Relaxed Cedar: Got Fleas? How to Spot and Care For Fleas on Your Dog. For Sale By Owner: The Inside Scoop On Selling Your Own Home.

Your poor pooch is scratching himself all over. Plus, you know he's uncomfortable because he's whimpering and gnawing too. Chances are, he's got fleas. These little sixlegged parasites will wreak havoc and mayhem for you and your pet if you don't learn how to take care of the problem now.

Most fleas are known in the medical world as Ctenocephalides Felis, which is a species of cat flea that has really enjoys dog meat. It's ironic, but true. These little buggers have four stages to their life-egg-larva-pupa-adult-and it's your job to kill them all off or you're going to have big problems with these tiny insects.

Fleas thrive in warm, humid and low altitude areas. Female fleas are the one's that need your puppy or dog's blood in order to lay her eggs, and their most likely the ones that are aggravating your pooch the most. However, male fleas also do their fair share of bloodletting on your doggie's skin. If you live in a warmer climate (southern US states or Hawaii), you should treat your dog for fleas year-round.

There are many ways to check to see if you puppy or dog has fleas. As mentioned above, they may scratch, bite or whimper, but many dogs won't react at all. It simply depends upon their skin type and if they have an allergic reaction to the flea's salvia residue, and not the actual bite. If your dog is allergic to fleas and/or their bites, you'll know it.

It's called Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD), and the dog may develop a rash or even lose hair. Fleas also spread tapeworms and have been known in extreme, but not rare, cases to cause your dog (or especially puppies) anemia. To check for fleas yourself, simply brush up your puppy or dog's coat and look for the insects hopping around. If you can't see them for yourself, try using a magnifying glass under good light. Keep in mind that fleas don't necessarily live on your dog. So, you may have to check for small flea feces or eggs, which are brown and/or red.

If you notice fleas, there are some things that you must do. You may want to talk or visit with your vet before starting your own flea-battling regimen. First, let's take care of the puppy or dog. Use gentle flea and tick shampoo. Wash and soak thoroughly. The shampoo will rid your dog's skin of any eggs, larvae or flea feces. When dry, you may want to use some flea powder on your dog. But first, test a spot to make sure that it doesn't burn or irritate your dog's skin. Second, wash the puppy or dog's sleeping area (which you should do once a week anyway). Use a pyrethrin-based product or an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) or Insect Developmental Inhibitor (IDI) on his sleeping area. Try using a monthly dosage product proven to help battle against fleas. If your dog still has discomfort, use a dermatological mist and/or try an antihistamine tablet. Keep your dog from running all over the house. He should remain somewhat quarantined as to not roll around on or become infected with any more fleas.

Finally, it's time to take care of the environment that the fleas thrive in, your home. First, experts say that vacuuming the infected area will help substantially. Be sure to empty and change the vacuum bag each time. Then, you can use an IGR or IDI product throughout your home. Better yet, use a canned fogger in your home and spray in all the hard-toreach areas. Then, vacuum thoroughly again. You can also treat the grass in your yard against fleas. It's a full-fledged battle against an almost invisible enemy. You can win it, and you must for you and your dog's sanity.

About the Author:
Tina Spriggs is an expert dog lover whose lifelong interest in canines provides the motivation for her site. To learn more about dogs or to find gifts and toys for them visit her site at Dog Gifts and Toys for Dog Lovers.

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

If you're thinking about selling your home perhaps the &for sale by owner' signs posted on neighborhood lawns have intrigued you. When you browse the newspaper

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listings you see ad after ad boasting &for sale by owner' as an added incentive for buyers and you envy the owners that are confident enough to try it.

There is plenty of money in real estate and who wants to split the profits with an agent? You have to ask yourself the question &Should I try to sell my own home?'

Before you stick the black and orange &for sale by owner' sign on your front lawn here's a few questions you need to answer...

"Do I have time to sell my own home?"

You guessed it - a lot of the money you are paying your real estate agent pays for their time. When a prospective client is motivated the real estate agent is available to take the call, show the home and follow up the interest. It is vitally important to be available when an interested buyer is ready to act.

If you want to keep your cash then be prepared to handle calls in the middle of supper or even the occasional drive-by visitor. Knowing you're saving a few thousand dollars can make this little more than a tolerable distraction.

"Do I have the skills to sell my home?"

Not everyone is a born salesperson, but that doesn't mean you can't learn. If you find the challenge exciting rather than overwhelming you've got what it takes to pick up a few pointers and sell your home.

You'll also have to develop a keen eye for creating appealing ads and learning where to advertise. With the increase in &for sale by owner' websites you can have your listing made available to a wide audience along with your newspaper listing.

"What do I need to know about handling the sale?"

All the information you need can easily be found in a book or you might ask someone who has successfully sold their own home. Looking for appropriate legal advice is not only necessary but will also help make the process run smoothly.

If you have an interest in selling your own home be prepared for real estate agents to contact you and try to convince you that you're missing out on opportunities that only they can provide. Make it your aim to do a little research, know your market and strategy and you can handle this just fine - and keep your profits for your hard work!

Shannon Emmanuel is a freelance researcher and writer.