If you have never owned a pet before and you just adopted a little bundle of fur and energy, you may not know where to go take your “new baby” to get checked. It can be a little overwhelming to some people there are so many vets out there to choose from, but finding the one that is a good fit for you and your pet can be a daunting task. It is not like raising or having a baby where you have dealt with a doctor or group of doctors through a pregnancy, you now have a living being that is in your care for at least 12 to 18 years of its life.
When selecting a vet to take your dog or cat to, the first and most obvious place to start is by asking your friends, family members or neighbors that are pet owners themselves, especially if you may be new to the area or new to pet ownership. You can always look on line to find a vet in your area, but to find one that “meshes” with you, your pet, and your schedule is a bit harder than going “enny meeny miney mo”.
In my own personal dealings with vets I have found there are two types: the one that has no bed-side manner and have a very matter-of-fact approach, and those that treat you as a person and can be as compassionate to you as to your pet. Depending upon what type of person you may want to deal with when taking your pet to the doctor will also help you pick the type of vet you seek. By making that statement it doesn’t mean one is better than another, it is ones personal preference in seeking out a professional to deal with.
The other factor that some consider when choosing a vet is cost. Fees for an office visit, check-up and vaccinations can vary from one vet to the other. Some vets in the Chester County area, actually charge fees for a rabies tag for your dog or cat. Some may give you “discounts” for multiple pet households. This is something to also think about when choosing a vet.
There are vets that offer “home visits”. This is very convenient for households that have multiple pets, for those that have cats that don’t travel well in cars, or for those that have a very busy lifestyle. Usually the fee for a home visit is not much more than going to the vet’s office and you do have the convenience of them coming to your home and caring for your pet in “their” environment. If you have a pet that does get stressed traveling, I would strongly suggest finding a vet that offers this service. More and more vets in the Chester County area are beginning to offer this service.
Should you be in a household that you work a great deal you may want to find a vet that has evening or weekend hours. Some vets may have extended hours certain days of the week or on the weekends also. There are vets that also offer the “full service”; from veterinarian care to grooming to boarding, and there are some that just offer vet services only. You may have vet offices in your area that have multiple vets to choose from and when you make an appointment you may get a different vet every time. Some people don’t mind this, but if you have a pet that has a pre-existing condition, it if very important to always deal with the same vet or make sure who you see knows the history of your pet.
As a pet sitter, I often get asked from clients that are new to the area to recommend a vet to them. I try not to be bias when providing them information. I usually give them a list of local vets in the area and tell them about ones I have dealt with personally for my pets and also those that I have dealt with professionally through my clients’ pets. I suggest to them to make phone calls, get recommendations, and ask for fee breakdown of services from the vet office. Set up a meeting with a vet. Yes, you can do that. Some places you can go and meet with a vet and maybe some of their staff to see if that is the office for you. There is nothing wrong with asking for this information or asking questions from a potential vet you may be using for a number of years to come.
There are a number of websites also that will list professionals in your area and show recommendations by clients or customers. It may take some research time to find the right vet for you, but it may also pay off in the long-term.
One new type of veterinarian that is becoming popular is the holistic vet. These vets treat the “whole pet” not just the symptom or illness but the well being of the animal. These vets may use Eastern medicine practices and Western medicine practices together to care for you pet. They will use homeopathic, herbal or vitamin supplements, diet, chiropractic, and acupuncture to care for your pet. This may be a path you want to investigate too when selecting a vet.
When meeting with your vet for the first, second or the 20th time, your vet should always treat you the same. I have a very good relationship with my vet. I have been going to her for 17 years now, so yes I have a good working relationship with her. If I have a question I can always call her and leave her message and she will get back to me at the end of her day. If I need meds for something basic or simple, I can also just call and tell her the problem or symptom and than go pick up the necessary meds, I don’t have to make an office visit for something that I have dealt with in the past. I’m not saying my vet is “care free” about the care of my pets or dispensing meds, but she trusts my judgment and knows my knowledge of my animals and if she believes it is something I don’t know anything about, than yes, she will suggest I bring them in and I would not hesitate to take a pet to see her. Not all vets do this and that may also be something you want to find out when “interviewing” a vet. What is their availability to You!
When entering a partnership with a vet it has be a relationship of good communication and trust. You are putting faith in them to give the best care to your beloved pet. You will have a pet; cat or dog, from the time you bring them home until they reach an age of possibly 15 years or more in some cases. So finding the right vet that you can establish a good working relationship with is a must. Do your homework, your research and ask questions. Enjoy the life of your pet!
August 2010
12 posts
Or I could have called this Cat Scratch Fever, no not the Ted Nugent song. This is about what to do to avoid cat and dog bites and what to do when you get one.
I have been bitten and scratched more times by cats that I don’t have to worry about getting an infection or severely sick from them. Some individuals that get bitten or scratched don’t have the antibodies in their system to allow their body to fight off the infection, and many people do have to go the doctors or worse if they allow it to go untreated will end up very sick from them. Cat scratches and bites are nothing to mess with.
A cat carries a lot of bacteria in their mouth. In the wild; large or small cats, kill their prey by suffocation, by using their jaws and clamping them down on the neck and cutting off the airflow on their prey. Sometimes and often is what happens if their prey does get away from them, but the prey has been bitten, it will often die days later from the infection that will spread from the bite. So your “little lion or lioness” that you have can cause a great deal of damage when needed. I know that some of you may be thinking, “That is why I don’t like cats.” But even though I stated cats carry a lot of bacteria; dogs mouths are actually “dirtier” than cats.
Often a cat will bite for affection or to play, and they don’t break the skin. If you have a close relationship with your cat, they look at you as “just another cat, but larger.” Many of my cats will give me “love bites”, where they will gently bite or chew my skin with their canines but they never break the skin surface. Cats do this to each other as kittens and even as adults especially if they were raised together from a young age or young adults. But cat bites can be serious as I stated above and you should always monitor cats among young children or those that may have a weak immunity system or the aged.
Cats may not give any warming signs that they are going to strike and that is what makes cats so unpredictable in their “striking” behavior. But they will show the same aggressive behavior as dogs; hissing, growling, arching their back, “fluffing” their fur, and or put their ears back. This behavior is again is a defensive mode in cats
If you do receive a cat bite or a bad scratch wash it in an antibacterial soap immediately. You will want to use peroxide on it also after you wash it to make sure you removed all the bacteria. Use an antibiotic ointment and cover the wound and wash it daily. If it is a puncture wound from a bite, depending how deep and where the bite is, you need to handle this differently. Puncture wounds take longer to heal and have to heal from the “inside out”. So you can’t let it scab over because you have to let the bacteria escape from the wound. If it does heal over, you have a greater chance it becoming infected. Just like when a cat or dog gets a puncture wound from a fight or from a foreign object, the wound must heal inside first, if not it will become abscessed and that can be a rather gross when it bursts or cause more illnesses in you.
Some people say a cat will bite more often because they are declawed; that could be yes and no. I own cats that are declawed, and it is actually the cats that have their claws that bite me more than those that don’t. So I have to disagree with that general statement.
I was recently bitten by a cat and it hurt I won’t deny that, but maybe I deserved it too. I picked her up to see if she liked to be held and in her way she let me know it was undesired and bit me. Yes it hurt and yes it did get red and inflamed the next day and I am still alive. I have been bitten or scratched more by my own cats than by client’s cats. So yes, they do bite the hand that feeds them.
Now dog bites can be more dangerous and sometimes dogs, like cats can be unpredictable. It is not rocket science to avoid being bitten by a dog, but I have been bitten too by a dog and it didn’t make me fearful of dogs in anyway. But the reason the dog bit me was because I entered his territory and he didn’t want me there. He also had a history of being “tormented” by neighboring kids and because of that he was always on the defensive with strangers. He was fine with his owner, but because of his history, he didn’t trust anyone new in his “world”.
I had a friend that was in a client’s house; he is not a pet sitter, and the dog that resided at the house bit him for no reason. My friend wasn’t doing anything to the dog, but the dog just appeared while he was working in the home and bit him on the hand. This was an unprovoked attack. It can happen to anyone at anytime. I have had a friend’s dog “attack” my pant leg when she wasn’t home one time when I went into her house. Dogs can be very unpredictable that is why it is always important when approaching a dog that you are not familiar with and the owner may be with them, always ask, “Can I pet your dog?” Always respect a dog and their space especially if the dog may appear on the defense.
Anyone that does a service and has to enter peoples’ homes while they are home or away will ask if they have dogs. My exterminator for instance is very fearful of dogs, so when he comes in and I am not home, I make sure my dogs are outside. If they can’t be outside, I leave him a bag of treats at the door to use upon entering the house. The person I spoke about above is an oil burner service man and the owner was home when this situation occurred. But it can happen with construction workers, mailmen, repair men, etc. Anyone that is coming into a house to complete a service is entering that dogs “territory”, and some dogs just don’t like new people.
If bitten by a dog and the owner is present you should inform them of it immediately. If bitten by a stray dog, you run the risk of contracting rabies or possibly other medical issues. Some bites are just a “nick” of the skin and don’t require medical attention and others can be worse that require stitches. You just have to keep it clean just like a cat bite as stated above. The one thing to keep in mind, if the bite was unprovoked and you do go for medical attention it will be reported to the authorities. The dog owner will be contacted by the local authorities that investigate dog “attacks” or bites. Sometimes the dog owner can loose their home owners insurance or worse be sued. I know, because it happened to me.
Never approach a dog that is “unpredictable”, especially one that is caged, confined or even restrained unless you’re prepared and have some experience with aggressive dogs. If a dog is barking at you constantly and raising their lip showing teeth and growling, they are sure signs he doesn’t want to be bothered. If his fur is raised on his back and neck, ears back, this is an aggressive sign and you should definitely be on guard. Never try to approach a dog in this situation.
I’m sure you are thinking “bully breeds”, but it is the smaller dogs that are more territorial not the larger breeds, at least I can say that from my own experience and some of you may disagree with that. I will talk about bully breed and small dog/big dog attitude in a later writing.
All pets; cats or dogs can bite and may be unpredictable. I am not trying to make everyone fearful of a cat or dog, but we need to take precautions when put in this situation.
A Lab is My Dog
A Lab is a dog that will drink from the bowl of water and than come share it with you
By dripping the water out of their mouth onto your leg or foot.
A Lab is the dog that will always greet you at the door
Either with a toy, a shoe, or something they killed in the backyard and brought into share.
A Lab is the dog that when you talk to them they act like they understand you
Their tail is always wagging but the only word they want to hear is “treat”.
A Lab is a dog that will protect you and lean on you
Especially when you’re the one that needs to lean on someone.
A Lab will beat you to the car when going for a ride
And usually get in the drivers seat but won’t start the car for you.
A Lab will not just sit at your feet
They will sit on your feet.
A Lab will use their tail to dust the table
And clear everything off of it at the same time.
A Lab is the one that has telepathic powers in the middle of the night
They will stare at you until you wake up so you can let them go out to do their business.
A Lab comes in many colors
Black, Blonde, Chocolate or Blue.
A Lab will give you kisses to show their affection
Than a second later sneeze on you because they had to share that with you too.
A Lab is my companion and loyal friend
She is my protector and my shadow
She is My Lab, Casey
And I love her.
But any or all of the above can apply to any dog.
Any dog shown love, affection and compassion when needed will return to you in 10-fold what you give to them.
The unequaled love they give you can’t be measured or weighed.
Love Your Dog today!
I just did!
May not be the best picture - but it makes me smile!
The reason why I ask this question, there have been a number of times people have asked me, “How much money are you willing to spend on your pet to keep them alive if they get sick?” The fact of the matter is, I’m not sure, I don’t know how much I would spend to prolong their life but I wanted to touch upon a subject that happens with a number of pets and why they are euthanized for something that can be “livable” and economically affordable.
Illnesses can strike a dog or cat at anytime: diabetes, thyroid, Addison’s disease, or worse cancer. Some of them can become costly, especially cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or some oral cancer treatments for cats and dogs, and with this tough economic time we are living in, it may be hard to justify spending the money on the family pet to prolong their life. So you may need to ask yourself, “how much is my pet worth to me?”
Diabetes and thyroid conditions are easily treatable and illnesses that can be handled financially and these illnesses can just “pop-up” in pets with little or no warning. But some pet owners can become devastated by the thought of having to inject their dog or cat twice a day with insulin or having to administer a pill twice a day too. These are steps that can be overcome and believe it or not, some pets become aware of getting an injection and don’t mind it.
Addison’s Disease, which I am very familiar with, because my dog Casey has it and has had it for 3 years, is a more costly but manageable disease, but not as costly as cancer treatments. Though she receives oral medication everyday, she also gets an injection once a month. I have learned to live with the cost because the medication Percorten, which she receives by injection, is now $147.00 per bottle and she uses almost a full bottle every cycle. I do give her the injection at home which saves me an office visit to the vet and it took me awhile to get used to doing it, but I overcame my fear and so did Casey.
What is Addison’s Disease?
I will give you a definition in laymen terms: Addison’s disease is when the immunity system of a dog actually attacks their adrenal glands and destroys them as if they were a foreign body or virus in their system. When this happens the dog will become lethargic, not eat and actually clumsy in some ways, and that is the symptoms that Casey had when she was diagnosed. I had never heard of it until Casey acquired it back in 2007. Addison’s disease is not transferable from humans to dogs or vice versa or from dog to dog or dog to cat. In fact it is very rare if a cat acquires this disease.
Adrenal glands control the following things not only in dogs, but also in humans; metabolism, “fight or flight mechanism”, body temperatures and also the ability to handle “stress”. So Casey receives artificial adrenaline actually every 49 days. Yes, I am able to keep her “levels” maintained so that she can receive her injection on that time table. The levels that are measured are her potassium and sodium levels. Sodium levels too low or too high are bad, and the same applies to potassium. I take Casey in twice a year to get blood work done to monitor her levels and check her weight. It is her weight that drives how much percorten she receives on a monthly basis, so I monitor her diet very closely. There is another name brand of medication to choose from for this disease, but it too is costly.
The other downfall of this disease is she receives prednisone everyday. When first diagnosed she was receiving 15 mg a day. After a year I got it down to 7.5 mg a day. Once I started doing some research and close monitoring, Casey is now down to 1.25 mg per day, and her weight is maintained at 80 to 84 pounds. Pretty hard to maintain a weight on a lab, but I am able to do it. The side affects of long-term prednisone is; possibly liver or kidney problems. So I keep a close eye on her and her health.
Because I value my dogs’ health and how important they are to me, I have made sacrifices to afford Casey’s meds. I am not asking for sympathy because of that statement, but I know that in this day and age, we have all had to cut corners to have the things we want in our daily lives, and I want Casey to be happy and healthy dog and I couldn’t imagine her not being there.
I do have a lot of clients that do have pet insurance for their pets, and I would stress to you all, if you do adopt a young dog in good health purchase the insurance, it does pay off in the life of your pet. If you purchase insurance for a dog while they are young it isn’t that expensive to have. Because of Casey’s illness and age, I was unable to get insurance for her after she was diagnosed.
There have been times that some people have said to me, “you shouldn’t have kept her.” “Why didn’t you just let “blank” take her?” But she has lived with me for now over 5 years and I couldn’t think of separating her and Sherlock. She is my “Little Casey Girl” and I love her dearly. I know that if “he” would have taken her, she would have probably ended up in a shelter or worse probably died from this disorder, so I think of it as I saved her, and she has saved me.
In my lifetime I have spent a lot of money for the care of my pets, not just Sherlock and Casey, but on my cats too, to keep them happy and healthy. Routine check-ups should always be done for your dogs and cats. Keeping your pet healthy will give them a long-term life with you and your family.
So when asked, “How much would you spend on your pet to keep them alive?” I would have to answer, “Can you put a price on life?”
National Dog Day is celebrated August 26th annually and serves to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every day - for their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for a child who is disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage.
Founded in 2004 by pet lifestyle expert and author Colleen Paige, National Dog Day was created to honor dogs more than we currently do, to give them “a day”, to show deep appreciation for our long connection to each other - for their endearing patience, unquestioning loyalty, for their work, their capacity for love and their ability to impact our lives everyday in the most miraculous ways. National Dog Day wishes to encourage dog ownership of all breeds, mixed and pure - and embraces the opportunity for all dogs to live a happy, safe and “abuse-free life”.
So, go home and give your doggy an extra hug, or hug some random doggy on the street!
I am making a statement with this blog posting. One – To Adopt Not Shop for your next pet companion, and Secondly – Pets are not a disposable commodity or item. (Warning: if this posting appears that I am angry about this subject, it is because I am.)
I’m sure you are wondering, “What the hell are you talking about?” I will fill you in.
My friend went to the local Chester County SPCA a couple of weeks ago and adopted a 2 year old Cockapoo. He is a sweet little boy named Max. That is the name he came with, and here is his story.
Max was given as a present to person who lived in an apartment that didn’t allow pets. The person that purchased this pet wasn’t thinking obviously, so where did Max go? Max went to the purchasers’ Mother’s house where he was neglected, than from there he went to a friends’ house, than to another friends’ house, to another’s and so on and so on, until he ended up at the CCSPCA.
Max is one of many statistics we don’t hear about or want to think about but it happens everyday of the week and every week of the year, and continues to happen every year after year after year.
When my friend went into find a new companion she said there were so many dogs there. Not all small and not all big, not all “bully” breeds and not all old or young. There was a pug that that was brought in that was 12 years old; the family didn’t want to care for him anymore, Yorkshire terriers that were part of an “investigation”, dogs abandoned and found in apartments or homes after the people had moved out, a young Jack Russell Terrier, Labradors, and the list goes on and on. IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY!!! And not just in this area but all of the country. It is sad to think about it but it could be happening in your own neighborhood or development. People are discarding their pets; cats and dogs because they grow tired of them, don’t want to care for them anymore, or the really negligent individuals; don’t spay or neuter their pets and let them have litters and litters and than they drop off kittens and puppies to shelters or other animal organizations which currently are so overrun with dogs and cats that they can’t handle the volume of them being brought in.
I know the economy has hit everyone hard. People are loosing their jobs and if they do find employment they are making much, much less than what they did before. Everyone is feeling this economy pinch, and it isn’t just a pinch; it is a punch in the stomach when you realize you don’t have the money to do the things you used to do, or buy the things you want. Everyone is tightening their belt to make ends meet, and in a number of households it is the family pet that goes first. It is a sad situation when you hear about it but it is happening.
Everyday dogs and cats are euthanized that are perfectly healthy and young, because shelters or what is referred to as “high-kill” shelters do not have the space or worse the funds to care for the number of abandoned pets that are being brought in because the “owners’ don’t want them anymore. We are a “throw away” society, and we as part of the human race need to realize that a pet is forever, not just a fashion statement or something you buy because my neighbor has a dog or a cat and I want to have what they have. Or a purchase made on a whim. They are FOREVER! A pet is a member of the family and should be until it is time for YOU to say goodbye to them because they have lived their life with YOU!
So if you decide to adopt a pet for your girlfriend, boyfriend, child or a family member; THINK first before you go and make that purchase. Go to your local shelter or rescue and adopt. Check out where they are going to live and can they stay there. There are so many dogs and cats out there looking for that forever home or to live their “golden” years with a human or human family. They all deserve a second chance at life.
Why I am aggravated about this subject matter; I have 6 cats and 2 dogs. Out of the 6 cats only 2 came to me as kittens, 2 came from unwanted homes, 1 was abused and found half dead, and 1 was a drop off at my house. One of my dogs the previous owner didn’t want her anymore and gave her up after having her for 7 years! Is it so easy to discard these living creatures? I guess in this society it is.
Recently a friend posted a video on FaceBook, which I am attaching a link to it at the end of this posting, and it is very disturbing to watch and also upsetting, so I am warning you ahead of time. But it just makes you realize and think this is what is happening everyday in the nation in thousands of shelters and the only one that can stop it is us. Yes, US! Take the time and check to see what shelters are in your area; donate money, items, food, or volunteer, or foster a cat or dog, do whatever you can to help them out. There are ways to hopefully stop all this senseless killing of unwanted animals because they don’t “fit” our lifestyles anymore.
Go to Best Friends Animal Society’s website and see how to organize a fundraiser, check also in your local area and see if there are cat colonies that need to be trapped, neutered, and released. There are organizations that will help neighborhoods in doing a TNR program and will also fund it. Check local shelters or rescues and see what is on their “wish list” of items needed. There are many ways to help out
I am sure you are asking yourself, “Well what are you doing Joyce to stop this epidemic?” I too think about it everyday. What can I do? I ask myself that, and everyday I am working towards that goal in my own special way. If it is just writing this blog and bringing attention to the plight of animals in our own area, donating toys for cats and dogs to the shelter. I am doing what I can, but I can’t do it alone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJZuHv6Y0Ww
How much damage can a dog or dogs do in a short amount of time? If any of you have owned a puppy you know how much they can do in minutes! Seconds! And if given enough time they can do a great deal of damage.
Now I have gone through “puppyhood” with Sherlock and I know how much damage a puppy to a young adult dog can do; I’ve seen it, witnessed it and lived it as many of you have probably done. But we do have a tendency to “forget” and I use that word lightly the destruction a dog can do.
I have seen Sherlock remove lattice work from my deck, about 75 feet of it in a week. He also tore out the carpeting in a friends’ house, that he also accomplished that demolition in a week. He has torn shoes in minutes, destroyed remotes, portable telephones, cell phones, make-up bags, stuffed toys, etc, and he does it with such enthusiasm that I get mad but I can’t stay mad at him. But sometimes I wanted to just SCREAM!!!!
Last month I had a 10-month old yellow lab stay at my house and in a period of 5 to 10 minutes he pulled the upholstery off the arms of my sofa. He did the one side one day and than the other the next. Oh, lucky me.
My brother’s dog Winston last summer didn’t like my sofa either; same one by the way, and he tore the back of the sofa apart and pulled out the stuffing. So I bought a cover for it.
This past weekend I had the joy of having Winston stay with me again, this time for 5 days. Winston is a sweet dog and why he does what he does, the world may never know but I will give my reason for his “way” of being at the end of this posting.
After last summer I didn’t allow Winston in the house unless I was going to be home. Now the last couple of times he had stayed here, I would give him and the other dogs the freedom of the run of the house and the yard, and he did well. This time he did Great! I had two Golden Retrievers here with him, Sherlock and Casey and everyone had a good time, and nothing was destroyed…until. Yes, that is right until that faithful night.
On Friday evening, I came home from doing my runs and I had to take the Golden’s home so I fed everyone except them; their names were Riggs and Sadie, and I left Sherlock, Casey and Winston with the run of the house. Now keep in mind, they hadn’t done anything, and up until this evening I stayed with the dogs usually after they ate and didn’t run right out the door. But tonight I had plans after I dropped off the dogs and I was meeting friends for dinner and than going to the movies.
Oh what a relaxing evening. Free of dogs, having human company and conversation. Life was good or so I thought until I walked in the door 5 hours after I had left and what did I see? It looked liked it had snowed in my living room! Yes, sofa stuffing and lots of it all over my living room floor. Let’s just say, they; the dogs, were very happy to see me, but I was not too happy to see them.
After many 4 letter words that were yelled from me and much frustration, I went to bed.
See I wouldn’t care if he tore just the sofa apart and I could “patch” it and make it last a couple of more months, but this time whoever did the destruction shredded the sofa cover! So not only did they destroy the sofa they tore the cover too! UGH!!!!!!
Oh, it doesn’t end there. See the next day, I figured what else can they get into while I was gone. They already destroyed the sofa what else can they “devour” while I am away. This time I came home to sofa stuffing on the deck. This was like “What the ?????” More 4 letter words, and another bag of “stuffing” goes in the trash.
So on Sunday, I got up, spent time with the dogs while having my coffee and they had breakfast before I started my morning runs. Now what else could they do? Stupid question and I am a really stupid person thinking they couldn’t do anything else, but they did. They decided to destroy a large Elmo doll I had sitting in the living room to go with other donations I have ready to go to the Goodwill store tomorrow. They tore the entire face off the doll. It was in mint condition. I was really hot now. Let’s just say it was a bad, bad weekend.
So now I have a sofa I have to throw out in the trash on Friday. Elmo went out in a garbage bag with more stuffing they had pulled from the sofa, and my brother says to me, “why did you leave him in? Let him stay outside!” I wanted to scream at him too!
The sofa I had for only 4 years in now going to the landfill and I will no longer allow furniture in my living room ever again.
Why do dogs do this? Is it really separation anxiety or mere frustration of their “human” not being with them? Yes, that statement may be a redundant, but dogs destroy things whether you are home with them or not. Winston isn’t a puppy, he is 3 years old! He should be done with the “chewing” that he does at my house. He doesn’t do it at his own home only here. What does cause dogs to be so destructive?
My opinion is this; when we as owners, don’t give the “amount” of time that our dogs desire, they strike out in ways to get attention. They do something to rid themselves of their own frustrations because “we” aren’t there with them. Now if I had come home on Friday, fed them dinner and than “hung-out” with them for about an hour and than left, all would have been well. Nothing would have been destroyed, but because I came in, fed Sherlock, Casey and Winston and than took Riggs and Sadie and put them in the car, and didn’t take them with me, they were mad! They were pissed they didn’t get to go! So they took their own personal frustration out on the easiest thing; my sofa.
Yes, I am mad about it. I am aggravated about the whole thing, but there is nothing I really can do about it now. So I deal with it and get up tomorrow and start a new day of “what can happen next?” One positive thing; Winston is now home with his owner, and I no longer have to worry about too much of what he can get into next.
Enjoy the pictures of what he did to my sofa, sorry no faceless Elmo pics to post.
Recently I was contacted by a gentleman who is staying at the Coatesville VA Medical Center. I was a little leery of the request when he first asked, but after listening to him, I could hear the desperation in his voice.
He was asking if I could take his cat for 6 to 8 weeks while he was recuperating from surgery that he was having done at the VA hospital. Now this is a service I don’t usually supply for cats because cats are so territorial and don’t always adjust to change that easily as dogs may. But after a number of calls and hearing the full story, I felt that it was my “duty” to help this man out. So I will tell you his story.
This man had fallen “ill” back in March of this year, and was taken to the hospital. His only concern while he was in the hospital was the care of his cat Rags; a 12 year old female. He had asked his sister to take the cat during his stay since he wasn’t sure how long he was going to be in and she did. But after a week or so, she said she couldn’t care for the cat anymore and the cat was shoved off to a shelter in Pottstown. This shocked me that his own family wouldn’t care for his cat.
Once the cat was there at this shelter, they contacted the man; the owner, and told him that couldn’t keep the cat “long-term” and the cat was than transported to the Montgomery SPCA in Perkiomenville, PA, and has been there basically for the last 5 months.
I met the man yesterday after driving to the SPCA in Perkiomenville and picking up his cat and that is how I found out the series of events that not only happened to him but also to his beloved pet. To hear this man speak of his cat, you would think that he was talking about a child. “Get her whatever she needs. I will pay for anything you believe that is needed to keep her happy. Don’t worry about the expense”, he told me. This cat means everything to him.
I am not sure if you any of you have read articles or seen shows about servicemen and women and their relationship with their pets during war time and after the war. This subject is getting a lot of publicity, but maybe not as much as it should.
The bond that is formed between these men and women and the pets that they leave behind, or even the animals that they become attached to while they are stationed in foreign lands are stronger than anything else I have seen. Because the military has zero tolerance for servicemen and women befriending dogs or cats, they are often euthanized.
There are some organizations that do work with getting these “adopted” dogs and cats back to the states to be eventually reunited with their military owners. Some SPCAs nationwide, notable in California and also the Humane Society International is working to help bring these dogs and cats back from war torn areas.
I know that some of you may not believe in this current war or even in past wars that the US has been involved in, but the point I am trying to make here is simple. We as Americans have so many freedoms. We do what we want, we go anywhere, and we take so much for granted. I was lucky to be humbled by meeting this gentleman whose only prized possession he has right now in his life is his cat, and it made to notice to a lot I take for granted too.
So when we are given the opportunity to help those that “service” our freedom we have, and some of you as readers may know someone or even have a family member that is currently serving this country for our “freedoms” and the freedoms of others. We need to give back to them in whatever way we can. They have done a great deal for us and we need to do for them.
Below is a link to an article I found about the plight of animals in war zones, and I suggest, if you can, help bring these animals back to the US to be reunited with their military families.
http://www.petside.com/petsideblog/2010/07/the-plight-of-pets-living-in-w.php
In most of my postings I haven’t really talked too much about cats and their behavior, illnesses or issues people may have with cats. But like the saying goes, “Dogs have Owners, Cats have a Staff.” That is so true if you are a cat owner, whether it be one cat or many.
But I thought I would touch upon a couple different subjects with cats from litter boxes to treats to de-clawing. I will keep it brief because I don’t want to bore you with “cat topics”, but I also want you to be aware of different matters with cats.
So let’s talk litter boxes. No one really likes the litter box for a cat. Whether to clean it on a daily basis and if you don’t it smells. Buying the right litter and dealing with changing the boxes and washing them. So I will keep this to the basic.
As a pet sitter I see a number of cat owners that put way too much litter in their boxes for their cats. You should not put more than 2 to 3 inches of kitty litter in your box. Now, I know that some cats are very picky about their boxes and their litter, but a cat will do well with just that amount in their box. I am sure it may be because people may be away and they don’t want me to worry about filling the box up while they are gone, but when it comes to scooping through 4 to 5 inches of kitty litter it is like a work out! So just a little bit of kitty litter is all that is needed.
Types of litter. There are more and more brands of litter being introduced on the market every month it seems. I do have a number of clients that use a natural kitty litter that is biodegradable or use ones that you scoop the solids and flush them and the urine is absorbed through the litter or into a separate “diaper” tray. If you can get your cats to like natural kitty litter that is great. I tried switching my cats over and they wanted nothing to do with it. I use just plain old clumping kitty litter. It works, they are happy, and yes I have to clean up all the “grit” on the tile floor. But hey they like it and whatever makes my kitties happy! (I can address different types of litter in a more detailed posting later.)
Now boxes. There are all sorts of boxes too. Covered, uncovered, high sides, low sides, ones with a entrance area that allows a cat to get in the box with ease, booda boxes, ones made out of Rubbermaid containers and than we have the self cleaning.
As far as self-cleaning boxes they work great if you have one or two cats, more than that you will probably burn out the motor in no time. I had one for awhile, but with 6 cats it didn’t last long even with me having multiple boxes available. When you find a box that works for your cat than that is what you should stick with.
Male cats should really have boxes that have higher sides because of the way they stand to urinate. Where a female cat could have one with lower sides. Cats do like their privacy to go “potty”, so the box should be kept in an area they can freely get to and gives them their own personal space. The number of boxes you should have is 2 for every 1 cat. A cat’s box should really be kept clean because cats do not like a dirty box.
In the winter when I have all my cats in and I own 6, I have 9 boxes and I clean them once a day. That is not to say, that I also have my frequent accidents too.
What do do if you cat doesn’t use the litter box. First thing is you should take your cat to the vet and find out if it could have a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). You would sometimes know if you cat has an UTI, because their urine will be a little “pinkish” to red in color, and even with clumping kitty litter, you will be able to tell. A number of times a cat may not use their box because of this. Cats; both male and female, can get crystals in their urethra and this can be very painful especially for male cats and they may stop using the litter box for that reason. Or you may have a cat that is just depressed, mad, or marking their territory. You will have the later with in-tact males. Non-neutered cats will mark their territory and once it starts it is hard to get rid of the odor. So always neuter and spay your cats.
I had a cat named Tucker, who from time to time wouldn’t use the box and after trying different litters, boxes, etc, and I took him to the vet and found nothing wrong with him she prescribed meds for him. He got his own “happy” pill and it resolved the problem.
Cats need treats just like dogs need treats. It is a reward or a special item you can give to your cat from time to time. Some people don’t give out a lot of treats to their cats because of weight problems, so you should really read the package prior to dumping some in your cats bowl especially if you have a cat that may be tipping the scales.
Hairball treats do really work by the way. They do help in dissolving the hairballs and allowing it to be digested and passed normally instead of little Fluffy “gaking” it up on the floor and you stepping in it. So don’t hesitate in giving these types of treats to your cats. Usually about 2 to 4 a day may be all they need and also grooming your cat also aids in eliminating them swallowing a great deal of cat hair. Though based upon the size of the cat I believe the packaging may even suggest up to 10 a day.
De-clawing. One subject I don’t like to hear from a client that they are thinking about de-clawing their cat. Though I do own cats that are de-clawed; they came to me that way, I would never do it to one of my cats.
In England this procedure is considered animal abuse and I can understand why. De-clawing a cat is equivalent to You loosing the first digit of every finger. And don’t believe it when a vet says that it doesn’t hurt them, it does.
Clipping a cats nails is easy and if you get them used to it at an early age you will be able to trim their nails all the time. Scratching posts work well; carpeted ones, rope ones, or the corrugated cardboard flats ones work well too.
I do have clients that have cats that are just front de-clawed and than I have some that have ALL their claws removed. Now one myth I guess I will have to state here is if a cat is “front” de-clawed he can’t defend himself/herself. Yes, you may be right there, but I have seen a cat that had no front claws climb a tree to get away from a dog. I have seen de-clawed cats catch more mice or little creatures than ones that have all their claws. But if you decide to have your cat de-clawed, read about what it does and look into other methods before doing that to your cat.
There are many toys out there for cats that work and help on keeping your cats nails trimmed. I have some in my house and the cats do use them. A little sprinkle of cat nip works on attracting the cat to the toy, and You as their “staff member” playing with them keeps them attracted to it also.
So as I clean up cat gak on a regular basis, and pull cat hair off my face from time to time, I would still never have a house without at least one cat. They do make great companions and can be entertaining at times too.
During this time of year, shelters and the area SPCA is overrun with kittens and adult cats. So if you are think of getting a kitten or a cat, look there first. Adopt an older cat because they are the ones that are usually overlooked when individuals are looking at adopting a cat and cats can live 15 or more years. My Virgil will be 18 soon, and I obtained him when he was about 1. Plus you may find pure breed cats in shelters too, you would be surprised.
A Happy Cat makes a Happy Owner!
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I am sure some of you may say you are not going to give an honest opinion on this subject. But to your amazement, I will give you an unbiased review on hiring a pet sitter along with some helpful hints of how to find a reliable, trustworthy pet sitter.
I’m going to give you some background about me first. I do own and operate a pet sitting business in the Chester County area, and I have been running if for 8 years now and have been doing it full-time for the last four years. I have had some trials and tribulations with doing pet sitting, but I also take on every day as a new day and a new adventure.
When looking for a pet sitter you need to know the following items:
How long have they been in business?
Are they bonded and insured?
Do they sub-contract? (Will explain this later)
Will you be doing the job or will someone else be doing the job?
Are you certified?
Are you affiliated with any professional organization?
Reason why you want to know how long they been in business is because a number of people do this for “fun”, and aren’t serious about doing pet sitting as a full time job. Some just do it Monday through Friday, and don’t work weekends or holidays. This is very important to know if you are looking for a pet sitter.
Being bonded and insured is up there as an important factor. You want someone that you know is not going to rob you or steal from you while they are alone in the house. This also protects them, the pet sitter. Also, this in case your pet should come into injury or be harmed while the pet is in “their” care.
Sub-contracting happens a great deal in this business you would be surprised. There are a number of pet sitters out there that will do the first initial “meet and greet” with you, get all your information, meet the pet, get the key, and than assign the job to one of their sub-contracts. It happens more frequently than what you can imagine. So when you hire a pet sitter, you need to know “who” will be coming in. Though I can’t say that there aren’t those out there that won’t lie and say it will be them, and it ends up being someone else. But it does happen.
A number of pet sitter hire “seasonal” help, I often do during the summer season or holiday time. And being a professional pet sitter, I always let the client know if someone else will be coming in, and I often bring one of my assistants with me to meet the client prior to them performing a job in my place. This you should always know and ask when hiring a pet sitter.
Being certified as a pet sitter means you know basic medical information and are familiar with how to administer medication along with identify basic illnesses. I am certified, but I have learned more since I became certified by doing reading and education myself with a number of common pet illnesses. Your pet sitter should know how to give a cat or dog a pill. Know how to identify a UTI in a cat. What to do for diarrhea in a dog. How to check for basic life functions: oxygen levels (how pink are your dogs or cats gums), lameness in legs, especially with older dogs, and how to handle an emergency situation with your cat or dog.
I am a member of NAPPs; National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. There is another organization out there called PSI; Pet Sitters International. You should always make sure your pet sitter is affiliated with some organization and don’t be afraid to ask. I have run across a number of pet sitters that advertise they are members of NAPPs, and I find out they aren’t. So therefore, should you trust them to be your pet sitter?
Now I review why you should hire a professional pet sitter.
A professional pet sitter will be there no matter what! We or I should state, the ones of us that take our job seriously and are dedicated will put work number one and our personal lives second. I have gone out and taken care of dogs and cats when I had the flu, kidney stones, and stomach bugs, in ice and snow, heavy rains; I take my job very seriously and I am very dedicated to what I do.
But some of you may say, well with hiring a pet sitter comes a price. Yes there is a price for hiring a professional pet sitter. Keep in mind what I stated above, a professional pet sitter will ALWAYS be there no matter what.
I am not against those that have their neighbor’s son or daughter come in and do a mid-day walk, or a relative or a friend. There is nothing wrong with having someone come in and take care of your pet while you are away on vacation, but keep in mind; will they really come in? Will they really do what needs to be done? Will they clean up the cat gak, or the dog poop, or know what to look for if your dog or cat gets sick while you are away? Will the clean the litter box?
A number of my clients sometimes will have a neighbor’s child come in and take care of the dog for dinner so I don’t have to come in, but I have found that the “child/person” doesn’t show up everyday, and that left the dog inside the house sometimes for 12 to 14 hours. The problem with that is that if the dog had an accident who would be blamed or who would end up cleaning it up?
With today’s economy everyone wants to save some money, I know I do, and there is nothing wrong with you as a pet owner to do the same. Pet sitters aren’t cheap by far. But we are not as expensive as a vet bill if your pet isn’t taken care of properly either. So you always have to weigh what is important to you.
A pet sitter doesn’t do this to get rich they do it because they love their job. They love meeting “new people” and new pets. These pets become an extension of their own pets they may have. I know with my clients that I have come to know over the last 8 years and some of them have lost their pets too, and I grieve with them just as if it was my own pet I lost. But I have built some long and lasting relationships with these clients and with their pets. I enjoy what I do everyday of the week. (Yes a good pet sitter works 7 days a week, 365 days a year, I know I do.)
I know I haven’t written in a while and that is because I have been working 10 to 12 hour days for the last 12 days. If you want to know what my schedule is like you can read “A Day in the Life of a Pet Sitter”. This is from a previous posting it will give you some insight on what my days are like sometimes.
I apologize for the jibberish that may appear at the top of my posting, not sure why or how this is happening and I hope to get it corrected soon.
I enjoy your feedback along with any suggestions you may have, and I will make every effort to write more frequently!
