Archive for May, 2008

To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door – nose height for the pooch/kitty:

Dear Dogs and Cats:

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note: placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry
about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but a scam.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by
some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, and try to turn the knob, or
get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years — canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat’s butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:
1 They live here. You don’t.
2. If you don’ t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That’s why they call it ‘fur’nature.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it’s an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn’t speak clearly.

Remember: In many ways, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

1. Eat less
2. Don’t ask for money all the time
3. Are easier to train
4. Normally come when called
5. Never ask to drive the car
6. Don’t hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don’t smoke or drink
8. Don’t have to buy the latest fashions
9. Don’t want to wear your clothes
10. Don’t need a ‘gazillion’ dollars for college.
And finally,
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children

 

 

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!

 

 

• When you refer to your four-legged loved one as your kid, child, baby, or fur-kid, other people think you’re crazy!
• Cooking dinner for your four-legged loved one is not out of the question.
• You think of your four-legged loved one as a child in a fur suit!
• You follow a strict feeding schedule and do not think twice about giving your four-legged loved one vitamins.
• Your four-legged loved one’s toys can be found scattered throughout the house.
• Sometimes your four-legged loved ones have more beds than you do!
• Pet insurance is something you have or have seriously considered.
• You say hello to your four-legged loved one before you address anyone else when you return home from work.
• You will allow only the best care for your baby, when you can’t be there, from Bella’s House & Pet Sitting!

 

 

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!

 

Apple Cinnamon Drops
1 large apple
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/8 cup whole wheat flour

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).

Core, slice and mince the apple (use a food processor if you have one).

In a large bowl, combine the minced apple bits, honey, water, cinnamon and oatmeal. Gradually blend in the wheat flour, adding enough to form a stiff dough.

In a small bowl, add 1/8 cup wheat flour. Spoon the dough by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches (5 centimeters) apart. Using the bottom of a glass dipped in the wheat flour (to prevent sticking), flatten each spoonful of dough into a circle. Adjust the size of the drops based on how big a treat you like to feed your dog.

Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and flip each cookie to brown evenly on both sides. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F (180°C). Return to oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Let cool overnight.

Makes about 36 crunchy cookies, depending on how big you make them.

 

 

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!

The holidays can be a fun and joyous time for everyone. Keep these quick tips in mind to ensure that you and your pets have a memorable holiday season!

 

-          Many plants such as poinsettia’s are toxic to pets. Please keep the plants out of their reach!

-           Christmas trees are magnets for pets! Be sure not to decorate your tree too low where your dogs tail would knock off ornaments or your cat could bat off the decorations. Consider setting up a barrier between your pet and the tree. Do not underestimate their ability to cause your whole tree to fall down or spark a fire.

-          Metal tinsel if digested could provide life threatening intestinal blockage. Be sure that your decorations in your four legged loved ones reach are pet friendly!

-          Cords from lights and other decorations can be chewed by cats, dogs, rabbits, and other pets. Be sure to secure the cords to the floor with tape or stick them under the rug.

-          Some pets can get anxious or shy during the holidays because of all the extra noises, smells, and people. Be sure to allow a “quite place” in your house where they can feel comfortable during these times.

-          Just because your pet eats it, or begs for food does not mean it is good for them! To avoid a trip to the vet’s office avoid all alcoholic beverages, chocolate, coffee, onions, turkey, pork, salt, processed sugar, raisins, grapes, fatty foods, yeast dough and macadamia nuts and table scraps.

 

 

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!

Recommended types of toys:

• Round plastic shower curtin rings are fun to bat around, hide, or carry when linked together.
• Plastic balls with or without bells inside
• Ping Pong balls or golf balls. Put them in the bathtub with your kittie and watch them go.
• Paper bags wit the handles removed are great for your kittie to hide, pounce, and play in.
• Empty paper towel cardboard rolls that are unwrapped a little.

 

Catnip factoids

·         Catnip is not addictive and is perfectly safe for cats to roll in, rub in, or eat.

·         Catnip sprays rarely have enough power to be attractive to cats.

·         Not all cats are affected by catnip.

·         Kittens under 6 mths old seem to be immune.

 

 Get the most out of your toys!

• Rotate your cat’s toys weekly by only making a few available at a time.

·         Provide toys that offer a variety of uses wrestle with, carry, roll, and one to “baby”

·         Hide and seek is a fun game for cats to play. Hide their toys!

·         Many of your cats toys should be interactive. Let their natural predator skills come out.

·         If your kitty begins talking, begin meowing back. Chances are they will keep talking to you trying to match your tone.

 

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!

As I was driving around McDowell Mountain Ranch this past month, I could not but help notice the abundance of wildlife running around. It is not uncommon for me to see coyotes, rabbits, bobcats, and once even a mountain lion! As recently as this week, there was a man on the news who lost 3 of his 4 dogs to a coyote attack in his own backyard. This all got me thinking about the safety and security of your four legged loved ones and prompted me to do some research. Here is what I found from the Arizona Game and Fish Department:

 

• Coyotes have adapted to living in cities, suburbs and rural towns.  They live in our neighborhoods and do not just  “come down from the mountain to have a snack.”

 

• If one appears in your backyard or while walking your pet you should try and appear as large and as threatening as possible moving your arms and legs around.

 

• It is suggested that you keep a “coyote shaker” in your backyard near the door. This is a soda can with pennies or rocks in it sealed with duct tape. When shaken it makes a loud rattle and will scare a coyote off.

  

Discourage them from your yard by:

-eliminating any sources of food

-store garbage in a secure place

-keep bird seed and water off the ground.

- have an 8ft of higher fence. Coyotes can easily jump 6 ft.

 

• When outside with your pets – supervise your dog or cat at all times. Coyotes and other wildlife will not hesitate to take your pet while you are with it or even when it is on a leash. NEVER let your pet off the leash! (besides – it is a law!)

 

• Do not let your cat or small dog outside. Even if there is not a coyote present, owls, hawks and other wildlife have been known to prey on these types of animals.

 

• Having a coyote in your neighbor’s yard is the same as having one in yours. Be extra careful if there is an attack in your neighborhood. Coyotes remember and come back for more.

 

• Fence your garden to keep out javelina and rabbits because they serve as prey for species such as mountain lions.

 

• Shrubbery should be trimmed from the ground up.

 

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!

From the ASPCA website

 

Top 10 Nutritional Tips for Overweight Pets

Obesity is an extremely common problem in pets and, as with humans, can be detrimental to the health of a dog or cat. The overweight pet has many added stresses upon his body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain.

 

1. Obesity develops when energy intake exceeds energy requirements. The excess energy is then stored as fat. Once a pet is obese, he may remain obese even after excessive caloric intake stops. The majority of cases of obesity are related to simple overfeeding coupled with lack of exercise.

 

2. Certain groups of dogs appear more prone to obesity than others. Specific breeds (Labrador retrievers and pugs, for example) and older dogs are particularly prone.

 

3. Although there’s less data regarding obesity in cats, it appears to be less common in cats than in dogs. It has been suggested that cats have a much better ability to regulate their own energy intake.

 

4. Is your cat too fat? Is your dog a hog? As a subjective assessment of body condition, you should be able to feel the backbone and palpate the ribs in an animal of healthy weight. If you cannot feel your pet’s ribs without pressing, there is too much fat.

 

5. Also, you should see a noticeable “waist” between the back of the rib cage and the hips when looking at your pet from above. Viewed from the side, there should be a “tuck” in the tummy—the abdomen should go up from the bottom of the rib cage to inside the thighs. Cats or dogs who fail these simple tests may be overweight. ***IMPORTANT***

 

6. An additional factor to be considered when managing obesity in cats is hunting. It may be necessary to confine your cat to the house to prevent “additions” to the diet.

 

7, 8, & 9. We recommend that you consult your pet’s vet before starting on a weight loss program, which should include these major areas:

 

7. Correct Diet
Overweight animals consume more calories than they require. Work with your veterinarian to determine your pet’s caloric requirements, select a suitable food and calculate how much to feed. The diet should contain a normal level of a moderately fermentable fiber and the type of fat that prevents the skin and coat from deteriorating during weight loss. Diets that dilute calories with high fiber lead to increased stool volumes, frequent urges to defecate and variable decreases in nutrient digestibility.

 

8. Exercise
Increasing physical activity can be a valuable contributor to both weight loss and maintenance. Regular exercise burns more calories, reduces appetite, changes body composition and will increase your pet’s resting metabolic rate.

 

9. Owner Behavior Modification
A successful weight management program requires permanent changes in the behaviors that have allowed the pet to become overweight. Perhaps you are giving your pet too many treats, for example, or not giving him enough opportunities to exercise.

 

10. Are you committed to your pet’s weight loss? Here are some important things you can do:
- Remove the pet from the room when the family eats.
- Feed your pet several small meals throughout the day.
- Feed all meals and treats in the pet’s bowl only.
- Reduce snacks or treats.
- Provide non-food related attention.

 

 

 

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!

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!

 

Just last month as I was driving around McDowell Mountain Ranch doing my morning visits, I spotted a small terrier mix sprinting around the neighborhood. It was only 9AM, but it was already at least one hundred degrees outside. I stopped my car and did the trick of, “Here little buddy! Do you want a  treat?” He came to me and I checked the blue collar around his neck for identification.  There was nothing there. Just a collar. I scooped the little guy up put him in my air conditioned car and drove him to Dr. Sosnow at North Scottsdale Animal Hospital (that office is great!) We scanned the little guy for a mico chip and he didn’t have one. So now I had a dog who’s owner I did not know and I was not about to surrender it to Animal Control. 

 

This type of situation happens all of the time.  If you are one of Bella’s House & Pet Sitting clients, chances are you have heard our speech about ID YOUR PET! Accidents happen, that is why we have car and health insurance. If your door ever opens in your home, or you take your pet for a walk, then there is a possibility that your pet will escape. Without proper identification, your chances of finding them are slim.

 

If your pet escapes:

-          Wildlife could harm or kill your pets if they get loose.

-          Someone may be bold enough to just keep your pet and assume you don’t want it. I have heard some stories!

-          Your pet could end up with Animal Control. If you do not go to the facility every day to check to see if your pet turned up, they could put your pet down after the third day!!! Did you know that Arizona pet overpopulation is so bad that 75% of sheltered animals are put down! (Don’t buy, adopt a pet!)

 

Luckily this story ended happily. When I found the dog, I contacted the Debbie the activities director and she put a bulletin on the community TV Channel. The owner walked in the office just a few minutes later looking for “Smokey” and the owner and pet were happily reunited.  Please consider this a serious warning about IDing your pets. Not all stories end happily.

 

 

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!

 

 

 

Halloween Tips for your Pets!

Halloween is a fun time for children and adults, but for your pet it could be scary, dangerous or traumatic. Keep the following tips in mind this Halloween from the Humane Society of the United States–

 

1)      Keep your pet in a quiet place, away from the noises of Trick-or-treaters. If you haven’t learned from the Pizza Hut commercials, dogs know to aim for the door when the bell rings! Try to keep your pet(s) in a contained area of your home with music or a noise distraction so that they do not get scared or go into protection mode each time the bell rings. This is an opportunity for Fido or Fluffy to bolt out the door so be sure to contain them in a separate part of your home.

 

2)      Keep flame decorations, like jack-o-lanterns out of your pet’s reach. Pets are curious, they will try to sniff and possible burn their snout. If they don’t sniff they may knock over a candle or pumpkin and cause a fire.

 

3)      Keep candy away from pets – Candy, especially chocolate can be toxic to pets. Wrappers can also be harmful if swallowed. Be sure to keep it out of reach from your four legged loved ones!

 

4)      Resist the urge to put your pet in a costume unless they are used to it on a regular basis. Most pets do not like the constraint of a costume. If you do decide to dress them up, make sure the costume does not constrain their movement, hearing or ability to breathe. Check the costume for parts that your pet could chew off and possibly choke on.

 

5)      Leave the dog home when you take the kids out trick or treating. Your pooch could get scared by costumes or frightened by the numerous people trying to pet them.

 

6)      Be aware that your pet may not recognize you in your Halloween costume. Pets are very sensitive to different appearances. Even during some pet sits, pets take a minute to remember me if I have something as simple as a ball cap on!

 

Please keep these important tips in mind when handing out candy or trick or treating on Halloween.

 

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!