How to raise the perfect Dog - The Online Dog Trainer

How to raise the perfect Dog - The Online Dog Trainer

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5 Ways To Create A Better Aquaponic System

5 Ways To Create A Better Aquaponic System

Aquaponic Farming The Easy Way

Planting the seeds in your aquaponic garden is much easier than putting them in the ground. You just have to put them on a netting pot and … this is it! Then you just have to wait for them to start vegetating and grow. However, there is one little aspect you must know before placing the seeds and that is – the ideal moment when the seeds should be planted.

Many people purchase the fish, place them in the tank and in the same day they also place the seeds in the pots. This is by far the worst way of approaching aquaponics as the seeds, even though will grow and develop up to a certain point, they will die in a matter of days after they finish their own supplies if there are no nutrients in the water on which they can feed.

Thus, the perfect moment to place the seeds in the pots is when the fish excrements have turned into nutrients. The process through which you can obtain nutrients for your plants is quite simple. After you place the fish into the tanks, they will start freeing excrements into the water. Because the excrements contain ammonia, they are highly toxic for the fish. However, do not worry about that, as this issue is solved by nature itself. There are bacteria which transform the ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates. In order for your plants to grow you need nitrates, so once the process of decomposing and transforming ammonia is over, the water will be ready to support the plant seeds.

The entire process can take up to 3 months, time in which you should not place any type of seeds in the pots as they will certainly die.

 There are also ways to speed up the process by inserting nitrates into the water before the fish excrements can transform. However, many people do not like to interfere in nature’s way. However, no matter what way you choose, it is recommended to monitor the amount of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates from the water, so that you can always know the quality of your water for both your fish and your vegetables.

Planting the seeds at the right time is essential if you want good crops and healthy fish, so monitor the quality of your water permanently, before and after planting. It is the only way through which you can obtain good crops. 

Solution And Advantages Of Aquaponic Farming

Aquaponics is a new way of approaching farming. Unlike traditional agriculture where you needed plants to grow vegetables, with aquaponics you need water and fish in order to have healthy food on your table each and every day. Basically, aquaponics relies on the interdependence between fish and plants: the fish produces bio-nutrients for the plants, while the plants clean the water, creating a perfect environment for the fish to grow and develop. 

It is a blend of aquaculture and hydroponics that has plenty of advantages. If you need some reasons to get your own aquaponic system started, then here are some of the solution and advantages you will get once you assemble it.

First of all you will have fresh organic food on your table each and every day, regardless of the hour when you decide to cook your meals. You simply take your tomato, cucumber of your basil from the aquaponic “field” and use it for your meals.  It is as easy as it sounds.

The second best thing about it is that you not only grow vegetables, but you also have plenty of fish. Whether you want them for cooking tasty meals or simply for your décor, they are a great addition in your home! They also have a practical purpose, as you will never have to use chemical fertilizers on your plants, thus obtaining real organic food.

If you ask how difficult is this system to put in practice, the answer is extremely simple. Not only will you be able to assemble it all by yourself, without the help of your family or neighbors, but you can also put it wherever you want. If you move from one house to another, then you simply disassemble the system and take it with you! What can be easier than that?

Another great advantage of the hydroponic farming is that it offers you financial independence and control over your money. You know exactly how much you need to spend on your food and you will no longer depend on the market for your veggies’ supplies.

Last, but not least, it involves no dirty hands and clothes, no bending and digging, no land and little maintenance time, so it will be like your veggies and fish grow all by themselves! Quite an easy to put in practice system, suitable for all types of people, even for busy and impatient ones!

There are plenty advantages that the aquaponic system can offer you! Your health and your comfort will be improved, while your savings will considerably grow with the constant use of the aquaponic type of farming! If this is what you want, then why not give it a try?

5 Ways To Create A Better Aquaponic System

Setting up an aquaponic system, although quite an easy task, requires some basic knowledge of aquaponics. If you have decided to install such a system in your house, then you probably know what this is and how it could help you. However, there may still be things which can interest or help you. Below you will find 5 essential things which you should know in order to obtain spectacular results.

  

    1. Location 

     The place where you put your aquaponic system is highly important for the way in which the plants and the fish will develop. In order to obtain great results you should make sure that the temperature from the room is not too high, nor too low, that there is enough light for the plants to prepare their food and that no wind or extreme weather conditions will reach them. Also, make sure that no harming chemical substances can get inside the water as this means death for both your fish and your plants.  

     2. Oxygenizing the water 

     The happier your fish are, the better your system will work! This is why you need to oxygenize the water on a daily basis and make sure your fish have all the “comfort” they need.  

     3. Choosing your fish accordingly 

     The aquaponic system works well with almost all types of fish. Yet, there are states in which you are not allowed to grow whatever type of fish you want, so you will want to see what types of fish you are allowed to have before starting your aquaponic system as you do not want any problems with the law. 

     4. Placing the pots 

I     In order to make the harvest much easier, you should place the pots or the entire system at your waits level. This way you will not have to bend over, making the daily care routine a much easier activity.  

      5. Adding additives 

  

    There are cases in which your fish may not provide all the nutrients needed for your plants. If the quantity is lower than what the plants need, then you will have to supply them with the respective substances. In most cases you will need to add iron, calcium carbonate or potassium carbonate. 

     Aquaponics is an easy activity which will provide you with the necessary vegetables and fish in a short amount of time. Just follow the tips mentioned above and you will have great success in your attempt to grow organic food in your home. 

How to Solve Your Dog's Skin and Scratching Problems

How to Solve Your Dog's Skin and Scratching Problems

from wikiHow - 

Fido just can't seem to stop scratching behind his ears and nipping at that itch on his legs. While hearing the "cheecheechee" of Fido's scratching might be quite annoying for his owner, there's no doubt having itchy skin is even more troublesome for poor little Fido. All it takes is a series of steps to cure Fido of his woes. Here is how to solve your dog's skin and scratching problems.

     

                                                                 

Steps

1. Make sure that "Fido" and your home are completely free of fleas. Many dogs and cats are extremely allergic to flea bites, and will lose hair, as well as scratch and chew at their skin all day.
2. Remove your dog from all foods that contain food coloring, which can contribute to allergic reactions. Read the back of any products you buy for your dog's consumption and check for any food dyes. That includes treats as well their main meals. Avoid junk food snacks. It is OK to treat your dog to the occasional steak snack, salmon or cheese; sometimes even pistachios. Dogs may have allergic reactions to ANY protein commonly found in foods (lamb, beef, chicken, wheat, corn, soy, fish, milk...) and may need to be on a diet FREE of that specific allergen.
3. Speak to your veterinarian about giving your dog a steroid injection (this has NO benefit over oral steroids, and is more likely to cause side effects). Using oral cortisone sparingly with oral antihistamines gives you more control and the dog less side effects. Removing your dog from foods with food coloring may not completely relieve the problem. Sometimes itching can be caused by a reaction to something specific the animal has eaten. Or the problem could be a seasonal allergy. Your vet may recommend a treatment that includes a cortisone shot (see comments above) followed up with doggie antihistamines.
4. Follow what is called an "allergy hypo-sensitization injections." Have your dog tested for what it might be allergic to. The allergens can be determined either by doing skin patch-testing (more accurate, but harder), or by drawing blood and sending the sample to a lab, similar to what a person goes through when they are having allergic reactions. A series of shots are prescribed that need to be administered to the animal once every three days, starting with low doses and moving to higher doses. At the end of the treatment you are required to continue the treatment ad infinitum, but only every 10 days and at a full dose.
5. For the best results, keep your dog on food that has no food coloring, supplement his meals with omega-3 fatty acids and specific vitamins and minerals that are intended for dogs with skin conditions and continue with the allergy injection regimen.
6. There is a new prescription product called Atopica® (oral cyclosporin) which can help those poor dogs that would have to rely too much on steroids.
7. Make sure that your dog is not suffering from mange. Along with itching, mange often produces fur loss. A veterinarian can diagnose mange by doing a skin scraping.

Tips

• Have conversations with other dog owners that share similar problems. You may find an alternate treatment that has worked for their dog.
• Keep an open mind and listen to the advice of your veterinarian.
• Switch to laundry detergent free of dyes and perfumes (ie- Purex Free & Clear). Your dog's reaction might be to the chemicals in regular detergeants used to wash the bedsheets or sofa covers. If you can't find a free & clear formula, look in the section for baby laundry detergeant.
• Benadryl (or generic diphenhydramine hydrochloride) is safe to give to dogs at a 1 milligram to 1 lb dose ratio. It's safe to give a 25 lbs dog a 25 milligram dose. If it's hard to give Fido a pill, hide it in a small dab of peanut butter.
• Use common-sense.
• MONITOR YOUR HOME'S HUMIDITY LEVEL! Notice that your pup is itchy soon after you switch your heat on for the fall \ winter season? Buy a hydrometer at your local Home Depot or Lowes and verify that your home humidity level is +55%. If not, purchase a humidifier and get that level up there! This is a rather common cause of canine skin discomfort and is often overlooked. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED YOU TRY THIS FIRST (after checking for fleas, of course).

Warnings

• This is a multi-stage process and the first step may cure the problem, but in some cases, you may need to continue to the end of the treatment.
• When a treatment ends there is a possibility the scratching will return. The process can be repeated, however, that may not be advisable because steroid treatments are often linked to liver and kidney changes.
• The Allergy Injectible Regimen may relieve your dog's symptoms to a great degree but it is possible he still may have skin problems, albeit not as severe as before.
• All of the treatments can result in degrees of success, however, expect flare-ups every now and again.
• Try not to wash Fido more than once a week to help preserve the natural oils found in his coat.

Sources and Citations

• About.com - Dogs: Corn, Wheat and Soy Free Dry Dog Foods for the Allergy Sufferer

Article provided by wikiHow, 

Dog Allergies

Dog Allergies - What are the Symptoms

My dog has been running around with watery eyes and I could tell that something has been  bothering him. I suspected all along that it may be Dog Allergies. So I did some research and came across this article about Allergies in Dogs. It's very informative and is worth reading..... 

ResQ Organics Pet Skin Treatment 2oz - Effective For Hot Spots, Mange, Itchy Skin, Allergies, Dry Nose, Cracked Paws, Promotes Hair Growth.

Allergies In Dogs - What Can I Do About Dog Allergies Symptoms?

 by: Aster Brittan

It is suggested that if you are looking for permanent relief for dog allergies symptoms you need to go see a veterinary dermatologist. Here you can find the cause for sneezing in dogs, general allergies in dogs and most of your dog skin problems. 

People medicines such as Benadryl and Claritin will only provide temporary relief of the signs and your dog will still be uncomfortable. 

In some cases the dermatologist may be able to make up allergy shots if they find out the cause of your dogs allergies. You should not make any diet changes or treat your pet with any medication without strict guidance from a veterinarian. 

Changing the dog's diet without the guidance from a veterinarian can make it more difficult for them to isolate the cause of the allergies. It’s entirely possible that the causes may involve specific foods. This requires an extensive food trial. However it could be environmental agents that are causing your dog allergies symptoms which would require further allergy testing. 

On your own you could try hydroxizine or atarax for some relief. Do Not use prednisone, it is not the greatest it's a steroid and have several side effects. You can also try eliminating the normal protein source with another protein like fish or venison. It takes up to 2 to 3 months of a diet change to tell if there is any effect. 

Allergic contact dermatitis usually shows up in dogs as a hypersensitivity reaction to particular molecules in your pet's environment. Irritant contact dermatitis happens when the skin is exposed to noxious substances in the environment. The symptoms and biologic mechanisms in these two disease structures are closely similar and are often discussed together. 

Allergic contact dermatitis is a rare disease, which occurs when an animal's skin overreacts to certain small molecules in the environment. Substances, which can cause allergic contact dermatitis in dogs include some antibiotics applied to the skin, metals such as nickel, materials like rubber or wool and chemicals such as dyes and carpet deodorizers. 

Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when the dog’s skin is exposed to intensely irritating chemicals like the sap in poison ivy or road salt. 

What are the symptoms of allergic and irritant contact dermatitis? 

Lesions occur on the areas of skin that are sparsely haired and exposed to the offending cause. Areas like the back of the paws, abdomen, muzzle, and lips. 

The affected areas are usually very red, have small bumps or blister-like lesions, and itch like crazy. Also in irritant contact dermatitis may occur. 

The key to managing these dog allergies symptoms is the obvious removing or restricting of exposure to any allergen or contact irritant in the pet's environment. If your not able to do this, then using fatty acids, antihistamines, biotin, and topical shampoos can at least control the itching. 

As a rule, for any pet suspected of having an allergy problem that could include an allergic contact component, we recommend: 

Glass or stainless steel food and water bowls, cleaned and rinsed well daily 

Hypoallergenic detergents for the pet's bedding 

Routine hypoallergenic shampoos for the pet to remove any allergens 

Restricting walking to sidewalks or paved surfaces-completely avoiding the grass, 

if possible. 

Be kind to your pooch! 

Hopefully in the not to distant future there will be an easier fix for all allergies in dogs.

About The Author

Visit http://www.dogallergies.allergyu.com to learn more about allergies in dogs. You can also view many free videos demonstrating dog allergies symptoms and more.

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http://www.dogallergies.allergyu.com

Other Articles by Aster Brittan

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