Pet Sitting, Dog Walking, Scottsdale, AZ

Archive for the ‘Pet Care’ Category

Here is our newest 2x/day puppy client. We love Lucy!!!

Image via Wikipedia

Are there really CPR/First Aid Certification classes for pets?
Yes! There is. In fact, I was certified (life time certification) through The American Red Cross back in 2006. Currently, there area  few places that hold classes from time to time. Most recently, Kim MacCron, Vetekchic On Wheels held a class. For more information, you can check out her website I highly recommend every pet parent learning these life saving tips.

Should this matter to you when choosing a professional pet sitter in Scottsdale? Why yes, of course!  Wouldn’t you want your babysitter to know CPR if your two legged kid was ever in trouble around water? Or maybe injured his or her leg and needed a splint so they wouldn’t create further damage?  Bella’s House & Pet Sitting comes with this knowledge and has vet tech’s on staff for our clients benefit.

Related articles

• Saving Lives is Just Part of The Professional Pet Sitters Job (bellashouseandpets.com)
• PET FOOD RECALL (Cats)| Scottsdale Pet Sitter Warns You! (bellashouseandpets.com)
• Doggie Babysitters Exisit in Scottsdale, AZ (bellashouseandpets.com)

As the temperatures begin to rise, it might be beautiful weather for us but not always the pets. As one of our most popular services, dog walking can get a little tedious when the temperatures rise but just how hot is too hot? I contacted Dr. Casey of McDowell Mountain Animal Hospital, and by the end of the day she provided us with a great response.

“Anyone who has survived an AZ summer understand that it is hot!!  No one is more aware of this than our pets!  Our furry friends feel the heat even more than we do.  Pet dogs and cats do not have the ability to sweat (except for very small amounts in between the toes), so they are MUCH less efficient at cooling.  The only ways that they have to cool themselves are 1. to lay low in the shade for the heat of the day or 2. to pant/ drink cool fluids.  You can picture that the surface area of their tongues is much smaller than that of their skin- maybe by 30-1.  This means that they can be 30 times more sensitive to the heat! Also, the pavement is much closer to them as they walk and usually is in direct contact with their exposed paws.  While pawpads are tough, the sidewalks can reach more than 150 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer (try running to the mailbox in bare feet- ouch)!  The radiant heat and the direct contact can cause burns that can take weeks to heal and are very painful.  Here, we recommend keeping walks to the early hours of the morning or late in the evening during the summer.  Any temperatures above 90 degrees are too hot for walking.  The great news is that the sun comes up much earlier in the summer- making for very nice walking conditions and a nice start to your day!

Heatstroke- heatstroke is basically prolonged overheating-  this can happen in as little as 20 minutes.  Dogs and cats have a higher normal body temperature range than people.  They are normally between 100.0 and 102.0 degrees.  If they reach a temperature > 103.0, this is considered “hyperthermia” and is technically too hot (either from a fever or overheating).  During heatstroke, dogs can easily reach 105.0- 110.0 and these temperatures can cause major damage to the body.  Systems that are most severely affected are the brain, the liver, the lungs and the blood clotting systems!  If you think that it is possible that your pet is overheated or suffering

from heatstroke- seek IMMEDIATE veterinary attention.  Rules to follow-

1. NEVER leave your pet in an enclosed space- like a parked car or plastic kennel, these can become very hot!  This is most problematic in direct sunlight.
2. Always keep your pet in an area with plenty of shade and fresh water
3. Keep all geriatric, overweight and short-faced dogs in the A/C-  these dogs are even more sensitive to the heat than the average dog
4. Do not exercise in the heat with your pet- even if you feel ok, they may be much hotter than you are.  Keep all walks to times that are cooler than 90 degrees.
5. Seek medical attention if your pet shows any signs of heat stroke (do not wait).  Heat stroke signs include: * excessive panting/ drooling, bright red gums, vomiting and/ or diarrhea, lethargy or stupor/loss of balance, loss of consciousness, seizure or even sudden death

Quoted from the aspca website
Heatstroke
Know the Warning Signs

Image via Wikipedia

According to Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA Vice President of Veterinary Outreach, “symptoms of  overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.” Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.”

This will effect our daily dog walking clients. We will be contacting you one by one and discussing our already customized routines. Playtime in the pool, short play time’s on the grass, suggestions for different types of doggie Popsicle’s, and games to play inside the house to exercise the mind and body, are just some of the suggestions we use for our clients.
Dr. Casey can be found at McDowell Mountain Animal Hospital located at: 17050 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale Az You can reach them at: 480.419.6300 We highly suggest her services and even trust our own fur kids with her and her amazing staff!!!

Related articles

• Foods To Add To Your Pets Food When They Won’t Eat. |Dog Walking Scottsdale (bellashouseandpets.com)

Trimming your cat or dog’s nails is not usually considered sharing “quality time” with your beloved pet. But when done often enough, with the proper technique, and rewards for your dog’s good behavior, it should be one of those regular grooming events that your cat or dog will tolerate if not look forward to.

If not done often enough, with proper technique, and reward- training, it can be frightening and even painful for your cat or dog.

Nail clipping is not typically painful for cats or dogs. The only time that it can become painful is if you clip the quick. The quick is the blood vein that runs through the nails. It is very easy to spot if your cat or dog has clear nails, it can be very difficult to spot the quick on a cat or dog’s nail that is black.

Below you will find a picture of the appropriate technique to use when clipping a cat or dog’s nail.

Whenever you are clipping your dog’s nails make sure that you have styptic powder. This powder will help the nail stop bleeding if you happen to clip the dogs nails.

When a cat or dog’s nails become too long they interfere with the dog’s gait (dog’s naturally walk on their toes.) and as the nails continue to grow, walking will become awkward and painful. Untrimmed nails can also split resulting in a great deal of pain, bleeding, and a trip to the veterinarian’s office. In severe cases a dog’s nails can curl under and grow into the pad of the dog’s paw causing a very serious and painful infection. These types of ingrown nail problems are most common on the dewclaws.

The dewclaws are the nails located on the inside of the paw. Many breeders have the dewclaws removed shortly after puppies are born, so not all dogs will have dewclaws. If your cat or dog has them remember to include them in your dog nail trimming routine. These nails don’t touch the ground, so they don’t wear down as fast as the others as your cat or dog walks on rough surfaces. Trimming your dog’s nails regularly will easily prevent these problems.

This is usually a tough chore to do yourself at home. Call Bella’s House & Pet Sitting and we will gladly come and clip your pets nails for you. Call us today to book your appointment! 480.330.4552

Max and Molly are in a household with three other dogs. The crack us up every time they get treats from us. It was too priceless to NOT get on camera…. do your cats ever do this??