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red-jaebyrd · 4 years ago

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Festering Wounds

Whumptober #16 - Hallucinations

He had finally made it back to the Cave, but something was off. Jason couldn’t quite place what was wrong, but something wasn’t right. All his senses were in high alert. He could feel his heart rate gradually start to increase and there was an odd pressure in his chest. His limbs also felt heavy and tingly.

The worst was the laughing, no cackling he could hear that no one else seemed bothered by. He scanned the Cave, but couldn’t find its source.

Jason tried to play it cool shaking off the symptoms as sleep deprivation. He just needed a cup of coffee, a few hours of sleep and he’d be right as rain. He stayed a few feet away from the group trying not to bring too much attention to himself, but the dog, Ace wouldn’t leave him alone. Ace kept following him and nosing Jason’s hands, so he obliged and kept his hand on the dog.

The family was chatting about the evening’s events, Tim was complaining about something Jason couldn’t be bothered to listen to and Dick kept asking him a question he could have sworn he had already answered.

Jason’s attention was pulled away from the group to a strange tall figure hiding in the shadows of the Cave. He could see the outline of green hair and a purple suit.

Fuck.

The figure stayed in the shadows, bringing a purple gloved hand to its mouth and it cackled. It walked into the light locking eyes with Jason. Jason gasped. Fear gripped his whole body he felt as if it had been plunged in ice.

“No, fuck no, you can’t be here.”

“What’d ya mean, Bird Boy? I never left.” Joker taunted, drumming the end of a crowbar against Jason’s temple to drive his point. “I live 24/7 in that moderately pretty screwed up head of yours.”

Joker was looming toward him patting the crowbar in his hands. Jason walked backwards and fell over his own feet. His heart pounded in his chest so hard it made it hard to breathe. He looked down to right himself and found that he was dressed in his old Robin uniform. This was so fucking wrong.

Fuck. He crab crawled away from Joker, but he wasn’t fast enough. Joker stopped him by putting a foot on chest and pressing down hard. It was a relatively easy hold Jason could get out of, but Joker was too strong. He couldn’t breathe. He was starting to lose consciousness.

It was the low chuckle that kept Jason from completely blacking out. Joker was standing over Jason twirling the crowbar in his hand like a psychotic cheerleader. Terror gripped Jason so tightly he couldn’t move.

“Batsy really scraped the bottom of the barrel when he picked you,” Joker insulted, holding the crowbar over his head ready to strike. “I guess he was hoping that street rat spunk counted for something.”

The hit across Jason’s chest sent a wave of pain throughout his body knocking the wind right out of him.

“You were ripe for the picking, my little angry bird.” Joker swung again, making contact with his stomach. “A pathetic charity case he could hand feed promises to, promises like becoming his Robin. And where did that get you?”

Joker drove his knee into Jason’s chest and leaned forward further invading his space.

“Six feet under in a pine box…and when you died, what did he do? The Bat-stard replaced you. He didn’t really care that much about you if just replaced you with the next door neighbor. You were expendable. ANOTHER SOLDIER IN HIS CRUSADE!”

Jason tried to tune him out, ignore the taunts, and not rise to the bait. But he couldn’t fight how the words wedged their way back into his heart corrupting what little confidence he had gained in himself.

“…and when I took you away from him, he did nothing. He didn’t avenge his precious Robin, did he? No. He believed that you killing me would be far worse than letting me live. You sure showed him…oh wait.” Joker laughed, a high pitch sound that sent Jason into a wave of panic. “You didn’t. CUZ I’M STILL HERE!”

One final hit of the crowbar across Jason’s cheek made it feel like his eye might explode.

“Do you know what you are, my little angry bird? You’re nothing but a festering wound, open and slowly rotting away. And you know what happens to festering wounds if they’re not treated? They get cut off permanently.”

The frightening giggles continued to echo in his ears, but the sound was soon replaced by a loud ticking noise of the bomb.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, not again.

Jason tried to get up and head to the bomb to defuse it, but his body wouldn’t respond. His limbs felt like lead and his head was swimming. Tears streamed down his face and his breath hitched in panic. In his nightmares he had always been able to crawl and make his way to the door, but this time he couldn’t even get up. He just lay there on the floor hearing the sounds of the ticking bomb reverberating in his head.

Bruce, help me please. Please come find me. Please come. I promise I’ll be better.

The ticking finally stopped. Jason closed his eyes in relief, but when he opened them he was in total darkness, which only meant one thing. He was back in the coffin.

He could feel his surroundings pressing in on him and he couldn’t breathe. The air was thick and he was running out of oxygen. Jason had to get out, but his arms wouldn’t cooperate. There was no strength left in them break free. Before he knew it dirt was crashing in on him crushing his chest and pressing hard on his face suffocating him. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t move. He was going to die all over again.

“Jason.”

Someone was calling his name.

“Jason, listen.”

He knew that voice.

“Whatever you’re seeing isn’t real.”

It sounded far away, but there was no mistaking it for anything else. It was Bruce. Bruce was here? He couldn’t see him, but he could hear him.

“You made it out, son. You’re safe.”

Jason blinked and when he opened his eyes everything was hazy. Once the fog in his brain cleared, he could see Bruce’s face.

Bruce came for him.

Jason relaxed at the familiar face in front of him. He was safe because his Dad came for him.

888

From the moment they had all gotten back to the Cave, Bruce knew something was wrong with Jason. He had been showing all the classic signs of Fear Toxin exposure. Jason had been unusually quiet. No snark or casual ribbing had been directed at Tim when he complained about one of Crane’s thugs getting a good hit in. No name calling had been directed at Dick when he had called him ‘Little Wing’, especially when Dick repeatedly kept asking Jason if he was okay. Jason just stood away from the group, eyes scanning the Cave nervously.

Everyone had dispersed as usual to the showers, changing rooms, and then upstairs. Dick had stayed behind to talk to Alfred.

Ace had noticed something was off with Jason as well. He whined a little and hung by Jason’s side until the young man noticed him. He kept nosing Jason’s hands until Jason placed a hand on his head.

Bruce had watched as Jason wandered off to a corner staring at nothing in particular. It wasn’t until Jason gasped and collapsed onto the floor, that Bruce’s suspicions were confirmed.

“Jay,” Dick shouted, running to catch Jason’s head before it hit the floor. “Jason, can you hear me?” Dick held Jason’s head in his lap. “Bruce, he’s trembling like a leaf and he’s all clammy.”

“He’s been exposed to fear toxin,” Bruce answered.

“What? How? He had his helmet on the whole time.”

Jason’s eyes were open wide with fright, but he remained perfectly still. Ace lay on top of Jason’s chest resting his big front paws on Jason’s shoulders. Ace wouldn’t move so Alfred worked around the dog to get Jason’s vitals.

“His pulse is erratic, but not in danger, not yet. Master Dick, keep talking to him,” Alfred said.

Jason didn’t appear to be thrashing or fighting to get up, but his throat was making low keening sounds and tears were running down his cheeks. Dick was doing his best to calm Jason telling him he was okay. Meanwhile, Jason’s breathing was shallow as he was on the verge of hyperventilating.

“Breathe, Jason. You’re okay. You’re in the Cave. Breathe for me.” Dick said calmly. “I don’t think he can hear me.”

Bruce knelt by Jason’s side taking his hand in his. “Jason, can you squeeze my hand?” No response.

“I don’t know how this happened, Bruce. I swear we all took precautions,” Dick explained. “We all had rebreathers on. Jason wasn’t even around when I caught Crane. He was with Duke and Cass stopping the distribution.”

Bruce rushed to find Jason’s helmet. He searched all over scanning for any damage. The filtration system looked intact from the inside, but as he felt over the outside of the helmet he felt a crack on the side along the cheek.

“Shit,” Bruce cursed.

“Vitals are still slightly above his baseline, Sir, but not dangerous,” Alfred said. “I’m more concerned with this breathing. Perhaps an antidote is in order?”

Bruce quickly injected Jason with an antidote, took a blood sample, and gave it to Tim so he could analyze this new strain of the toxin. None of the past toxins had ever caused paralysis. Crane typically liked to see his victims physically react and interact with their fears. If Bruce had to guess, it appeared this one was designed to mimic sleep paralysis.

A guttural sob escaped Jason’s lips as fresh tears streamed down his face.

Bruce’s heart shattered at hearing his son make such a sound. He carded his fingers through Jason’s sweaty fringe giving reassurances he wasn’t sure Jason could hear.

“Jaylad, it’s Bruce. You’re not there. You’re here with me, in the Cave.”

Jason’s whimpering echoed throughout the Cave. He was trying to say something, but the sounds weren’t making any sense. Bruce knew Jason was likely reliving his death all over again and worst of all waking up in his coffin. Jason never discussed what happened to him when he woke up in there, and Bruce regretted not giving Jason the opportunity to talk about it.

“You’re okay, Little Wing. Bruce and I got you,” Dick sniffed, wiping his eyes. “You’re with us in the Cave. You’re safe.”

Bruce held onto Jason’s hand rubbing his thumbs in circles along the back of it hoping the contact would help to calm his son down.

The words and touch were doing very little to help calm Jason. He showed no signs that he was even actually hearing Bruce and Dick or that he even knew where he was at present. Soon he started gasping for air, which quickly led to him hyperventilating.

Alfred promptly came by Bruce’s side with the portable oxygen tank and mask. He put the mask on Jason, but Jason started to panic at having something on his face.

“Jason. Jason, listen to me. Whatever you’re seeing, it isn’t real,” Bruce said thickly. “You made it out, son. You’re safe.”

For the first time since this whole ordeal started, Jason responded to Bruce’s words. His eyes moved and briefly made contact with Bruce. Jason’s whole body slowly relaxed as he breathed in the offered oxygen. Jason’s eyes began to droop and before long he fell asleep.

888

Once Jason fell asleep, Bruce and Dick moved him upstairs to his room so he could wake up in familiar surroundings. Dick was reluctant to leave Jason’s side, but Bruce insisted and promised he’d get him as soon as Jason woke up.

Bruce stayed with Jason all night just watching him sleep. Watching the rise and fall of this son’s chest in what Bruce hoped was a dreamless sleep. It had been awhile since Bruce had stood watch over Jason all night. He had forgotten how young Jason looked when he slept. How the moonlight erased the harsh lines and scars of experiences and hardships making his son look twelve years old again.

Bruce drank in the peaceful moment and allowed his eyes to close in sleep.

He woke up a few hours later to a hand squeezing his wrist. Jason stared at him, blinking away the sleep as he tried to wake up.

“Morning, son.”

Jason kept his head on the pillow keeping his sleepy gaze on Bruce. “What happened?”

Bruce handed him a glass of water with a straw. “Fear toxin laced with a paralytic.”

“Son of bitch,” Jason hissed, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands.

“How are you feeling?” Bruce asked, gently sweeping Jason’s bangs from his face.

Jason took a few sips of the water and handed the glass back to Bruce. “I’m fine.”

Bruce didn’t believe him. Jason had a habit of hiding things, especially how bad he was feeling. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree in that department. Still, if this was something Bruce could help change for the better, he would do it, starting with himself and Jason.

Bruce set the glass down on the nightstand.

“Don’t look at me like that, Old Man.”

“How am I looking at you?”

“You’re giving me your furrowed brow of judgment. I’m fine.”

Leave it to Jason to choose sarcasm and snark to deflect from the pain.

I’m not judging, you. Let’s just call it my “furrowed brow of concern”.

“Whatever.”

A familiar tension fell between them that Bruce knew all too well. It always boiled down to miscommunication between them. Bruce would say the wrong thing or nothing at all. Jason would respond defensively in anger at Bruce. It was a vicious cycle. One Bruce hoped to break, but he had to be careful. Emotions were still so raw from last night; he didn’t want to fight with Jason. Bruce knew he was skating on thin ice with what he was about to say next.

Looking at his son’s face on the verge of tears, and trying desperately to hide any show of emotion, Bruce could see that Jason was far from fine.

“It’s okay if you’re not fine, because everything that you saw and experienced last night was not fine –,”

“Bruce, please stop,” Jason pleaded, biting his bottom lip to keep it from trembling. ”I’m f-fine.”

Bruce wouldn’t stop. He had to keep going. He had to make Jason understand that it was safe to let his guard down; so he continued.

“Alright, but just know I’m here if you don’t want to be fine.”

Jason choked back sobs. He shook his head, wiping his tears with the back of his hand.

Bruce moved from the armchair to the bed and sat down. He reached over and embraced Jason in his arms rubbing small circles on his back. Jason leaned into the hug and held on tightly crying into Bruce’s shoulder.

“I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I’m here to listen when you do want to talk.”

Jason nodded into his shoulder.

He didn’t need Jason to tell him what the fear toxin made him see. Bruce had a fairly good guess of the trauma the toxin had made Jason relive while under its influence. Bruce had enough experience with fear toxin throughout the years to know that its sole purpose was to unearth deep rooted fears and existing trauma the victim may have ignored or worse, repressed.

It wasn’t a surprise that Jason had buried much of his trauma from the warehouse and the events that had followed. He avoided opening up to anyone about what happened to him just as much as Bruce had avoided talking about his grief over his parents’ death. But by not acknowledging the trauma and keeping it buried, it had fueled the flame to anger and resentment.

Jason needed to talk with someone, and so did Bruce for that matter.

“It doesn’t have to be me that you talk to, but you…we need to talk to someone, okay?”

“But...”

“No buts, Jay. This is important. I don’t want you turning out like me, burying fears and pain so deep you end up cutting yourself off from those who love you and want to help you. I want things to be better for you.

“It doesn’t have to be tomorrow or next week, but it needs to be soon.”

Jason broke from the embrace, his eyes red rimmed and watery. “Will –will you come with me?”

Just like that, Jason sounded twelve years old again asking Bruce to hold his hand during a shot. Bruce melted at the simple request of his son still needing him. He placed a gentle kiss on Jason’s forehead.

“Of course, I love you, Jaylad.”

“Love you too, Dad.”

#whumptober2020 #no.16 #hallucinations #batman #fic #crowbar beating tw #fear toxin tw #Jason Todd #Bruce Wayne #Dick Grayson #batfic #fanfiction #dc

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oralbearthesexgod · 4 years ago

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Magical vacation...

Walking through the airport, navigating with the dog, finding out gate... 23G... boarding in 30... I look at you devilishly... you smile... you know what I want... I look ahead... there is a single stall wheelchair bathroom just to the side of us... I crack a smirk... babe... can you help me get to the bathroom?

You grab your pack, I put mine on. The dog gets up to balance me across the room, we make it, you offer to wait outside... I said babe, I'm going to need help with all this... reluctantly, you follow me in...

I drop my backpack, have my dog lie in the corner, you walk in, I shut and lock the door "click". I turn around, your looking at me perplexed... "are you going to pee?"

I look at you, staring into your soul, slide my hand against your cheek, fingers on your neck, brushing your cheek with my thumb... "what do you think?" I ask...

Your smirk turns into a smile as you instantly gaze to the floor and your cheeks flush, I swoop around and pull you to my lips, kissing you, deeply...looking at you tenderly... I whisper in your ear... you know better than to wear a skirt... whilist slipping the straps off your sloulders...

I kiss you again, walking towards the toilet, I spin us around and sit, pulling you into my lap, you wrap your arms around me and tilt your head to one side looking at me, I grab your ass, and place sweet gentil kisses along your collarbone, making my way lower... lower...

Reaching your breast, sucking your nipple into my mouth, you gasp as I dance my toungue around it... you rock in my lap... I reach my left arm around your back centering my hand on your back supporting you, I reach my right hand under your skirt... rubbing you over your underware... feeling them becomming wet... sliding them to the left... I slip my fingers against your clit, you rock against me harder and let out a soft moan... still slowly dancing my toungue around your nipple, touching you...I nip it... suck it and you hear a smack as I pull my lips away... I look up at you, still gently rubbing... your gazing at me... biting your bottom lip as you do...

As I lean in for a kiss you place your hand against my cheek and neck for balance, as my lips meet yours my fingers slide deep inside you... you moan while kissing me... I keep your lips locked to mine as I move my fingers inside of you... feeling your wetness... your getting wetter with every gentil movement... I reach to the top of my back with my left hand... grab the hidden bottle of lube... I gently remove my hand from you covering it... then returning it inside, sliding my fingers in... three fingers... 4 fingers... your relaxing... I drive my hand into you... ticking your G-Spot... your almost bouncing on me... I rotate.... tuck my thumb... slide my hand partially out... then slide it inside you gently... you relax with each stroke... finally my entire hand slips inside you.... you gasp and let put a high pitch moan... "yes daddy!" Comes out of your mouth before you realise it...

I slowly rotate my hand... you get louder and louder... driving your nails into my back... your cumming... I feel you gush over my hand... I continue... a little harder... a little faster... you gush again... again...I switch to your other nipple biting it a little working my toungue around it... you gush again... over and over and over...

Finally I give you a break, gently removing my hand from inside you, kissing you deeply... you stand up, I slip off the toilette onto my knees, flip your skirt over my head, place your foot on the toilet and lean you against the wall... I slip my toungue between your lips... attacking your clit... you grab my head through your dress... moaning uncontrollably... I reposition my head sliding circling your hole and my toungue inside you, your soo sensitive... you cum again... heading back to your clit... I slide my fingers inside you... tuck my thumb in... you accept my fist again... I slowly rotate my hand inside you.... your knees are buckling... again... my toungue still working on your clit... I feel you getting sooo close... and finally.... Just as you start to peak...

there's a knock at the door... "everything ok in there?" I don't stop.... You Moan out "Yeeeeesssssss"... while coming so hard you squirt spraying down my shirt... I resist having my fist excavated from deep within you intensifying your orgasm... finally... as you start to come down I let a final, gentler push pop me out...

You sit on the toilet gathering yourself, I wash my face, my hands, my arm, change my shirt... I help you with your very clear "walk of shame" appearance, brush your hair, fix your straps...

Now we are both somewhat presentable, we gather our gear, and the three of us stumble out of the wheelchair restroom, there's an able bodied lady looking very unimpressed glaring at us, as you and the dog clearly lead me out of the restroom, she opens her mouth to say something, I can anticipate her words, "you two were holding up the bathroom!"

You glare down at the Karen, "Honey, this is the restroom for families and person's living with disability, as you can clearly see my Husband has a Service dog. Not that it is any of your business, he has Mutiple Sclerosis, and due to random paralysis, has been stuck on the toilet unable to get up. If you would like him to accompany me in the very large ladies restroom next to the disability restroom which looks to be free for use."

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surveys-at-your-service · 5 years ago

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Survey #208

"if you want to soar with vultures, you'll have to swallow crow."

What may we call you? Brittany/Britt or Ozz/Ozzy. When can we send you a birthday card? (Figuratively, of course.): February 5th. And, where are you calling from? (Again, figuratively.): Please free me of the sweltering grip of North Carolina. What is your favorite Hostess/Little Debbie snack? BIIIIIIHHHHH that's too hard. I love that shit. I love the honeybuns, Twinkies, those little chocolate cupcakes... and really just most things lkdjalksdjwoe. Do you/your family buy loaf from the bakery or bagged on the shelf? Bagged. White, wheat or other? Mom usually buys whitewheat, but sometimes just wheat because she knows I prefer it. Have you ever fixed something without knowing just how you did it? I'm sure I have at some point. When was the last time you were on a plane? Last December. Where were you going and why? To Sara's for her birthday. What’s the best news you’ve gotten lately? Mom found a serious deal for a brand new Canon camera with more focal length range than my previous one and she bought it right in time for the wedding I shot yesterday. :') ^And, the worst? My niece may already be developing schizophrenia. If you could invent something, what would it be? Uhhhh... just one is hard. I literally just thought about this for like 5+ minutes and can't think of one singular invention that would actually be important. Well, maybe some sort of totally natural, long-lasting preservative for food? That'd help so many people and would greatly decrease the amount of fruits and such we waste, and it would also save money with probably slightly decreasing the frequency of grocery shopping. Tell me about your favorite pair of pants. I literally just have black yoga/dance pants lmao. Do you like getting dressed up? NO. Is your technology up to date? Depends on how "up-to-date" you mean. My stuff definitely isn't totally current. Ever been stuck next to someone really annoying on a LONG plane/train ride? Nah. Would you be embarrassed to find out you snored loudly in public? Yeah. Are you afraid of heights? Yes, to a degree. What is a compliment you get most often? "I like your hair"/stuff like that. Tell me about the last frightening/weird dream you had. This is hard, I like, never remember my dreams. Now, about the last pleasant dream you had. AHA I actually do remember this one: I got the rare-as-all-fuck and beautiful as all hell heavenly onyx cloud serpent in WoW, which I've tried getting every week for years. @_@ My eyes like popped open and I nearly gasped. Do you feel guilty about killing bugs? Sometimes. If there is a spider in your room, will you be up all night knowing that? YUP. How do you feel about coconut? I hate it. ^ Ever cracked one open? No. If you like someone, what do you do? Generally get shy and smile a lot when interacting with them. If you DON’T like someone, what do you do? Try to avoid being around them, keep talking to them to a minimum. What do you feel most insecure about? What DON'T I feel insecure about? Do you do your part to save the earth? I do what I can as not an independent adult (ex., I don't have my own car, so we don't drive to the dump). I turn the water off when brushing my teeth, I don't linger in the shower, I absolutely will not litter, things like that. Does it ROYALLY piss you off when your intended username is already taken? Yeesh, it doesn't even make me mad, it's just annoying. Describe your sunglasses. I don't have any. What’s the most you’ve spent on a pair of sunglasses? N/A ^Or, ladies, what about a purse? No clue, but definitely not a lot. Actually, what’s the most expensive clothing item/accessory you own? Again, I don't know. What is your favorite spoken language to listen to? Latin. Is there a TV switched on in the room you’re in? There is no TV. If so, what’s on? N/A What room of the house are you in anyway? My bedroom. Do you own anything that is special edition? I think some games, maybe? Maybe other things? Do you have any funky bookmarks? I have one of those moving 3D ones of meerkats. Do you know anyone with a British accent? Not personally. Are you reading any books at the moment? No. If so, tell me the plot briefly. N/A. When did you last get delivery pizza? A few weeks back. Drake Bell or Josh Peck? Back when the show was current, I preferred Drake. I know nothing about him now; Josh is cool, though. When was the last time you had a tick on you? EW idk I don't even wanna think about it. Do you watch Adult Swim? No, I hate it. It's crawling with immature humor. Have you been to the Grand Canyon? No. What is your favorite type of donut? Glazed or plain. Who usually makes dinner in your household? Mom. Name ALL the colors you’re wearing. Oh jeez, I have on a really colorful Day of the Dead-style skull tank top. Literally like every possible color. Are there more females or males in your family? Females. Have you submitted anything to Urban Dictionary? No. Did you have a Gameboy? If so, do you still have it? Yes to both. Is there a playground anywhere near your house? Define "near." Not very. Does anyone in your family snore loudly? Mom. What’s your favorite cereal? Probably Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Or Crunch Berries, the all berries kind. Do you read reddit? If so, how often and what subreddits do you like? No. Do you know anyone who’s had a baby recently? An old best friend from high school. When was the last time you ate marshmallows? Not since Sara was here and we had s'mores last summer. Do you listen to any podcasts? How do you listen to them? No. What brand of toilet paper do you usually buy? I don't pay attention to whatever Mom gets. Why did you leave your last job? The stress was giving me panic attacks. Have you ever eaten at a restaurant and left without paying? No. What was the last thing that made you laugh out loud? Probably Mark or GameGrumps. How old were you when you first became sexually active? 16. What’s your opinion on The Simpsons? I don't have one. Do you know anyone who has been through a divorce? Plenty of people. Do you have to pay for parking in most places in the town/city you live in? No. Can you hear lots of traffic from your house? Does it bother you? A moderate amount. We live on a busy road. Would someone being either a cat or dog person effect you dating them? No. What is the smallest thing you lose your temper over instantly? Hm, idk. Talk to me like I'm an idiot will definitely get me, actually. What’s a job that doesn’t get enough respect? Mfckn teachers. They are WAY WAY WAY underpaid. What did you take for granted until you visited another country? Never left the country. What is the worst first date you’ve been on? Tyler had a flat tire, and we had to walk to the gas station for something I don't remember and back to the sketchy tire place, and it was SO cold and windy. It didn't actually bother me, like he felt godawful and it wasn't like it was in his power, but from a date standpoint, yeah, that was an event. Who is your favorite scientist and why? I'm not educated enough on various scientists for this. Do you prefer emoticons or emoji? Emoticons. What’s the hardest task you’ve ever had to do? Open my mind in partial hospitalization to let Jason go and recover. How did you meet your pet? Teddy was from a friend of a family friend who knew we were looking for a dog. He was a present for me, so I didn't actually pick him, but rather Ashley chose the last remaining puppy with brown on him, and boy did she make the best decision. Roman was one of the shitload of kittens Ash's mother-in-law had; I was immediately drawn to him with his beautiful blue eyes. <3 Venus was from an online hub of ball python breeders, and I just absolutely fell in love with her colors. Kaiju and Mitsu were both from Craigslist. Do you look like any of your grand- or great-grandparents? I don't have a clue. Did/Do you have any PEZ dispensers? Oh yeah. Do you like grapes or raisins better? I only like grapes. What is the most extreme weather your area has ever experienced? I looked it up; the coldest in history is -9*, highest is 105*. Is there anything you plan on watching on TV today? No. Are there any broken appliances in your house? Maybe. Mom may still have my old Sager in hopes of fixing it one day or something, but I feel like we finally got rid of it. What color is the lampshade in the room you’re in? I don't have a lamp in here. At school, what is/was your worst area in math? I don't remember. Have Jehovah's Witnesses ever called to your door? Yes. Do you ever throw money in those ‘wishing’ wells? No. Waste of coins. Ever take money out of them? No. Are you well known by people in your area? No. What is the picture on the desktop on the computer you’re using? A meerkat. Have you ever had your future told? No. Do you 'spit on it’, to seal a deal? No no no ew. Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? No, thank god. If so, have you had any scary hallucinations? N/A Do you believe in ghosts? Totally. Would you ever stay overnight in a haunted house? Sure thing. When was the last time you had an injection? What for? Months ago when I was getting a cavity filled at the dentist. For some reason, I would NOT go totally numb until they gave me like 5+ doses. Is there anything you cannot wait to be over? This eternally-looping groundhog's day bullshit. I want a job, to be in school, friends, just a damn purpose. Do you have any enemies? "Enemies," no. People I don't like that also don't like me, yes. What was the last thing you had done at the dentist? Speak of the dentist, lol. Said cavity filling. Do you scrunch your face up when eating sour things? No, I'm not very affected by sour things. As a child, did you ever get the chance to go to Disney World/Disneyland? World, yes. <3 Are you someone who is really committed to politics in your area/country? No. When was the last time you were on a boat? Where did you travel on it? Two summers ago when I was fishing with Colleen, her husband, and dad. Does your family ever have any kind of weird traditions in your house? No. What would you consider your favorite movie from a different decade? The Lion King. Do you ever take bubble baths only to relax yourself in some way? I never take any kind of bath. When was the last time you were sick? What were you sick with and why? I don't remember. Have you ever wanted your significant other to get rid of a friend? Yes, though I had serious reason, but I wasn't in any way demanding about it/nothing was actually affected by them remaining friends. If you have siblings, have they moved out or do they still live with you? They've both moved out. Do you know anyone who has or has had any kind of mental illness/disorder? I'd love to meet someone who can possibly say "no" to this. Do you ever go to Blockbuster? How frequently would you say you go? *stares off into the distance wistfully* Is your mother a stay-at-home mother or does she work somewhere? She never stops working. What food would you just want to disappear off the face of the earth? Nothing? I'm not going to take away the diet of people depending on some source I just happen to hate. Do movies with super heroes intrigue you in any way? Why is this? Yeah, I just like fantasy stuff, and I enjoy the majority of the plots. I also just enjoy the idea of superheroes existing. Do you watch those late-night talk shows? What’s the best part about them? No. Do you ever listen to music so you can actually change your emotion? I try to sometimes. Do you like shopping alone? I've never really shopped alone. Does your best girlfriend have any talents that you don’t? Yeah, like she can animate pretty well! Have you ever written a song? I wrote a fucking song to the Nintendogs theme as a kid lmfao. Does anybody send you money in the mail for your birthday? My grampa always did, but he's sadly passed away, so now, no. Do you own any shirts that have a year on it? Ha ha, I have a Back to the Future shirt stored somewhere with the date on it, and it says "I was there." What do you think about mullets? I absolutely hate them. Would you rather date an actor or an athlete? I find actors more talented. I'd be afraid of an athlete s/o getting hurt, too. Do you have any scratches on your cell phone? No. Somehow. When was the last time you blushed? I don't remember, it's definitely been a while. Who is one person you met and automatically didn’t like? A doctor for my tremors. She was a BITCH with just such an unlikable, dull personality. Never went back to her. Do you have any video game systems in your room? Which one(s)? I have a Nintendo DS Lite somewhere... and then my laptop is actually a gaming laptop. What movie coming out do you really want to see? The. Live action. TLK. First day? I'm fuckin' THERE son. Is your skin tone lighter or darker than your mom’s? We're about the same. What is the best thing about the beach? All I care about is if the water's warm. Have you ever done another person’s make-up? I gave Jason a makeover once lmao. Have you ever spied on your neighbor? No. Do you think they’ve ever spied on you? No. What color eyes does the last person you kissed have? Brown. Honestly, do you double dip? No, I break chips apart. I will if I'm eating by myself, though. What color is your birthstone? Purple. What is one thing you don’t like sharing? Hmmm. Oh, probably candy, lmao. Where on your body would you NEVER get a piercing? Downstairs. Which Adam Sandler movie do you like the most? He's been in so many, I don't have a clue. I like him, though. Who was one of your first celebrity crushes? Jesse McCartney was my husband. Did your parents ever read stories to you before bed? Mom did. What are you listening to? "Queen For Queen" by Motionless In White. Do you like hickeys? If they're not in an obvious spot. Do you hate the person you fell the hardest for? No. When was the last time you talked to one of your best friends? I don't have a best friend besides Sara, and I talk to her everyday. Is there someone that makes you happy every time you see them? Sara. Do you believe what goes around comes around? Not always. Do you have any summer plans yet? No. I'd like to go up and visit Sara, but I have no clue if that'll happen, especially with me trying so hard to get a job. Do you have any good friends of the opposite sex? One. Do you have a secret that you’ve never told anyone? Yes. Have you ever regretted kissing someone? Yes. Do you think age matters in relationships? To an extent when a minor is involved. Even huge gaps in adult relationships creep me out, but there's nothing morally wrong with it. How many people have you had real, strong feelings for since high school ended? Two. Do you believe exes can be friends? It depends on the intensity of the relationship, I think. Plus what went wrong. Did you ever lose a best friend? Yeah. Has the last person you kissed ever seen you cry? Lol poor thing's seen me sob. Are most of your friend guys or girls? Girls. When was the last time you took a long drive? A few days ago to my psychiatrist. About an hour drive. Have you ever played Spin the Bottle? No. Have you ever TP'd someone’s house? Well, considering I've never been that damn immature, no. Who do you text the most? Sara. What was the last movie you saw? Detective Pikachu. It was cute, although I was expecting it to be more targeted towards an older audience with Ryan Reynolds playing Pikachu. (I knew nothing about it going into it.) Are you a monogamous person or do you believe in open-ended relationships? I'm monogamous. What do you most like about making out? The touching/caressing. Have you ever casually made out with someone who you weren’t seriously involved with? No. Would you get involved with someone if they had a child already? No. Do you miss your last sweetie? Not romantically. It'd be nice to hang out again, though. Have you ever gotten back in touch with an old flame after a time of more than 3 months of no communication? No. If you could kiss anyone who would it be? Y'all been known. What’s your favorite flavor of soda, pop or whatever else you call it? Blue raspberry. Have you ever attended a religious or private school? Yes; I went to Sunday school. How many cars does your household own? One. What time do you usually have dinner? 4:00 for fasting reasons. What’s your favorite meat? Probably chicken. Do you need glasses to read or drive or need them all the time? I always need them. Are you a very forgetful person? I'm so forgetful that I literally sometimes have borderline anxiety attacks that I'm developing dementia or something at age 23 lmao. What is the best gift anyone has ever gotten for you? My dog. Do you look anything like you did 3 years ago? I guess somewhat, though I was way bigger and my hair was much longer. Have you done something dramatic to your looks in the past year? No. Make up or no make up? I think everyone inevitably looks better with make-up as it enhances features and dulls imperfections, but I personally couldn't care less if you wear it or not. I almost never do, so I can't talk. What’s your favorite thing to watch on the TV? IF I was to watch TV now, probably things like animal documentaries. Would you rather be anorexic or obese? Actually go fuck yourself. Do you upload videos to YouTube? Definitely not regularly. I don't know the next time I'll make one. Do you own any albums by Michael Jackson? No. Do you like your phone on silent or vibrate? Vibrate. Do you like Beavis and Butthead? I don't watch it, but it honestly seems pretty damn stupid. What do you believe happens after we die? Who even knows, really. I believe there's something after we die, but we'll have to wait to find out what. Does the concept of eternity scare you? It kinda... does, actually? Like, wouldn't it get boring eventually? Are you happy that you were born and raised where you were? I suppose. Are your parents still together? No. Do you know anyone who is pregnant right now? Yes, and I want to see their fckng son he's gonna be so cute. She's due soon and I pray I get to take pictures of him. Is there a band you like but don’t like the people in it? Blood On The Dance Floor and Otep. Well, Otep is respectable in some areas, but all things considered, she is a bitch. What tabs do you have open right now? Fucking five YouTube tabs, dA, and Tumblr. Who was the last person to write on your wall on Facebook? No clue, and I don't feel like looking. Have you ever seen a tornado in person? Thank Christ in Heaven no. Are you between the ages of 30 & 40? No. How much was a gallon of gasoline when you first started driving? I have no clue, when I got my permit. What was your first car? N/A Who taught you how to drive? My driver's ed teacher and my mom. What was your high school mascot? A firebird. Did you go to your senior prom? Yes. What did you do after graduation? Honestly? I don't even remember, almost at all, lmao. I either went to Jason's or went home/Jason came with me. Any posters on your bedroom walls growing up? When Nicole and I shared a room, she literally covered the fucking walls in Jonas Brothers shit while I was at a friend's house, and I was. Very. Very. Unhappy. Do you remember the first time you drank a beer? I've never had beer, don't want to. Did you ever try cigarettes? No. How did you spend your summers growing up? Swimming, hanging out with friends, playing outside, riding bikes, playing softball with Dad, playing video games... If you could change anything from your teenage years, would you? Hey, could I have been like, a happy teenager??? Do you remember your first time? No considering at that time I didn't realize it essentially was sex, so it wasn't something that stood out at the time. After high school - straight to college or straight to work? I went straight to college. Favorite home-cooked meal growing up? Spaghetti. Favorite place to eat out growing up? It was probably McDonald's. How many stuffed animals do you own? I literally have multiple huge bags in the attic of childhood stuffed animals I couldn't get rid of, lmao. Are you good at comebacks? WOW no. When’s the last time you watched the news? I don't have the slightest idea. Do you love Christmas time? Of course. Do you really think that the number 13 is unlucky? No. What’s your favorite flavor of cough drops? Omggg I love those strawberry ones. Do you have a fan in your room? Yes. I wouldn't survive without it. Do you think Cookie Monster is cute? I don't really feel either way. Do you like candy canes? Yes. Have you ever had a dream where you killed someone? Yes. Which is worse: stuffy nose or runny nose? Probably stuffy? I don't have a runny nose much, but I've got pleeeenty of experience with stuffy noses. Which is worse: Sick to your stomach or sore throat? THE FORMER. What’s your favorite smiley face? c: Do you think your last relationship was a disaster? No. How many concerts have you been to? One. :/ Would you ever join a band? If I was actually talented with the guitar, maybe, but as things are now, nope. Which internet browser do you use? Chrome. Do you know anyone who is a firefighter? No. What was the last wedding you went to? Just a few days ago for a lady who contacted me about shooting hers. It was a great one, and honestly wonderful to see an interracial wedding here in the South. You do nooot see that everyday. What’s your favorite alcoholic beverage? Margaritas. When was the last time you saw a photo of your ex? Probably the last time I was uploading pictures from my old phone; it's the one I take the once-a-year selfie because the Samsung camera is ACTUAL trash. Do you “binge-watch” TV shows? No. Well actually, on the occasions Sara and I have, I can only handle a handful at a time before I completely lose focus on it or, at that time anyway, interest. What is your opinion of clowns? I don't have one. Do you play any games on your phone? Only Pokemon GO if I'm somewhere I can actually play it. Do you plan ahead when it comes to your outfits? No. Have you ever shaved your face? We have this tiny automatic razor thing for your upper lip, and I use that like once a month or less because yay having dark body hair. What color is your front door? White. What was the last vaccination you got? Whatever those mandatory ones are when you become a teenager. Idr. Would you ever try herbal medicine as opposed to conventional medicine? No. If I need medicine for something, I'm using something I know works. Have you ever been to a petting zoo? I think as a kid? Do/did you have a curfew set by your parents? It wasn't heavily enforced, but Mom preferred I be home by 10 if I went somewhere. How many times have you consumed alcohol? *shrugs* When was the last time you wore a hat? What kind? I have noooo clue. When was the last time you sang an ENTIRE song? Good question. I rarely sing an entire song, rather just parts. Do you consider yourself to be attractive? I don't mind my face, but I do NOT like my body, so overall, no. Are you addicted to anything? Technology. What are you craving right now? I've had an insane craving for hot dogs on the grill for like a week now lmao. Mom's doing that and buying some drinks today for the two of us. I wanted my sisters to come for some family time, but my younger sister has homework, and then Ash and kids like... never come here. "Because of the dogs," according to her husband, but I don't believe that. Are you a forgiving person? I'm way too forgiving. Do you have a brother? Yes. Have you ever had a dream of stabbing someone? WHOA actually I think I semi-recently had a nightmare of me going ham stabbing someone for some reason I don't remember. What would you want your last words to be if you could choose them? "I love you" or then "see you on the other side" is cute to me and also indicates we'll be together again. So probably the latter. What band can’t you stand listening to? I reeeaaally dislike Mumford and Sons. His voice is awful. What is your favorite mystery/crime/FBI related show? Does Sherlock count as a mystery show? Would you ever have a bird as a pet? Nah. How’s your relationship between you and your grandparents? Not wonderful. I don't like her very much, and evidence says I'm not her favorite person, either. Do you have a photographic memory? No. Have you ever had to speak at a funeral? No. Do you know someone who’s been cremated? Hm, don't think so. Have you ever talked to someone when they were high? Yes. Your ex is on the side of the road, on fire. What do you do? Uh, call 911??? Dunk water on him if at all possible? I'm not just gonna drive past anyone who's on fucking fire. It’s 2 in the morning and you get a text message, who is it most likely? Sara. I only ever text her and Mom, and Mom would be right outside my door asleep, so. Ever cried while you were on the phone with someone? Is there anyone who hasn't? When was the last time you saw your father? Not since his birthday last month. Do you like any of Justin Bieber’s songs? No. Any time when you need to search something on the Internet, which search engine do you use? Google. Do you believe saving your virginity for marriage or no? I don't care. I believe in saving it for someone you truly, deeply love. When you were a kid, did you ever like Barney? Yes. Omfg I just remembered something with my older sister; when she was little, Barney was her "boyfriend." She was "talking on the phone" with him once, and when Mom interrupted her, she scoffed and said, "I'm talking to Barney." And then Ash and Barney had an ACTUAL "ceremony" for a divorce. That's a thing that happened. What’s the capital of state, country, or providence you live in? Raleigh. When you open your web browser, what is your home page set to? Why did you select this? Google. I think it was automatically set. Would you allow a camera crew to follow you around and make a reality series out of your life (no matter how boring it is) if you got paid well? Why? No. I'd get so fucking annoyed, I'd feel under constant scrutiny, and I don't want fame. If your car broke down would you call a friend or family member to pick you up or would you call AAA (or something like it)? I'd call my mom and listen to her on what to do from there. Do you put a lot of thought into the gifts you buy for people? YEAH. It's rare I actually have my own money to buy gifts for anyone, so when I can, I think hard. On an average day do your thoughts tend to be more positive or negative? Negative, I think. Do you ever trust anyone else to drive your car? If you don’t have a car, do your friends and family ever allow you to drive their vehicles? I don't have my own, but Mom lets me drive hers. Name at least one thing you like about each season. Winter: SNOW. Spring: Flowers!! Summer: swimming. Autumn: visuals. What amount of time do you think is perfect for a vacation? I guess a week?

#survey #quiz #questions #random #bored

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centralparkpawsblog · 5 years ago

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How Does Dog Flea Treatment Work? Pills, Sprays, Shampoos, Collars, and Spot-On (Topical) Explained

https://img.chewy.com/is/image/catalog/146286_MAIN._AC_SL1500_V1559077991_.jpg There are many things I enjoy living in Minnesota, but the flea population isn’t one of them.

According to WebMD, Minnesota has one of the larger flea populations in the United States[1].

One good thing is fleas aren’t very hearty when it comes to the cold, so it is less likely dogs will get fleas in the colder months. Flea season in Minnesota is traditionally April through November.

Unfortunately, flea season is getting worse because our winters aren’t as severe and our warmer seasons are getting longer.

Also, if a flea is attached to a host in the winter, the host keeps the flea warm enough to continue to survive and procreate.

So, what do we do when you live in an area flush with fleas?

In our house, we use a variety of preventatives in our home for a few different reasons.

My two youngest dogs take Bravecto Chews every three months, whereas my two older girls get Frontline applied every month.

The reason why we use different methods is due to the various health issues in our home.

Also, we have chosen Bravecto and Frontline because they also help the fight against ticks, which is also an issue in our area.

Not sure if your dog is infested with fleas? We can help you figure that out!

How Do Flea Pills and Tablets Work?

Oral flea medications kill adult fleas, preventing them from laying eggs.

Most oral flea medications last at least 30 days and can be used to both prevent and treat flea infestations.

However, there is a treatment, Capstar, that’s solely used to manage flea infestations, and it only lasts 24 hours.

Most flea medications kill fleas by inhibiting aspects of their nervous systems, causing paralysis then death.

Simparica (Sarolaner)

Active Ingredients – Sarolaner[2]

How It Works – After your dog eats the Simparica chewable, the insecticide sarolaner enters the bloodstream. When fleas and ticks bite your pup, they will ingest the blood and die because sarolaner inhibits neurotransmitters such as GABA and glutamate[3]. Fleas die within 3 hours.

How to Use It – The chewable pill is liver flavored so most dogs will readily eat it like a treat. If not, it can be wrapped or hidden in food.

How Long It Lasts – 35 days

Side Effects – Most common side effects are vomiting and diarrhea[4]. In September of 2018, the FDA released a warning that stated isoxazoline class drugs might cause seizures and other neurological effects[5]; Simparica contains this class of drug.

Prescription Needed? – Yes

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NexGard (Afoxolaner)

Active Ingredients – Afoxolaner

How It Works – Afoxolaner is effective after 4 hours of ingestion. It is an adulticide and kills adult fleas by blocking GABA-gated chloride channels before the fleas can lay eggs[6].

How to Use It – Beef flavored chewable tablet

How Long It Lasts – 30 days

Side Effects – The most common side effects are vomiting, diarrhea, dry/flaky skin, lethargy, and lack of appetite[7]. In September of 2018, the FDA released a warning that stated isoxazoline class drugs might cause seizures and other neurological effects; NexGard contains this class of drug.

Prescription Needed? Yes

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Bravecto (Fluralaner)

Active Ingredients – Fluralaner

How It Works – Kills adult fleas after two hours of consuming the chewable tablet by inhibiting ligand-gated chloride channels, thus shutting down the flea’s nervous system[8].

How to Use It – Flavored chewable tablet

How Long it Lasts – 12 weeks

Side Effects – Common side effects are vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, polydipsia, and flatulence[9]. In September of 2018, the FDA released a warning that stated isoxazoline class drugs might cause seizures and other neurological effects; Bravecto contains this class of drug.

Prescription Needed? Yes

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Capstar (Nitenpyram)

Active Ingredients – Nitenpyram

How It Works – Kills adult fleas within 30 minutes after being given. Nitenpyram is a neonicotinoid that inhibits postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors[10].

How to Use It – The tablet can be hidden in food or wrapped in a treat.

How Long It Lasts – 24 hours

Side Effects – Most frequent side effects are lethargy/depression, vomiting, itching, decreased appetite, diarrhea, hyperactivity, incoordination, trembling, seizures, panting, allergic reactions including hives, vocalization, salivation, fever, and nervousness[11].

Prescription Needed? Yes

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How Do Flea Collars Work?

There are three main types of flea collars on the market.

The first kind of collar acts strictly as a repellent. The repellent is released in gas form from the collar.

The second type of flea collar kills fleas after the flea has bitten your dog.

The third collar kills fleas on contact before the flea bites your dog.

Seresto

Active Ingredients – Imidacloprid and Flumethrin

How It Works – Imidacloprid kills adult fleas and their larvae by wreaking havoc with their postsynaptic nicotinic acetylchlorine receptors[12]. Flumethrin is a pyrethrin acts as a flea repellent by acting on sodium channels[13].

How to Use It – Remove the collar from the bag. Make sure that the inside of the collar is free from any fragments from the plastic connectors. Guide the collar through the buckle and fasten around the dog’s neck. There should be able to put two fingers in between the collar and your dog’s neck. Cut off and discard the excess length of the collar, leaving about a one-inch tail. Finally, fasten the reflective clips to the collar; do not put clips on the area the collar length overlaps.

How Long It Lasts – 8 months

Side Effects – Most common side effects are itching, hair loss, and skin irritation[14].

Prescription Needed? No

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Hartz Ultra Guard

Active Ingredients – Tetrachlorvinphos and Methoprene

How It Works – Tetrachlorvinphos kills adult fleas[15]. Methoprene prevents normal molting, egg-laying, egg-hatching, and development from the immature phase to the adult phase[16]. This collar also repels fleas.

How to use It – Remove the collar from the bag. Pull on both ends of the collar to activate the insecticide. Guide the collar through the buckle and fasten around the dog’s neck. There should be able to put two fingers in between the collar and your dog’s neck. Cut off the excess length of the collar, leaving about a one-inch tail.

How Long It Lasts – 7 months

Side Effects – Most typical side effects are skin irritation[17]. More severe side effects include diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, small pupils, muscle tremor, weakness or falling over, and drooling[18].

Prescription Needed? No

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Zodiac Flea & Tick Collar

Active Ingredients –Tetrachlorvinphos

How It Works – Tetrachlorvinphos is an organophosphate that kills fleas and controls larvae by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, disrupting the flea’s CNS and GI system[19]. The Zodiac collar also helps to repel fleas.

How to Use It – Remove the collar from the bag. Pull on both ends of the collar to activate the insecticide. Guide the collar through the buckle and fasten around the dog’s neck. There should be able to put two fingers in between the collar and your dog’s neck. Cut off the excess length of the collar, leaving about a one-inch tail.

How Long It Lasts – 7 months

Side Effects – Most likely side effects are skin irritation. More severe side effects include diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, small pupils, muscle tremor, weakness or falling over, and drooling.

Prescription Needed? No

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How Do Topical Flea Treatments Work?

Topical flea treatments are also called spot-on flea treatments.

Topical treatments consist of a liquid, usually applied between your dog’s shoulder blades. Applying the fluid between the shoulder blades prevents your dog from licking the treatment.

These treatments can be used to kill and sometimes even repel fleas.

Hartz Pet Defender Plus

Active Ingredients – Fipronil and Methoprene

How It Works – Fipronil works by blocking GABA-chloride and glutamate-chloride channels in the central nervous system in insects, ultimately killing the flea[20]. Methoprene prevents normal molting, egg-laying, egg-hatching, and development from the immature phase to the adult phase by replacing growth hormones[21].

How to Use It – Remove the tube from the packaging. Twist applicator tip to the right and at the same time push down to break the seal. Starting between your dog’s shoulder blades press the tube close to the skin. As you are squeezing, the tube move towards the tail, following the line of your dog’s spine.

How Long It Lasts – 1 month

Side Effects – Most typical side effect is skin irritation[22].

Prescription Needed? No

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Vectra 3D (Ceva)

Active Ingredients – Dinotefuran, Pyriproxyfen, Permethrin

How It Works –Vectra 3D repels and kills fleas, as well as interrupting all of the flea’s life stages. Dinotefuran is a neonicotinoid and pyriproxyfen mimics growth hormones making it an insect growth regulator[23], so Vectra 3D’s modes of action are all similar to other flea treatments above. Vectra starts working within 5 minutes after applying it.

How to Use It – Remove the tube from the packaging. Holding the tube upright, press down on the applicator tip until the two discs meet, breaking the internal seal. Starting at the base of the tail, part the hair and squeeze the tube, running along the line of the spine until you reach your dog’s shoulder blades.

How Long It Lasts – 1 month

Side Effects – Most typical side effects light redness, itching, or other signs of discomfort where the treatment was applied.

Prescription Needed? No

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Frontline

Active Ingredients – Fipronil and Methoprene

How It Works – Fipronil works by disrupting the normal function of the central nervous system in insects, ultimately killing the flea. Methoprene prevents normal molting, egg-laying, egg-hatching, and development from the immature phase to the adult phase. Methoprene prevents the insects from reproducing.

How to Use It – Remove the tube from the packaging. Twist applicator tip to the right and at the same time push down to break the seal. Part the hair between your dog’s shoulder blades and apply entire contents in the single area.

How Long It Lasts – 1 month

Side Effects – The most common side effect is temporary irritation.

Prescription Needed? No

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Vet’s Best Flea & Tick Spot-on

Active Ingredients – Clove Oil 7.5%, Thyme Oil 2.5%, Cinnamon Oil 2.5%

How It Works – Kills and repels fleas through the use of pesticide-free ingredients. These essential oils can suffocate the flea and also have neurotoxic mechanisms[24].

How to Use It – Squeeze the tube at the point where the applicator and the tube meet; this will break the seal. Apply the liquid starting at the base of the neck and follow the line of the spine to the base of the tail.

How Long It Lasts – 1 month

Side Effects – The most common side effects are signs of sensitivity.

Prescription Needed? No

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How Do Flea Sprays Work?

Sprays work similarly to spot-on style treatments.

The spray kills fleas and prohibits the continued growth progression of larvae and eggs.

Vet’s Best Flea + Tick Spray for Dogs

Active Ingredients – Peppermint Oil 0.30%, Eugenol (from Clove plants) 0.70%, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (plant-derived) 2.70%

How It Works – Peppermint oil and clove extract kill fleas and their eggs through physical and neurotoxic mechanisms, as mentioned above. SLS is a surfactant that aids in delivering the other ingredients to the inside of the flea[25].

How to Use It – Spray on your dog’s coat directly, but avoid contact with the face, eyes, and genitals. However, be sure to spray the legs, stomach, and tail. Do not saturate your dog’s coat.

How Long It Lasts – The description states that it is long-lasting, but should not be applied more than twice in 24 hours.

Side Effects – The most common side effects are signs of sensitivity.

Prescription Needed? No

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Adams Plus Flea and Tick Spray

Active Ingredients – Etofenpox, Methoprene, Piperonyl Butoxide

How It Works – Kills fleas, eggs, and larvae and impedes the flea’s growth cycle. Etofenpox disrupts sodium channels[26]. Methoprene replaces growth hormones. Piperonyl butoxide makes the other active ingredients more effective.

How to Use It – Shake well, then spray your dog’s entire body, including the tail, legs, and belly, but avoid their eyes, face, rectum, and genitals. With a cloth, gently apply to face around mouth, nose, and eyes. Spray until fully covered but not soaked.

How Long It Lasts – 2 months

Side Effects – Drooling may occur immediately after application.

Prescription Needed? No

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Frontline Spray

Active Ingredients – Fipronil 0.29%

How It Works – Fipronil works by disrupting the normal function of the central nervous system in insects by affecting the neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate, ultimately killing the flea

How to Use It – Apply until your dog’s coat is damp. Work spray in with gloved hand when applying to your dog’s coat. Avoid spraying the face, eyes, and mouth. To apply to face, spray your gloved hand then wipe the product on the dog’s face and ears while avoiding the eyes.

How Long it Lasts – 1 month

Side Effects –Sensitivities are rare, but still may happen after using Frontline Spray[27].

Prescription Needed? No

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How Do Flea Shampoos Work?

Flea shampoos contain insecticides designed to kill fleas immediately and can also suffocate them.

Flea shampoos are used for when your dog has fleas or has been recently exposed to fleas.

These do not act as a potent preventative.

Richard’s Organics Flea & Tick Shampoo

Active Ingredients – Peppermint Oil, Eugenol (Clove Oil), Cedarwood Oil, Cinnamon Oil, Rosemary Oil, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.

How It Works – Kills and repels fleas through mechanical (suffocation) and neurotoxic action.

How to Use It – Wet your dog’s coat down with water, then apply shampoo. Work the shampoo into your dog’s coat and allow to sit for five minutes before rinsing. Be careful not to let the shampoo to get into your dog’s eyes.

How Long It Lasts – The duration of the bath.

Side Effects – May cause skin irritation.

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Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Flea & Tick Shampoo

Active Ingredients – Pyrethrins, Piperonyl Butoxide, N-Octyl Bicyclopheptene Dicarboximide

How It Works – Kills fleas and soothes your dog’s skin from the irritations of the flea bites. Pyrethrins overexcite the flea’s neural pathways until the nerve cells are damaged, causing paralysis then death[28]. The other active ingredients make the pyrethrins more effective.

How to Use It – Wear rubber gloves when shampooing your dog. Wet your dog’s coat down with water, then apply shampoo. Work the shampoo into your dog’s coat and allow it to sit for five minutes before rinsing. Be careful not to let the shampoo to get into your dog’s eyes.

How Long It Lasts – The duration of the bath, but should not be repeated for 7 days. Also, it may take up to 30 days to completely resolve a flea infestation.

Side Effects – Skin sensitivities may occur after use.

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Adams Flea & Tick Cleansing Shampoo

Active Ingredients – Pyrethrins 0.075%, Piperonyl Butoxide 0.750%, Pyriproxyfen 0.086%

How It Works – Pyrethrins kills flea and pyriproxyfen disrupts the growth cycle and prevents eggs from hatching for up to thirty days.

How to Use It – Wet your dog’s coat down with water, then apply 1-2 tablespoons of shampoo. Work the shampoo into your dog’s coat and allow to sit for five minutes before rinsing. Be careful not to let the shampoo to get into your dog’s eyes. Repeat every seven to ten days until the fleas are gone.

How Long It Lasts – Up to 30 days for preventing flea eggs from hatching.

Side Effects – Skin sensitivities may occur after use.

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Which One to Use and When

There are a variety of different flea products on the market because there isn’t just one flea solution that will work with every situation.

Factors like your dog’s age, health, and activity level all play into which flea product would be best for your situation.

Scenario 1: Your Dog LOVES the Water

Hartz does make a water-resistant flea collar, though it won’t be as water resistant as other options

If your dog enjoys swimming and does so frequently, a flea collar may not be the best choice.

Many flea collars state that exposure to water is not recommended more than once a month.

In this situation, it would be best to consider using an oral medication or spot-on type treatment.

Oral medications do not have any water restrictions.

Topical treatments do not recommend exposure to water for 48 hours after application, but then do not have any water restrictions for the balance of the month.

Scenario 2: You Have a New Puppy and Want to Avoid Fleas

Flea products have different age ratings, so if you just picked up an eight-week-old puppy, then the best option is topical treatment.

Most spot-on treatments are safe to use with puppies eight weeks old and up.

Scenario 3: You Live in an Area That Fleas Aren’t a Problem, but Plan on Visiting an Area with a High Flea Population

Because your pet doesn’t require long term treatment, a spot-on or spray-on treatment would be best.

Just be sure to apply it in advance of traveling so that it has time to absorb into your dog’s skin and bloodstream.

Scenario 4: Your Pooch Has Fleas

Unfortunately, fleas happen.

Fleas love dog beds. Use flea control sprays to keep them away!

One time, I picked up a foster dog from animal control and she had fleas.

The first thing I did was to call my vet and get Capstar. Capstar works quickly and effectively to get rid of fleas.

The second thing I did after giving my foster Capstar was to apply Frontline.

After an hour, I felt safe to bring her home, but I did use flea spray on the dog’s bedding in my car and my house.

Using all three products avoided a flea infestation in my home while at the same time ridding my foster of her pesky fleas.

Side Note When Using Multiple Flea Products

Some products are safe to use together.

However, it’s always safest to consult your vet before combining products since overexposure to pesticides can cause toxicity issues in your dog.

Final Thoughts

Don’t forget to get a yard spray to protect your dog from bringing fleas in from outside!

If I could give any pet parent one piece of advice when it comes to fleas, it would be to use a flea preventative.

Avoiding a flea problem is, by far, the easiest way to deal with flea issues. Flea preventatives might seem pricey, but in truth, they are a lot cheaper than dealing with a flea infestation in your home!

I know there are many flea products on the market which can make it challenging to know which product would work best.

Hopefully, I was able to get you started in the right direction and help you narrow down the best solution for you and your dog.

Resources

https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/flea-tick-map-tool/default.htm

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=91fc9ba1-35e6-4e37-8c37-c5e40699bd5b

https://www.drugs.com/vet/simparica-sarolaner-chewables.html

https://www.simparica.com/satisfaction-guarantee.aspx

https://www.popsci.com/flea-tick-seizure-fda/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304401714000934

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/afoxolaner

http://www.bravecto.net/faqs

https://www.drugs.com/vet/bravecto.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/nitenpyram

http://datasheets.scbt.com/sc-363355.pdf

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/archive/imidacloprid.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/flumethrin

https://www.drugs.com/vet/seresto-small-or-large-dog.html

https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/tetrachlorvinphos-tcvp

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/methogen.html

https://www.hartz.com/product/hartz-ultraguard-flea-tick-collar-dogs-black/

https://www.medvetforpets.com/know-flea-product-toxicity-dogs-cats/

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Tetrachlorvinphos

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/archive/fiptech.html

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/methogen.html

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/fipronil

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/pyriprogen.html

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mve.12033

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3283952/

https://www.centrallifesciences.com/active-ingredients/etofenprox

https://www.drugs.com/vet/frontline-spray-treatment-for-cats-dogs.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300483X01005698

The post How Does Dog Flea Treatment Work? Pills, Sprays, Shampoos, Collars, and Spot-On (Topical) Explained appeared first on Central Park Paws.

from https://www.centralparkpaws.net/flea-medication/how-does-dog-flea-treatment-work/

#dogs #cats #pets #reviews

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feathers-scales-and-tails · 6 years ago

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Paralysis Ticks

So it’s summer in Australia and that means ticks! Many of us born in Australia are aware of these nasty buggers, however I was reminded today that people who move here often are not aware of the hazards of our ticks considering many ticks outside Australia are nothing more than blood sucking pests. Like most things in Australia though, we have a tick who is... special.

This is the Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus) and is an incredibly common sight in Brisbane where I live. Here’s a map of their distribution (along with our other common, nicer ticks) below.

Their favourite environment to live in is bushland and long grass, although they travel near and far into city and household through trusty transportation; bats, wallabies, and birds, along with others. They live for one year with a 4 stage life cycle; egg, larvae, nymph, and adult. They can range in size from a pinhead to the nail on your thumb, the bigger the tick the longer it’s been attached and feeding. An adult tick can lay up to 3000 eggs and they take roughly 60 days to hatch! Hence why they spread like wildfire. Only the females attach and feed off hosts, while the male ticks will feed off the female, mate her, then die.

If you haven’t guessed already from their name, these ticks cause paralysis! As they feed they inject neurotoxins into their host through saliva, causing a plethora of issues. Paralysis is rare within adults, however young children can suffer. Despite adults not suffering the paralysis, they still make us incredibly sick. Symptoms are similar to the Influenza Virus (the Flu) and there are a lot of symptoms you can suffer. These can include; rashes, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, fever, body aches and pains, lethargy, balance issues, intolerance to bright light, weak limbs, and finally issues with motor control particularly in the facial muscles and hands. They are incredibly nasty ticks.

I’m not talking about human health today however, I’m making this post to talk about how they affect animals. Specifically our pets.

Tick ‘season’ begins in September and progressively gets worse as our weather heats up; December and January which are in the peak of heat are the worst months. Ticks don’t stick to season though, it’s entirely possible to find them in winter! However it’s not nearly as common. During Tick season Vets are overrun with patients. Roughly 10,000 dogs are affected each year with a 5% fatality rate (500 animals). These ticks aren’t picky, they’ll commonly target; dogs, cats, birds, chickens, cattle, sheep, goats, rodents, snakes, lizards, and wildlife. Paralysis Ticks can and will kill all of the above animals if treatment is not provided.

Animals usually start showing clinical symptoms 3-5 days after the tick has attached, it takes a while for the toxins to get into their system. This isn’t good though, as once the toxins are in and start causing noticeable issues you have a very short time frame to seek medical help. The most common symptoms within cats and dogs are; heavy and laboured breathing, excessive panting, coughing, vomiting, constant salivation and frothing at the mouth, wobbly and unsteady back legs, refusal to stand up and walk, full hind leg paralysis, and finally full body paralysis and loss of consciousness. It can take as little as 24 hours after you notice clinical symptoms for your pet to succumb to respiratory or heart failure.

They sound like a nightmare, and trust me they are. If you discover your animal has a tick you need to book a Vet appointment immediately as without treatment they’ll likely die. Even if you remove the tick, the toxins can remain within the body for weeks.

If you find a tick, it’s best to remove it straight away so no further toxins are injected. However refrain from squeezing the ticks body with tweezers or fingers!!! Squeezing the abdomen can cause the tick to regurgitate straight into your pet, releasing more toxins. There are special tools you can buy which twist the tick off, if not try and grab the tick by it’s head if it isn’t burrowed into your animal. Here is an example of the removal tool, and another of how to use it.

If you don’t have this on hand, obviously have a go with tweezers. Just try your best to grab them as far down on their body as you can.

Vet treatment wise, an antiserum to neutralise the toxin will be administered and the animal may require Intravenous fluids, oxygen and assistance breathing, and assisted urination and defecation if full paralysis has occurred. Never give your animal food or water if it’s paralysed by a tick, as your pet could inhale this into their lungs. Ticks cause respiratory failure, so without full control over their throat and chest muscles they may fail to block off their airway or swallow this food/water properly. It can take up to 9 days for a pet to recover, so your animal will either stay in vet care or will be cleared to go home with antibiotics and/or anti-nausea medication.

The best way to avoid this heartache for your pets is obviously prevention. Below are some examples of ticks attached, keep in mind that these ticks are engorged so relatively easy to feel or spot. Newly attached ticks will be a pinhead bump, not the huge things you see here. First image is a tick attached to a dog, second is a blue tongue skink, third is a bird (I’m unsure of species). First image is an engorged Paralysis tick, second image are some non-full paralysis ticks, third image is not a paralysis tick (from my viewpoint anyway).

The most straightforward method of prevention is to check your animals regularly, particularly within Summer for ticks. You do this by feeling along your animal and pulling back their fur/feathers/wool to check any small bump or raise you might feel. Common areas of attachment is on the chest and neck, however ticks also like eyes, ears, belly, and around the anus. Check every inch of your pet, sometimes the pricks even go between toes. Here are common areas to check for different animals. Dogs and cats: under the collar, ears, eyes, mouth, belly, chest. Birds: eyes, beaks and ears. Generally ticks like to attach in places a bird can’t reach so they can’t be pulled off. Armpits (under wings) and along the bottom are also favoured spots. Reptiles: cloaca, armpits, ears, mouth, eyes. Rodents: face, stomach, back, ears Sheep: udders, belly, armpits, ears, eyes, jaw/chin. Cattle: everywhere. Just trust me. Everywhere

Obviously check over your entire animal, but those are the most common spots for each respective species if you’re short for time. Other methods of prevention include sprays and topline treatment. Cattle and sheep get sprayed down for ticks, while dogs and cats should receive regular preventative treatment often in the form of a spray on the back of their neck just like flea treatment. It’s also important to keep grass short on your property as ticks love living in this. Furthermore, don’t walk your dog through any long grass or bushland during summer if you can help it.

I think that pretty much covers everything! It’s a lot of information but I figured the more the better use it would be to somebody wanting knowledge/help. To everybody living in Australia, or potentially visiting, stay safe and watch out for these ticks. I’ve had several myself and they are not fun!

Here’s a chonky little Brushtail Possum for you! Fun Fact; Australian Possums and Bandicoots (along with some other species I’m forgetting now?) have built up a natural immunity to Paralysis ticks considering how frequently they’re exposed! They can still be affected, but are very unlikely to suffer paralysis from them. Brushies are my favourite so I had to share one. Chonky tree cats.

#what do i tag this as???#MyPosts #my posts #Ticks #tick prevention #animal health #veterinary #education #dogs #cats #reptiles #rodents #birds #idk man i'm just throwin a bunch in #Australia #animal care #paralysis ticks

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drferox · 7 years ago

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First off thank you for your amazing blog. Even as a lay-person I get a lot of useful info and know how to better help my vet when my fur babies go in for a checkup. My question, is it harder to keep pets in AU? I live in the US and often hear of the dangerous wildlife via nature shows. I know part of it is sensationalized, but do you see injuries that could only happen "down under" often? Is it common to leave animals unattended outdoors, like dogs in dog-runs or indoor/outdoor cats?

Harder than what? I’ve only lived and practiced in Australia, so I don’t have a point of reference to compare how difficult it would be to keep pets in the USA. That said, there are a few important differences.

You have RABIES. I do not want that here, thanks.

Your wildlife has more large carnivores

Our wildlife has more small, highly venomous creatures that will happily live in suburbia

The ticks carry less diseases, but can cause paralysis and death

Heartworm varies hugely in how prevalent it is, and heartworm preventative can be purchased without prescription.

Lots of dogs are just left in the backyard during the day or when the family is out, and cats which spend some time unsupervised outside. Lots of cats just go ‘missing’ and never return.

Basically, more toxins and less infectious disease, but I wouldn’t say one is necessarily easier than the other, though I am very glad I work on a rabies free continent.

#veterinarian #vetblr #australia #pet care #aquietquixotic

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goddamnshinyrock · 8 years ago

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PSA: DO NOT FEED WILDLIFE

after seeing people feeding bread to ducks, geese, and squirrels on campus several times last week and having to bottle up my nearly uncontrollable urge to publicly lecture strangers for what they probably think is harmless fun, I feel compelled make a public service announcement: DO NOT FEED WILD ANIMALS, for the following excellent reasons:

It’s bad for the ANIMALS:

people food is unhealthy for animals and for their surroundings. It’s not nutritionally balanced, and uneaten food can become rotten and contaminate the food/water supply. To pick just two of many many examples: too much bread can cause a fatal nutrient deficiency in ducks, and certainly makes waterways algae- and disease-ridden, and feeding deer corn in the winter actually kills them outright.

Once the human food supply disappears, animals accustomed to (or worse, raised on) human food may be unable to hunt or forage for themselves again, or the incorrect food may have damaged/altered their intestinal microbiome to the extent that they cannot properly digest their natural diet.

It habituates animals to humans, meaning it changes their natural behavioral patterns and causes them to become comfortable with seeing people as a food source instead of a threat. Animals that lose their fear of humans and seek us out as food sources are more likely to get hit by cars, killed by dogs or cats, or entangled in (and injured by) our trash.

you can fuck up natural selection with artificial abundance, by keeping alive individuals that would not have otherwise survived to reproduce (and thus negatively influencing the gene pool), creating population booms larger than can be supported by the natural environment, and thus contributing to the spread of disease (see item 3 in this delightful ‘Feeding Deer: Just Say No’ pdf put out by the government of Indiana) by concentrating large numbers in small spaces.

another bad thing about habituation? in many species, it will lead to aggression. And when those aggressive animals are species which may pose (or be perceived as posing) an actual threat to humans, they will generally be euthanized by animal control or park rangers for the sake of public safety. Even (especially) if they’ve just been ‘cute’ in viral videos, like this unfortunate elk.

And it’s ALSO bad for PEOPLE (and our pets):

Even if the aggressive animal is not like. a bear or an elk or some other big fuck-off megafauna, small and medium-sized animal aggression can be dangerous to humans, especially children or the elderly. (Geese, swans, coyotes, raccoons, or even an angry squirrel can actually do some damage.)

Our cats and dogs can run afoul of animals that see human dwellings as a food source, and be injured by them (or just plain eaten by a coyote or larger predator).

And in some cases, the animals may have diseases or parasites that can spread to humans or pets (see Washington state’s charming ABCs of zoonotic diseases)- rabies is always a concern (especially in raccoons and skunks) and, as everyone knows, is DEADLY if untreated; armadillos carry leprosy (although it’s not super contagious and is highly treatable these days), contact with wild rabbits can lead to ‘rabbit fever’; and most all mammals can carry ticks or fleas, which spread their own host of diseases (including serious ones like Lyme disease (0/10, do not recommend), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tick Paralysis, AND THE FUCKIN PLAGUE, VIA FUCKIN CHIPMUNKS).

In case anyone is wondering? ‘feeding animals’ includes both intentional handouts AND unsecured outdoor trash (or coolers). Get a lid on your compost bins and trash cans, folks!

…And for anyone going “but shiny you hypocrite, YOU have a birdfeeder!” if you keep ‘em clean, inaccessible to mammals, stocked with nutritionally-appropriate seed, and separated from each other, birdfeeders are actually a nice exception to the rule. So for anyone with an uncontrollable urge to feed a wild animal: getting a birdfeeder and watching from a distance is your guilt-free answer. Happy birding!

#geese #deer #feeding ducks #nature #PSA: DO NOT DO THIS #I almost yelled at a lady letting her TODDLER hand-feed WILD GEESE fuckin white bread #but I didn't want to to that in front of the poor kid #this is my hot-button issue though #I mean. one of my hot-button issues. I'm a woman of many angers.#MY POINT is that I HONESTLY thought 'feeding wildlife = BAD' was COMMON KNOWLEDGE #but apparently being raised by a naturalist has skewed my idea of common knowledge #so here is my attempt to spread the knowledge at least a little

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theguardian911 · 8 years ago

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Does Your Dog Have Leaky Gut? The new buzz phrase in your dog is leaky gut syndrome. Sound scary? It is! I’ll tell you why and what you can do about it to regain your dog’s health and happiness. Spreading the word about leaky gut through my own experience is very important to me. I often seem to find myself speaking from what I like to call “a place in the trenches” or “empirical proof“ – but then I’m quickly reminded by my long term animal health team that it more often came from a place of “you just had to figure it out.” Early Experience With Leaky Gut Syndrome I’ve been recommending raw dog food since 1994 and have seen unimaginable health improvements in dogs switched from kibble to a real whole food, species-specific diet. As my practice evolved and years went by, I began to see more and more patients who’d already transitioned to raw food. In the last few years I’ve also started to see more and more dogs suffering from allergies, auto-immune diseases and, of course, cancer. There were many times when I sat at my veterinary clinic long after my clients had gone home, scratching my head about why we were seeing an influx of these diseases when many dogs were on a beautiful raw food diet. Why did some dogs do so well for so long, then all of a sudden start to react with an inflammatory response? Why were some of them okay on a novel protein diet but then had sudden reac-tions to all proteins, including the ones that had tested negative on allergy tests six months prior? Then there were the ones who were allergic to trees, grass, mites and other environmental factors. One day I was geeking out on the physiology of a cat patient that had interstitial cystitis (when the lining of the bladder starts to leak). I realized that if the mu-cosal lining of the bladder can leak, then so can the mucosal lining of the gut. This could explain why all these dogs were over-reacting to so many foods and environmental allergens. We had amazing results treating interstitial cystitis in cats, so I started working on dogs with skin conditions using a similar protocol to the one I came up with for the cats. And it worked! What Is Leaky Gut? Leaky gut syndrome is an increasingly widespread condition in both animals and humans, yet it’s still not well known in the medical community. Leaky gut in dogs is exactly what it sounds like. The delicate intestinal mucosa that lines the gut and allows tiny digested nutrients to pass through to the blood stream can be likened to cheesecloth or a tea strainer. This is how nutrition is assimilated into the body – but this lining also acts as an incredibly important barrier to keep out toxins, pathogens and undigested food particles. The mucosa becomes traumatized and inflamed, causing the junctions (the spaces in the cheesecloth) to become stretched or damaged to the point where they’re no longer able to filter out larger food particles, bacteria and toxins. These substances can now pass through the intestinal wall and make their way into the blood stream and lymphatics. This sets off a series of events in the body, which begins with the liver working over-time to screen out the particles; it has no chance of keeping up with the onslaught, and the pathogens begin to accumulate. The immune system is then triggered to fight the intruders, but it too becomes overwhelmed, leading to particles being absorbed into body tissues. This causes inflammation; but even worse, the immune system can attack these intruders, which can lead to autoimmune disease. The body starts to perceive food as its enemy – the reason we see so many dogs who are allergic or reactive to almost every protein and many vegetables and grains. This leaves little to choose from when it comes to feeding, in addition to the challenges of allergies to grass, pollen and more; but more importantly, and sadly, the result is an animal who’s in a chronic and constant state of inflammation and distress. Causes Of Leaky Gut In Dogs 3 Primary Causes Of Leaky Gut 1. Poor Diet Specifically highly processed, grain based foods containing wheat, rice, spelt and soy, food additives and preservatives; the lectin found in unsprouted grains; sugar; genetically modified foods (GMOs); pasteurized dairy; and meat from stressed factory-farmed animals. 2. Drugs And Other Toxins This category includes the unnecessary use of steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), deworming drugs, flea and tick treatments (many contain pesticides) and antibiotics (leading to an imbalance of healthy gut flora, also known as dysbiosis). 3. Over-vaccination When the body is forced to respond to a vaccine to which it has already established antibodies, this wreaks havoc on the immune system and can cause a number of chronic diseases. Chronic stress or boredom can also influence gut health. Not getting enough exercise or mental stimulation, or being left home alone for long periods, can be a major cause of stress for a pack animal. Stress negatively affects the immune and digestive systems. Why Is Leaky Gut So Scary? It’s because it’s hidden! You can see trauma in a joint by watching your dog limp, or on the skin as a lesion or wound. We treat the trauma … it’s pretty simple. But gut trauma is hidden trauma and we can’t fix what we can’t see! Because it’s left untreated and unhealed, it becomes more chronic and more dangerous to your dog’s overall health. You start to see symptoms that in conventional medicine are diagnosed as a disease or infection. Treatment begins for that disease and the hamster wheel starts spinning. You may see the symptoms disappear but then they return. A recurring ear infection may clear up, but then the dog suffers disorders like hot spots, full blown allergies or hypothyroidism. In many cases this is because the initial trauma causing the disease – leaky gut syndrome – is not healed … because you can’t see it. Leaky gut has been referred to as the “great mimicker,” appearing in the form of many chronic diseases that plague our beloved animals. Examples include (but are not limited to): Diseases of the skin (allergies), thyroid, joints, heart disease, spinal cord, eyes or brain Inﬂammatory bowel disease, interstitial and chronic cystitis, collapsing trachea, laryngeal paralysis, liver, gallbladder and pancreatic disorders. Behavior problems such as aggression and obsessive-compulsive disorders or self-mutilation. Autoimmune disease and nutritional deﬁciencies, which, left untreated, could lead to some forms of cancer because of the chronic inflammation. Your dog’s gut is responsible for more than 70 percent of her immune system and is directly responsible for the absorption of all that amazing food you’re feeding her. With an unhealthy gut, no amount of raw food or nutrients will support her health and longevity, let alone heal something like an allergy. How To Prevent Leaky Gut Help Prevent Leaky Gut With These 5 Steps: Stop feeding processed foods and feed a raw, species appropriate diet. Stop routine vaccinations; instead ask your vet for blood titer tests to measure antibody levels. Get a copy of the results and ask a holistic vet to interpret them, as there are differing opinions on what the results actually mean. Stop using chemical flea and tick products that contain pesticides. Use natural products and protocols with proven success. Stop all drugs where possible. Determine your dog’s source of stress. Make the time to go for longer walks or hire a dog walker or someone to check in on them during the day or even add a playmate. Healing Leaky Gut If your dog has had any of the following drugs or foods, the chances are she has some degree of gut trauma that could use support: Antibiotics Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (many pain and arthritis drugs) Steroids Antihistamines Vaccines Flea and tick treatments Years of dry commercial dog foods Support Gut Healing This natural protocol that supports the healing of your dog’s gut is so helpful and safe for her overall health that even without a diagnosis you can go ahead and follow it for six to eight weeks with any dog. It will serve to support a much healthier digestive system, resulting in a healthier body and happier dog. This is a food protocol and does not include supplements. Kefir Or Raw Live Yogurt Look for products from Jersey cows, goats or use coconut kefir. Give 2 Tbsp daily for an average (30 to 50 lb) size dog Fermented Vegetables Work up slowly to 1 to 3 tsp a day for every 20 pounds of body weight. Bone Broth Ideally, make your broth from wild game like deer, moose and pheasant (they have the healthiest bones) or from ethically raised, free range animals. Bones contain: proline, which tightens and builds cell structure; glycine, which supports the synthesis of collagen (which gives your dog a strong cell structure and supports skin and veins); gelatin, glucosamine and minerals, which are the building blocks of the digestive system. Give 1 Tbsp per day to small dogs, 2 Tbsp for medium, 3 Tbsp for large dogs and 4 Tbsp for giant breeds. Phytoplankton A marine antioxidant superfood, which I recommend using in place of fish oil to provide essential fatty acids like DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), LA (linoleic acid) and LNA (alpha-linolenic acid). Phytoplankton is single celled and the most complete whole food nutrition I’ve ever used. It’s very helpful with leaky gut because its molecule is smaller than a red blood cell and will supply amino acids, micronutrients and protein while your dog’s gut is healing. It’s very important to choose a reputable source that’s non GMO, grown on land and watered with Atlantic ocean water that’s been filtered for heavy metals – and no fillers! If you find a good source, you’ll only need 1/16 to 1/8 of a tsp per day. Coconut Oil Or Hemp Oil Use Coconut Oil or Hemp Oil to supply medium chain fatty acids. They’re also easier to digest than fish oils without the risk of ran-cidity. Make sure your oil is non-GMO, grown without herbicides or pesticides, cold pressed, hexane free, unrefined and unbleached. Give 1 tsp per 10 pounds of body weight but start with ¼ tsp and work up over a two to three week period. I strongly recommend giving supplements only for a limited time and NOT long term, as well as in small amounts, used synergistically to strengthen the body for long term benefit. Be informed and empowered to take the health of your adored pet into your hands!

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calandraacupuncture · 6 years ago

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Ticks & Lyme Disease: How to Avoid & Treatment Options

Lyme disease is on the rise. It is defined as a bacterial disease transmitted by infected ticks. According to the CDC, Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-borne, infectious disease in the United States. Since 1982, the number of reported cases annually has increased 25 fold. Along with the diagnosis of Lyme disease there are five subspecies of Borrelia Burgdorferi, over 100 strains in the US, and 300 strains worldwide. Lyme disease is known to evade the immune system and antibiotic therapy, leading to chronic infections.

How does a person get Lyme Disease?

Being bitten by an infected deer tick, black-legged tick, can cause Lyme Disease. Not all ticks carry the bacterium, and a bite does not always result in Lyme disease developing. They feed primarily on small mammals infected with the bacteria. You are not the only one at risk of contracting Lyme disease. Your cat/dog can be infected as well. Lyme disease can manifest in pets as painful arthritis.

It is impossible to determine by sight which ticks are infected and which ones are not. That is why it is so important to avoid being bit.

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease vary greatly from one person to another depending on what other co-infections are present, and length of time the person has been infected.

Red ring-like (bull’s eye) rash occurs in about 70-80% of cases and begins 3-32 days after the bite.

Rash grows larger over a few days/weeks. Rash is not painful

Fatigue

Chills/fever

Headache

Swollen lymph nodes

Muscle and joint pain

Allergic symptoms to tick saliva: occur after 72 hours, and are not a sign of Lyme disease, bite usually does not expand beyond 2 inches in diameter and will disappear in a few days.

Diagnosis of Lyme disease is sometimes missed in its initial stages because the symptoms are similar to the common cold or mononucleosis. Symptoms can develop days, weeks, months, or even years after the initial bite if the disease is not diagnosed and treated promptly. Delayed symptoms include: fever, severe headache and stiff neck, certain heart irregularities, temporary paralysis of facial muscles, pain with numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, loss of concentration or memory.

What are my treatment options?

Lyme disease can be incredibly difficult to diagnose and treat. Generally, people are treated with antibiotics as soon as it is realized that they have been bit by a tick. Most respond quickly and completely to this treatment protocol. However, there are always situations where it either didn’t work, or was caught too late. In these situations, Lyme disease can be more challenging to address, but there are options.

NAET Allergy Elimination: When people have had Lyme disease for an extended period it can wreak havoc on their body. Creating multiple system dysfunctions. NAET can help to get that system back on track. NAET also works well in combination with other modalities.

Functional Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine

Herbal Medicine

Homeopathic Remedies

How do you avoid getting bit by a tick?

By far the best way to avoid getting Lyme disease is to avoid being bit in the first place. Here are a couple of things suggested by the CDC.

Avoid certain areas

Avoid heavily tick infested areas

Avoid tall grass and weeds

Walk in the center of trails so weeds do not brush against you.

Make sure you keep the grass and weeds around your house trimmed low.

Clothing

Wear light-colored, protective clothing: Long-sleeves, pants, boots/sturdy shoes, and a head covering.

Tuck pants into your socks, and tape off the area where pants and socks meet to prevent ticks from crawling in.

Insect spray

Apply insect repellent containing 10-30% DEET primarily to clothes, and sparingly to exposed skin. Always follow the instructions on the bottle and supervise children application.

The CDC now recognizes that ingredients like Lemon Eucalyptus, which can be found in doTERRA’s TerraShield is an effective way to repel ticks. It must be reapplied every 1-2 hours.

Check yourself & others

Check yourself, friends/family, and pets every two to three hours for ticks.

Oh no! I found a tick!

Most ticks seldom attach quickly and rarely transmit a tickborne disease for 4 or more hours.

Remove tick promptly

Grasp it with a tweezers as close to the skin as possible and gently, but firmly, pull it straight out.

If tweezers are not available:

Grasp the tick with a piece of tissue or cloth or whatever barrier can be used between your fingers and the tick.

Wash the bite area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water and apply antiseptic to the bite site.

Did the mouthparts break off?

Do not become alarmed. Once the mouthparts are removed from the rest of the tick, the tick can no longer transmit the Lyme disease bacteria.

If you would like the tick identified, put it in a small vial of rubbing alcohol and contact your local health department for assistance.

Do Not

Do not burn a tick with a match or cover it with petroleum jelly

Do not use bare hands

Do not twist or jerk the tick

References

Http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/lyme-disease

https://www.cdc.gove/lyme/prev/natural-repellents.html

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/the-pre-travel-consultation/protection-against-mosquitoes-ticks-other-arthropods

http://www.ilads.org/lyme/lyme-quickfacts.php

The post Ticks & Lyme Disease: How to Avoid & Treatment Options appeared first on Calandra Acupuncture in Chicago & Arlington Heights.

from Calandra Acupuncture in Chicago & Arlington Heights http://calandraacupuncture.com/2018/06/ticks-lyme-disease-how-to-avoid-treatment-options-acupuncture-chicago-arlington-heights/

#Calandra Acupuncture in Chicago & Arlington Heights

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drferox · 7 years ago

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20 Questions with Dr Ferox #16

Another round of questions from your Vetlings to round out the week. A few follow up questions from this weeks topics are included, I’ve tried to tag askers, but if you asked on Anon then the onus is on you to see if your answer is in here.

Anonymous said: that thing you said about cats aggression being worse is so true. I've worked with a lot of animals and never had a problem like I have with cats. I love them dearly but even my own cats have gotten me when holding them for the vet. The worst part is not only to they act unpredictable but they have that nasty habit of getting their claws stuck in you! One of my boys got his claw stuck in my hand while I was removing a paralysis tick from him. Not a pleasant experience

Cats are more difficult to handle when aggressive because a larger portion of the animal is weaponised. A dog only has one weapon of note, and it's easier to predict where it's going.

Anonymous said:re the cat spay pain medication, that's interesting! when our cats were speutered (UK) I'm fairly sure the vet sent home some sort of liquid oral anti-inflammatory/painkiller which we administered with a syringe, the same one which they've also given us a couple times when my cat's gotten into fights. can't remember the name though!

Yeah, I would bet it's some brand of meloxicam. It works well, but it's relatively expensive compared to the cost of the spay. I've also had people refuse to give it because they think the animal 'looks fine'. It's one of the pain relief drugs which may last up to three days when given as a loading dose, so we use it commonly, because that way owners can't decline to give their cat it's prescribed medication because they think it doesn't need it.

@8679thehuman said: so i know if my cat drinks my water that i don't drink it because parasites. so what about the opposite? sometimes if I have water i don't want to finish i'll dump it in the cat's water bowl. is there anything i could transmit to them, assuming i'm not sick? thanks so much! tax: came for the fantasy biology, stayed for the not-james-herriot tag!

I hope you have no parasites to share with your cat, but the risks are probably overblown. You're not going to get parasites from sharing water, but bacterial contamination may be another matter. Most parasites from cats are transmitted either via faeces or vomit.

@jarraxitty said: Hey! So this question just randomly came to me a moment ago while I was petting my cat. I've heard a lot of parents, or whatever, say to younger kids that cats will remember what you do to them, to keep their kids from pulling on their tails and such. I was curious how true this actually is. I believe you've said that dogs won't connect the dots unless consequence happens after the act, or something along those lines, but are cats... well, smarter? Thank you, and have a wonderful night!

Animals remember things that happen to them. It's how they learn. What they don't necessarily correlate is two events that happen separate in time, such as urinating in the house and being punished four hours later, or eating a sock and subsequently having surgery.

Anonymous said: Happy story! There's a cat my neighbor lets out at night, and the kitty and I are buddies! If I'm outside he sits in my lap, he purrs loudly when he sees me, and in turn I give him catnip from my garden. I call him Pretty, because he's a pretty kitty and I don't know his name. He knows my porch is a safe porch too!

Pretty is lucky to have somewhere safe to go to, and to have someone looking out for him. I hope he is definitely owned and not just wandering from one house to another.

@brass-tacked said:Hi! I just found your page so I apologize if this has already been asked (I tried searching but didn't find anything). A week ago I took my 14 month old cat, Gryf, in for his yearly check and vaccinations, while there the veterinarian said that Gryf has fairly severe gingivitis but didn't recommend a cleaning yet. He did suggest brushing his teeth (I've been trying since adopting, but Gryf says NO!) I've since heard that raw chicken necks are good for teeth cleaning, any thoughts? Thank you!

They can be useful if the cat actually chews them, though raw chicken should always be handled with respect. Anything with VOHC certification will also be helpful.

@skeletonmug said: hello again! New question - My cat goes outside (enclosed garden, supervised, UK). He's got white fur on his ears and nose and pink skin that shoes through in places. We've had some hot sunny days recently (by UK standards), is it worth it or sensible to put sunscreen on his pink bits or is that overkill? If it is worth it are there cat friendly sun screens or particular chemicals I should avoid when looking?

Avoid zinc, try to use something designed for pets as cats will lick sunscreen off themselves eventually. I don't know the rates of squamous cell carcinomas in the Northern hemisphere, but we have very high UV exposure in Australia so it's a significant issue for us, even on some cloudy days.

@orgy-of-nerdiness said: Hi! I was wondering if you had any resources for explaining cat breeds/the fact that, unlike dogs, most cats aren't part of any breed lineage. I have a DLH and he's very large and fluffy, which leads to the inevitable questions (or assumptions) about being "part Maine Coon." While I don't actually know his background (he's a rescue), I know it's extremely unlikely, but it's been so long since I did the research that I can't remember or figure out what sites to use as sources.

No I don't have a resource to refer people to. I AM the resource most of the time, to say this is not a purebred X though it has some Y features, the stray kitten you rescued in your backyard is unlikely to be a Bengal in any way, it's just a tabby, but you can call it whatever you like if it makes you love it more.

@thevalyrian said: Hello and good evening! Or morning, if it's morning in Australia. I recently asked my vets a question that they were very wishy washy on, and am hoping you might have some more clarity. The situation is that I have two young oriental cats, a short-hair and a long-hair. My apartment unfortunately has very poor air conditioning. What is the highest temperature you think is safe for a long-haired cat? I've done things like turning on fans, adding extra water, and giving them ice, but still worry...

'Safe' will vary by breed, age, weight and general health. Generally about 30 Celsius would be as high as I'd go without some worry, but I'm Australian. If the cats are only used to living around 10 degrees Celsius then 30 will be alarmingly hot. It really does depend on what the animals are used to.

Anonymous said: Do you believe in tortitude? Also if you do do you think it extends to the few male Tortoiseshell cats there are?

Yes, tortitude is a thing. The male tortoiseshell cats I've seen have been a bit odd in one way or another, but I usually see them when they're sick so my assessment may not be accurate.

@neonheart131 said: Hi! I was curious if dog breeds that get chronic ear infections can go deaf because of it? Im asking because i have an elderly (14 yo) english springer who i think has gone deaf or at the very least has severe hearing loss, and wanted to know if it was from his bad ears or just old age.

It's possible, especially if the ear canals are scarred or narrowed, or if the ear drum has been damaged. It is usually not the case though, dogs need to have something we term a 'terminal ear', to go deaf from external ear canal infections, which is when the ear is so scarred up it's basically closed and useless.

Anonymous asked: Do you think drop eared dogs get annoyed when their ears do that flippy over thing?

Maybe, especially the dogs with very heavy drop ears, like certain spaniels. It's another extreme of anatomy that I don't think is desirable, and these dogs are prone to ear infections which encourage them to shake anyway. Some will shake their ears so much they develop haematomas in them.

Anonymous said: Hey! Can I have some advice?? All good if not! So I have a blue heeler just over a year old. Anyway he used to have a pillows and blankets outside but he's ripped them up and I brought him a jacket yesterday because it's been cold in Victoria lately and over night he pulled it off and ripped it up (he sleeps outside mum won't let him sleep inside) do you have any tips of how to stop him from ripping stuff or something that will keep him warm that he can't ruin? He's not getting any other pillow

Unfortunately he may be one of those dogs that just can't have blankets, pillows or jackets without risking him eating them and developing an intestinal obstruction. You may be better off making sure he has shelter from the weather, but nothing within it that he can destroy.

Anonymous: Hello Doctor! How do you feel about guinea pigs? Personally, since I've kept quite a lot of them, they're adorable and well meaning little potatoes who are sensitive and can get sick easily from stress and environmental stuff (like if their cage doesn't get cleaned right away due to forgetfulness or being away).

I think they're underrated pets, though some have a bit of attitude (adorable potato attitude). I would be more inclined to keep guinea pigs than rabbits since we are not permitted to have a myxomatosis vaccine in Australia, and Guinea Pigs are not affected by it. They are generally not treated all that well by the general public though, widely regarding them as cheap and disposable pets.

Anonymous said: What kind of diseases can people get from walking in animal poop? Specifically goat and horse?

You are asking the wrong person for horsey information, but I don't think there are any parasites in those species that will invade human skin, most of those worm species are in carnivores. That said, you can still pick up bacterial infections, just like you can from anything else's poop.

@treebranchs said: hello! im too poor to get my cat spayed at the local vet (it's ~$500) but there is a bus run by PETA that comes once a month, called the "snip van," where many people get their pets fixed for under $100. I will most likely have to use this option but I feel nervous as I don't love PETA and the idea of a mobile surgery room sounds odd to me. I know you are Australian so perhaps they don't have these vans where you live. do you or your followers know if this is a safe way to get a pet spayed? thx

I to would be wary of PETA. There are such things as mobile surgery vans which can be fine for a small animal like a cat, but this will vary from van to van. I would recommend calling your local clinic to ask their opinion on it. In my experience vets haven't been too fussed about where a cat gets desexed, so long as it actually happens, but if they have any concerns about an organisation they might recommend somewhere else instead.

Anonymous said: Q Tax: I just like reading about vet life. My question: What's the BEST surgery aftercare you've seen? What are situations where you've gone in expecting the worse (of the humans) and been pleasantly surprised or relieved?

Honestly, as long as the wound heals aftercare doesn't have to be fancy. When I say 'clean, dry and rested' that's really all we need! When I say 'strict confinement' I don't mean let is go for a 5km run and jump over the couch. There's no need to get fancy as long as the basics are met.

Anonymous said: Hairless dogs and cats typically have "normal" looking snouts. Do hairless brachycephalic dogs or cats exist? What do/would they look like? I don't remember your current question tax but I look up to your blog and want to thank you for running it.

I really don't want to know. Many brachycephalic dogs have fairly short hair, but I don't know of any brachycephalic hairless breeds, and don't want to.

Anonymous said: If for some reason you didn't choose to become a veterinarian what profession do you think you'd have gone into? Personally I think with your love for stegosauruses you would be a great paleontologist.

While I certainly loved biology and genetics, I don't know if there would have been a career for me in those fields. I considered teaching and psychology, but they're not really for me either. I don't think I would be happy enough in either of those professions. Palaeontology seems to have quite a lot of digging, and the few I've met have lamented how much time they unfortunately have to spend convincing people that evolution is a real phenomenon.

Anonymous said: I've been a vet tech for over a year now, and my experience in clinic hasn't always been great - I've worked for some vets who treated their employees terribly, and other techs who went out of their way to gossip and try to make trouble for me. Sometimes I get disillusioned with this career. But then I think about all the awesome work you do, and the compassion with which you reach out to others, and realize there ARE great people in this field. So thank you.

Our field contains the gambit of human experience, but perhaps the one feature that unites most of us is this:

We all liked animals more than people.

For some of us, we learn to get along. Some of us have more difficulty, but there are all sorts of people in the veterinary industry. You just have to find the good ones and hang onto them like a lonely koala.

#20 questions

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drferox · 7 years ago

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20 Questions with Dr Ferox #9

Here we go again vetlings. It’s been a busy week.

Anonymous asked: Do you have a list of breeds that have been asked of you but you have not yet replied to? It might be useful because tumblr eats things

No I don’t have a published list of unanswered breed requests. It would be a pain to keep up to date, and there are 27 breeds waiting at the moment so I’m not desperate to expand that list.

I haven’t made a list of breeds that I have answered either, for much the same reason.

@ridragon asked: can people get cherry eye or is it just a dog and cat thing?

Humans can prolapse their tear glands, though it doesn’t seem to be all that common.

Anonymous said: I noticed you talked about what could cause a cat to be fat but you didn't mention them getting fatter after being fixed? Our vet told us it was just hormones when she sorta "blew up" (got really fat) after we got her fixed and she's still fat to this day (its been like 6 years) she's not obese though.

‘Being desexed’ on its own doesn’t cause weight gain. It does reduce the resting energy requirements of a dog or cat by approximately 10%, so if an animal is gaining weight after desexing it is because they are continuing to be fed too much.

As many animals are desexed around 6 months of age when their growth slows down, many people simply don’t adjust the way they feed their pets and choose to blame surgery instead. I can assure you remaining entire doesn’t protect pets form obesity.

@amber-cara asked: do you have the same problems with tick-borne diseases as the US does? Like Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia, etc

They are not something I worry about, and have to look these diseases up every time they’re discussed, because they’re just not relevant to me in practice. There a few tick borne diseases up north, but that’s a continent away from me. It’s the paralysis I have to worry about down here.

Anonymous said: hey! so my family has a cat we got as a rescue, a sort of... strangely shaped kitten too young to be away from its mother. two years later i'm awake at 4:30am and stumbled across your blog, so i came to ask about him. basically he's got what i believe our vet said was a detached sternum? sometimes when you pick him up you can feel a little nub of bone sticking out. i'm wondering if you know anything about this & the health impacts it might have on him?

I’m not clear exactly what you mean by a detached sternum. If you mean a prominent xyphoid process then it’s unlikely to impact their life. However there are other conditions which reduce the volume of the thorax (flat chested kittens, pectus excavatum) that will severely impact their life.

Anonymous asked: Hi, love your blog! Is it common in older cats (10+ years) to lose their fur? I can't tell if my cat is tearing her own fur out or if it's just falling out. Her mother had the same issue, though not as bad. I'm a college student and work part time, so I don't have a lot of money. If the fur issue isn't related to age, then I'll work to get some money for a vet visit. But I'd like to know if it's that serious beforehand. Please don't think I'm a bad pet owner, I'm just broke.

Unfortunately I can’t tell what’s going on over the internet, but it’s not normal for cats to just lose their fur. The first thing I’d do though is make sure your cat has adequate flea control.

Anonymous asked: I wanted to be a vet tech but I had to put off my education for several years because of debilitating health issues. I'm in my mid twenties now but still hopeful I can pursue this someday and learning all that I can on my own. But I've always wondered, do vets even want techs who had to delay their formal education for so long?

I don’t see why we’d care terribly much as long as your knowledge is current. It’s more of a concern on a resume if there’s a long period of time with no activity, because that can suggest somebody that’s had trouble as a strong of workplaces and doesn’t want to list them. If there’s a good reason (i.e. not problems at work) it’s not that big a deal how long it took you to train.

Anonymous said: Hi! I can't believe I found an aussie vet blog! Sorry if this has already been asked but, what advice would you give to a young person considering studying to become a vet nurse?

If you’re only considering study at this tie, go get work experience. Go see what it’s like. Talk to nurses, especially the older nurses. Talk about wages and earning potential, even if you don’t want to at this stage because that’s the main reason people stop being vet nurses.

But other than that I have no experience myself being a vet nurse, so I say go talk to some.

Anonymous asked: Are there any good topical pain relief sprays for animals, for after they've had a wound professionally treated, so that they can be in less pain while they heal?

Not really, I think there’s only one on the market, and that’s for sheep. Topical treatments only penetrate a few millimeters through the skin anyway, so our patients are generally better off with systemic pain relief (tablets injection).

Anonymous said: my mother keeps saying it's not worth to take my rat to the vet if they can't cure his mycoplasma :/ We already went once and got a round of Baytril for two weeks but it's back again and I just don't know what to do :( She says it's impossible to live if antibiotics because it will cause kidney failure ???

We can’t cure diabetes either but recommend these patients come in for treatment.

We can’t sure arthritis but still prescribe treatment because it improves their lives.

Something is going to be the cause of death for your rat in the future, whether that’s respiratory disease now or kidney failure in the future. Every treatment we utilize has side effects, but we use the because we judge that action worthwhile. Personally it sounds like your mother just doesn’t want to spend money on a rat.

Anonymous said: I've heard some people say that the adhesive used with some plastic cat claw caps can be toxic if ingested and that there is a risk of kitties accidentally eating one and getting sick. Do you know anything about this?

To my knowledge the soft paws adhesive is safe. The caps are so small they’re unlikely to cause an obstruction, but might be a little uncomfortable if pooped out.

These concerns would still not be a valid reason for considering surgical declawing of a cat.

Anonymous said: As my cat has aged he's not been playing as much. He doesn't have any weight problems and he still plays and jogs around some but he doesn't chase toys he used to love as much as he did before and he doesn't play for as long. He's a neutered indoor cat and we have a somewhat small apartment so I'm a bit concerned about him putting on weight as he continues to age. Is there anything I should be doing to make sure he gets enough exercise?

If you cat is not currently gaining weight they he’s probably getting enough exercise for his food intake, and if his weight is stable I wouldn’t worry too much about it. You can’t force a cat to exercise like you would a dog. I would be more interested in why he doesn’t want to play as much, and would wonder about arthritis.

Anonymous said: Hello! First, I wanted to thank you for doing the Rhodesian Ridgeback post! I really enjoyed all of the info, and I think it's great to know about the breed before you adopt. So I was wondering if it's common for dogs to be allergic to a lot of things (mine is basically allergic to everything) or if that's just depending on the dog (like some humans have allergies and some don't). Thank you! Also, how was your day? I hope it wasn't too stressful or anything.

Once a dog (or cat, or human) has one allergy it’s common for them to develop multiple allergies over time. Also if one animal has an allergy, their relatives are more likely to have allergies, though not necessarily to the same things.

Work has been busy and hectic, but home life is not too bad.

@a-floral-ghost asked: Hi there. I'm not sure if this is something you can legally give advice about, but my dog has bad knees and is on cosequin for it, which completely manages his pain but he's dependent on taking them every day to stay free of pain. Surgery would fix his problem and remove the need for medication, but is much more expensive. I've heard cosequin can cause harmful side effects if taken for too long and that worries me, but the surgery will be hard to afford. Do you have any advice?

If we’re both talking about cosequin the joint supplement which is mostly glucosamine and chondriotin, then it’s pretty low risk of side effects, even if taken for years. Dogs do need to stay on it every day to benefit from it, but the risk of side effects is very low. Low enough for it to be an over the counter medication and not prescription.

Anonymous said: My dog, a shih tzu/Russell terrier mix, has a really prominent underbite. Is this going to hurt him in any way? Should I be doing anything extra for him? Thanks so much <3

Depends how severe it is. There may be minimal difference in a mild case, but dogs sometimes have trouble chewing things like bones and may be more prone to dental disease. If you can brush his teeth that would be gold standard.

@orangecinnamonrooibos asked: Weird cat nipple ask - My male tabby has 3 extra nipples (confirmed by at least 2 vets). He has an extra on his belly near his normal ones, one on the front of his shoulder closer to his neck and one on the back of his neck. With each new or emergency vet I take him to I point them out - one even refused to believe me and ended up shaving the one on his neck to double check (yeup it's still a nipple). Is it really that uncommon?

It’s very uncommon to find extra nipples outside of where the mammary chain usually runs (chest to groin). The one on the back of the neck is especially unusual.

@clowderofcloudies aksed: Would you rather spend a year in a space station or a year in a deep sea submarine? (Assuming that both options have equal area and window space)

Depends on where I get to look at more organisms I haven’t encountered before. I get bored easily.

But why not a deep sea submarine in space?

@rabid-dragoness asked: Into any comic book heroes or stories? Marvel or DC? (Or something else??)

While I enjoy them in principle I’m not really into either at the moment. I have been a long term fan of the webcomics Order of the Stick and I’m hooked on Erfworld at the moment.

@ sketchywyvern said: Trash Bag is beautiful and I love him.

Trash Bag is a small menace and he knows what the internet thinks of him.

@ firebird766-blog said: Trash Bag is adorable. Does he scream at you if you don't feed him promptly enough in the morning?

Not yet, thank goodness. He has tiny little question mews but has not learned to scream like Wonka, who is deaf.

As soon as he learns to cry for food he’s not getting breakfast any more, and will go down to one feed a day. Crying for food two hours before it’s due is not welcome at 5am, from anybody.

#veterinarian #20 questions

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