Got Lice??

True story: this weekend I found out that I had been exposed to lice.  That’s right, itchy, creepy, crawly, I-don’t-want-to-cut-off-all-my-hair LICE.  Thankfully, I ended up being lice free (thanks in part to the tea tree oil spray that I use as part of my regular hair car routine!) but I did learn a few things from the experience that I thought I’d share.

 

 

Things I learned:

1. There is a lice epidemic going on right now of epic proportions

2. If you have kids, know kids or work with kids, chances are you have been exposed to lice

3. It takes 3-4 weeks for nits (lice eggs) to hatch and mature into adults so you can be walking around with and spreading nits and not even know it.

4. There are companies out there, such as The Lice People, who specialize in helping you dealing with these pesky critters.

5. As with most things in life, the best defense is a good offense.  Preventative sprays containing mint and/or tea tree oil can make your scalp less attractive to pesky critters such as lice.

Pets and lice:

As the good pet parent that I am, my first thought after learning of my exposure immediately turned to my pets.  Can they catch lice from me?  Could I have caught lice from them?  And most importantly, how do I go about ridding my household of these creepy crawlers?

The good news is that lice are highly species specific.  That means that the species of lice that feed on human blood WILL NOT feed on the blood of dogs or cats.  Conversely, dog lice (which are rare) will only feed on dogs and cat lice (also rare) will only feed on cats.  So if you or your family ends up dealing with a lice infestation you can rest assured that your pets are safe.

You’ve got lice – now what?

Years ago finding out that you had lice was socially and emotionally devastating.  Not only did it mean a trip to the barber to get your lovely locks hacked off but it also meant the social stigma associated with these parasitic creatures.

Thankfully, nowadays, dealing with lice is much simpler thanks to companies such as The Lice People, which is where I headed as soon as I learned of my exposure.  For just $20 the Lice People will go through your head with a special comb and check for nits and adult lice.  If anything is found they will systematically go over your hair, strand-by-strand, and remove every nit and adult so that when you leave you are completely lice-free.

They also provide you with a handy checklist of do’s and don’ts so you can get your house lice-free with as little hassle and panic as possible.

All in all I have to say that my lice experience, though stressful, was not as bad as it could have been thanks to the friendly and knowledgeable staff at The Lice People.  Not only did Lee (that’s the women who checked me out) provide me with loads of helpful tips and information, she made me feel at ease and took what could have been a disastrous situation and made it much less painful.

Common Sense Cleaning Tips from The Lice People:

1. Change sheets on any bed the infested person may have slept in during the last 24 hours.  Wash and dry in HOT temperatures.

2. Throw comforters and bedspreads into the dryer for 30 minutes on high heat.  If that is not possible, place the bedding into garbage bags and isolate them for 24-48 hours.  Lice cannot live long without access to human blood and will quickly die when cut off from their food supply.

3. Combs, brushes and hair ties used in the last 24 hours by the infested person can be cleaned by any of the following methods:

– Place in alcohol, ammonia or dish detergent and allow to soak for at least 2 hours

– Put into boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes

– Put in a Ziploc bag and place in the freezer overnight

– Place in your dishwasher on hot cycle

– Don’t use them for 24 hours

4. Run a light vacuum over the areas where the infested person visits frequently.  Alternatively you can throw a sheet over the areas for 24 hours or just don’t go to those places of your house.  Again, lice cannot live long without access to your blood and will quickly die when no human host is available.

5. If the infested person sleeps with any stuffed animals or toys be sure to throw them into a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes

6. Be a friend and TELL A FRIEND!  (*** I was shocked to learn that many parents will hide their children’s lice infestation in order to avoid any backlash from other parents or their kid’s school.  This not only perpetuates the stigma of lice being something that should be hidden but also puts your children at risk of re-infestation)

7. Make head checks part of your weekly routine

8. Use a mint or tea tree oil based shampoo or spray to keep your head lice free.  Comb with a lice comb once or twice a week and watch for signs of lice

If you or someone you know has been exposed to lice please feel free to contact:

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Your Dog’s Immune Function: How to Help Build a Strong Foundation

 

Oximunol Chewable Tablets are a new kind of pet supplement that supports immune function leading to improvements in mobility, skin/coat and overall health.

To date, over 2,000 dogs are enjoying the benefits of supplementation with Oximunol Chewable Tablets. 

And while the response has been great, it’s left many pet parents scratching their heads wondering how such a tiny little tablet can have such a positive impact on their pet’s skin/coat quality, shedding and mobility.

 

Supporting immune function is key to your dog’s optimum health!

The strength of a structure depends heavily on the strength of the foundation upon which it is built. Even a seemingly insignificant flaw can have disastrous consequences, compromising the structural integrity and putting the structure at risk of tumbling down.

In organisms, such as companion animals and humans, the structural integrity of the body is heavily dependent on the proper functioning of the immune system. A poorly functioning immune system not only puts the organism at risk for major disease, but also creates a situation where the body is unable to properly control inflammation.

 

Believe it or not inflammation is critical to survivial

The inflammatory process is a complex and protective biological response aimed at ridding the body of harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, and initiating the healing process.

Though inconvenient at times, the inflammatory process is critical to survival; without inflammation wounds and infections would never heal.

 

When inflammation runs amok the results can be disastrous – but you can help your dog regain control

When everything is functioning optimally, the inflammatory response is able to do its job effectively and protect the body.  However, sometimes it happens that the very system that protects the body can become its worst enemy.

So what causes the inflammatory response to go out of control and what can you do to prevent it?

The truth is that we’re just starting to learn about the biological significance of this system and it’s effects on overall health. What we do know is that stress is the body’s worst enemy, compromising immune function and jeopardizing health and wellbeing.

 

Newsflash: Stress is bad – even for our canine companions!

Anything that the body encounters that forces it to work beyond its normal capacity can be considered stress. This includes not only psychological factors but physical ones as well.

Obesity is, by far, the number one stress that our pets are subjected to and the consequences of those few extra pounds can be devastating. Add to that environmental pollutants and dietary deficiencies and you have the perfect recipe for deficient immunity.

While physiological stress can be difficult to avoid (you can’t exactly stop your pet from breathing polluted air) you can help ensure your pets health and wellbeing by doing your best to help strengthen their immune system. That means encouraging a healthy body mass index and feeding a healthy and balanced diet.

But even the best laid plans can go astray which is why it’s important to look to other ways to help your pet’s immune system stay strong and healthy.

And that’s where Oximunol™ Chewables come in. 

 

Oximunol™ Chewables support your dog’s immune system to keep it functioning optimally

Oximunol™ Chewables have been shown to support the immune system leading to an improvement in overall health and a reduction in the inflammation associated with skin/coat and mobility issues such as arthritis and allergic dermatitis.

With less energy being wasted on attacking healthy tissue, the body is able to more effectively utilize nutrients and energy leading to increased enjoyment in daily activities such as walking and playing.

 

Young, healthy pets can benefit from Oximunol™ Chewables too! 

A healthy pet that takes the supplement will not exhibit any outward signs of improvement but rest assured that on a cellular level the immune system is primed and ready to spring into action at the first sign of trouble.

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