No Place Like Home Pet Sitting, LLC

06/18/2023

Here it is....it's what you've been waiting for! It's my 5 ways to help your pets with fireworks and thunderstorms this summer!!

Trazodone and acepromazine are sedatives that are often prescribed by vets for dogs with a fear of fireworks and thunderstorms. Those two prescription drugs offer only sedation, but dogs can still hear and become afraid if not adequately sedated. For some dogs this may help some but for most it does nothing for their fear, just makes them sleepy.

These 5 tips I have listed for you here are not the only ways to help your dog and your cat, but I feel like these are the best ways. I have used Sileo for my dogs when we travel and stay in hotels. The commotion and noise outside the hotel room door is a bit much for my watch dogs. Sileo is a lifesaver to allow us and anyone else in the hotel to sleep without hearing my dogs barking at all the noises they can hear. Talk to your vet to see if it's something that can be prescribed for your dog. Be aware though that you will need a minimum of 1 box/syringe (given orally) of Sileo for just one dose for dogs over 100 pounds. It only lasts a couple hours so for longer periods you will need at least 2 boxes. THIS IS NOT FOR CATS! Sorry kitties! But everything else on my list will help for cats.

Have a safe and happy summer and 4th of July!!

06/11/2023

PLEASE READ THIS IF YOU HAVE A FEARFUL DOG OR CAT!!!

NOW IS THE TIME to talk to prepare and talk to your vet about how to handle your pet's phobia!! YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST NOT WAIT until the day before you vet office closes for the holiday!!! Veterinary hospitals are inundated with calls for sick pets and medication refills right before a holiday so please don't wait!!

Here is what I suggest:
1. Talk to your vet about the pet's phobia and if there are any medical concerns with giving some medication to help keep your pet calm.

2. If you are planning to take your dog with you to go see a fireworks display you should reconsider unless you know EXACTLY how your dog will respond.

3. If you are planning on traveling and leaving your pet with a pet sitter or in a facility or in someone else's home for boarding you need to let them know if your pet is afraid and if your pet is destructive or a flight risk for trying to escape the house during the fireworks!!! I have had dogs chew through wire crates to try to get away from the noise of fireworks and this is a medical risk because they can break teeth chewing the wire or crate material and ingest things they shouldn't causing an obstruction or stomach upset (among other things).

4. If you have a pet that you don't know how it will respond to fireworks because it was recently adopted/rescue/purchased or is just has not been exposed to fireworks before then I suggest talking with your vet to have a plan in place just in case the pet does become very fearful.

I will be posting more suggestions in the days ahead on some ways to help your pet through the summer fireworks!! So keep a look out for my suggestions I have used for various pet sitting client's pets and for my own dog that is a little fearful!! Let's this a good fourth of July holiday with no pets ending up injured or lost due to the fear of fireworks!!

💡 Preparing your pet ahead of time for fireworks is a good idea.

Make sure they have a safe place to go to if they get scared. Try to make it somewhere comfy, cozy, and quiet.

You can actually use positive reinforcement training to get your pet acclimated to hearing fireworks ahead of time at lower volume, without the sights and smells associated with the real thing.

If your Plan A doesn’t work out, have a Plan B involving another strategy or therapy.

🇺🇸 Enjoy the fourth without worrying how your pet will handle fireworks. Plan ahead and have fun!

03/06/2023

Look at this little cutie pie puppy I have the privilege of caring for this week! Russet is a 14 week old Dog De Bordeaux puppy. He has a friend named Murphy staying with him as well to play with. Russet also has 2 big sisters that are kitties but they are definitely not interested in getting near those shark teeth🦈🦈😆!!

09/15/2022

We don't charge a holiday surcharge for this either 😂

06/24/2022

Before getting a dog or puppy, you should always consider if the dog you want has the same interests & "hobbies" as you. If not, then research another dog or another type of pet (ie cat, hamster, fish, etc). Just because the dog is cute doesn't mean that you should get that particular breed of dog.

Many owners should think (research and/or consult with a knowledgeable trainer^) before they get certain breeds.

Breed really matters, choose wisely.

"The art of training a dog owner"

Dog owner tells me: Hi, my dog pulls on the leash and runs into the woods after deers if I let it off leash.

Me: Okay. What's the breed?

Owner: A siberian husky mixed with a c**n hound.

Me: Okay, so you have a musher mixed with a hunting type of dog?

Owner: yes.

Me: ok, what are these breeds bred to do?

Owner: well, half of the dog should be pulling and the other half run into the woods and hunt.

Me: Yes. And your problem was?

Owner: it pulls on the leash and runs after wildlife.

Me: yea, it appears that you have a dog meant for pulling and hunting.

Owner: yes, that's correct. Can you train it out of the dog?

Me: Do you have any interests?

Owner: Er, yeah, sure I do. I like painting and watching movies.

Me: Would you consider quitting doing that?

Owner: no, I don't think I can. But what does this have to do with dog training?

Me: Would you consider doing something else that gives you the same pleasure you get from painting and watching movies?

Owner: I mean, sure I can do other things but it's not as fun.

Me: ok. And what can you offer a musher that is more fun than pulling and a hunting dog that is more fun than hunting?

The dog owner is silent for a while.

Owner: That's a good question. I don't know.

Me: Neither do I.

Owner: Perhaps I should had gotten myself a xbox?

Me: haha, yeah, if you dont like hunting or being outdoors training a lot,, perhaps this dog isn't for you.

Owner: Yeah, one should perhaps read up more before getting a dog. But it's awfully cute!

Me: Yes, I understand that.

Owner : it sheds a lot too. My husband goes crazy with all the fur everywhere.

Me: mmm, that's something you have to deal with.

Owner : yes, it was even hairs in the stew last night.

Me: Yeah, that's not uncommon.

Owner : But you know what? I met a husky when I was 12. It was so beautiful. Ever since I've always wanted one.

Me: Too bad you didn't meet a xbox instead.

Owner laughs: Alright, I think I'm starting to understand that it's not the dog that has problems but me.

Me: haha, not much of a "problem". What you are saying is very common. People with guarding dogs gets angry when their dog growls at strangers. People with sighthounds gets frustrated when their dog comes home with a baby rabbit. People often know too little when they get a dog.

Owner : Thanks for the chat. I have learned a lot in 10 minutes.

Me: Good luck in the future. There's a lot we can do to help you in your training with the dog. But the dog will always have a need and joy to pull and hunt.

Owner: Yes, I can understand that now."

*Copied from Leagh with Forté Molossers*

^added in by Triad Pet Solutions, LLC

{Dog pictured is Ruby. Ruby is adorable. Ruby is not the subject of this post. But she is cute!}

12/22/2021

From my furry family to yours, have a wonderful holiday this year!

10/30/2021

Great article to point you in the right direction on how to dispose of leftover medications from after illness or surgery. Or if you have had to say goodbye to a pet and need to safely dispose of medications you no longer need, this is good to read or save for when you're ready to get rid of those medications.

Does that include your companion pet's meds? Indeed, it does!

06/13/2021

So sad 2 young dogs died from eating a plant at their vacation home. Read the article. Keep your pets safe by keeping them away from toxic plants.

A couple vacationing in South Carolina didn't know a plant in their backyard was poisonous until their dogs started vomiting and died hours or days later.

06/08/2021

As more people are getting vaccinated for COVID and restrictions are being lifted, pet owners are heading back into the office and possibly also heading out on vacations. Dog owners are certainly experiencing separation anxiety as their humans are starting to leave the house, but what about cats? Interesting article for cat owners that have very lovey cats.

Can separation anxiety affect cats, too? A veterinary behavior expert offers insight and solutions for separation anxiety in cats.

06/06/2021

This article gives nice and concise information about ways to PREVENT cancer in our pets. I now know all of these 11 tools talked about in this article, but that is only because my heart dog, Jackson, passed away almost a year ago from lymphoma. Before Jackson was diagnosed with cancer I didn't know much about how to prevent it much less the ways to treat it once your pet get that most dreaded diagnosis. So in sharing this article written by Dr Damien Dressler, I hope that you can prevent cancer in your pet(s).

Canine cancer is reaching epidemic levels. And we need to be doing everything we can to stop the spread. Here are 11 tools for prevention.

04/08/2021

Look at this cute new "little" 🐶🐶 of mine...er, um, I mean of my new client. This is Benjamin and he's a little over 4 months old and !! He's goofy but that's a large breed puppy for ya and I ❤ ! ❤️

03/27/2021

Now that the weather will be getting warmer, fleas and mosquitos will be coming back. Ticks, sadly, are not affected by the cold temps and are now a year-round threat. If you're looking for more natural ways to keep fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks from feasting on your dog🐕 or cat🐈 then you'll want to read this blog by Dr Judy Morgan. And while you're reading that, feel free to sign up for her email newsletter or like her on Facebook to learn way more about how natural is better than chemicals to keep your pets healthy. Happy Spring!!🌻🌻🌞🌞

Spring has sprung and with that comes the fear of flea and tick infestation. I have made it well-known that I do not recommend or prescribe oral preventative medications that last one to three months, as I feel they are extremely dangerous and have killed too many of our beloved dogs and cats. Even....

03/25/2021

Spring is officially here! While outside walking my dogs and my clients' dogs, I can see beautiful flowers already starting to bloom. I wanted to take a moment to remind you that there are lots of plants (along with some fruits and veggies) that can be hazardous to cats and dogs. Please be mindful of what plants you may plant in your yard or have inside your home.

Fresh fruits and veggies are tastiest when they are in season. Many fruits and vegetables ripen in spring, but not all are pet safe! Grapes and raisins contain toxins that can impair kidney function; seeds and pits of stone fruits (peaches, plums, apples and cherries) contain deadly cyanide or arsenic; onions and chives may cause hemolytic anemia; tomato and potato leaves and stems can result in digestive, nervous and/or urinary system difficulties; and iced tea or coffee could increase your pet’s heart rate and result in seizures. Carrots, green beans, broccoli, apples and bananas are safe and beneficial for most dogs and cats in moderation as long as they don’t become a choking hazard.

According to the Pet Poison Helpline®, these are the 10 most poisonous plants to our pets. All parts (unless otherwise indicated) can be deadly.

1. Autumn Crocus
2. Azalea
3. Cyclamen
4. Daffodils
5. Tulips & Hyacinths (especially bulbs)
6. Diffenbachia (leaves and stems)
7. Kalanchoe (also vase water is toxic)
8. Lilies (Tiger, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese Snow can be fatal to cats while others may cause milder symptoms.)
9. Oleander (also smoke from burning branches and water in vase)
10. Sago Palm (seeds most deadly)

Place fertilizers, insecticides, w**d killers and cleaners (use a pet-friendly white vinegar solution) out of reach. They can be absorbed through paws or ingested when grooming. Snail and slug bait pellets can cause seizures. Organic fertilizer does not mean pet-safe: Blood meal is flash-frozen blood that has been dried and ground and is tasty to pets. Often it is infused with iron resulting in a toxic overdose if consumed by Fido. Bone meal is made from animal bones ground to powder. When ingested, bone meal can form a large concrete-like ball in your pet’s stomach which requires surgical removal. Chemical-based w**d killers are highly toxic to humans, pets and wildlife. Instead, mix up this do-it-yourself pet and people friendly w**d killer:

1 Gallon White Vinegar
2 Cups Epsom Salts
¼ Cup Dawn® Dish Soap (the original blue works best)
Spray in the morning after the dew has evaporated, and by dinner time…w**ds are gone!

Keeping Fido and Fluffy safe is a 24/7 job for pet parents and professional pet sitters. Know your nearest animal emergency center, what services they offer and how they accept payment. Keep this number handy: ASPCA’s Poison Control Hotline (888-426-4435), and regularly bone-up on your pet first-aid skills. Preparing for the worst just may prevent the worst from happening!

02/06/2021