DOGS : Tick Bite? Here's What To Do.

DOGS : Tick Bite? Here's What To Do.A dog in the wrong place at the wrong time can be bit by dozens or even hundreds of ticks. Deer ticks go through three stages of life (larva, nymph, and adult), and feed only once in each of these stages; a blood meal ends each stage. Larval ticks feed off mice and other small rodents, but nymphs and adults are a threat to dogs. These ticks are small and their bites don’t itch so they are easily overlooked, especially adult deer ticks and the nymphs of any species. Ticks thrive in warm, moist conditions thus its important to always check under collars and around ears. If you observe a lump or bump inspect it critically you can seek help or better still use a magnifying glass. Tick Bite? Here's What To Do. Be careful when removing a tick to grasp it with tweezers firmly at the head, as close to the dog’s skin as possible, and slowly pull straight back. Never twist, press, burn, or apply irritating substances like kerosene to an attached tick because doing so can cause the parasite to expel the contents of its digestive tract, creating an unwanted hypodermic effect. Three-percent hydrogen peroxide, the common disinfectant, is recommended for tick bites because the oxygen it contains destroys the Lyme disease bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide can be liberally poured over bites on light-haired dogs (keep away from eyes and apply directly to the skin) but because it’s a bleach, this method is not recommended for black or dark-haired dogs. The use of an eyedropper to apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the bite will prevent unwanted bleaching. Get the guide here

AGRIBUSINESS: HOW WATER IMPACTS POULTRY HEALTH.

Water is very essential in the poultry value chain,as its the major medium used for feeding, vaccination and cleaning. Water has also been noted as a source of infection and disease transmission,hence water safety must be part of bio security protocol for poultry health. Broiler growers move further away from using antibiotics, the importance of keeping a clean water system will continue to increase; Dr. Susan Watkins, a professor and extension specialist at the University of Arkansas, said keeping a clean water supply is a major contributor to having a healthy, successful flock. Watkins, who has been studying and speaking on the importance of clean water for years, explained how growers can keep their water supply clean at the Midwest Poultry Federation Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 16. Watkins said the keys to keeping a clean water supply are: 1)knowing the water supply’s challenges and addressing them properly, an inadequate cleaning is a waste of time and effort 2) Using downtime effectively and using that time to clean water systems 3) Using a daily water sanitizer best suited for the operation that is compatible with water, easy to use, ease to monitor and cost effective for the farm. 4) Establishing a program to monitor and verify water quality. Watkins offered up a few promising methods and new products as well as tips on how best to use them to help farmers decide which water cleaning program is best for their farm: A) Chlorine for water sanitation Watkins said chlorine is a good daily water sanitizer, but it is not perfect. The halogen is available in a variety of forms and is an effective water sanitizer, however its effectiveness is affected by numerous factors such as the pH level of the water, the temperature of the water, the cleanliness of the water, the amount of time the chlorine is present in the water, and the age and storage condition of the chlorine product. While it’s an effective antimicrobial, it does not remove all harmful microbes in the water supply. She said chlorine solutions work best in pH 4 to 7. The acidic form of chlorine, which exists in lower pH water, is a better sanitizer overall. As chlorine reacts with organic compounds in the water system, it can give off strong odors of chlorine. Watkins said the smell goes away as the chlorine sanitizes the water. Chlorine is not the best choice for areas where chloride levels are already high. B) Alternatives to chlorine Watkins said there are a few options other than using chlorine to sanitize water: hydrogen peroxide and a newer product that uses ultraviolet light. Hydrogen peroxide can be a good alternative to chlorine and works especially well for sanitizing pond or river water. Like chlorine, hydrogen peroxide can be dangerous to store, and its effectiveness declines over time. Watkins said a newer product, the Silver Bullet, from Colorado-based Silver Bullet Water Treatment L.L.C., is promising. She said the product uses ultraviolet light and continuously infuses electrolyzed air into the water supply -- what the company calls an advanced oxidation process to leave a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in the water.“I love this concept because you can just continuously treat water and not over treat it,” Watkins said. Watkins said environmental factors like mold can reduce the effectiveness of the Silver Bullet – and other sanitizers – and because the product does not leave behind a residual amount of an active compound, the only way to gauge its success is microbial monitoring before and after use. She recommended using the diffuser in a holding tank or wellhead rather than with flowing water. Cleaning considerations are important to achieve aim of sanitized water,these tips are important and helpful:1) Use the right concentration of a cleaner and give it the proper amount of time to work. Improper cleaner concentration or not giving it enough time to work will result in failure. 2) The entire system must be cleaned: the water lines, standpipes, regulators and distribution pipes. If any part of the system is not cleaned of biofilm and other residue, it can undermine all the time and effort spent on cleaning and lead to health problems in a broiler flock. 3) Document which products work best for your operation. Watkins said no two farms are the same, so it is necessary to figure out which products work best and record it for future reference. Swabs of microbial content collected before and after cleaning can help determine which products work best. No matter how well the system was flushed clean: flush it with a sanitizer birds can drink after cleaning. Stabilized products work best because they keep working for days after application. The secondary treatment can kill microbes that survived the line cleaning. Excerpts from Wattagnet.com

COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS ESSENTIAL FOR EVERY PET OWNER.

Every pet owner needs a kit for emergencies or to provide a quick fix before you get to a veterinarian.

These items are so common around the home but it will make a lot of sense to have them handy and in a dedicated bag.

        The items are:

 1) Thermometer.: necessary to ascertain the correct temperature status of your pet.An elevation or a low temperature both indicate an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

 2)Bandages: useful to hold limb in place in cases of injury.

 3)Gauze: sterile gauze useful in wound treatment,also useful to make a muzzle when you need to restrain your pets.

 4)Cotton wool: useful to clean wounds,ears and eyes.The cotton moistened with warm water is useful to remove sleepy dust from eyes. The cotton can be used to apply ointment on wound sites. 

5)Adhesive tapes: to close up a wound after cleaning and treatment. 6)Antiseptic cream;to prevent infection in wound site.

 7)Tweezers:to pick ticks from dog's coat,crush and destroy.Its also useful to pick sterile swabs and apply on wound.

 8)Scissors:useful to cut gauze,bandage or pieces of material to make a tourniquet, or cut material to make a splint.

 9)Sterile dressing:useful in wound dressing,

 10)Iodine: for wound treatment.

 11)hydrogen peroxide: to induce vomiting in cases of poisoning.The peroxide is also used to clean wound surfaces.

 12) Towel: used to cover pets to conserve heat in patients with shock.Towels are handy to carry pets in cases of accidents.

 13)Alum block,corn starch and baking soda; this acts as hemostats to stop bleeding .

How to use vinegar as a cleaning agent.

Clean it, clean it and clean it again. Cleaning has always been my passion, I just love to clean. I cherish a neat and beautiful environment; l can’t stand filth at all. My cleaning passion dates way, way back when I was a teen, if anything needs a shine, I’m ready to clean. My passion made me use a lot of unconventional products to achieve my goal of super clean, germ free environment. Back in the days, our kitchen cabinet provided the agents that I used for my cleaning experiments. Cleaning our sitting room was a herculean task, we had terrazzo floors with some areas covered with Persian rugs; I will sweep the entire living room, then I will wash the terrazzo floors with detergent in water mixed with vinegar, and I will rinse same with clean water laced with vinegar. The vinegar-water combination gives me a super shine and also disinfected our living room. The furniture was a mix of upholstery with massive wood works as arm rest and stand; this I also clean with the vinegar-water combination. We also had a bar made of colorful tiles, this I also cleaned with the vinegar- water combo. The vinegar- water combo was made in different concentrations depending on where I want to use it. Once a stain was on the rug ; I damped a clothed with scouring powder applied to the spot, and cleaned the spot with a double strength of vinegar-water combo, and like magic ,no more stains. Vinegar is normally used to clean vegetables, salads, also as food preservatives, but in my hands: Vinegar is my magic solution, I add to laundry soap in washing machine. My kitchen table gets a wipe with my vinegar- water combo. I use vinegar to clean and disinfect wounds; I also use it as a flea repellent. When I was experimenting in those days never knew I would make commercial products. The nature of my work warrants safety at all times so #hand washing# has always been my practice. I wash after I touch my patients, after a visit to a farm, and any procedure, and as soon as I get home I was my hands again. Hand sanitizer are always in my bag just in case, I’m in a tight spot where there is no water, I always play safe. I remember an occasion during the EBOLA CRISIS, some friends were trying to figure out which sanitizer to buy, they asked me which was so effective this is what I said; get a bottle of vinegar, buy liquid gel used for making soap, buy isopropyl alcohol(I.P.A) and fragrance, color and bam you have your own hand sanitizer. Vinegar ( acetic acid ) is an antibacterial that kills over 100 pathogenic organisms including the E.COLI (0157). A food scientist @ the VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE: noted that acetic acid (vinegar) kills 100 organisms but if you use it with HYDROGEN PEROXIDE it will get rid of 100,000 organisms. This combination is of great value in the food industry especially the meat industry. The meat vans are washed ,then sprayed with acetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide is also sprayed then vans are left to dry. THE ACETIC ACID/ HYDROGEN PEROXIDE ARE NOT MIXED IN THE SAME CONTAINER, BUT ARE USED ONE AFTER THE OTHER TO PREVENT RELEASE OF TOXIC GAS. VINEGAR IN MY HANDS, so much more than you imagine.