What To Expect When Your Dog Is Expecting

Are you getting ready for your dog to have puppies? Having a litter of pups sounds like a lot of fun, but there is much work involved. Here are some tips on how to get your dog and you ready for birth.

The first thing to know is that your dog will be pregnant on average for 63 days. This is not very much time so make sure you are ready.

You will want to make sure that you are feeding your pregnant dog appropriately. Your dog will need to eat more than usual and you may want to transition to a growth type food or puppy food during the pregnancy. You should do this by decreasing the amount of regular food you give your dog each day while increasing the amount of new food. It's best if you do this over the course of about a week to help prevent loose stool.

Check with your veterinarian to see what is appropriate for diet. Make sure to feed your dog a high quality diet. You do not need to supplement the diet with vitamins unless it is recommended by your veterinarian. Always follow their recommendations. Your dog may experience symptoms similar to human morning sickness around the third week of pregnancy. If this lasts longer than one week, take your dog to the veterinarian to see if there are any underlying problems.

You will want to continue regular walks with your dog during the pregnancy. It is important to get some exercise, but if you have a working dog or do sports with your dog, you will want to discontinue these until after the puppies are weaned. However, three weeks prior to delivery, you will want to isolate your pregnant dog from all other dogs. This must continue until at the very least, three weeks after the puppies are born. There are infectious diseases carried by unvaccinated dogs that may not be very harmful to adult dogs but can be fatal to puppies.

If your dog is due for vaccination during the pregnancy, hold off on this until after the puppies are weaned. Vaccination during pregnancy can be harmful to the fetuses. Ideally, you will want to have your dog vaccinated just prior to breeding.

When getting ready to deliver, make sure to provide a comfortable place for whelping and raising the puppies. It should be somewhere where your dog can come and go, but the puppies are confined to.

When it is time to deliver, your dog's body temperature will drop slightly. You can monitor this with a rectal thermometer. Normal canine temperature is between 100-102 degrees. When it drops below 100 degrees, you can usually expect labor in 24 hours. When your dog starts to go into labor, she will become restless and may pant, shiver, or vomit. This is normal. Make sure to provide fresh water to her at all times. This stage of labor may last up to 12 hours. When she begins to deliver the pups, they will be covered with a thin membrane which must be cleared away. The mother should do this herself, but should she neglect to do this, you will need to clear it away or the pup will suffocate. You will need to tie the umbilical cords in a knot and cut them above the knot. Pups will come about one per hour with up to half an hour of straining in between deliveries. It is not unusual for your dog to take a break of a few hours during delivery.

You will need to call your veterinarian if your dog does not deliver within one day of her temperature drop, she is straining to deliver for more than an hour, takes more than a four hour break between pups, seems to be in great pain, or has been pregnant for more than 70 days. Some breeds require cesarean sections so make sure to discuss this with your doctor prior to delivery. If you feel that anything else unusual is occurring, contact your veterinarian immediately.

It is always important to discuss all of your concerns and what to expect with your veterinarian prior to delivery.

Health Insurance Reform From Easytoinsureme Health Insurance Quotes

Owing to multiple blizzards in Washington, Congress started its President's Day recess a full week early and conducted no official business last week. However, there was some legislative drama as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pulled the rug out from under Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus by scrapping the Baucus jobs bill (without warning), which contained many health insurance items, and replacing it with a stripped down, narrow jobs bill. Whether the health items Baucus originally inserted with Republican help will make it back to the table remains fuzzy. Among the health items that have been dropped are: the COBRA eligibility extension (to May 31); the “doc fix” (to October, 2010) of Medicare reimbursement rates; and the favorable statutory direction to CMS to calculate the 2011 Medicare Advantage rates "as if" the doc fix were in place.

States

California health insurance The Office of Patient Advocacy released a report card on the state’s HMOs last week. Aetna received 3 out of 4 stars. The goal of the report card is to allow consumers to compare how well health plans use personal medical records and help address conditions such as asthma, arthritis and diabetes.

COLORADO: Governor Bill Ritter held a press conference to announce what he calls "the next round of reforms that represent common sense." His legislative package includes bills to preclude insurance companies from charging different rates due to a person's gender, ensure that women have access to breast cancer screening, assure plain language is used in insurance forms, standardize insurance applications and explanations of benefits, and encourage greater use of online tools to enroll people in public programs. Apart from the Governor's proposals, a bill that would establish a public option was also introduced.

CONNECTICUT: In a short legislative session of only three months, the Insurance & Real Estate Committee wasted no time in putting forth an agenda that includes many concept drafts for repeat legislation from previous sessions. These include prohibiting health insurance copayments for preventive care, limiting prescription drug copayments, prohibiting Social Security disability payment offsets, and exempting the Municipal Employees Health Insurance Plans from the premium tax on small group premiums. In addition, the committee reintroduced legislation that includes nearly a dozen new health benefit mandates. The Council for Affordable Health Insurance, an independent think-tank, says that health insurance mandates could increase premiums in Connecticut by more than 50 percent overall.

GEORGIA: A bill was proposed last week that would impose significant restrictions on insurers' ability to rescind health insurance policies. Aetna, through the Georgia Association of Health Plans and AHIP, met with the legislator sponsoring the bill to express concerns with the bill.

Shopping for Health Insurance When You Are Self-Employed

The group health insurance rates at my day job increased 33% this year, after rising just over 30% last year. I have a family of three, and the new health insurance rates are now 11% of my salary, which in my opinion, is too high (while I won’t disclose my actual salary, I will state that I earn a fair amount). The new health insurance rates made me think about getting individual health insurance for my family.

Group vs. individual health insurance? Before we go further, it is important to understand the difference between individual health insurance and group health insurance. Basically, group health insurance plans guarantee all members of the group coverage, regardless of their health risk. Because coverage is guaranteed with group plans, they can be more expensive for relatively healthy individuals than an individual plan, which is priced based on your specific health history. In my case, my family and I are healthy, so it is a good idea to investigate individual health insurance options.
Determine your health insurance needs to find the best plan

When comparing health insurance plans, it’s important to make sure you are not only comparing apples to apples, but also getting the best plan for your needs. Make sure you get the best health insurance plan for your needs, whether that is an HMO plan, PPO plan, high deductible health insurance plan with a health savings account, hybrid, or other. [More on health insurance options].
Finding and purchasing health insurance while self-employed

One of the biggest concerns among the self employed individuals is health insurance costs, which can be expensive. Some self-employed individuals may be eligible for a group health insurance plan if they meet certain criteria, or they may be eligible for other health benefits, such as COBRA benefits. For example, if you are leaving a traditional job to become self-employed, you may be eligible for COBRA. If you are not leaving a job that offers health insurance, then ignore the tip regarding COBRA coverage.

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/shopping-for-health-insurance-when-you-are-selfemployed-1757327.html"

Great Ways to Accessorize a Flower Girl Dress

No member of your bridal party will draw the same reaction as its youngest member. Regardless of age or behavior, the flower girl is sure to draw lots of attention. This makes it very important that she look her best. Luckily, there are numerous great ways to accessorize a flower girl dress.

Headpieces

Deciding what to put in the hair of your flower girl is a fun aspect of the wedding planning process because there are options available with a younger child that you might never consider using on the older members of your bridal party. The primary limitation you may run into is the length of her hair. There are great hair accessories for every length of hair. Make sure to involve a parent in the final headpiece selection, as they will be able to tell you which pieces might work best in their child’s hair.

The best advice is to keep it simple. While your bridesmaids will be able to sit through a session with the hair stylist, young children often become bored and will be unable to sit still. For this reason, elaborate hairstyles and accessories should be avoided.

Nothing will make your flower girl feel more like a princess than a small tiara. This is an especially appealing option if she will be wearing a dress of a similar style to the bride. Of course, flowers are also a classic option no matter whether they are worn as a garland on her head or as a few well-placed buds in her hair. If the simplest effect is desired then a thin headband in the dress’s color is a good choice for keeping unruly hairs at bay while adding a hint of color.

Sashes and Bows

For the bride looking for a way to keep a sense of uniformity to her bridal party, the addition of a sash or bow to the flower girl dress is a good idea. Not only are bows adorable on small children, but they also serve to tie in the color of the bridesmaid dresses. If the flower girl is already wearing the same color as the rest of the wedding party then an accent color may instead be used to coordinate with the wedding colors.

Sashes come in a variety of lengths so there is sure to be one to achieve any desired look. For example, if the bride will be walking down the aisle in a sash trailing down the length of the train then a longer sash could be used on the flower girl dress. Conversely, the length of the sash may also be tied into an elaborate bow with very little length.

Gloves

Gloves are a great way to add a touch of class to any flower girl look. They are a way to make her feel special by giving her the same kind of accessory the “big girls” in your wedding party wear. This will also serve as a tactile reminder of her task as she walks down the aisle.

Flower girl gloves typically come in elbow length and wrist length. An adorable idea is to select a set with a colorful bow in a shade that matches the bridesmaid dresses or the petals in the basket. However, keep in mind that not every color will be available in all glove styles. You should also remember that gloves might annoy younger children so they are best skipped unless you know your flower girl will be okay wearing them through the wedding ceremony and all the pictures.

Shoes

Shoes are a particularly important accessory for any flower girl. As most flower girl dresses do not touch the floor, they should look beautiful without sacrificing comfort. Keep in mind, the more comfortable she is, the better the chance that she will make it down the aisle without incident. This will also help her to have a better time at the reception when she might otherwise be prone to act up out of boredom when she is not eating cake.

It should be understood that the heel for a flower girl’s shoe should always be low, if not a flat style of shoe. The ultimate shoe selection should be driven by her age more than any other factor. A younger child will require shoes that buckle or otherwise fasten while an older child will be able to walk confidently in sandals or strappy shoes.

Basket

The basket is a great way to accessorize the flower girl dress. If the bride has chosen a white dress for the flower girl then a white basket with the accent color on it is a beautiful accessory. The plain white basket is also an evergreen style that will never fall out of favor.

How to Choose Flower Girl Dresses for Your Special Day

Weddings are spectacular events filled with love, family and friends as well as beauty. Your aim for the day is for everything to be perfect; after all, this is the day that a bride has been waiting for, probably since she was a child. From flowers to the flower girl dress, one only hopes that it turns out to be fabulous. There are many important aspects to a wedding but one’s dress is easily visible, so one should take extra care when choosing this for the ceremony.

Weddings Are Joyous Occasions

Dresses play a large part in any wedding. They are very important. After all, everyone is going to be talking about how the bride, her bridesmaids and the flower girls dresses looked, so properly selecting each garment is vital. When it comes to choosing your wedding dress, a lot of thought should go into it. The same can be said for the flower girl dress. One probably already has the design, style and shade of white pictured and so the process of selecting is made easier.

If you have no clue as to the type of flower girl dress you prefer, there are plenty of resources available to provide inspiration, and ideas should soon start to flow.

One might not put as much thought into the designs and styles of the dresses of your wedding entourage as you do yourself though, but choosing their wear is just as important.

Choosing Flower Girl Dresses

With so many things to do before the big day, a bride might be so overwhelmed that the thought of still having to pick out a flower girl dress can becomes a nightmare. However, selecting adorable little dresses can be a fun process that does not take much effort from a bride. Once you have decided on the color of your wedding, the task really becomes very easy.

Start by considering the season. This is a very important aspect that many brides do not give enough attention to. Having a summer wedding, you might think simple, sleeveless and short. That is correct but you also might want to pay attention to the type of material for these flower girl dresses. Some fabrics could be heavy and warm, making a little girl feel hot and uncomfortable. Besides this, she may probably feel more tired and irritable. The color that you choose also plays an important role. Dark colors absorb more heat so stick to light and pastel shades. Material should also be light and loose on the little girl.

If you are planning to have a winter wedding, then you should also cater to your flower girls needs. Remember that your flower girl is a kid and unlike adults, who can handle a little cold, kids are often miserable when they are uncomfortable. This makes for an upset little one and many bad photos! Short sleeves are pretty but make sure she has a matching jacket when it gets a little chilly and that she has leggings on to keep out the cold.

When it comes to styles and designs, many brides to be do not really know where to begin. Once again, the time of year should serve as a guide.

Paging through bridal magazines are wonderful ways to pick up styles. Not only with bridal magazines, but also you might find that you get cute little dress ideas from ordinary fashion magazines that you could incorporate as a dress for your flower girl. If you feel a bit limited by the selection of little girl dresses then you can take an adult dress and miniaturize it into a flower girl dress. However, be careful when doing this, you do not want your flower girl looking too mature. Flower girls should look cute, adorable and youthful.

Also, look at what works for others. Get ideas from past weddings you have attended or turn to movies for ideas. If you do find something you like from a friend or family member’s wedding, you can incorporate the same style but try to make it a little bit original.

The Size of the Dress

The length of a flower girl’s dress has always been a debate. Long hitting the ankles or short knee-length, which one is right? Luckily, there is no right or wrong answer; it really depends on the bride. Knee-length or just below the knee is a great choice as little girls like to run around and play so this length makes them feel free, whereas they might feel restricted in a longer dress.

If you do prefer something longer, avoid dresses that reach all the way to the floor. Not only is it bound to get dirty, but also your little flower girl can be prone to trip. A great medium when it comes to length is to have a dress that ends halfway between the ankle and knee. In this sense, the dress is not too long and not too short either.

Custom tailored jeans trends 2010

For many seasons until now especially custom jeans in dark tones were popular. The trends of today return to original coolness through the shabby details: cuts, holes, torn knees or thighs – in case of new jeans looks the models can not look used enough. The fashionable used-look seems to be secondhand-shop clothe items.

According to the combination a relaxed, romantic or rocky style is creating using it. However, to present the trendy style in the best way one should choose the right top to go with it. The new personalized jeans can be found in the form of skinny models, hot pants, jeggings, or a boyfriend-cut. These pants are presented with stains, cuts or frayed edges, decent or large surfaced. In most cases these are light blue tones, which are finished in these techniques. The look can be found both in designer collections like 7 for all Mankind and in the collections of democratic customized denim brands, like Otto or Sisley.

Wide-cut torn jeans are perfectly combined with a wide lace blouse with hole-stitching or with flower-dotted blouses to create trendy farmer-girl look. Men should best of all combine these baggy jeans with chequered shirts to create a "farmer boy" outfit. Those who can not be called the fans of such a rustic outfit should try a combination with a simple t-shirt or a rocky military-look.

This style also favors tight skinny jeans in used-look. They suit perfectly glamorous or military shirts. Combined with black color, rivets and rhinestones the outfit looks just gorgeous. Beautiful is also a combination of made to measure jeans in used look and light-brown leather – both in men's and women's wear.

Especially trendy look frayed jeans in the boyfriend-cut. Marine-tops and high-heeled shoes go well with them, completing the fashionable outfit. Also an oversized white shirt or a batik-look presents an ideal combination. Accessories like numerous long chains will give the outfit a glamorous touch.

Jeans with cuts, be it a rock-n'-roll or a country look, are certainly not suitable as a business outfit. However, decent forms of this trend could perhaps be acceptable in the companies with a free dress-code. Anyway, wearing bleached and torn tailor jeans you should always be careful in order not to look cheap.

The combinations of used look with a customized or custom jeans top require perfect taste and intuition. As a matter of fact is the allover-look rather tasteless. However, there are certain exceptions of jeans vests and jackets, which build a strong color contrast t the pants. Anyway, jeans and the top you wear together should not be both in a used-look. The contrast to noble-looking accessories like shoes and bags makes the outfit even more effective.

The good news is also the fact used look can be handmade at home. Certain places of subculture jeans can be treated with a razor blade; smaller spaces can be cut out with the scissors and then frayed by hand. To make custom jeans in a bleached look one can use special bleaching solutions. However, be aware of the environmental effect and the fact the result achieved can differ from the concept greatly. Because Domestos-look of jeans is quite often associated with the skin-heads.

Skin Care Beauty Treatment You Should Try

Caring for our skin is something men and women both worry about. It's never enjoyable to deal with dry or oily skin that can cause conditions such as acne and overall itchiness. If you really care about what you use on your skin, you should follow the rule of thumb that anything your put on your face or skin should be safe enough to eat. With different perfumes, synthetics and other ingredients present store manufactured products, making our own beauty products might just be the best alternative. Here we offer you a few ideas for skin masques that are made from natural ingredients that can be found in your own home and that will not cause your skin any problems. These are skin care beauty treatment you should try on a regular basis.

Let's start with excessively oily skin. Most of the time manufactured products are too harsh on the skin and don't absorb the oil like it should. If you do find a product that works, you could be left with extremely dry skin. Trying to find a happy medium with store bought products can be difficult. Make a masque of honey and one egg white and apply it to the problem areas. Leave it on for 10 minutes than wash off with a mild cleanser. Papaya pulp with lemon juice, fruit juice with vitamin C and cooked carrots with honey can also be used to make a masque that will soak up the excessive oils.

We all know that cucumber slices are great to lighten dark circles from your eyes and make them feel cool. You can also use grated raw potato wrapped in a piece of cheesecloth. By applying both of them to your eyes for about 15 to 20 minutes at a time, you'll notice that the dark circles have faded. This technique also reduces eye puffiness and can be a pleasant and relaxing experience. Apply a restorative eye gel that contains COQ10, brown algae, vitamin E, and other ingredients that will nourish the eyes.

Dry skin can be handled with a masque made of 1 tablespoon of olive oil mixed with 2 tablespoons of fresh cream. Apply it to your face and leave it on for ten minutes to hydrate and nourish your skin. You should make sure that the two ingredients are as fresh as possible and do not have any flavoring or preservatives in them. To control dry skin, you should use this masque once a week for the best results possible.

Finally, honey makes a great facial masque for any type of skin. If you can get your hands on active manuka honey, then you will have the most effective skin care product nature can provide. Before smearing the honey all over your face, open your pores up by applying a very warm and damp towel to your face. Apply the honey and leave it on your face for twenty minutes for the best results. Rinse the honey off with warm water and then splash cold water over your face to make sure your pores are closed before gently patting your face dry. You can add plain, natural yogurt to the honey for a more nourishing masque. Apply this once a week to your face and you'll notice your skin is smoother and softer than before.

Natural skin care products - either ones that are 100% natural from a manufacturer or ones that you make yourself - are the best items to use on your skin. Try to stay away from harsh chemicals and ingredients. They will do more damage to your skin than you can imagine. By taking care of your skin now, you will be thankful in the future.