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Thanksgiving Scraps and Your Pet‏

As Thanksgiving fast approaches family visits and meal plans are being laid out all across America! Most family meals for Thanksgiving are composed of “traditional fair” and can be found in almost any home. During a time of celebration and goodwill it’s easy to want to share your good spirits and fortune with your pet too. Just what is a treat or a toxin for your pet amongst those leftovers though? Let us break it down for you!

What to share and what to spare this Thanksgiving!

Are These Thanksgiving Treats Pet Safe?

  • Turkey – Turkey is a great holiday treat for your pet! Just remember to be smart about it. If your pet is watching their waistline be sure to stick to light meat instead of dark. For safety be sure to remove any bones too. They can be a choking hazard or get lodged in a pet’s GI tract.
  • Stuffing – Skip the stuffing when it comes time for pet treats. Most all stuffing (even the boxed mix) will contain garlic and/or onions which aren’t good for pets. Most recipes also contain lots of butter and fats.
  • Green Bean Casserole – Absolutely not! For many of the same reasons with the stuffing – the onions and fats. If your pet is hanging around the kitchen while your cooking though, feel free to toss them a green bean or two though!
  • Pumpkin Pie – Not the best option for a pet treat. Sugar is never good for a pet. If you just can’t stand the idea of your pet going without a dessert, consider a very small amount of cool whip – or make your own pet treats!
  • Cranberry Sauce – Skip it, especially if it has other ingredients mixed in like raisins or nuts – both of which are harmful to pets.
  • Mashed Potatoes with Gravy– If it’s just plain mashed potatoes with a simple pan gravy then it’s just a matter of fats and your pet’s waistline. If your family likes to toss in chives, garlic, or onions though, keep it above the table top!
  • Dinner Roles – Feel free to toss unbuttered rolls to your pet! If your recipe contains sugar though, keep it to a minimum!
  • Sweet Potatoes – Plain sweet potatoes can be a great treat for your pet! Some people even like to dehydrate them as pet treats! If you’re making them candied or into a casserole with marshmallows, sugar, or nuts, avoid this entirely! Though fully expect them to give you “the eyes”.
  • Deviled Eggs – Eggs are generally fine for pets. In fact some pet owners like to mix egg into pet food one a week to increase coat shine. The many additions that can go into deviled eggs may cause belly upset though. Use your knowledge of your pet’s eating habits and your recipe to determine if one would be okay!

Before the hubbub of the feast try to let guests know (especially children) if they share with your pet. If keeping an eye on everything is too much for you consider confining your pet to a separate room during meal time. This will allow you to be the one to divvy out treats during clean up so you know exactly what your pets getting into!

photo credit: All for me via photopin (license)

Halloween Safety Tips For Your Pet

No matter what your plans are for Halloween this year, it’s time to start thinking about pet safety! Whether you throw yourself wholeheartedly into the holiday or try to avoid it all together, there are important safety considerations to make!

Halloween and your pet!

Halloween Saftey Tips

  • Pet costumes – Few pet owners can resist the urge to dress their pet up! Just because it looks cute doesn’t mean it’s safe. Keep some basic things in mind while picking a Halloween costume for them: does it have small pieces that may prove to be choking hazards? does it fit too tight causing restriction or too loose posing a tripping hazard? does it inhibit their eyesight or ability to breath? Keep the costumes cute and safe!
  • Be mindful of Trick-or-Treaters – If you’re staying in but plan on handing out candy this Halloween make sure your pet is secure. If you have an indoor pet be sure to keep them confined away from the door that you will be opening frequently to strangers. This will keep them from running out or acting aggressively toward the children. If your pet is outdoors, try to secure them away from the hustle and bustle at your front door. Unsecured pets may be prone to follow children and get lost or act protectively of your property.
  • Watch decorations and candles – Halloween decorations can often be a choking or electrocution hazard for your pets. Be mindful in how you decorate and try not to leave your pet unattended around a jack-o-lantern with candles!
  • Watch for abandoned candy – In the days prior to Halloween keep an extra close eye on your pet while out for walks or in a park. Children will often drop sweets that, if consumed, could be fatal for your pet. Be sure to mention this concern to your dog walker or pet nanny too!

photo credit: Happy Halloween! via photopin (license)

Water Fun & Safety With Your Pet

Memorial Day is fast approaching and for many Americans that means time spent near the water either at the lake, canoeing the river or another family friendly activity. As summer nears weekends of swimming, fishing, and boating become more regular for many. That also means more dogs are being taken along for family fun. Are you and your pet prepared? New environments mean new rules for pets and you shouldn’t rush out with a dog in tow to hit the beach without being prepared! Here are some important things to consider!

  • Does your dog even like the water? –  Pets, like people, all have individual personalities and some may not care for the water. Make sure you know how your dog feels before you drag him for a day at the lake!
  • Do they know how to swim? – While dogs may have a style of swimming named after their technique, not all pets are strong swimmers. If you have any doubts and plan to take your pet out on a boat or canoe, look into a life jacket for your pet!

Taking your dog to the water!

  • Be considerate of others – Keep your dog on a leash until you are in a relatively remote area and know that your pet obeys your commands when given. Some dogs have a natural instinct to save “drowning” people and may mistake a playful swimmer for a human in distress. Other pets may just be overly friendly. Not everyone is a fan of dogs and may not like being approached. As in any public setting, keep your pets interactions limited to you and your family.
  • Be mindful of doggie “business” – Keep the shore and water free of dog droppings.
  • Be VERY careful taking dogs out in motorized or speed boats! – Make sure they are properly kept on a short leash while in a boat, not capable of jumping over the side. If your pet is scared of loud noises then a motor boat may not be for them.
  • Be prepared for an emergency – Know what to do if your dog gets in over his head. These tips will help guide you through what to do in the event of a drowning. Knowing basic pet first aid could mean everything! To prevent an emergency, try to keep your dog close and always in an area where you can get to it quickly if needed. Stay clear of areas where boats and jet skis are in use too!
  • Be prepared for the ride home! – If you take your dog out much, your probably already know this. Just in case though, be sure you are prepared to be returning home with a wet pet and you have proper seat covers to protect your vehicle! Pack a towel for your dog and do your best to towel them off before hand!

Can’t take your pet with you for a day on the water? Make sure to have a pet sitter or friend check in on them throughout the day to ensure their needs are met and they aren’t too lonely!

photo credit: Beaches_0705 via photopin (license)

Gifts For Your Pet – A Holiday Guide – Pet Nanny

As the Holiday shopping season rambles on many pet parents are out there searching for last minute gifts to adorn their pet, cozy pet beds, toys and treats! As the pet sized elf hats and holiday sweaters sell out consider these gift options to make your pet’s Christmas a treat! As an added bonus the purchase of these gifts do good on a bigger scale than  your living room on Christmas morning!

Pet Gifts That Give

  • BarkBox – A subscription to this service not only ensures that you and your pet get a monthly box of goodies throughout the year to come, but a portion of the proceeds go toward helping with spay and neuter programs as well as  military dog organizations.
  • Under the Olive Tree Oil – When mixed with your pets food this oil can ensure a healthy coat. It can also help with skin allergies and boost immunity. Think of it as a doggie cosmetic! 10% of their proceeds go to local animal charities in Virginia.
  • Luv-a-Pet Holiday BlanketThis blanket is great for snuggling up with your kitty, keeping a puppy warm or letting a bunny nest around in. Plus PetSmart charities gets 10% of each purchase!
  • DJ Cat Scratching Pad – This awesome kitty toy is offered through ASPCA’s online store and proceeds from it go toward preventing animal abuse across the nation. Not only a blast for your house cats, but a unique idea!

Want to help animals with every gift you buy this year? Download the iGive app and anytime you spend money at one of the over 1500 participating businesses a portion of your purchase goes to your charity of choice, at no extra cost to you!

Also, if you’re giving a pet this year instead of buying for one, don’t forget to shop your local animal shelters first! Give a pet a second chance at a loving home is just about the best way you can give back to the animal world!

Submit Photos of your Festive Pet to Huffington Post

There’s something about looking at photos of pets that bring a smile to our face, or at least mine it does. If you’re in a bad mood or didn’t have a great day, these are sure to lift your spirits and put you in a better and encouraging mood. You can also submit photos of your pet to be featured via goodnews@huffingtonpost.com. Check out a few of the submitted photos below:

 

Hope you’re all having a great and blessed holiday, enjoying time whether it be with friends, family or alone. We at Pet Nanny Main Line wish you all the best!

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/26/festive-animals_n_4503650.html

Read these Tips For Traveling with Pets During the Holidays

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to try and get things scheduled and planned as fast and easiest as possible. If you plan to include your pet(s) in your travels, it’s best to acknowledge their comfort and safety for their and your benefit. In my family, we travel with our pets, and during these cold months, we have to leave the windows down on our truck for our German Shepherd, Lucy, who’s loving the cold weather while looking at the pretty scenery and watching the traffic drive by too. We, on the other hand, are bundled up in several layers of clothing because we love our girl!

While you may not have or want to travel this way, there are several helpful tips and suggestions  to consider while traveling with your pet, whether it be by plane or car. Read on:

Traveling with Dogs:

  • Secure your dog in the backseat with a seat-belt, crate or open area, and DO NOT let them roam about, as that is a hazard to passengers and driver. 
  • Keep blankets or dog beds on the floor to keep pets comfortable.
  • You can even have a dog gate built specifically for your dog to defer them from running freely throughout the vehicle.

Traveling with Cats:

  • Cats HATE traveling, and I speak from experience. They’re more comfortable in their usual home, in their same comfortable spot on the couch, lounge area, etc. 
  • If your cat likes to travel, or your pet has to travel with you during this holiday season, keep your cat in an animal carrier, secured with a seat-belt that’s placed around the carrier’s front.

By plane:

  • Make sure the plane accommodates pets.
  • Check to see what the weight limits are.
  • Bring less food and water because you can get more and what you need at your destination.

Never:

  • Let your cat or dog ride shotgun. It’s dangerous and can cause harm to your pet.
  • Let them stick their head out of the window; this is common among many pet owners and see this happen often, and have been guilty of this myself, but am more conscious now.
  • Sticking their head out the window can be very harmful because of flying debris, and other hazards.

Are you planning to travel with your pets this year, or have you traveled with your pets every year, and you have some helpful tips to share with our readers. Let us know!

Source: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/tips-for-traveling-with-pets-around-the-holidays/

The Gift-Giving Guide For Your Pet Nanny

Over at our sister site, Pet Watchman, we provided a brief gift-giving guide of ideas to give to your pet sitter(s) this Christmas. On Pet Nanny’s site, we have provided a gift guide also for your Pet Nanny, which will be similar to ideas from the other site, but with a little kick to add some variety. We hope you will feel inspired by our ideas and that they give you some creativity for gift ideas for all the Pet Lovers on your list.

Is your pet nanny a lover of all things crafts, along with simple and frugal living? If so, we have just the right item for them.

FOLK Lifestyle, a magazine dedicated to “presenting a fresh and youthful interpretation of simple country lifestyles, while focusing on the stories that make America our collective home sweet home. This down to Earth magazine fills a unique niche in the shelter publication landscape: content is part lifestyle, part editorial, all heart,” is offering $5.00 subscriptions for an entire year for a limited time only. Head over to www.folklifestyle.com to find out what they’re all about. If you like what you see, go to http://www.folklifestyle.com/2012/12/5-00-subscriptions-bens-birthday.html, and get the $5.00 subscription offer. Hurry!

Or even better, a gift basket filled with items for their home, such as candles, magnet, small frame(s), and one or two magazines, such as Martha Stewart Living or Better Homes and Gardens, etc. would be a nice and thoughtful touch.

Assuming your Pet Nanny is as equal a pet lover, a pet gift basket would be ideal for them, especially if they’re a pet owner themselves. Suggestions would be a gift card for any amount to PetSmart, with several dog bones, such as Greenies, or Pet Holiday Great Choice Rawhide 6 Munchy Gingerbread Girl treats to keep with the festive spirit. The ideas for a gift basket are endless!

With the addition of our new product and boutique store, Happy & Healthy Pet Boutique, we have canine and feline supplements, remedies, treats, chews, gear and apparel, along with a variety of dog breed gifts and collectibles. We have so many great things, that you can’t go wrong with any purchase there! Visit www.petnannymainline.com/store to check out our product inventory.

A few sites for several great finds for gift-giving to your sitter:

CafePress– T-shirts, collectibles and other items.

http://www.cafepress.com/+a-pet-nanny-plus+gifts

Pampered Paw Gifts– sell a variety of items, including gift baskets.

http://www.pamperedpawgifts.com/products-thank-you.html

Etsy– Homemade designs such as key chains, dog tags, and much more.

http://www.etsy.com/search?q=pets&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US

Dogs Incorporated– Custom Art Prints that can be personalized

http://www.dogsincorporated.com/

I think these are a great start for a few fresh ideas of what to purchase for your pet nanny. What are you planning to purchase for your pet nanny? Have any ideas that have been successful in the past? Please share your ideas with us in the comments below.We wish you all a blessed, happy and prosperous Christmas season!

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