Quast

In our family, our dog Kobe is not only our best friend. He's virtually a member of the family. He gets his own bed, his own meals and his own special place around the house, which used to be a broom closet until he made it his own personal hangout. Things just wouldn't be the same without Kobe around.

We used to have Kobe's mother around as well, but she slipped out of the house one day and never came back. This made me realize that even families with the deepest love and caring for their dogs often overlook an important item that can help prevent them from ever getting lost - the dog identification tag.

A dog tag is a small flat tag worn by the dog on their collars or harnesses which contain important identifying information, including the dog owner's telephone number and address. The dog tag may also mention the dog's dog license number and contact information for the licensing organization; an identifying number for the dog with a phone number for a lost-pet registry; information about the dog's critical medical issues or rabies vaccinations; a message announcing a reward that will be paid upon the return of the lost dog and others.

There is some debate about whether or not to put the dog's name on his dog tag. Some rescue organizations recommend not putting the dog's name on his tag because, in an ownership dispute over a stray dog, the secondary "owner" could use the dog's name to demonstrate that the dog recognizes the name and therefore has an association with that owner. On the other hand, others believe that a lost dog might feel more comfortable if strangers call it by its own name and therefore recommend that the dog tag include the name. It is obviously a personal choice.

The best place to get a dog tag is your local pet shop or pet supply store. Generally, the bigger the pet store, the more choices of dog tags it has to offer, ranging from the simple to the extravagant. Some stores will even offer to engrave your personal information on your dog tag for free.

In the final analysis, it doesn't matter what kind of dog tag you choose. What matters is that, by buying that dog tag, you may have made the safest investment you can to safeguard against ever losing your dog.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://etotallypets.com/. In addition, Kadence also writes articles for http://thenursingcenter.com/ and http://4aginginfo.com/.

Buying gifts for the man in your life can sometimes seem like a daunting prospect. If you're in the dating stage of the relationship, you may be leery about buying him a gift that's either too personal or too expensive. If you've been in a committed relationship or have been married for several years, you run the risk of buying him a gift that's utilitarian but unimaginative. Even though he may want a new set of drill bits for his birthday, that kind of gift won't add sparks to your relationship. If you're mate is a sports fan, though, you can find a number of gifts that communicate your thoughtfulness - particularly if you don't share his enthusiasm for NASCAR, the NFL, or the NBA. Going to the mall and finding a sports-related gift will communicate that you recognize and respect that sports are important to him.

If he's a fan of a particular team, a leather jacket with his team's logo on it would make a perfect gift. While he may not appreciate tickets to the theater, he would certainly treasure tickets to a local major league game. There are also a number of gifts you could buy that would make him more comfortable while he watches the games at home. You could buy him a stadium blanket, a special bowl for his favorite half-time snacks, or a set of mugs so he and his buddies can toss back beverages while they watch the game.

If the man in your life is more of an outdoor sportsman, the range of potential gifts is virtually limitless. A GPS system can help him navigate through the wilderness or to his favorite fishing hole. Binoculars or other surveillance equipment would be welcomed by bird watchers and hunters alike. Although he's not about to take a stereo with him when he's roughing it, an MP3 player will keep him company while he's away. A sportsman also finds that quality pocket knives or hunting knives also come in handy. And whether his idea of outdoor fun is a wilderness adventure or a backyard barbecue, waterproof cameras are always a welcome gift.

When you get your sports fan or sportsman a gift that reflects his interests and hobbies, you're demonstrating that you understand and support him. Most men would never admit it, but that kind of validation makes him feel appreciated and loved.

While you're at the mall selecting his gift, you might also want to give some thought to picking up a few items to distract him from the Sunday games. A few pieces of lingerie, a bottle of nice perfume, and some jewelry - pearls, perhaps - might be just the thing to turn his attention to you!

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Visit this Sports Website and Majon's Sports directory.

I was recently asked a question on our website that I thought deserved a lengthy answer. J.C. of Buffalo, NY asks: I have diabetes and I take insulin. Is there any reason I should be concerned about getting a tattoo?

So, J.C, youre thinking about getting a tattoo, but you have diabetes. Is this a good idea? Well, in most cases its not a problem. But there are some things you should be thinking about before during and after the inking process.

During my 18 years in podiatric practice I thought I had seen everything, that is until one day I was called to the emergency department for a consultation. A 45 year old female diabetic patient decided to get a tattoo on the top of her foot. She said she thought nothing of it at the time. It was a rendering of her late cat whom she loved so much. About 3 days after the inking she began to develop some redness around the site. She followed the directions given to her, but the redness got worse. She applied more ointment but now she could see the redness spreading away from the tattoo. She consulted her tattoo artist who intuitively had her call her physician who sent her immediately to the emergency department.

A tattoo for all practical purposes is an intentional wound. This young woman had gotten an infection and because she had the circulation of an 80 year old and because of neuropathy she did not feel any pain. What she did have was an abscess on the top of her foot. This led to the circulation becoming worse leading to gangrene of the toes. She ultimately lost half her foot. I was able to save the remaining foot, by cleaning out the infected bone and soft tissue, and using high tech state of the art wound healing products and treatments.

Lets discuss a little about diabetes first. Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic foot and leg amputations in the United States and approximately 14 to 24 percent of patients with diabetes who develop a foot ulcer and infections go on to have an amputation. Research, however, has shown that the development of a foot ulcer is preventable.

Anyone who has diabetes can develop a foot ulcer or an infection. Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics and older men are more likely to develop ulcers. People who use insulin are at a higher risk of developing a foot ulcer, as are patients with diabetes-related kidney, eye, and heart disease. Being overweight and using alcohol and tobacco also play a role.

Diabetic complications develop due to a combination of factors, such as lack of feeling in the foot, poor circulation, foot deformities, irritation (such as friction or pressure), and trauma, as well as duration of diabetes. Patients who have diabetes for many years can develop neuropathy, a reduced or complete lack of feeling in the feet and legs due to nerve damage caused by elevated blood sugar levels over time. The nerve damage often can occur without pain and one may not even be aware of the problem.

Vascular disease can complicate a healing tattoo, reducing the bodys ability to heal and increasing the risk for an infection. Elevations in blood glucose can reduce the bodys ability to fight off a potential infection and also slow down the entire healing process.

Most tattoos do not get infected; however if your physician diagnoses an infection, a treatment program of antibiotics, wound care, and possibly hospitalization will be necessary. necessary.

There are several important factors to keep a tattoo from becoming infected:

Keep blood glucose levels under tight control

Keep the tattoo clean and bandaged.

Cleanse the tattoo daily, using a wound dressing or bandage.

The science of wound care has advanced significantly over the past ten years. The old thought of let the air get at it is now known to be harmful to healing. We know that wounds including tattoos and ulcers heal faster, with a lower risk of infection, if they are kept covered and moist. The use of full strength betadine, peroxide, whirlpools and soaking are not recommended, as this could lead to further complications.

Appropriate wound management includes the use of dressings and topically-applied medications. These range from normal saline to advanced products that have been shown to be highly effective in healing problem tattoos. For a tattoo to heal there must be adequate circulation to the inked area. A circulation specialist (vascular surgeon) or a podiatrist can determine circulation levels in the feet and legs with noninvasive tests. Healing time depends on a variety of factors, such as tattoo size and location, pressure on the area from walking or standing, swelling, circulation, blood glucose levels, wound care, and what is being applied to the wound. Healing may occur within weeks or require several months.

The key to successful tattoo healing is to ensure the following gold standard of care:

lowering blood sugar

treating any infection

reducing friction and pressure

restoring adequate blood flow

The old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure was never as true as it is when preventing a diabetic tattoo complication.

Dr. Hal Abrahamson is a Board Certified Podiatrist in New York, and the Chief Medical Officer of Biker Skin Care Products, a company that produces tattoo aftercare products and foot care products. Dr. Abrahamson is also a member of the Suffolk County Board of Health and Tattoo Advisory Panel, and is a motorcycle and muscle car enthusiast.