Clear Stocks and Broths

The secret to wonderful soup is starting with a wonderful broth or stock. The major difference between the two is that broths are intended to be served as is while stocks are also used for things such as braises and sauces. They both make great use of  flavorful winter trimmings, leftovers, starch and vegetables.  Meat and poultry broths tend to have a richer flavor than stocks because the meat (rather than the bones) is simmered to create the base, and then can be incorporated into the soup. Stock bones are generally just  discarded. However, broths lack the body of stocks because of an absence of gelatin from the bones. No matter what route you choose, a rich, flavorful base must be provided for any type of soup to be scrumptious.

Basic Broth

Makes 4 quarts

Make plenty and refrigerate or freeze for later use.

5 pounds of one of the following groups for the broth that will best enhance the soup

§  Chicken: neck, back, breast, legs  or stewing hen

§  Beef: shank, chuck, bottom round or short ribs

§  Veal: shank, chuck or bottom round

§  Ham: hock (lower portion of the animal’s leg) or meaty ham bones

§  Turkey: leg, neck or breast

§  Fish: halibut, cod, flounder or other lean white fish. Use white vegetable for seasoning to keep the broth light

§  Seafood: shrimp, lobster or crab

                        OR

7 pounds of a combination of appropriate vegetables, depending on the soup the broth will be used in

§  Vegetables: onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, celery, carrots, parsnips, turnips, mushrooms, tomatoes, fennel, broccoli and cauliflower stems

6 quarts cold water            

Salt to taste

§  Place the meat or vegetables and place in a large stockpot.

§  Add cold, salted water to the meat or vegetables.

§  Simmer gently for 2 hours.

§  Skim the surface as needed.

1 ½ cups yellow onions, roughly chopped                                

¾ cup carrots, roughly chopped

¾ cup celery, roughly chopped

1 épices fines containing

            3 parsley stems, finely chopped

            1 bay leaf

            ½ teaspoon cracked peppercorns

            ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves

            1 clove garlic

(Épices fines (ay-PEAS feen) is a blend of herbs and spices usually combined in a small 6” x 6” cheesecloth bag tied with string and placed into the broth for full flavor.)

§  Chop the onions, carrots and celery.

§  Add them to the broth and continue to simmer for 30 more minutes.

§  Continue skimming and adjusting the seasoning throughout cooking.

§  Add the épices fines and simmer for 30 more minutes.

§  Strain the broth, and discard the épices fines.

§  Adjust the seasoning then cool.

To Serve

§  Return the strained broth to the stovetop and simmer.

§  Adjust the seasoning if needed.

§  Garnish with shredded, julienne or diced the meat, poultry, fish, vegetables or herbs.

§  Use a good quality prepared broth or stock such as Imagine Stocks and Broths or full-strength Perfect Addition Stocks and Broths for a quick fix if you’re short on time.

§  Make plenty of the of broth, seal in pint or quart containers and store in the freezer for use as the base for other soups.

Broths and stocks can be time-consuming and expensive. However, the quality of packaged products available at many high quality food stores offers a quick solution to hours of simmering. My favorite substitution is the More Than Gourmet Stocks and Sauces. When simply added to water, this preparation provides a quick and easy stock.  On the shelf of your local store look for Imagine Stocks and Broths.  This is a nice substitution that does not include gluten, fillers, yeast extracts, or MSG. Made from organic meat, poultry, seafood and vegetables, these stocks and broths can be furthered enhanced with fresh herbs, vegetables and meats, poultry and fish. When used full strength, Perfect Addition Stocks is another great all-natural line of stocks found in the freezer section.

Whether you are a purist who prepares the broth from scratch or a time-starved home cook who prefers to purchase it, either method will produce flavorful, healthful and satisfying soup. Simple guidelines for each “genre “of soup will lessen your time in the kitchen, heighten your enjoyment of the preparation, and deliver a more satisfying outcome.

Soup Basics

1.      Select the basic broth or stock.

2.      Add the ingredients in proper order to avoid over cooking.

3.      Stir the soup from time to time to prevent starchy ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

4.      Hours on the stove will flatten the flavor and diminish the nutrients.

5.      Thicken with more cream, roux or main-ingredient purée.

6.      Season throughout the cooking process.

7.      Add chopped herbs, citrus juice, zests, Tabasco or Worcestershire sauce as desired to give a zing to the soup’s flavor.

8.      Prepare the broth in advance, then cool and refrigerate to easily skim off the congealed fat.

9.      Blot clear soups of any traces of fat by floating strips of paper towel on the surface before serving.

10.  Adjust the seasoning just before serving.

11.  Ladle into a well-warmed tureen, individual serving bowl or soup plate.

12.  Garnish just before serving to prevent the broth from becoming cloudy and the garnish from becoming overcooked and dull.

13.  Reheat only the amount of soup needed to maintain color, clarity and taste.

Hearty Soups

Hearty soups usually start with clear broths or stocks. The addition of other ingredients causes the broth to lose its clarity. Some hearty soups are made from a single vegetable and others  are made with meat, vegetables and starch such as pasta, rice, potatoes and beans. These hearty soups are prepared from start to finish in a single pot and are often finished at the last minute with fortified wines, vinegars, citrus juices, pesto or olive oil.

Cream Soups

Cream soups are often flavored with a single vegetable, fish, poultry or meat. A prepared roux, flour, potatoes or a purée from of the main ingredient thickens the soup and then fresh cream finishes it.

1.      Start with the main ingredient of the soup.

2.      More fat is needed to start the main ingredients if flour will be added rather than a prepared roux.

3.   Cook vegetables only in enough fat to keep them from burning.

4.   Add simmering broth to the main-ingredient mixture and fully cook.

5.   Stir the soup to prevent starchy vegetables from sticking.

6.   Purée the soup if necessary.

7.   Strain for a fine, velvety texture or leave as is for a heartier one.

8.   Add more broth to thin the consistency.

9.   Add enough cream without overwhelming the flavor of the main

       ingredient, but too much cream can camouflage the taste.

10.     Flat flavor or color indicates that not enough of the main ingredient    flavoring was used or too much liquid was added.

11.   Garnish with fresh herbs or a separately prepared main ingredient.

12.   Develop a more rounded, mellow flavor by reheating and serving the day after preparation.

Purée Soups

Thicker than cream soups, these coarser-textured soups are often based on dried beans, peas or lentils or sometimes even starchy vegetable as potatoes, carrots and squash.

1.      Usually entirely puréed, but some of the main ingredient may be left whole for more texture.

2.      Thick soups continue to thicken during cooking, storage and reheating.

3.      Thin with more broth.

4.      Sometimes are “finished” with milk or cream.

5.      Often garnished with croutons.

Bisques (BISK)

“Bisque” is derived from the use of dried bread, called “biscuit” in French, as a compliment to these type of soups. Traditional bisques are based on crustaceans and are thickened with rice, rice flour or bread. They typically have a cream soup consistency, but many  contemporary bisques can also be composed from a vegetable purée or roux.

1.      Add potato to thicken if the main vegetable does not contain enough starch.

2.      Strain the bisque with cheesecloth.

3.      Simmer the cream before adding.

4.      Adjust the seasoning, serve, garnish with the main ingredient and a spring of any fresh herb that is an ingredient in the soup.

 Combined with a salad and warm, crusty bread, soups are the quick and easy dinner solution for winter.

Have you ever asked yourself why it happens to you?
Well actually there are several things that can cause this unsightly weight gain. However, you can take steps to help lessen the chance of putting the extra pounds on.

One of the biggest contributing factors to winter weight gain can be winter boredom. Chances are you decrease your activities during the winter months; especially the outdoor ones. This can be due to the shorter daylight hours.

Recent studies have shown that when physical activities are reduced you tend to get bored. The same studies indicate boredom causes many people to eat more than they normally would. And if you are like so many others you will tend to snack on junk food .

Unfortunately much of today’s comfort food is not good for our overall health much less our waist line. If you must snack out of boredom you should be extremely careful to make sure your snacks are healthy. It would be a good idea to keep veggies, fruits and nuts around. The lower the calorie counts the less chances you will have winter weight gain.

Some scientist place the blame of cold season weight gain on our ancestral blood lines. These same folks think some of your pre-historic relatives may have had to pack on the fat just to stay alive during the cold months. In turn this same need created a desire for food that would add the extra fat quickly and easily. Today we call that loading up on the calories.

Furthermore these scientists also believe your relatives also piled on the extra calories because of the fear of the food spoiling. And of course the food spoilage would cause shortages before the coldest part of the winter was over. The need for survival was to add the fat, just like some animals do for survival.

But you don’t have to let this needling of “Need Food”, “Want Food” control you. A chain around the refrigerator will do just fine; thank you very much. Seriously you can over come this inherited need (if that is what it is) by remembering you live in a warm friendly environment
and the grocery store is just around the corner. Thus you don’t have to eat everything in sight just to stay warm and survive.

But let’s face it; you know darn good and well you tend not to exercise as much during the winter. It’s much easier to come home in the evening and throw yourself down in the recliner and catch some TV time. Well, friend you just compounded your winter weight gain by a
factor of  2 or more.

No matter what else you do you have to get some exercise. If the weather is to bad to go outside and walk, use the stairs in your office building. Go to the gym for lunch instead of to the cafeteria. Do what ever you to do to keep your metabolism up to burn those extra
calories.

As you can see there are many things that can cause you to pick-up 2 dress sizes or 2 pant sizes during the winter months. However, if you take some of the steps mentioned above it will help control your winter weight gain and make it easier for summer weight loss.

Staging your home in snow and other extreme weather conditions gives you an opportunity to show how welcoming and warm your home can be, even if is snowing and windy outside. As with any staging, take the time to do the preliminary cleaning in order to give yourself a nice base to work from. Now, there are some definite concerns for the exterior of the home that relate to the weather. Snow and ice can cause some unnecessary accidents so be sure to keep a good supply of de-icer on hand for the sidewalk, driveway and front walk. Also make sure that these walks are clear of obstructions that could cause an accident for any viewers.

Now you have the task of making the interior as inviting as possible. Warmth is a great place to start. If the home has fireplaces then light them up, if there are no fireplaces; make sure that the temperature is warm and welcoming. A cozy home will encourage viewers to stay a bit longer and explore the home more. Another powerful tool in the stagers arsenal is scent. Scent is one of the most powerful of the human senses and having pleasant aromas in a home during the selling process can help to put people at ease, favorites are things like cinnamon, vanilla or fresh baked cookies. It also may be in your best interest to have some plastic boot covers at the door. If viewers have been to a few homes, they may tire of taking their shoes on and off. Having some waterproof boot covers will make things easier on them and keep your floors in good condition.

There are several insulating options available and some of them offer minimal intrusion on the decor. Areas which let in the cold are traditionally, doors, windows, ceilings, floors and walls. Ha! What else is there?

If we attack these areas in the order of least expense we would start with the sealing of doors and windows using caulking or weather strip. This is the solution to prevent drafts coming in through any cracks. However, if you feel no draft, but a ‘coldness’ coming in, it is a different matter. If your windows are not double glazed, you will likely feel coldness coming through the pane of glass.

If you wish to hold off on permanent double glazing there is a system that is inexpensive and easy to do and which will decrease the amount of your heating bills. Your local builders’ yard or hardware store will probably carry special ‘cling film’ packs to double-glaze your windows; they are inexpensive and effective. They can be installed easily by you on the inside or outside. A big difference will be felt if you at least cover the north, west and east windows.

The money that you save by using them may pay for your new double glazed window units within three years. Meantime, drapes also help to keep warmth in. A storm door is also great for keeping cozy. Ceilings are not so difficult to insulate if you can access your attic. Simply climb up there and roll out layers of insulation. The level you want is between R38 and R60.

The biggest loss of heat is probably also the most expensive to correct – that of the walls. When building a home, it is fairly inexpensive to lay the familiar pink insulation between the outer and inner wall, however this is not an option in an existing home. If your home has been built without enough insulation in the walls, it is more complex to add it in afterwards.

The best option is to choose a local company to ‘blow-in’ or ‘spray in’ the insulation using their special machinery. This forced in substance comes in the form of fiberglass, foam or cellulose. Foam is the most thorough (it gets into all the crevices) and the most expensive with fiberglass coming up a close second.

This system can save an estimated 30% on your bills. It can also be blown into attics, so may be worth getting two quotes: one for walls only and one for walls and attic, and then choose. (You may choose to lay your own insulation in the attic.)

If you have an un-insulated basement, now would be a good time to insulate it; it is not a difficult job and it is one of the improvements that will greatly decrease the size of your heating bill. Meantime, if you feel cold air coming up from the basement, think of hanging a heavy velvet curtain or install a permanent door to block off the part that is not heated.

One of the simplest things to remember is to use natural energy. If you plan to re-model your home, and you have a choice of where to put a window, place it on the southern side of the house. A small overhang will stop it getting too hot in the summer (24 inches is ample) and the winter sun will still peep below it and warm up your room in the winter.

Whilst on the subject of natural energy, it has almost been forgotten that trees can be a considerable help. If you plant evergreens near your north and west walls, you will be protecting your house from cold and wind. Since these walls will not get much (if any) sun, you will not be blocking out the warmth of its rays.

Conversely if you plant deciduous trees (which drop their leaves in the fall) outside your south and east windows, they will allow the sun to warm your windows in the winter, but in the summer their leaves will shelter the window and you will not feel the heat so much.

Nestled in the awe-inspiring peaks of the Rocky Mountains just 90 minutes west of Denver’s city limits, Winter Park is home to some of the most desired ski slopes in the continental United States. Commonly known as “Colorado’s Highest,” Winter Park holds the highest elevation of any incorporated town in the United States at 12,060 feet above sea level. Early on, initial settlements first sprung up during the construction of the Moffat Tunnel when a local merchant named “Doc” Graves built 26 tourist cabins, a café and service station. Recognized for the site’s beauty and sheer potential as a getaway location, Graves powered the small mountain village by means of a water wheel he installed at the nearby Vasquez Creek. Enjoying rare economic prosperity during the ominous Great Depression, the Winter Park Ski Resort opened its doors to patrons in 1939. Thousands flocked to Winter Park over the years simply to hit the slopes on the resort’s three interconnected peaks – Winter Park, Mary Jane and Vasquez Ridge. Despite the tourist buzz and years of success, it wasn’t until August 1, 1978 that Winter Park, Colorado was officially founded.

With all there is to offer, Winter Park lodging enjoys constant activity year round. During the winter months, Winter Park hotels are hubs for winter sport activity and excitement. But not just a ski town, Winter Park also boasts lots of warm weather activity including hiking, mountain biking, fishing and sight seeing. The town center also provides patrons with numerous shopping and dining opportunities.

No matter what you’re looking for, Winter Park is arguably one of the most accommodating vacation towns found throughout the Rocky Mountains. Winter Park lodging is warm and cozy and offers a wide array of vacationing choices. Anyone of the Winter Park hotels is sure to fit your needs. So whether it’s summer fun or winter sports activity, you’re sure to get your fill in Winter Park.

The changing of the seasons doesn’t bring an end to fly fishing in Breckenridge’s high country. The area is home to several gold medal rivers, streams and lakes where highly skilled guides can hook you up with trophy sized fish. Visitors who are willing to endure the chilly winter temperatures will find uncrowded riverbanks, surrounded by an amphitheater of snowcapped mountain peaks. Massive trout are waiting to hit your fly on virtually every cast, and with an expert guide at your side, you’ll be in a prime position to catch them.

The Breckenridge area has become a snowmobiling Mecca and provides an almost unfathomable amount of terrain to explore. Local outfitters provide both guided and unguided tours and rentals, which allows guests to choose their level of adventure. Snowmobiling provides motorized access to the backcountry glades and bowls that abound in the area, with opportunities for postcard-like photos at nearly every turn of the trail. “High Adventure” tours are available for more adventurous riders who would like to rice Breckenridge’s deepest backcountry powder at full-throttle speeds.

Those seeking to experience the local backcountry with a non-motorized form of transportation will appreciate the wilderness via a guided dog sled tour. Local dog sledding tours run through the middle fork of the Swan River Valley, enabling visitors to experience some of Breckenridge’s deepest forests as well as the historic mining camps and ghost towns that once populated the area.

The Rocky Mountains are also home to phenomenal cross country skiing – a favorite pastime amongst Breckenridge locals. Stop by one of the three local Nordic Centers located in town, or break your own trail on an excursion into the area’s easily accessible backcountry. The United States Army’s 10th mountain division maintains several backcountry huts throughout the area that can be rented for a night or the week, providing a warm base of operations for backcountry skiing excursions

Families who are looking for adventurous sledding options will find several options within a short drive of Breckenridge. Although the Breckenridge Ski Resort does not offer a tubing hill on its slopes, its nearby sister resort, Keystone, does. Tubing is available at Keystone during the day and into the evening hours. The town of Breckenridge is home to Carter Park, a walk-up slide-down sledding hill with a generous slope and a long out run. Bring your own sled or pick one up at a local supermarket. Carter Park provides sledding opportunities free of charge while visitors will have to pay for access to the Keystone Resort’s tubing runs.

Breckenridge’s three local ice rinks can provide for a morning or afternoon of skating with your family. The Stephen C. West Ice Arena offers 2 NHL sized ice surfaces and hosts open skating hours daily. The Maggie Pond, located within the resort’s Peak 9 base area, offers outdoor skating opportunities with phenomenal views of the Ten Mile Range and Bald Mountain. Skate rentals are available at both locations.

Finally, local dinner and scenic sleigh rides provide an evening of entertainment for the entire family. Rides take place on red Santa-style sleighs and are pulled by massive Belgian draft horses. Sleigh rides are operated on Breckenridge’s Jack Nicklaus designed golf course and through the wilderness of the Swan River Valley. With a star-filled sky lighting the way, guests are treated to fantastic views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Filling meals and hot cocoa are served in rustic lodges heated by giant hearths and warm mountain hospitality.

Whether you’re an expert skier or a beginner who’s learning to link your first turns on the mountain, be sure you sample some of Breckenridge’s non-ski activities when visiting the area this winter. Opportunities for winter recreation in Breckenridge are unsurpassed, with several opportunities to enjoy the town’s spectacular snow that don’t involve skis, snowboards or chairlifts.

The reason for this change is skin care is that those of us in non-temperate climates see large dips in humidity in the winter, as well as the drying force of hot air that comes out of our home’s furnace and adds another drying factor to our skin.

Not to mention, there is the wind factor. The freezing wind can actually “wind burn” your skin, which means that it will dry it out immensely, and can even abrade and irritate the skin’s surface. Although acne vulgaris is largely due to an over production of sebum (oil), excessively drying the skin actually has a counterintuitive effect by further aggravating acne and even bringing on more breakouts, so it is imperative that we protect acne prone skin from the over drying and irritation that often comes with the winter weather change.

There are a few things we can do to protect our skin against the ravages of winter, and they are going to vary per your skin type. For example, you may only need to heed a few of these suggestions if your skin does not tend to be overly dry in the winter, or you may want to give some of these tips a try that you’ve never heard of before if your skin becomes a virtual desert or flakiness and redness every winter.

The first suggestion is to try out a small humidifier in whatever room you spend the most time in, say your bedroom perhaps since you are in there (I hope) for at least eight hours a day. Humidifiers used to be very expensive, but you can find the smaller ones that work in a smaller area nowadays for a very reasonable cost. One tip with humidifiers though is that you have to make absolutely certain that you keep them clean since mold tend to build up in them if you don’t keep them clean.

The humidifier’s purpose is to help add moisture to the air itself, since many times that heat that is pumped out of your home’s vents is extremely drying. Not only can humidifiers help keep your skin moist, but they may also make it easier or you to breathe, making respiration much more pleasant where they are set up.

Another tip is to stay very well hydrated. Try drinking only water, and add a little lemon juice to your water for an extra boost in hydration, as well as the skin clarity benefits of lemon water. Stay away from lots of coffee and other caffeinated beverages, since they only make you expel more water and this definitely trickles down to the skin, making the skin dry, irritated and flaky if it is under hydrated from the inside out. Consider also taking a fish oil supplement at least twice a day. They’re very reasonably priced and help keep the skin smooth, supple, and moisture-retaining.

Another winter tip for acne prone skin is to switch to a more moisturizing cleanser, especially if you are currently using one that is especially made for acne prone skin. Maybe switch to a creamy cleanser instead of a clear one, or if you currently use bar soap as a cleanser, you definitely want to switch to a gentler liquid cleanser, perhaps infused with vitamin c.

You want to make sure you are not washing your face with overly hot water. I know it’s great to take a nice hot shower in the winter, but it really isn’t doing your skin any favors. Hot water dried the skin out, and you may notice that after a long hot shower, your skin feels itchy and tight. Take only a warm shower, and make sure your face is getting warm water only, not hot.

Do not hesitate to use moisturizer, allover the face in the winter. If you do not currently use a moisturizer because you are afraid it will aggravate your acne, this is a big mistake. Not only will your skin look red and dry, but you will also be encouraging your skin to produce MORE sebum because it will automatically try to balance itself again to be well hydrated.

Make sure your heating system is up-to-date and working properly. If you have a fireplace and/or a wood stove, ensure that the chimney is drawing well and there are no obstacles to the proper release of smoke and heat. If you have another source of heat, ensure that it is working well by checking it regularly. Many maintenance tasks you can do yourself without the need of a professional – changing air filters, etc.

If you have a septic tank, you might give some thought to its ability to withstand the coming cold. If there is danger of it freezing, straw bales placed over the system can provide some valuable insulation. Regular pumping will also ensure that the system will not get overfull.

Winterize your plumbing by insulating your pipes. You can wrap your pipes with special heat tape and also open doors and cabinets to allow your heating system to access them and keep them warm. Consult a professional for other methods to prevent freezing.

Now is the time to make sure your windows and doors are properly sealed. You can do this yourself or hire a professional, but the end result will be money saved on heating this winter! This is also the time to check for holes that might allow unwanted pests in.

Your yard will look its best if kept regularly raked and mowed. Winter is a time when many plants go dormant, so keeping things trimmed isn’t going to be as hard as in summer, but it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on any ambitious plants that may be thinking of taking over the garden.

The U.S. Green Building Council (greenhomeguide.org) has some great information about how you can renovate using “green” materials and sometimes getting financial help or compensation! That, alone, is worth seeing if you can ‘go green’ with your cabin winterizing.

Winterizing your cabin will pay off with months of cozy living, without a disaster or, at the very least, a big inconvenience occurring. Getting started now will mean that you can settle in front of your fire knowing that you won’t have to leave it any time soon!

Most companies now are still providing the same old colours that they think are the best for this time of year. The rusty reds and the lime greens! Sure these colours are fine but if you really want to bring the best out of autumn and winter then you should go for some of the ‘new’ colours.

The new colours that we refer to are mainly purple, yellow, blues, greens and browns. Purple has become a major colour within people’s homes and has become very popular. Yellow can create a warm atmosphere within the room or it can provide as an eye catching colour to pull the guests attention to a certain area of the room. Also yellow is on the opposite side of the colour spectrum, so you can combine the two colours which can be very affective.

Various shades of blue used to be seen as just for the bathroom as it provides a  relaxing and soothing atmosphere within a room, but why not use this in rooms you like to sit a relax in such as the living room or T.V room. The next colour is green, it is a great way to bring the feel of outdoors in and it works well with many colours such as yellow, blue or purple, other colours which are becoming even more popular. Finally, the colour brown. Looks great with colours such as red and green and can also bring the feel of outdoors in.

So what colours to choose? Well if you have an amazing piece of furniture that you really like and wish to stay as a centre piece of the room then you should use it to design the room around. Pick out a colour from within the furniture and use it as the base tone of your room’s décor. If you do not want to paint your walls with these bold tones try and add a few pillows on your sofa’s and chairs and maybe a stylish throw over blanket.

Patterns and fabrics are a great way to create an atmosphere along with the furniture. If you have a stylish sofa or chair try and add pillows or a throw over blanket which will create a warm, comfortable and inviting feeling for the room. These extra layers on the furniture provide a sense of warmth as the seasons are providing frost and cold days. As we put on layers of clothing why not do this to our furniture?

To help create a décor designs that you want within your home try and select the correct furniture. The correct furniture can create a cozy, comfortable and warm feel in those cold and horrible nights. To find a wide range of furniture visit Office Furniture

That is why a year-round prevention and treatment campaign is best encouraged to help lessen, if not fully prevent, such thing from ever happening. This is especially alarming to know that our homes provide the perfect breeding spot for fleas because it provides enough warmth for the fleas to thrive and breed, regardless of the season. As they need warm temperature to survive, they can find a perfect spot to live on our bedding, inside our homes, and the yard.

We cannot emphasize more what the presence of such creatures can do to our health, including that of our pet dogs and cats. They are the ones most vulnerable to these forms of attack, and it is necessary to start at your home and environment before they can start infesting our well-loved pets. The effect of the infestation on your pets, whether it is small or serious cases, can be damaging to your pet’s health. Some would start shedding hair, or suffer from irritation once infested with fleas. So, when you notice these symptoms, better head to your veterinarian and have the animal checked.

Once a flea infests, for example, your dog and they bite the animal’s body, the saliva of the insect will cause a reaction on the dog’s immune system. Then, substances called immunoglobulin will be produced and in turn cause the itching. Furthermore, it may also cause a chronic flea allergy which can be detected by tiny red bumps on the base of your dog’s tail, self-induced scratches, as well as thickened skin.

Other more serious, even life-threatening, diseases and infection that fleas can bring are the flea allergy dermatitis after suffering from a flea bite, hair loss and skin abrasions (also from a flea bite), tapeworms for your pets, and even anemia. Knowing the real threat it poses to everyone’s health, there is no other time to postpone the efforts to combat possible flea infestation.

Whenever you notice those symptoms appear, you must readily find a treatment for these allergies or consult with your veterinarian to know what form of treatment to use on your pets. There are several flea control products available on the market nowadays but each one have their own specifications, so never assume that they will all do the job.

One other thing that you need to consider is the extent of the dog’s problem. There is a pill that must be taken in order to remedy a dog’s condition, while there are also other topical solutions that may be applied onto your pet’s hair to kill adult fleas living in there. So, whether you are experiencing a hot, humid weather, or even during winter time, make sure to have any of these flea treatments ready just in case you might need them.

You must do so especially be extra cautious during humid weather because that is critical to the flea’s survival. More than taking proper care of your pets, taking care of your environment would also eliminate this problem. This winter flea guide puts together efforts to help ensure that you improve your housekeeping procedures at all times, no matter what time of the year.