Category Archives: Do it yourself Bed Bug

When people hear that I spent more than a year wandering the aisles of Americas dog shows while working on a book about the culture, the first question they inevitably ask is: Why? Why do otherwise normal humans with decent jobs and sound minds spend all of their free time and much of their disposable income on what seems like such a frivolous pursuitprimping and preparing their dogs to be judged in the show ring?

Its really quite simple: because people really, really love dogsalmost as much as they love their children. Sometimes, even more.

That said, there are probably plenty of you who own dogs who still dont see how that explains the motivation to put them in dog shows. So let me put it to you this way: Do you adore your dog to the degree that you sometimes call yourself Mommy or Daddy? Do think he or she is the most beautiful and special creature there is and ever has been? Do you often brag about him or her to friends and family? Do you post adorable photos on Facebook? Well, this is exactly what we do with our children.

And its why people show dogs. Because while dog showing is ostensibly about breeding its the way the best and healthiest stock is identified its also about validation.

Just as parents want teachers to tell them their kid is the smartest and politest in class, dog owners want to hear people lauding their dogs beauty and obedience, and theres no better place to hear that than in the show ring. Which isnt to say that dog show participants need a ribbon to prove what they already know. If there are 3,000 dogs entered in a particular event, youll find 3,000 humans whod argue for hours about why their dog is best.

Its almost impossible not to feel that way. Because the bond between humans and dogs is more intense than our bond with any other species, and theres not even a close second.

Dogs were the first domesticated animals, the ones that made domestication of all others possible. Scientists cant seem to agree whether it was 10,000 or 15,000 or 100,000 years ago, but its inarguable that dogs evolved from wolves because of us. They were selected and honed to be our companions to help us hunt, to guard our homes, to look after our livestock and even our children and, over time, to do so many useful and wonderful things that it boggles the mind.

For all the talk about wheels and metal and gunpowder, we often overlook one very important tool that helped lead us out of the caves and into societies: our dogs.

We have dogs that serve in combat (famously assisting in the capture of Usama Bin Laden); dogs that detect bed bugs; dogs that defend sheep from wolves (and cattle from cheetahs), in the process protecting the wild animals too by keeping ranchers from shooting them; dog lifeguards; dogs that guide the blind and allow the disabled to live better lives; dogs that sniff out cancer and drugs and invasive species. And dogs that simply provide companionship, making millions of lives around the globe much, much happier.

There seems to be no job dogs were asked to do that they didnt figure out how to do capably, and if only they had thumbs wed probably have taught them to drive us around by now.

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Why We Love Our Dogs

Dear Editor:

Re: Bedbug battle, Burnaby NOW, Aug. 28

I have fought bedbugs in both my house and in the apartment of a relative this year and disagree with some of the advice in your article. Bedbugs can absolutely be a do-it-yourself project using a search-and-destroy strategy.

If you have just a few bugs, they will mostly be on your bed. Take the bed apart, search all its surfaces and nooks and crannies. When you clear it, any bugs living elsewhere in the room or apartment will move in. If you just search your bed every couple of days and kill everything you find, eventually you will get them all.

If you have an infestation, there is some major cleaning to do, sorting and bagging of stuff and often discarding things like mattresses or box springs. But the basic principle remains the same: Attract them to where you sleep, and then search them out and kill them.

If you learn how to recognize eggs and baby bugs as well as adult bugs, the task will go faster. If you have no idea where to start looking, it can be a good idea to get a pest control officer in to help you get started. You might want to get a set of bedbug traps on the legs of your bed and zipped wraps for your mattress.

It may take as long as a couple of months to get every last bug, but you can do it. Keep track of your bites (if you show bites), and when you've gone two weeks bite-free, you are likely free and clear.

Karin Litzcke,

Burnaby

Copyright (c) Burnaby Now

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DIY bedbug removal

Itchy skin is a common complaint this time of year. In most cases, the itching can be attributed to dry skin but there can be several other reasons for itching. A few years ago a colleague called me to tell me that she had very itchy skin and she was not sure what to do. It was the middle of the summer so dry skin was not the culprit. She also said that she did not feel exactly like herself, although she did not have any specific complaints. I told her to have her thyroid levels checked out. Sure enough, she had a problem with her thyroid and the itching went away when the thyroid hormone level was brought back to normal. She now thinks that I am brilliant! On a serious note, itching can be a dreadful experience. In addition to feeling uncomfortable, it can lead to exhaustion because it may keep you awake at night. People who see you scratching may not want to be near you. The scratched area can become infected. Don't despair because there is something that you can do. The following five questions may help you get to the cause of your itching.

Do you know if you have dry skin? Since dry skin is the most common cause of itching (particularly in the winter) and the most easily solved, it's important to determine if it is the case for you. Simply look down at your feet and legs (body areas that tend to be drier than others) and if the skin is an ashen or grey color, is flaky or scaly and if the skin lines are prominent, then you have your diagnosis, dry skin. The solution may be is as simple as applying a combination anti-itch and lubricating lotion like Sarna Lotion or Eucerin Calming Cream each morning and night. Check out this blog for additional tips.

What are you doing when you become aware of the itching or when the itching intensifies? If you notice that the itching occurs consistently when you are at school or work or even when you are with a certain person, you should consider that stress or anxiety may be the cause of your itching. Indeed, there are psychological causes for itching. This does not mean that your itching is not real. It only means that the trigger of your itching is psychological. The key to alleviating this type of itching is to identify the stressor and then find solutions to reduce the stress. Another approach is not to place yourself in the stressful situation to begin with. Lastly, if you think that you are unable to take care of the problem by yourself, consider asking for a referral to a psychologist or counselor or speak with your minister. What medications are you taking? Medications can cause itching of the skin indirectly from drying of the skin or directly by causing an allergic reaction. Water pills, also called diuretics, used to treat high blood pressure or swelling of the extremities can lead to dry skin and itching particularly in the winter. Cholesterol lowering medications may decrease the skin's oil and produce dryness. Ask your doctor if anything can be done. Finally, allergic reactions to medications can cause very severe itching of the skin along with hives or a rash. The medication must be discontinued (after consulting with your doctor) for the itching to resolve. Have you traveled out of town, stayed in a hotel or visited a hospital, nursing home or day care center before the itching started? Infestations and bites caused by bedbugs, lice, scabies, or even mosquitoes can cause significant itching. These infestations can be acquired when you are at hospitals, nursing homes, daycare centers or hotels. Although you itch, you may or may not see a rash with these infestations or bites. With scabies, the itching is very severe, often keeping you awake at night, and a sign you may see is a tiny white line between your fingers or on the wrists. For bed bug bites, you may see three itchy red bumps lined up in a row. With lice, you may not see a rash but rather if you look closely you may see the louse attached to the seams of your clothes or the root of a hair. Before the itching will resolve, you must get rid of the infestation. See your doctor in the case of lice and scabies and an exterminator in the case or beg bugs. Have you felt ill or just not yourself? There are quite a few internal disorders that can result in itching. Liver problems from hepatitis or gallstones, kidney problems and even thyroid problems may all cause itching. More serious problems like cancer of the lymphatic system called lymphoma, may also cause itching. In the situation of not feeling well, it is important to see your health care provider for a physical examination and testing.

 

Follow Dr. Susan Taylor on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Societygirl932

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Dr. Susan Taylor: Five Questions to Help Determine Why You May Be Itching

When Niles City Fire Chief Larry Lamb went to a training conference last week, the first thing he did in his hotel room was yank the headboard off the bed to look for bed bugs. 

He knows about the tiny, oval-shaped insects that prefer to hide close to where people sleep - especially in mattress crevices – because his department is taking a proactive approach to deal with them.

“One of the steps to that was to have a preventative program here in the station which basically includes detection devices on the beds so we know if we have an issue and regular treatment,” he said.

Firefighters also wash their sheets and gear more often

“We could go out three, four, five times a night going into other homes and the last thing you want is to bring one of these little guys back and have him turn into 50 little guys and 2,000 little guys eventually,” Lamb added.

Bed bugs typically infect high traffic areas such as college dorms, hospitals, nursing homes, daycares, and schools. They're also really good hitch hikers, traveling from place to place on luggage and clothes.

That’s likely how it got inside South Bend's Center for the Homeless a couple weeks ago. The center would not talk with WSBT about it on camera, but a spokeswoman said it's something they monitor regularly. She also told WSBT an exterminator took care of the problem.

“It’s a clean-up problem,” said St. Joseph County Health Officer, Dr. Thomas Felger. “Unfortunately you often have to hire it done because it's more than what people can do.”

Businesses, schools and other organizations do not have to report bed bug outbreaks because the outbreaks are not a health threat, Felger said.

“You just have to be thankful that if you make a trip somewhere you didn't pick it up because in the big city hotels it can be a real problem,” he added.

There are steps you can take to protect yourself from bed bugs when you travel. Check the cracks and crevices of the mattress for what look like little drops of blood. If you see them, the mattress may be infested.

To avoid bringing bed bugs into your home, avoid picking up furniture from the curb that people are trying to give away for free as you don’t know where those couches, mattresses and chairs have been.

But bed bugs aren't contagious – you can’t “catch” them like you can catch a cold or get the flu. But once you do get them, they can be very itchy and uncomfortable.

The rest is here:
Niles firefighters train to deal with bed bugs

NEW YORK (MainStreet) -- In 14th century Europe, rats were responsible for spreading the Black Death, a plague that killed tens of millions of people. And while we now have a cure for the bubonic plague and other bacterial illnesses, vermin such as mice, rats and bugs continue to infest houses and apartments in the developed world. They can still spread disease if allowed to roam free, and even if they don't get you sick it's still unnerving to have a pest problem. No one wants to find mouse droppings in the cupboard or see roaches scatter every time they turn on the lights.

The obvious solution is to call a professional, but exterminators can be pricey, and many of the weapons they use can be found at your local hardware store -- or even under your kitchen sink. We talked to the experts to find out which do-it-yourself pest control techniques do and don't work. The tricky business of bedbugs
City-dwellers live in fear of bedbugs, knowing an infestation may mean junking your mattress, washing all of your clothes, paying a professional to de-bug your home and possibly ending up a social pariah. But preventing this nightmare scenario is easier said than done. While you can buy a bug-proof mattress cover to keep bugs out (and starve any that are already inside), there's little you can do to prevent a bug from hitching a ride home on your clothes or shoes and setting up shop at your place. "There's no true prevention, other than knowing how not to bring them in in the first place," says Jeffrey White, a research entomologist for BedBug Central, a pest control information Web site. Still, there are a few guidelines for effectively dealing with the pests on your own. White says that if you suspect bedbugs have entered your home, you can get bedbug interceptors -- small traps that surround the legs of your bed and furniture to catch any bugs that try to crawl up. And if you think bedbugs may have already taken up residence in your bed, he advises against spraying pesticides directly on your bed - these will repel but not kill the bugs, which means you may just succeed in spreading them across your home.

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How to Be Your Own Exterminator