4th of July Tips to keep your pets SAFE!

by Danielle

patriotic dog

This can be a scary time for your pets please take these suggestions into mind.

 

#1 - If you are leaving, be sure to keep your pets indoors, and preferably towards the middle of the house to help eliminate the boom sounds against windows.

 

#2 - Leave the TV or radio on medium level to drown out the noise.

 

#3 - If you pet is destructive, quarantine them to a certain part of your home.

 

#4 - Leave them with a task to do. Kongs work great for this!

 

#5 - DO NOT make a big deal of leaving. This will add to their anxiety.

 

#6 - Close the doggy door. Do you know that shelters see and influx of pets after the 4th of July bc so many pets try to “escape” bc they are scared?

 

Additional info can be found here: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/summer_care_tips_for_you_and_your_pets/keep_your_pet_safe_on_july_4th.html

This information has been provided to you by Danielle Vasta, Owner of Bella’s House & Pet Sitting. Please contact her at: (480)330-4552 or www.BellasHouseAndPets.com for any of your pet sitting needs.

Interesting Pet Facts

by Danielle

This was taken from: http://kingsbrookvet.blogspot.com/2009/02/interesting-pet-facts.html

 

Ritzy smiling for the camera

 

The fastest dog, the greyhound, can reach speeds of upto 41.7 miles per hour. The breed was known to exist in ancient Egypt 6,000 years ago.

A cat cannot see directly under its nose. This is why the cat cannot seem to find tidbits on the floor.

Cat’s urine glows under a black light.

The pet ferret was domesticated more than 500 years before the house cat.

The normal temperature of a cat is 101.5 degrees.

The only two animals that can see behind itself without turning it’s head are the rabbit and the parrot.

Boxers are named for their playful habit of using their front paws in frolic.

Of people with companion animals, 18% sleep with them.

About 22% of the world’s catch of tuna goes into cat food in the United States.

The female flea consumes 15 times her own body weight in blood daily.

Each day in the US, animal shelters are forced to destroy 30,000 dogs and cats.

The slightest touch on a cat’s whiskers will make its eyes blink.

The average outdoor only cat has a lifespan of about three years. Indoor only cats can live sixteen years and longer.

Cats purr at about 26 cycles per second, the same frequency as an idling diesel engine.

Only 2 out of 10 kittens born in the U.S. ever find a life-long home.

Dachshunds are the smallest breed of dog used for hunting. They are low to the ground, which allows them to enter and maneuver through tunnels easily.

Cats cannot survive on a vegetarian diet.

French poodles did not originate in France. Poodles were originally used as hunting dogs in Europe. The dogs thick coats were a hindrance in water and thick brush, so hunters sheared the hindquarters, with cuffs left around the ankles and hips to protect against rheumatism. Each hunter marked his dogs’ heads with a ribbon of his own color, allowing groups of hunters to tell their dogs apart.

Catnip can affect lions and tigers as well as house cats. It excites them because it contains a chemical that resembles an excretion of the dominant female’s urine.

The Maine Coon cat is America’s only natural breed of domestic feline.

The bloodhound is the only animal whose evidence is admissible in an American court.

Tapeworms range in size from about 0.04 inch to more than 50 feet in length.

A female dog, her mate and her puppies can produce 12,288 dogs in five years.

Cats respond most readily to names that end in an “ee” sound.

Ticks can be as small as a grain of rice and grow to be as big as a marble.

This information has been provided to you by Danielle Vasta, Owner of Bella’s House & Pet Sitting. Please contact her at: (480)330-4552 or www.BellasHouseAndPets.com for any of your pet sitting needs!

 

Heatstroke and your dog. You’d be suprised!

by Danielle

 

By Tracie Hotchner, The Dog Bible

 

Dogs can suffer from heatstroke easily: conditions that may not even be uncomfortable for you may be life threatening to your pooch. Jogging with an owner on a hot day is defiantly dangerous: even going for a walk with him when it’s very hot can cause heatstroke. There are times when exposing a dog to direct sun through the window of a moving car even an air-conditioned one can be risky. There have been cases of small dogs actually dying in a car being driven by their owners in very hot, sunny conditions.

Dogs are susceptible to the effects of heat because their skin works differently than ours. We have many sweat glands and tiny capillaries in our skin, and the sweat we produce when we get overheated evaporates, which cools the blood in those capillaries. Dog skin has neither sweat glands nor blood-cooling capillaries.

  

Dogs cool themselves by panting, which allows cooler air into their lungs to dissipate their body heat. Blood vessels in the tough and mouth are cooled as the saliva evaporates. Panting is not an efficient cooling system, and a dog can easily enter the danger zone: the point at which he cannot cool himself down.

  

Ways to keep your dog cool in the heat:

  1. Walk your dog in the cool of the day, preferably early in the morning. Even by the end of the day when the sun has gone down, the pavement is still very hot.
  2. Stand on grass or shaded surfaces when outdoors with your dog: asphalt and concrete absorb heat and can burn footpads.
  3. Always take along water and a bowl anytime you’re out and about with your dog, but especially in hot weather.
  4. Don’t shave off all your dogs hair. You may think that fur is hotter, but a pets fur actually helps insulate him from the heat (and can help prevent sunburn). Try a puppy cut instead.
  5. Fill a hard-sided plastic kiddie-pool with water: your dog(s) can use it to drink from and to walk or lie down to cool off, especially after walking or playing.
  6. Leave your dog home when you run errands-your car turns into an oven in minutes. (Even when it is 70 out!!!)

 Did you know???  Dogs body temperature should be 104F

 

 

This information has been provided to you by Danielle Vasta, Owner of Bella’s House & Pet Sitting. Please contact her at: (480)330-4552 or www.BellasHouseAndPets.com for any of your pet sitting needs!

 

How to leave your dog without them chewing you out of your home!

by Danielle

Recently we have been pet sitting for a household that has a pet that has sever separation anxiety. Perhaps you have experienced this before? You leave the house for work or errands and come back to things destroyed. I don’t mean like your dog chewed up a toy…I mean like couches are eaten, holes in the wall, and anything they can get their paws on has been scratched, and teeth on has been chewed. This is separation anxiety.

 

 

As professional pet sitters we see this all the time. Dogs are den animals. I believe the American Humane Society describes it perfectly:

 

Why use a den?

Dogs are den animals. They need their own sanctuary that is just large enough for them to fit inside and feel secure. They need a “home away from home” where they can go when they are stressed. If you don’t provide your dog a “den” of its own, it may make do with whatever is around — a chair, the narrow place behind the couch, or the wedge of space between the bed and the wall.

A crate is an indoor doghouse that is used for brief periods of time. Its primary function is to serve as a bed or den. It can also be an ideal tool to housetrain your pet or to keep canines that suffer from separation anxiety from destroying the house while you run a few errands. However, the dog is not supposed to live in the crate. Endless hours in the crate can lead to severe social and isolation problems for your dog — and it will no longer see the crate as a special retreat.

When you are home, your dog needs to be out with you. In fact, the crate should be kept in the room where the family spends most of its time. That way, your dog can seek refuge from the hubbub of household activity, yet still feel like a part of the family.

Once your dog realizes that the crate is a sanctuary and that no one can bother it while it is in its “den,” your dog will begin to seek out the crate on its own. For more information on crate training, call your local animal shelter.

 

More information that you should read can be found here: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/dog_behavior_tip_sheets/separation_anxiety.html

 

The next time you consider leaving for long amounts of time and your pet experiences anxiety, consider crating them, sectioning off part of the home, or providing them with a “safe” place. This will help easy their fears when mom and dad is not there.

 

This information has been provided to you by Danielle Vasta, the Pack Leader for Bella’s House & Pet Sitting in Scottsdale AZ. Danielle has been recongnised as a pet sitting expert in The FabJob Guide to Becoming a Pet Sitter, Martha Stewarts Cat Chat Radio Show, NPRs Dog Talk Radio, East Valley Tribune, Arizona Republic and more. Danielle is also the founder of Bella’s Business Consulting and the co founder of The Business of Pet Sitting online community.

Playing ball, standing on hind legs, and drool = just another day of pet sitting at Bella’s!

by Danielle

Day visits are one of our most popular services at Bella’s House & Pet Sitting. Customizable programs for each client always result in drastically different routines, thrown in with each pets different personality, and you have quite the fun filled day if your working at Bella’s. For those of you who may wonder, “What do you actually do when pet sitting?” Here is a great recap of just some of what has happened over the weekend.

Blue and DeeDee have begged for treats after a walk….

 

 Capone drooling for his breakfast (can you see the drool?) He is such a love bug!

 

And last but not least…the best dressed of them all - Idefix! Playing with his ball in the house! :)


 

 Each day is such a blessing being able to play, walk, feed, and love on all these fur kids :) For more services, view: www.BellasHouseAndPets.com/services

4 ways to GO GREEN with your pets!

by Danielle

The following was written by a PRO Member on The Business of Pet Sitting online communiuty by one of my members. It is a place where pet sitting business owners come together to be inspired, motivated, and challenged. www.TheBusinessofPetSitting.com

There are many ways you can help the environment when it comes to your pet. Here are four ways:

Cleaning
Clorox, Lysol and many other cleaning chemicals are common household items these days, but I’ve recently discovered that straight vinegar or various diluted versions can be used instead of most of these products. A quick internet search will provide you with more uses than you can imagine. See these articles for more info: 
 
 

 

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/vin…old-germs.html
http://www.healthylegacy.org/consumer_cleaning.cfm

Disposing of Pet Waste


There are pros and cons to the different methods.Flushing: Pro - waste gets treated at the sewage treatment plant
 
 

 

which prevents contamination of fresh water and the environment; Con - excess water is used since the toilet needs to be flushed more often (mostly for cats)
Using biodegradable bags and throwing in trash: Pro - plastic bags are not sitting in landfills forever; Con - even biodegradable bags can remain intact for quite some time if not in the right conditions (exposure to air, etc), pet waste can enter the ground and contaminate fresh water sources
Composting/Burying: Pro - you are in control of where the waste goes; Con - since pet waste often contains parasites, MUCH CAUTION must be used in order to successfully use this method.
The following links have further info:
http://www.tappwater.org/what-pet.as…st&PostID=2242
http://www.poopbags.com/Facts.html
http://www.greenstar.coop/greenleaf/…ty-litter.html
Recycling
–My city lists the recyclable items it takes on their website. You may be surprised at what you find on your local list. Practically all plastics are recyclable these days…even plastic bags can be recycled in bins at grocery stores or Wal-Mart. (Here is Scottsdale’s: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Recycle/RecycleList.asp)
–If your clients don’t recycle, consider doing it for them while you’re there. I’ve been known to take the big Tidy Cats containers with me to recycle when I get home.
–Use BOTH sides of printer and note paper and when you’re done with it put it in the recycle bin.
–Aluminum cans can usually be sold for cash. We have one such place here and I’ve often thought of asking clients to save their cans for me so I can turn them in for cash which I would then give to a local shelter on a monthly or quarterly basis. My own cans might not make much, but if I could collect the ones from my regular customers, over the course of a year, I bet we could be giving a decent donation to the shelters here. Some states give cash refunds for plastic and glass bottles, too…

Random
–I often find myself filling a glass of water then never drinking it all, so rather than pouring it down the drain, I put it in the dog bowl. They don’t mind that it’s been sitting out all day.
–We all have home offices, so be sure to use natural light during the day when possible and energy efficient light bulbs.
–Unplug appliances/electronics when not in use.
 
 

 

 

This information has been written by:
Amanda Gomez-Vidal
AGV Pet Sitting & More
www.MyAZPetSitter.com

———————
Danielle Vasta is the Pack Leader for Bella’s House & Pet Sitting in Scottsdale AZ and the writer of this blog. (www.bellashouseandpets.com)

WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF…. The story of a “friend” who pet sits.

by Danielle

I had a really great lunch yesterday at Christopher’s at the Biltmore. If you have not been there yet – I would suggest you try it! It is fabulous, AND they allow pets on their shaded posh patio called Crush! www.christophersaz.com

While enjoying our delicious lunch (might I recommend the Lamb Lollipops?) I had a stomach workout from laughing so hard when I heard a pet sitting story from one of the gals, because it was just so funny.

 

It seemed as though her friend asked her to care for her pet while she was gone for a week. “Of course!” she said. Well each day she arrived all the dogs’ food and water were gone. This was alarming to her and she felt bad for the dog because she didn’t want him to go hungry. So she dragged the bag out of the closet, tore it open and said, “Here doggie, eat as much as you like.” She then took the hose outside and left it on very lightly thinking that the pet would drink from the hose instead of his water bowl.

 

My friend returned a few DAYS later to find that the backyard was flooded and the dog ate all the food. She was mortified, thinking – how can this dog eat that much?!?!? She went to find out what kind of food it was so she could buy more, but the dog had chewed through the bag and scattered it all over the yard. So she went into the pet food store and just chose any brand, thinking they are all pretty much the same.

 

This friend of my mine then told her friend that she had “indulged” her pet and “spoiled” him because she didn’t want the dog to go hungry. Never really telling her the whole truth.

 

Now this is a pretty funny story from the outside looking in. However, this could have resulted in numerous EXPENSIVE consequences:

  1. The dog could have eaten so much that his intestines could have flipped or bloat could have happened. Both are life threatening.
  2. The water could have seeped into the home and flooded the house, or even the neighbors home! Water damage equals LOTS of DAMAGE resulting in LOTS OF MONEY!
  3. The pet could have eaten something ELSE and choked or it could have been toxic.
  4. The water seeping out of the yard could have been an alert to burglars that the house was unattended and they could have broken in.
  5. …and much more.

With Bella’s House & Pet Sitting we are pet EXPERTS that care properly for your pet. Their health and safety are two of the most important things to us. The security of your home is crucial while you are away and when you travel. Professionals should be caring for these important parts of your life - Not a friend, neighbor, or the kid next door. They are not qualified.

ANOTHER PET FOOD RECALL

by Danielle
Nutro Products Recall of Dry Cat Food Products
Nutro Products announced a voluntary recall of select varieties of NUTRO® NATURAL CHOICE® COMPLETE CARE® Dry Cat Foods and NUTRO® MAX® Cat Dry Foods with “Best If Used By Dates” between May 12, 2010 and August 22, 2010.
 
Go to this link for more infomation:
http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/361/1/Nutro-Products-Recall-of-Dry-Cat-Food-Products/Page1.html

This information has been provided to you from Bella’s House & Pet Sitting in Scottsdale, AZ www.BellasHouseAndPets.com  

WAITING FOR REPAIRS

by Danielle

JHawk Waiting

Just another service offered by Bella’s House & Pet Sitting to help promote our customized packages and care for your home when you can not be there.  Currently I am sitting with Abby and JHawk and the cleaning ladies are here as well as the TV repair men. This is JHawk (Golden) looking at me like, “when is my TV going to be done and these vacuums’ be off?” Abby asking me, “Why aren’t they here to play and love on me like you are?” Just adorable!

Let us know anytime when you need to be two places at once. We will wait when you can’t. Bella’s House & Pet Sitting in Scottsdale AZ always strives to be the best!

http://www.BellasHouseAndPets.com

 

YOUR PET IS EATING WHAT?!?!?

by Danielle

A few years ago at a pet sitting conference I met the author of The Dog Bible, Tracie Hotchner (www.thedogbible.com), and she sparked my interest in understanding what was really in our pets food. She even introduced me to the head of the National Canine Cancer Foundation located here in Scottsdale. Note: Did you know that 3 out of 4 Golden Retrievers will develop cancer and the closer we come to finding a cure for canine cancer the closer we come to finding a cure are for humans too? (www.wearethecure.org) 

 

When I began this journey I wanted to know what ingredients really are good, what are bad, what brands are healthy, and which well…can end up hurting your pet. It always never seizes to amaze me that the commercials are catered to the human pet owners, which after all, are the buyers. Having dog food bits in different colors, saying that whole grains and vegetables are a good thing, and appealing to our human emotion can be so detrimental to any pet if their human does not do their homework.

                                                                    cat eating food

This article is intended to spark your interest to DO YOUR HOMEWORK! 

 

A good place to learn is from Sabine at www.dogfoodproject.com She is not a representative and does not get paid by any pet food company. She is completely independent and a national expert. Something which Bella’s House & Pet Sitting always trys to provide our clients with…experts.

 

For instance….Hills Science Diet. I have been told that this food is one of the WORST, yes WORST foods you can feed your pet. It is like feeding them McDonald’s every meal of the day for the rest of their life! Lets take a closer look…after all it is all right under your nose. Read the label and know what you are reading. Also commonly known in the pet world are low quality brands including Purina and Iams. Although they are endorsed by many…so they must be good, right?

 

Do your own research! www.DogFoodProject.com

 

How about the fact that AAFCO is regulated by….(drum roll please) THEMSELVES! If I remember correctly from the congressional hearings about the pet food recall – there are less than 10 people in the office. But somehow they manage to get their “seal of approval” on a bag of food. This is ridiculous!

 

Friends, Clients, Pet Parents, Bloggers… I encourage you to do your own research to find out what you are really feeding your fur kid. How what you feed could be causing the allergies, cancer, or obesity.

 

It is not true that the “high quality” foods like Innova, Eagle Pack, Halo… cost more. You feed LESS! The low quality brand has lots of fillers and you have to feed more to make your pet full. This is just the tip of the iceberg… please visit Sabine at: www.dogfoodproject.com

 

If you want cliff notes please view this pamphlet: http://www.dogfoodproject.com/downloads/booklet_better_products.pdf

You know and care what you put in your own body… you should know what you are doing for your pet as well! Please do your homework!

 

This information has been provided to you by www.BellasHouseAndPets.com