Slipper Lips Pet Sitting

21/07/2024

Not only are kissing bugs dangerous to humans, they can cause Chagas disease in dogs, damaging their hearts. Symptoms are similar to those of congestive heart failure. .

A rare parasitic disease that can lead to heart failure or stroke may be more common in the United States than many people realize.

24/04/2024

Study: Metal bowls have MORE dangerous bacteria⚠️ than plastic! 🤯

Pet food and water bowls can transmit bacteria, according to research, and while 67% of owners use metal bowls, only about 1/3 of people wash the bowl after a meal, and some only dry wipe, which is how the bacteria party gets started 🤢. And that slippery film in the water bowl after 24 hours? That’s a brew of bacteria🦠 that can be transferred from your dog to you and your family.

The amount of moisture in the food also matters. Wet food (compared to dry) was associated with higher bacteria - and higher humidity levels are likely to create perfect conditions for bacterial growth, especially after coming in contact with dog saliva left in the bowl.

In our new book, The Forever Dog LIFE, we lay out the pro’s and con’s of different types of bowls. Here’s a glimpse of what you need to know:

Plastic🥣: Chemicals in plastic absorb through the skin and inhibit the synthesis of melanin, which can cause Plastic Dish Nasal Dermatitis that leaves your pet’s nose & lips, pink and irritated.

Ceramic:🫖 Hartpury scientists found the most harmful bacterial species (salmonella, E.coli and MRSA) were most frequently found in ceramic bowls because of people continuing to use them after fine cracks in the glaze become visible.

Stainless steel🥄: cheaper quality bowls have been involved in recalls due to heavy metal contamination. Be sure to buy high-quality bowls (18/8 or 304 steel) from a trusted source.

Glass🥛: Durable, kitchen-friendly glass bowls made from 100% borosilicate glass (Pyrex) make great food and water bowls on the floor.

🧼No matter which type of bowl you use, the best thing you can do to protect you and your dog’s health is to wash your bowl after every meal with hot water and soap. In addition, at least once a week, run your bowls through the hot cycle in your dishwasher. You can also coat the bowl with hydrogen peroxide, wait five minutes, then wipe with a clean sponge and rinse.

For more info on bowls, Comment and we’ll message you the link to The Forever Dog LIFE book where in part one titled The Forever Kitchen and the section labelled “Food & Water Bowls", we cover how to choose the best chemical-free bowls🌱 that won’t leach contaminants⚠️ over time.

22/08/2023

⚠️ Beware of This Poisonous Algae ⚠️

Toxic blue-green algae grow in freshwater or brackish water, thriving in the warm, humid weather of mid-to-late summer. ❗Just a tiny amount (a few licks) can cause severe liver failure, neurological symptoms and death within a matter of hours. 🆘 If you see a body of water that’s greenish in color, play it safe and steer clear. 🙅‍♀️

Today’s free article is all about plants that can be toxic to pets. Read it now on the bark & whiskers website: https://bit.ly/3OBP2z7

20/08/2023

While at the Texas Pet Sitters Conference recently, we had the chance to hear from Dr. Roy Madigan, a veterinarian, and the principal scientist in the Canine Chagas Treatment Study.

We felt it imperative to share with our clients, and our community, the surprising information we learned.

Chagas disease is a parastic disease that is spread by kissing bugs. Similar to heartworm disease, animals can become infected with Chagas if they're bitten by, or ingest, a kissing bug.

The symptoms of Chagas can show up in a variety of ways. For less severe cases, lethargy, decreased appetite and weight loss may present. In more severe cases, you may see fluid in the abdomen, heart failure, vomiting, and unfortunately, sudden death.

Dr. Madigan estimates that up to 23% of companion dogs in Texas currently are positive for Chagas (compared to about 3.3% that are heartworm positive).

Chagas tends to attack the heart tissue, and is a progressive disease. The most common symptom seen when this happens is arrhythmia. It is also known to attack the brain.

Testing for Chagas is not common. The pet owner usually has to seek it out. There is currently a reliable test called "ELISA" that costs around $120.00. Dr. Madigan tells us that by next year, a new version will be available that will cost around $35.00 and will include a heartworm test. It will be readily available to all veterinary practices. They are currently awaiting approval from the FDA.

The treatment for Chagas is in a pill form and lasts for 12 months. Dr. Madigan reports that while it is 100% effective, it does not fix the harm that has already been done to the body by the parasite.

Our best defense against Chagas is preventative action. Pyrethroid insecticides will kill kissing bugs. Oral flea and tick medicine will kill Chagas.

If you see your pet with a kissing bug, do not squish the bug. Use a plastic baggie to capture it (don't touch it!) and contact https://kissingbug.tamu.edu/contact/ for instructions on how to submit it for testing.

It takes up to three weeks for a pet to test positive after exposure to Chagas, so don't immediately get your pet tested.

It is not only dogs who get Chagas. Cats also are affected. Chagas is the number one cause of seizures in cats.

Humans can also get Chagas. If your pet tests positive, every pet in the house should be tested, as well as all humans.

Antibodies are not effective at preventing reinfection, so a vaccine is not an option. Researchers are currently working to develop a slow-release injectible to protect pets.

Our takeaways:

*Chagas is impacting more pets than most people know. If your pet is showing unusual symptoms, ask your veterinarian to test them for Chagas. The sooner it is detected, the better off your pet will fare.

*Chagas is a treatable disease.

*Be aware of your enviroment. Keep your yard clean. Turn off outdoor lighting. Bring pets inside at night. Remove piles of rocks, leaves or wood near your home. Keep vegetation trimmed regularly. If you find a kissing bug, submit it for testing.

*If your pet tests positive for Chagas, test ALL your pets. Also, test all humans in the house.

For more information, please visit https://kissingbug.tamu.edu and www.vidapharmacal.com

28/06/2023

07/06/2023

Many people, especially here in the South, shave their dogs in the summer. Should you?

Don't shave your dog, as it might make them hotter in summer and creates health risks. Instead, try these grooming and safety tips to keep them cool.

04/06/2023

It's summer travel time and these are few of the pets I've sat recently.

07/02/2023

The blog post about kitty fountains is by a fellow pet sitter. It applies to dog watering systems, too.

This is an article to educate pet owners about the dos and don't of using a water fountain for their cats. They have great benefits but they also come with added responsibilities and a higher cost.

26/12/2022

Anyone interested in adopting a sweet 9-month old German Shepherd? He's being fostered by one of my clients. His rescue group transports out of state so you don't need to be in Texas to adopt him.

28/08/2022

This blog post on scent enrichment for dogs and cats has some excellent suggestions. Plus, my dog, Greta, is pictured modeling her Calming Collar that she wears to relax her during storms and fireworks.

Enrichment Products & gear The good life The nose knows: Scent enrichment for dogs and cats August 27, 2022August 27, 2022 PuppyPower Sabrina sniffing silvervine. Scent enrichment can bring fun and interest to your pet’s life. A whiff of coffee, vanilla or roses can affect how a person is feeling....

28/08/2022

Is your pet not microchipped? Stop by this Sunday, August 28th from 1-4pm and take advantage of this fundraising microchip event! Only $15 per pet!

17/08/2022

Never discipline a dog for growling and teach children to respect and back away from a growling dog.

THE GIFT OF THE GROWL
Why growling should never be punished and also never be ignored
Not all growls are negative. Some growls are play growls, attention seeking growls, pleasure seeking growls or frustration growls. They may all sound a little different and may be unique to the particular dog. This post is not about different types of growls, but about warning or aggressive growls.
When a dog growls, maybe even at us, the natural human response is to feel offended and maybe even angry. Surely dogs need to learn not to growl, growling is bad, growling is unacceptable, growling is a problem and needs to be punished so a dog learns it’s wrong, disrespectful and not to do it again, right?
NO, this couldn’t be further from the truth! A dog that growls has just provided us with a very valuable communication signal. In their way, they have just communicated to us how they feel without resorting to a bite. Dogs use growling in an attempt to avoid having to resort to biting, not to initiate it. They could just as easily have not even bothered to growl and gone straight to a bite.
Growling is a dog's way of saying "please stop," "stay away from me," "go away," “I’m not comfortable with this and I’m feeling threatened”. A dog that growls is trying hard to communicate and punishment suppresses this ability to communicate. Punishment doesn’t change the level of the dog's discomfort; it creates more stress and the dog will feel more threatened.
Growling is not the problem. Growling is the result of and the symptom of a problem. A dog that bites without the warning of a growl is a far more serious problem than a dog that growls but doesn’t bite.
Look for any other early warning signals that may precede a growl. Recognize and take note of what makes your dog feel threatened and create distance between your dog and whatever is triggering them.
Be grateful for the gift of a growl - it provides us with an opportunity to address the cause & prevent the bite.

24/07/2022

My sister and I walked our three collies every day when we were young kids. Times have changed, however, and there are so many more risks today. Please consider these before letting your child walk a dog.

Sounds like the perfect solution... kids itching to walk their new dog + over-stretched parents thrilled that their children are taking responsibility and lightening the workload! What's not to love?

Actually quite a LOT.

I can't tell you how many disappointed faces I see when I try to explain why a child walking a dog ALONE *might NOT be* the best idea for anyone!!?

And I get totally it.

If this is your first family dog, a quick spin around the block may look harmless enough - until you consider ALL of the things that can (and DO) go wrong.

Even (mentally and physically) FULLY-GROWN ADULTS get pulled down to the ground, or dragged over to squirrels, skateboards and the neighborhood cat. They accidentally drop leashes, or watch helplessly as their pup slips their collar. They struggle to control their dog around other dogs, or conversely, they panic or freeze when an off-leash dog comes sprinting full-speed towards them (friendly or not friendly.. who knows? They’ll likely find out when it’s too late!)

And this is ONLY a handful of the things that can happen to GROWN UPS… so for kids the stakes are simply exponentially higher.

As a trainer, I’m pretty calculated about where I go, and when I walk my dogs my radar is always activated. Even still, I’ve personally had to dash after my loose dog, I’ve been bitten by a dog who was attacking mine, I’ve seen a dog run over in a school parking lot, and watched a child be literally dragged for 50ft against her will!

So, I hope by sharing the potential risks with you, you can make informed choices about your family dog walking situation:

Here’s my hotlist of things to consider:

Size - of child and dog
Strength - of child and dog
Maturity - of child and dog
Training - of child and dog
Temperament - of child and dog

Then download, print and share our poster.
THESE are my questions to help families size up the COMBINATION of their dog and child to see whether WALKING ALONE together is a SMART call.

For more info for kids, dogs and making EVERYONE'S life SAFE and HAPPY - go to thefamilydog.com/families

15/06/2022

Did you know?

25/02/2022

Have you heard of canine Chagas disease? I hadn't until I attended the Texas Pet Sitters Conference last weekend. Chagas is transmitted by kissing bugs and is very prevalent in the southern US. As many as 58% of dogs in Texas may have Chagas, more than have heartworm disease. French Bulldogs, German Shepherds, Chihuahuas and hunting dogs are especially at risk.

Chagas causes inflammation of the heart and involves other organs like kidneys, the liver and lymph nodes, and can lead to death. It is often misdiagnosed as congestive heart failure because symptoms are similar.

I encourage Southern dog owners and those in the North who have adopted dogs from the South, especially from Texas or Louisiana, to have your dogs tested for Chagas. It is treatable, and reversable, if caught early enough!

16/02/2022

This article explains how to stop a dog from resource guarding. It's very important not to discipline a dog for growling. Doing that takes away the dog's ability to warn you before biting.

Some dogs become aggressive when guarding their possessions, and it can be difficult to deal with when the aggression is directed to us.

29/10/2021

Happy Howl-o-ween. Please keep your furry family members safe this weekend.

08/10/2021

Humble/Kingwood/Atascocita friends, Bark in the Park is tomorrow from 11am - 6PM in Kingwood Town Center. Bring your furry friends and come visit Scott Black, Personal Touch Pet Sitting, and me at the Lake Houston Area Professional Pet Sitters Network booth.

19/09/2021

National Dog Week starts today! Share your pics of your happy dogs!

18/09/2021

Interstitial article

Veterinarians are prescribing gabapentin in record numbers for canine pain and anxiety. Could it help your dog?

12/09/2021

Happy Hug Your Hound Day! Does your dog like being hugged? Do you get hugs back?

08/09/2021

Mocha is the newest member of the Slipper Lips family. She's a sweet older lady who liked to spend our visits lying on my lap, purring and tapping my cheek for extra snuggles.

08/09/2021

How are you and your cat celebrating this month? Post a pic of your happy cat!

25/07/2021

Miss Ripley is the youngest member of the Slipper Lips family. She's 9 weeks old and quickly learning puppy manners. She's keeping Anna Mitchell and Scott Mitchell on their toes.