Spring has arrived early and that means fleas and ticks

are arriving early to pester our cats and dogs.

 

Make sure to get your dog heartworm tested and then put on prevention.

Both Heartworm and Flea and Tick protection are given in convenient once a month applications

 

Also, remember with Spring comes landscapers starting to treat those beautiful lawns with fertilizers and pesticides.

 

Keep your dog off the lawns with the warning signs.  If in doubt when you get home rinse and wash your dogs paws off.

 

 

Happy Spring!   

 

From TLK Prof. Pet Care

        We have all been lucky enough to happen upon one of natures wild critters and felt special when were were able to view them at a close distance.  Well my latest wild critter encounter turned into a hood ornament.  Don't worry my car was not moving and the Turkey was unharmed and was quiet amusing.

 

      I was pulling into the driveway of one of my dog customers home for our usual weekly walk.  At the end of the driveway, in the back yard, was a single wild Turkey. I needed to go into the back door to get my little dog friend, so I needed to approach the Turkey.  As I did, he of course became wary of my approach, but walked away as slow as I approached.

 

     I, of course don't know if it was a he or a she, so for now I will refer to the Turkey as a he. I soon learned this yard was his territory and he would soon let me know what he thought of my intruding on his time and space.  I foolishly assume of course, if it was a female Turkey, she would have not treated me so unkindly as the story unfolds.

 

    After getting my little dog friend Panda inside the house, we went on our way for her walk.  The Turkey had left the yard and was no where to be seen, or so I thought.  As we came back from our walk and rounded the corner back to the house, my car had just come into view.  As my eyes strained to see at a distance, I realized there was something on the front hood of my car which was quite big.  I looked in disbelief and remember thinking, that looks like a Turkey.  No, it can't be the same Turkey?   Sure enough, as we got closer I realized it really was the same Turkey I had seen in the yard.  He saw us coming and unlike last time, he didn't see the need to walk away but stood proudly on the hood of my car.  This amazed me because I was not alone this time, but accompanied by a dog, which Turkeys all have a natural avoidance of.

 

As we slowly approached the Turkey, I of course took a few pictures to have proof of this strange behavior.  At this time, I realized the Turkey was looking defiant and not going to move.  I  imagined him thinking that it was his yard and I should not have bothered him.   Panda and I chuckled, okay I just chuckled and Panda stretched her neck to see this large bird, as we made our way back into the house.  We were as close as 8 feet and I was impressed with the beauty of this wild creature.

 

     After settling Panda in with a fresh bowl of water, a treat and some hugs, I headed back to my car.  In my amazement the Turkey was still on my car dead center on the hood.  "Okay I do have to go now and you do have to leave" I said to him.  Again being respectful of this beautiful creature I walked slowly to my car.  He saw that I was in fact getting very close and proceeded to walk across the hood planning his exit.  As he did this, I heard the buckle of metal on the hood of my car.  This Turkey was very large and now I realized could he hurt my car?

 

The chuckle turned into please don't scratch my car.  Luckily, he jumped off gracefully and made his retreat.  As I got into my car I saw him disappear around the other side of the house.  As I started my car and got ready to drive away, I realized the Turkey left me a message.  There on the front hood of my car was a very large poop deposit, dead center, close to the front glass.

 

I laughed so hard and thought he did in fact get the last word.

 

 

 

 

The holidays can be a fun and joyous time but can also be one of the most hazardous times for your pet.

Holiday xmas tree water can be toxic if your pet drinks from the base, so keep out of reach from your pet. Most trees were fed with fertilizers.

Chocolate is very toxic to your dog and cat, so keep goodies high and out of reach too. Artificial sweeteners too.

 

If you have cats you definetely want to skip the tinsel.

If ingested by cats can cause intestinal blockages.

 

Holiday candles can burn whiskers or pet noses so keep out of reach.

Extra wires for those holiday lights are a lot of fun to chew for a lot of animals so keep them well hidden.

 

Holidays bring guests and they often bring their own medicine supply. Make sure everyone keeps medicines in a cabinet or hidden in a drawer. Here is a list of the top human and meds that are toxic to pets.

 

1) pain relievers (Tylenol, Motrin, Advil, Aleve etc)

2)Heart Medications

3)muscle relaxants (Flexeril etc)

4)sleep meds (Lunesta, Ambien Klonopin etc)

5)antidepressants (Zoloft, Effexor, Cymbalta etc)

6) children or adult ADD/ADHD meds (Ritalin etc)

 

Always keep a Pet Poison Helpline number on your fridge

 800-213-6680

petpoisonhelpline.com for further information

 

Wishing you all safe and Happy Holidays with your pets

 

TLK Pet Care Service

 

Did you know Animal Hospitals and Pet Emergency Centers

see an increase in Pancreatitis and Gastritis during the holidays.

Don't feed your pets treats from the table.  Instead give them an extra dog or cat treat that is made for them.

A big hug instead has no calories and makes their hearts happy too.

 

Also Poinsettia, Holly, Mistletoe, Crocus and some Cacti are poisonous to your pet too.  Keep out of reach.

 

Well fall is upon us and Halloween is fast approaching.

 

Our good friends at Pet Sitters International wanted us to share these important tips to keep your pets safe during this Holiday.

 

The official Mascot of Pet Sitters International is Garfield.

 

 

 5 tips to ensure pets stay safe, comfortable.

 

 When asked about his plans for Halloween, Garfield, the world’s most finicky feline, said, “Halloween is my kind of a holiday. Not like those other stupid holidays. I don't get pine needles in my paws. There's no dumb bunnies, no fireworks, no relatives, just candy. Boom, you go out, you get candy. It's as simple as that.”  

 

Halloween can be a traumatic and even dangerous time for pets. As the only “Garfield-approved” pet-sitting association, Pet Sitters International cautioned the fat cat about eating candy.  The association shares these suggestions with its members, and the 740,000 pet owners who use its members’ services, in hopes that all pets have a howlin’ good Halloween.  

 

1. Think things through before putting your pet in a Halloween costume. Unless your dog or cat is extremely receptive to this kind of thing, you could be causing discomfort and stress. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume doesn’t obstruct your pet’s vision and isn't uncomfortable or unsafe.  

 

2. Know when to say “No!” This isn’t news to anyone, but dogs and cats will beg for treats. But please remember that Halloween goodies are for the Trick-or-Treaters, not pets. Most pet owners know that chocolate is poisonous to pets, but candies made with the sugar substitute xylitol are also dangerous. Candy wrappers can also pose a problem. Be sure to keep candy and candy wrappers out of paw’s reach.  

 

3. Your pets might not be the party animals in your family. If you’re having a party, put your pets in a room where they won't be disturbed. Be sure to check on them and reassure them that everything is all right. They may not be prepared to take part in the Halloween fun, but they don’t want to be isolated and ignored, either. Also don’t give alcoholic beverages to dogs, cats, birds or any other animals. Keep a watchful eye on party guests. Some may think it's funny to give an animal alcohol, but it can result in serious illness and even death.

 

 4. Don’t let your pets become escape artists. Be extra careful that cats or dogs don't dart outside through an open door. Once a pet is out the door, its familiar neighborhood can become unfamiliar and scary territory on Halloween. House and yard decorations, Trick-or-Treaters and increased traffic can panic an escaped pet. A panicked pet may run too far from home to find its way back.  

 

5. (Fire) safety first. Pets don’t understand that small fires are inside of Jack-O-Lanterns. Dogs, particularly enthusiastic tail-waggers, can easily knock over a pumpkin and cause a fire. Curious kittens also run the risk of getting burned. Place Jack-O-Lanterns where they can’t be knocked over by swinging tails or prying paws.  Take it from former scaredy cat Garfield, Halloween can be a spooktacularly good time for people and their pets.  

 

So everyone have a safe and fun Halloween and keep special care of your furry loved ones.

 

TLK Prof. Pet Care Service is a proud member of

 Pet Sitters International.

To learn more visit their website at www.petsit.com

 

Write your post here.

Well the sizzling temperatures are here early and it is time

to think of ways to keep our pets cool and safe during the summer months.

 

Make sure your pet(s) always have cool, fresh water.

An ice cube or two added to their water in the morning will help keep their water cooler a  little longer as the day goes on.

 

It also serves as a source of entertainment for some cats as it melts and floats in their water bowls. :)

 

If possible always make sure your home has an air conditioned area for your pet to retreat to when the summer heat makes the inside temperature of your home rise over days of relentless heat.

Fans to circulate the air are especially helpful.  Keep window shades down on the sunny side of the home to help keep the heat out.

 

Dogs and Cats can only cool down by panting or sweating thru the pads of their feet.

 

Make sure your dog is never left in the car during the summer.

Even in the shade the automobile will reach temperatures that can lead to heat stroke for your pet in a very short time.

These pets should be doused in cool, not cold water and taken to the nearest Veterinarian for emergency care.

Severe panting, disorientation and being unable to stand are just some of the signs.  Heat stroke can be fatal.

 

Dog walks and exercise should be shortened considerably during the middle of the day. There should always be shaded areas and water for outdoor fun. Try to take Fido for a walk either early in the morning or when the sun sets instead.

 

Short snouted dog breeds ( bull dogs, pugs etc) are at risk of heat stroke very easily in higher temperatures so take special care with them.

Pouring cool water on your dog is fun for them and helps keep their body temperature cooler.   Never be ashamed to admit you are buying a kiddie pool for your dogs backyard.    Most dogs love to splash in the water.  I promise it will pay you back in endless smiles all summer long.

 

Remember if it feels to hot to you it is defintely too hot for the little ones with the fur coats.

 

Did you know that mats on a cat could indicate an underlying health problem.  Mats can also interfere with a cat's ability to regulate it's body temperature.

Cat's who stop grooming can be not feeling well enough to do so.

Make sure you have a consult with your Veterinarian regarding this problem.

 

Don't forget April is the time to get your dog heartworm tested.

 

We have seen our first Tick so don't forget your Flea and Tick protection for your furry friends.

 

TLK welcomes our newest staff Members Jody and Al.

Jody has a experience with dog training and has a natural way with all animals.

She is a welcome addition to our team.  Jodi has a dog and a cat.

 

Al has been  a friend to TLK the past 5 years  and now will be working part time for TLK Pet Care with the dog playgroup and dog transports.

Al's dog Pud has been in our playgroup for the past few years and Pud has come into his own getting dog friends each week to play with.

 

We welcome both Jody & AL  and their committment and passion to the pets under our care.

Did you know that cooking on teflon pans can emit fumes that are toxic to pet birds in your house?

 

Be sure to use pans without teflon coatings to keep your little feathered friends safe.    Also be sure to keep them out of drafts and in warmer temperatures.

 

Tweety bird never would have made it to the big screen with Sylvester if his owner was frying up some bacon and eggs in that teflon pan.  Something to ponder.

 

Write your post here.

This winter has provided many a challenge for dog walking.

Thank you to all who have shoveled your sidewalks and stairs.

 

Also remember to use pet safe salt.

Keep your dogs paws wiped clean after every walk to eleminate salt irritation to your dogs feet.

 

Write your post here.