Ally Lynn's Pet Services

08/11/2024

Did you know that pet grooming is a completely unregulated industry? There is no requirement for formal education, no required continuing education, and no required testing or certification?

Anyone and everyone can just pick up a pair of clippers and start advertising themselves as a groomer and charge people for a service they aren’t trained to perform.

It’s completely up to you, the owner, to do your research and make sure the person you are trusting with the health and safety of your pet is qualified to care for them.

Every groomer should be trained, and that very basic training takes months.

It takes years to truly master the ins and outs of grooming and everything that goes along with it.

Pet grooming is so much more than just a hair style.

*It’s knowing dog behavior and how to safely handle all the different personalities and quirks.

*It’s recognizing health conditions that would be better suited seeing a vet such as skin or ear infections.

*It’s being prepared for any and all emergencies that can happen, from seizures to allergic reactions, to nicks and cuts and quicked toenails without panicking.

*It’s knowing how to best deal with a variety of coat types properly.

*It’s being able to know when to stop a service on a particular dog due to behavior or health.

*It’s having the knowledge and patience to handle a different species while holding razor sharp clippers or 8 inch long scissors.

At the very least, the groomer you use should seek out continuing education to make sure they are current on the changes in the industry, from upgrades in products to tools that make the process easier for the pet and them.

They should be current on their pet cpr/first aid certification which needs repeated every couple of years.

They should be able to answer your grooming related questions with knowledge and confidence and if they don’t know the answer they should know where to find it.

They should have an emergency plan in place with a local veterinarian in case anything happens, because when working with animals it’s not a matter of if something happens, but when.

They should come recommended by other pet owners and pet professionals.

And it’s worth noting that there is nothing wrong with using a groomer that is still in training, but they should be working alongside an experienced groomer and under their direct supervision.

Ask the questions, after all you are paying them for a service. A groomer who has spent time and money to be as educated as possible is excited to share their knowledge!

08/05/2024

Hey friends, grooming is closed today 😔

If you haven’t heard yet, our water has been acting funky for the last week or two, leaving us with no option but to close due to lack of water. Please be patient with our staff as we try to navigate through rescheduling with an already fully packed schedule until winter! Trust me when I say, none of us want to be calling to tell you this bad news, we are doing our best. 🤍

We are open as usual in our canine rec center, we do have drinking water for our pups.

07/25/2024

A lot of change has been happening over here at Ally Lynn's Pet Services!
If you haven’t heard yet I have moved and I am switching up the services I am offering to better suit my new lifestyle.

🐾My services NOW include:
Overnight pet sitting in YOUR home
Check in visits
Farm sitting
Dog walking and hiking/traveling
House call grooming(I am not currently accepting new grooming clients)

Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns! Prices will vary as I navigate these mobile services🤍

05/14/2024

Belfast friends!!
Check out this awesome new service for dogs on the waterfront!

05/03/2024

This seems like such an easy question to answer: would you know if your pet was in pain? Did you know that the majority of you DO NOT realize your pet is in pain? One recent study showed that close to 75% of you missed the signs of pain in your pet! How can that be?! This happens at our clinic quite often. Some of the signs can be hard to see. Cats tend to hide or sleep more. Dogs might just stop doing things that, in hindsight are obvious. Sometimes we can see that your pet is shifting their weight OFF one leg while at rest while other times, many of you tell us lameness is not a sign of pain because it doesn't slow your pet down. You can run fast on 3 legs AND be painful on that 4th leg.

The fact is osteoarthritis, one of the most common causes of pain, is missed by the majority of pet owners. When caught early, there are many things that we can do to slow the progression of the degenerative joints and employee tactics to keep your pet healthy, pain free and mobile. There are many euthanasias that occur in our clinic NOT because of organ failure but JOINT failure. The pain from aging or the lack of mobility matters! You might be able to pick up a cat or a small dog, but a great dane that is too painful to walk... this is a major issue.

Signs of pain can include subtle changes such as not jumping up on the bed anymore, lagging behind in walks, decreased interaction with the family. Routine veterinary appointments, checking for tick born diseases, and discussions with your regular vet can help keep your pet pain free. We see many dogs who won't get up or are suddenly only using 3 legs... but the truth is... most of the time it didn't happen overnight. Joint supplements, monocolonal antibodies such as Librella and Solensia, anti-inflammatory pain medications, weight loss, all can HELP keep your pet mobile and pain free. Although we are here for you in case of emergency, we really can't replace routine care. May is arthritis awareness month for pets. Although arthritis is not an emergency room visit disease... we want to shed light on it this month. If we can help keep your pet moving pain free...then we've done our job to educate you and advocate for them! If you do need us for pain management for your pet over the weekend or holidays, we are here for you!

05/01/2024

04/30/2024

Ava💕

04/29/2024

PLEASE SHARE – If you are considering using a shock collar with your dog, please read this article first. The use of electric shock for training, containing, and caring for dogs is extremely controversial, and is opposed by experts in the science of animal behavior and training. An electric shock is not a benign “tap” or “stim” as shock proponents would have you believe. If it didn’t hurt, it wouldn’t work.

In this blog post, I examine and discuss what peer-reviewed scientific studies indicate about the use of electric shock for training and containing dogs. I also and answer four common questions; Does electric shock hurt?, Is electric shock more efficient for training dogs than reward-based training?, Is electric shock necessary for training behaviors like snake aversion?, and Does electric shock save dogs lives? Additionally, I review the positions taken on the use of shock by several organizations of pet care professionals from around the globe.

If you believe that pets have an intrinsic right to be treated humanely, to have their individual needs met, and to live in a safe, enriched environment free from force, pain, and fear, please read this article, sign the Shock-Free pledge, and share this article with as many people as you can. Dogs need our support.

This article first appeared in the July 2019 issue of BARKS from the Guild, the publication of the Pet Professional Guild. Thank you to BARKS editor-in-chief- Susan Nilson for her valuable role in bringing this article to fruition.

You will also find a link to a podcast on this topic in the article.

http://bit.ly/ShockBARK-JUL2019

04/28/2024

Has someone told you harnesses encourage pulling? That putting a harness on a dog automatically turns them into a sled dog? That they need to be trained on one of several different “training collars” in order to learn to walk without pulling?

Well, the good news is they were wrong. In order to choose appropriate equipment to use with your dog, it’s important to have accurate information about how it works or doesn’t work. A properly fitted harness does *not* cause or encourage pulling. It also doesn’t discourage it, which might be what people mean. But you don’t need to use discouragement (ie pain, discomfort, or fear) to train your dog to walk on leash.

The best news is a well fitted harness is comfortable, takes pressure of your dogs neck snd throat, and it is 100% possible to train your dog to walk with you while wearing one. We do it all the time!

04/25/2024

Moo is ready for May flowers 💐

04/24/2024

These ladies are doing amazing work🐾

04/23/2024

Sweet Bella, I love cleaning this girl up🤍

04/18/2024

04/12/2024

04/09/2024

04/08/2024

04/07/2024

I couldn’t choose just one of this sweet girl💚
Freya comes to see me once a month for a bath!

04/07/2024

How fun!?

Save the Date: Glow in the Dark Enrichment Rooms for Dogs! ✨

Join us on May 4th from 6:30-8:00 PM as we convert our canine recreation center into an unforgettable enrichment adventure under the neon lights!

Bring your furry friend and immerse them in a glowing wonderland of interactive toys, treat finding, glowing obstacles, and sensory surprises. It’s a tail-wagging experience they won’t soon forget!

Feel free to bring your own treats, or your pup can indulge in the tasty delights we’ll have on hand. Plus, we’re offering special spots for reactive dogs, ensuring they can join in the fun stress-free!

Don’t miss out on this illuminating event at Something to Wag About! Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today and let the glowing adventures begin! ✨

04/05/2024

Beautiful buddies, Baxter and Bonnie, sitting pretty for the camera.

They both came in with our Texas rescue two years ago this month. They are still waiting for their special families. Until then, we are their special family. 🥰



https://peaceridgesanctuary.org/adopt/

04/04/2024

Maddie loved her spa day today💖

04/01/2024

Daisy is wishing everyone a happy April🌷

*Pet safe dye was used for coloring*

03/28/2024

Teaching your dogs the 'Place' command is a wonderful way to provide structure and enrichment! Choose a designated spot, like a mat or cot, and use treats and positive reinforcement to encourage your dog to go there and stay. This command is not only useful for obedience but also helps your dogs learn self-control and boundaries. Plus, it's a fun activity to include in your daily routine!

03/28/2024

Also most pizza crust has powered garlic or onion in it so I recommend not giving your dog your scraps!

Garlic and onion ( green onions, chives, leeks) can be toxic to pets. Ingestion leads to damage to the red blood cell in both cats and dogs. Toxicity does not have ill effects unless the amount of red blood cells damaged is large enough to have effect on the health of the pet. This means dogs and cats with bone marrow issues or already have diseases that cause anemia are more likely to show the effects of this toxin.

Typically it takes about 3 days for the red blood cells to be damaged in onion exposure and 7 days in garlic exposure. If your pet is able to make new red blood cells, you should see limited effects from this blood loss. Chronic exposure ie you are giving your pet home made treats with onion or garlic powder etc, could lead to clinical symptoms over time.

Powdered garlic and onion are more concentrated and therefor more toxic to your pet. We typically do not see major issues associated with garlic and onion BUT sometimes there are "old wives tales" of garlic being good for flea/tick prevention. Chronic use will lead to changes in your dog and garlic is NOT a safe way to prevent fleas and ticks in your pet.

Most of the time you may only see upset stomach with exposure BUT if your pet gets into your French onion soup or garlic bread, maybe just give your veterinarian a call.