Wags N Whiskers Pet Care

08/07/2024

08/07/2024

I got to spend a weekend with this Beauty of a pup! She's a 6 month old German Shepherd mix and would happily try to sit on your lap all day, even though she wouldn't fit! Her feet are almost as big as mine!

07/17/2024

I had a blast hanging with these sweet babies again last week!

05/30/2024

Does anybody know these sweet babies? They were found after the storm out by Vaughn.

05/29/2024

Meeting new dogs is always a highlight of going to new places!

05/26/2024

04/10/2024

This is how my life goes!

03/22/2024

I love this!!!

A new resource is now launching in Central Arkansas that can help make a difference for our furry friends and for pet parents in the area.

03/21/2024

I get to spend a couple of weeks with this cutie here while her people are traveling!

01/20/2024

what temperatures are too cold for dogs, cats and more animals? experts explain when to bring them inside

"If you're bundled up, and you find that it's too cold and you can't handle it any longer, your dog probably can't either," one veterinarian said.

01/12/2024

Honey is NOT happy with the state of outdoors today.

12/20/2023

It's the holiday season, and we usually share table scraps with our dogs because it's a holiday. Here are a few treats that you should stay away from!

So, What Makes Some Treats for Dogs Unhealthy?

With all the advancement in dog nutritional science, you can now provide your dog with snacks that support their health. However, many of the “old fashioned” dog biscuits, cookies and chews only provide your dog with a dose of artificial flavours and synthetic scents. And while dogs love these, they often mask subpar ingredients.

The most common “unhealthy” ingredients are inexpensive fillers. These include corn, wheat, and soy, all of which are nutritionally incomplete. But treats can also contain synthetic ingredients that have been linked to the formation of cancer.

Some of the most common include:
BHA
BHT
Ethoxyquin
Food dyes
Propylene glycol

One of the Worst Offenders: Rawhide

While other treats for dogs contain unhealthy ingredients, others such as rawhide pose more of a physical threat to a dog’s health. Rawhide treats do not break down in your dog’s digestive tract. This can lead to gastrointestinal blockages [2]. And because rawhide can be brittle, some dogs are able to tear it apart quickly, turning the “treat” into a choking hazard. Furthermore, rawhide is a top contender for bacterial contamination and harmful toxic chemicals [3].

At-a-Glance Types of Bad Treats to Avoid

Any treats from China
Cooked or raw bones
Rawhide treats
Treats with unnatural coloring
Any treats that contain sugar
Treats that are high in corn, soy, or wheat
Treats that appear on the recall list [5]

These are things to leep in mind thruout the year as well!

12/02/2023

Hey Friends, don't forget, if it's too cold and wet for you outside, it's too cold and wet for your pets too!

11/21/2023

This is awful!

The illness can include a cough, fever, lethargy and a loss of appetite. Veterinarians recommend that owners avoid boarding their dog if it shows symptoms.

11/17/2023

Having a pet caretaker when you travel offers numerous advantages for both you and your furry companion. It ensures that your pet receives personalized care in the familiar surroundings of their own home, reducing stress and anxiety.

Professional caretakers not only attend to your pet's basic needs but also provide companionship and playtime, maintaining a sense of routine and comfort.

This arrangement eliminates the need for your pet to adapt to a new environment, promoting their well-being.

Additionally, having a reliable caretaker allows you to travel with peace of mind, knowing that your pet is in capable hands. This level of care contributes to a positive overall experience for both you and your beloved animal, fostering a strong bond and trust between them and their caregiver.

11/11/2023

A few days back I was on our local Nextdoor app, and a person posted late in the evening that their neighbor's dog was outside barking continuously during the rain and freezing weather. While obviously, they were tired of the non-stop barking, they were more worried about the dog that was left outside with no shelter from the freezing wind and rain. Many folks suggested calling the non-emergency police number, and eventually, officers did come out and made contact with the owner. Sadly, the owner was out of town for the weekend and simply chose not to have anyone come to care for the dog, either with food and water or to let it inside during the freezing wind and rain. Many people were upset, and rightfully so. PLEASE don't do this. When we adopt pets they are our responsibility and they depend on us to care for them. If you need help while traveling this winter, please reach out to a neighbor, a family member, or a dog sitter to help care for your pet. They say that for one of our years our dogs age 7 years - imagine how long a 3-day weekend felt like to that poor wet, cold, hungry dog. :(

Winter weather can be rough on all of us, so consider the safety of your pets during cold weather. The American Red Cross offers these steps people can follow to help ensure their pet’s safety when chilly weather hits their area.

1. Bring your pets inside during cold weather. Keep your animals inside. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) reports if pets are left outdoors, they can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.

2. The Humane Society of the United States adds that if pets cannot come indoors, you should make sure they are protected by a dry, draft-free enclosure large enough to allow them to sit and lie down, but small enough to hold in the pet’s body heat. Raise the floor a few inches off the ground and cover it with cedar shavings or straw. Turn the enclosure away from the wind and cover the doorway with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic.

3. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas and make sure they have access to non-frozen drinking water. If the animals are outside, make sure their access to food and water is not blocked by snow drifts, ice or other obstacles.

4. Protect their paws. Salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate a pet’s paws. Wipe their paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates their mouth. The ASPCA adds that you can also use petroleum jelly or booties to protect sensitive paws. Use pet-friendly ice melt products.

5. Take care of their coat and skin. To avoid itchy, flaking skin, the ASPCA recommends keeping your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he or she comes inside. Pay special attention to paws and in-between the toes. Remove any snow from between foot pads.

6. If possible, keep your dog’s coat longer in winter for warmth. If your dog is short-haired, consider getting a coat or sweater for your pet.

7. Keep pet bathing to a minimum when it’s cold to avoid dry skin. If your pet needs a bath, use a moisturizing shampoo.

8. Antifreeze is a deadly poison. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze out of reach.

9. Know your pet’s limits outdoors. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports you should be aware of how your pet tolerates cold weather and adjust as needed. Consult your veterinarian if you need advice.

10. Check your engine. A warm vehicle engine can be an appealing heat source for outdoor and feral cats, but it's deadly. Check underneath your car, bang on the hood, and honk the horn before starting the engine to make sure a cat hasn’t taken refuge on your engine.

11. Use space heaters with caution. The heater can burn your pet or be knocked over, possibly starting a home fire.

12. Watch for hypothermia. If your pet is whining, shivering, anxious, slower than usual or stops moving, seems weak or starts looking for warm places to burrow, get them back inside quickly because they are showing signs of hypothermia. Frostbite is harder to detect and may not be fully recognized until a few days after the damage is done. If you suspect your pet has hypothermia or frostbite, consult your veterinarian immediately.

13. Be prepared: Winter can bring blizzards and power outages. Prepare an emergency kit and include your pet in your plans. Have enough food, water and medicine (including any prescription medications as well as heartworm and flea/tick preventives) on hand to get through at least five days.

14. Avoid walking on frozen water. Stay away from frozen ponds, lakes and other water. You don't know if the ice will support your pet's weight, and falling through the ice could be deadly.

11/04/2023

It's truly a joy to me to care for animals, and today I got to take care of dogs, cats, fish and a bearded dragon, and I loved it!

11/04/2023

These two have been pretty much inseparable since Baby 'Roo arrived!

10/31/2023

Save this for your pet care needs!

10/24/2023

Using a pet sitter has numerous benefits. A pet sitter can provide personalized, one-on-one care for your pet, including feeding, exercise, and playtime. They can also give your pet attention and affection while you are away, which can help reduce stress and anxiety. Additionally, having a pet sitter can give you peace of mind knowing that your pet is being well-cared for in the comfort of their own home. Pet sitters can also perform other tasks, such as bringing in the mail or watering plants, which can be helpful while you are away. Overall, using a pet sitter can help ensure that your pet is happy, healthy, and well-taken care of while you are away.

Benefits to your pets include:

Staying at home in their safe, secure environment
Being surrounded by familiar sights, smells, and sounds
Following their regular diet and exercise routine
Having play time
Receiving love and personal attention
Maintaining medical treatment, when required
Having someone responsible in case of an emergency
Eliminating the trauma of travel or an unfamiliar environment
Helping to ensure good health (no exposure to other animals' illnesses or parasites)

Benefits to you include:

Knowing that your pet is in caring, loving hands
Having the confidence that the pet sitter can deal with other issues - such as grooming, vet visits
Eliminating the trauma of having to transport and leave your pet
Not having to impose on family, friends, or neighbors
Feeling your home is more secure (with someone going in and out several times a day)

Not all pet sitters are created equal, nor are they all professional. In hiring a pet sitter, it is important to make sure you have chosen the right person to care for your beloved animal.

10/16/2023

Having playtime with one of my new favorites!

09/29/2023