If you love taking your pet along when you travel, you are not alone. Millions of responsible, loving pet parents do the same world over. So, whether it is a long weekend, a couple of weeks, or a longer vacation that you are planning, this practical guide to pet-friendly travel is sure to be of help. Read on. The decision First, you have to decide whether your pet is capable of traveling with you. Consider the following: its species, age, and health condition. Also, ponder over whether they enjoy traveling, or are they the anxious kind. The destination Deciding on a pet-friendly destination will take some time and effort, but is well worth it. Ensuring that your four-legged friend is not left behind anywhere during your travels is important, and for that to happen, your research now is crucial. Look up destinations that have activities and sights not just for you, but for your pets too. The idea of taking them on the holiday with you is so they are not separated from you right? So, go the whole way. The travel Now comes the actual travel part. Whatever means of transport you are planning to use, car, boat, train, bus, or airplane, being prepared for it makes sense.

Besides loving the company of cats, if you enjoy having plants around your house, then you must learn to identify the following houseplants that are toxic for cats. Steer clear of the following ones: Amaryllis Also known as Saint Joseph lily, the Amaryllis is quite dangerous for cats. The bulb especially, and also the flowers, stems, and leaves to a certain extent, contain lycorine, a crystalline alkaloid that is poisonous if ingested. Gastrointestinal problems like pain in the abdominal region, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, a loss of appetite, and excessive drooling are the main symptoms of Amaryllis poisoning in cats. Asparagus Fern Also known as the Emerald fern or Lace fern, this is a mildly toxic houseplant. Used as a decorative plant suspended from hanging pots inside the house, or as a ground cover in gardens, the Asparagus Fern can be harmful to cats. Any physical contact with the plant, its leaves, or the ingestion of its berries can be poisonous. Toxic chemicals called saponins are present in the leaves of the Asparagus Fern. This can cause swelling of the skin and sometimes may even lead to blisters when cats rub against them. Other symptoms of poisoning from this houseplant are diarrhea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal issues.

If you are a proud and happy dog owner, you know that keeping your furry friend clean is no easy task. Dogs like to roll around everywhere, on plush carpets and rugs, on grass, and sometimes even on the garage floor. And no wonder, his hair and all the dirt, ticks, and fleas that are on him are dispersed everywhere. You wouldn’t want that happening. So, though you may be unable to prevent your dog from rolling on the ground and putting his feet in the air, what you can do is keep his fur and skin clean. Here are 7 easy home remedies to get rid of fleas and ticks in dogs. Apple Cider Vinegar This is one valuable multi-purpose liquid. In the ratio 1:1, mix apple cider vinegar and water, and fill a spray bottle with this. Take your pooch outside the house, spray this solution generously over his fur making sure it reaches his skin. Allow him to play around, and before letting him back into the house, give him a good brushing. This will make sure all the fleas and ticks that hide in his fur fall off because cider vinegar repels fleas. Lemon Depending on how big your dog is, and how much hair he has, squeeze a couple of lemons into a bowl, add some water to this along with a teaspoon of regular dog shampoo.

One may know that apart from their aroma, essential oils also provide health benefits. These plant extracted compounds, when used correctly in a diluted form, for inhalation or external application, are good for well-being not just for humans, but for our animal friends too. Moderate amounts of essential oils can be used as a holistic natural remedy for many purposes but here are three factors for you to consider before you use them intentionally for your pets. Neat oils can be toxic Neat essential oils are a concentrated form of essential oils. Strong, and more potent obviously, but neat oils are equally dangerous too. In nature, essential oils are produced by plants in extremely tiny amounts for their own use, sometimes for reproduction, and at times for protection, to thwart predators from destroying them. Humans manufacture and market essential oils in highly concentrated forms for the sake of convenience, not realizing they are highly potent and can be lethal too. Unless prescribed by qualified doctors for therapeutic purposes, essential oils must not be administered orally to your pets, and certainly not in an undiluted form. Doing so might result in their toxic accumulation in the body and cause tissue damage, and severely harm their kidneys and liver too.

It is a well-known fact that almost one in five deaths is caused due to smoking cigarettes. The top three diseases that you can get if you are a smoker are lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking is also related to various other cancers, diabetes, osteoporosis, problems during pregnancy, stomach ulcers, and even gum disease. Many people who are chronic smokers may have difficulties when it comes to smoking, and they may need all the help that they can get. There are a few effective ways of smoking cessation, which we are going to take a look at: Nicotine replacement: When combined with counseling, nicotine replacement increases your chances of smoking cessation. Nicotine replacement not only helps with withdrawal symptoms but also with cravings that are associated with smoking. Nicotine replacement is available either over-the-counter or as a prescription which includes patches, gum, nasal spray, inhaler, and lozenges. If you are a smoker who smokes more than ten cigarettes a day, then you will need to use the highest dose patch that is available, which is the 21mg patch. Nicotine is delivered right into your skin by this patch for 24 hours; it can be removed at bedtime.