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7 poisonous houseplants to keep away from dogs

7 poisonous houseplants to keep away from dogs

Flowers are known to accentuate the décor of your home. And many plants boast a variety of properties that can help treat topical allergies as well as infections. Some households have shrubs, creepers, herbs, and spices planted around their gardens. But if your house also has pets, it is necessary to keep toxic plants away from their reach for safety. Here are seven common household plants that are dangerous to have around pets.

Aloe vera
Aloe vera is rich in healing properties, and the gel is used for preparing topical applications. However, this plant is highly toxic for dogs as the gel upsets their stomach and can trigger nausea or vomiting.

Sago palm
This easy-growing indoor plant significantly improves home décor. However, if pets accidentally ingest the palm leaves, it can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, tremors, or even seizures. Fever is also a noticeable effect to look out for.

Tulips
Tulips are one of the most beautiful and decorative plants to have indoors. But the stem and the blooming flowers contain poisonous compounds that can upset your pet’s stomach. The bulbous parts trigger vomiting, excess drooling, and diarrhea.

Allium plants
Onion and garlic plants belong to the allium species. Ingesting the bulbous part of the herbs in large quantities triggers hemolysis, which is a severe reaction that harms the red blood cells. Symptoms include passing red urine, severe weakness, and excessive breathing that indicates a toxic reaction.

Daffodils
Daffodils are common household plants that bloom for longer periods. But every part of this plant is toxic when ingested, which is why daffodils should be kept out of the reach of pets.

Ivy
English and Boston Ivy are outdoor plants grown on wood frames or around trails to help accentuate the landscape. However, always ensure that your pets don’t accidentally end up chewing any part of the plant, as most types of ivy are toxic.

Azalea shrubs
Home gardens just don’t look complete without azaleas. But these beautiful flower-bearing shrubs can trigger excessive drooling and vomiting in pets. If left unchecked for long, dogs may even experience seizures or slip into a coma.

Non-toxic exceptions like basil, chamomile, eucalyptus, lavender, and lemongrass can help fight flea and tick infestations.

Despite individuals’ efforts to safeguard their pet’s health, there is always a slight chance of a mishap or illness. It’s best to be prepared for such situations by purchasing pet insurance. These plans pay one back for unexpected vet bills related to accidents, illnesses, injuries, etc. And based on the company one picks, one might be eligible for reimbursements even over 80% of the vet bill.

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4 effective flea tablets for dogs

4 effective flea tablets for dogs

Pests can invade a dog’s furry coat and create quite havoc. Some dogs are extremely sensitive to these crawly bugs and can develop skin reactions. That said, several products are available in the market to tackle this problem, and flea tablets are one of them. These fast-acting pills control ticks, worms, and other pests, so pet owners won’t have to worry about infestations. Here are a few trusted flea pills for dogs that will actively protect your pet’s fur coat. Capstar Flea Tablets Capstar is a well-known brand for effective flea-prevention and treatment products. Their flea pills for dogs and puppies can prevent allergy dermatitis, which often occurs due to a flea infestation. Their tablets can start killing these pests within half an hour of ingestion, and they are safe enough for daily single-dose consumption. While no prescription is needed to purchase these, remember to get approval from your vet as they will know if the medicine will agree with your canine. Trifexis Chewable Tablets These strong monthly chewable flea pills for dogs are a good fix for fleas, and they also help keep heartworm disease at bay. They have a blend of pest-fighting agents like milbemycin oxime and spinosad that fight parasites and curb infestation.

Top 3 dog collars against fleas and ticks

Fleas and ticks are parasites that are a nuisance for pets as well as pet parents. If these pests are not dealt with on time, quite a few health problems can occur. In such cases, flea and tick collars are one of the most effective products that can help your dog get rid of these blood-sucking parasites. Here are three of the best flea and tick collars that are popularly used by pet parents. PREVENTIC® Tick Collar for Dogs by Virbac The PREVENTIC® by Virbac is one of the most effective dog collars in the market today against fleas and ticks. Customer reviews suggest that the collar starts killing and repelling parasites on your pet within 24 hours. A single collar can provide protection from fleas and ticks for up to 90 days. Since the active ingredient used in this collar is an odorless insecticide called amitraz. This collar can even be used on puppies as young as 12 weeks. The available sizes of this flea collar are 18 inches for medium to small dogs and 25 inches for large dogs. Seresto® Flea and Tick Collar by Bayer This collar can also be one of your best bets for protecting your dog against blood-sucking parasites.

5 snacks that can help lower cholesterol levels

5 snacks that can help lower cholesterol levels People who struggle with high cholesterol levels tend to begin thinking more about everything they eat. Whether it’s a bowl of fruit or a delicious hamburger, they are left wondering how their choices will impact their numbers. While it is tempting to skip snacking altogether, a healthy snack can go a long way in maintaining metabolism as well as blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Changing the kinds of foods one eats can not only lower cholesterol levels but also improve fat levels through the bloodstream. Here are some great snacks that are extremely helpful in fighting cholesterol. Popcorn Popcorn can be low in calories when one eats a smart serving size and avoids the salt and butter. What’s more, it’s a whole grain full of fiber. Popcorn can be easily made at home by air popping it and adding some olive oil and a little bit of parmesan cheese or a few seasonings for some extra flavor. Using olive oil instead of butter helps lower the bad LDL cholesterol and increase the good HDL cholesterol. Nuts Peanuts, walnuts, almonds, etc. are great for the heart and are powerhouses of energy. Some studies have even demonstrated that nuts slightly lower the levels of bad LDL cholesterol.

Diets & Meal Plans

Top 8 cholesterol-lowering foods

An elevated cholesterol level is a huge risk factor for developing heart disease in the long run. One of the best ways of lowering your cholesterol levels is by following a heart-healthy diet. The key is to include foods in your diet that mainly lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol content in your blood. So, here are some foods that can help lower cholesterol levels and eliminate some risk factors for possible heart disease. Dark chocolate and cocoa This is something that many people might love. Research has revealed that dark chocolate and cocoa can lower bad cholesterol content in your blood. However, you must choose dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 75–85% or higher, or cocoa alone to enjoy the benefits. Milk chocolate and white chocolate are high in sugar content, which can negatively affect your heart health. Whole grains Including whole grains like oats, barley, and others in your daily diet is an easy way of lowering cholesterol levels. Whole grains, especially oats and barley, are loaded with vitamins and minerals, plant compounds, and fiber that can help manage cholesterol. So, don’t forget to have a bowl of oatmeal or oat-based cereals for breakfast every day.

Useful ways to treat cold and flu

Imagine working in a high-security building that uses facial recognition technology to keep out intruders. It works well until the intruders figure out how to breach the security system. It does not matter how often the intruders are caught, new intruders will find new ways to infiltrate. The same analogy can be applied to our body’s immune system and the flu virus. The building is our body, the security system, our immune system, and intruders are the virus trying to enter the body. Whenever a new influenza vaccine is formulated and distributed, more potent viruses develop ways to evade them, making it difficult to treat cold, flu, cough & virus symptoms. So until there is a definitive cure for the infection, it is imperative to take steps to get relief from symptoms and keep the immune system intact. Following are some ways which can provide relief from symptoms and strengthen immunity: Hydration Consuming plenty of fluids helps thin your mucus and breaks congestion. It also prevents headaches and fatigue that is caused by dehydration. Keep a glass or reusable bottle in hand, and refill it with water. Salt water gargles A salt water gargle soothes a throbbing throat. It eases swelling and loosens mucus.