cats

Are You An Ultimate Shopper?

Is Amazon Prime Day like Black Friday to you? You know how it is on Black Friday. Many savvy shoppers – especially those who LOVE shopping – are armed with their lists, cell phones charged up, laptop ready in case of a cell phone failure, favorite beverage in hand and an alarm clock. Is this you? You may want to plan on going to bed early the night before just to be at your very shopping-best.

And no one had better get in your way. NO INTERRUPTIONS! The Ultimate Shopper is in her groove. Yes, shopping for some is like an Olympic sport. First out of the chute wins!

This blog contains Amazon affiliate links – lots of them! ♥

When I think about it, I am kind of envious of all the excitement you will have. I am serious. Some gals, especially, tackle Prime Day as a challenge to be conquered! I will be looking for great deals Tuesday and Wednesday July 16 & 17, too, but I’ll bet you will be the winner!

SHOPPING TIP: Know the calendar. For gift buying, write birthdays and family events on a special calendar for this shopping purpose. Reminder: I don’t want you to get nervous or anything but Back to School is pretty much moments away and there are about 145-ish days till Thanksgiving’s Black Friday on November 22nd! So there is a lot going on.

STRATEGY: If the amount of shopping you have to do is overwhelming, only buy what you really are excited about this time and hold onto what can wait for November 22^nd 145-ish days from now. It is important to get our heads around what may pay off …think of the reasons to buy before Prime Day begins. I always look at what I am going to have to buy anyhow and try to do it on Prime Day.

Reasons to buy!

Anniversaries
Automotive Needs
Back to School
Beauty
Birthdays
Books
College Essentials
Health Essentials
Holiday Giving
Home Décor refreshing
I Love You Gifts ♥
Kitchen
Lawn & Garden Supplies
Life’s Essentials (i.e. STUFF FOR YOU!)
Office Supplies, Calendars, Planners
Party planning (stock up!!! )
Pet food and supplies
Showers – baby
Showers – wedding
Sporting Goods
Teacher Gifts
Toys
Weddings

CLICK HERE FOR AMAZON SEARCH! ☑️ Super Quick Access!

“SECRET” SHOPPING TIP: Amazon is running some really GREAT SALES even now! Often you will find highly customer-recommended items for 25 – 40% off!

Teachers, Buy Yourself a Gift!

Cute Teacher Pencil Coquette Bow Back To School Teacher Life T-Shirt

I bought this cute t-shirt for myself and it comes today. Can’t wait!!!

Skechers Women’s Hands Free Summits Dazzling Haze

Is Pet Hair around the house driving you crazy???

I’ve been there. Read about the BEST pet hair vacuum I’ve ever had or just go over and get one right now! Hint: it’s a Shark Navigator!

I would like to personally apologize to CAT OWNERS everywhere. I have always had dogs for pets. My quest for a great PET HAIR vacuum burst forth from sheer frustration from the abundance of white dog fur from my Yellow Labs Blondie, Lexi, Troy and Sadie. I could have BUILT A NEW DOG out of all that shed fur.

Little did I know that the CAT PARENTS OF THE WORLD also have a big pet-hair challenge on their hands. I assure you that the Shark navigator upright vacuums will also be YOUR dream come true!

Best Cat Hair Vacuum Ever!

Enjoy!

The Best Vacuum For Pet Hair I Have Ever Used

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Those who have followed this blog for any time know the struggle I have had getting pet hair off my carpeting, floors and furniture. It has been a hot topic for me.

This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ❤️ This is NOT a sponsored post. It is simply my unsolicited story.

I love my dogs and I love their fur–when it stays on them. I do NOT love dog fur when it is on everything else. So, I have been on a quest for ☑️ THE BEST PET HAIR VACUUM for a long time – and I finally found it! This is the wonderful one that I own in 2025 and have used, now, for years. Still operates like its NEW!

2025 UPDATE: THIS ONE has LED lights added so you can really see everything that needs to be picked up! Interested in the one with a SELF CLEANING BRUSH ROLL? Click here!

2025 BEST Pet Hair Vacuum I have ever used

Before I found this amazing vacuum, I did get a couple of tools that truly helped minimize the problem. I bought a Furminator -which is great for grooming your dog and de-shedding some of its excess fur. I also discovered Arm & Hammer’s Pet Fresh powder for carpets. This product does a really good job lifting the pet fur from the carpet as you vacuum it. The powder deodorizes the carpet, too. Bailey, my most recent dog, is a bit sensitive to products – her eyes react – so I have discontinued using it for her sake. Lexi and Sadie were always A-OK

For the longest time, though, I did NOT have a great vacuum cleaner to use. In fact, the various vacuums I had tried were mediocre, at best. Though they were top filling and “HEPA filtered,” they lost their suction power early in the game. Lint and fur were left behind no matter how many times I passed that vacuum over the same area. Have you ever had that problem? It is so frustrating.

Before I Found the BEST Vacuum, Wait Till You Hear What Happened to the One I THOUGHT I Liked!

Next, in my journey to finding this TRULY best vacuum cleaner, I did find one that I really liked. When the first one became hopelessly clogged with dirt and debris, I bought another of the same kind because, when it worked, it worked well.

That second one actually CAUGHT ON FIRE! I am not kidding. Blue smoke started coming out and it was seconds from flames, I am sure of it. I unplugged that baby really fast and never tried to use it again. In fact, before discarding it I cut the cord to render it inoperable. I didn’t want someone taking this dangerous vacuum cleaner out of the garbage, thinking they’d found a treasure. Having learned my lesson, I never bought another one of that unnamed brand of vacuums again.

The Best Vacuum For Pet Hair

So, that is when I started to ask around. I was hearing very good reports about the Shark Navigator Liftaway Vacuum from some of my friends. They told me that they were thrilled with the results. I became very hopeful. This one is the basic model, which I still use.

Then I discovered that my own sister-in-law had one! She hadn’t even used it yet. She was going out of town and wouldn’t be using it for a while so I asked the unthinkable–could I borrow her brand new Shark vacuum for a day? She said “yes.” I love my sister-in-law!!!

I didn’t even have the directions but it was so easy to assemble that I figured it out on my own. I first tried it on my NAVY BLUE carpeting. Well, at least my carpet should have been navy blue. It was covered in white fur from my beautiful yellow lab, Sadie the “fur-making-machine,” so you wouldn’t know what color it really was. Labs shed like crazy! At the time, my floor was covered and EMBEDDED with lots of white dog fur!

So, I vacuumed it. Within moments, the carpet was totally clean. It was the completely restored to that gorgeous navy blue color I loved. Wow! I was excited!

Now, this part really sold me: emptying the canister!

My happiest discovery was the PLEASURE of emptying the canister, which was now filled with dirt, lint and fur. (Got to really test it so I vacuumed till it was super full!) With the flip of two latches and press of a button, the canister released from the housing, and popped open as I held it over a trash can. “WHOOSH” — all the debris swept out into the trash. NO DIRT GOT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CANISTER. No cloud of dust in the air. Just clean, clean, clean! And the canister opens from top and bottom so nothing gets left inside. It all goes!

yellow lab puppy

Yellow labs make LOTS of fur!

The Shark Upright Navigator Lift-Away Vacuum is:

Lightweight
Easy to maneuver
Simple to use
Thorough in cleaning
Never loses suction
Internally sealed–no dirt escapes it
Stores easily
Empties brilliantly! What a great design!
Various styles available. All are very reasonably priced in a range from about $149.00 to $340 retail.

. …

2025 Update=> This one has LED Lights, HEPA filter and easy to maneuver!

Do you love your vacuum cleaner? What kind do you have? Share your experiences with us in the comments!

The very BEST vacuum cleaner I have ever used for pet hair! #cleaningtips #vacuum #dogs #cats And wait till you empty it! A dream come true. Share on X

Shark NV752 Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter, Large Dust Cup Capacity, LED Headlights, Upholstery Tool, Perfect Pet Power Brush & Crevice Tool, Bordeaux

Enjoy!

What Does Your Dog Do When You Are Not Home?

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When you are away all day, what does your dog do? Play? Bark at every sound?

I have suspected that mine sleep most of the time when I am gone. They also sit on the stairs in our hallway where they can see the driveway through the window, waiting for someone to come home! Thankfully, it has been quite some time since everyone has been gone long hours at the same time but I sure do remember what it felt like knowing that the dog was alone for 8+ hours a day. I hated it.

Many years ago I actually PRAYED that the Lord would send some kind of entertainment for our yellow lab, Blondie. I was desperate! When we got home from work there were paw marks down the dining room wall. My only guess was that there had been a spider on the wall just high enough to get her attention but out of her reach! LOL A one time blessing but I was looking for a daily solution.

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When Your Dog Has To Be At Home Alone

When we finally got a second dog it lifted the guilt quite a bit but not everyone can, or wants to, have two dogs. So, what can you do to make their days go better?

Leave the television or radio on for some familiar noise. It isn’t real company but the background sound may be comforting.
Leave fresh water and food.
Leave a light on, in case you don’t make it back home until after the sun goes down.
Leave SAFE toys. That is a tough one since one dog’s “safe” toy can be the next one’s trouble. You know your dog so choose those toys wisely.
Keep dangerous items out of reach. We have a basket of medicines on the table when we are home but it goes inside a safe cupboard each time we leave the house. Our 1 year old puppy is a paper-eater, too, so I have to do a search for napkins, newspapers and such to get them out of the way way before we go out the door.
Find reliable help. You can have a friend come by to let the dog out to go potty. If they love walking, perhaps they would be willing to walk the dog for you. There are professional dog walkers for hire, as well. If you are not going to be able to walk your dog after work, have someone do it for you.
Buy a pet cam. Our son has a video system that he uses to check in on his dogs while he is at work. It gives him comfort to know that all is well. On one occasion, he called us for help as he discovered that the electric had gone off in the house. We went right over for him to check on the house and his pets.
If your dog must be crated for several hours, get him a very big cage. My yellow lab, Sadie, sleeps at night in a crate that is sized for Great Danes (they call the size “ginormous” LOL) She has had some problems with joint pain and we want her to be very comfortable. With this super-sized crate, she can stand up and move around. Sadie is such a good girl that we wouldn’t crate her at all but at night we do it for our own safety. We don’t want to trip over her if she moves around the house. The puppy? Her crate is also big (it is the 42″ model) We just love spoiling our girls!

Now, this is really fun. There is a new interactive pet cam. It is the Petcube Pet Camera that Flings Treats! Pet parents can see and hear their pets and even talk to them. When your dog responds with panting or a bark, you will hear it and see it. You can have a regular doggie-conversation!* And, get this, you can even toss him a treat! No joke. That’s what this big boy [below] is waiting for in this picture. My dogs would be doing exactly what he is doing …. listening and waiting for that treat! (Do cats do that? I have never owned a cat so I don’t know.)

So, how do you handle things when you have to leave your pet for a long day? Do you have someone help you?

What are your pets doing while you are away? #dogs #cats #video #home Share on X

Enjoy!

Letter C is for Cat Preschool Lesson and Craft

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Children are fascinated by cats and my preschoolers are no exception. The Letter C is for Cat preschool lesson was super-fun. We learned fun facts about cats, sung about cats and made a colorful cat craft. We even pretended to be cats, meowing all the way.

Letter C is for Cat lesson for preschool and kindergarten #cats

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I don’t have a cat. Until preparing my preschool lesson, the little I knew about them came from old movies I had seen like “That Darn Cat” or “The Three Lives Of Thomasina” … both timeless classics of the Disney variety (1960’s.)

I do know that little children are fascinated by cats and learning the letter C is so much fun when cats are the topic!

Adorable kitty cat toy that moves, purrs, sits up!

Letter C is for Cat Preschool Lesson

We learned about cats in many ways. We made kitty ear headbands to wear, read a cat book, learned fun facts about cats, saw a cat video, painted faces with cat whiskers, sang a cat song and made a letter C cat craft with pom poms. Here is a simple description of the lesson with free printables plus the video for you to use.

Make Cat Headbands – simply attach construction paper “kitty ears” to a construction paper band, taped to fit their heads. I printed the ears on white copy paper for them to color and the students cut them out. We wore our cat headbands all day!

How To Teach A Child To Hold Scissors Correctly

**Free Cat Ears for Headband Printable**

Letter C is for Cat preschool crafts and lesson; cat, kitten, crafts

Face Painting – we saved face painting until later in the day so that when the parents arrived to pick their children up at the end of the day they could see how cute they looked. The kids who wanted us to paint whiskers on their faces and a dot on their noses, could. I brought in a handheld mirror for them to see what they looked like. About half of my students wanted http://amzn.to/2yNASVShttps://amzn.to/3o1wPiRit and half did not.

Letter C Cat Craft – this craft is very colorful. I really like the one I found on Pinterest using “cat colored” pom poms but all I had were the multicolored. No problem. It was still fun to make. (Instructions below)

All about Cats lesson / discussion – I made a page, printed it on card stock and used it as a visual aid to talk about the different characteristics of house cats. I covered each fact with a piece a paper to tear off as they correctly guessed it. So much fun! (Free printable below) Fun Facts About Cats by Science Kids

Face painting crayons are so easy to do and FUN! #ad

Preschool Lesson: What Cats Like And What They Do

CATS LOVE toys.

CATS LOVE to scratch & climb.

CATS love to eat.

CATS love to watch.

CATS love to sleep (catnap)

CATS PURR when they’re happy.

All about Cats short video – this video is a great companion for the Cats lesson. Perfect for 3 and 4 year olds. See it right here!

Cat story – I brought in several cat books from the library. Some were picture books and some were stories.

Soft Kitty Song – yes, many of us learned this little song from Big Bang Theory. Sheldon’s mom sung it to him whenever he was sick or could not sleep. Perfect song for sweet little children. Perfect for C is for Cat! We sang it again and again. (Lyrics below)

Soft Kitty Song Lyrics

“Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty,

little ball of fur.

Happy Kitty, Sleepy Kitty,

purr, purr, purr.”

Letter C is for Cat preschool lesson, video and craft! Such a fun way for children to learn about #cats #kidscrafts #ece Share on X

How to Make a “C is for Cat” Preschool Craft

Supplies

Printed letter C on cardstock paper

Cat ears & nose cut out of colored paper

6 short pipe cleaners for whiskers

Googly eyes

Pom Poms

White glue

Q Tips – cotton swabs

Small paper cup for the glue.

Instructions

Make a sample of the craft for your students to see.

Tell your children that they are turning a letter C into a cat!

Have them run their finger tracing the letter C.

Have them glue the ears, eyes and nose on using a Q-tip dipped in glue.

Now have them glue on the pipe cleaners (they may need a little help from you.)

Glue pom poms around the C for decoration.

Done!

All About Cats Free Printable LESSON

Cover each section of this visual aid with a piece of paper. I used red so that the kids could not see through them. Then – on each section – I taped one side and used a paperclip on the other end making it easy to remove and reveal the fun facts about cats one by one.

**Get your All About Cats Free Printable HERE**

I do hope you use this Letter C is for Cat lesson. My students loved it! If you have taught C is for Cat recently and need something else for the letter C, try my C is for Caterpillar Craft and Very Hungry Caterpillar Graphing Activity for preschoolers.

Clean up that cat fur with the best pet hair vacuum ever! ad

Enjoy!

Shark NV752 Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum with HEPA Filter, Large Dust Cup Capacity, LED Headlights, Upholstery Tool, Perfect Pet Power Brush & Crevice Tool,

Great at getting up cat (or dog) fur!

Pom Poms for crafts!

5 Super Simple Ways For Pet Owners To Get Organized

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We love our fur babies, don’t we! Yes, we love them, we cuddle them, we play with them and we buy them toys. Heck, I just bought my puppy a sweater! Never thought I’d see the day that I would buy clothes for my dog but she looks so cute in it.

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

With all the joy our beloved pets bring to our lives they also bring more paraphernalia to stash and lots more cleaning to do. But we don’t mind. It’s part of being a pet parent.

Just as with our own stuff, there comes a time where we need to find a place for all the gear. Organizing your pet’s things can be fun – really! Here are five simple ways to keep your puppy’s [or kitty’s] belongings organized and easy to find:

Hooks – use decorative hooks for hanging leashes, collars and dog apparel. Aren’t these little doggie behinds adorable? For those who like a subtler look, a nice pet command station may be up your alley.

Baskets – wicker baskets – and fabric ones, too – are lovely to look at and so convenient for stashing pet toys. They are perfect for Fido’s or Fluffy’s vitamins and medications, too.

Cleanup Pail – place a large pail just outside the door to the house or in your mudroom that will hold their shampoo, pet cleanup bags, brush ( I love the furminator!) and towel for those muddy paws!

5 simple ways to get your dog's and cat's stuff organized! #pets #dogs #cats #organizing #tips Share on X

Doggie Travel Bag – keep a “doggie on the go” bag packed for your pooch. Whenever you want to hop in the car and take your dog with you, it will be packed and ready!

Treat Jar– make it easy for you – and not so easy for your fur babies – to get to their treats by putting them in a decorative container right on the kitchen counter. I really like this one!

Got any great tips on how you organize for your furry friends?

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

Enjoy!

Make An Adorable “Welcome Doggie” Busy Bag For A New Puppy

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Love puppies? Think about when you first brought your little fur baby home. She was cuddly, licky, snuggly, squirmy and truly a baby.

pets, pet care, dog care, puppy care, pet owner

If you haven’t had a young pup in a while, memories may have faded into everything fun. We all loved it, didn’t we? But with her youth comes messes. She poops – she pees – she may even have an upset tummy once in a while and your new little love, who doesn’t know anything, lets it all happen on your beautiful clean rug.

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My little gal, Sadie [100lbs of yellow lab loveliness] was just the size of a big tea cup when we met her 4 years ago. Of all the silly things, this picture of her doing her business is the first one I took! Believe me, the lawn is not the only place where that happened – not by a longshot.

She is what inspired me to make this new-dog busy bag for my brother’s family. They are getting a new puppy and plan on naming him “Boomer” Cute! As we all know, when puppies don’t have enough to do, they find things to do. Sadie did! I remember the day she first discovered mud. She enjoyed every gooshy minute of it. As you can see by the picture below, she got on the carpet before I could catch her. Aren’t those muddy paws adorable? Of course, the carpet needed some TLC after I captured it on film.

puppy care, carpet cleaning, dog busy bag

Then there was the day she brought a TREE into the house (OK… part of a tree.) She needed to chew and took it upon herself to solve the problem – thankfully it was a tree and NOT the furniture! With that experience in mind, I decided to make a busy bag for the new arrival including the most important part: STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover.

STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover is the best way to be prepared for the inevitable messes pets will make. Whether it is the occasional piddle or poop on the rug or muddy paws, Stainmaster cleans it up great. Not only does it do an excellent cleaning job, leaving an invisible protective shield protecting your carpet from resoiling, but it deodorizes beautifully, too.

Check it out after you use it. There will not be a trace of sticky residue where you applied it. None! I only wish I had had it when Sadie was little. I use it all the time now and, guess what? It also works great on other everyday kinds of stains like coffee, grape juice, jelly, ketchup, chocolate syrup, motor oil (YES!) and soil.

You can find Stainmaster products at your local Target. That is where I bought my first bottle!

So, while I was there, I got the brilliant idea to buy one of the red Target recyclable bags to use for my new pet busy bag! Made it so easy:) Next, I went to the pet supplies section of Target and bought some dog toys including teethers and chew toys plus a few plush toys, as well. Along with the stain remover, this will make a great starter gift for their new arrival.

How ever did Sadie figure out those were DOG toys, anyway? I thought had been discreet. Oh well, I may have to give them to her and go buy some more for Boomer. LOL.

dogs, cats, pets, pet owners, puppies, kittens

yellow lab, labrador retrievers, puppies, pets, crafts

How To Make A New Doggie Busy Bag

Contents of a New Dog Busy Bag

Plush dog toys

Tough rubber ball or bones

Doggie chew teethers

Rope toy

Stainmaster Carpet Pet Stain Remover

Supplies

Red Target Store Reusable Bag

Tacky glue

Variety of colors of felt squares

Template (2 copies)

Self adhesive felt alphabet letters

Large googly eyes (2)

Directions

Lay the felt letters on the bag for placement.
One by one, remove the backing and adhere the letters to the bag.
My letters were big so I only had room for “DOG.”

puppy busy bag tutorial, how to make a dog busy bag

Print out a clipart picture of a dog*
*Do an internet search to find the dog you want to use!
Make 2 copies so that you can keep one as a reference.
Cut apart the other copy for your pattern and lay the pieces out.

One at a time, hold them on a piece felt with one hand and cut around the shape.
Lay each piece down flat somewhere, after it is cut, to keep track of where every piece goes.

Starting at the bottom of the dog – in this instance, the neck and collar – dab glue onto each part and place it on the bag.
Press gently.
Complete the process of creating the dog’s face.
Glue two big googly eyes on.

pets, dogs, puppies, DIY projects, gift ideas, busy bags, puppy

Let it sit for a few hours to be sure that the glue holds.
*You may want to check to be sure that the glue did not go through to the inside. I did not find that to be the case with mine but if it had happened, I would have put something inside to let the air flow while it dried.

Fill you bag with doggie goodies and a bottle of Stainmaster Carpet Pet Stain Remover.
Now you are ready to go!

Do you know someone who has a new puppy? It’s the perfect time to introduce them to Stainmaster Carpet Pet Stain Cleaner – they will be so grateful!

How to make an adorable doggie busy bag to take your fur baby's toys and things with you. #crafts #doglovers Share on X

THE BEST PET VACUUM I HAVE EVER OWNED!

Enjoy!

Lyme Disease – A Danger For Dogs, Cats and Humans

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Black legged deer tick #ticks #lymedisease #health #dogs #cats #humans Ducks 'n a Row

What Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease is a very serious and painful condition originating from a tick bite. Humans and animals can all get Lyme Disease. Learn where it comes from, how to avoid it and how to detect it. We’ll also discuss the cures.

What Causes Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease is contracted from the bite of an infected deer tick or a Western black legged tick. These ticks are native to the Northeast and Midwest or Pacific Coast region, respectively. The bite of an infected tick transmits bacteria into its victim, thus causing Lyme Disease.

What Are Ticks?

Ticks are small insect-like creatures…arachnids, to be exact. They are found in grass, brush, wooded areas and on some animals. They are prevalent on deer and large rodents. Unlike other predatory insects such as mosquitoes, who “hit and run”, ticks bite and hang on to their victim. They “dig a well”, so to speak, feasting off of their blood.

How Not To Get Lyme Disease

“Prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin’s wise advice. He could have been talking about Lyme Disease! Lyme Disease is nothing to mess with. Humans and their pets should, first of all, avoid contact with deer. Lovely creatures as they may be to watch from afar, it’s best to keep a distance.

Next, if you are going to be camping or hiking in wooded or grassy areas, dress accordingly. Long sleeves, long pants, socks with real shoes (not sandals), everything tucked in well.

Especially if you are going to be in an area with identified cases of Lyme Disease, wear an insect repellent containing at least 20% DEET. Dogs and cats should also be treated with a repellent during the months of May – August which is known as “tick season”.

If you or your pet have come in contact with deer or have been hiking in wooded, brushy areas, make a close inspection to see if you have brought home a tick. They are the size of a small poppy seed, so be methodical and thorough in your search.

Early detection can make the difference between a relatively easy cure and long-term problems. If you are aware of a tick on your dog or cat, do not try to remove it yourself.

It is important that it be removed by your veterinarian. The vet has the expertise to remove the tick with special tweezers designed to keep the tick in tact–gently removing it’s jaws from its victim–and reducing the possibly of spreading the disease further.

How to Detect Lyme Disease

The initial sign of Lyme Disease in humans is a target-like red rash appearing on the skin. 70-80% of those who contract Lyme Disease display this rash. Seek immediate medical attention if you have one.

Signs of Lyme Disease #ticks #rash #LymeDisease Ducks 'n a Row

Additionally, people with Lyme Disease may have:

Symptoms similar to the flu

Headaches

Swollen, painful joints and muscles

Swollen lymph nodes

Extreme fatigue

Chills

Neurological disorders in late stages of the disease.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the complications of Lyme Disease in later stages can include Bells Palsy (affecting the facial muscles), pain, weakness, loss of feeling (numbness), visual problems, nerve damage in arms or legs, sleep disruption, and meningitis-like symptoms including severe headaches, stiff neck and fever.

Dogs and cats who contract Lyme Disease may display one or more of the following:

Sore back

Stiff joints / limping

(These arthritic symptoms may “wander” from one limb to another.)

Lethargy

Loss of appetite

Treatment for Lyme Disease

Catching the disease in its earliest stages increases the probability that it can be cured. Soon as symptoms arise–the oval ringed “target” rash (or any red rash), flu like symptoms, joint aches, etc.–see your physician. Especially if you have been in an environment where ticks may be present, it is imperative that you be tested.

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention),Lyme Disease treatment will most commonly be an oral antibiotic such as amoxicillin. More advanced cases where the neurological system is affected may require use of intravenous antibiotics, instead.

As in the case of humans, diagnosed Lyme Disease in dogs and cats is treated with antibiotics.

The Horrors of Late Diagnosis

Late diagnosis of Lyme Disease can have horrific results. Palsy-like symptoms can take over the victim’s body.

A recent installment of the Dr. Phil Show takes a close, painful look at the result of late-stage Lyme Disease with heart-wrenching accounts of the lives that have been devastated by it. (Watch this compelling video below – note that the content is disturbing but important to know.)

Have you, or someone you know, ever had Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease - a danger for dogs, cats and humans! #LymeDisease #health #dogs Share on X

Pet Hair – Tips for Dog Owners On How To Keep Your House Clean

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Shedding pet fur is such a nuisance. It sticks to everything: clothes, carpets, furniture. It can seem like an unending process to keep it cleaned up.

So, what’s the solution? Not have a dog? What are you kidding? No dog-lover will ever agree to that!

Note: this post contains affiliate links.

Life without a dog is…

No one to greet you at the door with a wagging tail and big “smile” on his face
No one to follow you eagerly from room to room, wanting to play. (He wins!)
No one to beg for treats. (He wins!)
No one to want a walk when you are too tired. (He wins?)
No one to ask for a ride in the car when you just want to sit down and do nothing. (He wins!)
No furry-someone to cuddle with on the couch while you’re reading a good book? (You both win.)

Sweet little lab puppy #labradorretriever #puppy #dog Ducks 'n a Row

Who can resist this sweet little face?

No, there HAS to be another answer to the pet hair problem.

Surprisingly, it isn’t always the long-haired breeds that produce the most. Some of the short haired dogs, such as Labrador Retrievers, have two coats. An outer and an inner coat. This serves as insulation from extreme heat and cold. However, as the seasons shift, the lower coat also does…all over your house.

Shedding is an important part of the natural process for dogs and cats, too. Dogs, especially, can produce enough excess fur that you’d think you could build a whole ‘nother dog from it. Really! Shedding, especially for the shorter haired dogs, happens all of the time to a degree and in abundance at the change of the major season. Resource: Why Dogs Shed

Keep your dogs well groomed! #doggrooming #pethair Ducks 'n a Row

There are some methods and products that will help you control the unwanted pet hair in your house.

First, keep your dog groomed. Occasional shampooing (don’t overdo it lest you dry out their skin) and frequent brushing, especially in shedding season, will help. Plus, your dog will love the attention. Resource: Caring for Your Dog’s Coat
Tip: the Furminator (pictured below) is an excellent dog grooming tool. Gently removes fur before it sheds! Makes your dog’s coat look so nice, too,
Next, stay on top of the project. If you let your house go for days, the build-up may seem insurmountable. It’s not but it’ll be a much bigger job.
Vacuum the house frequently. If there is a lot of fur on the carpets, or it is stubbornly sticking to the carpets, carpet powder does wonders.
Vacuum Tip: the Shark Liftaway Navigator Vacuum is the best I’ve ever used. Removes ALL pet hair with ease. Empties like a dream! Click here for my Shark Vacuum review.
Arm & Hammer Pet Fresh Odor Eliminator for carpets with “vacuum booster” is like a magnet. This by far is my #1 choice for getting up pet hair from carpet. Sprinkle it on. Wait up to 30 minutes. Vaccuum it up. The pet hair clings to the powder and pulls it all into the canister. It works great and does remove the pet smells as well.

Three tools that I have found to work well…not perfect, but pretty good, are:

Magik Lint Brush— though created for clothes, this little tools works great on upholstered furniture in removing pet hair. Gets 99% off with ease (nothing’s perfect!).
Pet Hair Sweeper — the Pet Hair Sweeper does a very good job on sofas and other fabric-covered furniture. It is disposable but each one lasts quite a while. I’ve heard that some people have found a way to edge the fur out from inside and get more use out of it. That’s up to you if you want to try it!
Libman Precision Angle Broom — I had my angle broom for the floors in my house but, in desperation, decided to vigorously sweep the stairs and see what would happen. My stairs are navy blue and the white dog-fur from our yellow labs gets thick. Using back and forth strokes, the fur was literally “flying” off the stairs and onto the floor below. Then it was so easy to just vacuum it up!
A Clean, Damp Sponge — yes, simply swipe a clean damp sponge across the surface of your sofa’s and upholstered chairs to remove hair. If there is a lot of fur, bring along a pan of clean water to rinse and squeeze the sponge out.
My Favorite Vacuum Cleaner is a Bissell <- – > gets pet hair up beautifully and empties with ease!

Got to get the #pet hair out of your house but don't know how? #cleaningtips #dogs #cats Share on X

So, how have you been taking care of your pet hair problems?

Dog grooming tool: the Furminator #dogs #dogrooming Ducks 'n a Row

Enjoy!

Note: this author is an Amazon affiliate. Any purchases made from Amazon through Ducks ‘n a Row will result in a small commission for me. In advance, “thank you” for your business…Sinea

Photo Credits:

Girl and Dog by marin on freedigital photos

Yellow labs Lexi & Sadie, on sofa by Sinea

Yellow lab puppy dreaming by on flickr creative commons

Puppies being washed by winthaya phonswat on freedigital photos