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.

Kitten Proofing Your Home

Kitten’s are very, very curious animals and will get into anything you leave out, including toilet paper.

1. All harmful chemicals, poisonous houseplants, and fragile items need to be stowed away where they cannot be ingested or broken.

2. Sewing supplies, such as needles and thread, can be dangerous if swallowed. Kitten may also drag them out and “forget” them on the carpet. Ouch! Keep them well out of reach.

3. Cords that dangle, like those from blinds, can be a potential strangulation hazard. Keep them tied up where kitten cannot reach.

4. Your garbage should be covered and put away where it cannot be ripped into.

5. NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!!! Leave your dryer door open. If it has been left open by mistake ALWAYS check the inside before closing it. Cats love dark, warm places to sleep and the dryer has a very horrible ending.

6. Keep cabinets and drawers closed. If your cat can open the cabinet, which mine can, install a child lock so it cannot be swung open. Towels don’t work well when they are covered in cat hair.

7. Tie drapes up until kitten knows to use their scratching post for any stretching.

8. Make sure electrical cords and wires are out of reach. They pose a risk of electric shock if kitten decides to chew on them.

By Staff Writer Trish Harding

Ringworm and Pets

Ringworm is very common in both animals and humans. A common misconception is it is a colony of little tiny worms. Ringworm is actually a fungus that lives on dead tissue and is easily spread between species.

One symptom of ringworms is a lesion on the skin which looks like a rapidly growing circular patch of broken hair. The patch may look inflamed and may appear to have dandruff-like flakes on it. The most common areas where it can occur are face, ear tips, tails and paws.

If you see your animal experiencing any of these symptoms, take them to a vet. They will examine the hair under ultra-violet light. If your pet has ringworm, your vet will prescribe an anti-fungal ointment to apply daily, where it can be easily cured.

Humans need to take some precautions since ringworm highly infectious. Keep small children away from the infected animal and handle things with gloves. You should also keep your animals hair short while they are undergoing treatment.

You and your pets will be just fine if infected but you will experience some tender, itchy, dry patches of skin in circles. If you exhibit any of the symptoms go and see your doctor so as not to spread the fungus any further.

By Staff Writer Trish Harding
http://dallas-plano-richardson.fetchpetcare.com

Keeping Kitty Happy

Keeping a cat indoors is beneficial to the health of the animal. They have no chance of getting hit by a car, they don’t have to deal with the pound and they cannot be snatched by strangers. But, indoor cats can be very insistent on going outside despite our best efforts to keep them happy indoors.

· You can fashion an escape resistant inclosure for the cat. Make sure all the walls connect and there is a celing so kitty can’t jump out. Make sure materials are animal friends and placement is in a quiet safe area.

· You can add a cat door and a run so your cat can easily get to their favorite outside space. Knowing that your pet is safe to roam in the enclosure will keep you at ease and with a cat door you don’t have to be annoyed by a persistent cat’s meow.

· You can train your cat to become accustomed to a leash outdoors. This a fun alternative to an enclosure because the cat will be roaming “free” and you will safely be at its side. Although be careful of unleashed animals as your cat will not be able to defend itself fully with a leash on.

By Staff Writer Trish Harding

http://dallas-plano-richardson.fetchpetcare.com

Introducing New Pets to Your Home

Introducing new pets to your older pets can be nerve wracking on both you and your pets. Keep in mind your old pet may see the newcomer as a threat and will try to put it in its place, let this happen. Do not break up a scuffle between your pets unless there is risk of injury to either one or both of them. Sometimes they just need to work things out. Here are some guidelines to follow when introducing new animals into your home.

· Do not leave your new pet unattended while with your older pets. They will need to be supervised until you can guarantee they will tolerate each other. Keep them separated at night until you are sure they will play nice.

· Introduce your pets in a safe environment, preferably indoors where they can both be observed. If you are introducing a cat to a dog do not let the dog chase or corner the cat. Even though the dog is only trying to play, the cat will become terrified of this large creature chasing it and it may invoke a prey instinct in the dog.

· When bringing a cat home, put the cat down before introducing it to any other animals. Cat scratches and bites easily become infected.

· Make sure your new pet is comfortable in its new home before introducing it to any new friends. Confine the animal to its own area until it has become accustomed to the change in environment.

· Your pets should be given separate food, water and, if necessary, litter boxes until they have grown used to each other. Your old pet may feel threatened if the new pet is eating and drinking from HIS food or water bowl.

· Be extremely careful when introducing a dog or cat to a caged animal such as a rat, rabbit or bird. Do not open the cage and do not allow your pet to get to close. Smaller animals can become so terrified that they die from stress on the heart. Keep the cage well out of reach and keep an eye on it at all times.

· Do not try to force to animals together. This will stress them out and may result in them injuring either themselves, you or your old pet.

By Staff Writer Trish Harding

Libby Mitchell
General Manager
214-989-3639
nedallas@fetchpetcare.com
http://dallas-plano-richardson.fetchpetcare.com

Always Read Pet Labels

With cats comes fleas, by the thousands. Fleas are a major problem for cat owners. These tiny creatures can cause some for you and your cat such as anemia, dermatitis and tapeworm. Flea control is often a necessary step in keeping you and your cat healthy.

There are many flea and tick treatments out there but never ever use a product labeled “For Dogs Only” on your cat or any animal other than a dog. Dogs and cats do not react the same way to the same insecticides at the same concentrations. As an example, look at permethrin.

Permethrin is in many “Dog Only” direct application flea and tick treatments. It comes in concentrations ranging from 45-60% permethrin. While that is a very acceptable level for a canine it would most certainly kill a feline. A cat suffering from permethrin exposure would display tremors, muscle tensing and seizures anywhere from an hour to 48 hours after the exposure.

If your feline receives medical attention the odds of recovery are very high. It is crucial that you take your cat to the vet and tell them you suspect permethrin.

Read ALL the labels on things before you give them to your pet. Not sure if it’s for your pet, call the vet.

By Staff Writer Trish Harding

Wet Vs. Dry Cat Food

Wet food may seem like just a treat for your cat but it is important to work it into the diet at least once a week. Cats in the wild do not usually drink large amounts of water as the water they do get is from their diet of fresh meat (70-80% water).

Your modern housecat does not get a chance to hunt down large pray and eat fresh meat daily so they may become dehydrated, if only slightly. Wet food is a great incentive for your cat to stay healthy and hydrated.

There is a common misconception that dry food helps to clean a cats teeth. It may help, only slightly, but seeing as cats don’t really chew their food it is simply a myth. Cats chew maybe once or twice and then swallow because their saliva does not contain enzymes that break down the food.

Dry food also has a lot of carbohydrates and cats are not as efficient at breaking those down as humans are so too much dry food in the diet can lead to stomach upset, weight gain and dehydration. Dry food is a necessity though and your cat’s diet should consist of 1 part wet food for 3 parts dry food.

So if your cat gets three meals a day, give them some wet food at the end of the day to round out their diet.