Hooray! I Made It To My 1,700th Blog Post!
When I first started blogging on January 18th, 2011 about my dear pet sitting clients and my own pets (Henry, Buster, and Daisy) I was excited but I was also a bit worried because I wondered if anyone was reading my posts but then I realized that none of that mattered as long as I was doing what I loved and from there I gained followers from all over the globe while also building a sense of community within my Teacher's Pet Sitting Service family.
The opportunity to not only share my stories with you as well as gain new friendships with fellow bloggers has been a rewarding experience that I will continue for as long as I have pets in my life (in other words that will be forever!) and I thank you for encouraging me to complete my 1,700th post today!
Anal Gland Issues AKA How to Stop Your Dog From Smelling Like Fish
If your dog suddenly starts to smell like fish it is not because he needs a bath but instead it is because his anal glands need to be expressed. The term "expressed" is just a nice way of saying that the greasy, liquid substance needs to be removed (or squirted) from his anal glands either at the vet's office or by yours truly!
When I first adopted Daisy she needed to take a trip to the vet a few times and, as you can imagine, the foul smell before and even after the procedure was so overwhelming (and also uncomfortable for her) that I took it upon myself to research how I could stop this unpleasant experience from repeating itself.
After reading Dr. Karen Becker's 'Anal Gland Issues in Dogs' I learned the following:
1)Eliminate all grains and switch your dog to a biologically appropriate diet. She also recommends that we switch to a novel protein for your dog. If, for example, he’s been eating only beef and chicken, make a transition to bison or rabbit.
2) A constant diet of just one or two types of protein can trigger an allergic inflammatory response.
3) Unnecessary manual expression will also reduce the effectiveness of the glands over time so stop the routine manual expression. The anal sacs are delicate little organs that are easily injured by pinching or squeezing.
4) Stop feeding any food that contains corn, potato, oatmeal, wheat, rice or soy.
5) Adding probiotics and digestive enzymes to your pet’s diet can also assist in creating consistently firm stools.
6) Adding organic canned pumpkin and unsweetened coconut will naturally keep your dog's poop from being in liquid form thus eliminating his need to be expressed. These additions to Daisy's diet helped immensely!
7) Unaddressed food allergies are a quite common cause of chronic anal sac issues so talk to your vet about this possibility as soon as possible.
I hope this information is helpful for your dog's health and well being!
If you have any further helpful hints please leave a comment below!
How to Determine Your Dog's Age and What to Do to Keep Him Young
Is your “puppy” still a puppy? Use this table to accurately find out how old your dog is, so you can be sure that you’re giving them the right care for their age.
The age breakdown looks like this:
- Real age 1 year–Human age 14-15 years
- Real age 2 years–Human age 23 to 24 years
- Real age 3 years–Human age 27 to 28 years
- Real age 4 years–Human age 31 to 32 years
No Kidding! Goat Yoga at Jenness Farm in Nottingham, NH, Is a Hit!
Yes, I know that I don't have any goats as clients or personal pets but since part of my blog description is about how my life is a treat BECAUSE of pets I figured I could get away with talking about goat yoga that has been happening at Jenness Farm in Nottingham, New Hampshire, since last spring! Believe it or not, goat yoga is becoming a nationwide craze, but Jenness Farm is the first place in New England to offer it!
For 60 minutes at $24 per person, you can become centered and calm in a yoga class that is accessible to all levels and I'm not kidding!
Due to the popularity of the classes (and the goats) I haven't been able to reserve a spot on the mat yet but when I do I'm sure to look and feel as relaxed as this lucky yogi was!
This no-kill and hormone-free farm is home to about 30 goats of different species. Its main business is goat-milk soap which it sells at wholesale and through a retail shop on the property.
If you are unable to make it to yoga class you can still shop for goat milk soap, lotion, candles, and so much more in person or on-line!
Have you had the chance to enjoy yoga with goats at Jenness Farm or elsewhere? If so, what was that experience like? Please let me know! I'd love to read all about your experience!
8 Days With Rhody Was Purrfect!
I had the pleasure of enjoying Rhody's company for eight days which calculated to be sixteen (yes, 16!) visits because I saw him twice a day but some may think visiting a cat that frequently is unnecessary because cats are known to be independent. However, Rhody is not that type of cat! In fact, he cannot stand being alone!
To prove my point that Rhody always had to have me in his sights he is shown above watching me while I prepared his meals,
while I rested,
while I sent a report to his parents, and
while I watched television!
If you have a cat who gets especially lonely while you are away please consider hiring Teacher's Pet Sitting Service to provide the comfort the he/she deserves!
My Saturday Night Visit With Molly Was Lovely!
There are many dogs I wish I could see on a daily basis and dear Molly is one of them! Her soulful eyes always tell me she is deeply grateful I stopped by which made it hard for me to leave her at the end of her visit on Saturday night!
As soon as I let her out of her crate she hopped up and down and then wiggled her butt in pure joy and then
she saw my sidekick, Daisy, and immediately calmed down long enough for me to get them "suited up" for their walk!
Afterwards she sat by me as if to say, "Please stay a little longer because I love you!", and so I did and then I
gave her a lot of belly rubs while I felt rewarded in knowing I gave her comfort while her dad was away!
If you live in Dover, New Hampshire, or surrounding towns and have a dog who needs only one visit or several I can help! Please visit Teacher's Pet Sitting Service to learn more about what I have to offer!
Smile! February is Pet Dental Health Month!
While every pet owner knows that a regular grooming and exercise routine is vital for their pet's overall health many forget that proper dental care is just as important. With February being National Pet Dental Health Month there is no better time to develop a maintenance plan for your pet’s oral hygiene.
Dental disease affects a significant number of pets at any age during their lifetime, and just like with people, there can be serious consequences as a result of poor dental health.
Although pets aren’t typically known to have minty-fresh breath, an extremely foul odor can be the first sign of a severe dental problem. Some other indicators of oral disease may include excessive drooling, inflamed gums, and loose teeth.
More mouth problems that could arise from poor dental hygiene include periodontal disease, gingivitis, halitosis, gum disease, mouth tumors, and facial pain. It is always best to check in with your veterinarian if your pet begins to show any sign of mouth discomfort or exceptionally foul breath.
Dental care for your pet should begin as soon as possible, so it is vital that your veterinarian teach you how to properly care and brush your pet's teeth right from the start! They can provide demonstrations of the most effective and hassle-free way to brush your pet’s teeth, as well as which diets and toys are the safest and most effective.
Another important step in caring for your pet’s dental health is to have your vet perform a complete cleaning and examination on an annual basis. They should be performed more frequently if home care can’t be done or if the animal has any other oral problems.
Remember, dental health should be a daily ritual for pet owners to follow all year and not just during the month of February. Please keep in mind that the oral health of your furry-friend has a direct effect on their overall health!
Daisy Poses With Tom Brady!
Since the Super Bowl is coming up this Sunday, February 4th, I thought I would share this picture of Daisy with Tom Brady (taken at downtown Dover's very own Nicole's Hallmark) for you to admire!
As you can see, Daisy was exasperated by this photo opportunity because she could NOT be fooled into thinking that this was the REAL Tom Brady so Janet (the owner of the store) tried to help me get a better picture of my girl by standing
across from her (Janet was cropped out of the photo per her request) with a few milk bones in hand! I'd like to say that Daisy stared meaningfully into Tom's eyes but she didn't but even still I am proud of her for playing (see what I did there?) along!
Now that Daisy associates Tom (or is it the store?) with milk bones I'm going to assume she's a Patriot fan! Are you?
Sonya and Sophia Join the Teacher's Pet Sitting Service Family
One of the most rewarding things about professional pet sitting is to bring joy and comfort to cats who don't understand why their humans had to leave unexpectedly for a few days.
When I first began visiting creamy calicos, Sophia (on the cat tree) and Sonya, they were reluctant to trust me but as soon as I filled their food bowl, scooped their litter box, and
scratched Sonya's head (I was told she was standoffish with strangers)
she and
her sister, Sophia, soon thought of me as their new buddy and I couldn't have been more thrilled about that!
If you live in Dover, New Hampshire, and are in need of a reliable and professional cat sitter please consider hiring Teacher's Pet Sitting Service to give your cats the TLC they deserve!