As a pet owner, you’d put every effort to keep fleas and ticks from bothering your pet. While infestation can take weeks or months to control, it’s wise to take precautions that prevent them from starting in the first place. It can disrupt your pets’ daily activities and affect your routine too. However, there are effective products that can be deterrents for fleas and ticks, eliminating these unwelcome guests. Read on to know more. 1. Diatomaceous earth It’s silica-based dust that can effectively dry out and eliminate flea eggs and larvae. Apply it to carpets, along baseboards, and on scratching posts where your pet usually scratches. It’s advisable to leave it for a few days to a couple of weeks before vacuuming. The good thing is, it’s non-toxic but can be irritating to the lungs. Make sure to wear a dust mask and keep pets and kids away while applying this product. 2. Essential oil-based, non-chemical products The natural ingredients in essential oil-based, non-chemical products fight fleas while protecting your pet’s coat. These products can also help soothe and heal irritated skin caused by fleabites and ticks. Use some essential oil with a flea comb to spread the natural and soothing ingredients evenly throughout the coat.

Your furry companion is a prime source of your happiness, and the bond you share is indeed a special one. Hence, it’s no surprise that you want to feed your dog only the best meals and treats. However, the possibilities of adverse reactions and food allergies in dogs is more common than you think. While some symptoms are obvious, other symptoms are more subtle and not noticeable until they worsen. However, a close observation will help you recognize them before they cause severe discomfort for your dog. The most common types of food allergies in dogs discussed here can help you take the necessary precautions before feeding your dog: 1. Gastrointestinal symptoms Very often, a food allergy in your dog shows various symptoms related to the gastrointestinal tract. Any food allergy affects the digestive system and causes abdominal pain and discomfort, including vomiting and diarrhea with or without blood or mucus. Difficulty to pass stools and sudden weight loss are two other common symptoms of food allergies in dogs. However, in rare cases, your dog can also experience breathing problems, along with nasal congestion and discharge. Food allergies can also affect your dog’s nervous system, and it may also experience seizures.

Essential oils are beneficial for humans and pets too. These are natural plant-based liquids used in aromatherapy as an alternate medicine and for inducing tranquility and calmness. While some oils benefit cats, most are highly toxic and can cause life-threatening reactions. Even safe ones can be potentially dangerous if overused or ingested. To ensure your furry friends’ safety, ensure you feed them a high quality salmon cat food, and vet-approved Friskies Indoor Delights and hairball treats, as well as be cautious of these four toxic essential oils that can be potentially harmful to cats: 1. Tea tree essential oil This oil is extracted from the Australian tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, and is a potent healing oil rich in antifungal and antibacterial elements. It has anti-inflammatory effects and is available in high concentrations that can lead to severe poisoning. Even a few drops of this oil can result in adverse reactions in your cat, including tremors, liver enzymes, and can cause death. 2. Wintergreen essential oil It’s a highly toxic essential oil for cats since the high dosage of methyl salicylate causes rapid toxin build-up. Once ingested, your cat will experience asthma, severe gastrointestinal issues, liver failure, and other dangerous ailments.

It’s important to observe your pet closely and note any subtle or significant changes in your pet’s behavior. Your dog or cat can’t tell you if they’re unwell or if they’re allergic to any food or substance. The common poisons for pets include several human foods, household substances, chemicals and cleaning products, human medications, and certain plants. While some symptoms appear clearly, others are subtle and take time before becoming obvious. Your pet can develop toxicity if it ingests, inhales, or even absorbs a certain dose of the toxic substance. And the symptoms vary from pet to pet and depend on the intensity of the substance. How toxic products can affect your pets Poisons work their way by damaging chemical reactions or functions within the cells, molecules, or organs. This only happens after a significant dose of a toxic substance enters the body and accumulates in the cells. Poisons can trigger various responses within the body, including: Disrupting critical cellular functions Affecting the lungs, kidneys, and liver, and eventually make organs non-functional Attacking the blood cells that lead to internal bleeding Attacking the central nervous system that affects the heart and brain functioning Symptoms of intoxication in dogs and cats While there are several signs and symptoms of cat and dog toxicity, a specific set of symptoms doesn’t always indicate it.

You can get a credit card even if you have bad credit although you must keep in mind that it can be pretty basic. Here are some of the top credit cards you can choose from if you have bad credit. 1. First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard Secured Credit Card This credit card is best known for its low rate of interest. It charges an annual fee of $49 but it makes up for it by ensuring you are not paying a high rate of interest. Generally, credit cards have a high rate of interest for people with bad credit. However, in this case, this is not true. In fact, it gives you an interest rate that is lower than the credit card interest rates for people who have excellent credit. It is possible to apply for this credit card without a hard credit inquiry too. 2. Capital One Secured Mastercard Secured cards require that you deposit a certain amount. This is usually the same as your credit line and you are required to pay this upfront. However, with this credit card, you can deposit $49 and still get a $200 credit limit. You are given the freedom to make the deposits in installments too.

If you’re suffering from pain over six months in a row, you’re living with chronic pain. This type of pain persists even after the cause of the pain has healed or gone away. The most common types of chronic pain include frequent headaches, low back pain, nerve damage pain, arthritis, and other similar types of pain. There’s no apparent damage seen on the body, and it interferes with your sleep. 1. Consume foods that promote sleep Tryptophan is a protein that produces sleep-regulating hormones like serotonin, and consuming foods that trigger its production is advisable. A sufficient level of tryptophan helps you fall asleep faster and improves alertness during the day. Opt for carbohydrates with a significant glycemic index like rice or fruits like cherries and kiwis. You can also consume whole foods like pulses, milk, fatty fish, and shellfish that promote restful sleep. However, talk to your doctor before choosing these foods if you’re living with any medical conditions or consuming the certain medication. Likewise, avoid or limit the consumption of caffeine and chocolates that contain theobromine that can disrupt your sleep cycle. 2. Follow a sleep routine It’s important to set a sleep routine to incorporate on a daily basis.

Coffee is one of the most popular and loved beverages across the world. In fact, a cup of coffee is the perfect beverage for many to kick start their day since it provides ample doses of antioxidants to enhance energy levels to perform several tasks. While the calories that come with various additions are bothering you, some healthy yet simple hacks make your cup of joe a beneficial one. Some healthy and tasty additions to coffee are mentioned below: 1. Add cinnamon If you’re looking to enhance the coffee flavor minus the calories, add a dash of cinnamon. It’s a tasty spice that goes well with coffee and is a rich source of antioxidants. It has numerous health benefits, including reducing inflammation, promoting heart health, lowering blood glucose levels, reducing cholesterol, and managing type 2 diabetes. Choose Ceylon cinnamon instead of Cassia cinnamon to maximize the health benefits and reduce adverse effects on the body. 2. Add cocoa Unsweetened cocoa or dark chocolate are exceptional additions to a cup of hot coffee. Both provide fantastic health benefits, like promoting balanced cholesterol and preventing the risk of developing cancer. It’s a great addition to make your mocha, and the rich doses of antioxidants reduce the risk of heart disease.

Robot vacuums and push or traditional vacuums are often pitted against each other. While the two are different in many ways, their main task is to make cleaning easy for you. Read on for a robot vs. push vacuums comparison with the major differences between the two. The following factors will help you choose the one that suits you best. 1. Cost Traditional vacuum cleaners cost less than robotic vacuum cleaners. A typical traditional vacuum can cost you $50 or more depending on the functionality and the type of push vacuum cleaner you’re looking for. In contrast, the cost of robotic vacuums starts at $200 for the basic models. 2. Automation In the robot vs. push vacuums comparison, the former is meant to be automatic, so you can sit back and relax while it does the cleaning for you. In contrast, push vacuum cleaners require manual operation because they are hand-driven. 3. Cleaning Robot vacuum cleaners have a limited cleaning ability, while push vacuum cleaners are better for deep cleaning. So, push vacuums are the better pick for dealing with large messes. Staircases cannot be cleaned with robotic vacuum cleaners, but traditional vacuums can do it easily. 4. Speed The automatic operation may lead to an assumption that robotic vacuums clean in a jiffy, but traditional push vacuums work faster.

If you thought that summer is the perfect season for cocktails, you couldn’t be more wrong. There are over a dozen lip-smacking cocktails (whiskey/vodka-based) that are perfect to dazzle the mood and light the party when the temperature drops. Whatever the occasion or the conversation, warm up the winter by choosing to sip on popular cocktails impeccably crafted to perfection. 1. Werther’s Hot Toddy This warm and comforting cocktail is the perfect companion for cold winter nights. Add an extra dose of caramel flavor and combine with some mildly heated and crushed Werther’s and cinnamon sticks. The lemon juice and whiskey-based beverage are great for when you want to cuddle up near the fireplace. 2. Caramel Irish Coffee Let the classic finish of rich and creamy caramel and cream combine with Irish whiskey and coffee to create an iconic drink. Take a delicious journey with butterscotch schnapps and Irish cream that come together to lighten your winter nights by tantalizing taste buds and enlightening your senses. 3. Driven Snow Cocktail A candy cane stirrer and a couple of gingerbread cookies delight you by blending with a creamy finish of delectable inclusions. To warm up the winter, add white chocolate liqueur, blackstrap rum, and a ginger liqueur blend with ice and water to deliver a masterpiece that redefines partying during the winters.

Clear braces or clear aligner trays are a popular choice among adults and children who want to straighten their teeth. Here are some of the top benefits of clear braces that you should be aware of when compared to metal braces. 1. Less time to straighten teeth Clear braces have the benefit of straightening your teeth in less amount of time when compared to traditional metal braces. The whole point of clear braces is for better alignment of your teeth and when you have clear braces, you can ensure you get straighter teeth at a faster time. It takes many months less for your teeth to get aligned with clear braces than with traditional braces. 2. Comfortable to wear Clear aligners are more comfortable than metal braces. Metal braces need adjustments to be done often and this is often accompanied by pain. This is not the case with clear braces. Moreover, metal braces tend to cut the inside of the mouth often. This is eliminated in clear braces because there are no sharp edges in it. 3. Cleaning is easier Clear trays are removable, so cleaning them is a much simpler task than metal braces which poses a challenge. When you wish to clean your teeth you can remove the braces and then brush and floss your teeth as usual.