Monday, August 29, 2011

How to Quickly Clear Your Cat's Stuffy Nose




Did your kitty catch a cold? You can help her breathe more easily with saline nose drops. You can either request prescription from the vet, or prepare the saline drops yourself. Below is a quick guide to preparing saline drops for your cat.

You will need:
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1 cup of room temperature water
  • dropper
Here’s how:

1. With the dropper in one hand, tip your cat’s head back with the other.

2. Place a drop or two in each nostril. Keep her head elevated for a minute to give the liquid time to work.

3. Repeat twice a day, or until your cat appears to be breathing more easily.

Why do saline drops work?

The saline drops thin sticky mucus so your cat’s nose can drain more easily.

Don't feel like making your own? Try the HomeoPet Feline Nose Relief.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Choosing Maternity Tops

Every pregnant woman must choose maternity tops that fit her lifestyle or work demands.  The physical changes that occur during pregnancy require utmost consideration.  Here are some tips to help you choose good maternity tops.

Go Light and Loose
During pregnancy, a woman’s body tends to overheat even on a relatively cool temperature. Go for lightweight and loose blouses.  Many maternity shops sell blouses that are cool and comfortable.  Choose a fabric that allows air to come in.  Try not to wear anything dark, skimpy, or too clingy.


Choose Varied Styles
Maternity tops come in different styles and cuts: trapeze shapes, A-line cuts, and tunic length.  Wearing various maternity tops can make you appreciate your body despite the huge bump.  On cooler days, wear dark blouses with low necklines. (Yes! You can show off some cleavage there.)  On warmer days, choose light colored cotton blouses.


Dress to Impress Yourself
Do you want to appear slender while pregnant? Vests make you look slim and add vertical lines to an outfit.  If you wish to show off your body curves instead, choose empire-waist styles with high waistline.

Wear maternity tops with a collar that will accentuate your collarbones, like a scoop neck, boat, or V-neck.  Pairing these with a blazer will make your neck appear long and lean.

When choosing maternity tops, keep in mind the words “comfort” and “style”.  Doing so will make it easier for you to get the right kind of shirts and blouses during your pregnancy.

Basic Facts about Handicap Showers

Are you looking for handicap showers to accommodate yourself or someone you care for? Thanks to advancement in technology, handicap products—including handicap showers—are now easy to purchase. When shopping for this type of shower, think about the ones that are used in nursing homes, adult foster care homes, etc.  This may help you find the kind of handicap shower suitable for your home.

How are handicap showers used?

People who have limited movement due to illness or a certain condition may be able to bathe with the help of a handicap shower. An elderly person or a sick patient may lie down on a shower bed rather than sit up or hold on to a railing. This kind of relaxed bathing encourages the person to bathe more often because it significantly reduces stress and effort.   

The handicap showers are especially made for shower chairs and beds, making it easier to put the person in and out of the showers. The showers do not have any bumps; they are just like a bathroom floor that has a drain for the water.

Like all showers, you have to watch for water under your feet. There is a non-slip surface on the floor of the shower so no one should fall. Most times, if you are careful the patient is fine, yet in few cases the patient may slip and fall. In this case, seek medical care immediately.

How does a handicap shower look like?

The primary aim of a handicap shower is to save time when showering.  Therefore, everything you need must be readily at hand. The setup appears like a complete bathroom.  Its showers are large, and it has a soap dispenser which you attach on the wall.  The dispenser can also be used to store shampoo.  The setup is large enough so that the caregiver can stand in the shower without getting wet.

Most handicap showers are built on brick tiles, although some are made of fiberglass.  You can get handheld showerheads to complement your handicap shower.  Choices of seat mounts and grab bars are also available for pre-installed units.  For additional comfort and ease, you may want to combine handicap tubs and shower.

Where to Buy Handicap Showers

Handicap showers can be bought at medical stores or any home and furniture store that offers handicap products.  A good number of selections and styles are also available on the internet.

Care and Maintenance

Maintaining your handicap shower is the same as maintaining any other shower.  Clean the shower with mildew and mold cleaners.  Because showers produce moisture, the important thing is to keep mildew and mold away.  Use long brushes to clean hard spots and above the shower head.