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| © shoutingforha |
I've talked about our loveable mutt, Brick, quite a bit here on the old blog. One thing I haven't told you is that the beast's ears are prone to growing that smelly, black funk that is associated with doggie ear infections.
Our veterinarian isn't sure why Brick's ears are so susceptible to yeast infections. Most likely it's a combination of an unknown allergy (one that can only be diagnosed with high-dollar blood tests) and the likelihood that one of the dogs in his mysterious gene pool had some wacky ears.
During Brick's early years, I would drag the poor dog into the vet's office every time his ears became gunky. The solution was always the same - an expensive and ridiculously tiny bottle of Mometamax. Unfortunately the drops never worked and it would usually take two or three treatments to kill the infection once and for all.
At one point, the infection was so severe that the insides of poor Brick's ears had become red and raw. It was obvious that my poor dog was in pain. In an effort to ease his suffering I decided to try and clean some of the black gunk from his ears.
I armed myself with three things... A bottle of witch hazel, some Q-tips and a few wet wipes. Witch hazel seemed like a good choice because I knew it wouldn't sting Brick's sores and it's anti-inflamitory properties certainly wouldn't hurt.
I poured a little witch hazel into a dish and placed the ends of a small handful of Q-tips in to soak. I began by taking one of the wet wipes and tried to gently wipe away some of the goop inside Brick's ears.
Next, I tackled the maze of nooks and crannies that make up my dog's outer ear canal. Dogs have some crazy ears! Using one of the witch hazel soaked Q-tips I would gently clean each crevice, being careful to get a clean swab any time one became visibly dirty.
It was tedious work but I was surprised by how quickly the skin changed from an angry red to a healthy pink color just by removing the gunk. Once Brick's ears were sufficiently cleaned, I used another wet wipe to give his ears one last wipe. I repeated this process daily until any sores or signs of redness were completely gone.
To my surprise, Brick seemed to enjoy having his ears cleaned and the infection didn't come back within a few days like it did with the medication. In fact, his ears stayed healthy and yeast-free for several months.
I use witch hazel to clean Brick's ears on a as-needed basis. The telltale sign that some ear funk might be brewing is a sudden increase in scratching. As soon as I notice that back paw clawing away at an ear I know it's time to break out my tried and true home remedy.
If your dog suffers with occasional or even severe ear infections, I hope you will give witch hazel a try. It might just be the solution you've been looking for.
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I am not a veterinarian and I make no promises or guarantees that this treatment will work on your pet. I am simply sharing something that has helped my dog in the hopes that it might help yours as well.
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This post is part of Works For Me Wednesday over at We Are THAT Family. Pop by for some more handy tips.
Chiggers. One mention of the word is likely to fill southerners with dread. The itch of their bite is so intense that it can only be described as torture.
For those of you who aren't familiar with these evil little creatures, a chigger is a small mite that lives in tall grass or shrubs in damp or humid areas, a.k.a the south. During their larva stage, they leap onto humans or animals and feast on the liquid in the skin cells. Gross, right?
Unfortunately for us humans, the chiggers are so small that they can't be seen with the naked eye and a person won't know that they've been bitten until the itchy welt appears. They frequently congregate in the damp (sweaty) areas on the body: armpits, under waistbands or bra straps, groin and inside socks.
I had my first chigger encounter just weeks after moving to Nashville in 1994. Being the Colorado girl that I am, I foolishly assumed that the bites on my ankles were from a pesky mosquito. I applied a little cortisone cream and went about my business. The only problem was that the cream did little to stop the insane itch. I lost sleep and scratched my ankles until they bled.
One day as I was strolling the aisles of my neighborhood grocery store, a kind old lady noticed my plight. She explained to me who the real culprits were and suggested that I paint the chigger bites with nail polish. This seals the bites from the air thus reducing the itch. It helped a little, but I was still miserable for weeks.
Last week, the boy and I found ourselves in an area that unbeknownst to us was infested with chiggers. While the boy's bites were located all over his body, mine seemed to be clustered on the backs of my knees and in my groin. I was thrilled because nothing is more horrifying than the sight of a 39-year-old woman frantically scratching her crotch.
I took handfuls of Benadryl and tried applying calamine lotion, nail polish and the prescription cortisone cream that my doctor prescribed for my last bout of poison ivy. Nothing worked. Then a friend suggested I try something a little different...
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| © shoutingforha |
...Anbesol (I bought the generic version). A little dab of the magical liquid seemed to numb the nerves and provide almost instant relief from the itching. I plan on keeping a bottle in my medicine cabinet in the event that I have another unfortunate encounter with chiggers.
If you find yourself plagues with bug bites that just won't stop itching, give Anbesol a try. It just might provide the relief that your skin so desperately desires.
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This post is part of Works For Me Wednesday over at We Are THAT Family. Pop by for some more handy tips.
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| © shoutingforha |
While I have never been a huge fan of taking over-the-counter medicine, the birth of my son sparked a desire to find alternative treatments for common, everyday ailments. A wonderful resource that I stumbled across was Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child, by Valerie Ann Worwood.
This book is an indispensable guide when it comes to the proper use of essential oils and their uses, especially as it applies to children. Valerie's other book, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, provides countless information on the use of oils to "create health, beauty and a safe home environment." I highly recommend including both books in your home library.
One of my favorite things from Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child,
is a recipe for Balm for Cuts and Scrapes. As the mom of an active eight-year-old, I always have a ready supply on hand. I have found that cuts heal three to four times faster when applying this Balm over the use of Neosporin.
Balm for Cuts and Scrapes
1/2 oz. beeswax
1 c. carrier oil, like Apricot Kernel Oil or Sweet Almond Oil
20 drops Tea Tree essential oil
20 drops Lavender essential oil
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| © shoutingforha |
Before you begin, you will need a clean jar that can hold a little more than 1 cup of liquid. I found this cute one at Hobby Lobby for a whopping $1.99.
The whole balm-making process takes just a few minutes, so set it aside until you are ready to pour in your finished blend.
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| © shoutingforha |
To start, you will need a microwave proof dish (I'm using a measuring cup), a fine grater and a block of beeswax. The block shown is 1 oz., so I will only be using half for this recipe.
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| © shoutingforha |
Grate the beeswax into the measuring cup. Beeswax is very hard and sticky, so be patient. Once you have grated 1/2 oz., heat the wax in the microwave for 1 1/2 to 3 minutes at medium power until the wax is completely melted.
As a side note, if you prefer to skip the grating part, you can use beeswax pearls (they look like tiny beads) instead.
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| © shoutingforha |
Now it is time to assemble the oils. You will need a carrier oil (I am using Apricot Kernel Oil), Tea Tree essential oil and Lavender essential oil.
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| © shoutingforha |
Pour 1 cup of the carrier oil into a clean measuring cup. Add 20 drops each of Tea Tree and Lavender essential oils. Stir gently to combine.
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| © shoutingforha |
Once the beeswax is melted and the oils are blended, it is time to combine the two. Gently pour the oil into the melted beeswax and stir until the mixture is thoroughly combined.
I store my essential oils at room temperature. If it is a particularly chilly day, I will often warm the carrier oil in the microwave for just a minute. I have found that having the beeswax and oils at similar temperatures makes the blending process much easier.
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| © shoutingforha |
Pour the blend into the storage jar and set aside, uncovered, to cool completely. The once liquefied mixture will thicken to the consistency of a salve.
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| © shoutingforha |
I like to attach a decorative label to the front. Isn't it pretty?
Tea Tree oil's antibacterial and antiseptic qualities combined with the pain relieving and calming qualities of Lavender oil, make the balm a welcome addition to any medicine cabinet. The uses are virtually endless. It also makes a great gift for any new mom.
I am fairly certain that I am going to get a few comments inquiring where the beeswax and oils can be purchased. You can find all of the ingredients at your local health or natural food store.
I, however, I prefer to use the online shop at Camden-Grey. They provide an incredible selection of high-quality products at an affordable price. I can honestly tell you that I have been thrilled with each and every purchase I have made.
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This post is part of Works for Me Wednesday hosted by We Are That Family. Hop on over for other great tips.
*** The fine people at Camden-Grey have not paid or compensated me in any way. I am simply recommending the products that I have come to know and love over the years.
