Caring for cats in the wintertime

Keep your cat happy this winter by:

Giving Your Cat Peace And quiet
If you’re having guests over or are planning a party, make sure your cat has a quiet den to retreat to away from the crowd and somewhere dark that he can hide.

Plants and flowers
Poinsettias and amaryllis, mistletoe berries, holly berries and lilies are poisonous for cats. If you have them in the house, then keep them well out of your pet’s way.

Antifreeze warning
With the coldest winter weather possibly still ahead, car owners will be winter-proofing their vehicles by adding antifreeze. This substance needs careful handling because just a tiny amount of antifreeze can be fatal to cats if ingested.
Antifreeze tastes sweet and is particularly appealing to cats and dogs, who will invariably lick their paws after coming into contact with the substance. Seek immediate veterinary treatment if you suspect that your pet has come into contact with antifreeze. The first nine to 12 hours are critical, as after this period the toxic crystals will have already started to form on the animal’s kidneys.  When buying antifreeze look out for less toxic products — those which contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Watch out for puddles of greenish-blue coloured liquid around the car, which would indicate that it is leaking antifreeze.

So SAD it’s winter
Animals get the winter blues too, according to veterinary charity PDSA who say that affected pets want to eat more, avoid exercise and are grumpier during the winter months.  Elaine Pendlebury, Senior Veterinary Surgeon with PDSA says: “According to our poll, some pets display similar symptoms to the human disorder, SAD, which include fatigue, depressed mood and lack of energy.”

Ways to cheer your cat

• Cardboard boxes can be used in many ways to provide entertainment for your kitty.
• Create newspaper ‘tunnels’ for your cat to hide and play in.
• Play with your pet each day and rotate toys.
• Talk to and cuddle your cat.

A home truth about fleas
Spring and summer are perceived as the worst time of year for flea infestations, but be warned — fleas thrive in the winter too.  Central heating provides a perfect all-weather breeding ground for these biting insects. To combat the problem, you need to use flea products all year round. Vet John Rosie of Vet-Medic says: “Because people are more relaxed as regards flea treatments at this time of year, the chance of getting a serious infestation is quite high.”
It seems most pet owners tend to only react to the visible signs and limit treatment to just their pets, which unfortunately means they are usually too late to prevent an invasion. “An effective treatment programme involves treating your home, not just your pet,” says John. It is also important to worm your cat if you discover he has fleas as some forms of tapeworm use fleas as intermediary hosts, which in turn are ingested by the animal when grooming so leading to infection by yet another unwanted parasite!

Excerpts from this article were previously published in Your Cat Magazine, Britian's best selling cat magazine.

Dog Obesity

Here is an interesting article on obesity and pets.  30 minutes of exercise a day is the minimum for a less destructive and healthier dog!  We can help by scheduling dog walks or dog jogs on a weekly (weekdays) basis - your dog will thank you!

 

 

By Dorene Internicola

NEW YORK | Mon Oct 15, 2012 1:14am EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - As the obesity rate soars among Americans, their dogs are getting potbellied, too, encouraging fitness companies to come up with a range of equipment and classes to get pampered pets back into shape.
 From canine-tailored treadmills, to puppy pedometers and group fitness classes, there's no shortage of tools to trim and tone the sagging paunches of pooches.

As part of his fitness routine, Rocky, a rotund dachshund, traipses a mini-treadmill designed for small dogs.
"When Rocky first came to us, he looked like a small marine animal," said Dr. Dennis Arn, veterinarian at the Desert Inn Animal Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. "He's got a waistline now and his conditioning is significantly better."
Just like their owners, obesity affects pets' longevity and quality of life. About 53 percent of adult dogs are classified by their veterinarians as obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.

To combat the weighty issue, Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, Massachusetts, announced the creation of the nation's first obesity clinic last month, geared specially towards pets.
"If you can't lay your hands on them and feel the ribs pretty easily, they're obese," said Arn, adding that too many pet owners reward their charges with treats.

"As a blanket statement, a dog needs at least 30 minutes (of exercise) a day," said Geralynn Cada, who has been training dogs for more than 30 years. "A dog who is less active is less happy and has more health problems."

Cada, who is based in Nevada, teaches classes such as dog yoga, puppy Pilates, and a canine interval training course known as Retrieve and Burn.

Physical issues aside, dogs that are denied exercise often develop behavioral problems, she said.  "A tired dog is a happy dog," Cada said. "If your dog gets bored, they'll search for purpose and that purpose will be to chew up your wallet."

CANINE CARDIO
To burn off her high-strung husky's extra enthusiasm as well as calories, Cada runs him regularly on his dog treadmill, dubbed the DogPACER.  David Ezra, CEO of DogPACER, said he got the idea for the canine cardio machine after observing clients at his fitness centers.

"I thought, "Why not a treadmill for dogs?"" he said.

Hundreds of canine treadmills - which sell for $500 and come in regular and mini sizes - have been sold since they hit the market seven months ago.

"We've run over 1,000 dogs at this point," said Ezra, adding that 60 to 70 percent of the treadmills go to dog owners, including seniors whose health problems prevent them from exercising their animals.  Others are purchased by grooming salons, veterinarians, police and government agencies, and animal rehabilitation centers.

"Grooming facilities will throw the dog on (a treadmill) to de-stress them before grooming," he said, adding that dogs must be supervised and will initially be taken aback by the equipment.

Studies have shown that people who wear pedometers routinely walk more. Perhaps in that spirit, developers of Tagg, a pet location device, developed an activity monitor that makes it possible for owners to keep tabs on their dog's exercise.
"Tagg's combination of activity monitoring and GPS location tracking puts pet parents in control of their pet's well-being," Dave Vigil, president of Snaptracs Inc. which created Tagg, said in a statement.

Cada is so devoted to keeping animals fit, she has also devised ways to stimulate her dogs mentally.  "I have them doing a mental obstacle course for me," she said. "I'll have them sit down, roll over, jump on and off the bed, and do all the tricks they know in a random order."  The animals will also fetch and engage in a series of rapid-fire hand-to-paw high-fives.  "It's like a test," she explained, "for a treat."

(Editing by Patricia Reaney and Bernadette Baum)

Best of Western Washington Interview

This is Nominee Spotlights, a series in which the Best of Western Washington chats with local business owners to get the inside scoop on everything good.

Like so many pet owners, Arnie and Grace Martinez felt badly and worried about leaving their two dogs and cat home alone all day while they put in long hours commuting and being at the office. Eventually, they decided the long hours away from home were not going to jive with a house filled with kids and dogs. That conversation sparked the idea to open their own pet sitting business: 2 Dogs and a Cat. What started as a part-time business in 2001 is now a full time job. We caught up with Grace to get the a glimpse into the pet sitting world.

How did you get your start in the pet sitting business? I have always loved dogs and cats. As mentioned before, we were in the need for a pet sitter. We couldn't find one that would meet our needs. We knew that we had good business sense and that our love for pets and the quality of care would be a great start.

Describe your role at the business We are a co-owner operation. I handle all the A/R, A/P, marketing, advertising, scheduling, communication with clients, and some pet sitting. My husband Arnie, does most of the visits.

How would you describe your clientele? Some clients have become dear friends and we are thankful for meeting them and their furry friends. We appreciate all of our clients and know that without them we couldn't be living our dream.



2 Dogs & a Cat, on Facebook

What about you - do you have any pets yourself? Of course! When we initially started we had two dogs & a cat. About two years ago, both of our original dogs passed. We were heartbroken. Luckily, our kids taught us the value of moving on and we opened our hearts to our newest dog Bentley. Our 14 year old cat, Katie is still with us. But unfortunately, due to her old age, she doesn't like change and refuses to like Bentley!

How do new customers find you? Referrals, word of mouth, social media, and church advertisement.

Do you offer any special services to specific types of animals? We tend to cater to pets that don't do well in boarding situations, aggressive, shy, elderly, and in need of medication.

Is there a time of year that is busier than others? End-of-the-year holidays tend to be the busiest for us. We are extremely booked during that time-frame.

What is your favorite animal that you have ever sat for? There are a few dogs that I look forward to visiting whenever there is a need because we have been visiting them for so long. They are a part of our extended furry family.

What's the best part of owning your own business? Even though we have been in business for almost 12 years, we are still learning. We are always trying to better serve our clients and their furry family by addressing issues as they come up and offering new services. We truly appreciate that we are self-employed, able to provide for our family, and doing something we truly love.

Are cats cheaper than dogs?

Dog and cat owners don’t pay the same amount for their four-legged family members. The ASPCA did a study on the average cost of owning a dog or a cat. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Small dog – $1,314 the first year, $580 per year after
• Medium dog – $1,580 the first year, $695 per year after
• Large dog – $1,843 the first year, $875 per year after
• Cat – $1,035 the first year, $670 per year after

These totals include the following first-year costs: spay/neuter, other initial medical, collar/leash, litter box/scratching post for cats, cage/crate for large dogs, carrier bag for small dogs/cats, and training class for dogs. Annual expenses include food, recurring medical, litter for cats, licenses for dogs, toys/treats, health insurance, and miscellaneous.
Of course, those are averages – the ASPCA says, “You shouldn’t expect to pay less than this, and you should definitely be prepared to pay more. Don’t forget to factor in the costs of unexpected veterinary care, as well as boarding facilities, pet sitters and dog walkers, if you plan to use them.”

But what the ASPCA doesn’t mention is ways to trim expenses.

1. Vet bills
The ASPCA says cats and dogs should see a vet at least once a year. The first year (when they usually require the most shots) is slightly more expensive. For example, they say vet bills for a medium-size dog break down like this:

• Recurring medical – $235
• Other initial medicine – $70
• Spaying or neutering – $200
• TOTAL – $505

You might reduce some of those costs by comparison shopping for vets. B be sure to compare the costs of both regular visits and emergency ones.

You can also reduce your costs by shopping around for cheaper medicines. Target and Kroger offer $4 generic pet meds.
Some owners use pet health insurance to save money on their vet bills – both expected and unexpected – but it’s not cheap. The ASPCA says health insurance for a cat runs about $175 a year.

2. Food and supplies
The ASPCA says that the average yearly cost of food and supplies for a large dog like mine breaks down like this:

• Food – $235
• Toys and treats – $75
• TOTAL – $310

Try shopping online for discounts.

3. Grooming and training
According to the ASPCA, training and grooming for a small dog breaks down like this:

• Long hair grooming – $264
• Training class – $110
• TOTAL - $374
   
• WebMD Pets has great one-minute training videos featuring a certified dog trainer. You won’t learn everything you need to know, but it’s helpful to watch the techniques in action.
• Petfinder has a training section that covers everything from behavioral problems to basic dog tricks.

 If you’re looking for grooming advice, check out:

• Grooming FAQ from the ASPCA
• How to Groom a Dog from Beneful
• Grooming Your Dog’s Hair with Clippers from Dummies.com

Bottom line? Animals aren’t cheap, but as with two-legged family members, where there’s a will to save, there’s a way. But even if your dog or cat does end up costing a little more than expected, they’ll still do something no other purchase will: pay you back a thousandfold in companionship, loyalty, devotion, and fun.

Please don't leave your dog in the car...

Animals can suffer brain damage or death from heatstroke in just 15 minutes.

Launching New Blog About Pets, Pet Sitting, Pet Care, and More!

As experienced pet sitters we'd like to offer our input, advice, suggestions, thoughts, comments, etc. about pets, pet sitting, and pet care in general. 

This blog will be used as a tool for discussions and feedback.  We encourage you to leave comments.  We'll reply to all questions within a week, and errors in the posts will be acknowledged in the comment area.  Feel free to disagree with our points if there is need for disagreement, but keep in mind that all off-topic comments, disparaging comments, comments with more than one link, and comments that include profanity will be deleted.