Tag: Pet nanny

Pet Emergency Plan: Keeping Your Pet Safe In A Natural Disaster

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety.

Natural disasters often catch families unprepared. A lot of importance is placed on making sure your family has a disaster plan and an emergency kit ready. Your disaster plan should address events like a house fire, to something widespread like a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake. It is important to take a moment and create an emergency kit specific to your pet. All too often after natural disasters there are many lost, injured and neglected family companions.

A dog sits in the heavy rains from Tropical Storm Erin on San Antonio’s south side Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007. Erin’s remnants soaked rain-weary Texas, snarling rush-hour traffic and killing at least one person. (AP Photo/San Antonio Express-News, Jerry Lara) ** MAGS OUT, NO SALES, SAN ANTONIO OUT **

Pet Emergency – keeping your pets safeThe first step in your pet emergency plan is to try to move your pet to a safe area with you. If you have a small pet, be sure to have a pet carrier easily accessible. Storing it next to your other emergency items will ensure you don’t have to waste time looking for it. This way you can cart your pet with you. For smaller creatures like hamsters and birds, you can just grab their cage. It can be harder with large dogs though. If this is your type of pet, keep a leash with your emergency supplies. Assign an adult with the duty of locating and securing the family pet. Please note though, we do not in any way advocate putting yourself, or anyone in your family at risk to secure a pet. Pets are part of the family, but please remember that many animals have intuitive survival skills. When it comes down to it and you should never risk injury. Below are some great essentials for a pet emergency kit!

Pet Emergency Kit

Picture of your pet in case the two of you become separated
Pet first aid kit and book specific to your pet variety
Seven days’ worth of dried or canned pet food and water
Towels and/or blankets
Extra leash & collar
If your pet requires any type of medication, make sure there are extra in the kit
Soap/Pet shampoo
Pet Brush and grooming supplies
Vaccination and ownership records, stored in a watertight bag

Do you have other ideas you’d like to share? Tell us about what you keep in your pet emergency kit!

For more in depth information on pet emergency disaster preparedness:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/animal_rescue/tips/pets-disaster.html
http://www.ready.gov/caring-animals

Pet Rabbits – What You Need To Know Before The Commitment

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety.

The trend of pet rabbits has been growing across America for the last few years, following on the heals of the rabbit obsessed country of Japan. In Japan, bunnies are so popular they have rabbit cafes that allow both pet owners and their hoppy little friends to mingle while enjoying snacks. Their bright personalities and round fuzzy bodies make them hard to resist when it comes to cuteness. This is both a blessing and burden however… Many people, (especially around Easter) are quick to scoop up the fuzzy bundles and bring them home thinking they will be a great companion for their child. The truth is, however, that pet rabbits and children generally don’t mix well. Due to “pet shop impulses” tens of thousands of pet rabbits are abandoned each year. In fact, pet rabbits are now the most neglected pet in England. Rabbit ownership is not something to take lightly (really, no pet ownership is). Unlike dogs and cats, pet rabbits are prey animals which means owning them has to be approached differently. You can’t just scoop one up and expect it to love you, it’s terrified of you. In fact, it usually takes around a week, sometimes longer, for pet rabbits to bond with their humans. Even once bonded, you are still at the mercy of the rabbits wants and needs, not your own. Because of their peculiar (yet rewarding!) nature as pets, we’ve compiled a great list of what you should know about pet rabbits before you make the commitment. Furthermore, we’ve provided some great resource sites for those of you seeking more information about creating a happy loving home for your new pet!

Pet rabbits in the fall!

What To Know Before You Get A Pet Rabbit

Rabbits are territorial – they need to have their own space where you don’t go. Fully loving bunnies can turn aggressive should you invade their private space. Even a free roaming house bunny should have a cage or hutch where it can drink and eat and relax in private. Pet rabbits are happiest when they can escape!
Pet Rabbits are the easiest of the house pets to litter box train – There’s a catch though… they choose where it goes. Rabbits are creatures of habit so once they decide where their bathroom spot is going to be, all you have to do is place a litter box there! Don’t use kitty litter though, look for litter specific to pet rabbits, often made of recycled paper or wood chips.
You can not punish a rabbit – They are prey animals so they are always on the look out for aggression or signs of a threat. If your pet rabbit is doing something inappropriate, it is best to distract them from the task.
Because of the inability to punish pet rabbits, rabbit proofing your home is a MUST – rabbits will get into everything! And they love to chew and dig! You must either hide all power cords, or run them through plastic tubes so that they are inaccessible to your bunny. Additionally, anything you care about must be kept out of a rabbits reach – record collection, books, house plants, shoes – ANYTHING.
Rabbits are very different from cats or dogs – they will likely never come when called, can be occasionally stand-offish, and rather demanding creatures. Some pet rabbits have been known to thump their back foot at their owner when they want petted or fed!
You can, however, train them with Pavlovian responses – It is advised that rabbit owners condition their pets to certain sounds. Like making a little ‘clicking’ noise when the rabbit is getting a treat. That way, in the future, you can make that sound when you need your rabbit to come to you, like when it’s time to get in their cage.
Rabbits can not be carried around like other pets – some bunnies are cooler about this than others. Some rabbits simply will not tolerate being picked up. First of all, you must know how to properly pick up a rabbit. The number one cause of pet rabbit deaths in the home are caused by broken spines from owners improperly handling their pet.

Rabbits can be an amazingly rewarding pet to that can live anywhere from 5-12 years with proper care. They make soft oinking noises and will circle your feet to tell you they love you. They will groom you occasionally as repayment for petting them. They are happy, playful creatures who will do special hops and dances to show you their joy. They are certainly a pet that it’s worthwhile getting to know how to care for! If you’d like to explore more about the world of pet rabbit ownership, check out our links below!

Great resource sites for pet rabbits

rabbit.org
Binkybunny.com
Bestfriends.org
MSPCA Angell

photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/madeleine_/307769424/”>Madeleine_</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/”>cc</a>

Spring Cleaning – Spruce Things Up While Protecting Your Pet

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety, Pet tip of the Week.

While April showers are making the preparations for May flowers, the season of spring cleaning has come upon us again! It’s time to throw open those windows and shake out the dust (and pet dander) of winter. While spring cleaning is a chore for most any home, there are extra precautions that pet owners should be sure to make. It’s easy to overlook the dangers that some cleaning practices may have on your pets so we’ve complied a great list of potential hazards and precautionary practices to ensure you have a house as fresh as a spring breeze and a healthy pet too!

Pet Friendly Spring Cleaning Tips

Avoid bleach and ammonia as well as all cleaners that contain it. These harsh chemicals can cause respiratory issues not just in pets, but humans as well. Try using natural cleaning brands like Method or Mrs. Meyers – or try making your own vinegar based detergents! Healthier for both you and your pets! Click here for pet approved cleaners!
Keep your pets out of the space you are cleaning. Not only does it make it easier to clean when your pets not busy messing behind you, but often times spring cleaning requires moving heavy objects or exposing areas that are often inaccessible – like access to power cords or rodent poisons. Be certain to keep your pet contained (or, better yet, send them out with a Pet Nanny!) to ensure their safety.Spring cleaning with your pet!
When it comes to cleaning your pet’s area and bedding, avoid heavily scented products. Try scrubbing the area down with baking soda and vinegar followed by a good rinse and wash their bedding in unscented detergent, minus the dryer sheets!
Be mindful of dangerous plants and flowers. Many people are likely to purchase new plants or pick/bring home flowers for display in the spring and summer months. Be sure to run a quick internet search on the varieties that you choose to be certain that they are pet friendly.

Have your own spring cleaning pet tips or tricks? Share them with us! Happy cleaning!

Pet Ownership and Your Health

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety.

Pet Ownership Can Improve Your Health

By now, most people have heard about how pet ownership is linked to health benefits – how they can lower some peoples blood pressure and lead to an over all longer and healthier life. In addition to blood pressure though, there are a lot more ways that pet ownership positively effects your well-being, no matter your age! Children who suffer from hypertension benefit from interacting with animals just as much as adults with blood pressure problems do, and pets have been proven to have a ‘mood boosting’ effect on people who suffer from depression. Children also can benefit from animal exposure during their youth by developing less allergies than children without pets. Cat ownership specifically has been shown to lower the mortality rate by heart attack with people who had never owned one reporting 40% higher fatalities, while those who owned a dog and suffered a heart attack were proven to recover quicker! Additionally, responsible pet ownership often means to a more active and social lifestyle, fighting obesity and the negative health effects that come with a sedentary lifestyle.

Pets Can Help with Your Medical Treatments

In addition to many preventative measures that pet ownership offers, animals are being used more frequently in medical treatments all the time! Pet ownership for helping children overcome ADHD, as well as being used as ‘alarms’ for people suffering from diabetes, or similar medical conditions – since it’s been shown that dogs have the ability to detect blood sugar levels and other health emergencies in their owners! Animals area also often used in treating children suffering from autism, since the sensory experiences can help them grow, in a calm and safe environment while also building self esteem.

Whether you or someone in your family suffers from a medical condition or not, in the eyes of the medical world, there’s no doubt that pet ownership can benefit everyone in the household! Check out WebMD for more information, and enjoy the infographic below!

Why Choose Pet Nanny?

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Pet Nanny news.

Welcome to the new Pet Nanny blog where we will share deals, coupons, special events, giveaways and educational articles for all of the Pet Lovers of the Main Line. If you are currently looking for a pet care service, we are the premier pet sitting service of the Main Line. You can view a few of our customer testimonials or give us a call at 610-716-7826. Here are the Top 10 Reasons You Should Choose Pet Nanny.

1) Peace of Mind: Our goal is to provide you with the peace of mind knowing that your pets and your home are in the best possible hands. You will leave your home confident that your pet is receiving the love, attention and exercise that they deserve.

2) Experience and Educational Development: Our experience and knowledge allows us to better understand your pet’s needs and how to best interact with them. Pet Nanny strongly believes in continual education and constant renewal of knowledge. As such, we are always updating our knowledge of animal behavior and animal care.

3) Safety: Pet Nanny offers one-on-one care. We do not do pack walks. Additionally, all of our sitters are residents of The Main Line, so if an emergency were to arise, someone is close by. We also do not use car decals for advertising purposes, which may alert people to your absence. The safety of your pets and your home is our first priority.

4) Reasonable and Competitive Rates: Pet Nanny understands that owning and taking care of your pets is a big investment. That is why we make our services affordable and competitive.

5) Customized Services: We realize that no two homes or two pets are exactly alike, so we offer a wide variety of services to precisely fit your needs. You will tailor your own pet care plan. We offer an estimate of all charges before our registration meeting.

6) Convenience: Our mission is to make your life easier. You will have the ability to re-book service using our state of the art, on-line booking system.

7) Professionalism: Pet Nanny is a professional pet care company in Pennsylvania. We are bonded and insured. We are members of Pet Sitters International, The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

8 ) Communication: Pet Nanny understands the value of open communication. You can reach the office between the hours of 9am & 4pm, or leave a message 24 hours a day. You can reach me via email 24 hours per day. Additionally, our sitters leave detailed diaries at each visit, and can also leave “pet memo’s” on your on-line account, so you know how much fun your pet has had while you were gone. We also publish a bi-monthly newsletter to keep you up-to-date on all business matters as well as provide you with educational articles about pet care.

9) First Rate Staff: We’re extremely selective about the pet sitters that we choose to contract. I run full background checks on every contractor. I guarantee that you will be provided with friendly, responsible and professional pet lovers.

10) Genuine Love of Animals: Pet Nanny was founded on my passion for animals. All of us at Pet Nanny make it our priority to provide your pets with as much love and attention as you would. Our goal is to promote your pet’s health and well-being.