Should You Hire A Petsitter for the Holidays

Pet Sitters are a much needed necessity if you have are leaving your dog or cat for the holidays. Pet sitters are an alternative to boarding and kenneling which allows home dog sitting, where the dogs stay in a comfortable environment, or the neighborhood kid down the street you don't know very well. Though more and more vacation lodging includes both dog and cat hotels, it is less stressful on both the dog and their human if they can stay home instead of traveling around the world.

In Dallas, dog walking can be a part of the pet care services which can be chosen as part of your vacation package with a professional pet sitter. Regardless of whether you use a franchise service like Fetch! Pet Care which is located nationwide or an independent contractor, please make sure they have insurance and well as bonding all their staff.

Pet Sitters are not all created equal. Many are members of NAPPS (National Association of Professional Pet Sitters) or Pet Sitters International. Some are associated with both vet and other pet services.

Home dog and cat sitting allows the animals to enjoy the holidays with someone who loves pets, takes care of your home, as well as takes the dog walking or plays with the cats on a daily basis. Many pet sitting services will also take care of reptiles, birds, rodents, and even the occasional tarantula.

Don't leave your pet with a neighbor who may be too busy to check on them daily. Hire a professional pet sitter who is there for you 24/7 regardless of whether your flight makes it back on time or your car gets a flat. And once the holidays are over and you and your pets have developed a report with your pet sitter, consider hiring them for dog walking or pet visits to keep your pet company while you work those long hours until your next vacation.

Libby Mitchell is the owner of Fetch! Pet Care of NE Dallas. Fetch! Pet Care provides many pet care services in around the nation.

Symptoms of Arthritis

Arthritis can affect any dog regardless of breed. It can turn a friendly active dog into an angry sluggish dog. Many dogs, one in five, will get arthritis and have trouble with mobility as they get older. Other illnesses, including the flu and a stomach virus, can exhibit similar symptom.
So, how do you know if your dog has arthritis?

1. Favoring a limb

• your pet may start limping or using a certain limb less

Difficulty sitting or standing

• always leaning to one leg and completely avoiding the other

Sleeping more Seeming to have stiff or sore joints

• may not like to have certain joints or areas touched

Hesitancy to jump, run or climb stairs

• you may need to purchase a smaller set of stairs or a ramp if they have trouble getting up

Weight gain

• from loss of mobility

Decreased activity or less interest in play Attitude or behavior changes Call your veterinarian and express your concern for arthritis if these last more than two weeks or they get progressively worse. Waiting can cause more joint damage to occur.

By Staff Writer Trish Harding

Dangers of Human Medication

Animals, dogs especially, are known for digging around in the garbage and eating anything that smells remotely edible. The biggest problem arises when your pet eats medications that have been carelessly thrown out in the garbage.

Consumption of human medications can cause kidney failure, liver failure, vomiting and even death. If your pet has eaten any medication then you should contact the ASPCA Poison Control Center. It is a great resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card if it is not a common poison and you need to speak with a vet. You can also check out their webpage at http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/

To prevent animals from eating medication you should:

1. Keep medicine out of reach and in a cabinet that cannot be open by them.
2. Keep human and pet medicine separate to avoid confusion in a hurry.
3. Do not keep medication in a plastic bag, this provides no barrier should your animal happen to discover the medicine.
4. Keep medication in its original labeled container.
5. Administer pills over something that will ensure they don’t get dropped on the floor to be quickly gobbled up by Fido.

If your pet is suffering from an illness NEVER attempt to self medicate. You should always contact your veterinarian.

By Staff Writer Trish Harding

Treating Fleas

Are you having a flea investation.  You are not alone! The fleas have four life stages and there are many options out there to treat fleas in every stage of their life. It is very important that you take care of fleas on small animals. In the mid-90s there was a horrible flea epidemic and, sadly, a few of our cat’s kittens didn’t make it through the year due to flea infestation. So treat for fleas as soon as you see them and if things get worse you should consult your veterinarian.

· Flea shampoos are good if there are a visible amount of fleas on your animal. It is not a permanent solution as it will only kill the fleas it comes in contact with and more will appear within the next few days if no other treatment is used as shampoo is only lethal to adult fleas.

· Flea dips can be used if the fleas pose an immediate threat to your animal. Mites can also be treated with a flea dip. There are some nasty chemicals in flea dips so I would suggest going to see your vet for this treatment.

· Flea collars work on adult fleas only by emitting gas around the collar and allowing some chemicals to be absorbed into the animal’s upper fat layer, killing fleas that try to feed. Flea collars can b put in a vacuum cleaners bag to kill any fleas that have been vacuumed up.

· Flea powders and sprays are only effective against adult fleas and have fallen out of favor in recent years. They can be messy and troublesome if inhaled. They are best used when sprinkled onto the carpet and vacuumed out and last about 2 to 3 days.

· Spot-on treatments such as Advantage and Frontline. Treatment can last anywhere from 1 to 6 months and are applied between the shoulder blades. Some treatments work on adult fleas only while others work on fleas in any stage of life. The amount used depends on weight so it is important that you read all included instructions and apply accordingly.

· Oral medications and injections such as Program and Capstar are one of the few treatments that work by ending the cycle of fleas. Since they are ingested by the animal the go into the blood stream to deliver the product directly to the belly of the pest. Female fleas will start laying unviable eggs so, therefore, larva never hatches and the life cycle does not continue. Read all instructions before proceeding. Consult your veterinarian if you have any questions.

· Don’t forget to vacuum daily and wash all your pets bedding. If fleas are still a problem you should try using a flea light with a sticky pad. After collection you can take the sticky pad to your vet and they will be able to tell you what you are dealing with and how to best treat them.

Only resort to flea bombing as a last resort as those chemicals are highly toxic when inhaled by you and your pet. If your animal appears to be having an adverse reaction to any of the above flea treatments it is imperative that you get them to a vet and discontinue treatment immediately. Just like humans, animals can have allergic reactions to drugs.

By Staff Writer Trish Harding

Puppy Proofing Your Home

Puppies, more than any other animal, are known for getting into things and eating their way into your bank account via chewed remotes, cords, and shoes. It is essential to safe guard your home from your puppy and your puppy from the dangers of your home.

The use of baby gates is very effective in keeping curious puppies out of places they don’t belong. You can put one up in the entrance to the kitchen, bathroom, garage, stairway and entrance.

Anything you do not want the puppy to ingest should be kept out of harm’s way. Including, but not limited to:

· money
· cords
· electronics (remotes, iPods, phones)
· cleaning supplies
· small toys
· houseplants
· decorative pillows
· potpourri (candles, incense)
· garbage
· jewelry
· medications
· small animals (hamsters, fish)

The backyard needs to be checked for:
· broken or weak fence areas and gates
· swimming pools need to be covered and blocked by barricades
· toxic plant life that may be ingested

ALWAYS WATCH YOUR PUPPY WHEN HE IS OUTSIDE!!

 By Staff Writer Trish Harding

Naming Your Pet

So you have a new pet and now you need to name it. Most pets are given human names and nicknames. But if you need some help choosing the right name, here are some tips for you.

• The name needs to be easily recognized. Animals respond better to names that have either one or two syllables.
• Pick a name that would be fun and easy to call out in an animal park, not something you would be embarrassed to shout if your friend wonders off.
• Avoid names that sound like No, Sit, Stay or other commands. A dog will get confused if their names sounds similar to a command.
• A long name will be shortened so choose one that has a great nickname attached to it.
• Choose a name that matches the breeds heritage, such as a Scottish, French, or Spanish.
• You can also choose to wait a few days so you can pick up on your new pets personality.
• Pick an appropriate name that will go with the pet as it ages. “Puppy” may seem cute now but when the dog is 187 lbs that name won’t be quite as fitting.

By Staff Writer Trish Harding