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PAGE 15-PLAINDEALER-FRIDAY, APRIL 6f 1973 You And Your Pet By Raymond A. Minor, D.V.M. Manager of Veterinary Services Norden Laboratories Webster's Dictionary defines "allergy" as an "exaggerated or pathological reaction to substances, situations or physical states that are without comparable effect on the average individual." As many pet owners know, the "individual" may be a dog as well as a person. In fact, it has been estimated by veterinarians that 10 to 15 percent of all dogs -- roughly The Amateur Nurseryman " In any well-landscaped lawn the introduction of gracefully designed areas of ground cover provides a handsome change of pace. On steeply sloping banks such plants offer protection against erosion. Depending on their variety, the ground cover plants display a bounty of shades and colors through the seasons of the year. Now an alert homeowner has teamed up with his doctor and his nursery garden center to arrive at still another purpose for ground covers in a residential setting. The result is a solution to problems sup­ posedly created by his back ailment -- an increasingly common symptom in this "white collar worker" society. "The doctor said my slipped disc prevented me from stooping or bending or lifting or mowing or doing any of the other things I enjoyed in caring for my lawn," the homeowner claims, "so I turned the problem over to another kind of professional." The solution came from one of the Washington, D.C. area's aggressive nursery garden center operators, Daniel Capper (currently president of Garden Centers of America), who suggested replacement of the townhouse owner's small lawn with an assortment of ground covers and shrubs. "We designed four separate areas in the yard," Capper says, "to give a variation of scenery and color, and avoid maintenance problems for the man of the house." The four areas include an entry way, a public area at the front of the home, a quiet place in a secluded corner of the yard, and a "party" location surrounding the patio. Trees, hedges, shrubs, low-lying plants, cedar chips and hard­ wood rounds combine to offer the different textures and surfaces and vistas in the overall plan. While specific plants used in the Washington project would not necessarily be appropriate elsewhere, some of the suggestions offered by the nursery authority have universal value. "Soil preparation is probably the most important part of the process," he says. "Some ground covers will grow in almost any kind of ground, but all will do better if the soil is given the proper care before planting." Turn the soil over to a depth of about six inches, he advises, making sure to remove weed roots. Add compost or manure along with any chemicals a soil test shows to be necessary. He suggests that spring or fall is best for setting out ground cover plants -- with spring the first choice if planting is to be on steep slopes where new growth should begin quickly. During the months after planting special care should be exercised to pull out any weeds that emerge, and plants should be kept well watered. A general garden fertilizer will be welcomed by , most established ground covers early each spring. About the back ailment -- Garden Center man Capper denies any practice of medical therapy. "I just helped develop a beautiful yawl," he says. "I , don't know anything about ; lower back pains. Mayber the homeowner was just busy." ' And in response to that, the I homeowner says, "No com- * ment." the same percentage as in the human population ~ may be subject to allergies. Your dog may be allergic to a number of things. If his allergy causes a skin condition, it may be traced to something in his home or neighborhood: dust, pollen, a plant or flower or chemicals in the soil. The allergy may reveal itself as inflammation, swelling about the face, itching, scaling of the skin or loss of hair. These are also symptoms of other skin problems. So your veterinarian will have to decide whether or not your dog's problem is caused by an allergy. All dogs can have fleas. But while some have no serious reaction to these pesky parasites, other dogs can be extremely allergic to them. Some experts believe the allergic condition is not from the flea itself but from the flea saliva. Whatever the exact cause, once the allergic problem has been diagnosed by your veterinarian, fleas are nor­ mally easy to get rid of, and the allergic reaction will disappear along with the fleas. Fleas only come to your dog to eat. For proper control, your premises should be sprayed with in­ secticides. Parasites also cause con­ ditions called canine sarcoptic mange, which causes itching, and demodectic mange, whose signs include redness of the skin, swelling and loss of hair. Sarcoptic mange is normally easy to treat by your veterinarian. Demodectic mange, which usually occurs in young dogs, less than a year old, is more difficult to treat. It is caused by a tiny mite called demodex. Many normal dogs with no skin disorder pick uo demodex mites at one time or another. IRON IN YOUR WATER? WE HAVE THE ANSWER. AUTOMATIC & MANUAL CONTROL Economical, efficient, and built to last a lifetime, this model has all the quality of the automatic filter with the exception of the control. A 6 position manual valve is standard. WATER THE WAY NATURE INTENDED IT! WORRY-fREE WATER FILTRATION FOR FREE WATER TESF CALL-385-3093 TOM HUEMANN Water Conditioning Service on all Makes Sales-Rental SALT DELIVERY 1 aMlOUMCLM? OWl RRIDAIGIFT flEGISTO) Place Your Gift Preference Today From Our Lar# Selection Of Housewares • Dinnerware • Gifts 3729 West Elm Street • McHenry, Illinois 60050 As with many human allergies, research has not yet shown why the parasite multiplies in certain dogs to create a severe allergic reaction, while most dogs are not affected. Some dogs are allergic to bee stings. Signs of this allergy may include difficulty in breathing, swollen lips and face, general discomfort or restlessness. If your dog reacts in this way, you should call your veterinarian immediately. Some allergies strike at particular breeds of dogs. An example is "collie nose", medically called nasal solar dermatitis, an inflammation of the nose aggravated by repeated pawing and exposure to sunlight. Collie nose normally strikes only collies, Shetland sheep­ dogs and mongrels having Shetland or collie blood. Signs of this allergy in addition to inflammation include bleeding and loss of hair around the nose. - Allergies are more prevalent during the summer and fall. As with other skin problems, there is not much you can do about it yourself, though you can at­ tempt to relieve your dog's discomfort with calamine lotion or mineral oil. Effective treatment should be left to your veterinarian. Dr. Minor regrets that he is LOUISA'S LETTER To C. B. in Woodward, Okla. I've had five letters from widows who would like to get in touch with you but I am very sorry that I cannot sen$ their names or letters to you as I am not allowed to do this. unable to personally answer letters from pet owners. He suggests that readers consult their own veterinarians when their pets have problems. The reason for this is that there are so many greedy irresponsible people who will take advantage of lone­ ly, elderly citizens that we cannot run the risk of being go-betweens for men and women. Louisa. One reader from Ohio has written me a most confus­ ing letter about men and women opening doors. I have no recollection of having written an article claiming that men have better coordi­ nation than women and are able to do such a task better than the opposite sex. As a matter of fact, open­ ing a door is usually a very simple task unless the door is locked and one hasn't the key. However, I am still old fashioned enough to appre­ ciate a man, who is with me. opening a door for me. This is merely a courteous ges­ ture and a mark of good man­ ners on the gentleman's part. It certainly does not mean that his companion is too weak to turn a door knob or pull open the door. I think this reader must have me confused with some other writer. Louisa. Address letters: Louisa, Box 532. Orangeburg, S.C. 29115 Baby rabbits, chicks and ducks should never be given to small children as Easter presents unless the parents have provisions to care for them. They're not toys to be handled. When cooking chocolate cakes, sprinkle the tins with cocoa mixed with a little sugar instead of flour. V, Vote Tuesday, April 17, 1973 DONALD P. DOHERTY Mayor EARL R. WALSH City Clerk THOMAS F. BOLGER City Treasurer We Are Proud of McHenry YES. WE ARE PROUD OF McHENRY AND PROUD OF ALL WHO HAVE HELPED IN ANY WAY TO MAKE McHENRY A GOOD CITY. POLITICAL PROMISES AND UNSUBSTANTIATED STATEMENTS ARE COMMON AT ELECTION TIME. WE DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO SUCH ACTIONS. THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY CANDIDATES STAND ON A RE­ CORD OF SOUND MANAGEMENT AND ORDERLY GROWTH OF OUR CITY. McHENRY IS IN THE MIDST OF MANY NECESSARY IMPROVE­ MENTS. PRELIMINARY PLANS ARE UNDER WAY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEAR PROGRAM. THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY CANDIDATES COMBINE SEASONED EXPERIENCE WITH ENTHUSIASTIC NEW MEN WHO ARE ANXIOUS TO SERVE YOU CONSCIENTIOUSLY. IT IS HARD TO BEAT SUCH A COMBINATION. THEODORE N. PIT ZEN Aldermen- 1st Ward EDWARD DATZ Alderman- 2nd Ward RAYMOND L. SMITH Alderman- 3rd Ward ANTHONY V. SERRITELLA Alderman- 4th Ward For Performance and Economy VOTE A STRAIGHT TICKET FOR THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY Tuesday, April 17, 1973 Advertisement paid for by: Citizens for the Progressive Party, Donald Doherty, Chairman \