Our pets can mean the world to us. With cats being among them and one of the most adored creatures, these furry loved ones deserve great care on our behalf. When it comes to choosing the right foods and healthy diet options for cats, it is essential to choose one that comprises an adequate amount of nutrition with the right protein and healthy fat levels. However, choosing the right one considering the plethora of options available in the market can be a daunting task. In the following, some of the popular food treats for cats and also some healthy diet options have been listed to help you make an informed choice. The price of the product does not always determine the quality of the food. Always read through the ingredients and make sure it meets all essential nutritional values for your pets. Look for high-grade animal and edible proteins, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and carbohydrates which would all make a portion of wholesome food with natural ingredients. Some of the popular food treats with these benefits include the following: Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Canned Food This product is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants that can help in developing and strengthening muscles. It is a wet food with a grain-free chicken recipe. American Journey Grain-Free Dry Cat Food It is a dry variety of grain-free cat food that is made of real meat with digestible resources such as fruits and vegetables that help in easy digestion. Weruva Your cat will love this tasty wet food which is made of natural animal proteins with no added preservatives or artificial coloring. Purina Beyond® Indoor Grain-Free Food A tasty meal for your cat prepared from fresh salmon and chicken is a thickened source of protein and other essential supplements. If packaged food might seem to be expensive at times, cat owners can resort to delicious cat food recipes that they can make from the items available in their pantry.

If you have pet cats at home and occasionally feed them from your plate, you must know which foods are safe for them. Cats can be greedy eaters, and irrespective of the cute faces they make at the dinner table, it’s best not to give them anything besides cat food until you’re a hundred percent sure. To help you, we’ve listed a few human foods that are safe for cats to eat. Salmon Cats love fish, and vets recommend feeding them fish-based cat foods. Most options are rich in omega-3 and other nutrients. Oily fish, in particular, like tuna, salmon, or mackerel, is excellent for their eyesight and joints. However, don’t feed your feline straight from the can; they might lick it too aggressively and cut their tongues. It’s best to provide them with cooked pieces that have no bones. Whole grains Grains are power-packed with nutrients and are healthy for both humans and cats. Oats, mainly, have lots of protein, but not many cats like it. Some cats prefer coarse food made from brown rice and cornmeal. If you’re not feeding your cat meat or fish, whole grains can be a good substitute. You can cook smaller grains like millet, couscous, or wheat berries at home. Boiled eggs Boiled eggs are an excellent source of vitamin B and protein and are healthy for your cat. But ensure the eggs are cooked well to avoid bacteria like salmonella or E. coli from entering your feline’s system. Moreover, some cats can be allergic to eggs, so proceed with caution. Fresh veggies and fruits While not all cats are vegetable and fruit lovers since they cannot taste the sweet flavors, some do nibble on fresh fruits and veggies. Cucumber, cantaloupe, steamed broccoli or asparagus, baked carrots, and green beans have the proper nutrients and minerals.

With the increasing number of people diagnosed with this disease, it is of great importance to have accurate knowledge about asthma. Here are a few simple ways to prevent asthma attacks and lead a healthy lifestyle. An asthma attack occurs when the muscles around the airways of your lungs tighten and shut down, this is also known as a bronchospasm. In this condition, the inner lining of the airway gets inflamed or swollen which results in the production of thick mucus. These factors together lead to asthma attack symptoms such as short rapid breaths, anxiety, difficulty in performing regular tasks, severe wheezing, intermittent coughing, perspiration, and pale skin. When the muscles surrounding the bronchial tubes within the lungs constrict, they narrow the air passages thereby making it very difficult to breathe. The duration of an asthma attack varies depending on how inflamed the airways have become. In mild attacks, the symptoms could last for just a few minutes, while a severe attack could take up to several hours before easing. In the case of severe attacks, medical help and treatment needs to be provided immediately. It is important to take extensive care along with adequate steps to prevent asthma attacks. Without adequate care, asthma attacks may lead to ‘cyanosis’ (development of bluish color around the lips) due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. Cyanosis may cause a patient to lose consciousness, and may eventually lead to death. There are certain common triggers that can easily inflame the lungs and can cause an asthma attack. The following are a few measures that can be taken in order to prevent asthma attacks: Avoid exposure to dust There should be minimal exposure to any area that is dust/dirt prone. Exposure to dust, smoke or any allergen can cause increased inflammation in the airways, thereby increasing the chances of an asthma attack.

Human life would have been simpler if we weren’t threatened by the onset of diseases every once in a while. However, with the right kind of lifestyle that involves eating healthy food and exercising regularly, we can lead an “almost” disease-free life. The right kind of food and our attempts to maintain the perfect body weight goes a long way in strengthening our immune system. One can think of our immune system as the guardian of our entire system. A healthy immune system helps keep a lot of diseases at bay. Thus, we are capable of thwarting certain diseases with the help of a strong immune system. Have you ever given a thought what the consequences will be if our immune system is the one that becomes the cause of our misery? Well, if the immune system is the culprit of the misery inflicted on you, it results in allergies. What causes allergies? Certain harmless elements in the environment can trigger an allergy. The immune system is known to protect the body against viruses and bacteria. However, when these harmless elements enter the body, the immune system mistakes them for some malicious agents and begins attacking them. This reaction of the immune system is the root cause of allergies. The allergens are basically harmless elements, but it’s the immune system’s reaction to it that causes allergies. What are the most common allergens? The most common allergens are nothing but some of the elements that we come across so many times in our lives. Some of them are as follows: Certain foods can cause allergy. For example, nuts, fish, fruits, etc. If you own a pet, the cause of your allergy might be pet dander. Sometimes, certain medicines can trigger an allergic reaction in an individual. Pollen allergy is one of the most common kinds of allergies.

In Spring, the rate of pollens is high in the environment that can cause different types of pollen allergies. Pollen allergy is one of the most popular allergies that many people suffer from. If you are the sensitive one, who always faces problem in spring season due to pollen allergy, then, of course, preventing this is not an easy task for you. People who are prone to the outer environment and involve traveling in their daily activity might experience pollen allergy. Yes, you will find many medications that give you pollen allergy relief. These medications can’t prevent the allergy for a long time. But, you can avoid this problem by keeping a few tips to your daily lifestyle routine. You might not need to go for a consultation with your doctor and pay high fees to them for providing pollen allergy relief. We have arranged some useful tips to keep you safe from this seasonal allergy. Add Vitamin D to your diet Studies have proved that a person who takes vitamin D in the daily diet, have fewer chances to get affected by allergies. If you want to stay away from pollen allergies, then it is a useful tip that you add vitamin D to your diet schedule. Some dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, cereals, cheese and egg yolks are the most abundant source of vitamin D. So, just add these supplements to your diet and feel the change. Clean carpet Carpets are the home of dust, mites, and molds. And, in the spring season, pollen partials also gets attached to the carpet and increases the chances of pollen allergy. It can come along with your shoes. So, make sure that you clean your carpet regularly. Do not avoid cleaning the carpet of your bedroom especially because it is the only place where you spend at least 8 hours of sleep.

Certain foods and ingredients may be used in many dishes, but they may not be safe for our furry little friends. If you have a dog, it is very important to be aware of foods that may be toxic or cause mild to severe allergic reactions. Hence, vets highly recommend keeping the following foods away from your dog’s bowl, as they may be potential allergens. Let’s take a look at them. Garlic and chives While garlic causes nothing more than bad breath to humans, it is harmful to our furry little friends. Dogs are sensitive to garlic, as it makes their blood cells more likely to break, thereby increasing the risk of anemia. It has been especially observed that Japanese breeds like Shiba-Inu and Akita are more sensitive to garlic than other dog breeds. Black pepper Black pepper is typically harmful to dogs. While small quantities may not cause a reaction, some breeds may have severe reactions. Hence, vets recommend avoiding this ingredient in a dog’s daily food. Common side effects of black pepper ingestion may include respiratory issues, burning reactions, and hemorrhoids. Onion powder Like garlic, onion powder is also toxic for dogs. In fact, any form of onion may cause health complications. Onions contain an organosulfur compound called N-propyl disulfide, which ruptures red blood cells, leading to anemia. This might result in other forms of blood disorders that might require urgent medical attention. Tarragon Tarragon, also known as artemisia dracunculus, is known for its flavor in the culinary world. Although it aids in digestion, provides relief from anxiety and stress, and even stimulates appetite in humans, it may be harmful to dogs. Tarragon must not be particularly given to dogs if they are pregnant or scheduled for surgery. It contains a specific chemical called estragole, a natural organic compound that might cause liver damage and obstruct blood coagulation in some pets.

When your eyes are red and itchy and if there is swelling on your eyelids, you may be having eye allergies known as allergic conjunctivitis. Eye allergies may be caused or triggered by pollen from trees, weeds, grass, etc. It may also be caused by irritants like perfumes, cigarette smoke, or diesel exhaust. When your eyes release histamine along with other substances, it leads to itchy, red watery eyes. This can be seen evidently from the reaction of your eyes to some form of allergies. Symptoms of itchy eyes It is important to be aware of the symptoms of itchy eyes so that you can seek timely treatment for this problem. Itchy eyes are characterized by symptoms such as itchiness, burning sensation in the eyes, watery discharge from the eyes, a constant feeling that something is in your eyes, photophobia or aversion to light, production of mucus, redness, and puffiness. Itchy eyes treatment and management Itchy eyes treatment involves avoiding exposure to any of the above-mentioned factors that may be responsible for triggering the allergy. Itchy eyes treatment involves staying indoors in order to avoid being exposed to pollens that float around in the atmosphere. Pollen grains are mostly present in the air during early evenings and mornings. Window fans can also be responsible for letting pollens and other allergy-causing substances into your house. Avoiding the use of such fans can be effective itchy eyes treatment. Instead, you should close your house windows and use air conditioners to keep these allergy triggers from entering the premises. Whenever you are heading out of the house, an effective itchy eyes treatment is wearing sunglasses. These will help avoid pollens from coming in contact with your eyes and thus prevent allergies. Even while traveling, keep your car windows rolled up to prevent the pollens in the air from entering into your eyes.

Nowadays, allergies have become very common, and many people suffer from various types of allergies. Conditions can vary from severe ones to day-to-day allergic issues. Severe allergic issues can be asthma, eczema, dermatitis, and latex. There are also some day-to-day allergies that are not really dangerous in any way, such as a running nose, itching, and skin rash. However, if not cured in time, they can lead to severe body issues. To cure an allergy in time, there are a number of best anti-allergy products available. Due to change in the weather conditions and other environmental changes, there is an ever-increasing number of allergies that are usually very annoying and make life unpleasant as you even have to give up on your favorite things due to them sometimes. There are a few allergies that are extremely dangerous and can even lead to death. Allergy makes a person feel sick, low, and sometimes even worse. Allergy causes hypertension, which makes a person uncomfortable and also slows down their immune system, which is harmful! However, thankfully, there are some anti-allergy products that are available for the best treatment of allergies. There are different precautionary techniques or preventive measures that people follow like using soft bed sheets, pillows, and not wearing harsh clothes in the case of a skin allergy. Still, no one is actually sure of why these problems arise. What are the different types of anti-allergy products that best treat allergies? There are many reasons that cause an allergy; these can be from pollution, dust, animal skin or hair, food, or sometimes even medication. Keeping pets can cause animal allergy, not having suitable food can cause food allergy, and so on. Different doctors recommend different medications depending on your type of allergy. Sometimes, homemade medicines and remedies can cure allergy in a much better way, and this is preferred by a lot of people rather than consulting a doctor for acute allergies.

Ticks are found in the outdoors, living in grass, leaf piles and shrubs. They have a strong affinity for humans and their pets and easily migrate from one to the other. While these bugs may seem tiny and harmless, in reality, they literally suck your blood for sustenance. Ticks attach themselves to the victim and bite, drawing blood till their appetite is sated, growing in size, sometimes as big as a marble. Tick bites are mostly harmless, but some tick bites can cause allergic reactions and even more serious diseases, both in humans and their pets. A rash from tick bites is a major symptom of a more serious reaction. While a rash from tick bites can cause irritation, itching and a burning sensation on the affected skin, it’s often an indicator of a more serious, harmful disease’s onset. Below, we’ve mentioned some of the other consequences and diseases that a tick bite can leave you with. If you experience a rash from tick bites, keep an eye out for these diseases. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) RMSF is the most serious of all tick-borne diseases. It’s more common in the south-eastern parts of the United States. It is not contagious, but it can pass through ticks bites, from humans to their pets, and vice-versa. The symptoms appear between 2 to 14 days after the bite, and include: High fever persisting for 2 to 3 weeks Chills Fatigue Abdominal pain Nausea Muscle aches A headache The characteristic feature of Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the rash from the tick bite. The rash comprises of small red spots on the palms, ankles, wrists, and soles. The rash starts 2 to 5 days after the bite and spreads across the torso. This is usually coupled with a high fever. After a week of the infection, a second rash can develop from the tick bite.

If you own a dog, you might know that they’re very prone to flea and tick infestations. And although there are many aggressive treatments for the problem, those can harm your pet’s fur, skin, and overall health. Therefore, flea and tick collars are the best bet to keep these parasites off your pup. If you’re confused about which brand to choose, here’s a list of the top five flea and tick collars for dogs. Sobaken Flea & Tick Collar This is a budget-friendly flea and tick collar that can keep your furry little friend itch-free. Once worn, the Sobaken flea collar offers almost instant protection against parasites. Moreover, being environment friendly, their products are safe for both pets and the environment. The collar protects for at least eight months and is suitable for dogs of any shape and size. However, it may not work well with extra-large dog breeds. Seresto Dog Collar Seresto dog collar by Bayer is one of the best flea and tick repellent collars on the market, specially designed for large dog breeds. It has a superior built quality and offers long-lasting protection that ensures blood-sucking parasites don’t menace your dog for at least eight months. The Seresto dog collar starts working within a day of application. Moreover, it’s adjustable, and you can rest assured that the collar will stay in its place even if you have an energetic pup. Primova Flea & Tick Collar If you’re looking for an all-natural flea and tick treatment that doesn’t harm your best friend’s soft coat, Primova flea collar is a suitable option. This dog collar doesn’t contain any harmful toxic chemicals. Instead, it’s laced with essential oils to ward off harmful parasites. Like the Seresto dog collar, Primova is also adjustable, and it fits mostly all shapes and sizes of dogs, including large breeds.

Dogs love smelling things. They want to put their snout on anything that comes across their path, be it garbage on the sidewalk or blossoming flowers in a park or garden. While some things are downright disgusting, other items can be toxic to your dog’s health. Certain plants can cause diarrhea and other serious issues like liver damage. Hence, it’s important to keep your dog away from the plants mentioned below. Sago palms These popular indoor ornamental palms are found in warmer climates. Every part of this plant is toxic to your dog. If consumed, it can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, tremors, and seizures. Aloe vera Aloe vera is another common household plant grown mainly because of its many beneficial properties. However, its gooey gel contains some components that are toxic for dogs. It can cause lethargy, stomach problems, vomiting, and diarrhea. Elephant’s ear Elephant’s ear is a beautiful plant commonly found in warm climates. This plant can be harmful to dogs as it contains glass-like insoluble oxalate crystals, which can result in severe irritation, swelling in the mouth, vomiting, and diarrhea. Azaleas All parts of the azalea plant, including the flower, leaves, seeds, and honey made from its nectar, are toxic to dogs. Signs of ingestion include hypersalivation, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, eye problems, slow heart rate (bradycardia), heart arrhythmia, low blood pressure, cardiovascular collapse. In some cases, it can even cause death. Ivy Some of the most common types of ivy are the English ivy and Devil’s ivy, also known as Golden Pothos. All of them are toxic to your furry pet. If consumed, it can lead to mouth and stomach irritation, foaming, excessive drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea in dogs. Snake plant Snake plants are one of the most common household plants in the world since they require little maintenance.

Allergies can be concerning, and even possibly life threatening for your dog. It could even drastically lessen the quality of life of your dog. So, it is important for you to be aware of the possible allergies that your dog could suffer from. This article talks about the most common allergies that could affect your dog: Flea allergy dermatitis: A pretty common allergy amongst dogs, flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) occurs when the saliva in the flea bites cause an allergic reaction. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, FAD is the commonest dermatological disease in domestic dogs in the country. FAD is rampant during warm weather, such as the summer months. The reactions occur when the fleas bite, injecting saliva into the host, which contains compounds similar to amino acids, polypeptides, enzymes, and histamine. FAD can affect the entire body. One of the most natural remedies for FAD is medicated shampoo baths and a flea medication collar to prevent them from coming back. Seasonal allergies: Dogs can also suffer from seasonal allergies as well, the signs of which include sneezing, red, puffy eyes, loss of hair, itching, and irritated skin with hives and rashes. Usually, there is no natural treatment for seasonal allergies. The dog needs to be taken to the vet who will prescribe antihistamines and OTC medications, such as benadryl, for your pet pooch. Human food allergies: Human food allergies are quite common in dogs, with almost 10% of all dog allergy cases being food-related. Allergies occur when the dog’s body wrongly identifies a certain food as harmful, and produces antibodies that lead to a variety of potentially dangerous symptoms. Symptoms could be anything from nausea, vomiting, and itching to gastrointestinal issues, ear inflammation, and diarrhea. Dogs can be allergic to various foods including dairy, soy, wheat, fish, chicken, beef, pork, and more.