Affordable Pet Sitting

The Laundered Mutt

About a week ago, we took our beautiful (dirty, but beautiful) Golden Retriever, Dexter for a special treat. Well, we knew it was going to be a special treat for us, but Dexter we weren't so sure about. You see, we went to visit Cat and Mike over at The Laundered Mutt in Temecula.

The Laundered Mutt is a full service dog wash. It is set up with waist high tubs so you can wash your dog without putting a strain on your back. They provide everything you need...brushes, combs, shampoos, conditioners, the works... all you bring is the dirty dog. Cat and Mike will be there to assist you and teach you about how to groom the proper way and how to wash your dog so he gets the best cleaning possible. They are also there to make sure you get your dog safely in and out of the tub. Little dogs are not really an issue but we saw some pretty big dogs there the day we went. There was a Mastiff there that would have had to go to a car wash if it weren't for Cat and Mike and The Laundered Mutt.

If you don't feel up to washing your own dog, you can drop he or she off and they can spend the day with Cat and Mike getting bathed, groomed and pampered just like a day at the spa. They even have a high speed blow dryer so you can make sure your dog goes home dry.

The Laundered Mutt is much more than a place to go bathe your dog. It is also a Training Center. They offer many different levels of training for your dog depending upon your needs. Cat is a certified pet dog trainer. You can attend one of her many classes with your dog or you can have your dog boarded and trained.

There are also low cost clinics offered for vaccinations every 2nd Saturday of the month. Services are provided by Mesa Mobile Vet Clinic. Please check The Laundered Mutt website for all services and prices.

Know that you are in good hands with Cat and Mike!

And Dexter had a great time!! He even received a blueberry facial!

 

The Summer Heat and your Dog

While many of us look forward to summer so we can swim in the pool and play outside for many hours, it may not be as wonderful for your dogs. There are many things that we must think about ahead of time when taking your dog out during summer months.

 
You must make sure that your beloved Fido is well hydrated. Pets cannot last as long as we do without water. Do not allow your pet to get overheated while outside walking or playing. Take time to rest in the shade during your summer walks in the park, it will do you both good. Remember to check the temperature of the pavement before your walk as it may be too hot for tender paws. Since we are wearing shoes, we might forget about this!

Know the symptoms of heat stroke. These may include excessive panting, drooling, sluggishness and being unresponsive. Some dogs may also get disoriented and this will effect their normal loving demeanor. Dogs have been known to bite while suffering heat stroke and or shock of any kind.

Dogs with thick coats or health problems should remain indoors with the air conditioning. If you are away on vacation and we are pet sitting for you we will request that you leave the air on for your pets, as well as leaving extra water out for them.

If your dog is used to going in the car with you while running daily errands, you may want to re-think this during excessive heat. You never know what might happen that will cause you to leave Fido in the car for "just a second", only to have that second turn into too many seconds due to something beyond your control.

Keep your pets safe and cool this summer. Call a pet sitter to stop by and check your dog during the day if you have to be gone an extra long time!

Holiday Pet Safety Tips

The holiday season is a time of celebration with friends and family...furry, four-legged ones included. But colder weather, decorations and parties can create safety hazards for pets. Make sure your holidays stay festive with these simple tips to keep your pet healthy and safe.

Keep holiday decorations out of reach! Ingestion of glass, metal, ribbons or tinsel can lead to serious medical emergencies for pets. Also, snow globes and artificial snow contain chemicals that can be harmful if ingested or inhaled.

Place holiday plants high off the ground! Pretty as they are, ivy, holly, mistletoe, poinsettia, lilies and other Christmas greens can all be toxic to animals if ingested. Also, do not allow pets to drink Christmas tree water as it can be harmful too.

Keep a watchful eye on pets! Everyone loves a party, but sometimes the hustle and bustle can frighten animals and cause them to run away. Designate a quiet, secure "pet room" away from the crowd. Just in case, make sure your pet is wearing a collar with current ID tags.

No table scraps!! Fatty holiday meats can cause a number of gastrointestinal problems while bones can cause bowel obstructions or choking. And remember: no chocolate for pets!! Chocolate contains a chemical that is highly toxic to pets.

Cold weather hazards! De-icing products, salt and ice can get into fur and paws, causing skin irritation or more serious conditions. Thoroughly wipe your pet's paws and tummy when he comes in from the cold. Take care to wipe up any spilled antifreeze as dogs and cats like the sweet taste. Better yet, use pet friendly antifreeze products.

Has your pet ever gone missing?

Here are a few quick tips to help you find your pet if you ever find yourself in this predicament:

If your pet is lost:

• Search the area.

• Talk to the neighbors and passersby

• Walk or drive through the area several times daily. Early morning and evening are the best times to look for a lost pet.

• Hand out a recent photograph of your pet and information on how you can be reached.

• Post signs in the neighborhood with your pet's description, a photo, your phone number and information about ID tags.

• Put signs in grocery stores, community centers, veterinary offices and other high traffic locations.

• Place advertisements in newspapers and with radio stations. Include your pet's sex, age, weight, breed, color and special markings.

• The Internet may be helpful in tracking down a lost pet, although its search is wide and random.

• Here's something that can really help get your pet back home to you. The IDTag.com Pet ID Tag ... it's like an "Amber Alert" for pets. If your pet is lost, they will immediately notify humane societies and shelters within a 50-mile radius, and post a missing pet alert to websites that help find lost pets. This is one of the best pet protection programs I've ever seen.

Prevent your dog from ever getting lost!

• Don't leave your dog outside when you're gone for long periods of time.

• If you are gone for a long time, leave your dog with a responsible person or get a pet sitter.

• Jot down the numbers from your pet's rabies tag, write your phone number on his tag, and take a good photo of your pet.

• Consider having a computer microchip implanted under your pet's skin. Shelters and veterinary hospitals use microchips to identify lost animals and reunite them with their owners.

• And don't forget to check out that Pet ID Tag!

This advice is from Dr. Jon's Dog Crazy Newsletter at PetPlace.com

You gotta meet Molly!

Meet Molly.  She's a grey speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when Hurricane
Katrina hit southern Louisiana .  She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken
to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled.

While there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier and almost died.  Her gnawed right front leg became
infected, and her vet went to LSU for help, but LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes. But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he changed his mind.  He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to handle her.  She protected her injured leg. She constantly shifted her weight and didn't overload her good leg.  She was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic.

Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee,and a temporary artificial limb was built.  Molly
walked out of the clinic and her story really begins there.

'This was the right horse and the right owner,' Moore insists.  Molly happened to be a
one-in-a-million patient.  She's tough as nails, but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain.
She made it obvious she understood that she was in trouble.  The other important factor, according
to Moore , is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse.

Molly's story turns into a parable for life in post-Katrina Louisiana . The little pony gained weight, and her mane finally felt a comb.  A human prosthesis designer built her a leg. The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports.

She asks for it.  She will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants
you to put it on.  Sometimes she wants you to take it off too.   And sometimes, Molly gets away from
Barca.  'It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse,' she laughs.

Most important of all, Molly has a job now.  Kay,the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to
shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers.  Anywhere she thought that people needed hope.  Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck.  She inspired people, and she had a good time doing it.

'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to play in life, Moore said.  'She survived the hurricane, she survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving hope to others.'

Barca concluded, 'She's not back to normal,  but she's going to be better.  To me, she could be a symbol for New Orleans itself.'

This is Molly's most recent prosthesis  The photo shows the ground surface that she stands on, 
which has a smiley face embossed in it.  Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind.

Poisonous Plants

  Gardening season is upon us once again so I thought I would take this opportunity to remind you that backyard plants can be dangerous to our four-legged loved ones.
Here are 10 of the most poisonous plants that you should keep out of your backyard for the safety of your pets:

1. azalea/rhododendron
2. castor bean
3. cyclamen
4. kalanchoe
5. lilies
6. marijuana
7. oleander
8. sago palm
9. tulip/narcissus bulbs
10. yew

For the entire list visit the ASPCA website at www.aspca.org
There is also an Animal Poison Control Center that can answer any questions you have about plants that are toxic to your pets. You may want to keep their number handy....(888) 426-4435

Doggie Blood Bank

Did you know that dogs and cats can donate blood too? Many surgeries and veterinary procedures require blood transfusions just like for humans. To find out more about this, go to Fox News and read about JJ and Logan and how they have helped to save lives.

Various blood banks across the country allow for blood to be donated and stored and some clinics even host blood drives. For more information on this and how you can help go to U.S. News and World Report