janet’s journal

If you are taking your pet cat or dog on a plane there are a selection of issues to think about carefully prior to going to the airport. It may be disturbing for both yourself and your pet so ensure you are fully prepared in advance. Airways have particular laws concerning cargo storage or carry-on for your pet and you should buy airline accredited pet carriers which fit these regulations. For carry-on your pet carrier should be soft sided and under 23″ x 13″ x 9″ with two sides mesh ventilated. This is quite small so you’ll only be able to take a small cat or dog into the cabin with you. Be very cautious that you don’t go over this size as the airlines are very strict and can refuse to permit you to board if your pet carrier is bigger than regulations permit.

Most airways have a limit to how many pets allowed within the cabin so make sure you tell them when you make your reservation. Airways may ask for a certificate of health so make sure you receive one from your vet to declare both the age and health of your pet.

Does enhanced safety in the US pose any issues?

The enhanced security in now in force at airports is not an issue when taking your pet on a flight. Ask to be allowed to walk with your pet through the metal detector. If this isn’t allowed you may be taken to a secondary place for the security check. You be required to remove your pet from the pet carrier in any case so that the carrier can be X-Rayed.

What are the regulations for carrying a pet in the cargo hold?

If your pet is simply too large to take as carry-on then he is going to need to be placed in the cargo hold. Before you fly along with your pet make sure you examine the rules particular to your airline. The following is for American Airlines but other airlines have related requirements. Kennels must be large enough for your pet to have the ability to turn round and lie comfortably. They should be well made, inflexible (not collapsible) with a container for water that can be accessed from the outside of the kennel. This is in case there are flight delays. The weight of the kennel together with your pet inside must be a hundred lbs or less and has to be within the measurements 40″ x 27″ x 53″. Plastic ties should be provided by the airline to be connected to the kennel corners to secure it when it is on board.

Do I need a health certificate?

For travel throughout the US most airways don’t require a health certificate but most state authorities do require this so be sure to take a look at the individual states requirements prior to flying. Rabies vaccination proof is a requirement for all states for canines that are three months or older and some also it for cats as well. If you are flying outside your country laws are much stricter and you have to to scrutinise your destination country’s regulations carefully. If certification for rabies is not in order for instance you may be required to put your pet in quarantine in your destination country which may be very distressing on your pet and really expensive. Even if you don’t need a heath certificate to fly with your pet, it is a good idea to allow checked over by a vet as there are some conditions such as respiratory or heart issues which may lead to distress or even death when flying at high altitudes.

What other certifications do I need?

Within the US you will have to provide a written signed assertion that you’ve fed your pet a minimum of 4 hours before the flight. This is a Federal regulation and has to be fastened to the kennel securely with your signature and the time you signed. You also needs to attach directions for food and water for a 24 period.

Should I tranquilise on my pet?

Most airlines don’t advocate tranquilising your pet before flying as they could affect breathing and diminish your pets ability to adjust to changes in temperature. If you are worried about your pet staying calm in flight discuss it together with your veterinarian.

How should I prepare my pet before the flight?

Introduce your pet to his kennel or carrier several weeks before the flight so that he’s used to it and will not panic when you place him in it for ready for the flight. Exercise him well so that he’s tired which will help him to remain calm. Arrive at the airport in sufficient time to take him out to relieve himself (remembering to bring a cleanup bag of course).

Conclusion

1000’s of pets travel safely on airlines on daily basis so, once you have organized your pet and his carrier or kennel appropriately, you can be confident he is being looked after and that the airline will keep him safe and secure. Some airlines even give your pet flight miles towards his next flight! Relax and enjoy your flight and have a favorite treat ready for him when you collect him at the end of flight.

See Cheap Pet Beds for Sale for some good deals on pet beds.

Tags: airline approved pet carriers, flying with your pet, Pet Carriers

Acne can be very frustrating, the scars left by acne can be superficial, but if left untreated the scars can be deep. There is no age exception when it comes to acne, whether you are a teenager or an adult, if you have acne you should start treating it early, because the longer you wait for the worse it will become.

1. Drink water to moisturize your skin. When your skin is dry, a hormone called androgen will produce tons of sebum, also known as oil, and the oil produce by androgen will lead to clog pores, and that means more pimples.

2. Shrink your acne with ice cubes. Cover two or three ice cubes with washcloth, and hold it against your acne-affected skin for about 8 or 10 minutes, this will minimize the swelling and prevent breakouts.

3. Eyedrops. Use eyedrops to reduce the redness of your acne-affected skin. Two or three drops will do.

4. Zinc and vitamin c. Eating food that is rich in zinc and vitamin c like meat, beans and fruits strengthen and protect your skin from damage caused by acne. These foods will also help the skin to heal more quickly.

5. Minimize caffeine intake. Caffeine tastes good, but it can dehydrate your skin, and if your skin is dry, you will have more pimples. Furthermore, caffeine is a stimulant; it stimulates everything in your body including the androgen that is responsible for producing sebum.

6. Exfoliate your skin. If our pores to become clogged with the dead skin cells, the oil and the bacteria get trapped inside our pores, and this forms a pimple; exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells before they clogged our pores. Exfoliation will stop a pimple before it starts.

7. Medications. Anti-acne medications that contain benzoyl peroxide are a good way to heal acne, prevent future breakouts, and reduce inflammation caused by acne.

8. Laser treatments. Using laser to treat acne is used by dermatologists, it can take a couple of weeks to cure the acne, but it can be expensive, also laser treatment can get rid of acne for a long time.

9. Remove makeup. Before you go to sleep remember to remove your makeup, because makeup can clog the pores if left overnight.

The most important thing you should always remember is to treat your acne while it is still early.

Different cases of acne can be healed, with the right combination of elements; you can stop acne, stop future breakouts, and remove scars.

Tags: acne, avoid, Breakouts, scars, Stop, stopping, tips

Every year bicycle manufacturers make better, lighter and cheaper mountain bikes which make them more attractive to consumers. Do you want to buy a full suspension mountain bike? If you do below is a list of items that you might want to considered before buying a new mountain bike.

One of the most important questions to ask yourself is what type of terrain will you be riding on? If you are going to be riding cross country maybe a full suspension mountain bike is not warranted and a hardtail will better suit your needs. However if you are going to be riding downhill or on rough terrain a full suspension bike might be right up your alley.

Determine your budget and stick to it. Consider buying the best bike you can afford within your budget. Many riders suggest that if you have less then $700 to spend on a bike you might want to consider a hardtail because full suspension bikes are more costly. However you could consider buying a used full suspension bike at a good price on a mountain bike classifieds site.

If you determine that a full suspension mountain bike is what you need and want then consider the different frame designs. Single-pivot, sweet-spot and horst-link are a few popular designs and each has their advantages and disadvantages. The best way to truly understand the difference is to go to a few bike stores and test ride the different designs. The bike store guy will be more then happy to explain and point out the pros and cons of each design.

Remember that full suspension bikes are heavier then hardtail bikes. Full suspension frames are a little heavier and they carry more parts then hardtails so be prepared to pedal around a little more weight on the trail.

Read some of the online forums to determine what other riders like and don’t like about their bikes. You can learn a lot from other rider’s opinions.

Do not forget to factor in your maintenance costs into the equation. Full suspension bikes require a little more maintenance and for the do it yourself type you will need a few extra tools.

Finally, test ride as many bikes as you can before buying. Also do not forget to test ride a full suspension mountain bike with the front and or rear shock locked out.

See you on the trail

Tags: Bike, Buying, Full, Mountain, Suspension, tips

After acne is healed, we are left with acne scars, acne scars take times to heal, some acne scars will disappear after a couple of months, but some acne scars will stay and become permanent scars. Most people who suffer from severe cases of acne scars, suffered from severe cases of acne, it is very important to start treating your acne while it is still early, don’t wait for it to get worse.

1. Stopped your acne from developing, this is the most important rule to remember, if you have acne you should treat it early, so that it will not develop into a severe case of acne, there are many acne medications you can use to start treating your acne, some acne medications contain benzoyl peroxide that can heal acne fast, some acne medications contained benzoyl peroxide and aloe-Vera extract which are very effective elements that can heal acne fast and remove acne scars.

2. Avoid squeezing; popping or picking your pimples I know it is very tempting to squeeze that pimple, but if you do this, you will further spread the infection deeper into your skin, the bacteria from your hands will transfer on the acne-affected skin that you have touched, and those bacteria will spread creating more infection in your acne-affected skin, also squeezing a pimple can actually push the bacteria deeper into the skin, this will make the condition of your acne worse.

3. Avoid irritating those inflamed acne lesions, inflamed acne lesions are the number one responsible and contributor of deep acne scars, this kind of acne is filled with pus, and is painful to touch, don’t irritate this kind of acne by scrubbing or any method that can irritate it, because in the end if this kind of acne were irritated will develop into a deep scar after it healed.

4. Dermabrasion is a medical procedure used by dermatologist this process involves removing the surface of the skin by abrasion, this medical procedure is very painful and takes several months to heal; dermabrasion is useful for removing scars or any imperfection on the skin.

5. Medications with aloe Vera extracts, a medication that contains aloe Vera extracts are good for removing acne scars, aloe Vera has a respectable reputation for removing scars, for moisturizing the skin, as anti-inflammatory agents, aloe Vera contains anti-bacterial properties that fights infection, tightens and balances the skin, it minimizes scarring and speeds-up healing. Aloe Veras regenerate and heal scars from inside out, because it has enzymes that help skin tissue regenerate, it is used to heal pimples, cuts, psoriasis, itching, burns and many skin problems.

Remember that if you have acne, you should not waste time to treat it right away, you need to act fast to free yourself from acne, this is the most important thing you should always remember.

Tags: acne, avoid, remove, scars, tips

Mountain bike components are designed to withstand more abuse and extreme riding conditions. These components are heavier, sometime larger and more durable then road bike components. Sometime you are riding on dirt, rock, or in water, etc and the components need to be durable enough so they can withstand abusive treatment.

It just so happened that my rear derailleur broke on my full suspension mountain bike. I was riding a down hill trail and lost control of my bike. The rear of the bike ended up hitting the face of a rock and I was left with a mangled rear derailleur. So I looked at the positive side of the accident and said to myself now is the time to upgrade.

I could find new or near new parts on Bike Servant which is a mountain bike classifieds website and lists mountain bikes for sale, bike parts and race events but I was in the car with my bike so I decided to go to the store.

On the way home from the trail I stopped at my local bike store to buy a new derailleur so I can resume riding as quickly as possible. I told the bike shop guy my situation and she asked me which aftermarket Shimano derailleur I wanted to buy. Not knowing anything about the different categories in the Shimano product line I asked for help and this is what she relayed to me.

Shimano Deore is their entry level category. These products are inexpensive and meant for the occasional or enthusiast rider. These components are stocked on entry level mountain bikes.

Shimano Deore LX is their next level in higher quality. This category level consists of a more durable product. The main difference that I noticed is that Deore LX is lighter then Deore. My derailleur was a Deore LX and it has shown me proven quality and reliability for many years.

Shimano Deore XT was referred to as their heavy duty category. This product category is not considered race quality performance but they are light weight and more durable then the LX category. The price difference between the LX category and the XT category was noticeable.

Shimano XTR is considered their high performance category. Again these parts are lighter then the XT category. As a consumer I took notice to the price increase from XT to XTR. It appeared to me that this category appeals to the racers that demand light weight and high performance.

Keep in mind that this is not a complete list of Shimano’s product line. It is the list that my bike store carried.

So in my quest to buy a new derailleur I decided to purchase the Shimano Deore XT because of its light weight, durability and price. I had the bike shop install it for me and I was back on the trail in no time.

Tags: Bike, Choosing, Component, Mountain, Shimano