In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Is there a certain area on the body that is itchier than others? Does your pet lick his feet, under his tail or along his belly? The most common areas of irritation for allergic dogs are around the back and tail, the abdomen, and the legs and paws. It can be common that your dog’s itching is so severe that he chews his skin to the point of creating a “hot spot”. This skin lesion can develop overnight and can get very large very quickly. The skin is pink, moist, hot and painful. You may even see sticky material oozing from the wound created. These are infected open wounds and need veterinary intervention to give your pet relief.  Chronic cases of itching might result in the thickening and roughening of the skin so that it looks like elephant hide. Hot spots are often the symptom of allergies to fleas, foods, grass, mold or other environmental substances. There may be more complicated underlying conditions such as low thyroid (hypothyroidism) levels or Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism).  Secondary bacterial and yeast (malassezia) infections are not uncommon and will require specially tailored treatment. There might be a particular time of year that your dog is itchier. Perhaps he is itchy after being on the lawn or after eating a certain food. By noticing patterns, you will help to narrow the focus of your pet’s treatment to help with the itching. If your dog has a really strong body odor, seems excessively thirsty or does not seem as lively as usual, you should take your pet to the veterinarian. Your veterinarian will need to do blood tests and evaluate swabs from the skin surface to get more information to help define appropriate treatment. Whenever you notice your dog itching, write down the circumstances, including where your dog has been, what he’s been eating and what part of his body is itchy. This will be extremely useful for your veterinarian, who will rely on this information to narrow down the possible causes for your pet’s itching and skin lesions.
Summary: Pay attention to which parts of your dog's body are itchy. Look for hot spots on your dog’s skin. Consider the timing. Check on your dog’s overall health. Take notes when you notice the itching.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: You can use Epsom salt alone, but adding additional ingredients increases the benefits of your bath. An essential oil will add an element of relaxation to your bath. You can choose the essential oil of your choice. Only add a few drops of the oil to the water.  Lavender oil is a common choice for baths because it is thought to be relaxing. Rose, geranium, and grapefruit are other good choices for fragrant essential oils. Eucalyptus, tea tree, frankincense, and myrrh oils are good choices for those with skin problems, like acne or dry skin. Apple cider vinegar will boost the detoxification process. Add ½ cup (170 g) of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. You can add it before or after the Epsom salt. Bentonite clay is thought to help with pain and stiffness. Epsom salt is supposed to help with the same problem, so adding the two together increases pain relief. Add about ½ cup (170 g) of clay to the bath water. Rose is a sweet scent that is commonly used in fragrances. Add a few drops of rosewater to your bath for an enjoyable scent as you soak. You can also use rose petals instead of rosewater.
Summary: Add a few drops of an essential oil. Try apple cider vinegar. Use bentonite clay to relieve pain. Add rosewater.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Pour 4 parts of water into a saucepan on your stove and set the burner on high. As the water warms, add in 1 part of white sugar. Bring the water to a low boil, and let it boil for 2–3 minutes so the water and sugar blend. Then, let the water cool for 30 minutes, and pour it into your feeder.  The size of the carafe varies from one hummingbird feeder to another. Only make enough nectar to fill the carafe of your feeder(s). If you make extra, you can store it in the refrigerator. The nectar will only keep for about 1 week, though. Never use honey or artificial sweeteners in your nectar, and never give hummingbirds commercial foods that contain red dye. Due to the high sugar content of the nectar, the feeders get dirty quickly. To clean them, mix white vinegar and warm water at a ratio of 1:4. Dump out the old, dirty water, and pour in about 1⁄2 litre (0.13 US gal) of the vinegar solution. Place the lid back on the feeder and shake it vigorously to clean out the feeder. If the inside of the feeder is especially dirty, drop 12–20 grains of rice in along with the vinegar mixture. The rice will scrape stains or moldy patches out from the carafe. Once it’s clean, rinse the feeder out 2–3 times with warm water to remove all traces of the vinegar mixture. If any vinegar is left inside, birds will stop drinking from the feeder. Then, refill the feeder with another batch of sugar water for the birds to eat. Hang the feeder again, and watch as more of the beautiful birds come by to drink! Ants are a problem for all hummingbird feeders, but get especially bad with suction-cup feeders, since ants have easy access to them. Prevent ants from accessing your feeders by filling up the feeders’ ant moat with water. The ant moat is a 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) wide trough that goes around the feeder. When ants attempt to get to the sweet nectar, they’ll fall and drown in the moat. At least once a week, scoop the ant bodies out of the ant moat and dispose of them.  Most saucer and J-hook feeders have ant moats. Suction-cup feeders often don’t, since the moat would be unable to wrap all the way around the feeder. If you’re concerned about ants and wasps getting into the nectar and bothering the hummingbirds, purchase a bee guard that can be attached to the feeder. Most hardware stores sell bee guards.  Never fill the moat with oil. Small birds will drink from the moat from time to time, and the oil could harm them. If you don’t take preventative steps, you’ll soon find that your feeder is full of drowned ants and that the birds are no longer drinking from it.
Summary:
Fill the hummingbird feeder with nectar made from sugar and water. Clean the feeder with vinegar and warm water once a week. Rinse the carafe with warm water and refill the feeder. Keep ants away by filling the feeder’s ant moat with water.