Outdoor Creatures

How to (outdoor animals) Help Dog With Itchy Skin

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By Amy Nutt

 Dog allergies are fairly common and can be the cause of dry, itchy skin. If your dog is scratching a lot, he could be suffering from environmental allergens like pollen and dust, or even from inflammation caused by flea bites. Another source of itching could be the shampoo or grooming products used on your pooch.

This is because a dog’s skin is ten times more sensitive his caretaker’s. This makes them highly susceptible to the irritants found in their surroundings.

Getting to the heart of the matter may take a multi-pronged approach due to the numerous causes for canine itching. Making time to do this however, will be essential in diagnosing and subsequently curing your dog’s skin ailment.

Proper Grooming

While dogs often run away from the dreaded bath or flea dip, most do not mind being brushed. This is because loving pet parents who know what they’re doing can make it an enjoyable experience. With the proper products, habitual grooming may even make a dogs skin healthier. Keeping the skin healthy is one significant way to keep itchiness to a minimum.

If you find you rarely have time to groom (or don’t know how to do it properly) take your doggie to a pro.

Groomers use products that help a dog maintain a healthy coat, which is gained from healthy skin.

Provide a Skin Protective Diet

Just like human beings, dogs may be susceptible to food allergies. Even organic pet food or treats can have ingredients in them that cause the dog’s skin to be dry and flaky.

To uncover the offending item, try changing the foods your pet eats. If and when you find the suspect ingredient, remove it from your pet’s diet. This could in turn alleviate your dog’s dry itch.

Also, be sure to scan future purchases to ensure new products are free of this particular allergen.

Bathing and Dipping

Some dog owners may be over washing their pet, which can lead to dryness, especially if the products being used are chemically based. This is due to the fact that many chemicals found in maintenance products can be extremely harsh to a dog’s skin. However, even with organic pet products, over washing is not a good idea.

Washing once a month is always best.

If fleas are the cause of the itching, then a dip could be the solution. Taking your pet to the vet would be the best course of action, but if you insist on doing the dip yourself, look into organic products that won’t irritate the dog’s skin further. As a matter of fact, if your pet suffers from chronic dry, itchy skin, you should look into an organic line of grooming and maintenance product anyway.

Remember to use lukewarm water when bathing your pet as well and towel dry your dog as opposed to blow drying him or her. These all important steps will continue to keep the skin from over-drying.

When to visit the vet

Realistically speaking, your dog itchiness can be a reaction to any number of things, including the mange. If you have tried to figure out the source of your dog’s condition and come up empty, it may be time to take them to the veterinarian.

A vet can do a ton of diagnostics that will aid them in determining the factors that are contributing to the skin problem.

They will also be able to employ a variety of solutions, like steroid injections, topical or oral cortisone and/or antihistamines.

Once you uncover what is behind yours dogs dry and itching skin, you can take the steps necessary to protect them. The health of your dog and his quality of life could very well depend on what you do in the regard and your loyal and adoring companion is worth all the effort.

Find all wholesale dog supplies for your canine friend; from dog shampoo to dog itchy skin remedies.

How To Restore Water-Damaged Carpets And Other Types Of Flooring
By Gayelord Nash

 Floorings are on the lowest components of a home. As a result, they are also the ones which incur massive water damage, especially if the cause of the water damage starts on the ground, as in the case of a flood. In general, flooring materials can be salvaged from water damage as long as it is treated and dried immediately.

Carpets are among the favorite types of flooring for most American homes. When these have been exposed to water for more than 48 hours, carpets are usually unsalvageable from water damage anymore. Aside from the fact that it can absorb a lot of water and has been completely damaged, it may have also harbored mold and mildew that can be detrimental to your health. This also applies to carpets that have been damaged by contaminated water. However, if it has been immediately treated and dried in about 24-28 hours, it can still be cleaned and restored. You also have to make sure that you inspect the subflooring underneath for signs of water damage.

In restoring carpets and rugs, you have to let them dry outside immediately if the weather condition is fine. If this is not possible, you can also opt to dry them indoors, opening the windows and doors to let air circulate. You can also use fans to speed up the drying process.

After making sure that the carpet is dry, you must then remove dirt and debris from your carpets. To do this, you can either vacuum the carpet, or use a high pressure hose to rinse all the dirt off. Remember though that if you make use of a high pressure hose, it must be done outdoors and before the drying process. After that, you can use a commercial rug shampoo to deep clean it. The last step involves drying the carpet once again by laying it out in a warm place or using a fan to speed up the process.

For floorings such as linoleum and vinyl, you must first keep in mind that these should be removed so as to allow the subflooring to dry completely. Just like carpets, you have to dry the floorings as immediate as possible, and then clean away all the debris trapped in it. If you suspect of mold growth, do not hesitate to throw it away.

Tile floors, on the other hand, are water resistant. That is why it is often used as flooring materials for bathrooms and kitchens, since these places are always exposed to water. Make sure that the tiles are well installed though. Improper installation of tiles may cause water to drip into the subflooring. To inspect whether your tiles are well-equipped, remove a few tiles and assess the subflooring for signs of water damage.

Cleaning tile floors is a breeze. Just scrub off the tiles and rinse them with clean water. Afterwards, exposing them to the open air to dry will do just fine.

Wooden floor boards and subflooring can also be salvaged from water damage by drying them gradually so as to prevent buckling. However, if the floor boards are already swelling because of moisture, it is advisable to discard them. You can also reduce buckling by removing some boards and retaining the others.

Gayelord Nash writes about about home issues for Long Island, NY water damage and Long Island, NY Water Damage Repair

Flood-Damaged Floors And Carpets
By Evie Parrish

 Floors and carpets can easily fall prey to flood damage since these are easily the first portions of the house that can be submerged by floodwaters.

Wooden floors are most susceptible to flood damage because of the inherent nature of wood to absorb water. This can cause the wooden floor to swell and buckle.

If flood damaged wooden boards are observed to have absorbed a substantial amount of water, it would be advisable to remove a board every few feet to reduce potential buckling. This can happen if adjacent boards continue to swell.

Then there is the problem of drying them. While many household possessions can be dried quickly using various drying techniques, wooden floors cannot be dried abruptly since doing so would introduce cracks. One simple and safe drying technique for wooden floors is air-drying. Doors and windows should be opened to bring down the humidity. Fans may also be used to speed up the drying process.

To clean flood damaged floors, one may use brooms or vacuum cleaners. After the floor is swept and vacuumed clean, it is advisable to apply oil soap or any cleaning oil used for wood floors. Apply the oil using clean rags using straight strokes going with the grain of the wood. The oil should be spread as evenly as possible. This is done to ensure an even finish when you are done.

Linoleum and vinyl floors are also vulnerable to flood damage although not as much as wood floors. Only when water is trapped in the subfloor underneath is the damage escalated. This can happen when there is a loose section, usually at the edge of the floor, where water can seep in. When this happens, the floor can be expected to loosen some more. Hence, the only solution would be to remove the floors and allow them and the subflooring to dry.

Tile floors are the least affected by flood. One simply has to remove the mud and dirt. A strong hose, brooms, or if necessary, a shovel may be used. When all the dirt is removed, and the surface rinsed, you may consider scrubbing it with a tile brush.

As with wooden floors, rags and carpets can also be most vulnerable to flood damage. The reason is also the same: rags and carpets can absorb huge amounts of water. If the rags and carpets are not removed, they can affect the surrounding area by preventing them from drying up quickly. For this reason, rags and carpets have to be immediately moved outdoors and spread under the heat of the sun. If the weather conditions are not cooperative, the carpets and rags will have to be dried indoors with the help of fans and/or dehumidifiers.

Rags and carpets that are soaking wet can also be a breeding ground for bacteria and molds that can be hazardous to the health. Usually, carpet and rags that are left soaking wet for more than 24 hours are sure to contain molds in the initial stages of growth and cause considerable flood damage.

As soon as the rags and carpets are spread, clean them with a pressurized hose, shampoo and brush with a soft bristle. Only after cleaning should they be dried.

Evie Parrish speaks about homeowner issues for flooded wet basement and Ronkonkoma, Islip NY wet basement drying

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Thursday, September 25th, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under pets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.