Nothing beats the feeling of coming home and being greeted by an excited pet. Instantly a lousy day at work can be transformed into an enjoyable evening.
However, this is a pleasure unknown to some asthma and allergy suffers. Symptoms such as sneezing, itchy, red and watery eyes, rashes and wheezy breathing prevents them from experiencing the joys of owning a pet.
Most people who have an allergic reaction to cats and dogs are allergic to the dander ? the dead skin cells that cats and dogs shed, and not the fur, as commonly thought.
The protein in animal saliva is another common allergy cause, particularly with cats as they frequently groom themselves with their tongue. Over-excited dogs are also problematic, as they lick the hands and face of their owners and house guests.
Some people may find they have an initial reaction to a new cat or dog they’ve come into contact with, and the reaction diminishes with frequent contact and exposure.
Visit your local GP or allergy specialist for a test to pin-point exactly what triggers your allergic reaction. Periodic injections can give you some immunity.
However, if you’re an asthma or allergy sufferer who can’t bear to part with Biggles or Molly, there are ways to avoid the swollen red-eyed monster.
Try selecting the right breed. Poodles, Bichon Frise and Bedlington Terriers have a wool-like coat which they don’t shed. Make sure you research the characteristics of these dog breeds before you make a decision, as some require regular grooming and lots of attention which may not suit your lifestyle.
If you’re a cat-lover, consider a Cornish Rex or Devon Rex, as they also have a non-shedding coat which will stop you reaching for the tissue box. Make sure this breed fits in with your lifestyle, as they require frequent grooming.
There are other simple ways you can minimize the allergic reaction to your pet. It’s as simple as keeping them out of the bedroom and off the furniture, cleaning and vacuuming the house often and making sure you groom and bathe your pet regularly. And as always, make sure you wash your hands with soap after contact with an animal.
My 8-year-old Tortie appears to have developed bulimia over the past year. She guzzles down her food and usually looks at guzzling down my other cats’ food as well whenever she gets the opportunity. She is the only one that begs at our dinner table and is a real greedy-guts. Then she vomits a couple of times per week after her meals. She’s titchy about too much patting, gets on with the other two most of the time, doesn’t like exercise and is overweight (the other two are not) and since I am diligent to not over-feed any of my cats, I’m puzzled over this. Any ideas on why this is so?
Answer:
The first thing you need to do is make sure this over eating is not a sign of a medical problem. With her age, two things come to mind – diabetes and an overactive thyroid gland. A trip to the vet is in order to take some blood and urine and do some tests to diagnose what is actually going on. While diabetes is more commonly associated with ravenous appetite and overweight cats, the skittish behaviour and food obsession could point to a thyroid problem. Luckily both of these diseases are treatable with medication, but your vet will rule out other things and give her a good check up. If all is normal you might be dealing with a behavioural cause for that begging and that’s a whole other story your vet can tell you about!
I was wondering if you could recommend a good men’s shaving line. My wife continues to buy me many products that don’t seem to work. I continue to get razor burn and ingrown hairs! Please help!
Warm Regards from the USA!
Anthony Pisano
Answer:
Hi Anthony,
Have you tried the Nivea For Men Sensitive range yet? The Soothing Shaving Gel contains chamomile and vitamins, which help minimise irritated and sensitive skin. The Extra Soothing After Shave Balm protects and calms skin all day long and because it does not have alcohol or colourants it definitely won’t aggravate your skin. I also suggest you use a gentle facial scrub once a week to help ease your ingrown hairs and make sure you change your razors regularly. Good luck!
It’s that time of year and I’m busy in the kitchen preparing Christmas treats galore, however, I’m having trouble achieving the perfect Christmas fruit cake. After it’s cooked, I find that the bottom of the cake is burnt and the top of the cake has large cracks in it. Can you tell me what I’m doing so wrong?!
Answer
It sounds like all of your problems have been caused by a very hot oven. Fruit cakes will burn on the bottom or crack on top if they’re baked at too high a temperature. Make sure you set your oven to the exact temperature given in the recipe. The burnt bottom can also occur if the cake is wrongly positioned in the oven. Or if the pans are lined incorrectly. Fruit cakes require protection during long, slow baking times. Cakes that are 22cm or smaller require three thicknesses of baking-paper lining. Larger cakes need one or two sheets of brown paper and three sheets of baking paper.
Everyone experiences daily hair loss to some degree — it’s part of the normal hair cycle, which goes through growth and resting phases.
According to David Salinger, director of the International Society of Trichologists (hair and scalp specialists), we lose an average of about 60 to 70 hairs each day. While this is completely normal, he says that a change in the rate of hair loss may be cause for concern and should be investigated by a professional.
“Your hair does reflect your health and most excessive hair loss relates to something wrong internally.” A hormone imbalance, underlying disease or certain medications may cause more than normal hair loss. So, to maintain ultimate hair health, David suggests eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly. Aim to eat protein at every meal because it is essential for good hair growth. Minerals are also important, so if you want to take a supplement, a good multivitamin and mineral could be beneficial. Also, “low iron levels are a common cause of hair loss” for women, David says, “so have your iron levels tested if you’re concerned.”
I have small, deep-set eyes. How can I make them look bigger?
L. Tran, West Perth, WA
Answer
Make-up artist Napoleon Perdis says, “When it comes to making up your eyes, aim to keep them fresh and open in appearance. It is best to use highlight colours, such as pearls and shimmers [try Napoleon Perdis Ultra Pearl in Sand Beige], as opposed to dark and matt colours, which will make the eyes appear smaller. You may add some shade to the outer edges to give length to the eye, but keep it simple. Curl the lashes to open the eyes and apply two coats of mascara, concentrating on the outer corners. False lashes are great for making the eyes appear larger. Plucking untidy eyebrow hairs can open the space more as well.”
My brows need shaping, but I have no idea how to do that to suit my face. Can you help?
Renee, Vic.
Answer
Beautifully groomed eyebrows can make a huge difference to your appearance. Estée Lauder brow specialist Diana Schofield from the Estée Lauder Brow Bar at Myer, Sydney, says, “The most important rule for achieving the right shaped brows for your face is to imagine three straight lines all starting from the outer edge of your nostril. The first runs past the inner corner of your eye; this is where your brow should start. The second runs past the outer corner of your eye; this is where your brow should finish. The third runs past the outer edge of your pupil; this is the highest point of your arch.”
Try not to dramatically alter the natural shape of your brows and beware of being too tweezer-happy — eyebrow hair is sensitive and repeated plucking can permanently damage the roots. If your eyebrows need more definition, use a brow powder or eyeshadow in a shade that matches the colour of your eyebrows. Apply the powder with a soft wedge-shaped brush or a thin liner brush and begin at the inner corner of your eyebrow and sweep the powder across the brow using feathery strokes. “Another option,” says Diana, “is to see a brow specialist to get the perfect shape and then it’s easier for you to maintain by yourself.”
Queensland's theme parks are a great way to entertain the whole family on holidays. Dreamworld, Space Walker and Sea World will turn everyday reality into fantasy.
Home to the world’s first spectacular theme parks, Southern California has been the dream destination for generations of children around the world — a fantasy land where fairytales and iconic Hollywood films first became 3D, where roller-coasters grew into structures the size of space stations and speed never impressed unless it was measured in G-forces.
Now, some of these awe inspiring experiences can be found on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Theme parks such as Dreamworld, Space Walker and Sea World will switch on your adrenaline big time, turn everyday reality into fantasy and take you on journeys through oceans or across space.
Dreamworld
Dreamworld Pwy, Coomera
Kids at Dreamworld
Tel: 1800 073 300; www.dreamworld.com.au
Prices: Adult, $62; child, $40.
Getting there: The park is one hour’s drive from Brisbane Airport and 40 minutes from Gold Coast Airport. It’s located adjacent to the M1 Pacific Mwy (exit 54) at Coomera, just 30 minutes drive from Surfers Paradise and 45 minutes drive from Brisbane city.
A paradise for adrenaline junkies, Dreamworld claims to have some of the tallest and fastest rides in the world, including The Claw, Tower of Terror and Wipeout. By and large, these are tailored to suit the tastes of teen and 20-something daredevils, but even the youngest children are catered for in areas such as Wiggles World — complete with Captain Feathersword’s ship, a ride in the Big Red Car and a Fun Spot Activity Centre to Wiggle away your day.
For animal lovers, there’s Tiger Island, where white and gold Bengal tigers play, wrestle and swim with their handlers every day. The youngest of your brood will revel in Farmyard Friends, where they can gently handle and even bottle-feed newborn kid goats, lambs and piglets.
Infinity
Chevron Renaissance Centre, Surfers Paradise
Infinity, Surfer’s paradise
Tel: (07) 7 5538 2988; www.infinitygc.com.au
Prices: Adult $23.90, child $15.90.
Getting there: It’s right in the centre of Surfers Paradise on the corner of Surfers Paradise Blvd and Elkhorn Ave.
It’s called Infinity, but it only takes about 30 minutes to experience — and that’s the beauty of it. Feels like you’ve been wandering around the 20 multi-sensual environments filled with special effects, atmospheric sound fields and electronic music for eons. Using a combination of darkness and futuristic lighting, Infinity fools the brain into seeing extraordinary illusions. Experience infinite space in the Recessional Corridor, get gloriously lost in the Electron Maze or just marvel at the Star Chamber.
Deck the halls — and hit the shopping mall — without straining your back. This exercise targets upper and middle back muscles, that tire quickly when you’re on your feet all day, and helps increase endurance to maintain good posture and reduce the risk of injury to your back.
Holding a 2kg weight in each hand, stand with your feet hip-width apart. (No handweights? Grab two two-litre milk or juice bottles from the fridge.) Bend your knees and hinge forward to the floor until your back is parallel to the floor and your torso forms a straight line from head to hips. Let your arms hang toward the floor in line with your shoulders, palms facing in and abs pulled in.
Maintaining this position, squeeze your shoulder blades down and together, then bend one elbow back toward your rib cage. Keep your hips and shoulders squared. Straighten your arm to starting position and repeat with your other arm. Repeat 10 times.
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