|
|
|
610-294-2901 Serving Upper Bucks County and Surrounding Areas | |
| Beautiful Friends |
 |
|
Pico & Holly Friends forever |
| Beautiful Friends |
 |
|
Now that's friendship |
| Beautiful Friends |
 |
|
Hi Buddy! |
| Did You Know? |
Your Reliable Pet Sitter will do more than just feed them -
Take pets for walks
Bring in Newspapers
Take out the Trash Cans on Pick-up Day
Turn lights on and off for security
Bring in the Mail
Sweep the Entrance
Load up the Wood Stove or Fireplace
Take Pets to Vet or Groomer
Wait at the house for delivery or service
Clean out litter box
Give Medications
Arrange for other services like lawn care while you are gone
Let us know, we are here to help. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Bathing Cats |
|
Bathing Your Cat - by Kitty Angell
Bathing is an important part of the grooming process for some cats, but many are able to keep themselves quite clean and may never require bathing. For some, bathing keeps the coat clean, reduces parasite infections and can even make life easier on those who are allergic to cats.
For cats whose lives will include frequent baths, start bathing them when they are kittens, or as early in their lives as possible. This will help accustom your cat to the process and reduce fear and anxiety that frequently accompanies an older cat's first bath. read more... |
|
| |
|
Greetings!
Last month we wrote about planning that vacation and where to place Fluffy and Rover. After reading the article I got a call from "Kate".
Kate does not have a dog, but does love dogs. She does have a 3 year old daughter, a full time job and a beautiful home. Her husband has a Sister that was going on a 10-day vacation to the Bahamas. The sister also has a 2-year old German Shephard that is unruly and untrustworthy. So since Kate has a yard and is home everyday after work, her sister-in-law asked Kate to be the pet watcher while they were on vacation.
"He'll be fine", said the Sister-in-law. "He only goes after people he does not know. Make sure if somebody comes to your house, you hold his collar real tight." This juvenile deliquent does not like to be crated either. Not what Kate needed with a little one of her own.
Taking on the responsibility of another's dogs comes with all the liability as if it were your own dog. Including the care of the pet. This means for the 10 days your Sister-in-Law and family are sunning on the beach you are walking, scooping, feeding their beloved pet. No staying late at that birthday party, or taking in the ball game while he's your guest.
My advice to Kate was to kindly back-out and say that she was just not comfortable with the doggy around the neighborhood kids and her daughter.
Kate said her sister-in-law is mad at her, but she'll get over it. Better to have her anger for a short time than a disaster that Kate will regret. (Sister-in-law asked her parents to come to their house 3-times a day to let out the doggy).
Who is with your Pet this vacation?
Reliable Pet Sitters
Joe & Kathi |
|
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
|
Soothing Melodies - from PetCentric
As humans, we embrace music not just for the artistry or sound, but for the way it can make us feel. We can energize ourselves with rock, inspire ourselves with classical, or connect to the rest of humanity through songs of love or heartbreak. Scientists have found that our pets can be affected by music as well.
Animal behaviorist, Hermann Bubna-Littitz, a professor at the Veterinary University of Vienna studied the effects of soothing music on house cats and found that it put them in a state of relaxation and even curbed aggressive behavior. In fact, when the music was played, the cats were drawn toward the speakers. This inspired him to have music composed specifically for cats.
 Dr. Deborah Wells, of the Canine Behavior Centre at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland conducted a study of the effects of music on dogs in animal shelters. The study found that the type of music dogs heard had a dramatic affect on their disposition. Heavy metal music caused quite a bit of barking, while pop music had about the same effect as human conversation. But when dogs were exposed to classical music, they were far more relaxed, and quiet.
Since the study was released, animal shelters in the UK have played classical music to soothe their dogs. While this makes dogs more relaxed at the shelter, it has another added benefit, though it hasn't been scientifically documented. When people looking to adopt pets enter a shelter, classical music also relaxes them, and seems to cause them to spend more time looking around. And, when dogs appear calm and relaxed, rather than nervous and anxious, they are more appealing, thus more adoptable. Perhaps music can save lives?
Dogs have also been known to be quite the music critics. If you love the music of composer Richard Wagner, you have a dog to thank for it. Of course, Wagner was a musical genius, but maybe one of the smarter things he did was to trust in the taste of his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Peps. Wagner had a little stool made for Peps, so he could sit by him at the piano. Wagner watched how Peps reacted to the music he was creating. He noted which keys made Pep's tail wag and which made him stand up. This led Wagner to create the "musical motif" which associates specific musical keys with the moods he wanted to express in his operas. When Peps passed away, Wagner had to get a new dog critic to help him continue composing. Our petcentric readers have noticed their pets having a specific taste in music. Kathryn has two hyperactive Jack Russell/Sheltie mixes that are particularly drawn to the theme from Titanic,  "My Heart Will Go On" and Diana Ross' "Theme from Mahogany". She says, "Henley--the Celine fan, perks his ears up... sometimes lays on his side and closes his eyes. When Celine hums the last part of the song, he goes wild, and rolls around on the floor in happiness."
There are plenty of CDs available to play for your pets - here are just a few for dogs and cats. Some are collections of classical music that seem to particularly appeal to pets, and some are specifically composed for pets. Like humans, pets have their own tastes - some will love the music, others will ignore it. But for pets that seem to be truly calmed by a soothing melody, it's a nice thing to leave playing when they're home alone, or in a stressful situation.
From PetCentric | |
|
Dr. Jon Tips |
|
|
|
Tips for Teaching Your Dog to Love Frisbee
Some dogs love to fetch and play Frisbee. Teaching your dog to play with a Frisbee can be a great source of exercise and fun for you and your pet. And just about any healthy, active dog can learn to catch a Frisbee.
Since it is summer and a great time to be out with your dog, here are some tips on how to get YOUR dog into the sport.
Visit your veterinarian for a thorough check-up before you start, because canine Frisbee can be vigorous exercise for your dog. Let your dog warm up before any workout and always have fresh water on hand.
Practice on a grassy area and check for broken glass and holes first. Avoid asphalt, concrete and gravel, which can be hard on your dog's joints and paws.
Give lots of praise and never yell at your dog if he is unable to catch the Frisbee.
Keep training sessions short. You should stop before your dog gets bored so the experience is always fun.
Don't let your dog chew on the Frisbee.
How do you get started?  1. Get your dog comfortable with the Frisbee by using it as a food or water bowl. This technique works with puppies and adult dogs. It allows them to associate the disc with something positive. 2. Slowly substitute the Frisbee for another toy that your dog likes, adding to your dog's comfort level with the disc. 3. Start off by sliding the Frisbee back and forth on the ground in front of your dog while encouraging him to get the disc. Let him take it out of your hand. 4. Move on to rolling the Frisbee on the ground and encouraging your dog to chase it. After he has the Frisbee, don't pull it from him. Offer praise. 5. When your dog is interested in playing with the Frisbee, toss it and let him chase. Keep the tosses short so the Frisbee stays clearly visible as an attractive object to retrieve. 6. At this point, be careful not to throw the Frisbee directly at your dog, so he is not afraid of the disc. 7. Stand about three feet in front of your dog, gently toss the Frisbee in the air and say, "Catch." If he catches it, give him lots of praise. If he doesn't catch it, pick it up off the ground yourself. The catch should be the reward. 8. Stand to the right of your dog (if you are right-handed) and toss the Frisbee in front of you, the same short distance. This will teach the dog to move to the Frisbee instead of waiting for it to come to him. 9. Once your dog is comfortable catching short throws, make your tosses longer. 10. Get your dog used to retrieving the Frisbee by attaching a long leash to his collar. If he does not return the Frisbee to you, give the leash a gentle tug. 11. Do not ask your dog to leap until he has physically matured (1 or 2 years of age). Hold the disc above his head and say, "Jump" then let go when he grabs the disc.  Not only will you have a lot of fun out there with your dog, but you can also work on some very cool tricks.
Remember, a Frisbee is not a chew toy. Don't let your dog chew on the Frisbee.
Until next time,
Dr. Jon
| |
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
|
We are always looking for new ideas for our newsletter. If there is anything you would like to see, or have an article to submit. Please send to info@reliablepetsitter.com
|
|
|
|
 Bathing Your Cat by Kitty Angell
Bathing is an important part of the grooming process for some cats, but many are able to keep themselves quite clean and may never require bathing. For some, bathing keeps the coat clean, reduces parasite infections and can even make life easier on those who are allergic to cats.
For cats whose lives will include frequent baths, start bathing them when they are kittens, or as early in their lives as possible. This will help accustom your cat to the process and reduce fear and anxiety that frequently accompanies an older cat's first bath.
There are many methods recommended for bathing a cat. Some people bathe their cats with just warm water and a safe pet shampoo. Others recommend additional products to make the bath more effective. Here's how to give your cat the ultimate bath:
Items You May Need
To start, here's a list of items you may want to use, all of which are readily available or can be obtained through a groomer's supply catalog or your veterinarian's office:
· A warm room to work in, preferably with a door you can close
· A sink with running water or a basin and a water source
· Towels - for drying
· Plastic cups - to scoop water for rinsing
· A bucket
· Eye ointment - protects the eyes from soap
· Wetting agent - lets the water soak through the coat more quickly
· Medicated shampoo - keeps fleas away
· Regular pet shampoo - cleans coat
· Tearless baby shampoo - for the cat's head since eyes can be irritated by regular shampoo
· Conditioner - to make the coat easier to comb
· Vinegar - to cut through any remaining soap
· Degreaser - to degrease the coat
· Q-tips - to clean ears
· Otic solution - to clean the ears
· Grooming combs and brushes - to comb out fur before and after washing
· Blow dryer - to dry fur
And Now For the Bath
· Arrange all the necessary items around your sink or basin. Make sure the air temperature is comfortable.
· Brush the cat's coat thoroughly before the bath to brush out any undercoat.
· First, hold your cat firmly and apply eye ointment, which you can get from groomer catalogs. This keeps the soap from getting in your cat's sensitive eyes.
· Fill the sink with tepid water and, if possible, use around three capfuls of a wetting agent like Shaklee's Basic H, which is non-toxic. This substance reduces the surface tension of a liquid, therefore making it easier for the water to soak the coat.
· Hold the cat firmly with both hands and partly submerge her until the water is around her shoulders. Her fur should be soaked all the way down to the shaft and the hair should start to part. Speak gently to the cat as she may be agitated. Make sure to calm her as much as possible before continuing. It's important that she doesn't view this as an awful experience. If your cat becomes extremely anxious or terrified, do not continue. Towel dry her as best as possible and let her go. If your cat seems to tolerate this first part of bathing, continue to the next step.
· Drain the sink. Keep the cat in the basin and speak soothingly to her. Hold her firmly so you don't have a wet, irritated cat jumping out of the sink and taking off for the living room. Always maintain a firm hold on the cat and keep an eye on her in case she tried to make a break for it when she feels she's had enough.
· Start the shampooing using only a mild, tearless shampoo on the cat's head. Put a small amount on a wet washcloth and gently wash around the eyes, mouth, cheeks and forehead. Then rinse the cloth and go over the face to remove the soap. Do not get water in her ears and never pour water over her head.
· After you wash her head, if your cat has an extremely greasy coat, apply a de-greaser to the body. Fast Orange is a non-toxic de-greaser that can be found in supermarkets. Liberally spread it throughout the coat and then rinse. Don't use it on the head.
· Next, start shampooing the cat's body (the sink is still empty at this point). Ask your veterinarian or look through pet grooming catalogs to find a shampoo that fits your cat's coat description.
· Rinsing off the shampoo is extremely important. Fill the sink again with tepid water up to the cat's middle. You may want to remove the cat while filling the sink. Some cats can be quite frightened by nearby running water. Use a cup or dish hose to rinse off the shampoo with clear water. Stay away from the head and eyes. Repeat the rinsing process at least two or three times. If there is still residue, continue rinsing.
· If the cat's coat needs a conditioner, empty the water out, apply the conditioner and rinse it out as you did for the shampoo.
· Add a ½ cup of vinegar to two quarts water in a bucket. Scoop the water out with a cup and use it to rinse out the cat's coat. This will remove any traces of soap residue.
· Rinse one more time with tepid water and drain the sink.
· While the cat is still in the sink, clean the ears with a soft Q-tip dipped in otic solution, a non-toxic ear-cleaning agent.
· Next, blot her fur with a dry towel and take her out of the sink and place her on the floor or a counter top. Continue to towel dry her. A single-coated or dense shorthaired cat only needs a good towel-drying and can be placed in a warm bathroom until she is completely dry. A longer haired cat needs to be combed out and blown-dry.
· The longer the coat, the more important it is to brush out the fur. Use combs and brushes to gently comb out the fur. The conditioner you applied should make this process easier.
· Dryers are a matter of preference, but it is really useful for longhaired cats. Oster makes a table dryer that many breeders use. A Superduck Dryer is a little less costly and works well. You can buy these in various groomer catalogs.
· If you use a dryer, dry the upper body by blow-drying backward against the lay of the hair. Work along the sides, forward to the front legs and up the neck. Each section should be totally dry before moving on or the hair will curl. The tail, belly and back legs should be done last because cats tend to have a lower tolerance in these areas. This way, if there is going to be a disagreement, it will come at the end of the grooming session.
Voila! That fuzzy, greasy kitty is now a well-groomed lovely feline.
| |
|
