Pet Be Cool on Pet Sitter Watch

Help Your Pet Be Cool This Summer

Your pets need to stay cool while you are away and your pet sitter is watching them too!

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It's great to enjoy summer with your pet. It is also a time when we travel on vacations and your favorite pet sitter is coming to your home to care for your beloved pets.  This is the greatest time when your pets have the greatest risk of injury due to heat-related health problems. As a pet sitter I find that sometimes people turn off everything and lock up tightly before leaving with Fio in the house.  So here are some tips on keeping things cool for your pets this summer.

Find A Cool Spot. For indoor pets, keeps the air circulating with a child-proof fan or air conditioner. Provide shade for outdoor pets. And a gentle sprinkle from a hose is always appreciated.
**Plan and provide a cool spot for your pets even when you are away!
Watch out for Signs of Heatstroke.  

·         Rapid panting

·         Hot skin

·         Twitching muscles

·         A dazed look

Wrap pet in a towel soaked with cool, not cold, water. In severe cases, place them in the bathtub. Heatstroke can be fatal.
Never Leave Your Pet In a Parked Car. Not even if you crack the windows or park in the shade. On a 70¯ day, the car temperature can rise above 150¯ in minutes. It's extremely dangerous. And the Number One Cause of heatstroke.

Keep Vaccinations Up-To-Date. This is the time when most pets come in contact with other animals, at parks, campgrounds, etc.

Always Provide Plenty Of Fresh Water. Dogs can only sweat through the pads of their feet and by panting. Evaporation from the wet surfaces of their mouth and nose helps lower body temperature.
Stop External Parasites Before They Bite. Fleas, ticks and ear mites thrive in warm, humid environments. See us for a preventive program.
Also Avoid Internal Parasites. Be sure your dog has been heartworm tested and is on preventive.
Watch For Hot Pavement and Beaches. Sensitive paws burn easily.

The Streets Aren't Safe. Don't let your pet roam. Just in case -- make sure your pet is licensed. We see twice as many fight injuries and bite wounds in summer. And, of course, your pet is no match for a car.

The Yard Isn't Always Safe, Either. Be cautious of pesticides and herbicides. Read the precautions for lawn chemicals carefully and keep pets away from newly-treated yards. If pets come in contact with chemicals, wash their feet, abdomen and chest thoroughly, then contact us.
Brush Regularly. Frequent brushing provides early warning of parasites and skin infections by lifting the coat, permitting a view of the skin below.

It's Allergy Season. People sneeze. Pets scratch. Common pet allergies include pollen, grass and weeds. If your pet scratches excessively or chews at its paws, take your pet to your veterinarian. They can design a program to help.

Watch The Exercise. Don't encourage exercise and dog walking during the hottest part of the day. Short low to the ground dogs internal organs are very close to the hot pavement and your dog’s paw pads can be painfully damaged.  

Watch the Diet.  Let your pets eat less. Overeating can lead to overheating.

Not Every Dog Paddles Well. Animals in the water for the first time should be eased in, never thrown or chased in. Don't let them drink from pools, streams or the ocean. And, if they swim, rinse them off. Salt and minerals can damage a dog's coat.

Sunburn Is No Day At The Beach. It hurts; Short-haired pets and those with pink skin and white hair are especially susceptible. Limit their exposure.

Submitted by:

Debbie Laughlin “Top Dog”

House Calls Pet Sitting and Home Care Services

Pets Prefer Pet Sitting

Pet sitting is a substitute to the kennel, with the bonus services offered that go beyond those of a kennel. A skilled pet sitter attends to your pets in the comfort of their home. Your pet sitter will make you feel comfortable knowing someone reliable is taking care of your pet and house.

Pet sitting is the best alternative to boarding or kenneling a wide variety of pets who are now members of your families. Pet sitting services are set up so that one phone call provides your solution for your pet care when you are working long hours, taking vacations, long weekend or business trips. We all know pets do not care for change, some are nervous at the veterinarians and others feel abandoned at the kennel. There is no place like home for pets where they love their familiar surroundings and smells knowing that you will return to them. Your pets are safe and cozy at home when you leave and at home well-loved and care for when you return. Hiring the services of professional pet sitter safeguards that your beloved pet(s) are happy and safe while you are away from home. Below you will find how you can go about finding the ideal pet sitting company to hire for you and your pet(s).

1) Go to your favorite search engine to do an internet search looking for services that have reviews. Ask friends and or co-workers for recommendations.

2) Look for a professional pet sitting service:

• a) Experience in handling all kinds of pets
• b) Insured with a business license
• c) References 
• d) Back up sitter in case of they have an emergency 

3) Make phone calls and or email your top choices.

4) When you speak with the candidates set up a one on one meeting in your home with your pet(s) to ensure that the pet sitter is the right match to can care your pet.

5) If you feel you will still worry have your pet sitter(s) text, call and or send photos to you as often as you like while you are away.

Pet sitting prices will fluctuate determined by which company you select, as well as the services which you require. Some dog walking and pet sitting business will charge extra if they have to travel further to get to the client’s house. Pet Sitting fees typically include walks, feedings, giving meds, yard pickup, litter scooping, playtime and of course lots of love. Most pet sitting companies also offer home services bringing in your mail, pick up your newspapers, set out and bring back in the garbage cans, turn lights on and off plus stage drapes, giving your home the at home look. Pet sitting services deliver their services to you and their prices are extremely reasonable for the peace of mind while you are away that your pets and your home are in good hands.

Pet sitting is the stress-free way to make sure your pet(s) and home are looked after, while you are not there, and is the outstanding alternative to kenneling or boarding. Professional Pet Sitting gives you freedom from worry while you are away your pet(s) and home will be in the hands of a trustworthy capable care taker.

Valentine Healthy Recipes for Your Dog

Come for a walk with us on our fun pet page!

If your Pet has a pre-existing medical condition, consult your  veterinarian before adding a new food to his or her diet.

 Biscuits

Try this recipe for Good Puppy Cookies—your pooch will love you for these!

Ingredients:

½ c powdered milk
1 egg - well beaten
2 ½ cups flour
½ tsp. garlic salt
1 ½ tsp. brown sugar
6 Tbs. gravy
1 large jar baby food meat

Directions:

Mix all ingredients. Roll out about ½" thick. Cut with cookie cutter or shape by hand. Bake at 350° F for 25 to 30 minutes.

Bark-tastic  Cake

Ingredients

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoons baking powder
½ cup soft butter
½ cup corn oil
1 jar baby food, liver or beef, strained
4 eggs
2 strips beef jerky

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 8x5x3 inch loaf pan. Cream butter until smooth. Add corn oil, baby food, and eggs. Mix until smooth. Mix dry ingredients into beef mixture until batter is smooth. Crumble beef jerky and fold into batter. Pour batter into loaf pan. Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes. cool on wire rack 15 minutes. Ice with plain yogurt or cottage cheese. Refrigerator left over servings.

Pet Party Coolers

We're sure that your dog and their party guests will have a lick'n good time with this chilled recipe!

Ingredients:

2 cups water
½ banana
1 tablespoon low fat peanut butter

Directions:

Mix water, banana and peanut butter in a blender and pour the mixture into an ice cube tray. For larger dogs and larger treats, use paper cups. Freeze the mixture for a few hours until frozen solid. The coolers can get messy, so you might want to serve in the yard!

Healthy Veggie Bones

Your pup is sure to enjoy munching on this nutritious snack! Remember to count each serving into your four-legged friend's daily calories to help keep you Pet healthy.

Ingredients:

3 cups minced parsley
¼ cup carrots, chopped very fine
¼ cup shredded mozzarella or parmesan cheese
2 tbs. olive oil
2 ¾ cups whole wheat flour
2 tbs. bran
2 tsp. baking powder
½ to 1 cup water

Directions:

Preheat over to 350 degrees and lightly grease a large baking sheet. Stir together parsley, carrots, cheese and oil. Combine all the dry ingredients, then add to veggies. Gradually add ½ cup of water, mixing well (the dough should be moist, but not wet). Knead for one minute and roll dough out to ½ inch thickness. Using a dog bone shaped cookie cutter or a drinking glass, cut out shapes and transfer them to the baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until the dough has browned and hardened slightly. Serving size: 1 bone per 50 pound dog or for smaller dogs, cut the bone in half. Bone appetite!

Look'n Lean Liver Treats

If your Birthday boy or girl is watching their weight try this low fat recipe as a special treat on their special day!

Ingredients:

3 ½ oz. jar liver or beef baby food
1/3 cup wheat germ
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk

Directions:

Mix baby food, wheat germ and dry milk. Add a little water, if too thick. Drop by the tablespoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool before giving to your Pet. Refrigerate leftovers in a closed container.

Banana Mutt Cookie Recipe

So yummy you may be tempted to take a bite!

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups ripe mashed banana
½ tsp vanilla
3 cups oats (quick or old fashioned)
½ cup chopped peanuts
¼ cup applesauce

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Press flat with the tines of a fork. Bake approximately 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack before serving. Store in an airtight container.

Pet Owners Plan For Pet Sitters

Before leaving for your trip, it is best to equip your sitter with what she needs to know. This will help her perform her tasks better and make things easier. 

First and foremost, it is a good idea to have a meet-and-greet session where your pet can meet his sitter. This is so they can get acquainted with one another and you can decide if it is a good idea to leave your pet with this sitter. If for some reason your gut tells you that there is something wrong, go with this feeling. Find another sitter, because it’s better to be safe than sorry.

When you get past this hurdle, you can then set your expectations. What is it exactly you expect from your sitter while you are away? Will they look after your pet only or will they do other tasks as well? This is the best time for you to tell her about the house rules and rules you have for your pet, including how you discipline them. It is important to be specific with what you want and make sure that it is specified in the contract. 

Since you will be giving your sitter a set of keys and codes to your alarm or your gate if you live in a gated community, make sure you notify your security alarm company, neighbors and friends. You would not want them to think that an intruder is in your home. Also refrain from scheduling repairs, visits or other circumstances wherein other people need to enter your home. If they cannot be avoided, inform your sitter of this, so that she can make arrangements for it. 

Provide your sitter with a detailed list of instructions even if you have filled up a form. It would be good to keep this in a place where your sitter can immediately see it when he or she arrives. Give specific information about feeding, exercise, medications (if needed), where things can be found and household tasks. You can also include the rules you mentioned earlier to reinforce them. 

With this list you can include your dog’s medical records – especially if they have a medical condition or allergies, veterinarian’s contact information, preferred hospital, veterinarian’s contact number, your itinerary and contact number, and a person to contact locally in case of an emergency. Don’t forget to jot down your pet’s microchip number if he has one. Making a list of your pet’s favorites and things to avoid can help too. Don’t forget to leave some form of documentation that the pet sitter has permission to look after your pet and be in your home.

Aside from preparing your pets, it is also advisable to prepare your home. Arrange it the way you want to see it when you get back. Again, this is to set expectations. Put everything within reach, such as your pet’s food, other needs, and cleaning supplies. If there are important items or breakables, put them away to avoid accidents. 

Making the job easier for your sitter means fewer problems for you while you are away. Information and documentation is the best way to do this.

There is No Place Like Home

Pets love being in the comfort of their homes!  Cats are not fond of change or their carriers.  Linked is the story of Ripples cat who found himself out of the comfort of his home, in his carrier and placed in the cargo bin of a plane.  Ripples family vacation nightmare!

Ripples the cat would have preferred a loving pet sitter coming by his home every day. 

House Calls 4 Pet: Heart Expansion

House Calls 4 Pet: Heart Expansion: After the loss of my beloved Griffey the Pekinese at 3 years I thought my heart could not take the loss of another pet and decided no m...

Heart Expansion

After the loss of my beloved Griffey the Pekinese at 3 years I thought my heart could not take the loss of another pet and decided no more dogs.  My husband and friend since I was seventeen, who knew me better than I did myself during my grief, came home one day with the cutest little Pekinese puppy.  When I first laid eyes on her I wanted to put a wall around me.  She had Griffey’s coloring, only her little face had a larger black mass.  You could hardly see her dark eyes for the black mask around her face.  My heart got protective and my body wanted to run and say NO, No, No!  Looking at her bug eyes wondering where she was now and what life had in store for her my heart melted and expanded as I fell in love with this sweet little fur ball whom we named Anna. 

Five months later my husband came home with a seven month old rescued white Pekenege who we named Bob.  He was a strange little guy whom fell in love with Anna at first sight!  He immediately went running over to Anna and to our surprise did the deed.  Yes, he did. We had no idea she was fertile at that moment since she had No signs of being in heat.  Plus Bob was only seven months old! Yikes!

Okay, so now what do I do! I was going from not wanting to have a dog again to having a family of pups.  This would mean my heart would break as I eventually would need to find good homes for all the sweet innocent little babies that would soon enter my life.   The experience turned out to be one of true amazement.

Bob took good care of his Anna growing wider day by day. Bob was ways at Anna's side.  The night she went into labor Bob was the worried husband and father to be  Bob would pace and check on her in the walk in shower of the down stairs bathroom which we had set up a birthing bed for Anna and the coming pups.  By the time came for the first puppy to be born Bob was exhausted!   He finally ended up laying on the coach upside down eyes wide open looking helpless while Miss Anna, (a brave girl) gave birth to not one, not two, not three, not four but FIVE puppies. 

Bob entered the birthing room; Anna looked up exhaustedly as Bob looked at her in amazement.  Than to our surprise Bob curled up around Anna with their five newborns and became the best father of his fleeting family.  When Anna needed to rest, go out to take care of business or refuel Bob kept the puppies warm.  When the pups would look stir for food from Bob he was so patient and loving about their efforts to find a nipple to feed on till Mom returned.   

As the pups grew Anna and Bob began escorting the puppies outside to go potty!  The parents shared all responsibilities for play time, potty training and loving each one. What a beautiful experience it was to watch the interactions of this furry family with amazing parents. 

Life opened my heart and taught me that the blessing of pet ownership far out way the pain of the time they must leave us. 

Wouldn’t it be nice if all puppies were blessed to have life begin this way?

What do you think of these pet names? Do you see your four-legged friend’s name on this list? Tell us below!

So, drumroll please…. here is Banfield’s list of the top 20 pet names for dogs and cats in 2011:
Top 20 Dog Names
1. Bella
2. Max
3. Buddy

4. Daisy

5. Bailey

6. Lucy

7. Molly

8. Coco

9. Charlie

10. Rocky
11. Chloe

12. Maggie

13. Sadie

14. Princess

15. Sophie

16. Lucky

17. Roxy

18. Jack

19. Lola

20. Harley

Top 20 Cat Names

1. Kitty

2. Tiger

3. Bella

4. Kitten

5. Smokey

6. Max

7. Tigger

8. Shadow
9. Chloe

10. Lucy

11. Charlie
12. Oreo
13. Baby
14. Lucky
15. Buddy
16. Oliver
17. Jack
18. Simba

19. Princess

20. Angel

Pet Party

Are you going to
throw your pet a birthday party?


Tips to help make the day as special as your pet:


Safety
1- First Party time is not the best time to introduce unfamiliar pets to your own. Try to make your Pet guest list consist of those with whom your Pet is familiar.


2- Consider your party location and remember to invite only as many Pets and people that can realistically and comfortably co-exist. Inviting small children can be an additional concern—if you're going to do it, make sure they know how to handle pets gently and won't be frightened by a group of them.


3- If you are inviting Pet guests who aren't spayed and neutered, let other party guests know. If you're hosting an outdoor party for dogs, bring waste bags and remind guests to leave the location in the same condition that it was in prior to the party.


4- Wherever you choose to have the party, make sure that it is safely enclosed and that four-legged guests can't slip through any cracks!


5- Have a contingency plan in the event of bad weather. Lastly, make sure you always have first aid items on hand as well as easy access to veterinarian phone numbers and locations, complete with driving directions. Be prepared!


The Guest List
A birthday or adopt anniversary is no fun unless it's shared by friends.
Invite all your kitties for a day of early play, a belly full of treats and then, what else?

• A cat nap of course! You can create a special space in your house just for napping, but remember, it's kitty's special day, so let her sleep wherever she may. If your dog is familiar with and favors certain dogs from your neighborhood or from the dog park, consider getting them all together for a day of fun.
• A park where Pet owners can mingle and dogs can explore on leash is the perfect environment for such activities. Don't forget to bring along your puppy treats and share them with the bunch!
• The size of your Pet's party is completely up to you, but consider your Pet's demeanor when compiling a guest list. Is your Pet very social? Or does she prefer quiet time to herself? Answering these questions will help you choose whether to invite only immediate family or every pooch from the dog park!

Invitations
Now it's time to let the world—or, your party guests at least—know about your Pet's birthday party! Simple hand-written notes on Pet-themed invitations will do the trick. Or, take advantage of electronic invites to alert your guests about the festivities.


What to Serve
1. Water: Clean, fresh water should always be available for all of your Pet guests! And make multiple bowls available so that everyone can access it when they need it. Also consider customizing affordable dog bowls as a take home gift for your Pet's guests!


2. Treats: Consider cooking a special meal just for your dog or even baking up some natural, good eat treats for him. Check out these tasty recipes for your Dog or Cat! Not much of a cook? There are plenty of all-natural treats on the market that are good for your dog and good for good times. You can also consider purchasing Kong toys to fill with cheese or peanut butter and providing one for each guest. Training treats will come in handy as rewards for Best Dressed Pet or Best Trick contests.


Remember the pet birthday themed birthday party paper goods for your human guests. For cats: Cats crave catnip. One whiff of the stuff can turn them into frolicking, silly clowns—the perfect mood for partying or celebrating their special day. To make the special day even more special—consider growing your own catnip. You can buy and cultivate seeds in your own home or purchase a kit just in time for the happy adopt anniversary or birthday!


What to Wear

Is your cat or dog fashion-conscious? Think about letting him express himself on his special day in a t-shirt that really matches the mood of such a happy day. You're sure to find something to suit your furry little friend with apparel sizes ranging from extra large to small enough to fit even tiny dogs and cats. From tank tops to sweatshirts with variety of sayings and patterns there's sure to be one that fits the occasion!

Have fun with your pet and enjoy the joy they give you!