Pet Connections has an article about the most common human medications and their potential harmfulness to animals.  Advil and Tylenol are especially harmful as are some commonly prescribed drugs like Advair and Abilify.

And here is some good common sense with regard to ALL medications in your home:

It’s best practice to make sure all your medications are far out of reach of your pets, and you should never store drugs in plastic (even Ziploc-type) bags. They’re too easily chewed through, and since the bags are transparent, the pets can see the potential goodies inside.

Here is another article which points out human medications for three years in a row now top the list of toxins that have sickened pets in the United States.

PS:  Also don’t forget to keep all of those delicious chocolate candies far far away from your dogs.  Chocolate is poison for dogs.

Resentment on the part of the family member who agrees to the pet sitting duties because they feel obligated to say yes when he/she really would prefer to be doing something else entirely.

The teenager down the street sees the pet sit as an opportunity to use your home for having a get-together with other friends or worse yet to throw a party.

Lack of experience and training in taking care of animal(s) resulting in your pet(s) being poorly cared for or, even worse, being inadvertently harmed or lost.

John and I have cared for our own and other people’s pets for a long time.  The number of successful pet sits we have performed  is in the tens of thousands.  We have never had an animal escape from us.  We have never lost a house key for a pet sit.  We know the signs and what to do when an animal is sick.  We have fostered hundreds of animals in our home for the Humane Society for SW Washington.  We also have numerous dogs, cats, birds and some chickens of our own.  We are trained in first aid and CPR for dogs and cats.  I am trained in disaster preparedness for animals.  John and I spent a week as volunteers in Gonzales, Louisiana caring for the abandoned dogs after the Katrina hurricane.

Both of us serve as back up for each other in the event that is necessary.  We never take a vacation together for more than 12 hours because it interferes with our pet sit responsibilities.  We have a 30 year old son who lives locally that is also available in the event of an emergency.  We have good relationships with local veterinarians and other pet sitters in the area.

In other words we take the responsibilities of providing pet sitting very seriously and we have a great deal of experience successfully caring for other people’s animals.

So when you consider asking your grandmother or aunt or the friend’s daughter down the street to care for your animals while you are at work or away from home, please consider the risks and possible negative effects of that decision carefully.

We are here to assist you.  We love what we do.  We are good at what we do.  And we want you to know that your decision to allow us to be the caregivers for your animals is much appreciated and that we take this responsibility very seriously.

Image via Wikipedia

Related articles

• Pet Sitters Give Animal Parents Peace of Mind (baxterspetsittingblog.wordpress.com)
• Benefits of using a Pet Sitter? (baxterspetsittingblog.wordpress.com)
• Prepare your pets & home for your pet sitter (baxterspetsittingblog.wordpress.com)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MqHN-4okZ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRzhd3eUyO8

Sixwize.com has some advice for exercising your dog:

Even if you have a fenced backyard, your dog may not be getting enough activity unless he’s exerting himself to the point of panting.

Don’t expect your dog to start out with a 30-minute intense walk, however. You’ll need to condition your pet and work up to more intense activities, just as you need to do yourself if you haven’t worked out in awhile.

A good starting point for most dogs is a 10-15 minute, moderately paced walk. You can work up to 30 minutes, three times a week or, for athletic breeds, up to an hour per session. If you don’t have time to take your dog for regular walks, hiring a dog walker, or taking your dog to a supervised doggy day care, will provide a great alternative.

And for cats:

Cats, especially the indoor variety, can be harder to keep active but a bit of ingenuity on your part will go a long way. Experiment with a variety of toys for your cat and change them often to prevent boredom.

Most cats enjoy catnip-filled toys, such as Nigel the Octopus from GreenerWiener.com or mouse toys like the 100% natural Wooley Bully.

Another simple option to keep cats entertained is a flashlight or laser pointer. Cats will wear themselves out trying to “catch” the light, and SixWise.com highly recommends the Ba-Da-Beam Hands-Free Rotating Laser Chaser from GreenerWiener.com for all cat owners.

And some safety tips:

When exercising your cat or dog, be sure to watch for signs of overexertion, such as excessive panting or lying down. These are signs that it’s time for a break. Also, be especially careful when exercising pets with flat faces, such as pugs, bulldogs and Persian cats, as they are vulnerable to respiratory distress.

Other breeds may also be prone to overexertion or injury, including toy breeds, dachshunds, young puppies and older pets, so always use caution and pay attention to cues from your pet.

You’ll also want to avoid exercising your dog in extreme heat or cold, which can lead to hypothermia, heat stress and over-exhaustion. In bad weather, take your dog to an indoor play park, or teach him to walk (with your assistance) on a treadmill!

Of course, always make sure your pet has access to fresh water during any exercise session.

If you do not have the time or energy to exercise your pet(s), that is one of the services At Home Pet Sitting will gladly provide for you.

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• Take Care Of Cats (animaltopics.com)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvo-g_JvURI

This video shows an instance where the cat and the printer interaction has escalated to a more dangerous level.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REQRHdMRimw

Bee (click image to enlarge)

Not my photo although I hope to take quality pics like this with the new camera I am getting next month.  Noticed this on the web and just had to show it off here.  Credit belongs here.

The Humane Society said it has decided to combat the feline overabundance by lowering the cost to adopt kittens and cats. Whereas it normally costs $80 to take home a kitten it has now been reduced to $50, and adoption fees for cats have been reduced from $50 to $15. For those who take home two cats, the second costs $10. All cats will be spayed or neutered if not already altered, vaccinated and microchipped. Adopters also receive a free veterinary exam and 30 days of free pet insurance.

Adoption hours for the Humane Society at 2121 St. Francis Lane in Vancouver, Wash., are noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Humane
Society encourages you to help in any way you can including:

• Give a playful kitten or sophisticated adult cat a loving, permanent home and be rewarded with unconditional love.

• Spay or neuter your pets to prevent unwanted animals.

• Explain the importance of sterilization to your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors.

• Help the Humane Society for Southwest Washington build a new home not only to shelter more animals, but also to provide them a healthier environment.

• Consider fostering a litter of kittens. Contact the foster coordinator to reserve space at the monthly Foster Orientations.

It is well-established that we Americans love our pets with 49.7 percent of us considering them part of the family. New statistics published by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s 2007 U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook (“Sourcebook”) show cats now rank as America’s first pet with 82 million owned cats to 71 million dogs. But a closer look reveals startling data about our beloved pets.

Of the 48,000 surveyed households with both dogs and cats, the average dog receives vet care 1.5 times a year yet cats received vet care less than once a year. Put another way, 36.6 percent of households owning cats received no vet care in 2006 compared to 17.3 percent of dog households. The increase in the number of owned cats combined with the decrease in vet care visits is alarming.

The cat’s accelerated aging process coupled with its ability to mask pain and illness means cats are at a greater risk of unnecessary suffering before receiving medical care. All too often, by the time they see a vet they are already gravely ill with conditions that could have been prevented or diagnosed earlier had they received regular veterinary care. To make matters worse, pet owners are unwilling to spend as much money on cat care compared to dog care.

The National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy survey reveals 35 percent of cats compared to 27 percent of dogs were relinquished to shelters due to behavior issues. The Humane Society for Southwest Washington’s sobering statistics support that data. On an average day with 45 animals taken in, 30 are cats and 15 are dogs. More people utilize the new behavior training for dogs, but with cats the attitude is “No, I’ve had it with that cat!”

The Humane Society of the United States reports still more dismal data: of animals entering shelters, 15-30 percent of dogs are reclaimed compared to 2-5 percent of cats. The Humane Society of Southwest Washington’s stats are direr: 98 percent of dogs are reclaimed to 2 percent of cats. One day three cats were reclaimed and it set “a world record” at the shelter. Are cats less valued or considered disposable pets?

Trends also indicate more cats are dumped and literally left out in the cold to fend for themselves than dogs and more cats than dogs are abused.

Health studies for felines lag behind those for canines. A 1945 study found large amounts of melamine (a toxic chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers, often used as a filler to falsely boost protein content) had “no significant toxic affects” on dogs, rats or rabbits. It was assumed the same was true for cats. In last year’s recall of tainted pet food, more cats than dogs were sickened or died; indicating that even the smallest amounts of melamine is toxic to cats, causing acute renal failure. Clearly, more focus is needed on feline health studies; cats are not small dogs.

As a result of the “Sourcebook” findings, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and 30 key influential organizations and companies including the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Cornell Feline Health Center, Morris Animal Foundation, Winn Feline Foundation and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, met Feb. 5-6 in Palm Springs, Calif. at what was called the CATalyst Summit. The event was underwritten by Pfizer Animal Health.

The main goals discussed were how to improve feline healthcare, educate owners about responsible pet ownership and elevate the cat’s stature. AAFP and AAHA plan to develop Feline Life-Stage Guidelines for veterinary professionals and Winn Feline Foundation’s media committee will develop guidelines for pet owners. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is underwriting this endeavor.

While we Americans love our pets, the inequality of health and welfare between dogs and cats needs to end. The CATalyst Summit plans are underway and updates will be given as they progress.

Sources (collapsible)

Eddie – A stray who cares not for our many dogs. He gets to live with Salty, another stray cat of ours in luxury in our basement away from the hustle and bustle of the dog community. He also has a scenic patio with a cat door that overlooks our outdoor dog pen area. A beautiful, unique looking cat who knows how to take care of himself.

We inherited Eddie from mom when she died in 2002. Mom got him from a neighbor who came down with cancer and could not handle him anymore. The neighbor got him from… Let’s just say Eddie’s been around!