Pillow Talk With Your Pet

February 2016

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February is Pet Dental Month

An easy way to keep your pet healthy and happy is to take care of their teeth!

Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition in cats and dogs and can lead to other health problems.

Regular brushing and food and water additives can all help your pet avoid dental problems.

By Age 3, 80% of dogs will have some type of tooth or gum disease!

By Age 3, 70% of cats will have some type of tooth or gum disease!

Anesthesia -free dental care is actually not very safe for your pet.

Is Your Cat a Reluctant Cuddler?

Let's face it: if you're a cat lover, you probably crave the cuddles from your pet.

Just like people, some cats are more eager for snuggles than others. If your cat is stand-offish instead of on-lappish, here are some tips to encourage canoodling.

Discover your cat's sweet spots and avoid petting areas that seems to agitate her.

Start slow and increase petting sessions gradually.

Let them take the lead. If your cat wants to hop down, don't restrain them.

Reward with treats and praise, and be generous with both during your snuggle sesh.

Always leave them wanting more. Try ending the session before your cat is ready.

For a more detailed "kitty-sutra," click here or here

Can We Talk??

Sometimes dogs' faces are so expressive it's hard to imagine they can't really talk. But have you ever wondered how much your dog can understand?

Some dogs have been proven to have extensive vocabularies. But most pooches can only manage a few key phrases, so that's the most the average owner needs to

communicate with their pet.

In fact, studies have shown that tone and inflection communicate just as much to dogs as the words that we use.

But, as any dog lover knows, whether they can talk back is besides the point, because they're always such good listeners.

Sitter Profile: Genevieve A

What is it about pet professionals that they wind up having their own mini-menageries? Pet Maven sitter Genevieve A. is an great example of how a deep love of animals can lead to a home full of pets!

Genevieve has 5 pets, all either adopted from vet facilities where she worked or rescued from the street! Her kids include a 13-year-old dapple Dachshund named Dexter; a 10-year-old kitty named Pee Wee (pictured); a surrendered Pit Bull, age 9, named Sarah; a friendly stray tuxedo cat, Ronnie Vanucci Jr, age 6, who fell in love with Sarah during a walk and so they brought him home; and finally, a 14-year-old cockatiel named Elvis who is happy to roam around on the floor with the rest of the gang.

Genevieve always knew she wanted to work with animals, and it was through her volunteer work with animals and working in vet offices that she realized she wanted to be a vet tech. She loves working as a sitter in particular because of how happily the kitties greet her when she arrives.

When she's not working with animals, Genevieve enjoys art and crafting. She draws, paints, and makes jewelry with copper wire and beads. She has also turned her creativity to making cat toys, which she tests on her clients' kitties as well as her own.