HUGGYBUG PET SERVICE

Another year upon us and I still hadn't made a New Year's Resolution! So today I decided I had to come up with one that I'll stick to.  For me, the easiest resolution is one I make for someone else in my family.  Specifically, for my dogs-Blue, Cooter, and Chi-Chi.  I have to admit, I've been remiss in going to the doctor for my own health and I haven't been great on getting the dogs in for annual exams either.  So my resolution is to get all three an annual check-up.  I'm also resolving to REALLY work at getting to understand food labels.  Picking a good dog food is critical to any pets health, and while I've been told that the food I give my dogs is a good one, I really don't understand why it's good.  If you haven't made a resolution for this new year, make one now!

Happy 4th of July everyone!  Hope to see you in the pet parade, here in Sierra Vista.  Remember, lots of dogs get lost on the 4th, keep your pets safe.  If you are away on a vacation, make sure your dogs are being checked regularly and are in a safe place. 

It's best to keep them inside during the fireworks, fear can certainly cause dogs to find the ability to jump over fences that you would never have thought they could.  If they are used to being kenneled, put them up and put some soothing music on.  If they're free while keeping them inside, check to make sure they can't jump through a screen on a window.

 I don't advocate giving sedatives, there are plenty of safe, natural alternatives to use.  I have a chihuahua that became terrified of thunderstorms and he transferred that fear to my 150 lb Great Dane.  I used one of the natural products to calm him down and it worked quite well.  Now every time it thunders I make a point of acting like it's natural and he has slowly gone back to not being bothered. Work on this problem before the next 4th of July by using a recording of firework or thunder and playing it, starting with soft and working up to loud. 

Remember, don't act like there is a problem, if you over-coddle, the dog will think there is a reason to be scared and something is wrong.  This is a good time to get your dog to "work" using commands he/she knows (if they're not so terrified they won't listen).

 

THROW AWAY THE PLASTIC BOWLS!!

As a pet sitter I see alot of food/water dishes.  I can't tell you how many times I sit a pet that is well loved and taken care of, but is drinking water out of an old plastic dish that's pitted and flaking off into the water.  Same with food dishes.  If you are going to use plastic dishes, replace them regularly. 

 A better choice is a porcelain or stainless steel.  Easy to clean and bacteria won't cling.  Get as big a water dish as you can, so the water stays cooler for longer.

Some dogs have a sensitivity to certain plastics used in pet bowls, causing "plastic dish nasal dermatitus" which is triggered by a reaction to an antioxidant in the bowl or dish.  The plastic also can cause canine and feline acne on the chin.  To read more try: www.vetinfo.com/ddepigmt.html  

The summer heat is here!  It's really getting WAY too hot to leave your dog in the car, even for a minute or two!  Once they get heat stroke, it will be very easy for your dog to have another.  Make sure that your dog has plenty of shade if he's left outside during the day and Huggybug Pet Service recommends a kiddie pool with about 4-5 inches of water in it, placed in a shady spot (that water can get very hot out in the sun), to help them stay cool.  Throw some ice cubes in the water bowl too.  Many dogs are helped by getting a shorter hair cut, just make sure it's not so short that he gets sunburn!  Avoid walks on concrete and asphalt, when it's hot and sunny out, those dog pads can get burned, wait til after sundown, or go very early in the morning.  If your dog is very sensitive to the heat, consider training him/her to run on a treadmill (just make sure that they are attended to the whole time on the treadmill).  Lastly, watch out for the active little dogs, they dehydrate much faster than the big, slower moving, dogs.

As a member of NAPPS, The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, I'm excited because it's time for "Presents 4 Pets" a drive that Huggybug Pet Service hosts every year.  We will be collecting a variety of items useful to local shelters and rescue groups and I'd love to have my clients decide which we give to. 

If you know of a non-profit pet organization that could use these items, let us know, We'd love to use our clients favorite charities.  I'll be posting a list of items that we will be collecting and notices will be put in the paper, also watch for the posters around town.