Archive for the ‘Health & beauty’


What Smells Does Your Cat Love?

Going back many years, maybe fifteen, I had a cat Nikki. He was a very affection and vocal male Seal Point Himalayan cat. Well, he always knew if one of use used pain relieving rub. Several times if my back was sore I’d have the husband rub some icy hot on it and I’d lay on the couch. Every time I had that on Nikki would come around and get excited by it. How crazy is that! I might not have found it strange had it been shaving cream, or even the best eye cream, but menthol rub? Strange! Do you use any personal products that your cat actually loves the scent of?

How to Take A Walk With A Busy Schedule

Some of the most effective things you can do to get in shape and lose weight is free – walking. One of my doctors once told me that you could eat exactly what you eat now and not gain weight by simply walking a mile a day. If you think you don’t have time in your busy work day to walk, you do. Take a walk on your break. I walk with a coworker twice a day, once for ten minutes and once for fifteen. It’s helping me with weight loss and I’m feeling pretty good. I don’t get out of breath like I used to. If the weather doesn’t permit walking outside, walk inside. I’m not referring to walking circles on your tile floor at home – leave that to the cat. Go to the mall or grocery store and walk it. You’ll feel better for having done it!

Do You Brush Your Cat’s Teeth?

My brother has terrible teeth. One of them broke a little over a week ago. He went to the dentist last week and they started three root canals. He needs a lot of work done. I saw some great before and after shots from a Plano dentist but we’re too far away to go there. I know a woman that actually chose to have all of her teeth removed and permanent false ones put in. Seemed a bit extreme to me. Anyway.

Do you ever brush your cat’s teeth? I tried once and it did not go well. I admit I gave up. I should have tried harder, because it is important that pets have home dental care. I can’t imagine giving a cat false teeth. So who here has tips for brushing a cat’s teeth?

Pet Acne

I never knew household pets could have acne. While surfing the web today I actually found articles indicating that cats can get acne. The information on PetPlace said it’s rather common and that it’s a lifelong condition limited to the chin and lips, and that it is diagnosed and treated by a vet. For dogs, it’s also limited to the chin and lips but is only from a few months old to about a year. I’ve never seen any over the counter acne solutions for pets in the store. Have you ever had a pet with acne?

Conditions Humans And Cats Have In Common

There are many conditions cats can have that can’t be passed from cat to human, such as feline leukemia and feline mesothelioma. There are some diseases that can be passed from cats to humans, they are called feline zoonoses (Cat Human Disease). I was curious how many diseases could be passed from cat to human so I did some reading. While there is no one authoritative answer, the concensus is that there are five feline zoonoses that cat owners should be aware of – toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, bacterial enteritis, skin problems and rabies. The most common way disease can be spread is through fleas, a scratch or a bite.

Doggie Diet Pills

Yes you read that correctly. Diet pills. For dogs. I didn’t know that there was such a thing, did you? I was surfing the web today and came across a link to Slentrol, a diet pill for dogs made by Pfizer. We knew someone with a very overweight dog and their vet told them the safest way to help the dog lose weight was to monitor what foods and how much of them they gave the dog and to make sure he got lots of exercise. Would you put your dog on diet pills?

Saliva spreads salmonella

I was reading an MSNBC article from February about the contaminated peanuts. Basically the article mentioned that someone had given his dog tainted crackers and the dog died the next day from the salmonella. The article made me realize a couple of things I hadn’t thought of or hadn’t realized. Pets are susceptible to salmonella just like their owners. The pet can pass it to his owner by licking him. The CDC’s suggests that people do the following steps to keep themselves safe – regularly wash pet bowls, always thoroughly wash your hands after handling pet foods, avoid contact of human food and utensils with pet food,
and thorough cleaning of all cleaning surfaces.

Know your insurance

Not all health plans are created equal. When I was young I thought that health insurance was health insurance. Now that I work in the industry I know better.You should be familiar with the details of your coverage before you need to use it. If you’re not sure what’s covered call the insurance company and ask. For any type of testing be sure you know beforehand if you need a precertification, preauthorization or reference number. Before visiting a specialist be sure you know if you need a referral. And always take down the name (and extension if possible) of the representative you spoke with. Knowing your insurance coverage can save you a lot of time and money.

Questions for the shoe lovers

 I am not a shoe lover. I despise shoe shopping because my feet are big and I can never find styles that I like that fit. I will be needing a pair of boots for the winter and will almost certainly have to shop online. With it getting colder here I’m starting to see people wearing their UGGs. I’ve always thought that Uggs look pretty warm and comfortable. The ones I like are shorter and have no zipper, I believe from their website they’re called the Short and the Mini. How easy are they to put on? I saw a new style with a zipper called the UGG Knightsbridge that has a zipper but they’re too tall and I don’t like them. Are they comfortable and durable enough to justify the expensive price? Also I have another question. Are UGGs comfortable and durable enough to justify the expensive price?I’d love to hear your replies, they might help me make my decision.

Electric blankets and pets

If you have an electric blanket, you might or might not be aware that pets and electric blankets don’t mix. Never put an electric blanket in your pet’s bed and don’t let them get too comfortable on yours. Your dog or cat might chew on the wire and cause electrocution. Or, a nail might accidentally damage the covering of the wire or the wire itself, making it unsafe to use. Be warm, but be safe.