Beagle Allergies - Getting Down With The Basics

People and animals have many things in common. From likes, dislikes and even allergies, the similarities can go on and on. Yes, you read right, even animals get allergies from different things and some allergic reactions can be similar to that of a human being.

A good example of this is the dog breed, beagles. Beagles have many different allergies and it can be caused by anything. More often than not, these allergies are dismissed by most owners thinking that the symptoms that they see from beagle allergies are just common things that happen to beagles.

It is true that some of the symptoms of beagle allergies can really be misleading but if you are a beagle owner, you should be sensitive and keen to several symptoms that might indicate that your dog has allergies. Some of the most common signs of allergies are excessive itching, fur loss that leads to bald patches or spots on your dog, and coughing. Self-chewing can also be a symptom because this may be caused by the itching sensation where the dog may just chew on its own fur also causing the bald spots. Ear inflammations and upset stomach are also very common signs of allergies among beagles.

There are two kinds of beagle allergies, the internal allergies and the external allergies. The internal allergies may be caused by the beagle's ingestion of something. More often it is caused by food and the reaction can be traced from different foods like milk, wheat and etc.

When your beagles' allergies are caused by food allergies then it is important to distinguish which foods it is allergic to. You can always bring it to the vet to be sure or you can practice home cooking, starting with the basic and slowly adding new ingredients to see where the allergic reaction is coming from. It would be best to introduce a new ingredient after two weeks just to make sure that your dog does not really have any allergic reaction to a certain ingredient.

For the external allergies, this would probably be caused by something that made contact on your beagle. Very common causes of external allergies are allergies to dog grooming products like dog shampoo and home products like detergent and air freshener.

There are many treatments for the external allergies and the most popular would be the immunotherapy. This treatment uses allergy shots given to dogs where it slowly exposes the dog to the allergy trigger that is why this treatment can take a while. If your dog has swelling and itching then the best relief you could give your beagle are the Corticosteroids. This reduces the swelling and itching of your beagle but make sure to do this in moderation because it has side effects that may affect organs in your dog's body.

It is important to know things about beagle allergies for you to be able to prevent it and treat it. That is why you should be able to distinguish what kind of allergies it is and what are the things that trigger the allergy so that you can immediately do something about it.

Stop Cat Sneezing Symptoms the Natural Way - No Shots, No Vets

To stop cat sneezing naturally, and safely, try a homeopathic cure. Homeopathy is a system of medicine developed by Samuel Hahnemann in the 18th century. It is quite simply based on the Law of Similars: "like cures like." The word homeopathy is derived in Latin, and means "like disease".

The whole idea behind using homeopathic medicine to stop cat sneezing, or any other cat sneezing symptoms, is based on the amazing power of an animal's immune system to repel disease. Natural substances that cause ill effects in healthy people or pets are given in very small doses to the sick, thus jump-starting or boosting their immune system. This stimulates the body's natural healing process, and pushes out any disease that it locates.

Homeopathic remedies created from substances which occur in nature work to stop cat sneezing by stimulating your cat's own internal healing process. Your cat is a product of nature, so is the cure. Once unregulated, it used to be hard to know who to trust.

The Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States now strictly regulates homeopathic medicines. They may be made from naturally occurring plants and minerals that are non-toxic. They contain no preservatives or artificial chemicals. These minerals are diluted until a tiny bit remains. This remaining cure is then vigorously shaken in a process called succession.

This prolonged shaking releases the healing energy of the substance, and this is what will stop cat sneezing. A study conducted by doctors at Glasgow University showed that patients with hay-fever like symptoms were tested.

Half were given homeopathic doses based on various allergy-causing natural substances, and half were given a placebo. The homeopathic test group improved 10 TIMES better than the second test group! The great thing about homeopathy remedies for cat sneezing symptoms is that there are zero side effects.

Natural, homeopathic cures used to stop cat sneezing symptoms also generally work much faster than typical commercial antibiotics and medicines. This is because the product is natural, and your cat is also a product of nature.

Especially when dealing with kittens, pregnant cats or elderly felines, you must take care of their weakened immune system. A soft boost from a homeopathic, natural cure will do no damage to your cat while he is in this weakened state. However, side effects do occur with some normal veterinarian cures. No such side effects exist with natural treatments.

All natural remedies to stop cat sneezing symptoms are a safe, healthy, non-intrusive way to administer relief to your sneezing feline friend. They also cost a fraction of the amount a vet will charge you, and have no possibly dangerous side-effects. They can stop cat sneezing before it becomes something more serious and moves into the lungs, causing a much more dangerous problem.

Got Nasal Allergies? Consider a Netipot

I am a lifelong allergy sufferer. I received allergy shots throughout childhood and into my twenties until my doctor decided I was not benefiting from them. After that I did fairly well using daily prescription allergy medication as recommended by my physician.

When I moved from the upper Midwest to central Texas I soon started to feel like I was losing control of my seasonal allergy symptoms. "Cedar fever", a term for the malaise that afflicts many people when cedar pollen counts are high, hits me hard. Fall brings nasal congestion, itchy to slightly sore throat, irritated eyes, post-nasal drip and sometimes a productive cough. I feel like I am coming down with a cold on and off for weeks.

I needed to find relief so I decided to give a netipot a try. A netipot is a small pot with a long, narrow spout used to pour an isotonic salt water solution through ones nostrils. It aids in removing mucous from the sinuses and cleansing allergens from the nasal passages. Using one may seem a little daunting and does take some getting used to, but after about five days I had noticeable relief from my allergy symptoms.

Netipot kits can be found in most drugstores. They will include the necessary netipot and ready-to-use packets, the contents of which are added to tap water to make the salt water solution. Alternatively you can make your own solution mixing salt and warm water. Baking soda also may be added. Directions for doing this can easily be found on the Internet.

The solution is mixed in the netipot and the spout is inserted into ones nostril. Tilting the head to the side over a sink, allow the solution to flow into the nostril and out the other, rinsing the nasal passages. Continue this process until the netipot is emptied. While pouring, you should keep your mouth open and breath. If the mouth is closed you will soon feel like you are drowning and will, without a doubt, be turned off by the netipot ritual before you have reaped its benefits. Repeat this process with the other nostril.

Use the netipot one to two times daily for a safe and natural alternative for achieving relief from your allergies. Demonstrations of netipot use can be found on YouTube. Check a couple out.

Celiac And The Gluten Gut-Brain Connection Seen In Reversible Abnormal SPECT Brain Scans

SPECT brain imaging of the majority of the few celiac disease patients studied reveals abnormalities that are usually most severe in the frontal areas of the brain. Improvement of these abnormalities are seen on a gluten-free diet. The frontal area of the brain is important in brain function that controls attention, impulse control, organization, and problem solving. Problems in this area of the brain result in short attention span, disorganization, procrastination, short-term memory problems, anxiety and depression.

Not surprisingly these are common symptoms reported by Sprue patients and in non-celiac gluten sensitivity that improve with a GFD. ADD, schizophrenia, alcohol and drug addiction problems and depression, all associated with gluten in some studies, are also associated with functional disturbances in the frontal area of the brain seen on SPECT scans. Though the reports of SPECT imaging in celiac disease are limited there have been some very interesting findings that make sense to those of us familiar with the effect of gluten on the brain.

The most dramatic report I have found comes from a 1997 report of a newly diagnosed celiac diease patient with established schizophrenia whose symptoms and abnormal SPECT scan reversed on a gluten-free diet. He presented with an established diagnosis of schizophrenia, diarrhea and weight loss. Endomysial antibody was positive and villous atrophy was present on intestinal biopsy. SPECT scan was performed before and after gluten free diet. Before GFD, the scan confirmed abnormal decreased blood flow to the frontal lobe of the brain. With a GFD schizophrenia symptoms resolved, the intestinal lesion resolved and the SPECT scan became normal. More recently in 2004, Usai et al. reported 34 celiac patients in whom 70% had abnormal SPECT scans. Again the abnormalities were most pronounced in the frontal areas of the brain and were less severe on a gluten free diet.

SPECT is single photon emission computerized tomography. It is a combined nuclear medicine CAT scan of the head performed by injecting a radioisotope material that is taken up by the brain according to blood flow and metabolism. A scan is produced that is a color-coded 3-D representation of brain metabolism or activity. Daniel Amen MD is one of the countries foremost experts on SPECT brain imaging. You can take a free online brain system quiz at http://www.amenclinic.com that may be helpful. His detailed and well-researched recommendations for nutritional interventions for the brain are also worth reviewing. More collaboration with neuroscientists and gastroenterologists is definitely needed to look further into the association of poor brain function and gluten. SPECT imaging technology appears to be one exciting tool available to us if we can get the research funded. We will continue to explore the gut-brain connection further.

Sinus Infection Treatment - What to Expect From Your Doctor

You should never attempt sinus infection treatment at home without first consulting your doctor.

Through the creative efforts of highly persuasive and expensive lobbyists and in their scramble for profits, the pharmaceutical giants have somehow managed to get FDA approval on several questionable OTC (over the counter) sinus medications... a number of which have dangerous, if not life-threatening side effects.

For example:

• Mixing decongestants with other drugs with similar side effects may cause life-threatening complications.


• Whereas OTC decongestant nasal sprays bring fast relief, they unfortunately have a rebound effect. If used incorrectly, your body could develop drug resistance. If this happens, you will need more frequent applications in order to achieve the same clarity of breathing. This could lead to drug dependence requiring a difficult and expensive withdrawal program.


• Although OTC oral decongestants are slower to take effect and are a little safer to use, they eventually deliver the same rebound effect as described above.


• If you have a history of cardiac disease or high blood pressure, taking OTC oral decongestants could be life threatening. Also, if you happen to have an enlarged prostate, using them would make it virtually impossible for you to urinate.


• Even though Phenylpropanolamine has been withdrawn because of its dangers, some OTC oral decongestants still contain this ingredient.


• OTC antihistamines cause more harm than good, because they dry out nasal cavities and mucous deposits. This leads to further sinus blockage because of mucosal thickening followed by the build-up of dry, flaky mucous.


• If you suffer from frequent acid indigestion, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: (NSAID's), such as aspirin, Motrin, Advil and Alieve, could lead to more frequent attacks. .

The following advice is worth repeating:

Do not attempt at-home sinus infection treatment by taking OTC medication without your doctor's approval.

Your doctor will be able to offer advice on the most effective combination of OTC medications for you. He will also advise you on correct dosages, together with the safest way to use nasal sprays and oral decongestants.

Alternatively, s/he can prescribe replacements that avoid the above complications altogether.

Medical Treatment

Your doctor's first priority during sinus infection treatment is to eliminate infection. Unfortunately if a virus causes it, there's very little he can do, other that to treat the symptoms and allow the disease to run its course.

1. If bacteria caused the infection, he may use a synthetic penicillin to fight the infection. However, if you are allergic to penicillin, he may resort to a sulfur-based antibiotic, which usually takes longer than artificial penicillin to become effective.
   
   Treatment with either of these will typically last from fourteen to twenty-one days and should be supported by selective home remedies for sinus congestion.


2. If there is poor response to the antibiotic regimen, your doctor may recommend a course of intranasal steroids.
   
   These work well and they focus directly on the nose without affecting the rest of the body. However, they are expensive.


3. If the sinus attack were caused by an allergy, in order to reduce inflammation of the mucous membranes, he would typically use a prescription antihistamine that doesn't promote dryness.


4. If you have fungal sinusitis, his core treatment would be anti fungal therapy.


5. If you are a GERD sufferer of if you experience frequent bouts of heartburn, your doctor may restrict your painkiller regimen to the use of Tylenol. (see the topic under 'Acid Reflux Remedies at: http://www.home-remedy-site.com/
   

If your symptoms respond poorly to antibiotics and/or steroids, and your supporting home remedies have little effect, your doctor would probably refer you to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist.

This is a highly qualified physician specializing in rhinology (sinus infection treatment).

Do you Need Surgery?

Before attempting specialized sinus infection treatment, the ENT's mission would be to first identify the root cause of the infection by performing one or more of the following:

• Nasopharyngoscopic examination.
  
  A nasopharyngoscope is a thin, flexible fiberoptic instrument that is used to examine the insides of the osteomeatal complex (OMC) - The OMC is the series of tubes connecting the nasal passage to the sinus cavities.


• CT scans, possibly followed up by an MRI examination.


• Lastly, if he needs to identify the specific microorganism causing the problem, he may drain a small amount of puss directly from the infected sinus for pathological analysis. This is an invasive test that is rarely used.

After a thorough investigation, the ENT would make his recommendations.

A specialized course of antibiotics may be called for.

On the other hand, if the CT scans reveled obstructive mucosal disease... and/or the nasopharyngoscopic examination revealed anatomical anomalies such as a deviated nasal septum (crooked nasal passage), and/or growth of obstructive nasal polyps, he would probably recommend non-invasive endoscopic surgery.

During surgery, the ENT would carry out a sinus drainage procedure by opening the OMC. At the same time he would straighten the crooked septum if necessary, and remove any obstructive polyps in order to improve airflow through the nasal passages.

Patients usually respond favorably to sinus surgery, however, in the case of chronic sufferers, periodic antibiotics or the continued use of a nasal steroidal spray may be necessary.

Three Common Ways to Cure Asian Glow

Sufferers of Asian glow, with the massive increase of forums, social networking, and internet communities have put their heads together and tried to come up with solutions to their Asian glow.

But what exactly is it?

For those who are unfamiliar with this condition, the name may seem a bit strange at first. The condition is actually called alcohol flush reaction because sufferers become flushed around the eyes and facial area after consuming alcohol. However, because this condition is predominant in the Asian community, it is often referred to as Asian glow amongst other names.

Of course, each individual has their personal reasons for seeking a cure. Many are young people just trying to socialize, but going to bars and clubs is impossible because of the physical illness called by Asian glow, or perhaps because of the embarrassment of the unattractiveness of a puffy red face.

There are many possible solutions available but any one solution doesn't seem to work for everybody. Because of the lack of research into Asian glow, the cures or remedies are still reminiscent of grandmothers medicine cabinet and can be tried and experimented with but one should still use caution and consult a professional if unsure. These are the top three solutions.

1. Increased sugar intake
Sugar pills, glucose injections, or eating more carbohydrates have shown results in some people. This however, seems to be a solution for few, producing extremely mixed results and it's one of the most troublesome. Do you really want to go to the doctor for an injection every time you want to go party?

2. Antacids
This is becoming more and more common among young people who suffer from Asian glow because Antacids like Pepcid AC or Zantac are readily available and can be taken anywhere. The results seem to be more reliable but again, does not work for everyone and can be inconvenient at times.

3. The No Red Face Formula
This is a relatively new product that has appeared on the internet within the last few years. It is an e-book which claims that the knowledge contained within its pages can teach you techniques to control your Asian glow. This is perhaps the most convenient solution because there are no pills or shots necessary and is a skill that can be learned, memorized, and executed over and over. However, many people are sceptical as to the effectiveness of the product because of the lack of information about it and its secretes are shrouded in mystery. The thirty seven dollar cost may also seem steep to some but is actually cheaper than buying a constant stream of antacids (depending on the frequency alcohol consumption).

External Factors That Cause Shih Tzu Allergies

The Shih Tzu is a dog that is known to suffer from allergies more than other breeds. The causes of these allergies can be varied. While food is one potential cause of allergic reactions in Shih Tzu, many other types of allergic reactions are due to external causes. If your dog suddenly starts displaying signs of allergies, it is important to identify the cause as soon as possible.
 
Signs of allergies
 
Allergic reactions can come in many forms. If you see your Shih Tzu scratching much more than usual, sneezing constantly, or displaying a runny nose and eyes, then he may have allergies. The same goes for coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, excessive head shaking, and difficulty breathing. I always advise a healthy dose of common sense when observing your Shih Tzu; all dogs display these symptoms at some point or another. One sneeze or cough doesn't mean your dog has allergies. On the other hand, if these signs persist for a day or two, and you're not sure what you're dealing with, you can always consult your vet for an opinion or diagnosis.
 
Causes of allergies
 
Pollens are a common cause of allergies in Shih Tzu. If your dog is suffering in spring or summer, and if your dog sneezes or continuously rubs his face with his paws, pollen could be the reason since concentrations are highest during the spring and summer months. Washing your dog's bed often, cleaning his eyes, and using HEPA filters when cleaning the house can all help reduce pollen allergies. Your vet can prescribe antihistamines to relieve the symptoms. If this doesn't work, steroids may be prescribed, but be very careful with the use of steroids, since these can cause many other health issues.
 
Like pollens, house dust can also cause a Shih Tzu to suffer. All houses have some dust, but moving your Shih Tzu's bed into a room with bare floors and without carpets or heavy drapes (all dust collectors) can make a huge difference.
 
Flea bites can cause reactions in every breed of dog, so you must check your Shih Tzu for fleas regularly. Fleas are more than just a nuisance; flea bites can lead to serious, even life-threatening health problems. Look for rashes or irritated skin, and ask your vet about the best treatments.
 
Contact allergies result from something that is applied to a Shih Tzu's body from the outside. Some examples are shampoos, ointments, and flea medicine, but can also include things like furniture polish and deodorant powders if your Shih Tzu comes into contact with areas that contain them. I recommend you use the same strategies as with food allergies; start eliminating potential culprits until the allergy goes away. Then you will know what the cause really was.
 
Some dogs are even known to have allergic reactions to vaccinations, and since your Shih Tzu will receive yearly shots, it's important to pay attention to when allergies start. Did they happen immediately after the last set of shots? If so, I recommend informing the vet so he can take action. Remember: just because your dog had the same shot last year and was fine doesn't mean he will be fine this time around.
 
If the allergy persists
 
If there is no obvious pattern to your Shih Tzu's allergies, and if you've looked high and low to try and isolate the cause and can't find anything in the house or immediate area that could be causing the problem, it is possible that your dog's allergies are being caused by something else, such as their diet. When in doubt, check with your vet for advice, but above all, be mindful of your pet's behavior so that you can act as quickly as possible to help them feel better.