Susan, I guess I mentioned all the bugs elsewhere and not here....but yes, it is a horrid bug year and I feel that there is a definite connection to the weather. Organic farmers and gardeners in Texas were wrestling with the very same bug outbreaks I had here at about the same time or slightly earlier, so it seems like the outbreaks were weather-related.....like they had potato bugs just all of a sudden one day....none one day, gazillions a couple of days later....and so did I, although I had them about a week later than folks significantly south of me in Texas. The stinkbugs that are eating seeds are new to me but I'm not surprised....stinkbugs are the worst pest on tomatoes and beans at our house every year....them and their relatives the leaf-footed bugs. I had tons of stinkbugs this year but relatively few leaf-footed bugs. You'd think they'd be bad at the same time since they're so closely related. And, as for pleasant outbreaks......we have had the best dragonfly year here that we've had in ages, although we always have dragonflies here. Every time we've had a hard rain that left the ground wet and tons of big puddles, the really big brown dragonflies have held a convention at our place.....there are dozens out flying around the driveway and ponds right now while deer are checking out the compost piles a few feet away looking for something worth eating....a doe and two twin fawns that we've been seeing since July. The cottontail population has really dropped because we have a high bobcat population this year, but I suspect the cottontails will make a recovery within the next couple of months because I've begun seeing some really small ones coming to the chicken pen to scavenge for hen scratch at night and early in the morning. One of the oddest critter anomalies this year.....tons of white-lined sphinx moths everywhere but not a hornworm to be seen in the veggie garden, and no damage on the tomato plants or daturas either. Perhaps they've been eating the native nightshades instead. Robert, You're one of the lucky ones if ragweed doesn't make you miserable! I'm one of the ones who likes cilantro OK. I can take it or leave it. Tim, however, adores it and you have to watch him when he's making fresh salsa or he'll put so much cilantro in it that no one else will eat the stuff. Dawn

Unbelievable! I'm just learning now the reason why my 11 yr/old female Westie almost died in March of 08. I'm in central FL and my second Westie's been treated for allergies to just about everything (didn't need an expensive allergy test to figure that out either). The usual treatments with prednisone and sometimes antibiotics were VERY temporary. Being my 2nd Westie I already knew to go as natural as possible with food and flea treatments. But sometimes you have to use the big guns. Back in March 08 I ended up at an expensive skin specialist. She did a skin biopsy as opposed to the useless skin scrape done my most vets and found she had demodectic mange and flea excrements. So she gave her a Comfortis pill and gave me Ivermectin liquid. After 2-3 days my dog was falling off while walking and totally disoriented and clingy. I took her to emergency clinic (of course she gets sick on a weekend). Vet said stop all meds and call specialist first thing Monday morning. I don't think the specialist knew about the interaction problem then, but she put her on Interceptor for 5 months and my Westie was perfect for 2 years. I never gave her Comfortis monthly (vet don't like this). Only at first sign of scratching(always cut in 4, mixed with can food). Our heavy flea season coincide with pollen season; Oct (trees shedding) and Feb through May (pollen etc) Whenever the temperature hovers between 70F-85F day time. I also spray my yard and surroundings with the inexpensive flea/tick citrus shampoo from Hartz for $2-$3 at Walmart. Use hose attachement container, pour whole bottle of shampoo plus water and spray. Pray it doesn't rain for a few days and don't water your lawn either. Don't let your pets walk on ANY type of pesticide for 4-5 days. Also, get rid of your carpets. Best is laminate floors with disposable/washable area rugs. My Comfortis dilemma is, I've been trying to narrow down on a new situation that started to occur with my Westie. At those time of the year mentioned above she has a YEAST overgrowth flair up. Her skin gets greasy, smelly and full of brown debris and dark areas where the most greasy. I've been doing extensive research on Yeast Imbalance here http://tinyurl.com/24792su Turns out MANY dogs diagnosed with allergies have actually Yeast overgrowth and whatever treatments used to treat allergies actually PROVOQUE a yeast overgrowth which cause more scratching, biting and paw licking. What a catch 22! Main causes of all this is, a weaken immune system caused by immune system suppressants like vaccinations (I only vaccinate this dog when younger), pesticides (who can avoid them totally?) and prednisone (which the specialist said never to give her again) among other things. Did Comfortis (dose of insecticide) suppressed my Westie's immun system so much so that it triggered a yeast overgrowth AND/OR pollens and other allergies caused the flair up? In any event I ordered natural Flea Treats and may or may not give her Comfortis again unless a bad flea infestation. Also looking into this new food by Wysong Epigen; it's starch free. My conclusion on Comfortis is; every dog is different. If a dog's immun system has been compromised in anyway shape or form by other triggering agents mentioned above, proceed carefully. Ordering online is cheaper but now vets tell me "Oh well it's been a while since we haven't seen your dog and would like to do exam (take my money again) before we can allow the prescription." Also very useful to treat skin ailments; most effective for me are: 1)Bathe with Malaseb shampoo (DO leave on 10 min), rinse thorougly, then pour over dog (and leave on) a suiting solution of 2-3 tbs of baking soda diluted in a gallon of warm water. DO NOT submerge dog, the parasites will gather around the neck area. Best is a dog rinsing hose in a shower. 2) Apply ANIMAX ointment on hot spots. (best ointment out of many) cheapest at vetdepot.com 3) Add immun booster supplement to dog food. Solid Gold Seameal is good but proceed slowly with SMALLER dosage or you'll come home to a house full of diarrhea. Keeping finger crossed, for May is always the worst for fleas that I won't have to use Comfortis but since she'll be on Seameal let's hope and pray for no adverse reaction.

Shellfish allergies are no joke. This is the one allergen that is " Adult onset". I grew up on the ocean; and have eaten lots of shrimp. In 2005 I had my first reaction to shellfish. After 2 bites, my throat started to close up. Last night 2018 was my last exposure; and it was more severe. It was cross contamination. I had a steak where a lot of shrimp was on the menu. My steak was cooked where shrimp was cooked. I was in the ER within an hour of exposure via 911 ambulance. Vomiting, sweating out of every pore and blacked out twice. Once hitting a wall so hard everything fell off and broke on the opposite side. The EMTs kept asking me if I have been drinking.... None of my family told them I just ate at a local restaurant and had a severe shellfish allergy. I could not communicate this as I was in and out of consciousness. I am now going to an allergist, getting a medical alert bracelet and an epipen. I guess my family was too freaked to communicate what was going on.

Having had allergies most of my life. I went through the testing and the shots which only worked for a while. It depends on what the allergies do or cause your body to do as to how I approach them. Twice a year I have what I call an allergy cold. Early one caused by trees that bloom in late January February. The other middle of October cause unknown. If I had hives or severe itching I might be more proactive but mine are mostly runny nose type. My old allergist was one of those that believed in avoiding things at all costs while at the same time giving me shots with the allergen in them. While your husband many be allergic to dogs unless he has a reaction to your dogs and not just any shampoo or cleaner that is used on them he may not have an allergy to your dogs. Dogs come in all different types with differing coats and skin. If it is your dogs limiting time with them but then increasing that time might reduce any allergic reaction.