Here in Texas, and a lot of other parts of the country, we’re having record-breaking high temperatures. In Austin we’ve had 17 days with temperatures of 100 degrees or higher. On Monday it was 106. That’s hot! I’m sure you know where I’m going with all this hot weather talk…this is a blog about pets, after all…
Our pets don’t have the luxury of a opposable thumbs like we do! They can’t open the back door and come inside where it’s cool, they can’t grab the door handle from inside a parked car to get out, and they can’t turn the water faucet on to get some cool water. They may stare at the door willing it to open but unless we open it for them, they’re in trouble. They depend on us to make sure they’re safe – and that includes keeping them out of the killer hot weather. So open that door and bring them inside with you, where it’s cool!
Some ways for you to keep your pets cool:
Provide a cool place for them to spend their time (in the air conditioned house with you always is the best!)
Make sure outdoor pets have plenty of shade.
WATER! Always have an ample supply of fresh water for your pets. Always!
Use spray misters – these can be hooked up to your garden hose.
Get your dog a wading pool, put it in the shade, and fill it with water.
It’s also important to know the signs of heat stroke:
Skin that is hot to the touch
Excessive drooling
Vomiting
Uncontrollable panting
Disorientation
Loss of coordination
And in extreme cases, unconsciousness
If your pet shows signs of heat stroke, get him out of the heat and start cooling him down immediately. Use cool water on his head and body, but don’t let him drink right away. And don’t immerse him in cold water – that’s too much of a shock to the system. Stay with him as he cools, but if he doesn’t respond within a few minutes it’s time to get him to your veterinarian or animal emergency hospital.
And, I have to say it…
If you’re going somewhere and want to take your dog, don’t ever leave him alone in the car. Dogs die in hot cars every summer! Don’t be irresponsible and stupid about it. If your dog can’t go in somewhere with you, don’t go! It’s that simple. Your dog deserves better than to die in a hot car while you run into the store for a few minutes. Those ‘few minutes’ can be deadly.
Prevention is the key! Be aware of your pets and keep them cool. Remember that dogs don’t sweat like we do, they pant, and even that isn’t going to cool them down sufficiently if they’re extremely hot. All dogs are susceptible to heat stroke, and short nosed breeds are even more at risk, so please keep your eye on them in this hot weather.
On Wednesday it’ll be a year since Lydia had surgery to have two malignant tumors removed. Since then, the docs haven’t been able to find a trace of cancer! That’s one year cancer free! We’ve been very, very fortunate and not a day goes by that I don’t remind myself of the fact. I don’t know what the future holds for us, but my hope for her is that the cancer will stay away for good!
In honor of Lydia’s one-year anniversary I’ve set up a virtual party on Facebook, and everyone’s invited! We’ll be partying from now until the end of the day on Wednesday. I hope you’ll stop by and say hello.
Sometime on Wednesday evening I’ll be giving away an autographed copy of the book, “Help Your Dog Fight Cancer,” by Laurie Kaplan. I found it a few days after Lydia was diagnosed and it’s been the best book I found to help me help Lydia. I recommend it to anyone who has a pet with cancer!
I’ve set up a donation page for anyone who would like to donate to The Magic Bullet Fund in Lydia’s honor. The Magic Bullet Fund helps pet owners who can’t afford their dogs’ cancer treatments, and was founded by Laurie Kaplan, the woman who wrote the book I mentioned above, Help Your Dog Fight Cancer. I know Laurie would be grateful for any donation – no matter how small. You’ll be helping dogs fight their cancer battles, and I know their people would be grateful, too.
For more information about canine cancer, see the following websites:
Melissa from the Photo Books Project posted this on my Facebook page a little while ago. It’s about the millions of cats and dogs that are killed in shelters every year, and was put together by a woman who worked in an animal shelter for a short time. She’s included images of pets she found online – and included Lydia (she’s the fourth dog you’ll see). Watch the video and listen to her narrative, but be sure to have the tissues handy.
The doggy daycare business in Omaha is thriving according to the Omaha World-Herald.
Omahan Nicholle Reisdorff worked for six years at what she called her dream job: a researcher for federal courts in Washington, D.C., with an office that overlooked the Capitol.
Three years ago, she moved to Nebraska and quit the dream job. She started her own business — something very different from anything she ever dreamed.
She owns a day care for dogs. And loves it.
Doggie day cares, which were rare in Omaha until the turn of the millennium, have been gaining momentum in the area, owners say. They knock on wood as they say that the business appears to be recession-proof. Many have seen their client numbers increase.
Doggie day care operations have much in common with the centers that cater to children. There are regular clients and personality differences. There are favorite toys and finicky eaters. Business models run the gamut — Omaha has privately owned centers, franchises and one associated with the Nebraska Humane Society.
The dogs get indoor and outdoor play and a chance to make new friends. Operators say that the centers give owners a dog that’s calmer and more comfortable around other dogs. Some centers offer extras such as grooming, training and overnight stays. In Omaha, canine day cares generally charge about $20 a day, and dogs have to go through an application process to weed out those animals that could be dangerous to others.
[...]
David Sipherd, owner of the day care associated with the Pets-R-Us store at 10913 Elm St., said people have to feel comfortable with the center where they leave their “children.” He said many of his customers live or work in the neighborhood and like knowing their pets are nearby.
His facility, beyond the day care, boasts treadmills and drug-sniffing training.
PetsitUSA and independent pet sitters urge pet owners to be aware of summer health hazards.
Because pet sitters interact with a large number of pets, they are familiar with a variety of summer dangers. They hear stories of cats, dogs and other pets that have suffered summertime mishaps because their owners aren’t aware of potential dangers, or don’t consider taking measures to prevent them.
Simply knowing some of these dangers, and how to prevent them, may mean avoiding a costly and life threatening illness or injury for one’s pet. Therefore, as advocates for pets, professional pet sitters offer the following reminders to help pet owners keep their pets safe during the summer months:
Keep the heat in mind – It only takes a matter of minutes for a vehicle to become dangerously hot, even with the windows open This can cause heatstroke and even death for a cat, dog, or other pet. For this reason, pets should never be left alone in a parked vehicle. Pets that spend time outdoors should always have plenty of shade and water. Pets with health problems, dogs that are extremely active or engage in sporting events, and dogs with short snouts should be monitored closely and made to stop if they show any signs of distress.
Fireworks fear – Many pets are extremely fearful of fireworks. They often become lost after they bolt out of an open door or escape a fenced in area as they try to get way from the noise. Pet owners are encouraged to keep pets indoors for holidays such as the Fourth of July, when fireworks are common. If it is not possible for a pet owner to stay home with their pets on holidays when fireworks are used, hiring a pet sitter to check on them is suggested.
Water safety – It is a myth that all dogs know how to swim, but even those that are expert swimmers should be supervised when around pools and other bodies of water. When including dogs in water activities, such as boating, owners should consider using life jackets or other flotation devices designed for pets. Additionally, dogs should not be allowed to drink water from swimming pools, which contain harmful chlorine and other chemicals.
Barbecue dangers – While barbecues may be a fun summertime activity for people, they can be dangerous to pets. Pets should be kept away from barbecue grills, fires, charcoal, charcoal starter, and citronella candles, as well as food and alcohol.
Lawn and garden products – These can cause serious injury and even death if ingested or if they come in contact with a pet’s fur or skin. Just a few of these hazardous products include cocoa mulch, fertilizer, pool chemicals, insecticides, and rodenticide. If products such as these must be used, pets should be kept away from the areas in which they are used.
Being aware of summertime hazards and taking steps to avoid them is often the best way to prevent possible illness or injury. Pet owners who suspect their pet is suffering from heatstroke, poison, or other summertime hazard, should contact their veterinarian or local animal emergency center immediately.
Earlier this week the FDA suspended Evanger’s emergency permit, meaning they cannot ship pet food in interstate commerce. Now Evangers is asking the FDA to reverse that decision.
Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Co. filed a formal request with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking a reinstatement order permitting it to resume interstate shipping of its canned pet-food products.
[...]
“Our company has been working closely with the FDA and we have already addressed many of their questions,” says Joel Sher, Evanger’s vice president. “No Evanger’s product has been recalled, nor is there any indication that Evanger’s products are unsafe or contaminated in any way. Only our canned products have been affected by this action and, again, the FDA has not issued a recall, as some blogs have incorrectly stated.” The FDA’s cease-distribution order, according to Sher, appears to be based on a misunderstanding regarding paperwork updating Evanger processing protocols as submitted last year.
I’m on the way to the vet with Tequila (my cat, not the booze!) in a little while. She has a pretty nasty bladder infection that she let me know about this morning. Instead of using her litter box, she decided to use an old laundry basket to show me what’s going on…and boy is her urine red. Poor kitty. We’ll get some meds and get her fixed up.
In the meantime, I wanted to post our next contest, which is pretty appropriate considering I’m taking Tequila to the vet today!
I did a review of the book last month and have a copy to give to someone. It’s an excellent book and this is one of those books I think every pet owner should own. Go read my review, then enter to win. I wish I could give a copy to everybody I know who has pets but I can’t. So if you don’t win, go buy one!
Here’s how to enter:
Leave a message below. Tell us all something funny or interesting about your pets.
For an extra chance at winning:
Follow @petsitusa on Twitter and tweet the following:
I entered to win a copy of the book Speaking for Spot from @petsitusa. Enter here: http://bit.ly/alEC4 #psusaspot
UPDATE: Congrats to Hannie and her comedian dog. Hannie won the copy of Speaking for Spot!
On Tuesday, June 23 I’ll be doing another teleclass with Kristin Morrison of Six Figure Pet Sitting Academy. This class will be all about blogging!
I’ve been blogging since April, 2006 and have found it to be an excellent way to interact with visitors to the site, bring more pet owners to PetsitUSA, and let more people know about the pet sitting industry. It’s also been a way for me to provide helpful information for pet owners, entertaining articles, and even reviews on books & other pet products. All of this has translated into more traffic, and more revenue, for PetsitUSA!
Here’s what you’ll learn in this Blogging Teleclass:
What a blog is and what makes it different than a website
How to write “Google-friendly” blog posts that help move your blog higher in search engines results.
How you can dramatically increase sales while spending less on marketing
The best software to use for your blog
Why it’s important to have your blog on your domain rather being hosted by a third party
Why you need the best SEO blogging theme available for your blog
How a blog can bring many more visitors to your website
How to use your blog to reinforce your company goals and vision
How to keep readers coming back for more
Tips to help you stay on track with your blogging
Basic blogging etiquette
This teleclass is being hosted by Kristin Morrision of Six Figure Pet Sitting Academy, and you can register for the blogging teleclass there.
You don’t need to be a pet sitter to be on the call! What I’m going to talk about pertains to any type of blogger – whether it’s for your business, to keep in touch with family, or to blog about your hobbies. I hope you’ll join us!
And, in case you weren’t able to make it to the general social media teleclass, or the one on Twitter you can purchase and download them as well as a tips & tools sheet at Social Media Hound, my social media website.
It’s summer.
Earlier this week the 
I’m on the way to the vet with Tequila (my cat, not the booze!) in a little while. She has a pretty nasty bladder infection that she let me know about this morning. Instead of using her litter box, she decided to use an old laundry basket to show me what’s going on…and boy is her urine red. Poor kitty. We’ll get some meds and get her fixed up.
