8 Imperatives to Prepare for a Pet Sitter

Your vacation is scheduled and you prefer to have your pet stay at home while you are away. In choosing the perfect sitter you should of course interview them, check references and make sure the sitter is licensed, bonded and insured, and LOVES pets. But there are some additional steps you should also take to help ensure your pet will receive the best care possible:

Schedule - Most pet sitters book appointments far in advance. Make reservations as early as possible to guarantee a spot for your pet’s care. If your schedule changes, alert your pet sitter so additional care can be scheduled if necessary.

Pre-visit introduction - Make sure your pet has had an opportunity to meet the sitter before your vacation. Give your sitter your pet schedule, feeding and medication instructions.  If possible, have the sitter take your dog for a walk so that your pet and sitter get accustomed to each other, or bond for a few minutes with you cat or other pets.

Pet care information and supplies - Don’t make your sitter search for pet care items. Place everything your sitter will need in one specific place. This includes food & treats (including a can opener, utensil to mix/chop food and scoop for measuring dry fare), extra food and consumable supplies just in case, medications (with clearly written instructions), leash and collar/harness, paper towels and cleaning supplies, broom/dust pan or vacuum cleaner, plastic bags for waste disposal, litter and scooper, and potty pads if used. Clearly write out and review with your pet sitter any special instructions you want them to perform.

Thermostat - Your pet will be in your locked, sealed home. Make sure the thermostat is set at a comfortable temperature for your pet. Leave instructions on how to adjust the temperature range for your thermostat in case of a power-outage.

Pet proof your home - Pets can be more inquisitive and bored when they are left alone and get into mischief. Put toilet lids down, close cupboards and closets, store medications, perfumes, loose small objects and household cleansers away and out of your pet’s reach.

Alarms, off-limit areas, home access - Are there areas where your pet is not allowed? Make sure you close off the rooms and let the sitter know that those areas are to be kept off limits. Close and lock doors, including garage, and patio doors and windows before you leave. Use timers to control indoor lights so your pet’s day/night schedule is similar to when you are at home. Check to make sure gates and fences are closed and locked. 

Visitor list - If you live in an apartment or gated community, advise and authorize security that your pet sitter will be visiting and, if appropriate, let you neighbors know too. Also, if you plan to have friends, family or someone else also checking on your house and pets in your absence, let the sitter know.  Clearly explain what the pet sitter is responsible for and what the other visitors will be doing to avoid confusion. Also let the sitter know about gardeners, pool or house maintenance providers who might also be on the premises in your absence.

In case of emergency - Your pet sitter should have the information about where to take your pet in case of a health emergency. You should also notify your veterinarian in writing that a sitter will be watching your pet and authorize the veterinarian to provide medical care during your absence if necessary. If there is a natural disaster and your sitter needs to remove your pet from your premises, have a pet emergency kit available and a pet carrier too.  You should also communicate with your sitter how you would like to get updates about your pet, via text, email or phone.

Preparation is the key to make sure your pet sitter has all of the information they need to properly care for your pet while you are away. If they don’t have to search around for your pet supplies and instructions, they will have more time to spend giving love and attention to your pet.

Written by Kathleen Huffman, General Manager orFetch! Pet Care Palm Desert

New Years Pet Resolutions

As 2012 has come to a close we begin to look back at what we have and haven’t accomplished over the past year. It’s a common tradition to make a New Year’s Resolution for yourself. You may think that you need to live a healthier lifestyle by exercising more and eating better, or maybe you’re a procrastinator and want to become more action-oriented.

We don’t often make New Year’s resolutions for anyone other than ourselves, but isn’t it time for New Year’s resolutions for our pets? For example, if we have a weight problem that we would like to solve we can say we’re going to cut out sweets and fatty foods. Our pets can’t do that, but we as pet owners can help them on their path to a useful New Year’s resolution.

Just like humans, pets need to exercise often to stay fit. So if you’ve found that your pet is becoming a bit less active than they used to be, help them get back on track by exercising them more or by hiring a professional pet sitter or dog walker to maintain their daily routine . If you’ve found that your pet is eating more than they used to, change their food to a healthier choice of kibble or wet-food, or make sure you’re not over-feeding them with things such as treats and table scraps.

There are other resolutions that can also help your pet enjoy the New Year. Grooming is another one of the activities, like ample exercise, that we often allow our pets to go too long without. It is an easy thing to forget because it is not ourselves that we are grooming, but pets need to be cleaned too. These ideas are just a jumping off point. If you have any more ideas submit them in the comments section.

Helping Your Pet Lose Weight

Helping your pet to lose weight can sometimes be a challenging task, especially if you or your pet has bad eating or exercising habits. Over half of the pets in America are classified as overweight, and solving this dilemma can seem out of our reach sometimes.

But not addressing the issue is dangerous to pets, and more time consuming and costly to pet owners in the long run. Overweight pets have an increased incidence of fatigue, arthritis, torn ligaments, spinal disc problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and reduced liver function, just to name a few.

A great indicator of whether your pet is overweight is to feel their ribcage, although this does vary somewhat for each dog and cat breed. If you can feel your pets ribs that’s a good sign, but if the ribs are very pronounced that could mean that your pet is underweight. If you can’t feel your pet’s ribs that means they are most likely overweight.

No matter what the problem, it’s much better to see a professional then to try diagnosing the problem yourself. Your local vet can help you come up with a new plan for helping your pet lose weight, and can also tell you, depending on the age and breed of your pet, a good target weight. It’s also a good idea to always consult your vet before you change your pet’s exercise routine.

There are a few good tips to get you started on helping your pet to slim up. One easy way to prevent your pet from gaining, or to help your pet lose weight is to switch to a healthy weight management food. Make sure that the food that you are buying has lots of healthy, natural ingredients in it, typically marketed as premium or organic pet food. Avoid foods with fillers, additives and preservatives. Healthy pet foods may be more expensive, but they provide your pet with the energy and nutrition that they need and deserve.

Another easy way to help your pet lose a few pounds is to cut back on treats, or eliminate them altogether. Although it is nice to reward your dog or cat with a treat from time to time, many treats can be detrimental to your pet’s health. You could also switch over to a healthier premium or organic pet treat, or a different non-food reward system altogether.

The most important thing for your pet when you’re trying to help them lose weight is daily exercise. If you have a dog, try to walk them at least three times a day, or hire a professional dogwalker to take over if you simply don’t have the time. Regular leashed walks at a fast pace, or off-leash play at the local dog park, will help your dog to burn off those extra calories and excess energy. The key thing is to set a routine to get daily dog exercise for your pooch.

If you have a cat, try to get them out of the house regularly if they are an indoor/outdoor cat. If they are indoor only cats, a cat toy, a simple piece of string, or a laser pointer should get them up and moving. Two to three times a day of active play for 5-10 minutes should give cats the exercise they need. If you don’t have time to do this, hiring a professional pet sitter may be a great option. A simpler way to deal with your pet’s weight problem is to think about it like it was your own. A pet gets healthy just like a human does. If you help your pet eat healthier foods, and ensure a good exercise routine your pet will be fit and in tip top shape in no time.

The Pros and Cons of Pet Adoption

If you’re looking to add a new pet to your family, it’s important to know the facts about where our pets come from. There are a variety of places to get a new pet, including shelters, breeders, friends, dog shows, or dog directories. All of these are viable options, but there are pros and cons to each avenue of adoption.

When adopting a pet from a shelter, you’re potentially saving an animal’s life. Many pets are euthanized each year because they can’t find homes, so giving them a home is both admirable and beneficial. Of course, there is a reason why these pets are now in shelters. They could have been put through some traumatic experiences, not wanted by their previous owner, or born without a home. There are many pets in shelters that can be temperamental, and many that are non-tempermental, but there are so many pets to choose from that finding one that you love and that you want to add to your family shouldn’t be difficult at all.

If you’re considering getting a pet from a breeder, the first thing you need to do is research your breeder. Some want to get a purebred dog, or a popular mixed breed. You just need to make sure that your breeder is treating their pets well. Also, be prepared to pay a fee for your pet, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. There are a few telltale signs that your breeder may or may not be a breeder worth getting your new pet from. If the breeder’s home is clean, and the dogs are allowed room to play and interact with one another, that is a good sign. If the breeder is only dealing with one kind of dog, and only one litter at a time, then you know that the breeder is serious about their pet rearing. If the breeder is knowledgeable about their specific breed’s genetic disorder, and if they have treated the pets with the correct vaccinations, then you’ll know that they are responsible breeders.

Getting a new pet from your friends or family can also be a great solution. It’s easier than a breeder and probably cheaper as well. It’s also allows you to ask upfront questions and discuss what you will do with your pet with your friends or family than it would be with a random breeder. You can plan on who will take the pet to the vet to get their vaccination, and who will get your pet spayed or neutered. You’ll also know that the pet was not mistreated and will know how your puppy is doing every step of the way.

There are many factors in determining where you want to adopt your pet from. Remember to also think about how the pet will integrate into your household. Determine if someone in your family will be able to care for them daily, or if you will require the services of a professional dog walker or pet sitter. There is no right option as long as you do your research and find a pet that is perfect for you and your family.

Keep Your Pets Cool this Summer

As we near the hottest days of the summer months our pets need more and more assistance in staying cool. On these sweltering days our pets are faced with a variety of problems: sunburn, dehydration, and overheating are just a few. Of all pets, dogs are especially susceptible to the heat. Here are a few tips to help keep your pets cool on these hot days:

1. Keep your pet hydrated. Many dogs, even on the hottest of days, will overexert themselves. Keep an eye on your dog, and watch for rapid breathing or their tongue consistently hanging out – sure signs they’re getting overheated. Make sure your pet is well hydrated, by always keeping water easily accessible for them. And, if you’re a dog walker or pet sitter, keep some extra water for other dog owners who forgot to pack their own. You never know when that extra water could come in handy.

2. Never leave your pet unattended in the car. Another tip that may seem obvious, but is still a large concern within the pet community, is to never leave your pets in the car by themselves – especially on hot days. Most of the time, leaving your pet in the car may seem like an alternative to tying them up outside but, on these hot days, it’s deadly. Dogs are easily dehydrated because of their fur and their higher than average body temperature (usually around 100-105 F). So either keep them at home, or tie them up outside in a cool, shaded and safe location at your destination.

3. Conscientiously exercise your pet. Pet exercise is incredibly integral for the well-being of our pets, but it’s very easy for pets to exercise too much or too hard in the summer. Try to be conscientious about your pet’s needs and take shorter dog walks, or in the early morning or evening when temperatures typically cool down. A great activity for dogs is to take them to a safe body of water, be it a lake, the beach, or a friend’s pool. Make sure that your pet is supervised in the pool because many dogs have a hard time getting out of pools and are at risk of drowning if left alone. Most dogs love playing in the water, and this activity is a great way for dogs to get some exercise without overheating or getting dehydrated. If you don’t have access to a swimming area, consider a kid’s blowup pool for your pet to wade in.

4. Protect your pet from sunburn. Dogs can get sunburned, and preventing that can sometimes be a hassle. Many dogs will lick off their sunscreen if it’s put on their bellies or anywhere else that they can reach it. If you groom your dog, to prevent sunburns make sure you’re not trimming their coat to the point where their skin is overly exposed to the sun. Apply sunscreen, specifically advertised for animals, to the tips of their nose, ears and anywhere else they typically show signs of sunburn.

5. Educate your pet care provider. Many pet owners will be going away this summer and, if any of you travelers are using pet care services to watch your pet while you’re away, make sure they are well versed in the risks of these hot summer months. Be sure to provide your pet sitter or dog walker with any information about your pet’s specific needs or reactions to the heat.

With a little preparation and prevention, you and your pets can beat the heat and enjoy an endless summer filled with fun, sun and lots of playtime.