Pet Sitting, Dog Walking, House Sitting – Gold Coast

Posts Tagged ‘cat boarding’

The Seasonal Holiday (aka Christmas) is an exciting time for most people, but it always pays to take some extra precautions with your pets. There are many dangers around at this time of year, below are some suggestions on how to ensure your cat stays safe during the Seasonal Holiday (aka Christmas) period.

OUR BIGGEST & BEST TIP IS….  Keep your cat inside the home !

Were you aware that it is illegal within the Gold Coast region to allow cats to have unrestricted access to the outdoors especially anytime after sunset and before sunrise.  Cats found outside of your property are classed as “strays”.  If you really MUST allow your cat unrestrained and mostly unsupervised access to the outside, please ensure the cat is registered and microchipped (and the microchip details are correct).   If your cat dislikes wearing a collar (Marnie is one unfortunately), this is even more reason to keep your cat inside your home.

click here for a great article: Make Your Outdoor Cat An Indoor Cat

Still want to allow your cat unrestrained and mostly unsupervised outside access?  Then please take heed of the following to ensure the safety of your cat:

Traffic / Cars:

In some neighbourhoods, this means an increase in traffic with more people coming and going visiting family, friends and other celebrations.  This is also one of the ways for cats to go missing (or die) through no fault of their own as they can sometimes curl up within an engine or the car interior itself to have a nap.  I speak from personal experience thus the reason why Marnie is an indoor cat (and so was her predecessor) as I’ve had cats go missing as well as be killed (one right in front of my eyes – not something I would wish upon any person who cares for their cat).

Ticks:

Need I say more ?  Ticks can and do kill.  Ticks are attracted to cats just as much as dogs.  The downside is that if you do not inspect your outdoor cat regularly for ticks there really is nothing more you can do to ensure their safety because a lot of the tick medications are only suitable for dogs.  Cats can find the tick medication (aka “monthly spot on treatments”) fatally toxic.    The Gold Coast region is always plauged by ticks due to our weather.

Snakes:

Snake bite poisoning is a very serious danger to cats, especially in the warmer months.  Click here for more information on first aid for cats bitten by snake bites.

Heat Stroke:

Another medical emergency is heat stroke (also known as hyperthermia). If you suspect your cat has heat stroke, seek veterinary attention immediately.  This applies for both inside and outdoor cats:  for indoor cats, ensure there is plenty of air and cool areas for your cat to enjoy; for outdoor cats, ensure there are areas where there is shade for most of the day as well as access to cool areas for your cat to enjoy.

Whilst indoor/inside cats will be a lot more safer over this period than outdoor cats – there are still many dangers to minimise or eliminate to ensure the safety of your feline family member:

Christmas Tree/Decorations

The only fool proof way to keep your cat away from your Christmas tree  is to put the tree in a room the cat can’t access. Unfortunately, this is often not practical. So the next best solution is to make the tree as safe as possible.  Real Christmas trees are more dangerous to cats than fake plastic ones. Pine needles can puncture internal organs if eaten, they are also toxic to cats. If you do have a real tree, make sure the drink stand has plenty of water to prevent the tree drying out & losing needles. It is important that your cat isn’t able to get to this water & drink it as it could result in poisoning. Ensure the tree has a good solid base so it won’t easily be knocked over by your cat. Try not to have the tree near furniture & or shelves which the cats could use to jump onto the tree.

Be careful with tinsel, if you must have it on your tree, place it at the top of the tree where the cat is less likely to be able to get at it. Tinsel can be caught around the base or move down to the intestines & stomach & cause a blockage, which will result in emergency (and costly) surgery to remove it.   A safer alternative are the strands of beads. Ornaments should be securely attached to the tree to prevent them being knocked off. Also place delicate ornaments up high where they’re less likely to be knocked off & broken. When there is nobody around, unplug Christmas lights, you may want to try applying a cat repellent  such as bitter apple to the lights to deter your cat from chewing the wires, obviously if this was to happen it could cause a fatal electric shock.

Artificial snow is toxic to cats, so is best avoided.

Candles are especially popular over the Seasonal Holiday period, be careful to make sure your cat can’t get close to lit candles.

Please note, your cat isn’t a novelty item & it’s dangerous to try & decorate your cat with ribbons etc.

Plants

Holly, mistletoe, poinsettias are all popular plants to have in the home at Christmas, especially in the northern hemisphere. These plants are toxic to cats so should be placed where your cat can’t get to them.

Food/Sweets/Chocolate

Many cat owners enjoy giving their cat the occasional treat of “human” food & generally this doesn’t harm the cat.  However, it is important to remember that some foods which are fine for humans to eat can be toxic to cats. The odd sliver of chicken or turkey (off the bone) is fine, however it really isn’t a good idea to give them large quantities of such food as this can lead to gastrointestinal problems.  Never give your cat cooked chicken or turkey bones, these bones can splinter & can become lodged in your cat’s throat or puncture the intestines & stomach. Chocolate is toxic to cats, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic. Chocolate contains both caffeine & theobromine, which are both toxic. If you suspect your cat has eaten chocolate watch for signs of restlessness & vomiting, if in doubt, see your vet.

Cats will often scavenge for food in the garbage so be aware that if you’ve covered your turkey with foil & thrown it in the bin, your cat may drag it out & chew on it which could make the cat sick. Cooked turkey bones will also attract your cat. Be aware of this & if possible, take your food scraps etc., to your outside bin.

Xmas ribbons/wrap

Rbbons etc., pose the same problem as tinsel, if eaten, it may lead to intestinal blockages. It’s important to ensure all ribbons/wrap etc., are safely disposed of.

The last danger during the Holiday Season is having someone who is without Pet CPR & First Aid skills “in charge” of the welfare of your beloved felines !

You may save a couple of dollars using friends, family or the person who is doing pet sitting for $10 per visit (generally speaking, most professional pet carers charge $20 minimum for cat sitting visits) however when presented with any pet emergency …. will they cost the cat its life due to their lack of skills ?  This situation is easily solved through having whomever is “in charge” of the care of your felines do a Pet Tech Pet CPR, First Aid and Care class which are held regularly on the Gold Coast.

by Dr. Mercola

REPLY POSTED BY: Dr Becker

Kennel cough has a number of different causes, only one of which — the most common cause — is the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria. Many people think bordetella is kennel cough, but that is technically inaccurate.

In fact, dogs that acquire the bordetella bacteria usually have a virus that makes them more vulnerable to infection. Some of these viruses are the canine adenovirus, distemper, canine herpes, and the parainfluenza virus.

Kennel cough is a form of bronchitis and is similar to a chest cold in humans.

How Dogs Get Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is contagious, so whether your dog has the illness or you know of dogs that do, make sure to keep them apart until they are well.   { read more here }

Treatment for Kennel Cough

Since most cases of kennel cough resolve without medical intervention, I don’t recommend immediate or automatic treatment withantibiotics or other medications. Allowing your pet’s body to heal itself naturally is always advisable.  { read more here }

About Vaccines for Kennel Cough

Many veterinarians recommend bordetella vaccines – either by injection or nasal mist delivery. I’m not one of them, however. { read more here }

WEBSITE: Mercola Healthy Pets

Do you believe in the vaccine ?

What has your experiences been with Kennel Cough ?

Is it because of Kennel Cough you use a pet sitter ?

It is wonderful to have pets in our homes; they help us relax on stressful days. For some of us, pets are our only reliable companions. Our pet dogs not only will help us relax and provide companionship that we need, they also guard our property. There are so many other benefits in owning a pet. However, there are number of complications as well in owning pets. Even though we may not be extensive travelers, there might be occasions in life that would force us to travel for a couple of days or we might like to take a vacation for a week to rejuvenate ourselves after a stressful year. In all these situations life can get bit complicated when we own a dog or other pets because travel and pets or vacation and pets are very bad combinations. Not all our friends may be that passionate about having to visit your home to help care for your pets. We cannot travel with our pets either in most situations. How do we handle such situations?

This is where the role of Professional Pet Sitters comes into play. These days we can get professional pet sitters who will be interested in taking care of our pets ( for a fee ) while we are away. This service creates a win-win situation for both parties. You, as the pet owner, can have stress free travel with the thought that your pets are being taken care of and that they are safe and at the same time the professional pet carer too continue doing what they love to do.

Professional Pet Sitting is becoming one of the most popular services these days as the number of people who own pets is also increasing day by day. Soon we will need more pet carers than baby sitters. More and more people realize the benefits of having a pet at home. Though there are some discomforts and responsibilities that come with it, families are still interested in owning pets. Services like Professional Pet Sitting come as a very timely service for pet lovers.

As founder of the Network of Professional Pet Carers, I can attest to the fact that the number of pet sitters are also increasing !  Only because there is an increasing demand for this type of service. Professional Pet Sitters will take care of all your pets needs, they will provide your pet with food and water at regular intervals and ensure that they are fed in a healthy way. They will also spend time with your pet engaging them in playful activities and give them the exercise that they need so that when you are back you will not find a depressed and hungry pet but a happy and active pet.

With Professional Pet Sitting services, you don’t have to worry about putting your dog with other animals in the kennel boarding where they can contract infections or where they can be bullied by stronger dogs. (The same can be said about catteries.) It is important that you should find a reliable and experienced Professional Pet Sitter in your locality.

If Gold Coast Pet Sitting cannot be of service, as Founder of the Network of Professional Pet Carers Gold Coast, I can have a variety of other professional service providers contact you or you can easily find a Professional Pet Sitter in your suburb by using the Network’s website, which has a comprehensive database of Professional Pet Sitters in almost all the Gold Coast. Visit www.goldcoastpets.com.au/petwise to find your Professional Pet Sitter today.

Contact Vanessa at Gold Coast Pet Sitting for your free no obligation quote !

By Ebrown

Many people feel that they are limited in their choices for the pets they can own when it comes to apartment living. The pet shouldn’t be too large, noisy, smelly, annoying, etc. However, people with this idea are not thinking outside of the box. Come on people! Expand that mind and just think about all of the small furry (and not-so-furry) creatures that could bring fun and joy to your life.

First, one of my favorite animals for apartment living is the classic kitty cat. I am partial to cats because I like my independence, which is something they cherish also. That’s not to say dogs aren’t wonderful – they are super fun to cuddle with and make you feel happier when you’re sad. However, cats have an advantage on dogs for apartment living as they are generally smaller, make less noise, and don’t have to be let out to do their business. Another plus for cats: you can leave for a whole day and not worry that they’re going to starve or pee all over your carpet.

Now bear with me on this one: I love rats. I know, it sounds nasty, but from every rat owner I’ve ever listened to, they are amazing pets! Despite the reputation of being dirty animals, rats are actually quite clean and affectionate pets. They are social animals, so having two of them (preferably the same sex) will keep them happy and provide you with entertainment! Rats are a little larger than mice, so they are easier to hold and with human interaction, they are sure to be a friendly critter.

On the flip side, a few pets I am NOT fond of (although I hear they make good apartment pets):

• Snakes (not because they’re “scary”, but because they eat my friend mouse and just lie there for the most part)

• Fish (they do not provide me with enough entertainment)

• Birds (so loud and messy, way too annoying for me)

• Ferrets (although they can be quite funny to watch, I’ve had personal bad experiences with one evil ferret…and they smell disgusting!)

So there you have it. My suggestions for some fun critters to liven up your life. Let us know what type of animals you have found to make awesome pets, send pictures of your sweet cuddle bugs in, or disagree and argue me with the animals I have chosen!

Article Source: Articles Engine