Pet Blog

Pet Ownership Costs Pet ownership represents a large emotional – and financial – commitment. Whether you buy from a pet store or a breeder, adopt an animal from a shelter, or take in a stray, initial costs are just the beginning of the story. This Pet Ownership Costs Guide for 2017,  examines the different costs associated with pet ownership and helps you know what to expect, how to plan for these expenses, and potential ways to reduce the financial burden of pet ownership. The Lifetime Cost of a Pet There are two main cost areas when owning a pet: …

Family pet loss grief help The loss of a  family pet affects our emotions and these feelings usually progress through several stages of grief. Recognizing them can help us cope with the family pet loss grief we feel. My Griffey who left us way too early! And now we lay you down to sleep You’re finally at rest Our love for you we’ll always keep You were the very best You gave us joy for all those years A memory for each new day Then came the day of all my fears The day you passed away A part …

Assistance Dog Resources  by Autism Speaks   Service Dogs for Children with Autism are constant companions to children with autism. The dogs help them improve social interactions and relationships by;     Expanding verbal and nonverbal communication Teaching life skills Increasing interest in activities Decreasing stress within the family   Service Dog Organizations (Assistance Dog Resources)     4 Paws for Ability 4 Paws for Ability is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of children with disabilities and veterans by training and placing quality, task-trained service dogs. This provides increased independence for the children …

Pet Holiday Safety Tips As a pet sitter I must make sure the holiday pets I care for are holiday safe!  Decorations and Christmas Trees are at the top of my Pet Holiday Safety tips. To help pet owners prepare I am sharing The Valley Humane Society list of suggestions on how to make a safer holiday season for your pet:   Decorations: Holly, mistletoe and poinsettias are festive, beautiful and POISONOUS to pets. Once ingested, they can all cause severe intestinal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea and central nervous system disorders. If you include them in your holiday decor, please …

DIY Tips for Keeping Your Pet Cleaned or Groomed   Have you ever watched your dog/cat roll on the ground, lick its tail or fur? It’s trying to keep itself clean. But sometimes, they will also need an EXTRA help from you to keep itself cleaned and groomed. They might not be comfortable getting touched or handled at first and you need to make it a habit of petting her sensitive parts such as ears, belly, back, feet and tail before she feels at ease with you. Once your dog or cat is comfortable with your touch, here’s how …

Looking into the rescue pets eyes as a pet sitter there is such knowledge of the multifaceted human nature… their survival journey all the way to the happy endings of how they learned to trust again would be inspirational novel.   For the pet owner of a rescue it can be gut wrenching to be away for any extended length of time.  How do they take vacation or work long days without their pet?  Boarding at a kennel or the Veterinarians may be reminders to the rescued pets of their past life.  Many were abandoned, abused and too many have …

  Take some preventative measures which may help you if your pet (Dog or Cat) ends up missing or lost. The following Lost Pet Prevention suggestions may be of help to you or your pet sitter in finding your lost pet: For you, your pet sitter and your pets sake make sure your pet wears some form of identification. You might want to permanently identify him by having him tattooed or having a special microchip identification device implanted underneath his skin. Your pet is then automatically registered with an identification service. Information on Microchip  AVID chips in California: (714) 371-7505; …

Hosting a scavenger hunt for your dog not only helps you bring out the natural instincts that your four-legged friend loves to show off, but it also helps you bond with your buddy and can even let your dog work with other pups as a team.  Hosting the hunt with your dog’s training school, doggy day care, or even neighborhood puppy pals is a great way for you to get social and for your perfect pup to have some fun.  Here are three steps: Doggy scavenger hunt party. 1.  The Invitations What better way to get everyone excited than …

“Mmm…Fresh and Clean! ” After Dental Maintenance Brush pets teeth! Now that you’ve gone through the expense of having your pets teeth cleaned, it would be a great time to start maintaining them.  We offer pet friendly dental care products that you can use on your pet safely after a dental procedure.  Maintaining your pets teeth after a dental can help elongate the time period between dental cleanings.  Some of the products we have are toothpastes, brushes, tasty dental chews, and even an oral sealant for the teeth.  Come in and check out our dental care products next time …

Say “Ahhh”- The Benefits of Brushing Your Pets Teeth Most of us don’t really think about brushing our pet’s teeth, but the benefits can be rewarding.  Just like us, our pets can suffer from periodontal diseases.  This is an inflammatory disease that affects gums, teeth, and bones.  Gingivitis is the early stage of periodontal disease, you will see swollen and red gums due to inflammation, and in more advanced stages you will see recession of the gum line. The problems occur when plaque and tarter build up on the teeth.  This harbors the bacteria that can infect gums and the roots …