INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Many dogs, even if they're in otherwise good health, may have a reaction to a rabies vaccine. This is usually normal and symptoms should clear up within a week.  Anaphylactic, or allergic reactions, are the most common types of reactions. They usually occur during booster shots and after the 2nd or 3rd round. Your dog might become lethargic and show a mild fever and have swelling around the site of the vaccination. Your vet might recommend antihistamines as treatment if the reaction is severe. Severe reactions, while rare, can be fatal. If you live some distance from a vet then you need to be prepared to accept this risk if considering vaccination yourself at home.  Local reactions are swelling, redness, and itching about the site of the injection. They occur shortly after a vaccination and are usually not serious. They tend to pass within a few weeks.  Systemic reactions are things like fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. They are common, appear shortly after an injection, and tend to pass within a few days.  A serious reaction will occur within 10 to 30 minutes of the injection. The dog may collapse and go into shock and will have pale gums, a racing heart, and may lose consciousness. Please monitor your dog for a while after vaccination for any adverse effects.  Immediately after a vaccine, keep an eye on your dog for about an hour. Bad reactions might occur in this timeframe and medical care might be needed. Be careful handling your dog in the days following a rabies vaccine. He will probably be sore around the site of injection and you'll want to avoid touching this area. Occasionally, reactions can get quite serious. If you follow proper protocol, this is rare. However, know when medical care might be needed in the event of a serious reaction.   Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is an immune response that triggers the release of red blood cells. It is unlikely to occur in response to a rabies vaccine, but not impossible. Signs include lethargy, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and diarrhea. Autoimmune reactions can be quite serious and warrant medical attention. If you notice any of the above symptoms, seek immediate medical care.  If local reactions, such as swelling, or systemic reactions, such as a fever or lethargy, do not go away on their own within a few days, take your dog to see a vet to determine why the reaction is so persistent.

SUMMARY: Understand what reactions are normal. Monitor your dog for any effects. Seek medical care, if necessary.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The most highly-recommended homes for gerbils are large fish tanks. A fish tank allows you put in plenty of bedding for them to bulldoze and burrow into without worry that they'll kick it out like they would with a wire cage. Wire cages can work in a pinch, but are not recommended for the long term.  A gerbil will chew the wires of a wire cage and this can hurt their noses and muzzles. The most important part of your gerbil's environment is room to dig, a minimum of 6 inches (15.2 cm) of substrate. So never go solely with a wire cage, as this can limit the gerbil's ability to dig and tunnel. Plastic "hamster homes", or any cages with plastic trays or components, are highly discouraged. A gerbil will easily chew through the plastic and escape. Modular systems, such as Rotastak and Habitrail, are also not recommended for any rodent. As well as causing serious health and enrichment issues, in the case of gerbils you run the risk that one of your gerbils will 'claim' a section of the tubes and this can lead to major fighting and even death. Adding a topper to your large glass tank means your gerbil will be secure in its home but the tank will still get the ventilation that it needs. If you are buying a wire topper that is not made specifically for the tank you have, just make sure that it will fit the tank securely.  Make sure the top is tight, as gerbils can jump! If you only have a topper that is a bit loose, you can make sure your cage topper is secure by placing heavy objects on the edge of the topper. Remember gerbils must be kept in pairs but you cannot introduce an adult to an adult without a split cage. A divided cage allows the gerbils to slowly acclimate to each other, otherwise they may fight and once can kill the other. Instead of dealing with a slow introduction, consider getting several gerbils at the same time that were raised as pups and litter mates.

SUMMARY: Consider getting a large fish tank. Avoid plastic cages. Consider a wire topper to allow for ventilation. Buy or build a divider if you are planning on introducing two gerbils that were not raised together.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Condoms are most commonly made from latex, polyurethane, nitrile, polyisoprene, or lambskin. Each has advantages and disadvantages. All should be disposed of in the same way. They go in the garbage. With condoms, there's no real way to avoid the landfill. Get a biodegradable latex condom or lambskin condom if you're worried about the earth.  Latex condoms are the most common. They are durable and inexpensive when compared to other condoms. However, some people are allergic to latex condoms. Polyurethane is stronger than latex and can be made thinner. They are a suitable replacement for people with latex allergies. However, they are more brittle and expensive than latex condoms. Nitrile feels a bit like latex and is relatively inexpensive. This material works very well for female condoms. Polyisoprene is relatively new material. It is made by putting latex rubber through a process to remove allergens. It is expensive, but it is still, though rare, possible to be allergic to it. Lambskin condoms are able to prevent pregnancy, but not HIV. Natural membrane condoms are not proper protection from sexually transmitted infections. Those seeking to prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases should choose a latex, polyurethane, nitrile, or polyisoprene condom. It will likely clog. You will need to hire a professional to fix it. That can be expensive and potentially embarrassing. This is littering. It is also a bio-hazard. A pet could bring it back inside, or try to eat it, causing health problems. Young children might play with it and become sick. They will take a very long time to breakdown. Composting condoms can also attract animals. Not only are wild animals hazardous, the condom, if ingested, can cause the animals harm. Even pets may be drawn to it. Though some condoms are biodegradable, and can theoretically be composted, the potential problems created by using condoms for compost makes them unsuitable for most situations. Unfortunately, the foil wrappers around condoms are not recyclable. It will need to go into the trash bin with the condom. They cannot be reused or recycled. Though there are people developing tools to do so, the technology isn't quite there yet.

SUMMARY:
Choose the right condom. Do not flush it down the toilet. Do not throw it outside. Do not compost biodegradable condoms. Do not recycle condom wrappers. Do not recycle condoms.