Comfy at Home, LLC Pet Sitting Service

12/31/2024

Have a safe & Happy New Year!

🎉 Wishing everyone a New Year filled with happiness, health, and unforgettable memories with our dogs. Here’s to embracing them for who they are, cherishing the time we share, and living our best lives together. Cheers to 2025! 🐾❤️

12/27/2024

Important information for cat owners-product recalls linked to raw food due to bird flu. Many cats have been sickened or died and even some big cats in the animal sanctuary that were fed raw turkey, etc.. This recall spans beyond one brand. Avoid raw turkey, chicken etc. Be careful and protect our feline friends.

Northwest Naturals' Feline Turkey Recipe Raw Frozen Pet Food has been recalled after a cat in Oregon died from bird flu. The product, sold in 12 U.S. states and Canada, has not been linked to any human cases of bird flu.

12/26/2024

12/25/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/18aV8FoZeF/?mibextid=wwXIfr Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy holiday season. ❤️

12/09/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15J83sfmaq/?mibextid=WC7FNe

A huge thank-you to veterinarians for their dedication to keeping animals healthy and happy. We’re so grateful for your compassion and expertise on International Day of Veterinary Medicine.

12/08/2024

😆

Silly Sunday

12/06/2024

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Wisdom Wednesday! This week is about trigger stacking and encouraging you to be observant of your dog’s behaviors. Many people tell me that their dog’s problematic behaviors occurred “out of the blue”, “no rhyme or reason”, etc. Let’s begin by saying that there are many things going on in your dog’s environment that may be of little to zero significance to you, but a lot to him or her.

A trigger is any addition to your dog’s environment that can cause your dog becoming more alert, fearful, increased noise sensitivity, lowered emotional threshold resulting in increased bouts of reactivity. The compiling of triggers is called trigger stacking. An example of trigger stacking is this:

1. Dog expresses emotional discomfort with putting on their harness at home.
2. Dog presents bout(s) of reactivity on the way to doggy daycare.
3. Hearing dogs barking in the building upon arrival at doggy daycare.
4. Doggy daycare employee directly approaches the dog and putting the slip lead on before walking into the building.

All of these occurrences are multiple triggers occurring that result in trigger stacking. The dog in this scenario has experienced being on emotional overload presenting fearfulness, barking, and growling then ends up being shut down that the person thinks everything is “fine”. This dog has not been heard and is likely to be overstimulated for the remainder of the day, if not multiple days.

How do you help your dog when he or she is experiencing trigger stacking? Be kind as in many cases it is close to impossible to prevent trigger stacking from occurring. One human example that I use is you are driving to work, you are already running late, and you hit multiple red lights along the way. You are stressed out and more prone to snapping at someone when you arrive at work. Think of this example when your dog is stressed out from multiple triggers, whether it be delivery trucks arriving at your home, doorbell ringing, loud vehicles outside, children playing, etc.

This week’s wisdom is to be a detective and identify the triggers in your dog’s environment that can be making them emotionally uncomfortable. Remember that something of zero to minimal significance to you can be intensely significant to your dog especially if there are multiple triggers occurring.

As always, take care of each other, be your dog’s teammate, and work together.

12/05/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AZfHZp6bF/?mibextid=UalRPS 😆

12/05/2024

🐾❄️ Essential Winter Care for Your Canine Companions: Protect Those Paws! 🐶

From the archives ❤️

❄️❄️ It's important to pay attention to the products used to de-ice sidewalks and roads during the winter. Many of these products contain salt or chemicals that can pose risks to our dogs' paw health. Let's dive into why protecting our dogs' paws is crucial from exposure to non-pet friendly de-icing products.

🌡️ Chemical Reaction: When dogs walk on surfaces treated with these de-icing products, especially when combined with snow, it can cause a chemical reaction that irritates their paw pads. This can lead to discomfort, pain, and even burns on their sensitive paw skin. Ouch! 😢

💨 Skin Irritation: The salt in these products can remove moisture from your dog's paws, causing dryness, cracking, and general irritation. Remember, our furry friends rely on their paws to walk and explore, and any discomfort can be incredibly distressing for them.

🚶 Watch for Signs: While walking your dog, keep an eye out for signs that they are experiencing discomfort or pain due to exposure to de-icing products. One common sign is when they start to lift up a paw while outside, indicating that their paws are too cold and irritated. If you notice this, it's a clear indication that it's time to move indoors and let their paws warm up. Please clean any snow and ice from their paws as soon as you notice it collecting between the paw pads.

So, how can we protect our dogs' paws? There are a few simple steps you can take:

👢 Dog Booties or Paw Balloons: Invest in dog booties or paw balloons that are waterproof and provide a barrier between their paws and the harmful chemicals. Make sure they fit properly and are comfortable for your dog to wear. Ease your dog into wearing them by trying out one at a time and practicing indoors first. Here are my two favourites: https://ruffwear.ca/products/polar-trex-winter-dog-boots and https://pawzdogboots.com/

🧂 Paw Balm: Apply a pet-friendly paw balm or moisturizer before heading out for a walk. This can create a protective layer on their paws and prevent their skin from getting too dry or irritated. Here are my two favorites: https://bagbalm.ca and https://musherssecret.com/

🚿 Post-Walk Paw Rinse: Once you return home, be sure to rinse your dog's paws with lukewarm water to wash away any residue from de-icing products. Make sure to dry their paws thoroughly to prevent further irritation.

11/30/2024

😆 https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15Y6p2iN5U/?mibextid=WC7FNe

11/29/2024

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Interesting information on unspayed cats & dogs. If you care about the many homeless cats and dogs in shelters, on the streets etc. It’s so important to spay & neuter. We are the solution to this heartbreaking problem. Please help by spaying & neutering your pets. They need our help!

Did you know that a single female dog and her offspring can lead to 67,000 dogs in just six years? In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce an astonishing 370,000 kittens! Spaying and neutering your pets is the only 100% effective way to prevent pet overpopulation, avoid unplanned litters and keep more homeless pets from entering shelters. If your pet hasn’t been spayed or neutered yet, we offer resources that can help. To learn more, visit sdhumane.org/spay.

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving! 🐾❤️🐾

Our dogs love meats and fats, but overly rich foods don’t always love them back. Overindulging can irritate your dog’s pancreas and cause pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis is an extremely painful condition characterized by nausea, vomiting, lethargy, poor appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever. In severe cases, it can be fatal. Pancreatitis is treated with pain medications, anti-nausea medications and intravenous fluids. Most dogs who have survived pancreatitis have to stay on a strict, low-fat and low-protein diet for the rest of their lives to prevent recurrence.

Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to pancreatitis. Avoid giving your dog fatty foods, especially if they have a history of having a sensitive GI tract.

To learn more click the link below.
https://hubs.ly/Q02YBWlL0

11/28/2024

It's tempting to share your Thanksgiving meal with your beloved cat or dog, but most holiday foods aren't safe for pets to consume

11/23/2024

Some interesting things about cats😻 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B2Q7wBsT5/?mibextid=WC7FNe

11/16/2024