High chemical levels Cats and Dogs

I wonder if this is why it seems so many pets have allergies. I swear more pets have allergies now than they used to, or maybe it is just the ones with allergies live longer than they used to.

I think you hit the nail on the head Connie. My allergies are almost entirely chemical allergies - even the food ones are additive driven. I was sick enough, I almost didn't make it (60s baby). Today, kids far worse off then me get by. Also, with the advent of all of the new drugs, its gets easier and easier to deal with said allergies. I'm not sure poor Scouter-Roo would agree, though.

I think allergies has a lot to do with diet. For one, so many people feed their dogs the same food for their entire lives. I think a rotation diet is essential in preventing allergies. Anyways, kibble hasn't been around forever, and before that, pets ate whatever the people did. Health, in many ways, was better back then. Add to that how dependent society is on chemicals, especially for cleaning (does anyone use vinegar anymore?), and I can see why so many pets suffer from severe allergies.

Vinegar is by far the best thing going! We had a really stinky litter box we thought we were going to have to throw out, but Papa M cleaned it out thoroughly, put a couple of inches of white vinegar in it and left it to soak overnight. The next day there was NO trace of odor!

Even though everyone but Amy eats some form of a raw diet, we do mix it up. I think you are so right, it is important to switch foods. We make sure the animals also get vegetables and I get stuff from a place called Nature's Farmacy that I added to everyone's food. I swear, my animals eat a much healthier diet than we do.

The boys here eat better than us as well! I know I should eat better, but my first concern is those monsters. Until a raw diet is feasible for us, they eat the best kibble we can afford, and get some many extras it's ridiculous.

I love vinegar. I mop the floors with it at work, and use it at home, too. It's the best cleaner around.

Medicines help me but I'm still a mess. My allergies are dust and Aspen trees. Mom has severe allergies too so we don't use a lot of chemicals in our house -- more natural / "old" remedies too.