Michelle June 16th, 2010
Yep, it hasn’t been this cool since 1984. It is starting to look more like the start of Spring than the start of Summer.
It is also a bad season for fleas as I unfortunately found out. I have four dogs of my own and two of a family members that stay with a lot these days. They did not have nary a flea, but then about two weeks ago, the itching started. I wonder now if I inadvertently brought in fleas from my daily pet sits or walks. However these nasty bugs came into being here in my home. Home they are, right in my dogs fur. Now it is not a cheap expense to get rid of fleas, believe me, especially with the number of dogs I have. I went to Petco today and not only purchased Frontline, but flea shampoo and powder, just to be safe. My pocket book was a bit more empty. Its bath and flea control time tomorrow, even if the temps are not all the warm.
I encourage pet owners to take the steps to prevent fleas from taking over their furry four-legged companions. Just a quick trip to the pet store or your vet can save you the time and trouble of getting an infestation.
Tags: Beaverton, Cats, dog walker, Dogs, fleas and ticks, healthy pets, Hillsboro, pet owner, petsitting, rainy, washington county, weather
Michelle June 15th, 2010
Actually I don’t mind the rain, that is one of the things people must deal with, when living in Oregon or Washington. However, not so much fun when your walking dogs. Not only do I get wet, but the poor dogs get soaked. Some have coats, others don’t care, they are out just to have fun on their walk. Its after the walk that the wet starts sinking in.
It is one of the things clients should think about when out in the rain with their dogs. Purchasing a raincoat or letting them walk ala’ natural. I do both when walking my dogs. Since I have six dogs, it takes a few minutes to get all their gear on. They are so excited that its hard trying to put a rain coat on jumping, wildly happy four-legged banshee’s (that is what I refer to mine as). Usually I will wait until the rain has slacked off and there is but a slight mist or trickle.
Today looks like one of those days that I will sit in wait and just when I think its safe, I will leash them all up and off we will go.
For those that are walking their dogs in this weather..happy rainy walking! 
Tags: Beaverton, Dog Walking, Dogs, healthy pets, Hillsboro, Oregon, pet owner, Pet Sitting, pets, petsitter, Walking, weather
Michelle March 27th, 2008
The first green shoots have announced that Spring has sprung and its that time of year when the garden needs replanting, the moss laden lawn needs revitializing..etc..etc.If your a pet owner, Spring also means making sure that your pets are safe from hazardous plants, chemicals and fertilizers.
I happen to have four dogs around my house that are still in the puppy stage, so I want to make sure that they are safe should I bring home any new plants or even old established ones for that matter. Many people, myself included are not aware of the many toxic plants that are out there. A harmless looking plant may not be that harmless after all.
I have compiled a few tips that will help keep you a happy gardener and your pets..well a happy and healthy pet.
Dogs and Cats can’t tell the difference between pesticide or fertilzers, so use only non-toxic products that aren’t harmful to animals. A common ingredient among pet-safe fertilizers is manure. Cow, bat, and sea bird manure are popular ingredients. Fish, kelp and worm castings are also frequently used in pet-safe fertilizers.
When shopping for pet-safe weed killers you may choose to look for products that are veterinarian or EPA certified. It is important to read the ingredients. Avoid commercial products that contain inert ingredients.
Beware of using snail bait–the kind with metaldehyde as the active ingredient. Many formulations look like dog pellets, which are a sure magnet for dogs, but metaldehyde can cause vomiting or labored breathing in your pet.
The taste and scent of any flower can be deceiving to a dog and cat when the flower tastes good. Naturally, the pet will continue to eat the flower despite the poisonous content. There is a high toxicity in the Easter lily, morning glories, buttercups, oleander, tulips, lily of the valley, and Christmas roses, Mistletoe, marigold, creeping Charlie, Ivy (all varieties), red lily, azaleas are just a few of the toxic plants. Morning glories have a high toxicity level which causes hallucinations, possible seizures, stomach upset that can lead to death.
In the event that your dog or cat had ingested any of these contact your local poison control center. It is best to keep a list of toxic plants and the phone number of the poison control center nearby.
These tips are not to raise a panic, its just a reminder that pet owners need to be aware and watch their pets carefully. A little bit of attention will go a long way in helping keep the furry ones out of harms way.
Tags: animal safety, gardening, healthy pets, non-toxic products, pet owner, spring
