When you're sick you spend most of your time in bed, so cleaning your sheets should be the first priority. You sweat a lot more when you're sick and your sheets are covered in unhealthy germs, so killing the bacteria on your bed is very important. Strip your entire bed, including pillowcases, and wash them in hot water with color-safe bleach. Treat any stains with a stain remover before washing. Let your mattress breathe for a few hours before putting any new sheets on. Regardless of the type of illness you had, you probably spent a lot of time dealing with the symptoms of your flu in the bathroom. Whether you were just there to grab more tissues or slept in there for two nights vomiting, giving your bathroom a deep clean is another top priority after being sick. Some tips for sanitizing your bathroom: Wash any bath towels, hand towels, rugs, robes, or other fabrics in hot water with color-safe bleach. Disinfect all surfaces, focusing mainly on the countertops and the toilet. You can use a store-bought product with bleach, or you can make your own with one part water to one part rubbing alcohol or full-strength vinegar. Empty the trash can, and then disinfect the trash bin. Replace your toothbrush or soak your toothbrush head in hydrogen peroxide for 30 minutes to kill any bacteria. If you used a sponge to wipe everything down, throw it out when you're done. If you use a cloth wipe, wash it with the towels when you're finished. You might not have used your kitchen much while you were sick, but even just making a pot of tea can leave a trail of germs that can spread your sickness to other people. Disinfect your kitchen with disinfectant wipes, a product with bleach, or a homemade sanitizer with 1 part water to 1 part rubbing alcohol or full-strength vinegar. Key places to wipe down in your kitchen: Countertops Refrigerator handle Faucet handles Pantry, cabinet, and drawer handles Any dishware used It's hard to remember everything you touched in your house while you were sick, but it's important to try to sanitize anything you may have had contact with. This will help you stay healthy and reduce the likelihood of you getting anyone else sick. Just be sure to use disinfecting products that are safe for use on a variety of surfaces, such as electronics. In addition to the areas you have already cleaned at this point, the most common points of contact in a house include: Thermometer Bathroom cabinets and drawer handles Door knobs Light switches, including the light switch plate Electronics like laptops, cell phones, landline phones, TV remotes, and the computer keyboard and mouse Now that your bed, bathroom, kitchen, and points of contact are clean, you have to remove the last location of your sick germs: the clothing you wore. Take all of the pajamas, sweaters, and comfy clothes you recuperated in over the past days and weeks and do one last load of laundry using hot water and color-safe bleach. This will ensure that you have killed all the bacteria you possibly can and will have a clean, healthy slate. After you've been sick and cooped up in your house with the windows closed and the blinds drawn, it's a great idea to air out your house. Open any windows and let a cross breeze move some fresh air in and around your house for a little bit. Replacing the stale, sick air in your home with fresh air will get rid of any airborne particles and it will leave you feeling refreshed and energized. If it's really cold outside, only do this for a minute or two; otherwise, keep the windows open for as long as you like!

Summary: Strip your bed sheets. Deep clean your bathroom. Disinfect your kitchen. Sanitize any other points of contact. Wash all of your sick clothing. Air out the house.

Most vets argue that extra weight on your dog's frame can lead to stress and pressure on his joints, especially his hip joints. A poor diet, lacking in nutrition, can also lead to poor bone growth and other joint and cartilage abnormalities in puppies and adult dogs. Manage your dog's weight to prevent obesity and avoid putting unnecessary stress on his joints. Look for high quality commercial dog food that is preserved with vitamin E or another natural preservative. These products will have no chemicals and contain high-quality meat instead of meat byproducts. You may have to pay more for higher quality dog food that is full of good sources of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. But it will be worth it if it keeps your dog healthy and ensures he does not end up overweight. You should also look at your dog's current physical state. Does he look bloated or overly round in his middle area? Research has proven that dogs who are kept very lean during their early, puppy years may have a reduced risk of developing hip problems. Keeping your dog thin and active can help prevent any issues associated with obesity. You should ensure your dog is getting enough vitamins and minerals by giving him antioxidant vitamins C and E. You can also give him Perna supplements. These supplements contain 57 nutrients and are good for strengthening your dog's joints. Speak to your vet about the right supplements for your dog and the proper dosage for each supplement before you give any supplements to your dog. Often, supplements are crushed into your dog's food so they are easy for him to consume. Your vet can help you develop a diet for your dog that can help to reduce his weight, or help him keep weight off. Many large breeds are susceptible to overeating, so your vet may be able to offer advice on how to better control your dog's diet. Your dog may also have certain allergies or other conditions that may be causing obesity. Ask your vet to check for other health issues that may be affecting your dog's weight.

Summary: Give your dog high quality food full of nutrients and minerals. Consider giving your dog dietary supplements. Talk to your vet if you think your dog may be overweight.

In many cases, you can allow the pregnancy to proceed normally, but make sure you have a vet on hand in case there are complications, which are more likely if your pig is older or younger or has not given birth previously. Try to find a vet who specializes in rodents and other small animals, rather than just a generic vet. If you have multiple sows, remove the male pig immediately to prevent others from becoming pregnant. Even if this is the only sow you own, you should still remove the male pig before she reaches 60 days in her pregnancy. It is best to house the male in an adjacent cage where he can still be close to the female. A male guinea pig who can not see or hear his mate may develop stress, making him susceptible to illness. Male guinea pigs will continue to mount pregnant sows, which can cause stress or pain to your pregnant sow late in the pregnancy (after the 50-day mark). She could also become pregnancy just two hours after she gives birth. You'll want to make sure your pig is getting sufficient food, water, and nutrients since these things are also helping the fetuses develop. Feed your guinea pig alfalfa hay instead of timothy hay so that she gets more protein and calcium. Your pregnant sow will also need more vitamin C after 4 weeks, about twice as much, so incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C into her diet. In addition, you may want to increase your guinea pig's fiber intake. Increased fiber intake can prevent hair thinning, which is common in the last stage of pregnancy. You should weigh your guinea pig twice a week to make sure that is gaining weight (and not losing it) and is generally healthy (e.g., eating all her food, still social and interactive, etc.) and check she's healthy. If at any point her weight begins to fall or if she begins to show signs of illness, consult a vet immediately. Try to make your guinea pig's life follow a routine so as to minimize stress, which can aggravate the dangers that accompany guinea pig pregnancy. Avoid making changes to a pregnant sow's cage, like removing toys or putting the cage in a totally new location. This could increase her stress and affect her eating and drinking habits. Reduce her exposure to loud noises or bright lights, including direct sunlight. Reduce handling to a minimum and don't handle her within two weeks of the birth. Note that the gestation period is usually 66 - 72 days.
Summary: Have the information of a vet. Remove any male guinea pigs. Make sure your guinea pig has enough food and water. Weigh your pregnant sow regularly. Minimize your guinea pig's stress.