Home remedies to prevent flea and tick infestations

Home remedies to prevent flea and tick infestations
pets

Keeping your dogs safe from fleas and ticks can be an exhausting job. The constant scratching and biting can be tiring and unhealthy. Not only this, it can bring down the mood of your furry friend, affecting the whole household. Therefore, it is better to stay prepared in case of an unforeseen pest attack. This article talks about some effective and accessible natural remedies that will give you and your dogs some much-needed relief.

Home remedies for fleas and ticks in dogs

  • Natural oils
    Natural or essential oils must be diluted first, after which you can use them as a spray or a pre-bath rinse. Alternatively, you can dilute them with carrier oils and massage them into their coat. Whatever you do, make sure to get your vet’s approval beforehand.
  • Garlic
    Garlic has various nutritional benefits apart from being an antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agent. Don’t get too concerned about its strong odor. Add a small amount of crushed garlic to your pet’s food and watch this natural remedy work its magic.
  • Vinegar
    Another natural remedy that is not only easily accessible but can double up as a flea and tick repellant for dogs is vinegar. You can dilute it with water and use it as a spray. Or, if your dog does not mind its taste, add very small amounts of it to their drinking water. Similarly, you can also make use of apple cider vinegar.

While these are all commonly used natural remedies, some pet parents prefer trying medicated ointments or powders to help their dogs get rid of fleas and ticks. It is recommended to consult a vet to know the best course of action before proceeding.

Medications for fleas and ticks in dogs

  • FRONTLINE® Plus
    A powerful topical solution, it can beat ticks and fleas at all stages of their lifecycle. The formula is composed of two primary ingredients: fipronil and (S)-methoprene. FRONTLINE® Plus offers protection against future infestation for as long as 30 days. You can buy it in doses of three months, six months, or nine months. After the application, take care that your dog stays dry for 48 hours.
  • NexGard®
    NexGard® is a perfectly safe FDA-approved chewable medication that your dogs might actually welcome. The beef-flavored pill fights different types of ticks: the brown ticks, the black-legged ticks, the Lone Star ticks, and the American dog tick.
  • Simparica Trio™
    Simparica Trio™ is another reliable chewable medication. Composed of moxidectin, pyrantel, and sarolaner, these are also effective against roundworms, hookworms, and heartworm disease. The FDA-approved medicine can be safely administered in pups as young as eight weeks as long as they weigh 2.8lbs. Tests confirm that the effects of this oral medication can be seen in eight hours.
  • BRAVECTO®
    BRAVECTO® offers chewable tablets and topical solutions for tick and flea protection for dogs of all ages and breeds. A single dose is effective for a period of 12 weeks. You can give the chewable tablet mixed in pet food or apply the topical solution directly to their skin between the shoulder blades for long-term flea and tick management.

Pet owners can also try purchasing a flea collar for their four-legged companions.

Developed by Bayer, a German pharmaceutical company, Seresto is one of the most popular flea and tick collars. It works by releasing medicine on the dog’s hair and skin surface, offering protection against fleas, ticks, and lice continuously for eight months. Seresto flea collar is designed to be convenient, non-greasy, and odorless, but strong enough to kill or repel fleas and ticks, kill lice, and even treat and control sarcoptic mange on dogs.

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Home remedies and treatment options for mouth and teeth problems

Home remedies and treatment options for mouth and teeth problems

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4 tips to manage the symptoms of menopause

4 tips to manage the symptoms of menopause

Menopause is diagnosed when a woman doesn’t menstruate for 12 months at a stretch, and it is the end of a woman’s fertility and menstrual cycles. Natural menopause occurs when the ovaries start showing signs of reduced production of the hormones progesterone and estrogen. On the other hand, induced menopause is often a result of the surgical removal of the ovaries to treat a medical condition or the ovaries getting damaged due to the consumption of certain medications or exposure to harmful radiation. Menopause can lead to pain and discomfort, along with several other symptoms, but following some simple tips can help women reduce the discomfort and pain associated with menopause: Maintain a stable weight Women tend to gain weight during menopause due to the hormonal changes that their bodies undergo, and it can also happen due to aging, genetics, or lifestyle choices. Weight gain or the accumulating fat content in the body makes women susceptible to developing heart diseases and other conditions like diabetes. The increased weight also aggravates the symptoms of menopause and increases the risk of joint conditions like osteoporosis. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight helps reduce the symptoms and protects the body against several harmful diseases. Avoid the consumption of trigger foods Trigger foods are the foods that cause the urge to eat more and can lead to an increase in the symptoms of menopause. These include mood swings, hot flashes, and night sweats. The most common trigger foods include alcoholic beverages, caffeinated drinks, junk food, fried food, and baked goods like brownies, donuts, pastry, and cookies. Also, women need to be mentally aware of the foods that are worsening their symptoms and stay away from them. Follow a regular workout schedule Regular exercise is a must among women during the onset of menopause to help manage the symptoms effectively.
Foods one should eat to maintain kidneys and liver health

Foods one should eat to maintain kidneys and liver health

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Improving your mental health at home

Improving your mental health at home

While your physical well-being is important, keeping your mind healthy is a must. If you are suffering from anxiety, stress, or any other brain disorder, it will reflect in your physical health too. People who are suffering from poor mental health exhibit symptoms like hypertension, an abnormal increase in the rate of the heartbeat, or a sharp pain in the chest. You must make an effort to enhance your mental health on a daily basis. Home activities for improving mental health Exercise Apart from keeping your body fit, exercise helps in improving your mental health too. It is a very effective way to let go of nervousness and all the anxiety that has accumulated in your body as a bundle of negative energy. You do not have to indulge in rigorous exercise. Doing some simple exercises at home should work as a good stress-buster. Yoga, pilates, cycling, or swimming, pick an exercise of your choice and make it a point to do a bit of it every day. The trick lies in being regular and disciplined with whatever you choose to do. Meditation Most people lead such busy lives that they find it difficult to even stop for a moment to catch their breath. The kind of lifestyle we lead does not give us enough time to pause, look within, and introspect. Thus, it is very important to carve out some time from your busy schedule and meditate for a while every day. It is, perhaps, the most important relaxation technique known to mankind and one which helps you cleanse your mind off all the accumulating stress, anxiety, and other forms of negativity. Meditation is also recommended for people who are suffering from mood swings. Start writing Writing is a great way to reduce anxiety and stress. You might not think yourself to be very good with words, but every human being feels the need to express himself or herself in one way or the other.
Multiple sclerosis – what are the treatment options

Multiple sclerosis – what are the treatment options

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a kind of condition in which the immune system does not respond as it should. It gets directed against the working of the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS entails optic nerves, spinal cord, and the brain. It is meant to work in tandem with the immune system. However, when MS occurs, it fails to do so. Let’s take a look at some of the treatment options for multiple sclerosis. Treatment for multiple sclerosis Depending on the type, here are the common treatments for multiple sclerosis:   There is no particular cause for multiple sclerosis. As a result, the treatment focuses on recovering fast after an attack rather than getting to the root. Here are the common measures:  Corticosteroids, such as intravenous methylprednisolone and oral prednisone Plasmapheresis   Modifying progress To deal with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, ocrelizumab is usually recommended. It is the only FDA-approved disease-modifying therapy available. For particular types of multiple sclerosis, where it keeps recurring, the doctor may use different treatments, depending on the intensity of the condition. Some of the common treatments for these include:  Beta interferons Glatiramer acetate Fingolimod Dimethyl Fumarate Teriflunomide Siponimod Some of the other treatments for the signs and symptoms of MS include:  Physical therapy Muscle relaxants Medicines used to reduce tiredness Medicines to help increase walking speed Home remedies for multiple sclerosis There are plenty of other treatments available to help relieve the symptoms and deal with problems related to multiple sclerosis. Consume the following: Vitamin A Vitamin A has proven to show results in delaying macular degeneration associated with age. It also consists of antioxidants, which can be helpful people with multiple sclerosis.  Vitamin B-1 Vitamin B-1 is also known as thiamin. It helps in the proper functioning of the brain and is also essential for nerve, muscle, heart function, and metabolism.
Treatment options and home remedies for gout

Treatment options and home remedies for gout

Uric acid crystals result in gout. It is an inflammatory condition that usually affects men as a type of arthritis. It causes severe joint pain around the knees, feet, and ankles. However, there are certain measures that one can take for gout treatment. We will discuss these as well as home remedies in this article. Types of medications Some medicines may be prescribed to the patient on a regular basis; these can help to alleviate the symptoms of this condition: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications These medications are known to reduce the duration of the attack. If one takes them within the first twenty-four hours, then it really helps. They are usually prescribed to reduce the inflammation and relieve the pain. Corticosteroids These types of medications are usually administered orally or may even be injected into the body. They not only help in the reduction of the swelling but can also combat inflammation. In some cases, the doctor may also inject a hormone known as an adrenocorticotropic hormone to help the body produce corticosteroids naturally. The doctor may also give a combination of both at different times to help with alleviating the symptoms. Colchicine Colchicine is derived from a plant, which has been used to reduce the symptoms of gout for over 2,000 years. It helps to reduce pain and swelling. However, this may come with a specific side effect such as abdominal cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. Reducing uric acid levels The most ideal way to treat gout is by controlling uric acid levels in the body. Once they are controlled, the chances of a gout attack reduce considerably. The following medications can be consumed for reducing uric acid levels: Probenecid Allopurinol Lesinurad Febuxostat Pegloticase In most cases, the doctor will wait until the most recent gout attack before he goes on to prescribe a dosage of the aforementioned medications.