Announcement

Anyone planning vacations around August, or anyone using my daily services. I’m in the process of finding someone reliable who is willing to take over for me while I’m on maternity leave. I’ll be out for 6 weeks in August (I’ll probably have a scheduled c-section around August 2). I will definitely find someone well qualified and trustworthy to take over for me, and if you would like to meet whoever I chose, just let me know and I’ll arrange something! Just wait for me to announce my replacement because I can’t introduce you to someone who doesn’t exist yet. Thanks for understanding!

Phone number changed!

I know I just changed my website on everyone, but this phone number change wasn’t optional!  My phone has been ran over somewhere in Jackson, so I had to get a new one. The new number is (228)273-9759.

Sorry for any inconvenience!!

Halloween and Your Pets!

This is such a fun time of year. I love being able to dress my dogs up without people thinking I’m strange.  Time to pass out candy to kids in cute costumes, time to snack on the candy ourselves!!  But just be careful with all that candy floating around, you KNOW your pooch will want some of it!

While this time of year is a great excuse for us to indulge in lots of chocolate, chocolate can be VERY toxic, and even deadly for our dogs. Any amount of chocolate is not good for dogs, and you should consult your veterinarian as soon as you discover that Fido hit your stash.  But be ESPECIALLY wary of large amounts of chocolate, and especially dark chocolate, which can cause damage to the heart, central nervous system, and kidneys. Early signs of poisoning are nausea, vomiting, restlessness, diarrhea, muscle tremors, increased urination, and incontinence.

Also be especially concerned for your pets that are a bit more fearful than others.  If they don’t like strangers, or if you think they may be frightened of the ghosts and vampires roaming the neighborhood, consider passing out candy from your porch or drive way while keeping Fluffy inside the house.
Most of all this Halloween, have FUN with your pets! If they enjoy being dressed up, find a costume contest or pet friendly party. (Like the open house at The Pet Clinic, and their costume contest. Check out my Calendar of Events link in my sidebar!)

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Products and Resources Every Pet Owner Should Know About

Pet Health Products:

Heartgard Plus – My favorite heartworm prevention!  Monthly beef chewable tablet that prevents not only heartworms, but hookworms and roundworms as well.

Frontline Plus – Excellent flea & tick control product.

Comfortis – My new favorite flea product!! Doesn’t do ticks, but works GREAT. Chewable tablet.  This one is a prescription, so be sure to talk to your vet.

Advantage Multi – I’m not a huge fan of topical heartworm preventions for dogs, but I LOVE this product for cats.  Does heartworms, fleas, ear mites, and more.

Revolution – Another topical I love for cats, not so much for dogs.

Optima 365 – Reduces shedding by 71%

Dasuquin – Joint supplement

Missing Link Plus – Great nutritional supplement.  Good for the skin, plus it has glucosamine for joints!

Other Links & Resources:

CareCredit – Easier to get than a credit card, and accepted not only by some vets, but by some people doctors, too!  Accepted at Gulf Coast Veterinary Emergency Hospital and at the Louisiana Veterinary Referral Center in Louisiana.  Very handy to have on hand in case of emergency!

PetFinder – Adopt a shelter pet

Be Careful When Using Online Pet Pharmacies

Just a quick note to help educate pet owners on online pet pharmacies. Companies such as Merial (makers of Heartgard, and Frontline Products), Novartis (Sentinel, Interceptor), and many other pet drug manufacturers DO NOT sell their products to online pharmacies.  Most online pharmacies either buy their products from veterinarians trying to earn huge bucks by breaking the law, or from overseas.  When you buy your pets’ products online, you DO NOT recieve any guarantees that would come with the product if you had bought it from your veterinarian.   Call the drug companies yourself and ask if you like!

Merial: 1-888-MERIAL-1

Novartis: 1-800-637-0281

Article from the FDA on online pet pharmacies.

Products and Resources Every Pet Owner Should Know About

Heartgard – In my opinion, best heartworm prevention out there!  Beef flavored chewable.  Prevents heartworms, hookworms, and roundworms.

Frontline Plus – Great flea and tick control!  Water proof, but you have to be sure to bathe in a soapless shampoo.

Comfortis – New chewable flea PILL. It doesn’t do ticks, and it is a prescriptions, but it is AMAZING.  Kills all fleas within 20 minutes and lasts the entire month.  Be sure to speak with your veterinarian before trying this product.  Is not to be used in dogs on high doses of Ivermectin.  (The small dose in Heartgard is safe.)

Microchip – I’m a fan of HomeAgain microchips, although there are many other companies out there.  With HomeAgain, when you report your pet missing, the send fliers to local veterinarians, shelters, and pet rescuers (you can sign up to be one!). Also, if your pet is injured while it is missing, they offer lost pet insurance through Pet First.

Care Credit – Not just for people!!  More and more veterinarians are accepting Care Credit.  It is easier to get than a regular credit card and can be used for ANYTHING at your participating vet’s office, as well as human doctors’ offices!  Great to have on hand in case of emergency.

New blog!

So in attempt to completely rid my business of its old name, I started a new blog. You can still visit the other one to refer to old posts at http://www.amandspetsitting.wordpress.com

Thanks!

New website!

I’ve moved my website to www.mandispetcare.com !!

So now I OFFICIALLY can’t be confused with Amanda’s Pet Sitting.  Give it a little while to have my old domain transfered, and then it will point to the new site, so if for some reason the site is messing up, please email me and mandispetcare@gmail.com to let me know.  Thanks!!

Check out my new Calendar of Events page!

Fun things going on in the community. If you have anything to add, let me know!

Calendar of Events

Grapes and Raisins are Toxic for Dogs

I, personally, have know for a little while that raisins and grapes are bad for dogs. But I’ve never known just HOW bad until this weekend after my 7 pound Dachshund ate two boxes.  Just a few grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure, and they have been known to be fatal.

I felt stupid at first for not knowing, seeing my life revolves around dogs, but when I brought my dog in to work with me, the veterinarian didn’t even know that raisins and grapes were really THAT bad.

It can take up to 3 days after ingestion for kidney failure to start, so we’ve had my guy on fluids and checking his blood twice a day. So far, so good. If everything looks good tomorrow, he’s in the clear. So far, the only symptoms he’s had are the vomiting on Sunday (a lot of it), vomited once last night, and drinking a lot of water.

Other symptoms would be hyperactivity shortly after consumption, later they would be lethargic, won’t eat, vomiting, diarrhea, drinking a lot of water, then trouble urinating as the kidneys start shutting down.

I’m trying to be optomistic, I can’t lose two dogs in one month.  Bama, my Cocker Spaniel, was hit by a car a couple weeks ago, and we had to put him down.

For more information, I found a really great article from the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control called The Wrath of Grapes.  Their Animal Poison Control site also has a lot of great information on other common foods, plants, and household items that are dangerous for pets along with a lot more helpful information regarding pets and toxins.

The Animal Poison Control Center is your best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, make the call that can make all the difference: 1-888-426-4435. A $60 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.  If you are a member of the new HomeAgain Microchip Program, you can call 1-888-HOMEAGAIN to speak with the Animal Poison Control Center for free.