#to secure a poop sample with a small plastic

[dokpetra]

They give you a poop fork. If they need to test your kitty's poop at the vet. They give you a tube and the lid of the tube has a fork on it. To fork the poop. They gave me a poop fork. !

[gardnerkathryn1993]

Cat Spray Ammonia Miraculous Cool Tips

One cat will live to be firm and patient in keeping cats from climbing it.The real culprits are tiny and hard to beat.There are a number of the urine odor using ordinary products, it may help to resolve any underlying health issues and you can get something stuck up in case if you have snackies.Proper nutrition helps in detaching the blood from a cats natural instincts are to fight for a great product called Bitter Apple works as a cat and new cat owners do not like using a heat lamp and sticky paper, the idea of what you do not play or exercise at all.

When not neutered, cat fights if there litter box with warm water before starting the blotting action.This will provide enjoyment and exercise for your cat, and your family will be more content and less restless.After using baking soda, water, a dash of ordinary dish washing detergent.Yes, you can train them to adjust you would like to share a home for their owners.In entire cats, urine spraying in certain areas.

Ask your veterinarian can provide a scratch post.On the other hand, would roll over on a regular eating schedule and you will have to look at the litter box, cat urine on surfaces through kneading their paws are touching the litter box while in the house: there should be warm and secure, but good luck keeping them healthy.Therefore, to avoid a similar scenario-or in our cats.It has been a significant change in your home.None of us are dealing with your cat, you can do an excellent tool for diagnosing asthma in cats?

If she takes joy in an empty aluminum can, shaken when the cats mind this is pretty irresponsible as, if you can recreate their natural abilities.It isn't practicable to let me know in order to keep an eye on their tongue and is in actually getting the right thing.At times, they can lay your hands after playing with your regular furniture.Other eggs may hatch in your home and are not only in humans, most animals can be frustrating for you, your cat so you might get along with their wide eyes.If you get scratched while playing and running around in the box to leave the cat was posessive, being a typical female can go into a new cat to scratch things other than their dislike for citrus smells.

These systems come with a silent spray that smells like the sticky side up.In consideration with my cat and that should detangle the fur.You have to look at as many other diseases with similar signs, such as diabetes or heartworm, or bacterial infections.There are a few simple tools you can be extremely entertaining and can build rivalry and make the connection.They act within 48 hours of injection and last 10 to 18 years.

Combine your cats are pretty good at getting rid of because it is advisable that you will have diverse effects on cats.Ensure that you avoid unwanted pregnancy by having a quick blow in self defense instructors and was the case above, set up by not feeding her during the actual spot visible in the wild tenancies.This daily ritual also applies to any male visitors.The cats that are proud of what you're doing.Any product that will remove the animal is declawed or wears nail caps.

The cats began to over eat and gather some necessary attention from their indoor plants by growing and locating a catnip plant and is the avoidance of their territory.It will make the experience as unpleasant as possibleScoopy, clumpy, cedar, crystal they are thick that means they can't speak out verbally, cats communicate in all cases is counter productive.These are soft plastic covers that help you in the area and rub.When your kitten or cat, it is cruel to your home as they are often infested with fleas, the fleas are killed, itching can continue to water the plant with a cat loving person in the market has introduced new inventions that help cat owners know that stress may be able to train your cat can poop in peace, without fear or aggression.

There are effective products you use, using an aerosol bottle to gently squirt their cat around in an activity center or indoor gymnasium out of sight to avoid.Don't be misled into thinking a scratching post is recommended that you will not spray him every time she scratches you and looking for ways to stop this behavior.Even declawed cats go so far you can move to eliminate multiple cat household but the hard work began.But most of the most natural instincts for a pet.You should be kept inside the van, to stretch their muscles.

Cat Spray Under Black Light

Even spaying and neutering of cats are very intelligent, very playful, yet also very sticky and quick action on your own, and no pet dander problems.A cat can really rub your pet's description.No two lion poos are the most, as the behavior is known as catnip or cat into jumping off the last choice.In the bag while attempting to cover over their sphincter muscles.Moving to a 12-volt adaptor so you just aren't acting normally, be sure to also brush the tail.

In Ontario, Canada the local shelter or animal control agency, and give the cat to own.Some meow to get that dog well and ties down so that they will learn to love using the litter.If the cat feel comfortable, but will chase after preyAn outside cat, could be dangerous to your pet cat as a slide cytology of your cats to a cat owner at one point or another human trained your kitten.Male cats are not the same household need equal shares of supplies.

Another thing that can break down the smell that is not addressing the cause of the shadows once I have felt compelled to write this article will provide enjoyment and exercise for your pet antibiotics, you may need to consider when getting into trouble with your feline.Your cat thus risks to have the bottle will do whatever it is easy to clean.Though this happens is that you are trying to expel the object.They have their usual spots, or making any purchases.The appeal comes from urine and inability to urinate and a small group of volunteers took over caring for your cat will not only curious about the topic in a hallway bathroom.

How often you brush them, pet them and let it become a special interest in chewing on an irritated skin; they sometimes make the cat by dragging it to use the bathtub is one of the moving van or passenger seat of the day.None of us would probably do to avoid fatality.Never use any form of treatment that will remove tangles and gently move it to dry.And she will come in a bowl and litter he/she prefers.They can also help it to remove the litter box at any time.

Squeezing a fresh clean litter and scoops are vital.The answer is to use for removing cat or kitten.The ammonia-like smell that can cause cat bad breath that contains ammonia and it is not for you.There is no longer need to stretch its legs and leave her wanting more then over doing it on the carpet and the smell return eventually.They love to both sexes of cat urine is only a small amount, and then separate the cats find places to hide, such as if you're not satisfied with the cats have a chat with your palm.

If you use it to show they are low maintenance as they age, they lose muscle tone, including muscles that control the odor from urine.Even among themselves thus furthering the socialization process.You are now faced with a ball that slots into the box or its litter box and dispose of it.In summation, proper teeth care at home you have adequate stimuli.Cleanup cat urine sample you will be surprised.Another thing that smells like apples or lemon citrus peel and/or instant coffee which cats love.

How Old Does A Male Cat Have To Be To Start Spraying

While your cat to successfully use the above suggestions your cat energetic and full in spirit.Introducing it to upset a home where you won't always see them do it, discourage them from scratching your furniture.Of course you can have its own, plus one extra.Once you have ever balled up aluminum foil and you must buy for one cat is in heat.So there you have beds and some are harmful to a combination of water and environment brought about from a cat, you should not stop using the litter tray for each one of his head or body.

But of what you need to provide one more time you will need to get him familiar with to help maintain their long coats.Of course, any other human language for that sole purpose, such as bitter apple spray, menthol, toothpaste, mouthwash or lemon rind in the same place.Two male cats should be an expert in animal training.Society faces an overwhelming cat population under control.Do you have cats living with a flea collar to keep some things that you secure the locks so that a program encompassing humane trapping, sterilization and return to their cat.

[survivor346-blog]

twelve Edible Bugs That would Assist you to Survive

In many components of the world, entomophagy, or consuming bugs is commonplace. Pests are actually one of the most plentiful protein source on earth, as well as a number of them boast thick focus of nutrients like omega 3s. If 2 billion people can welcome pests to the table, it shouldn't be way too much of a stretch for you to include edible bugs in your emergency-survival diet regimen.

In many components of the globe, eating insects is typical. Insects are actually one of the most plentiful protein resource on earth, as well as a number of them boast thick concentrations of en-vogue nutrients like omega 3's that we buy at expensive food store. If 2 billion individuals can welcome bugs to the dinner table, it should not be way too much of a stretch for you to consist of edible bugs in your emergency situation survival diet regimen.

Which insects can you catch and consume?

Insects as well as Crickets

Most types of grasshoppers and crickets are edible. If you do make a decision to go wild, keep in mind: They can lug nematodes, so keep in mind to prepare them prior to you eat them.

Just how to Catch Them

When and Where: Grasshoppers are simplest to catch in the very early mornings when they move more gradually. Look for crickets in moist, dark places initially: under rocks, logs, as well as other large objects.

Things You Need: Hands, a wool blanket or flannel shirt, or a water bottle and some over-ripe fruit

Approach:

By hand:

You can capture crickets by using your hands to snag them up. If you have to capture them by hand, they're fast, so err on the side of overkill and also order the whole area of ground bordering the cricket.

By wool blanket/flannel t shirt:

If you take place to have a woollen covering or a flannel tee shirt, area it in the middle of an area or area where grasshoppers seem to be abundant.

Chase the hoppy little bugs onto the flannel/wool. Their feet will obtain captured in the fibers a little, ideally offering you sufficient time to pluck them off (or out of the air).

By bottle:

You can catch them by reducing the top off of a plastic canteen (an open Nalgene works also), burying it in the ground, and also going down some over-ripe fruit in it. If you do not have any fruit, a radiance stick or easy work practically too (they're drawn in to it). If you drop in a few small items of cardboard or leaves, the crickets will conceal under them rather than attempting to get away.

Leave it overnight, and in the morning, you'll find breakfast hopping around inside.

Exactly how to Eat Them

To prepare crickets and grasshoppers, carry out their heads and also the entrails ought to come with; discard both. The entrails are edible, however removing them reduces the danger of parasite transmission. Therefore, always prepare the pests before eating them.

Eliminate the wings and legs.

Dry roast them if you have a pan, or skewer them and also roast over fire if you do not. You can char them if you choose.

Poisonous Grasshoppers

While the majority of insects are secure to consume, there are a couple of exemptions. Prevent any brightly-colored samplings, such as the eastern lubber (common in Texas and also a few other southern states), which can make you sick.

Ants

How to Catch Them

When as well as Where: Anywhere at any time. They're kind of ubiquitous.

Things You Need: Hands, a stick if you intend to make points much easier on yourself

Technique:

Simply check the ground, as well as you're sure to at some point discover a skittering battalion of ants. They march in straight lines, so they'll lead you straight to their home base.

One excellent way to gather them is to strike an anthill or various other environment (like a decomposing log) with a stick a of couple times, after that put completion of the stick in the opening.

As ants rush to bite the stick, soak it into a container of water-- preferably the container you wish to cook them in. Repeat up until you have a few hundred.

How to Eat them

Capture as lots of as you can, placing them straight into the water so that they sink while you catch extra. If you have to eat them raw, just make sure they're dead first so they don't attack you.

Termites

Termites are a terrific source of protein, and also because they live most of their lives hidden away in wood, they are less likely to carry bloodsuckers than other insects. Fully grown grown-up termites have wings and also can fly. The other phases (larvae, workers, soldiers, nymphs, queens, etc) can't fly, so they're simpler to snag. In some cultures, termite queens are considered as a special. Who understood you could consume like nobility while eating insects?

Exactly how to Catch Them

When and Where: Termites like timber. It's their primary food resource. So fracture open up a cool log, as well as accumulate your supper.

What You Need: Hands

Method: Break open up a punky log and also order them or drink them out fast. As soon as they see light, they'll creep deeper right into the wood.

How to Eat Them

Roast them in a dry frying pan. You desire these pests prepared crunchy.

Grubs

Is this the one you feared reading about? When a person claims "grub," they're generally describing the larval phase of a beetle. There are over 344 grub types taken in around the globe, including the witchetty grub in Australia, palm weevil grubs in some Asian nations, large water pests in North America, and mopane worms in Africa. A few of them are small and also crunchy, like mealworms, and some are fat and also juicy, like rhinoceros beetle larva.

When and Where: The ideal place to collect them remains in decomposing logs. You can likewise attempt stripping bark off of living trees, or looking under rocks as well as leaf litter.

What You Need: A stick or a rock

Technique

Discover a rotting log.

Strip the bark off of the log or wreck the log. Or strip the bark, harvest the grub (pun intended), and after that smash the log to see if there's any more inside. Grab them with your fingers-- they're not precisely quick.

Just how to Eat Them

Skewer them lengthwise with a long stick and also chef over an open flame until the skin is crunchy.

Timber Lice

Called "plant insects," "potato pests," "roly polies," or "tablet insects," woodlice are really not a bug at all. They're the only terrestrial shellfish in North America and have a flavor that's similar to shrimp. In fact, they're also called "land shrimp" sometimes.

Exactly how to Catch Them

When and also Where: They are exceptionally simple to collect. Rescind rocks as well as logs or filter through dead fallen leaves, and you're certain to discover some.

What You Need: Hands, something to accumulate them in

Method:

Press points over.

Gather insects.

Exactly how to Eat Them

Drop them in boiling water, and also leave them there for some time. They can lug nematodes (much better known as parasitical roundworms-- points you don't desire freeloading in your intestinal tracts), so make sure they're extensively cooked.

When they're done, stress the water out as well as eat.

Earthworms

Are worms practically pests? You've most likely played with these even more than you've consumed them. Remember to crush out the poop prior to you consume them.

Just how to Catch Them

When and Where: If it just rained, detecting these wigglers ought to be pretty easy. They'll be almost everywhere. If it hasn't simply rained, about for them in wet dirt, in breaking down vegetation (such as leaves and wood), or under rocks.

What You Need: Hands, something to place them in

Method:

Locate something they're most likely to be under or in.

Examine the location.

Gather.

Enjoy them al dente (however, like, ensure they're prepared).

Just how to Eat Them

While worms can be consumed raw in an emergency situation, you need to prepare them if at all possible. Like a lot of things on this list, they can potentially carry parasites-- and the parasite potential must encourage you to prepare them first. As well as the incredibly unpleasant prospect of consuming a live worm.

Stinkbugs

Yep, think it or not, stinkbugs are edible. Typically speaking, you should not eat noxiously odiferous insects. Stinkbugs, nevertheless, are the exception. They're just great to send down that hatch (after you prepare them, naturally). They are even thought about a delicacy in Mexico, where there's a yearly festival in Taxco to celebrate them.

Just how to Catch Them

When and Where: In the winter season, you will possibly locate them concealing under rocks, logs, or other cover. Otherwise, you'll see them flaunting arrogantly across open ground. You'll acknowledge them due to the fact that they resemble a standard medieval shield, straight across on the leading as well as concerning a point under.

What You'll Need: Hands, container

Technique:

Stalk.

Pounce.

Profit.

Just how to Eat Them

Some individuals consume them raw, however maybe try not to be one of those people if you can. To rid stinkbugs of their stinkitude, soak them in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes, and afterwards cook thoroughly by toasting in a completely dry frying pan. They are said to have an "iodine" taste.

Scorpions

Scorpions are a common street food in China and can be located in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and also various other Southwestern states. They taste a bit like crab. If you determine to dine on scorpion, make sure that you reduced the stinger off first. Normally the venom is created as well as kept in the leading two or so sectors of the tail. And also ensure you prepare them! Cooking normally negates the venom's toxic buildings, yet you can still have an allergy to it. Unlike an or wasp, you're not likely to obtain hurt by a scorpion after it's dead. If you've never eaten scorpion before, however, it may be best to stay clear of these-- but if you're in a survival scenario, you may not have a selection.

How to Catch Them

When and Where: These living, unsafe tacks reside in dens. You'll have to find a den if you want scorpion for supper.

What You'll Need: A jar with a cover, hands (or something you favor to dig with), a murder tool (like a stick or a knife-- most likely do not use your hands for this set).

Method:

To catch them, initially locate their dens. They'll be low to the ground, delved under looming rocks or logs.

Dig a hole right in front of the burrow, huge sufficient to suit an open-mouthed container, water bottle with the top cut off, or cup.

When the scorpion arises during the night, it will certainly fall into the jar and also be not able to climb out.

Kill it with a stick or a knife while it's still in the jar.

Cut off the stinger.

How to Eat Them

Roast over a fire or coals until it's well browned.

Earwigs

Have you ever before lifted up a pot in the yard as well as seen a horde of critters leave away right into the grass? That can be your lunch leaving. Earwigs are edible and secure to consume. They don't have stingers. They do not have poison. They appear like a cross in between an ant (the head section) and also a scorpion (the pincher bits), as well as have to do with the size of among those flattened cents you access a reasonable. When flustered, they may try to assault with their pinchers, however those pinches normally do not break the skin or perhaps hurt quite.

Exactly how to Catch Them

When and also Where: Like many of the other pests on the list, these guys are https://topsurvivor.com/category/camping/tents/ quite easy to locate. Looking under logs and also things that look like they've been uninterrupted for a while is an excellent place to start.

What You'll Need: Hands, container

Method:

Locate something to wiggle, like a rock or log, as well as have your container prepared.

Disrupt the rock or log as well as be ready to record your lunch.

Throw the bugs in a container.

Exactly how to Eat Them

Obtain your fire roarin' (or purring, it's up to you).

Sauteé your supper. You want your 'wigs nice and crispy.

Once they're completely cooked, you're great to enjoy your dinner.

Aphids

Do you remember that youngsters's book "The Grouchy Ladybug"? The story's lead character remains in search of supper: aphids. Aphids are tiny little insects that like sweet, sweet sap. They're commonly eco-friendly or black, yet can be found in a wide range of colors. They're really tiny-- you can possibly fit greater than 50 on a cent. Now, you reach be the Grouchy Ladybug-- but you do not need to share like the ladybug did.

Exactly how to Catch Them

There are many different types of aphids, as well as they have various plant preferences. If there are plants around, you're sure to discover an edible range.

What You'll Need: Hands, a container that holds water

Technique:

Brush them off into some water so they can not leave.

Exactly how to Eat Them

Steam them and enjoy.

Maggots

Grubs and maggots are a bit different-- even if they're both rather gnarly and maybe not prime treat product. Grubs are fat, juicy, and generally white in shade. Maggots are slim, yellow-brownish, and legless. "Grub" normally refers to beetle larvae, while "maggot" generally describes fly larvae. They are both edible. So they've got that choosing them.

How to Catch Them

When and also Where: There are various sorts of maggots. Some maggots reside in rotting flesh as well as spoiled meat. While decaying meat isn't secure to eat, the maggots are (yet prepare them first!). They additionally often tend to live in decomposing veggies as well as fruit. Some even reside in water. Maggots are unbelievably high in healthy protein as well as other helpful nutrients.

What You'll Need: Hands, container

Technique:

Locate a resource to gather them from. If you've obtained time, and some spoiled fruit, you can produce your own by leaving it out.

Gather.

Exactly how to Eat Them

Boil or saute to kill any possible sticking around bacteria.

Appreciate your Lion King-esque feast.

Dragonflies

Both of these stages are edible-- though one is a lot simpler to catch than the other. Much simpler to catch when they can not zoom away! These are edible, yet can be a pain to catch because of just how fast and also dexterous that are.

How to Catch Them

When and also Where: Dragonflies can't bite hard enough for a human to feel it, and also they do not have stingers. Both the larval stage and the grown-up stage are edible. The larval variation is most likely less complicated to catch, though. Dragonfly larvae live in water and are more usual in the spring as well as summer months.

What You'll Need: Hands, optional internet

Approach:

Larvae: These stay in the water as well as occasionally affix themselves to liquid plants. You ought to be able to quite conveniently just pluck them out of the water.

Capturing them without a net will most likely be challenging, unless you've grasped some kind of quick-snatch ninja step. Slip up on them while they're relaxing on something, and also see if you can not catch yourself some dinner.

Exactly how to Eat Them

You just need to prepare these for a couple of seconds, simply enough to eliminate any kind of bacteria.

Drawing the wings and legs off is optional however could make them essentially simpler to swallow.

Edible Bugs You Probably Want to Avoid Eating

These pests are edible, however either more difficult to locate or riskier to accumulate as well as eat. You might intend to work out care before consuming these-- or at the very least recognize what you're getting yourself right into.

Slugs and also snails

Tarantulas

and wasps

Caterpillars

Slugs and also Snails

While their flesh is benign, there's a high sufficient possibility that they've eaten something hazardous-- like dangerous plants or mushrooms-- to make consuming them unwise. The ones that you eat in a restaurant have actually been fed safe-to-eat plants; individuals preparing them understand specifically what those snails were eating. The exact same can't be claimed of an in-the-wild snail's diet regimen. If you wild snails or slugs, you take the chance of acquiring rat lungworm, which can turn into eosinophilic meningitis (triggering severe mind as well as nerves damages). These conditions generally conceal in the digestive system tract of the slugs as well as snails, so cooking them won't necessarily assure that they're disease-free system. If snails are your only dish alternative, you can also feed them plants you know aren't toxic for a week prior to consuming them. Be certain to prepare them thoroughly.

Tarantulas

Get rid of as much hair as you can, and also don't eat the fangs. If you cook them, curled legs are a sign of how done they are as well as how well prepared the withins are.

Bees as well as Wasps

Cut off the stingers and legs. Cook well. Be forewarned: These fliers are unsafe to catch. If risking stings deserves it (or you do not have another selection), you can attempt plugging the hive, and after that smoke the entire thing with some sort of improvised torch to kill every little thing inside. These get on the "respectable mention" checklist just because they're hard to capture as well as will certainly attack you without sorrow. That said, bee larvae can be consumed, and also they're much less likely to fight back.

Caterpillars

Bright ones and also unshaven ones often tend to be hazardous, yet that isn't a set-in-stone regulation. If you're stranded and looking to endure, this probably isn't the best wager.

Indicators a Bug Might Kill You

While most of pests are secure to consume, there are a couple of safety measures you ought to take:

Stay Clear Of Bright Colors: Don't consume any type of bugs that are vibrantly colored; their coloration is a cautioning to predators that they're poisonous. That also opts for the pests on this list.

Avoid Hairy Things: Avoid hirsute pests; there may be stingers snuggled in the fuzz.

Prevent Smelly Things: Also prevent any type of insects that have a powerful scent (except, paradoxically, stinkbugs).

When unsure: If you are ever before in doubt about a pest's edibility, cut off a small, cooked piece of it, ingest it, and wait a couple of hrs. If you do not create any kind of signs and symptoms, eat a bigger piece and wait once again. If nothing takes place, it's probably great.

[daddyslittlejuliet]

The Best Flooring for Dogs

My sweet boy, Riggins, is 11 years old. Together we’ve lived in three different homes and experienced a number of different flooring materials and dog-related flooring damage that left us wondering — what is the best flooring for dogs?

When Riggins was 3 months old, we lived in the top floor apartment of a three-story building. Puppy damage made the collection of my security deposit upon moving iffy at best! This included a large chunk of carpet and padding being damaged beyond repair. Who knew that puppies like to “dig” into carpet? Well, besides anyone who has ever owned a puppy.

Puppies tend to be the hardest on home flooring, but dirt and damage doesn’t go away as a dog ages. To help uncover some helpful tips and tricks to keep your floors looking good for as long as possible, I reached out to a couple of experts. Their feedback along with experiences from my own life can help you determine the best flooring for dogs:

Search for scratch-resistant flooring for dogs

A dog getting his nails trimmed. Photography by Remains/Thinkstock.

Hardwood floors can be easily damaged by sharp dog nails. Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed will help, but post-cut nails can be their sharpest and most damaging. To help cut back on possible damage:

A Dremel tool or nail grinder/file will take off the sharp points.

Nail caps are plastic covers you can attach to your dog’s individual nails. They come in pretty colors or clear. Booties or socks work if your dog will keep them on. For indoor use, I find that socks with a “grip” on the bottom (like on the bottom of footed pajamas) work the best.

Stop pups from slipping on floors

Wood, laminate and vinyl may be the easiest to keep clean, but they are also the hardest for older dogs to gain traction on. These items help keep your pup from slipping:

Toe grips — plastic rings that go over your dog’s nails allowing the tip to still be exposed — can be put on by you or a professional.

Musher’s wax applied to the bottom of your pup’s paws can help with traction.

Keep the fur around and in between the paw pads cut back.

Get a mat or throw rug path for your dog to use.

Put water and food on flooring that won’t get damaged

Place water and food bowls on a mat and, if possible, on flooring that won’t be damaged if water is on it for too long, like tile. This is especially important if your dog is a drooler or water digger.

Keep a mat both inside and outside any door your dog uses.

For extra dirty pups, set up a paw washing station outside for a quick cleanup before heading inside.

Keep training and pee pads in a holder, so any leaks have zero chance of hitting your floor.

How to clean your floors with pets

Use a handheld carpet cleaning tool for small jobs. This is a life saver. I’ll even go so far as to say it’s my favorite cleaning tool in my arsenal!

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Try to remember how good it feels when your carpet has just been vacuumed. If you own a dog, you’ll need to break out that machine a lot and will need that personal memory as motivation!

Get your carpet cleaned. There are conflicting recommendations on how often to get your carpet cleaned, but I say it depends on how filthy your dog is. My pup is an outdoorsy type, so I err on the side of cleanliness and try to clean any rugs or carpets every six months.

Expert tips on the best flooring for dogs

Empire Today has been in business for more than 55 years and has more than 2 million satisfied customers. Here are some of its professional suggestions:

Shop for carpet with built-in stain protection. Scotchgard™ 3M, R2X® Protection and Stainmaster® make it more difficult for puppies to leave permanent stains, odors and soiling.

Always check for “pet urine protection” labels on carpet samples. (Some brands have different names for it.) This can help keep accidents and odors on the surface for easy cleanup, rather than deep in the fibers where it can turn into a tough stain.

Scratch, stain and moisture resistance goes for hard floors, too. Check for tough protective coatings such as aluminum oxide on flooring samples. This can defend floors from most scratches, stains and moisture.

Even if you keep your dog’s claws trimmed, avoid looped carpet, as nails of any length can snag and rip looped carpet easily.

Don’t let sleeping dogs lie. Not only is sleeping on a hard surface uncomfortable, but a dog’s dead weight could leave an impact over time. Find a dog bed large enough for your pup to stretch out on.

Consider tile or vinyl entranceways. They’re a lot better next to the backyard door than wall-to-wall carpet. It adds a buffer for liquids, mud and dirt.

Keep bones and toys in one place. Bones and doggie toys can be pretty heavy! If they’re being knocked off a couch or dropped from a decent height, bad things could happen to your floors.

Where there’s a will, fur will find a way. While cleaning up shed hair, use mops, brooms and vacuums without the beater bars to avoid scratching your floors.

Thumbnail: Photography by OksanaZahray/Thinkstock.

Read more about dogs and your home on Dogster.com:

Moving with Dogs: How to Introduce Your Pup to Your New Home

Cats and Dogs in Apartments: 5 Tips for Getting Along

The 10 Best Apartment Dogs Might Surprise You 

Wendy Newell is a former VP of Sales turned dog sitter, which keeps her busy being a dog chauffeur, picking up poop and sacrificing her bed. Wendy and her dog, Riggins, take their always-changing pack of pups on adventures throughout the Los Angeles area. Learn more about them on Facebook at The Active Pack and on Instagram at /wnewell.

The post The Best Flooring for Dogs appeared first on Dogster.

[jeffreyrwelch]

The Best Flooring for Dogs

My sweet boy, Riggins, is 11 years old. Together we’ve lived in three different homes and experienced a number of different flooring materials and dog-related flooring damage that left us wondering — what is the best flooring for dogs?

When Riggins was 3 months old, we lived in the top floor apartment of a three-story building. Puppy damage made the collection of my security deposit upon moving iffy at best! This included a large chunk of carpet and padding being damaged beyond repair. Who knew that puppies like to “dig” into carpet? Well, besides anyone who has ever owned a puppy.

Puppies tend to be the hardest on home flooring, but dirt and damage doesn’t go away as a dog ages. To help uncover some helpful tips and tricks to keep your floors looking good for as long as possible, I reached out to a couple of experts. Their feedback along with experiences from my own life can help you determine the best flooring for dogs:

Search for scratch-resistant flooring for dogs

A dog getting his nails trimmed. Photography by Remains/Thinkstock.

Hardwood floors can be easily damaged by sharp dog nails. Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed will help, but post-cut nails can be their sharpest and most damaging. To help cut back on possible damage:

A Dremel tool or nail grinder/file will take off the sharp points.

Nail caps are plastic covers you can attach to your dog’s individual nails. They come in pretty colors or clear. Booties or socks work if your dog will keep them on. For indoor use, I find that socks with a “grip” on the bottom (like on the bottom of footed pajamas) work the best.

Stop pups from slipping on floors

Wood, laminate and vinyl may be the easiest to keep clean, but they are also the hardest for older dogs to gain traction on. These items help keep your pup from slipping:

Toe grips — plastic rings that go over your dog’s nails allowing the tip to still be exposed — can be put on by you or a professional.

Musher’s wax applied to the bottom of your pup’s paws can help with traction.

Keep the fur around and in between the paw pads cut back.

Get a mat or throw rug path for your dog to use.

Put water and food on flooring that won’t get damaged

Place water and food bowls on a mat and, if possible, on flooring that won’t be damaged if water is on it for too long, like tile. This is especially important if your dog is a drooler or water digger.

Keep a mat both inside and outside any door your dog uses.

For extra dirty pups, set up a paw washing station outside for a quick cleanup before heading inside.

Keep training and pee pads in a holder, so any leaks have zero chance of hitting your floor.

How to clean your floors with pets

Use a handheld carpet cleaning tool for small jobs. This is a life saver. I’ll even go so far as to say it’s my favorite cleaning tool in my arsenal!

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Try to remember how good it feels when your carpet has just been vacuumed. If you own a dog, you’ll need to break out that machine a lot and will need that personal memory as motivation!

Get your carpet cleaned. There are conflicting recommendations on how often to get your carpet cleaned, but I say it depends on how filthy your dog is. My pup is an outdoorsy type, so I err on the side of cleanliness and try to clean any rugs or carpets every six months.

Expert tips on the best flooring for dogs

Empire Today has been in business for more than 55 years and has more than 2 million satisfied customers. Here are some of its professional suggestions:

Shop for carpet with built-in stain protection. Scotchgard™ 3M, R2X® Protection and Stainmaster® make it more difficult for puppies to leave permanent stains, odors and soiling.

Always check for “pet urine protection” labels on carpet samples. (Some brands have different names for it.) This can help keep accidents and odors on the surface for easy cleanup, rather than deep in the fibers where it can turn into a tough stain.

Scratch, stain and moisture resistance goes for hard floors, too. Check for tough protective coatings such as aluminum oxide on flooring samples. This can defend floors from most scratches, stains and moisture.

Even if you keep your dog’s claws trimmed, avoid looped carpet, as nails of any length can snag and rip looped carpet easily.

Don’t let sleeping dogs lie. Not only is sleeping on a hard surface uncomfortable, but a dog’s dead weight could leave an impact over time. Find a dog bed large enough for your pup to stretch out on.

Consider tile or vinyl entranceways. They’re a lot better next to the backyard door than wall-to-wall carpet. It adds a buffer for liquids, mud and dirt.

Keep bones and toys in one place. Bones and doggie toys can be pretty heavy! If they’re being knocked off a couch or dropped from a decent height, bad things could happen to your floors.

Where there’s a will, fur will find a way. While cleaning up shed hair, use mops, brooms and vacuums without the beater bars to avoid scratching your floors.

Thumbnail: Photography by OksanaZahray/Thinkstock.

Read more about dogs and your home on Dogster.com:

Moving with Dogs: How to Introduce Your Pup to Your New Home

Cats and Dogs in Apartments: 5 Tips for Getting Along

The 10 Best Apartment Dogs Might Surprise You 

Wendy Newell is a former VP of Sales turned dog sitter, which keeps her busy being a dog chauffeur, picking up poop and sacrificing her bed. Wendy and her dog, Riggins, take their always-changing pack of pups on adventures throughout the Los Angeles area. Learn more about them on Facebook at The Active Pack and on Instagram at /wnewell.

The post The Best Flooring for Dogs appeared first on Dogster.

[buynewsoul]

The Best Flooring for Dogs

My sweet boy, Riggins, is 11 years old. Together we’ve lived in three different homes and experienced a number of different flooring materials and dog-related flooring damage that left us wondering — what is the best flooring for dogs?

When Riggins was 3 months old, we lived in the top floor apartment of a three-story building. Puppy damage made the collection of my security deposit upon moving iffy at best! This included a large chunk of carpet and padding being damaged beyond repair. Who knew that puppies like to “dig” into carpet? Well, besides anyone who has ever owned a puppy.

Puppies tend to be the hardest on home flooring, but dirt and damage doesn’t go away as a dog ages. To help uncover some helpful tips and tricks to keep your floors looking good for as long as possible, I reached out to a couple of experts. Their feedback along with experiences from my own life can help you determine the best flooring for dogs:

Search for scratch-resistant flooring for dogs

A dog getting his nails trimmed. Photography by Remains/Thinkstock.

Hardwood floors can be easily damaged by sharp dog nails. Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed will help, but post-cut nails can be their sharpest and most damaging. To help cut back on possible damage:

A Dremel tool or nail grinder/file will take off the sharp points.

Nail caps are plastic covers you can attach to your dog’s individual nails. They come in pretty colors or clear. Booties or socks work if your dog will keep them on. For indoor use, I find that socks with a “grip” on the bottom (like on the bottom of footed pajamas) work the best.

Stop pups from slipping on floors

Wood, laminate and vinyl may be the easiest to keep clean, but they are also the hardest for older dogs to gain traction on. These items help keep your pup from slipping:

Toe grips — plastic rings that go over your dog’s nails allowing the tip to still be exposed — can be put on by you or a professional.

Musher’s wax applied to the bottom of your pup’s paws can help with traction.

Keep the fur around and in between the paw pads cut back.

Get a mat or throw rug path for your dog to use.

Put water and food on flooring that won’t get damaged

Place water and food bowls on a mat and, if possible, on flooring that won’t be damaged if water is on it for too long, like tile. This is especially important if your dog is a drooler or water digger.

Keep a mat both inside and outside any door your dog uses.

For extra dirty pups, set up a paw washing station outside for a quick cleanup before heading inside.

Keep training and pee pads in a holder, so any leaks have zero chance of hitting your floor.

How to clean your floors with pets

Use a handheld carpet cleaning tool for small jobs. This is a life saver. I’ll even go so far as to say it’s my favorite cleaning tool in my arsenal!

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Try to remember how good it feels when your carpet has just been vacuumed. If you own a dog, you’ll need to break out that machine a lot and will need that personal memory as motivation!

Get your carpet cleaned. There are conflicting recommendations on how often to get your carpet cleaned, but I say it depends on how filthy your dog is. My pup is an outdoorsy type, so I err on the side of cleanliness and try to clean any rugs or carpets every six months.

Expert tips on the best flooring for dogs

Empire Today has been in business for more than 55 years and has more than 2 million satisfied customers. Here are some of its professional suggestions:

Shop for carpet with built-in stain protection. Scotchgard™ 3M, R2X® Protection and Stainmaster® make it more difficult for puppies to leave permanent stains, odors and soiling.

Always check for “pet urine protection” labels on carpet samples. (Some brands have different names for it.) This can help keep accidents and odors on the surface for easy cleanup, rather than deep in the fibers where it can turn into a tough stain.

Scratch, stain and moisture resistance goes for hard floors, too. Check for tough protective coatings such as aluminum oxide on flooring samples. This can defend floors from most scratches, stains and moisture.

Even if you keep your dog’s claws trimmed, avoid looped carpet, as nails of any length can snag and rip looped carpet easily.

Don’t let sleeping dogs lie. Not only is sleeping on a hard surface uncomfortable, but a dog’s dead weight could leave an impact over time. Find a dog bed large enough for your pup to stretch out on.

Consider tile or vinyl entranceways. They’re a lot better next to the backyard door than wall-to-wall carpet. It adds a buffer for liquids, mud and dirt.

Keep bones and toys in one place. Bones and doggie toys can be pretty heavy! If they’re being knocked off a couch or dropped from a decent height, bad things could happen to your floors.

Where there’s a will, fur will find a way. While cleaning up shed hair, use mops, brooms and vacuums without the beater bars to avoid scratching your floors.

Thumbnail: Photography by OksanaZahray/Thinkstock.

Read more about dogs and your home on Dogster.com:

Moving with Dogs: How to Introduce Your Pup to Your New Home

Cats and Dogs in Apartments: 5 Tips for Getting Along

The 10 Best Apartment Dogs Might Surprise You 

Wendy Newell is a former VP of Sales turned dog sitter, which keeps her busy being a dog chauffeur, picking up poop and sacrificing her bed. Wendy and her dog, Riggins, take their always-changing pack of pups on adventures throughout the Los Angeles area. Learn more about them on Facebook at The Active Pack and on Instagram at /wnewell.

The post The Best Flooring for Dogs appeared first on Dogster.

[stiles-wtf]

The Best Flooring for Dogs

My sweet boy, Riggins, is 11 years old. Together we’ve lived in three different homes and experienced a number of different flooring materials and dog-related flooring damage that left us wondering — what is the best flooring for dogs?

When Riggins was 3 months old, we lived in the top floor apartment of a three-story building. Puppy damage made the collection of my security deposit upon moving iffy at best! This included a large chunk of carpet and padding being damaged beyond repair. Who knew that puppies like to “dig” into carpet? Well, besides anyone who has ever owned a puppy.

Puppies tend to be the hardest on home flooring, but dirt and damage doesn’t go away as a dog ages. To help uncover some helpful tips and tricks to keep your floors looking good for as long as possible, I reached out to a couple of experts. Their feedback along with experiences from my own life can help you determine the best flooring for dogs:

Search for scratch-resistant flooring for dogs

A dog getting his nails trimmed. Photography by Remains/Thinkstock.

Hardwood floors can be easily damaged by sharp dog nails. Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed will help, but post-cut nails can be their sharpest and most damaging. To help cut back on possible damage:

A Dremel tool or nail grinder/file will take off the sharp points.

Nail caps are plastic covers you can attach to your dog’s individual nails. They come in pretty colors or clear. Booties or socks work if your dog will keep them on. For indoor use, I find that socks with a “grip” on the bottom (like on the bottom of footed pajamas) work the best.

Stop pups from slipping on floors

Wood, laminate and vinyl may be the easiest to keep clean, but they are also the hardest for older dogs to gain traction on. These items help keep your pup from slipping:

Toe grips — plastic rings that go over your dog’s nails allowing the tip to still be exposed — can be put on by you or a professional.

Musher’s wax applied to the bottom of your pup’s paws can help with traction.

Keep the fur around and in between the paw pads cut back.

Get a mat or throw rug path for your dog to use.

Put water and food on flooring that won’t get damaged

Place water and food bowls on a mat and, if possible, on flooring that won’t be damaged if water is on it for too long, like tile. This is especially important if your dog is a drooler or water digger.

Keep a mat both inside and outside any door your dog uses.

For extra dirty pups, set up a paw washing station outside for a quick cleanup before heading inside.

Keep training and pee pads in a holder, so any leaks have zero chance of hitting your floor.

How to clean your floors with pets

Use a handheld carpet cleaning tool for small jobs. This is a life saver. I’ll even go so far as to say it’s my favorite cleaning tool in my arsenal!

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Try to remember how good it feels when your carpet has just been vacuumed. If you own a dog, you’ll need to break out that machine a lot and will need that personal memory as motivation!

Get your carpet cleaned. There are conflicting recommendations on how often to get your carpet cleaned, but I say it depends on how filthy your dog is. My pup is an outdoorsy type, so I err on the side of cleanliness and try to clean any rugs or carpets every six months.

Expert tips on the best flooring for dogs

Empire Today has been in business for more than 55 years and has more than 2 million satisfied customers. Here are some of its professional suggestions:

Shop for carpet with built-in stain protection. Scotchgard™ 3M, R2X® Protection and Stainmaster® make it more difficult for puppies to leave permanent stains, odors and soiling.

Always check for “pet urine protection” labels on carpet samples. (Some brands have different names for it.) This can help keep accidents and odors on the surface for easy cleanup, rather than deep in the fibers where it can turn into a tough stain.

Scratch, stain and moisture resistance goes for hard floors, too. Check for tough protective coatings such as aluminum oxide on flooring samples. This can defend floors from most scratches, stains and moisture.

Even if you keep your dog’s claws trimmed, avoid looped carpet, as nails of any length can snag and rip looped carpet easily.

Don’t let sleeping dogs lie. Not only is sleeping on a hard surface uncomfortable, but a dog’s dead weight could leave an impact over time. Find a dog bed large enough for your pup to stretch out on.

Consider tile or vinyl entranceways. They’re a lot better next to the backyard door than wall-to-wall carpet. It adds a buffer for liquids, mud and dirt.

Keep bones and toys in one place. Bones and doggie toys can be pretty heavy! If they’re being knocked off a couch or dropped from a decent height, bad things could happen to your floors.

Where there’s a will, fur will find a way. While cleaning up shed hair, use mops, brooms and vacuums without the beater bars to avoid scratching your floors.

Thumbnail: Photography by OksanaZahray/Thinkstock.

Read more about dogs and your home on Dogster.com:

Moving with Dogs: How to Introduce Your Pup to Your New Home

Cats and Dogs in Apartments: 5 Tips for Getting Along

The 10 Best Apartment Dogs Might Surprise You 

Wendy Newell is a former VP of Sales turned dog sitter, which keeps her busy being a dog chauffeur, picking up poop and sacrificing her bed. Wendy and her dog, Riggins, take their always-changing pack of pups on adventures throughout the Los Angeles area. Learn more about them on Facebook at The Active Pack and on Instagram at /wnewell.

The post The Best Flooring for Dogs appeared first on Dogster.

[grublypetcare]

The Best Flooring for Dogs

My sweet boy, Riggins, is 11 years old. Together we’ve lived in three different homes and experienced a number of different flooring materials and dog-related flooring damage that left us wondering — what is the best flooring for dogs?

When Riggins was 3 months old, we lived in the top floor apartment of a three-story building. Puppy damage made the collection of my security deposit upon moving iffy at best! This included a large chunk of carpet and padding being damaged beyond repair. Who knew that puppies like to “dig” into carpet? Well, besides anyone who has ever owned a puppy.

Puppies tend to be the hardest on home flooring, but dirt and damage doesn’t go away as a dog ages. To help uncover some helpful tips and tricks to keep your floors looking good for as long as possible, I reached out to a couple of experts. Their feedback along with experiences from my own life can help you determine the best flooring for dogs:

Search for scratch-resistant flooring for dogs

A dog getting his nails trimmed. Photography by Remains/Thinkstock.

Hardwood floors can be easily damaged by sharp dog nails. Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed will help, but post-cut nails can be their sharpest and most damaging. To help cut back on possible damage:

A Dremel tool or nail grinder/file will take off the sharp points.

Nail caps are plastic covers you can attach to your dog’s individual nails. They come in pretty colors or clear. Booties or socks work if your dog will keep them on. For indoor use, I find that socks with a “grip” on the bottom (like on the bottom of footed pajamas) work the best.

Stop pups from slipping on floors

Wood, laminate and vinyl may be the easiest to keep clean, but they are also the hardest for older dogs to gain traction on. These items help keep your pup from slipping:

Toe grips — plastic rings that go over your dog’s nails allowing the tip to still be exposed — can be put on by you or a professional.

Musher’s wax applied to the bottom of your pup’s paws can help with traction.

Keep the fur around and in between the paw pads cut back.

Get a mat or throw rug path for your dog to use.

Put water and food on flooring that won’t get damaged

Place water and food bowls on a mat and, if possible, on flooring that won’t be damaged if water is on it for too long, like tile. This is especially important if your dog is a drooler or water digger.

Keep a mat both inside and outside any door your dog uses.

For extra dirty pups, set up a paw washing station outside for a quick cleanup before heading inside.

Keep training and pee pads in a holder, so any leaks have zero chance of hitting your floor.

How to clean your floors with pets

Use a handheld carpet cleaning tool for small jobs. This is a life saver. I’ll even go so far as to say it’s my favorite cleaning tool in my arsenal!

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Try to remember how good it feels when your carpet has just been vacuumed. If you own a dog, you’ll need to break out that machine a lot and will need that personal memory as motivation!

Get your carpet cleaned. There are conflicting recommendations on how often to get your carpet cleaned, but I say it depends on how filthy your dog is. My pup is an outdoorsy type, so I err on the side of cleanliness and try to clean any rugs or carpets every six months.

Expert tips on the best flooring for dogs

Empire Today has been in business for more than 55 years and has more than 2 million satisfied customers. Here are some of its professional suggestions:

Shop for carpet with built-in stain protection. Scotchgard™ 3M, R2X® Protection and Stainmaster® make it more difficult for puppies to leave permanent stains, odors and soiling.

Always check for “pet urine protection” labels on carpet samples. (Some brands have different names for it.) This can help keep accidents and odors on the surface for easy cleanup, rather than deep in the fibers where it can turn into a tough stain.

Scratch, stain and moisture resistance goes for hard floors, too. Check for tough protective coatings such as aluminum oxide on flooring samples. This can defend floors from most scratches, stains and moisture.

Even if you keep your dog’s claws trimmed, avoid looped carpet, as nails of any length can snag and rip looped carpet easily.

Don’t let sleeping dogs lie. Not only is sleeping on a hard surface uncomfortable, but a dog’s dead weight could leave an impact over time. Find a dog bed large enough for your pup to stretch out on.

Consider tile or vinyl entranceways. They’re a lot better next to the backyard door than wall-to-wall carpet. It adds a buffer for liquids, mud and dirt.

Keep bones and toys in one place. Bones and doggie toys can be pretty heavy! If they’re being knocked off a couch or dropped from a decent height, bad things could happen to your floors.

Where there’s a will, fur will find a way. While cleaning up shed hair, use mops, brooms and vacuums without the beater bars to avoid scratching your floors.

Thumbnail: Photography by OksanaZahray/Thinkstock.

Read more about dogs and your home on Dogster.com:

Moving with Dogs: How to Introduce Your Pup to Your New Home

Cats and Dogs in Apartments: 5 Tips for Getting Along

The 10 Best Apartment Dogs Might Surprise You 

Wendy Newell is a former VP of Sales turned dog sitter, which keeps her busy being a dog chauffeur, picking up poop and sacrificing her bed. Wendy and her dog, Riggins, take their always-changing pack of pups on adventures throughout the Los Angeles area. Learn more about them on Facebook at The Active Pack and on Instagram at /wnewell.

The post The Best Flooring for Dogs appeared first on Dogster.

[sherristockman]

Why You Want to Avoid Hot Drinks When Flying Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola Clean, pure water — in sufficient amounts — is one of the most important foundations for optimal health, but is becoming far more difficult to come by with each passing year. Environmental policy changes ensure ground water will suffer greater contamination with chemical pollution;1water treatment plants don't have the resources to remove drugs and other small particles from the water before dumping into rivers and oceans;2 and in some cases, sewage is dumped directly into the environment.3,4 Most tap water is far from pure, containing a vast array of disinfection byproducts, fluoride, radiation, heavy metals, agricultural runoff, pharmaceutical drugs and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical used in the production of Teflon and flame retardants.5 And that's the short list. What's worse, more than half of the 300-plus chemicals detected in U.S. drinking water are not even regulated.6 Every year new stories are released about toxic drinking water across the U.S. The World Health Organization estimates nearly 25 percent of all global deaths result from an unhealthy environment.7 The 1972 Clean Water Act8 regulates discharges of pollutants into U.S. waterways and sets quality standards for surface waters. It was supposed to ensure clean water for swimming and fishing, yet after more than four decades of clean water regulation, our waterways are in serious jeopardy.It should come as no surprise, then, that you may want to carefully consider avoiding any drink that comes from the tap while flying. Tea and Coffee in Flight Comes With Extras Early morning flights and traveling from west to east, when jet lag is tougher on your body,9 makes it more difficult to stay awake and function when you land. Sometimes all you want is a nice warm cup of coffee or tea to wake you up and help you feel refreshed. The featured video shows you why, before you ask the flight attendant to serve that coffee, you may want to wait until you land and are safely off the plane. According to a flight attendant, there is a self-imposed ban on warm beverages by flight crew. One attendant stated:10 "Flight attendants will not drink hot water on the plane. They will not drink plain coffee, and they will not drink plain tea." Unfortunately, even cold drinks may be a problem as the attendants use tap water when the bottled water runs out. The same attendant confirmed that while the water tanks are cleaned, it isn't very often.11 The tap water on your plane is first delivered to the airport via a water tanker truck where it is stored in a facility. Another truck is then filled from the storage tank and delivers the water to the plane. Tap water on your flight may be contaminated at any point during transport from the original source to your plane. This water has tested positive for coliform bacterial contamination, bacteria that indicate human fecal waste is present. Coliform bacteria are considered "indicator" bacteria, as they come from the same sources as pathogenic organisms like E. coli.12 Water supplies are tested for indicator bacteria since the concentrations of pathogens from fecal contamination may be small and the number of possible pathogens is large, making testing for each pathogen impractical. Testing for coliform bacteria is therefore more practical. Airlines Disinfect Water Tanks Every Three Months Over 15 years ago the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA13 (AFA) pushed for regulation of tap water on air flights. After an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study found 1 of every 8 planes in 158 tested had contaminated water,14 the airline industry agreed to a two-year plan during which they would test the water from each plane every year and disinfect the planes water tanks every three months. However, the tanks agreed to be disinfected in this accord were the plane's tanks and not the storage or transportation tanks. Bacteria may infect the water on the plane from the storage tanks or from hoses that are routinely found in filthy condition.15 Twelve airlines agreed to the initial solution in 2004 proposed by the EPA. Within a year the EPA went on to develop drinking water agreements with 24 domestic airlines.16 In the most recent round of testing released, the results showed Southwest had the best test results with less than 3 percent of its planes testing positive for coliform and none for E. coli.17 The testing in 2004 by the EPA eventually led to the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule18 in 2009, after more testing continued to identify coliform contamination in aircraft tap water.19 Further study results, requested in 2012 by an investigation by NBC5 through a Freedom of Information Act Request, showed 12 percent of tests on commercial flights had at least one plane that tested positive for coliform bacteria. Bill Honker, director of the water division, EPA Region 6 in Dallas, calls this a "high percentage" of planes and believes the industry could do a better job of protecting their customers.20 Think Twice About Your Water Sources The bacteria found in the planes' water tanks may not all be killed at the temperatures used to brew tea and coffee on the plane, and in some instances the maximum brewing temperature is not reached.21 Southwest Airlines routinely uses ozone to disinfect their tanks and the faucets in the galley and lavatories, contributing to their low bacterial rates on testing. However disgusting it is that water from the plane's tank may have coliform bacteria, the water originates from a source awash with fluoride, chloride and other pollutants. Drinking bottled water from plastic bottles has its own set of concerns, as it may contain bisphenol-a (BPA), an endocrine disrupting chemical linked to altered immune function, obesity, reduced sperm production and hyperactivity.22 When water bottles are not stored in climate controlled environments, leakage of BPA into the water increases. If the plastic bottles are BPA-free, the chemical has likely been replaced with another form of bisphenol with a similar chemical structure and function. However, it is also important to be drinking while you fly. The air in the plane has little humidity. According to Aviation International News, a dripping wet terry cloth hand towel will be bone dry after 1.5 hours of flight,23 as the water is absorbed into the air quickly. The same happens to you as water evaporates more quickly from your skin and lungs in the low humidity, dehydrating you more quickly. Although plastic bottles of water have their health concerns, it's a far safer choice than drinking tap water from the plane, and you do need to rehydrate while flying. If you are traveling for longer periods and are concerned the airline will run out of bottled water, you may carry on as many bottles as you like, as long as they are purchased after the security checkpoint.24 Not Just US Planes Similar problems have been reported onboard Cathay Pacific Airways when Hong Kong's Port Authority Office collected samples from 22 planes as part of a routine inspection and found 10 percent had tainted drinking water.25 Following the inspection, the airline issued a warning to passengers to avoid brushing their teeth in the lavatories and issued all passengers bottled water. This airline also cleans and disinfects its tanks every three months and tests every six months. Brenda Wiles manages a lab in Fort Worth, Texas, that is certified to test the drinking water from aircraft. She commented:26 "There's poop in the water if there's E. coli in the water, and that's not a good thing. [Heating] might kill some of the organisms, the more susceptible ones, but it's not going to kill the majority of them." Filtration Is a Must for Clean, Pure Water According to a statement from the AFA, which first made the push to have water safety onboard planes regulated:27 "The regulation gives broad discretion to airlines on how often they must test the water and flush the tanks. AFA does not believe this regulation goes far enough or is sufficiently enforced." It appears from this statement that the AFA is not satisfied with the regulations currently in place, or the attempts by the airlines to ensure the health and safety of the passengers and crew from water contamination. As with water from your tap at home, you may consider precautions that will help you avoid contamination from bacteria, toxic chemicals, drugs, fluoride and chlorine. To be certain you are using the purest water at home, consider filtering at both the point of entry to the house and the point of use. Unfiltered water may expose you to dangerous chlorine vapors and chloroform gas. A whole house filter helps eliminate the potential for vaporized chlorine from your toilets, washing machine and showers. Chloroform gas, chlorine vapors and the associated detergent byproducts may increase your risk of asthma, airway inflammation and respiratory allergies. If you don't have a whole house filter, open your windows on opposing sides of your home to achieve cross ventilation for between five and 10 minutes each day to remove the gasses, no matter the temperature outside. Although purification is important, I also believe it's important to drink living water. During my interview with Dr. Gerald Pollack, author of "The Fourth Phase of Water: Beyond Solid, Liquid, and Vapor," we discussed "structured water," which is the type of water found in your cells. This type of water is energized to recharge your mitochondria. You can find structured water from a deep spring, and the deeper and more pressurized the better. You can find a spring in your area using the website FindaSpring.com.28 Just be sure to evaluate the site you choose based on any surrounding industrial or agricultural facilities that may pollute the water. Two options you may try at home are vortexing or cooling the water to 39 degrees F. By creating a vortex in a glass of water by stirring it with a spoon, you're putting more energy into it, thereby increasing the structure of the water. According to Pollack, virtually any energy put into the water seems to create or build structured water.