The American Pet Products Association (APPA) concluded in their latest National Pet Owners Survey that approximately 68% of the country’s households own a pet, indicating that furry friends are an integral part of our life. Apart from pampering them with their favorite treats and toys, as a pet parent, you should enroll in a pet insurance plan. Being covered can help you manage a lot of big-ticket medical costs if your pet suddenly falls ill. Unfortunately, pet insurance doesn’t cover various types of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications. Managing such out-of-pocket costs once or twice might not come across as an issue. However, spending money on medications every month can be difficult especially when you have a tight budget. The good news is that you can take certain smart measures to save money on pet medications without compromising with the health of your little munchkin. Explore every option Earlier manufacturers limited distribution of pet medications only to the veterinarians. This left pet parents with no option but to buy medicines directly from the vet’s office. Thankfully, the supply model today has significantly evolved. Even though several individuals prefer buying medications from their vets, you can currently find a range of prescription and OTC drugs in supermarkets and big-box stores, drugstores, and online pharmacies.

Rabies vaccine called post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is administered by the doctors if they suspect rabies on account of an animal bite. It is quite known that the vaccine is largely successful if it is administered right after the bite. That is, the first aid is to wash it with water and a chemical free soap. This largely reduces the risk of any infection that could possibly spread. Your doctor is also most likely to make you go through a number of tests using your saliva, blood, skin, hair and also spinal fluid to check for the antibodies or the rabies virus. It is important to note that the mortality rate of untreated rabies is considered to be very high (at a scary 99.99%). So the procedure is to give one of the fast-acting doses called rabies immune globulin, which helps you from further infection from the virus. After that, you are most likely to get nearly four rabies vaccine shots over a span of 14 days (from the date of the first shot). How can one tell if the animal has rabies? The truth is that it is very difficult to find out. If you are able to recollect if the animal that bit you had foam in the mouth or behaved aggressively, then the doctors would be able to come to some kind of a logical conclusion in treating you.

The flu, often confused with the common cold, might not be taken seriously as an illness by many people, but quite a few complications can arise because of the severity of the symptoms of flu. Also, while the flu virus might not cause death by itself, this infection can progressively worsen other health conditions, which could become fatal. The people who are typically at significant risk from the potential complications of the flu are pregnant women and new mothers, infants and children under the age of five whose immune systems are not yet fully developed, adult men and women over the age of 65 whose immune systems are weakened because of age, morbidly obese people, residents of nursing homes and aided care facilities who suffer from heart or lung diseases, and people with other chronic or critical medical conditions like cancer, cerebral palsy, diabetes, HIV, lupus, liver disorders, or spinal cord injury. Chest congestion, chills, cough, high fever, a headache, fatigue and body ache, nausea and diarrhea, runny or stuffy nose, and sore throat are common symptoms of the flu. In some people, other complications can also arise: The existing asthma symptoms can worsen because of increased vulnerability to potential allergens and active inflammation of the airways.

Anyone can catch a cold at any time of a year. Common cold is a highly contagious viral infection that affects the upper respiratory system and is among the most common reasons for absence from both school and work. Causes More than 200 viruses can cause common cold and cough, but most are caused by rhinoviruses. Rhinoviruses can live for up to 3 hours on any surface such as your skin and other objects like toys, doorknobs, pens, and telephones. Signs and symptoms People develop cold and cough over a few days. The symptoms usually start with a sore or irritated throat and a low-grade fever that rarely exceeds 100 degrees F. It may also lead to other symptoms. Mild fatigue Sneezing Slight body ache and pain A sore throat and some mild chest discomfort If an individual has a cold, they may also develop a hacking cough that often leads to the product of excess mucus Nasal congestion is common and usually goes away within a week. Diagnostic tests There are no definitive medical tests to diagnose common cold and cough. The diagnosis is usually based on the symptoms of the patient or the findings of a physical examination.

Erectile dysfunction, a health issue that occurs in males, is the incapability to sustain an erection due to several reasons. Some causes include obesity, heart issues, lower levels of testosterone, blood flow issues, psychological issues, neurological harm, and hormonal changes. Treating this condition with medicines is one option, but it can also be dealt with by performing exercises as a part of a routine. Pelvic/Kegel exercises Studies reveal that erectile dysfunction has improved in around 40% males by performing these pelvic floor exercises. The lower pelvic muscles are known as the pelvic floor muscles. The Kegal exercise requires one to use the muscles which help cease the flow of urine. The procedure Hold these pelvic floor muscles for 5 seconds by squeezing them and then repeat this process around 10-20 times. Do it every day for up to 2-3 times. This procedure can be done in various positions, like sitting on a chair, lying down with your knees up, and standing. Relax after 5 counts and clench your muscles for long and short periods of time alternatively. Remember to not hold your breath. One other way is to squeeze the anus muscles as if you are holding a bowel movement. Hold and keep breathing through the process for around 5-10 seconds before releasing the muscles.