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.

The Truth About Pets & Babies

New motherhood is an exciting time, full of joy and optimism. And few things are more precious than the bond that can develop between your child and pet. To ensure the newest addition to your family and the furriest member

of your family enjoy a happy and healthy life together, it is important to distinguish between myths and facts.

Myth or Fact:

Raising children with pets can help your child’s development of non-verbal

communication skills, compassion, and empathy.

Fact!

A positive pet experience is very beneficial to children. Taking care of a

pet can help children develop social skills, as well as

build self-esteem and self-confidence.1 Pets can improve

children’s physical health too - studies show children

exposed to pets during the first year of life have a lower

frequency of allergic rhinitis at 7–9 years of age and of

asthma at 12–13 years.2

Myth or Fact:

Pregnant women shouldn’t own cats.

Myth!

As an expectant mother, you can own a cat – just delegate the chore of

cleaning the litter box to someone else. Fecal matter should be scooped at

least twice a day. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that cats can carry

and spread to humans through contact with their feces.3

Myth or Fact:

Cats steal a baby’s breath.

Myth!

While there’s no truth to this, do not allow your cat to sleep in

your baby’s crib or room. If a cat snuggles close to a baby’s

face, it can make it difficult for a baby to breathe simply

because the cat’s fur and body are in the way.3

Myth or Fact:th or Fact:

If your pet was your first “baby”, you will have to find

it a new home before your human baby arrives.

Myth!

Introducing your new baby into a home is a major

change for everyone, including your pet. But giving

up your pet is not necessary.4

Information provided by: Bayer Health Animal Division

My Valentine Cats Recipes

DJ Laughlin Art

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

Purr-fect Puff Pops

A tail-twitching, whisker-lickin' treat that is sure to get a meow from your favorite feline!

Ingredients:

1 hard-boiled egg
½ cup of honey
1 long sliced carrot
1 can of tuna (6-ounce can of tuna in water)

Directions:

Mash the hard-boiled egg and put it into a bowl. Add honey, carrot and tuna. Mix together and roll into marble-sized balls. Place the puffs in a sealed container and keep refrigerated until they turn into chilled pops. Then serve.

Serving size: 1 puff pop for an adult cat and ½ pop for a kitten.

Pet Party Coolers

We're sure that your cat 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!

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.