Home Remedy For Your Dog's Ear Infections

My dog Abby is a cocker spaniel, and they are infamous for having ear infections (otitis).  Her ear infections had become chronic to the point that antibiotics weren't helping any longer, so I decided to test a home remedy I read about on a dog forum group.  It only took a few days for me to see that it was helping her, and within a couple of weeks I knew we were on to something good.  I've been using it for over a year now,  with no recurrence of the otitis,  and her ears look and smell normal.  In fact at her recent checkup, my vet gave her the "best Cocker Spaniel ears" award and asked what I had been using.

First of all, if your dog's ears are badly infected, with open sores, I recommend you first treat them with a product I've used with good results called Zymox Otic available at Amazon.com for around $10. It contains 3 enzymes derived from milk products, and is highly effective against yeast and bacterial infections, completely safe with no side effects. It is a cleaner as well as a treatment, and is very soothing. As I said previously, Abby's ears were to the point that even antibiotics didn't work long term, and unfortunately neither did Zymox long term. It kept her comfortable, but if I didn't use it every few days, the itching would return.  If the ears are just smelly and itchy with no open sores, you can start right off with the home remedy.

You will need the following ingredients: (If you can't find these locally, they are available online at many places like Amazon.com.  The ingredients are inexpensive and it's very economical as I haven't even used half of the mixture in over a year's time - a little bit goes a long way.

16 oz. rubbing alcohol
4 TBSP. Boric Acid
16 drops of Gentian Violet (1% is fine)

The boric acid and gentian violet are both antibacterial and antifungal agents. Just add the boric acid and gentian violet to the alcohol bottle. Then transfer a portion of it into a small squeeze bottle. (I used an empty antibiotic dropper) Then daily squeeze a few drops into the ear and massage. Just a word of warning, the gentian violet in the mixture will stain any surface, including the dog a light tinge of lavender. I used it daily for about 1 week, then went to every 3 days, then once a week, and now we go about  2 weeks or longer between applications. My dog's ears look very healthy and there is no itching, something I thought Abby would never experience the rest of her life.

p.s. This is also effective for human's itching skin, like mosquito bites. I tried it and got relief instantly.

Thank you Christine for this great tip!

Ask your local business partners to use GiveBackAmerica.org and choose your organization as the beneficiary!

Look at the everyday things a local business does that could DIRECTLY benefit your organization.

1)  Order office supplies online
2)  Book company travel online
3)  Network with other local business

Ask your local businesses/corporate sponsors to embrace your personal shopping mall.  They will be happy to know they could help your organization while going about their everyday business.   This simple effort could means thousands of extra dollars per year to local charities.

I read a great article detailing this story on CNN.com.  The focus is on China native Qin Xianona, who is going to great lengths to protect the stray cats of Beijing.  She had a great quote, saying "People's attitude toward animals reflects their attitude toward fellow human beings."  This couldn't be more true, and Beijing officials should be ashamed.  It is one thing to make their city as presentable as possible for visitors, but to do so at the cost of helpless animals is simply disgusting.  Hopefully, stories like these will surface during the games, and the next city to host the Olympics will learn from the mistakes made in Beijing.

To read more about this story, visit www.Cnn.com and search "Stray Cats Beijing".

• An individual charity commission tracker
• A "Checks Sent" page
• A "Link to Us" page, where you can customize links and banners to bring your supporters directly to your charity shopping page
• Enhanced charity search function capability, where now you can search for a charity to support by cause, state, or name
• A video introduction on the homepage, where visitors can learn quickly how GBA works
• A cleaner and more modern looking site design

Over the next few months we will be adding many more charities to the site.  As always, please contact us if there is a specific charity you would like to see us add to the site, or a specific store you would like to see added to the mall.  We also welcome anyone to write a guest entry on our blog.  Contact me at rob@givebackamerica.com if you are interested in doing so. 

We would love to hear any feedback you have about our new site.  Our goal is to make the process as simple for you as we can.  Please use our Refer-A-Friend link in the right margin of the homepage to let your friends know about our program.  Help us reach our goal of "Changing the Way America Gives, One Purchase at a Time!".

Cutler, a 25 year old quarterback for the Denver Broncos, complained last year of a lack of energy while also watching his weight drop 30 pounds.  Team doctors thought that it was just stress and the toll that a full football season can take on the body.  Throughout the off season though, Cutler complained of continued fatigue.  Routine blood tests this spring showed that Cutler had Type 1 diabetes. 

The biggest upcoming change for Cutler will be his diet.  He will not be able to eat "anything and everything", as he says he has in the past.  That means eating less fast food, counting carbs, and injecting insulin.  Doctors maintain that the disease should not affect his football career, as long as he takes the proper precautions.  There have been numerous professional athletes who have had long careers after being diagnosed with diabetes. 

Cutler also says that he plans on expanding his charity work to include juvenile diabetes.  We feature many charities here that deal with diabetes.  Click the link below to visit our homepage and support them when you shop online.

Now to preface this, I'm very liberal on many social issues and conservative financially.  Capitalism is wonderful and often leads to peak efficiency.  Individuals and companies are incentived to grow and prosper.  Now on the other hand, most of my friends are conservative both socially and financially.  The main difference is that I believe everyone in our country should be ENTITLED to:

1) Healthcare

2) Housing (a basic roof and nothing more)

3) Food (it doesnt have to taste good, just do the job to survive)

4) ACCESS to education (we can't force feed you, you need to want it) 

5) Equal opportunities (we need to strictly enforce this)

Healthcare was the big debate. Let's do a quick summary.

 Universal Health Care PROS:  Everyone will be covered and there will be no gray area, nobody falls through the cracks.  It's not all about $ and without our health we have nothing.

Universal Healthcare Cons:  Government is extremely inefficient and ruins anything it controls, long lines for service that you have little say about, Drs. shouldn't be limited on salary, if you take the profit out of healthcare then drug companies have no incentive to research new drugs that help mankind (sad but very true), profit drives medical community and Drs. to offer better service (incentive), when you sum it up it's just the taxpayer picking up the universal healthcare tab with HUGE INCREASE IN TAXES while the gov infringes on capitalism and tells me they can handle my money better than i do.

See on paper it seems to clearly favor private healthcare.  There must be a better answer.  Overall, I love capitalism and private enterprise.  I think our system is great for the rich, poor and most of the middle class.    I still cant help feeling empathy for the working poor (middle class) that get "unlucky" with health issues and gets CRUSHED by the system. 

Whats the answer to save this unfortunate group?  Maybe set a cap on medical bills you are responsible for if you have adequate coverage?  Force the insurance companies to cover ALL MEDICAL RELATED COSTS and stop denying claims?  Offer affordable guarenteed health policies where everyone has access to education?  Is it fair that a person BORN WITH type 1 diabetes has to pay through his teeth for coverage for his entire life?  I'm feel for people that were dealt a tough hand and get crushed by the system as a result.

Someone please give me suggestions and help me see this more clearly.

Craig

It's really simple, if you're rich you just buy your own private insurance and all is good.  Any cost above and beyond what insurance covers, you just write a check.  If you are really poor (no assets and no desire to have any) then its also simple.  You just walk into a hospital and you will be treated for free.  It also doesnt matter what procedures you have done, since the state will be picking up the entire tab of your hospital stay.  Now the key is, you do have to be poor with no assets for the hospital to go after.  This is not desireable but's it's a harsh reality.

Now the real crime in the system is the way the working middle class is treated.  If you are fortunate enough to have med insurance, then you may soon learn about copays, deductables and non covered procedures.  Even with insurance, these additional costs can bankrupt a working class family.  Imagine the single mother who loses her job and med insurance.  She cant afford to pay for it on her own (who can?) and must go without.  She gets very sick and the medical bills begin to pile up.  Because she has assets (equity in house), she is personally responsible for these bills.  Her credit gets ruined and she is bankrupted.   

When it comes to healthcare, if you are not the very rich or very poor, then you are probably part of the working poor.  Because no matter how comfortable you feel with your middle class nest egg, rising healthcare costs can wipe you out at any time (even if you have insurance).

I'm just venting.  I get upset thinking about these things. 

Athletes in this country are role models to millions of children, and these children will take notice to the charitable work that the athletes do.  Helping children realize the importance of helping out those in need at a young age is very important, and athletes have the opportunity to achieve this.

There are two organizations listed on our site that were started by star athletes.

The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism

The Foundation's mission is to aid financially disadvantaged families who need assistance in caring for their children with autism; to fund education and research into the causes and consequences of childhood autism; and to serve as a clearinghouse and communications center for new programs and services developed for individuals with autism

The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation

The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation is dedicated to providing funds to nonprofit charitable organizations who strive to positively impact the lives of children in need. The Foundation understands that many nonprofit organizations with limited name recognition and limited budgets are making the most impact in their communities and regions. It is our goal of The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation to provide funds to these organizations in an effort to offer support for continuance of positive programs for children in need.

Both of these athletes do an excellent job with their foundations.  To support either of these foundations simply by shopping online, click the link below to visit our homepage.

Throughout our youth and young adulthood, some people would always say "it's all for nothing without your health".  Although I heard them, I never listened.  Actually, I never gave much SERIOUS thought to it.  Then in my mid twenties, I began experiencing health issues.

It's amazing how you go from giving zero thought about your health (taking it for granted), to having it consume 100% of your thoughts.  Some people are fortunate enough to learn this lesson at an old age while others are born with challenges that never afford them the luxury of taking their health for granted.

• Activa
• AirFarePlanet
• Auto Anything
• CheapPetStores.com 
• Choice Hotel
• Dell Small Business
• Dockers 
• Finish Line
• Foot Smart
• GoDaddy
• Johnston Murphy
• Kmart
• Lens Crafters
• Motorola Store
• Quickbooks
• Speedo
• StubHub
• United Airlines
• West Marine

Check back often as we are constantly adding new stores to the shopping mall.  Also, if there is a store you would like to see us add, please email me us at info@givebackamerica.com.

Animal Cruelty Fighters

Animal Cruelty Fighters is an organization dedicated to ending animal cruelty. We believe animals have rights, and should be treared with the respect that any normal human gets.

Familia Unida Living with Multiple Sclerosis

The mission of Familia Unida Living with Multiple Sclerosis (FULWMS) is to Enlighten, Educate, and Unite Families affected by Multiple Sclerosis and other debilitating diseases in our culturally diverse communities and to offer support services to diverse populations that request our attention. It is our ethical responsibility to promote awareness of the growing number of individuals afflicted by MS and provide culturally sensitive programs. We advocate for preservation of cultural diversity and enhancement of the quality of life.

Lifeline for Pound Buddies

Lifeline for Pound Buddies is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located in Muskegon, MI. We are made up of volunteers whose main goal is to find suitable homes for the homeless animals that end up at the county dog pound, and to promote spaying and neutering of animals along with the promotion of humane education, especially in the area of proper pet care.

MedSmart

MedSmart is a non-profit organization whose goal is to promote awareness of chronic illnesses and to build a nationally recognized education and certification program for non-medically licensed persons who are interested in caring for people with diabetes, asthma, food allergies, and celiac disease.

Pasco Kids First

Pasco Kids First's mission is to assist in the protection of children from the devastating effects of child abuse. There are three programs within Pasco Kids First - 1. Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando is a prevention program offered to expecting families and those of newborns. 2. Child Protection Team are child abuse specialists that assist in the assessment of child abuse and neglect. 3. Sexual Abuse Treatment Program provides therapy to children that have experienced any type of abuse.

Rancho Coastal Humane Society

Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) was formed in 1961 by a group of hardworking volunteers, led by animal lover Maria K. Lloyd. The goal was and continues to be to care for the homeless animal population of San Diego County and to educate the public about pet over-population and responsible companion animal care.

To start shopping for any of these charities, or any of the other great charities listed on GiveBackAmerica.org, click the link below to visit our homepage.

Diabetes Youth Services is a non-profit organization serving children in the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan area. The motto of the DYS is to support local children challenged by diabetes and provide their family, school and community supportive services. They achieve this by offering Big Shots Resident Camp and Little Shots Day Camp. These camps offer children living with diabetes a chance to be normal for a week. Everyone at camp has diabetes. Some of the things they learn about are carb counting, highs and lows, sick days, and insulin pump operations. My son has participated in the Little Shots Day Camp program for two summers. He comes home with a better understanding of his condition and is more prepared to care for himself after the camp. He looks forward to camp each year and will be old enough to go to resident camp this year. The DYS holds an annual Swim for Diabetes, Golf Outing, and a Gala to raise funds for these camps. Until there is a cure...there is DYS to support children and their families.

Michelee Wing

To start shopping for Diabetes Youth Services or any other of the great organizations listed on our site, click the link below to visit our homepage.

More importantly, we wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season, and a happy new years!