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The following is from North Shore Animal League's website and is information regarding Valentine's Day safety for your pets!

Valentine’s Day Safety

"Valentine’s Day is the most amorous day of the year – we treat our loved ones to extra affection and confections – and that also extends to our pets.

The experts at North Shore Animal League America would like to offer a few tips on how to keep pets safe from potential Valentine’s Day hazards.

Chocolate

The number one danger for pets on Valentine’s Day is chocolate since it’s so readily available. Depending on the amount ingested, chocolate is potentially poisonous to many animals. A good rule of thumb to remember is the less sweet the chocolate, the more toxic it could be. These particular chocolates contain theobromine, which is a substance similar to caffeine. Even in small, non-toxic doses, chocolate can still cause stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting, hyperactivity, dehydration and seizures.

Candy and Gum

Many sugar-free candy, gum and baked products today contain xylitol. Xylitol is a sweetener found in plants that is used as a sugar substitute and is highly toxic to dogs. Dogs ingesting significant amounts of gum or candies solely or largely sweetened with xylitol may develop a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures and even liver failure. Symptoms come on very quickly. If you suspect that your pet has ingested any amount of xylitol, call your veterinarian immediately.

Plants and Flowers

Many different varieties of flowers and plants are poisonous or harmful to pets. Different plants and flowers have varied effects. Some of the more popular varieties that may be found around Valentine’s Day are: Baby's Breath, Chrysanthemums, Daffodils, various Lilies, Ferns, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Impatiens, Lily-of-the-Valley, Rubber plants, and Tulips. Cats, especially, find grass-like plants irresistible and have access to just about everywhere. There are many more flowers and plants that can cause upset and even death to your pet, so please be aware to keep all varieties of flora and fauna away from them.

Pamper Your Pets This Valentine’s Day

This Valentine’s Day, make sure to pamper your pets so they don’t feel left out. An extra long walk or a good brushing are perfect choices. Non-edible treats such as a new bed, toy or catnip are safe ways to show just how special our pets are to us!"

Thanks for reading our blog!  This is information that we recieved from North Shore Animal League's website and can be found here

This weeks poll results!

We asked and you answered!  We polled our facebook fans to find the answers to two questions.  First we asked if your dog loves playing in the snow and our second question was what kind of food your pets eat?

Here are the results!!

We asked and you answered!

Top 25 Pet Names of 2011

Top 25 Pet Names of 2011

At the end of every year we are all bombarded list after list of top tens, twenty-fives, and one hundreds of that previous year.  So in the spirit of the year coming to an end Dan's Dog Walking and Pet Sitting presents the Top 25 Pet Names of 2011!!  The Banfield Pet Hospital compiled this list of the top 25 pet names from their database of 780 animal hospitals from across the country.  We want to know if your pet's name is on the list.  Let us know in a comment on the bottom!  We also want to know what is the weirdest pet named you have ever heard so if you can leave a comment on the bottom that would be awesome! Maybe if you are getting a puppy over the holiday season you can use this list to find a name for your new furry friend.

We will start with number 25 and work our way down to the number one pet name of 2011!

25.  Ginger

24. Jake

23. Sasha

22. Bear

21. Toby

20. Harley

19. Lola

18. Jack

17. Roxy
 

16. Lucky

15. Sophie

14. Princess

 13. Sadie

12. Maggie

11. Chloe

And now the TOP 10!!

10. Rocky

9. Charlie

8. Coco

7. Molly

6. Lucy

TOP 5 PET NAMES OF 2011!

5. Bailey

4. Daisy

3. Buddy

2. Max

THE NUMBER ONE PET NAME OF 2011 IS....

Bella

Don't forget to tell us if your dog's name made the list!  We also want to know the weirdest pet names you have heard!  Leave a comment at the bottom.

The Importance of Grooming Your Pet

The Importance of Grooming Your Pets

 One question that is often asked in the pet care industry is Do I really need to get my dog groomed? and also we are often asked How often can I bathe my dog?  This blog posting should help to answer some of these age old questions.

             

 Different Reasons for Grooming Your Pet

Matting

All long haired pets should be brushed ideally once daily, ranging from whether you have a Shih-Tzu or a Labrador Retriever. It is easy to forget to brush a shih-tzu with their long luxurious coat, however, if not taken care of properly, they start to develop knots known as “mats” close to their skin that are hard, if not impossible, to brush out. Most of the time you can’t see these mats in the beginning, and that’s just it, because it is the beginning. Once these mats get closer and tighter to the skin, it allows for less air to get to the skin. This may have a number of consequences. The first is pain, having a knot of hair pulling your skin is NOT comfortable. 

 Even Golden Retrievers can get mats behind their ears or in their “feathers” (the long hair on their legs and under their belly). If not brushed through, the mats may cause skin infections, fungal infections, sores, hotspots, and so much more. When a coat is matted it is also more difficult for the animal to regulate its body temperature. Dogs do not sweat like humans do. They sweat through the pads of their feet, but mainly maintain their body temperature through panting. If there is not enough circulation on a pets skin, this can also cause them to over heat. Also when matted, it is not easy to see when a flea or a tick is on your pet. You can’t imagine the infestations that have been seen under a fully matted dog of fleas because they were not visable. If a pet is overwhelmed with a flea infestation, not only is it extremely uncomfortable, but potentially deadly. The fleas can suck so much blood out of your pet causing it to become anemic. Please remember that cats with medium to long hair also need daily brushings. They do groom themselves but sometimes not enough and/or they can’t reach certain spots like their back. Also by brushing them, you lessen the chances of them getting hairballs stuck in their gastrointestinal tract which can cause vomiting and/or constipation. Not only does brushing them make them feel good and comfortable, but it also helps to prevent the excess shed of hair around your home!

EVERYBODY SHEDS!            

No matter what anybody says, ALL PETS SHED, some more than others and some much more noticeable than others. Contrary to what a lot pet owners think, short haired dogs and cats need basic grooming as well. 

The furminator is a great brush for removing all of that excess fur on your pet!

How can you prevent matting?

Daily Brushing

Brushing your pug with the proper brush daily (or even every other day) SIGNIFICANTLY reduces the amount of hair that is left on your furniture, as well as it is enjoyable for your pet. GET YOUR PET USED TO BEING BRUSHED AS A PUPPY. A brush, whether for their coat or for their teeth should NOT scare your animal, make it a positive experience! The same thing goes for their feet. When you first get your pet, play with his or her ears and feet so that when it comes to cleaning their ears or trimming their toenails they are NOT as sensitive to it. Each pets nails grow at a different rate just like humans. Some dogs nails need to be cut once every 3 months, while others need to be cut every two weeks. 

How can I keep the nails short?

Walking on pavement

Walking them every day on pavement helps to also grind their nails down. If their nails get too long and/or overgrown it makes it VERY difficult to walk and get a grasp on whatever floor they are on. It is also painful! Sometimes unnoticed, if you haven’t cut your cats nails in some time, they may even grow and curl under AND INTO their foot pads! THAT is NOT comfortable and may cause more serious problems.

Don't bathe your dog more than once every three weeks unless otherwise told by your vet.

         

Each pet has its own needs. Some may need to be bathed once every two weeks for a medicated bath due to dry skin or a fungal infection, or some need to be bathed every few months because over bathing can also dry out their skin and coat. 

The activities they participate in are also a factor in grooming. If your loveable lab likes to go swimming with you in the summer, after swimming you should rinse off your dog to get rid of the chlorine from his coat and skin which can potentially irritate the skin if left on. Another important thing is that if you rinse your dog off after a swim or bathe them at home, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CLEAN THEIR EARS AS WELL AFTERWARDS. One of the most common cause of ear infections is left over water in a pets ear canal! Their ear canals have a curvature in them, so if you take a piece of cotton with some ear cleaner gotten by your local veterinarian or pet store, wrap the cotton around your pointer finger and wipe out what is left in the ears, that will prevent ear infections and many more things if done after every bath/rinse off/and/or weekly. 

Thank you for following our blog and stay tuned for more pet care info from Dan's Dog Walking and Pet Sitting!

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away!!

Here are a few tips that we got from our friends over at Pet Sitters International that will help you keep your thanksgiving pet friendly. 

"1. Keep Medications out of Paw's Reach

 One of the most common pet-related holiday emergencies is the consumption of human pharmaceuticals. If company’s coming, be sure that all guests safely store their medicine.

 2.  Knock, Knock. Who’s there?

People will be entering and exiting the home and many of them may be strangers to your pets. Some pets will sneak out through an open door. Searching for a runaway pet or caring for an injured pet will put a damper on holiday festivities. So be careful with opening and closing doors. To minimize the risk, keep your pets in another room and away from guest traffic.

3.   Stranger Danger! 

Pets that get scared from all of the hustle and hubbub of the holidays may bite or scratch, especially if a stranger tries to pet them or pick them up. Pets that are normally friendly and socialized have been known to become aggressive during the holiday commotion. Pet owners should know what to do if their pets bite someone and should also know how to protect themselves – and their guests – from getting scratched or bitten.

4.  Watch What Fido and Fluffy Eat. 

Items such a rich, fatty scraps, bones from pork and poultry, alcoholic beverages and chocolate are all toxic to pets. It’s also important to keep all paws away from:

• Bread dough. When bread dough is ingested it continues to rise, causing an intestinal blockage.
• Xylitol. This sugar substitute causes a dog’s blood sugar to drop quickly. Xylitol poisoning can be treated, but causes liver failure if not treated properly. "

Be sure to follow these tips to ensure that you and your pets have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

And remember for all of your holiday pet care needs don't forget to call Dan's Dog Walking and Pet Sitting at 516 551 1613 or check us out online at www.danspetcare.com


The information on this post was taken from the PSI website and can be found at http://www.petsit.com/pet-friendly-thanksgiving