Spring is just around the corner!  And while visions of a cabin fever-reducing getaway may be dancing in your head, the likelihood is that Fido won’t be tagging along.  Instead, you may have set up boarding at a local kennel, or even asked a friend or family member to watch him while you are away.  But before you head off to enjoy your well-deserved rendezvous with sun and sand, Wisconsin Pet Care wants to remind you why finding a good pet sitter will allow both of you to enjoy the time away.

How Hiring a Pet Sitter Benefits Your Dog

*There is no stress of having to acclimate to a new environment and/or new puppy pals.

*Your creature of habit can keep his same schedule and activities.

*He will receive personal one-on-one attention.

*Having the opportunity to go out and take a walk is so much better than being shut in while you are away.

*Stress and anxiety are high at kennels. Your dog will feed off the energy of others-thus becoming more and more stressed!

*Lots of nasty bugs lurk at boarding and kennels. It may be less money up front, but will a visit to the vet be less than $150 inclusive of meds?

How Hiring a Pet Sitter Benefits You

*You will have someone to do simple household chores: watering the plants, bringing in the mail/newspaper, etc.

*While a friend or family member may enjoy watching your dog, there is a peace of mind knowing that you have a professional looking after your companion. Our team knows first aid and CPR and we have relationships with every vet in town. We know how to handle emergencies.

*Your home is watched and the routine of your home stays the same-trash, recycling all get taken out and we contact you if we see suspicious behavior.

*We know how to handle any and all issues if something were to happen in your home.

What Should You Look For When Choosing a Qualified Pet Sitter?

*Is the potential pet sitter bonded and insured?

*Have you checked references from previous customers?

*Are the company’s pet sitters trained for emergency situations (first aid/CPR)?

*Is there a back-up plan in case the pet sitter has a personal emergency?

*What are the ratings of this person on BBB, Google, Yelp and Yahoo! Will the company provide references for you to check before making your decision?

WISCONSIN PET CARE provides all of this and more!  As a part of our award winning service, we add personal touches to really set your mind at ease while you are away.  After each visit, you will receive a text message update letting you know how your pet is doing.  A daily journal is also kept so that you can be sure your dog is receiving all of the care he deserves!  We pride ourselves on giving you and your pet the best customer experience pawsible.

How Can You Help Your Pet Sitter?

*Gather all food and pet supplies together and store them in one convenient place so that it is easy to find (with extras in case you are away longer than expected).

*During your initial meet and greet, be sure to provide thorough and accurate information about your pet (personality traits, habits, health issues, hiding spots, favorite toys).

Don’t feel guilty the next time a vacation comes calling.  Everybody needs a little time away.  When you’re ready for a spring break, Wisconsin Pet Care is your best choice for pet sitting.

Oh winter weekends!  When the temperature drops, I’m more inclined to sleep in and snuggle with my favorite warm ball of fur.  Sure, she takes up most of the bed, but that rhythmic purr always lulls me right back into a cat nap.  What could be greater than reawakening to her cute whiskered face?  As she stretches her little paws, and takes a great big yawn, I’m immediately snapped back into reality!  Kitty breath can be the worst!  How does something so incredibly adorable harbor such a stinker?!  February is National Pet Dental Health Month and a healthy mouth is the fastest way to get your feline ready for her close-up.

If you are a devoted reader of our blog, you know that we’ve discussed the nutritional deficiencies in dry cat food.  However, it has been a long-standing myth that feeding your cat kibble aids in keeping her teeth clean.  You might think that you’re contributing to her overall dental health, but that kibble isn’t sweeping away tartar and plaque buildup by the bowlful.  Kibble is high in carbohydrates, has low moisture content and is comprised of by-products and chemicals – none of these qualities make kibble an ideal dental tool.

Just like humans, dental health in cats affects overall health.  Bacteria in the mouth can travel into the bloodstream by way of diseased gums or decayed teeth, and can affect your cat’s heart, liver or kidneys.  So what can you do to promote healthy teeth and gums for your cat?

Brush her teeth.  Using a pet toothbrush (I have found that the finger ones are more cat-friendly) and cat-formulated toothpaste (don’t worry, your cat will like it), brush your cat’s teeth once a day.  What’s that, your cat runs like the vacuum is chasing her at just the sound of opening the medicine cabinet?  Ideally, you will start a dental care regimen with your kitten, so there would be no need to teach your older cat new tricks.  However, with some patience, it is possible to get your seasoned cat to at least tolerate a daily brushing.  The key is to start slow.  Take baby steps and remember that even sticking to an every other day schedule will be more helpful than doing nothing at all.

Get a professional dental cleaning with your veterinarian.  While all procedures under anesthetics have a certain level of risk, modern medicine has made teeth cleaning very safe.  However, if this is a concern that is preventing you from getting your cat’s teeth cleaned, Wisconsin Pet Care recommends that you work with your veterinarian on alternate solutions for dental health. Fractured, decayed or diseased teeth and gums can be painful to your cat and may cause further health issues in the future.

Play with toys that are designed to aid in dental health.  My cat is a mint-fiend!  So when I brought home the Mint Stick toy from Petstages, she was ecstatic!  The scrubby-texture helps massage her gums and aids in removing plaque from her teeth.  If your cat doesn’t like the taste of mint, there are many other toys on the market that accomplish the same thing.  Like scratching, chewing is very satisfying action for your cat.  Playing with one of these toys can help her chew with purpose!

My dad was never much of an animal person, so it is a serendipitous match-up that I am his daughter.  A stray-cat magnet, I remember constantly coming home with skinned knees, hugging a feral captor tightly in my arms.  He was able to ignore my childish charm and say no to every single one…except Tiki.  A pure white tabby, with one blue eye and one green eye, Tiki had something special about her.  She was a cat’s cat.  Sophisticated and aloof, she embodied feline flair.  And as much as my dad tried to be coy himself, he was no match for Tiki.  Before you knew it, he loved her.

After 15 years of making memories, Tiki passed away peacefully.  My dad, on the other hand, was inconsolable.  Another cat now occupies Tiki’s corner of the bed, but it is taking my dad awhile to love him in the same way.

Losing a pet is devastating.  If you’ve never loved a furry friend, you couldn’t possibly understand.  But for those of us with paw prints on our hearts, we spend years, sometimes decades, caring for a four-legged family member.  It is impossible to feel that they’re not integral part of who we are.  When they are no longer with us, life can feel incomplete.

Everyone mourns differently.  There is no right or wrong amount of time to process the passing of your pet.  But if you are having difficulty expressing your feelings, there is help:

Join a Pet Loss Support Group.  There are online forums, as well as support meetings, through local shelters and animal rescues.  For some, it is helpful to be with a group of people that can relate to what they are going through.  Listening to how others are mourning the loss of their loved one might offer some insight into your own grieving process.  There is comfort in knowing you are not alone.

Write a Memorial In Honor of Your Pet.  Even if you are not a writer, putting your feelings down on paper can be very cathartic.  You don’t have to be creative or clever, even just a simple list of all the good memories you have of your pet can be beneficial to your mourning.  Reminiscing may be helpful in lifting your spirits.

Dedicate a Memorial In Honor of Your Pet. Whether you decide on an engraved headstone for your own garden, or donate money to a local rescue in honor of your pet, some people take solace in creating this lasting legacy as a way to cherish the memory of their loved one.

Volunteer.  The truth is, it may be a long time before you are emotionally ready to bring another pet into your home (or your heart).  However, some people find comfort in volunteering their time to animal shelters/rescues.  It’s harder to be sad when you are met with tail wagging and enthusiasm!  Sign up to be a dog walker, cage cleaner or even an administrative volunteer.  Knowing that you are a part of making an animal’s life better can be a constructive way to honor your pet.

As an obligate carnivore, your kitty relies solely on the nutrients found in animal flesh to complete her diet.  Wisconsin Pet Care recommends feeding your cat the kind of food she’d eat in the wild: MEAT.  Maybe she does like the occasional taste of a banana, or the crunchy texture of lettuce, but her body reaches optimal health when fed in the manner nature intended. Blood, guts and gore. We love our cats.  So why then, have we been feeding our feline friends so many things besides what they need?

KIBBLE

Pros: It’s easy.  It doesn’t have an “offensive” odor.  It appears to keep your kitty full.  It is vet-recommended.

Cons: It’s as nutritionally dense as cardboard.  It lacks the moisture needed for basic feline bodily function.

Your veterinarian has been lying to you.  Kibble does not “protect your cat’s teeth”.  How did this myth even get started (it couldn’t be that kibble companies publish and write veterinarian text books, could it?)?  The truth is, the only thing that combats tooth decay is chewing meat and scheduled dental cleanings from your veterinarian.  Cats need to chew on terse flesh, not consume abrasive starches. In fact, the kibble actually lodges in their teeth and causes decay, very much the same way cookies do to our teeth! Plainly put, ripping through the meat of their prey will keep those chompers in perfect working order for a lifetime.

VEGETABLES AND GREENS

Pros: Fresh veggies!  Is there anything better?

Cons: It makes kitty vomit up her kibble.

In the wild, if a cat consumes something not so great, it will eat a bit of grass.  Somewhere down the line, we’ve come to associate the consumption of greens with “settling kitty’s tummy”.  Actually, it helps aggravate a cat’s stomach, causing her to vomit (that’s the part we don’t see while watching Animal Planet).  Now before cats get a Black Swan reputation, it should be noted that this line of digestive defense keeps them from having to process anything harmful (it makes you wonder what’s in that kibble to compel kitty to rid her body of it from time to time).  “Ooops, I ate some bad field mice,” turns into, “Blech!  Blech! Ack!”  There’s nothing wrong with an occasional nip of organic pet grass, but seeking foods that boast “garden greens” as a key ingredient are of no benefit to your cat.

GRAINS

Pros: (None) Consumer Pet Food giants suggest it rounds out a meal.  Meat, Vegetable and Starch – a meal trifecta.  Not to mention, rice has been known to “settle a kitty’s tummy”.

Con: It is difficult for your cat to digest.  There is no nutritional benefit.

Here we go again with the tummy-settling debate.  I think it’s time we uncover why a cat would have an upset stomach to begin with.  After all, there are no rotting carcasses in your kitchen, right?  Of course not!  Kitty is fed a fresh bowl of food – morning, noon and night.  So why would there be any need to “settle her tummy”.  Well, it’s because most cat food brands contain grains or starches that act as food “fillers”.  QUALITY meat is expensive.  There’s no way for a company to maintain high profit margins when making good food on the cheap.  Therefore, corporations rely on starch to fill in the gaps.  Rice is cheap.  Grains not fit-for-humans are cheap.  But starches and grains do not facilitate the acidic digestive environment cats need to maintain a proper PH-balance within their bodies.  The result is that digestion becomes difficult (the physiology of felines has mandated an acidic digestive environment to break down meat quickly, as they do not have a large digestive tract) and vomiting occurs.

The bottom line is that, for cats, MEAT should be what’s for dinner.  There are many homemade recipes that are easy to prepare for your cat.  However, if you are searching for an even more convenient option, there are reputable companies that provide grain-free solutions.  You will not get very far with most store bought brands (see last week’s feature on the reality of dog food ingredients), but researching a feline raw food diet will lead you in the right direction.  Ultimately, it is our hope that these articles have inspired you to give your pet’s food some thought.  Wisconsin Pet Care maintains that if our companion animals are healthy on the inside, they’ll be happy on the outside.

If you were to open the bag of your pet’s food, what would you find?  Is that orange crunchy sliver a carrot?  Those large brown kibble bits look like meat, don’t they?  The fact is that your pet’s dry food most likely consists of corn, by-products, preservatives and other chemicals.  This mixture has been known to cause everything from allergic reactions to cancer.

Corporate powerhouses, such as Iams, Nutro Max, Purina and Science Diet, have duped Americans into trusting their brands for decades.  But outside of their packaging boasting false statements (i.e.“Contains 100% of Your Dog’s Daily Nutrients”), shaping the food pieces into human-friendly forms (Oh peas!  Peas are good, aren’t they?), and fear marketing (your cat won’t lose all of her teeth if she isn’t fed kibble), what have they done to aid in the health and wellness of your pet?

We are living in a time that focuses on the quality of food.  And just as some grocers are offering the human race more nutrient dense products, like organic produce and antibiotic-free meat, there are a few commercial pet food companies that have raised the bar for pet food production.  While Wisconsin Pet Care isn’t partial to any particular manufacturer (we actually highly recommend feeding your pet, whether a cat or dog, a raw diet instead), we would be remiss not to highlight a couple of the better ones.  Brands such as The Honest Kitchen®, Taste of the Wild®, Canidae®, Earthborn®, Acana®  and Blue Buffalo® offer a nutritionally dense product for your dog.  Combining meat, vegetables, whole grains, vitamins and minerals, they take pride in providing your pup with what he needs to maintain optimum health.  Still not convinced?

The Ingredients Listed on Purina’s Beneful Original Dry Food Formula: Ground yellow corn, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole wheat flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), rice flour, beef, soy flour, sugar, propylene glycol, meat and bone meal, tricalcium phosphate, phosphoric acid, salt, water, animal digest, sorbic acid (a preservative), potassium chloride, dried carrots, dried peas, calcium propionate (a preservative), L-Lysine monohydrochloride, choline chloride, added color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 2), DL-Methionine, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium carbonate, copper sulfate, Vitamin B-12 supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, garlic oil, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin D-3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite.

But Fido must be getting everything he needs from his food.  So much so, in fact, he has gained a few extra pounds.  It doesn’t appear that he’s lacking any nutrition at all!  Well, simply put, feeding your pet a quality food will also promote natural weight control. There is no need to feed your pet “diet” food to help reform his physique.  In the wild, dogs and cats have no problem maintaining their weight, despite having the freedom to hunt when and where they please.  The reason is not because there are low-cal prey options in nature either.  Think of it this way, if you were given a Snickers bar, you could easily polish off the entire thing.  However, if someone presented you a plate of rich dark chocolate truffles, you would be satiated with just one or two.  Both animals and humans prefer quality over quantity.  If you pair smaller portions with the increased vitality that only a good pet food can bring, your pet will achieve a healthy weight with no “special formula” needed.

Okay, okay, so Beneful is a bit low on the totem pole. How about one we have all heard is great food? Science Diet? My vet always recommends this food to me!

The Ingredients Listed on Science Diet Adult Active  Dry Food Formula: Ground Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Dried Beet Pulp, Soybean Oil, Dried Egg Product, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Vitamin E Supplement, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.

Corn the first ingredient? Corn? I’m paying $43.99 for a 30 lb bag of C-O-R-N? Chicken By Product Meal? By Products…..do you know what that is….its the beak, feathers, faces, eyes, feet that they can’t put into human grade food!

Take a look at a superior food…..you tell me. Which sounds closer to a natural prey diet:

The Ingredients Listed on The Honest Kitchen Force Raw Dehydrated Formula:Dehydrated free-range chicken, organic flaxseed, potatoes, celery, sweet potatoes, apples, alfalfa, organic kelp, honey, zucchini, green beans, cabbage, bananas, papayas, basil, garlic, rosemary, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, potassium iodide, potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate.

Are you thinking yet? Which would you rather be putting into your companion animal for his optimal health?

This website is a wealth of information: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/

So,  the next time you pour your pup a bowl of food, check out the package ingredients.  If it reads like something out of Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory, it just may be time to reconsider your answer to the age-old question: What’s for dinner?

Comparing dogs and cats is like comparing apples to oranges.  Last week we discussed some of the things a pet parent can do to help Fido ring in the New Year.  This week we will get a feline purrspective on the matter.

1)      Grooming – Your tabby is content giving herself a tongue bath while lounging in her favorite cat nap spot, but there are some matters of personal care that she can’t quite do herself.  For example, if the only time you give Ms. Kitty a nail clipping is when she sticks to the carpet, you could be setting her up for accidentally scratching herself or her favorite person.  From cleaning out her ears to brushing her teeth, she relies on you to help her be the cuddliest she can be.  Schedule these tasks on a calendar so they are easy to remember, or set up an appointment with your veterinarian (most of them will perform these services for a nominal fee).

2)      Feed Him Feline Specific-Prey Diet Food – If you are what you eat, then no one would want to be by-product kitten kibble.  A quality food will help your cat maintain his weight and keep him in optimum health.  Ideally, you will want to find a food that is as close to your cat’s natural diet as possible. Wisconsin Pet Care highly recommends a raw or homemade diet, and if this is unavailable, a grain free kibble. While we aren’t recommending mouse sacrifice, cats are carnivores.  As a general rule of thumb, canned cat foods should be 95% meat (greens and grains would make up the remaining 5%), and dry food should also be nutrient dense, grain free, listing meat as the first ingredients. Cats need to get 75% of their moisture from their food-does dry kibble accomplish this?

3)      Animal Instincts – A hunter by nature, your cat would love it if you made her “catch” her food (and there are many toys on the market that will allow you to feed her that way).  But even a few minutes of running your hand under the blanket in the morning, or some strategic cat wand play, can help her tap into this natural instinct.  She loves being your domestic bed stealer, but would be over-the-moon if you would play with her in a way that showcases her keen cat-skills.

4)      Play and Love – While cats and dogs do differ, this is one of their common grounds.  Some people forget that cats need playtime because they have a stereotype of being “independent”.  And, mostly, they are.  However, they still need a way to get rid of some of their pent-up energy.  Whether your cat prefers to climb on a cat tree or chase catnip mice, they need a daily pounce party.  As little as 10 minutes a day will ward off weight gain, aggression and other less-than-purrfect behaviors.

5)      Vet Care – Your cat probably doesn’t want to see this one on the list.  However, it is important for her to visit the vet once a year for a wellness exam.  Wisconsin Pet Care believes the only vaccine that should be given on a regular basis is rabies. To insure your cat is keeping her waistline in check, a feline health care professional is a vital component in the effort of overall pet wellness.

As the holiday season comes to a close, be sure to paws for a moment and think about all of the wonderful ways your pet enriches your life.  Here at Wisconsin Pet Care, we wish you and your four-legged friends a very Happy New Year!

Dear Lori,

We would like to congratulate you on winning the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) Presents 4 Pets campaign at the Gold level. Your efforts have helped us to raise over $57,000 nationally to help shelter and rescue animals in 2011. We sincerely appreciate everything you have done to make your own campaign such a success, and we hope you’ll participate again in 2012.

We’d love to hear details of how you ran your successful Presents 4 Pets campaign so that we can help others reach your level of achievement.

Also, if your campaign generated press coverage, we would appreciate it if you could provide us with the article for inclusion on the NAPPS website Presents 4 Pets Success Stories page.

NAPPS Headquarters will be mailing (hard copy / regular mail) your certificate of appreciation today.

On behalf of myself, The Presents 4 Pets Committee, and NAPPS, congratulations again on winning the Presents 4 Pets campaign at the Gold level!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Hammer Manson

White Rock Pet Services

P4P Committee Chair

After you’ve cleared the confetti and empty champagne flutes, you might decide to make a few resolutions. A new year, a new you! Times to get those finances in order, the household more organized and lose the extra 10 you promised yourself last year. And while most of us make these ambitious promises with the best of intentions, February can sometimes find us back in our settled saddles. We here at Wisconsin Pet Care urge you to stick with just one resolution this year: Work with your PFF (Pup Friend Forever) to make this his best year yet! But where does a pet parent even begin?
1) Weight Loss – If Fido has gotten a little wobble in his walk over the years, it may be time to start a diet and exercise program. Obesity in dogs can cause respiratory problems, the development of diabetes, increased stress on the heart/joints/other vital organs and an overall loss in the quality of your four-legged friend’s life. Start slow, and begin decreasing your dog’s food intake, while increasing his physical output. A healthy, happy pet starts with a physically fit physique!
2) Long Walks – Whether on the beach or in a park, a long walk is like puppy Prozac! The sights! The sounds! The smells-it’s the canine equivalent of reading the newspaper! After a long day cooped up in the house, there’s nothing like putting paws to pavement. Even better, hire the services of a professional pet sitter, such as Wisconsin Pet Care to have a much needed mid-day break. A walk is a possible cure for almost every canine ail – boredom, anxiety, weight gain, excessive barking and aggressive behavior (just to name a few). But most of all, walking with your dog creates an unbeatable bond. Logging these miles of memories is a quality way to spend time with your loyal companion.
3) Love him unconditionally – You have kids, friends, family, work…Fido has you. Only you. He is devoted and adores you unconditionally. Loving him in the same way will result in a bond like none other you have ever experienced. You can trust him not to tell your secrets, he will alert you when you are in danger, and he’ll always be there to offer an escape (aka “hydrant party”) when your mother-in-law begins to give you guff about the house. When you are excited, he gets excited. When you hang your head to cry, he’s there with a nudge of his head and understanding eyes. So the next time he’s made a mess on the floor, chewed your favorite slipper or gets his fur on the upholstery, don’t get upset. Instead, hug him and grab the leash for a long leisurely walk.
4) Spend More Time Together – Walking, learning, playing; there are so many things you can do with your dog. Take a few minutes each day for a little mono-e-pup time. Tossing the ball around, taking a stroll through the woods or practicing your secret hand shake/high five combo are like canine code for, “I love you”. Remember, you are his WORLD!
5) Teach an old dog new tricks – Are paw shakes and rollovers child’s play? Dogs, like humans, LOVE to learn! Did you know that we have a professional trainer on our team? Mental stimulation can add years to your dog’s life, and working on new things together will bring you closer together. The folks at loveyourdog.com have created a list of fun tricks to inspire and intrigue you and your pup pal. And remember, practice makes perfect. If at first he doesn’t succeed, try, try again!