch themselves to the point of self-mutilation. The result is red, raw areas of skin with oozing sores and hair loss.

Allergies are caused by an "allergen", which is a substance that causes a hypersensitive reaction, which is usually itching. Almost 20 percent of all cats suffer from one or more allergies. Fleas, airborne particles, and foods are the top three causes. Plants with oily leaves, like rubber plants, and certain medications, including Tetracycline and Neomycin, can cause skin eruptions. Various types of kitty litter also cause allergic reactions.

TYPES OF ALLERGIES

* Flea allergies are responsible for up to 90 percent of itching in cats. Cats groom themselves constantly, which often quickly removes all evidence of fleas. Consider fleas first in any itching cat, regardless of whether or not fleas can be found.

* Inhalant allergies are the second most common type of allergy in cats. Atopy, Allergic Inhalant Dermatitis, and Atopic Dermatitis are terms that are used synonymously with Inhalant Allergies. Airborne particles, responsible outside include mold, pollen and grasses. Indoors, tobacco smoke, carpet cleaners and perfumes are common causes. Unlike people with inhalant allergies that sneeze and get a runny nose, the primary sign of these allergies in cats is itching. Occasionally cats wheeze and develop breathing problems. Signs of Atopy often begin with a seasonal pattern that that too coincides with the so-called "hay fever" season for people, but eventually inhalant allergies become a year-round condition. Most cases are inherited and can be controlled but not cured.

* Food allergies are the third most common reason cats itch. Eighty percent of cats with a food allergy have been eating the "adverse" food for over two years before a reaction occurs. Beef, dairy products and fish cause 90 percent of the problems. Itching is the number one sign of a food allergy, with the exception of a "milk intolerance", which results in diarrhea. Up to one third of cats with food allergies have concurrent flea allergies and/or Inhalant Allergies.

SYMPTOMS

* Itching

* Licking

* Biting

* Excessive grooming behavior

* Small scabs on head, neck and ears or all over body

* Hair loss with or without scabs

* Skin crusts and plaques on head, neck and back

WHAT YOUR VET CAN DO

Determine underlying cause of itching and treat accordingly.

1. Eliminate fleas in Flea Allergies.

2. Certified veterinary skin specialists offer blood and skin testing, which can confirm certain hard to diagnose inhalant allergies.

3. Allergy free dietary trials are often effective for food allergies.

Itching usually resolves when the underlying problem is cured. Unfortunately, many allergies can not be cured but most can be controlled.

Itching may be controlled or relieved with a variety of products.

1. Antihistamines may be effective to relieve itching
a. Benadryl
b. Tavist
c. Atarax
d. Chlortrimaton

2. Vitamin C with Bioflavinoids in high doses has an antihistamine effect and often helps relieve itching. 250 mg of powder 2 to 3 times daily in food.

3. Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplementation
a. Fish Oil
b. Flaxseed
c. Evening Primrose Oil
d. 1/8 teaspoon Salmon oil added to meals.

4. Oatmeal Based Shampoos - Oatmeal may relieve itching and skin irritation up to 72 hours.

5. Witch Hazel is soothing and comes as a spray or lotion; the spray works best in cats.

6. Aloe Vera Gel is available at health food stores. It contains enzymes that reduce skin irritation.

7. Corticosteroids like, prednisone may be the only effective medication to relieve itching in certain cases. Alternative therapies generally reduce the effective dose of corticosteroids needed on a long-term basis. In cats, unlike dogs and people, steroids are tolerated quite well and side effects are minimal.

COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENTS

HOMEOPATHIC

Graphites 6x - a form of carbon. One pellet on tongue every 4 hours until signs are gone for up to 5 days. Discontinue if no improvement in first 24-hours. Withhold food 10 minutes before and after treatment.

HERBAL

Topical Herbs to reduce itching and skin irritation include:

* Calendula - an herb that can be used topically.

* Comfrey - this herb can be used topically as a rinse to reduce itching. Comfrey contains "allantoin" which promotes healing.

* Chamomile - this herb reduces skin irritation and has antioxidant properties. Can be used topically.

How To Get Rid Of Allergies

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to get rid of allergies. An allergy is the reaction of the immune system to substances your body thinks are harmful to you. Once the body detects these foreign substances (which are called allergens), it releases a chemical into your bloodstream (the most common being histamine) and these chemicals cause the familiar allergic reaction you get: the runny nose, the watery eyes and the rashes on your skin. The more severe allergies are called anaphylactic reactions and can cause you to have chest pains, breathing difficulties or even loss of consciousness.

Because the body will always react the same way to allergens every time, you can't really do anything to permanently get rid of an allergic reaction. You can, however, prevent allergies from happening by avoiding allergens that affect you. If you're already affected, you can get rid of the allergic symptoms instead. In the case of allergies, the saying "prevention is the best cure" really applies.

First, identify your allergens. Everyone has different allergic reactions to different allergens, so it is impossible to treat someone's allergy based on another's reaction. For this reason, it is imperative that you identify which allergen you have a reaction to. You can accomplish this through the process of elimination. When you develop symptoms of allergy, try to think of the immediate things around you that could have triggered it. Things like the food you ate, the material of the clothes you wore, or even the things you touched are perfectly good suspects. The hard thing about allergies is that anything can be an allergen. It is only through experiencing one personally that you can start identifying it.

When trying to pinpoint your allergens, keep a list of the common allergens. You can find them in medical books or on the Internet. This way, the process of elimination will be easier. Since you can have allergic reactions to multiple allergens, a list can also be helpful to keep track of all the possibilities. If you still can't identify your allergens on your own, enlist the help of a doctor. An allergy testing can be done, which usually involve scratch tests that bring out reactions that point to specific allergens.

Once you've identified your allergens, get rid of them. The simplest way to get rid of the allergens is to get them out of your environment. For example, if you are allergic to peanuts or to shellfish, remove them from your diet. If you're eating out in a restaurant, ask the waiter about the ingredients of the food so you won't have an embarrassing attack in the middle of the restaurant. Likewise, if you're allergic to certain animals, like cat or dog fur, get them out of your house or steer clear of them.

Be sure to clean your house or environment regularly. Remember that allergens are not usually rooted in one place. Therefore, if someone brought a cat over and you're allergic to cat fur, you are still at risk from any fluff the cat may have left behind, even if the cat's long gone. Also, one of the more common allergens is dust, so regular house-cleaning will ensure that you're relatively safe, always.

If you can't get rid of an allergen (say, the allergen is a pollen from one of the flowers your next-door neighbor has), then the best course of action would be for you to get pharmacological help.

Use allergen-free products.

There are various products on the market that advertise themselves as hypoallergenic. Hypoallergenic products have ingredients that are less likely to cause any allergic reaction. While they do not totally eliminate allergens, hypoallergenic products contain as few common allergens as possible. Products such as pillows, detergents, beddings, and food have their hypoallergenic counterparts. For pet lovers, there are pets that are promoted as hypoallergenic, such as the Yorkshire terrier, whose hair or coat does not shed, and whose pH is the same as the human hair, so there is no dander.

Antihistamines can help you alleviate the symptoms of allergies. Antihistamines are drug products that serve to inhibit or counteract the effect of histamines in your body. As mentioned before, your allergic reaction is mainly due to the histamines produced by the body's immune system when it senses an allergen. While antihistamines do not remove the allergy per se, they can help you relieve the allergic reactions, like the sneezing and the scratching. Most commonly, antihistamines come in nasal spray or oral form. Oral ones usually contain an added decongestant or pain reliever. Examples of common over-the-counter antihistamines are Benadryl and Claritin.

Antihistamines come in two families: the first generation and the second generation. The first generation antihistamines generally have heavier side effects than the second generation. Before taking any antihistamine, consult with your physician because he or she can prescribe the most apt medication for your case.

Take food and vitamin supplements. There are several vitamins and minerals that can boost and strengthen the body's immune system, helping to combat allergens. Vitamin C, for example, is believed to be a good natural antihistamine when taken in sufficient doses. Certain antioxidants like grape seed extracts and N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) are also good immune boosters that help your immune system cope better with the allergens. Consult with your physician about these supplements and how they can be used in conjunction with drugs to better alleviate your allergic reactions.

Check for other medical alternatives. Allergen immunotherapy is a procedure in which you are injected with allergen vaccines. The aim is to reach a dose that will consistently reduce your allergies by moderating and controlling your immune system's reaction to them. The procedure does involve the risk of possibly inducing anaphylaxis, but advances in modern standard vaccines have lessened the risk of the side effects. Allergen immunotherapy has been developed specifically for several allergens like cat dander, red top, and sweet vernal grasses. Allergen immunotherapy should only be considered when normal, conventional methods of alleviating the allergy have proved ineffective.

Allergic reactions can be very annoying and uncomfortable, especially if you are allergic to several allergens at the same time. While there are many treatments available today and many others currently in development, everything should always be discussed with your physician. Allergies are common, but you can live life with them without suffering too much inconvenience.