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Los Angeles Times
Flea Treatment
by Jamie Simpson
Cats and dogs can pick up fleas whilst outdoors and as they tend to be outside for quite a significant amount of time each day, they are more than likely going to play host to fleas at some point in their lives. There is very little you can do to prevent this from happening as fleas can be found lurking anywhere just waiting for a suitable host to pass by but there are some things you can do to help prevent fleas from infesting in your home.
How to recognise if a pet has fleas
Probably the first sign you will notice is your cat or dog scratching and/or biting quite vigorously, or the first indication may be when you discover that you yourself have itchy and irritating bite marks on your lower legs and ankles. On closer inspection of your pet you may be able to catch sight of a flea as it runs through your pet's coat. Other telltale signs include brownish/reddish specks on your pets coat or bedding, which are basically dried blood and other deposits from the flea bites.
Fleas can also transmit tapeworm so if this is a problem for your pet then it can also indicate the presence of fleas. If in doubt, a veterinary surgeon will be able to tell you quickly and easily if a pet has fleas or worms or both and they will be able to recommend appropriate treatments.
Treating your pet
Purchase good quality insecticidal treatments that can deal with the fleas, their larvae and their eggs. It's important to note that flea collars can be ineffective as they only treat the area around the neck.
Comb or brush your pet daily, particularly after they have been outside and especially in hot weather in order to help dislodge fleas and eggs from your pet's coat. Keep a bowl of hot water close by when you do this so that you can place any fleas directly into the water, however, fleas are notoriously hard to catch so don't expect to eradicate all your pets fleas using this method.
Treating your home
One of the problems with flea control is that the flea doesn't just stay on your pet but will live quite happily for extended periods of time in your carpets, pet bedding and other parts of your home so it is absolutely pointless to treat your pet without treating your home at the same time.
Fleas can be dealt with quite effectively using a good quality insecticide for the home. Again, there is no use dealing with the fleas if you don't deal with the eggs too. Wash your pets bedding in hot soapy water on a weekly basis to help dispose of any flea eggs.
Flea eggs can fall from your pet and on to the carpet or anywhere in the house for that matter so vacuum the carpets daily and invest in a steam cleaner to clean your carpets from time to time. Better still if you have wooden floors which can easily be cleaned and disinfected regularly.
After grooming your pet, make sure you vacuum the surrounding area immediately afterwards remembering to empty the vacuum cleaner outside in a sealed bag.
When using an insecticidal spray, make sure you treat everywhere that your pet is likely to have been.
When are fleas most likely to be a problem?
In the past, fleas were predominantly a problem during the warmer summer months, however, these days with centrally heated homes and milder temperatures fleas can be a problem all year round. As such, you need to be constantly on the lookout for the presence of fleas and if treatment is conducted immediately, then you are unlikely to have much difficulty in controlling them. However, if you do find that you have an infestation of fleas that you cannot deal with on your own, consult a vet or an expert in pest control for more information and advice.
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How Do I Keep My Aquarium Clean?
By Derek Rogers
It is a known fact that a clean aquarium offers the best habitation for fish and other water creatures you might have. With this in mind the best way to keep an aquarium clean is to not only have the proper equipment to clean it with, but also the knowledge of how to do it.
For some individuals they simply go to cleaning the aquarium with harsh household cleaners and in reality this isn't a good idea. Keeping the filter for the water pump clean and in good condition is one key to having a clean aquarium. Replacing the filter and the length of time it should be used will often be displayed on the package. You should be sure that the filter is replaced when it is needed for clear sparkling water.
Web site "superstores" offer aquarium-cleaning products and filter replacements for many different areas of the UK. By doing a simple search you can ultimately find these web sites via the Internet.
Although some aquariums are quite large they still need to be kept clean. The glass should be cleaned and the ornaments inside should be taken out and cleaned at least once a week. This way it does not allow for any type of algae build up. On plastic aquariums the best way to maintain the cleanliness of them is to ensure they are cleaned every three to four days. The air pump, if running properly, allows not only oxygen for the fish but also the flow of the water to not sit in one place. There is a bit of movement as the water is cycled through the pump and through the filter, so the water is in a sense recycled.
However, changing the water on a regular basis has proven to offer fish a longer life span and the aquarium to look much better. Depending on the actual size, if it is at all possible, the rocks or beads at the bottom of the aquarium should be rinsed on occasion too. And yet, depending on the size as well as the type of fish this might not be an option. In some situations, depending on the amount of fish in the tank and how easy it is to remove the fish, there are water purifiers available to purchase in addition to changing the water. When these treatments are added to the water, in most cases the water must sit for a few minutes to allow the treatment to be actually absorbed or combined into the water. If not, it could harm your fish. So it is a good idea to read and follow all of the instructions listed when ultimately doing this.
Keeping an aquarium clean shouldn't be a difficult task. If you love fish and watching them mesmerizes you, then you already know that fish love to swim in a good clean environment. According to statistics fish are essentially healthier as well when the proper products for cleaning are used, and the filters as well as other items used are properly replaced and in good working operation.
Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses.
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“This is my chubby little Sissy just chilling in her favorite chair with her favorite blanket- if I try to change it she will pee on the new one. So her full name is Miss Sissy peabody!” - Roxanne
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