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(480) 608-5885 / TLC House & Pet Sitting Service
Spay and Neuter for Dogs: What You Need to Know

Spay and Neuter for Dogs: What You Need to Know

Spay or Neuter for Dogs:

What You Need to Know

It has become a widely held belief that every pet owner should spay or neuter their dog without question. However, what spay and neuter advocates won’t tell you are some of the risks. Along with the benefits, there are risks to this life altering surgery. Not every dog must be spayed or neutered. Every pet owner should consider the options and make a personal choice, just as they would with every other decision relating to their pet.

spay neuterBenefits

Most of the benefits associated with spay or neuter procedures are true. Your dog will most likely calm down from his hormonal need to multiply, but this does not mean he will gain weight and become slow. He will maintain all of his natural energy and healthy weight as long as you provide a quality diet and daily exercise.

A spayed female is given prevention from mammary tumors and will never get Pyometra (a life threatening infection of the uterus). A male who is neutered also is given prevention from an enlarged prostate and testicular cancer, as his testicles will be fully removed in a typical neuter.

Risks

Your veterinarian should go over the risks involved in this surgery before-hand. These risks may include problems with anesthesia, especially in small dogs. If you have an experienced vet who is passionate about what they do, the risks are lowered. Going under anesthesia will lower your dog’s body temperature, which should be constantly monitored. Other problems, such as anaphylactic shock can also occur in a dog who has a reaction to a type of anesthesia.

Along with the typical risks of anesthesia from the surgery itself, you also have to keep an eye out for infection around the incision. While your dog is recovering, you must watch for signs of pain and discomfort. Your vet can provide medications for pain if it is severe.

The removal of a major body part will place stress on anyone’s body, even your dog’s! When a reproductive organ is removed, such as the uterus or the testicles, the dog’s body undergoes a change. Removing these organs adds a higher risk to joint problems, incontinence, and some types of cancers. If neutered before the age of 2, a dog has a significantly increased chance of hip dysplasia and major hair or coat changes.

spay and neuterThe Big Decision

Still unsure if you should spay or neuter your dog? First, you should ask yourself if you feel you can handle an intact animal. A dog who is kept intact has a higher likelihood of marking, or urinating on objects within your home. This can be addressed through training with diligence and consistency, but you must ask yourself if you have that kind of patience to deal with a dog urinating in a home at 2 years of age!

Almost any dog of any breed can be taught boundaries and to stay within their owners’ sight. However, keeping a watchful eye on a female dog in season can be challenging. If she is not monitored carefully, you could end up with an unwanted litter.

Not everyone is able to successfully raise a pet that is not spayed or neutered.  For those simply seeking a best friend, it may be best to get your pet ‘fixed’. The downside to an altered pet is that the increased risk of long term health problems. They may also require more vet care in their senior years. If you do choose to spay or neuter, it may be safer to wait until your dog reaches full maturity.  At 2 years old, risks associated with arthritis, mobility issues, and hip dysplasia, are decreased. For some who are up to the challenge, consider keeping your dog intact primarily for your pet’s health, but also to maintain a healthy wallet!

For More Information

If you have questions about spay or neuter procedures for dogs or general questions about pet care, you can contact Kara Jenkins, Owner of TLC Pet Sitter. We are also available by email at info@tlcpetsitter.com.

How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?

How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?

How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need?

Have you ever wondered “How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need”? Walking your dog gives your pup a chance to explore, socialize, and of course, relieve himself. Yet, taking your dog for a walk serves another important function that pet parents often overlook – exercise! Give your dog too little exercise, and he could be a terror around the house, or be at high risk for chronic illnesses. Too much exercise can lead to over-exhaustion and injury.

The rule of thumb is one half hour to two hours of exercise per day, but what type of exercise your dog should get depends on several factors.

Small Dog Breeds

Most dog breeds were created with a certain purpose in mind. While most people would probably assume that the bigger working and sport dogs need a lot of exercise outdoors, they may not realize that small breeds also need exercise time outside of the house, too.

However, small and toy dogs do better with a light stroll than strenuous exercise. Their small bodies and legs are not always up to the task of a hard run or play time. Flat-faced breeds such as pugs, bulldogs, and Boston terriers may also have a more difficult time breathing after hard play.

Large Dog Breeds

Golden and Labrador retrievers have very active minds and bountiful energy, so a few tosses of a ball or Frisbee in addition to your walk can help them satisfy those running, catching, and retrieving instincts. Greyhounds and whippets love to run, too, but only in short bursts. They’re sprinters, not long distance runners after all. Hounds, on the other hand, have that fox-hunting endurance that can take them for miles.

Large dog breeds can also have special genetic considerations that dictate the most appropriate type of exercise for them. German shepherds, for example, are prone to hip dysplasia, so taking them for a jog can do more harm than good. Like German shepherds, barrel-chested Great Danes are prone to bloating, too, so they shouldn’t be taken out right after a meal.

Younger and Older Dogs

Juniors and seniors still need their exercise, but taking them for a long walk or a romp in the park isn’t always a good idea. Since their bodies need the additional energy to help them grow, short easy walks are best for puppies. Likewise, senior dogs with health problems benefit from a slow, less strenuous walk. In order to make sure they get enough exercise beyond dog walking, both young and old dogs benefit from playing with their pet parents at home, such as a rousing game of tug-of-war. You can also make meal time into exercise time by hiding food around the house or using a puzzle feeder.
Are you stuck at work and worried that your dog isn’t getting enough exercise during the day? Click here to find out how our dog walks can keep your pup healthy and happy.

Questions About “How Much Exercise Does My Dog Need” ?

If you have any questions about “how much exercise does my dog need”, or other questions about pet care, you can contact Kara Jenkins, Owner of TLC Pet Sitter. We are also available by email at info@tlcpetsitter.com.

 

Free Feeding Your Pet While You’re Away?

Free Feeding Your Pet While You’re Away?

You Want What’s Best

Is Free Feeding Your Pet a Good Idea?

So you’re going away for a few days. It can be tempting to simply leave a self feeder full of kibble out for your cat or dog, but it’s not always the best idea. Consider the following before you begin free feeding your pet while you’re out of town.

What is Free Feeding?

Free feeding, also known as grazing, is when you set out a large, unmeasured quantity of food for your pet. It’s different from meal feeding because your pet has the opportunity to eat throughout the day instead of at predictable intervals.

Unlike when you measure a portion of kibble that your pet can nibble until the next scheduled serving, free feeding doesn’t have any means of portion control. You would keep topping it off every time it gets low and rely on your pet to determine how much to consume.

What are the Advantages?

Of course, the biggest advantage to free feeding is the convenience. Once you set out the food, you wouldn’t have to do much monitoring other than keeping it full. Some animals benefit from free feeding, particularly elderly or sick pets who need help keeping their weight on. Pets who are prone to anxiety from food insecurity may have to be free fed as well.

What are the Disadvantages?

However, free feeding kibble throughout the day has serious health drawbacks. Especially when you’re out of town, some cats and dogs will begin grazing on their kibble out of boredom. Then, their overeating could lead to obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, and urinary tract disease. For cats, a free fed diet can also lead them to be more sedentary, because they are naturally more active before meal time.

Dogs in particular have a harder time knowing when to stop eating. Dogs’ wild ancestors, wolves, instinctively gorge themselves on large prey animals, and then go days without eating while they digest. Today’s dogs express that wild instinct by eating as much food as there is in front of them. Since the kibble expands in their stomachs, some dogs will eat to the point of becoming nauseated.

What Are Some Alternatives to Free Feeding?

If you’re only going to be gone for just one evening, you might want to invest in a timed feeder. Timed feeders come in a variety of configurations. Some have a reservoir on top and a mechanism on the bottom that turns to measure an amount of kibble. Others pop open to reveal a pre-measured amount of food, which is particularly useful for wet food.

However, if you’re going out of town for an extended period of time, the best thing you can do is hire a pet sitter. A pet sitter can monitor your cat or dog’s eating levels to make sure that they have a healthful appetite. Our professional pet sitters also have emergency plans in place, so you don’t have to worry about your pet ever missing a meal.

Questions About Free Feeding ?

If you have any questions about free feeding, or other questions about pet care, you can contact Kara Jenkins, Owner of TLC Pet Sitter. We are also available by email at info@tlcpetsitter.com.

Fun Things to Do With Your Dog

Sports, Games and Just Plain Fun

Looking for some fun things to do with your dog?  Think you’ve tried it all?  We’ve compiled a list of activities that should keep you both pretty busy! This list will help with training, exercise, and overall fun for you and your dog.

  • Agility– in, out, over and through this sport is all about working as a team
  • Animal Assisted Activities and Animal Assisted Therapy– the warm head of a friendly pet can soothe a lonely heart
  • Bikejoring– some dogs love to run. Adding the responsibility of teamwork adds to the fun.
  • Canicross– dog powered running for those who want to share their running goals with their best friend
  • Carting– channel the desire to pull into harness work that lets the dog feel useful and skilled
  • Coursing and racing– root instinct drives the joy of running with purpose in coursing and racing
  • Day trips and vacations– the dogs need not be left behind, bring them along for even more fun
  • Disc Dog or Flying Disc– if there was ever meaning to jump for joy this is it, jumping with achievement
  • Dock Jumping or Dock Diving– dogs who excel in this sport are love to show they can do it further and better
  • Dog Camps – Activity Sampler– too many choices? take a vacation with your dog and sample a variety
  • Dog Parks and Dog Walks: Socialization and Off-leash Play– a joy for the social dog, think tot lot
  • Dog Scootering– some dogs love to run. Adding the responsibility of teamwork adds to the fun.
  • Earthdog Trials– instinct, drive, and flying dirt – what more could an earthdog want
  • Flyball– excitement, speed, and focus, a sport for dogs driven to do it faster
  • Flygility– racing and teamwork to build confidence and a sense of belonging
  • Games– the most basic of interactions, fun ways of practicing skills of hunting, fetching, working together
  • Herding– it’s all about the dog’s instinct and desire to control and direct movement for the pack leader
  • Hiking, Backpacking and Dog Walks– sharing our quiet moments, our contemplations is the essence of being a pack
  • Hunt and Field Trials– working as a team is what drives these dogs
  • Kids and Dogs– dogs and kids can be a wonderful pairing with a little learning to keep it safe and fun
  • Mushing– for dogs who love to pull and people who want to let them
  • Musical Freestyle– the ultimate in teamwork is working with rhythm and coordination
  • Obedience– precision, focus and a great activity for perfectionist dogs, those who love to get it exactly right
  • Performance Art (Tricks)– curiosity and a willingness to try new things makes this fun
  • Pet Facilitated Therapy– for the dog who loves attention what better way to get it than visiting people in need
  • Precision Drill Teams– the excitement of success, of meeting a challenge and being a part of the team
  • Pulling– great for dogs who love to pull, and people who want to let them
  • Racing– for the dogs who love not just running but being faster than the next one
  • Rally Obedience– more focus on teamwork, less focus on precision, fun and relaxed for human and dog
  • Ring Sport– a sport that says “I can be a contributing member of the family” Some dogs thrive on responsibility
  • Rollerblade– a fun way for dogs and humans to share exercise and fresh air
  • Schutzhund– tracking, obedience, protection, schutzhund is all about what a well rounded dog is all about
  • Search and Rescue– for some making a difference is important, that includes dogs, they know it matters
  • Skijoring– dogs love to pull, people love to ski. Put the two together and you have skijoring.
  • Sledding
  • Sniffer Dog
  • Stock Dog Trials
  • Tracking
  • Treibball– herding balls instead of sheep
  • Visiting Pets
  • Water Work
  • Weight Pulling

These suggestions are thanks to http://www.dogplay.com/

Responsible Pet Ownership

Responsible Pet Ownership

Responsible Pet Ownership

Responsible pet ownership is nothing less than caring for a child. Luckily, most pet owners do consider their pets a part of their family. However, loving is not enough when it comes to being a good and responsible pet owner. Just like you work on raising your child, work on his education, make sure he is eating a well-balanced diet, his hygiene is maintained; you do the same with your pet as well. If you are wondering what should you do to become a responsible pet owner and how it is more than just loving your pet, continue reading the post.

Caring for Your Pet’s Physical Health

Taking care of your pet’s healthIt does not matter if you have gotten your pet vaccinated or not, regular checkups are must. With us humans, we can easily tell if something is not okay or not feeling well, but since we don’t speak the language of our pets, we don’t really know what might be going inside their body and how they are feeling. This is why it is important that you get their monthly physical check-up scheduled. Your pet’s health includes making sure they are free from fleas and parasites which can be sucking onto them and eventually weakening your pet. Also, get your pet’s teeth brushed twice a day as well.

Caring for Your Pet’s Diet

Healthy and balanced diet – Like every living being, your pet also needs a complete diet that’s a combination of fats, carbs and proteins to maintain a healthy gut system. Homemade pet food is the best option for pet food. However, even if you are buying instant pet food, make sure it contains the daily nutritional requirement of your pet. Also, do not feed your pet too much. Diabetes and obesity does not only exist in humans. It can also affect your pet and make them sick and lethargic.   

Spay and Neuter Your Pets

Be sure your pet is spayed or neuteredSome might think this practice is unethical, but pet overpopulation has become a serious problem because not everyone is a pet lover nor there is enough space in pet shelters. Which is why getting your pet neutered is important to control the pet overpopulation. It also reduces the risk of your pet getting testicular cancer and other health risks.

Being Prepared

Be prepared for pet emergencies – Just as you always make sure to keep a baby bag prepared with all the baby essentials in it, you have to do that for your pet too. Keep all the emergency supplies ready in a kit including eye ointments, vet wraps, gauze, hydrogen peroxide, anti-septic, and tweezers. Also, keep a pet first aid book at hand, especially when travelling with your pet in a car.

Basic Training

Timely training – We are not just talking about professional training here; basic training is equally important for your pet. It stimulates their mind and keeps them active and happy. Reward based training is known to help in promoting good mental health in your pet and enhance the relation between the pet and owner. Training also conditions and eliminates violent habits from your pet’s behavior, making them friendly and calm.

Healthy Treats For Dogs Who Enjoy The Best

Healthy Treats For Dogs Who Enjoy The Best

Healthy Treats For Dogs Who Enjoy The Best

We love our pets. We pamper our pets.

We smother them with love and affection. We’ll throw endless sticks and frisbees and tennis balls, take them on walks, bathe them and groom them without complaint.

Then we run into the pet store and buy the most inappropriate food available, just because it’s cheap.

Read the ingredients: most low-cost dog foods begin with grains of some kind. Corn, rice, wheat. But dogs are primarily carnivores – sure, they’ll eat vegetables and grains when that’s all they can get, but they’re designed to eat meat. Vegetable proteins don’t cut it.

Knowing this, intelligent people – that would be you – look for the foods and treats that most naturally suit their beloved pets.

Here are some:

Zuke’s Mini-Naturals Dog Treats. In the variety six-pack you can see by clicking here, the first ingredient in each is real chicken, real duck, real rabbit, real pork, real salmon, and real peanut butter, with not a speck of wheat, corn or soy. Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are added, too, for Fido’s robust health. And though the treats are small, the flavor is huge.

Hills Science Diet Flexi-Stix Jerky with Real Turkey. Not just real turkey, but something equally important – added glucosamine and chondroitin for daily support of healthy joints. These are American-made with North American ingredients – no suspicious additives from China – and no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. This doggie delicacy easily breaks into smaller treats. See them here

Greenies Grain-Free Dog Dental Chews. What dog doesn’t love greenies?! Among those U.S. vets who recommend dental chews for at-home oral care, they’re number one. Made from natural ingredients, they clean your doggie’s teeth, control plaque, inhibit tartar buildup and end bad dog breath – all while providing complete and balanced nutrition. If you don’t yet know about greenies, you really should. See them here.

Make Your Own Doggie Treats. No matter how good the intentions of dog food producers may be, the fact remains that commercial manufacture always seeks ways to cut costs, and the product ultimately suffers. There’s really only one way for the true pet lover and enthusiast to avoid this, and that is to make your own. It’s far from impossible; all it takes is commitment and a little time. Here’s a terrific website that tells you how:  http://www.moneycrashers.com/homemade-dog-food-treat-recipes/

Finally, most commercial dog foods in the mid-price range won’t do Queenie, Fido or Max much harm. Some ingredients, however can do more damage than others over time. Read nutrition labels carefully, and try to avoid pet foods with these ingredients:

  • BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)
  • BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
  • Ethoxyquin
  • Food Dyes Blue #2, Red #40, Yellow #s 5 and 6, or 4-MIE
  • Propylene Glycol
  • Rendered fat

For the rest, always keep a watchful eye on your pet’s demeanor and behavior. They’ll tell you when they’re not feeling up to par. Then a quick visit to the vet will determine if that’s due to diet – and that’s an easy fix.

5 Top Reasons to Hire a Midday Dog Walker

5 Top Reasons to Hire a Midday Dog Walker

Hiring a Dog Walker for Midday Walks

5 Reasons Why You’ll Want To

Hiring a dog walker is easier than you think for midday walks. You see them every evening. Sometimes in the morning too.

People parading with pups. One, two or three happy dogs, walking sedately or bouncing around to test every tree or telephone pole.

Why Midday?

But why just at both ends of the day? Of course, that’s when their guardians are home. What’s a poor pup to do with all those lonely hours inbetween? Just sit, wait, and wonder?

Here are some reasons to exercise your dog in the middle of the day. You can’t be there – but there are professionals who can be. See how it helps your pup:

  1. No more lonely dog. Now instead of long stretches of boredom, your dog has companionship and exercise to look forward to every day between the hours that you go to work and return home.
  1. Puppy in a box. Many people – maybe you – keep their dog in a cage during the day, most often to protect their cushions, shoes and other chewable items. But puppies can’t go eight hours without a potty break, and honestly, neither can older dogs. A midday dog walker can easily give your precious pets the exercise and bathroom breaks they need.
  1. Speaking of exercise. Dogs are active beasts … they love to run, jump, run, fetch, sniff at stuff, and run some more. It keeps them fit and alert. Being stuck at home all day doesn’t do it for them; just the same as being stuck at the office doesn’t do it for you. A midday dog walker is a real blessing at times when you can’t be there.
  1. You’re working too hard. Or at least too long. If you’re one of those who have to work a 10- or 12-hour shift, imagine doing that without a bathroom break. Poor Fido. Add to that the time you spend with your friends after work, or the errands you have to run. You feel guilty … and rightly so. (By the way, did you know that “Fido” is Latin for “I am faithful”?)
  1. No worries. Best of all, hiring a midday dog walker resolves all these issues, and brings both you and your pet/s real peace of mind. No worries for you, and lots of fun, exercise, and companionship for your fuzzy friends.

Find out what the Animal Foundation, a 501 (c)3 organization in Las Vegas, has to say about the importance of midday dog walks.

Is there a cost? Well, yes, you’ll write a check. But it won’t be for much – dog walkers often walk more than one client’s pets at a time, so the cost is shared and relatively minimal. Because you love your faithful friend, this is something you really should look into.

 

Questions About the Hiring a Dog Walker in Arizona?

If you have any questions about hiring a dog walker, or other questions about pet care, you can contact Kara Jenkins, Owner of TLC Pet Sitter. We are also available by email at info@tlcpetsitter.com.

 

 

 

Health Care Tips for Dogs

Helpful Diet and Vet Care Tips for Dogs

If you want to have a long, beautiful relationship with your dog, then you should educate yourself on the basics of puppy health care. A foundation of good health starts with diet, and this should go hand in hand with routine, preventative veterinary care for your pet! Skip out on either of these, and you may be sorry later down the road. A poor diet can lead to obesity, liver failure and even diabetes. Skipping out on routine vet care could mean that your dog is silently suffering a preventable problem without ever knowing about it! Stop poor health before it starts with these diet and routine care tips!

First Vet Trip

The very first thing you should do with your new dog or puppy is take him straight to the vet! In fact, most contracts from both ethical breeders and rescues will state that an examination by a licensed vet within 72 hours is required! This is to make sure your new best friend is healthy and coping well in his new home. He may also receive booster shots at this point, which is typically a 5 way vaccine that includes protection against deadly Parvovirus.

The Wellness Examination

Even if your dog is an adult, you should not forget about his yearly wellness exam! This is the exam where your vet will look and feel in places an owner normally will not. He will feel your dog’s stomach for anything out of the ordinary, feel his organs to make sure they are of normal and healthy size, and make sure your dog is over all healthy. He will also check inside ears, mouth and even express your dog’s anal glands if it needs done! If anything does seem out of the ordinary, your vet may have caught it in time before it became a serious threat to your pet’s life.

Nutrition for Health

Your dog needs to have a diet that is tasty, but also one that is healthy for him. Unfortunately, most manufactured pet foods, even the most popular ones you see advertised on television, are the worst for your dog’s benefit. Seek out foods that are grain free and made from whole foods instead of just meals and flours. Better yet, find a recipe book for raw or cooked homemade meals to keep your dog as healthy as he can be!

Don’t Be Fooled by Labels!

Sometimes a dog food product may seem like a great choice, but the nutritional ingredient list will tell the truth! Always read the ingredient list. The first three items listed are those in which the food holds the most of, so you must make sure no meals, by products or grains fall as those first three ingredients. You will also be able to seek out important items on an ingredient list. For example, if you want a high fiber food for a dog with digestive problems and find a food that claims to have pumpkin in it, flip the bag over and read the list! The further down pumpkin is on the list, the less amount of pumpkin is actually in each bite. The only way to be 100% certain of what and how much is in your dog’s food is to make it yourself!

Educate Yourself

If you want to stay involved with your dog’s health and proper care, ask questions to your vet! Learn about canine diet and never stop accepting new information! Science discovers new things almost daily when it comes to the dogs we love so much. Your thinking and feel about your dog may change with the more you learn, and your love for him will only grow with more knowledge!

Feline Diabetes in Scottsdale

Feline Diabetes in Scottsdale

Feline Diabetes: The BasicsFeline Diabetes

In order to understand the basics of feline diabetes it is best to understand how diabetes develops.   When a body eats it converts food into energy.    The pancreas, an organ lying deep in the abdomen below the stomach, aids in this conversion by secreting enzymes and hormones to regulate digestion.  One of the hormones the pancreas secretes is insulin which helps to balance and regulate blood sugar levels.

Just as in human diabetes, there are different types of feline diabetes, mainly type 1 and type 2.   Type 1 diabetes occurs when insulin is not produced.  When insulin is not present there is no regulation of blood sugar levels and instead of the glucose being utilized as energy in the body’s cells glucose ends up in the bloodstream.   In type 2 diabetes insulin is produced; however, the body is not able to utilize the insulin, and again too much sugar ends up in the bloodstream.

Sometimes a cat is genetically predisposed to getting feline diabetes; however, one of the causes of diabetes in cats is the same as the cause of diabetes in humans, obesity.  Eating a high carbohydrate diet increases fat cells which in turn secrete a substance that decreases a body’s response to insulin and creates sugar imbalances.   Furthermore, cats are designed for metabolizing proteins and fats, not carbohydrates.  Controlling the amount of carbohydrate intake your cat has can be an effective method of controlling diabetes.  High fiber and high-complex carbohydrate diets have also been useful in helping overweight cats reach their goal weight.  Proper nutrition is vital and nutrition counseling for your specific cat should be discussed and planned with your veterinarian in order to achieve optimal results.

Other risk factors for feline diabetes includes age (older cats are more likely to get feline diabetes than younger cats), gender (males more likely than females), hormone imbalances, chronic pancreatitis, and certain medications.

The most common symptoms of feline diabetes are an increase in appetite, an increase in thirst, an increase in urine production, and weight loss.  Lethargy may also be reported.  Left untreated feline diabetes can lead to ketoacidosis, liver disease, bacterial infections, unhealthy skin, and neuropathy.  Feline diabetes does not cause the kidney disease and blood vessel disease than most people associate with human diabetes.  A diagnosis of feline diabetes can cause a shortened life span; however, feline diabetes does not have to be a death sentence as with proper care and management of the condition a cat may lead a normal life and even have temporary remissions from the disease.

The diagnosis of feline diabetes requires blood testing and urine testing.  Once diagnosed, treatment should begin immediately.  Treatment for feline diabetes depends on the severity of the presentation.  For more advanced cases, fluid therapy and insulin injections are needed.  For less severe cases, oral medications, insulin injections, and dietary changes are needed, with twice daily insulin injections being the most commonly recommended treatment protocol.  At home blood monitoring and insulin injections need to be performed on a relatively strict schedule.  Graze feeding is not recommended as careful monitoring of dietary intake is essential in determining if there is a shift in the cat’s eating or drinking habits.  Weight and urine production also need to be monitored closely for any variations that may indicate the diabetes is progressing.   Periodic veterinary examinations are also necessary.

Early detection is a key in maintaining your cat’s health.  If feline diabetes is detected early enough a low carbohydrate diet may allow the pancreas to recover and start producing enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels again.  This may lead to remissions and temporary discontinuation of medication.   While there is no cure for diabetes, with proper veterinary treatment and consistent, loving home care a cat can lead a normal, happy, and healthy life.

 

 

Scottsdale , Arizona

Dog Care, Walking, & Pet Sitting

480-588-1364

Pet Safety: Dangerous Foods & Medications

Pet Safety: Dangerous Foods & Medications

DANGEROUS FOODS
Many foods can be dangerous and potentially deadly for cats and dogs.  Keep these food items out of your pet’s reach:

coffee grounds                 grapes
chocolate                         onions
yeast dough                     tea
macadamia nuts               alcohol
avocado                           fatty foods
garlic                               salt
chewing gum                   candy
breath fresheners containing xylitol

MEDICATIONS
Many medications used to treat human medical conditions can make your pet sick. Never give your pets any medication that is not prescribed by a veterinarian.  Be sure to keep your medicine cabinet locked and these medications out of reach:

aspirin                            antihistamines
diet pills                         acetaminophen
ibuprofen                        antidepressants
vitamins                         cold medicines
naproxen                        prescription drugs

For a comprehensive list of other household hazards, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association Web site.

Compliments of:PSI

 

Scottsdale , Arizona

Dog Care, Walking, & Pet Sitting

480-588-1364

 

 

 

Feline Diabetes in Scottsdale

Probiotics Found in Scottsdale Pet Stores

Probiotics  Benefit Dog Digestion

probotics dog food scottsdaleWhat are Probiotics? They are beneficial bacteria that live in the digestive tract and aid in your dog’s digestion. Good news for Scottsdale pet owners as several pet stores in the Scottsdale area carry dog food containing probiotics.

What are the benefits of Probiotics? Probiotics inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria such as: E-Coli and Salmonella.  They also effectively treat diarrhea, irritable bowel, and even urinary tract infections.

What are some Probiotics that pet owners should look for?

  • Purina’s Fortiflora
  • Nusentia’s Probiotic Miracle
  • Vetri-Science’s Vetri-Probiotic
  • Jarrow’s Pet Dophilus
  • Thorne Research Bacillus

Where can Scottsdale pet owners find Probiotics locally?

  • Choice Pet Market – Scottsdale Rd. and Shea
  • Fetch Doggie Store and Kitty Too – Hayden and Raintree
  • Petsmart – Camelback and Scottsdale Rd.

Information provided by “Pro” Probiotics, by Mary Straus, The Whole Dog Journal, March 2012

Scotttsdale Arizona

Dog Care, Walking & Pet Sitting

(480) 588-1364

Feline Diabetes in Scottsdale

Mesa AZ Dog Food Alert

Mesa Dog Owners Advised of Kibble Quality Issues

Mesa AZ Dog Food AlertMost Mesa dog owners are unaware of the harmful process that kibble goes through before it reaches the mouths of their best friend.  A recent article in  Dogs Naturally Magazine  discussed in detail the potential health risks associated with inferior kibble food.

Did you know that processing kibble requires all vitamins and minerals to be stripped from the product – and then – they’re added back in (usually in synthetic form) to provide the nutrition dogs need.

This process of adding vitamins and minerals back into kibble is problematic for a couple of reasons:

  •  Vitamins and minerals added into the dog food come in what are called as a “premix” form which are often bought from producers overseas where the production standards are very low.
  • Many kibble premixes are created with synthetic vitamins and minerals  may cause toxicity in your pet’s body.

Research has shown that the best alternative for providing your dog with vitamins and minerals would be through whole foods.  Only through whole foods, will your dog receive all of the necessary ingredients from each food in order to process the beneficial vitamins and nutrients they provide.

Next time you are shopping for dog food in Mesa, compare the labels between the leading kibble brand and a quality whole food brand of dog food.

Mesa Arizona

Dog Care, Walking & Pet Sitting

(480) 588-1364