White Coat Syndrome: How to Make the Vet Less Scary

(DISCLAIMER: We are dog trainers and pet sitters. Any tips or information in these blogs are things we have found helpful in our years of experience. We are not veterinarians and any questions about health or nutrition should be directed to your veterinarian.)

It’s that time of year again. Your palms are sweating, your heart is racing, and there’s a knot of dread in your stomach. It’s time to take your pet to the vet for his annual checkup. You know as soon as you pull in, your pet becomes a drooling, shivering, mess. You’re wondering if there’s a way to make it less stressful on both of you. The good news is yes, there is!

One of the reasons why pets get so stressed at the vet is every time they go they get shots and handled in a way that they are not accustomed to. They have learned over time that scary things happen every time they go. Here are a few tips to make the next vet visit less scary.

 

Get your pet used to riding in a car
If your dog or cat only gets in the car when they go to the vet, taking them for a drive on a regular basis will help them to be more calm. Give them treats to help them build a positive association with the car. Remember to use appropriate safety restraints every time you take your pet for a car ride.

 

Leave the cat carrier out at all times
Most cats know when they see the carrier come out of the basement or closet, that it’s time for a trip to the vet. Instead, leave the carrier out where your cat can go in and out as they please on a regular basis. This way the crate becomes a place of fun and safety for them. If you don’t like the way it looks in a room you can always find a decorative blanket to cover it with or place it under an end table. Right before it is time to leave, you can use catnip or toys to encourage your cat to go in. Using a pheromone spray such as Feliway on the carrier can help calm your cat as well.

Annie the cat with her "party hat"

Annie the cat with her “party hat”

Bring your pet to the vet just to visit
Bring your pet into the clinic just to say hello so they can make positive associations with their trip. Give them treats in the lobby and allow the staff to pet them if they have time. For dogs, you can use treats to lure them onto the scale. This will help them to look forward to visiting the vet rather than knowing every time they go that something scary will happen.

 

Making positive associations with “scary” things the vet may look at
Help your dog or cat feel more comfortable with the “scary” things that may happen at their exam or even a trip to a groomer. While spending time with your furry friend at home make sure to handle their ears, toes and maybe lift a lip to peek at their teeth during a petting session if they allow it. Don’t do too much too quick and when handling these areas accompany it with praise and treats. Remember not to push any limits at home and watch for signs of fear and or aggression and back off if you see this. While it may not seem like a big deal to us these parts can be scary for your pet to let someone handle.

 

If these tips do not seem to reduce your pet’s anxiety at the clinic, talk with your veterinarian. There may be medications that your vet can prescribe that will make your pet more comfortable.

 

Regular veterinary checkups are important to the health and well-being of your pet. These tips should help make your next vet visit less stressful for you both!

 

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Guest Blog: A Cat Safe Holiday

 Dr Barclay from Abbeywood Cat Hospital provided us with this informative blog entry to help keep your cat safe and happy this holiday season.  Thank you Dr Barclay!  You can visit her clinic website at www.abbeywoodcathospital.com

The Holiday Season has arrived, a time for decorating, partying, feasting, fun and limitless opportunities for cat-related holiday mishaps. While there is no way to fully cat-proof this time of year, an awareness of potential problems is helpful.

Decorations abound during the holidays. Things we see as sources of ornamentation for our homes, the cat sees them as curiosities to be explored. Trees to climb, candles to knock over, ornaments to chase and break, lights, garland and tinsel to chew on, the list goes on. Take a step back from the scene to look for things that are shiny, wiggly, colorful, illuminated or even just different, and know these are intriguing to your cat. Try to decorate with non-breakable items when possible, avoid live flames, be sure trees and other decorations are held securely. If your cat is a particularly curious or bold individual, you may want to limit the cat’s access to decorated sections of the home.
Holiday plants are another source of trouble. Some holiday plants contain toxic substances and will cause illness if ingested. This ASPCA link is a good resource regarding toxic plants https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list. Keep in mind, however, that any ingested plant material, chemically toxic or not, can cause illness. The physical presence of foreign plant material in the cat’s stomach is enough to make many cats quite sick. Live evergreens, the staple of many holiday decorations, are another source of problems. Some cats are allergic to evergreens and will develop a skin rash when exposed. Contact with the sap can result in skin irritation. Ever try removing sticky tree sap from the coat of a cat? Have fun with that! Do not let the cat drink from the water reservoir of your tree, especially if you have added a preservative to it. And remember, no matter how beautifully decorated it may be, it is still a tree, and from your cat’s perspective it is there to be climbed. If you allow your cat to be near the tree, be sure it is secure in the stand and consider additional reinforcements or supports.
Guests, unusual schedules, and holiday parties are another source of feline angst this time of year. The stresses associated with these events can result in medical and/or behavioral problems for many cats. Stress is not just a state of mind; when stressed the body responds with chemical changes that can affect pre-existing medical problems. The eating pattern of your cat may be affected by the presence of unfamiliar people or pets in the home. These factors should be discussed with your veterinarian as medication, or changes in medication, may be necessary. This is particularly important for older more fragile cats, and cats with health problems such as diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease or urinary tract disorders. Behavior problems including inappropriate litter box behavior and aggression can be precipitated by the arrival of guests. Doors being opened frequently and a frightened cat are the recipe for a lost pet. Providing your cat with a private, quiet place to be away from the action is always recommended. The cat retreat should include food, water, a nice place to sleep and a litter box. And make sure your cat is microchipped, just in case!

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Here’s “Princess” the cat reminding you to check your fridge before closing if you have a curious cat like her!

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A Happy Dog Thanksgiving!

(DISCLAIMER: We are dog trainers and pet sitters. Any tips or information in these blogs are things we have found helpful in our years of experience. We are not veterinarians and any questions about health or nutrition should be directed to your veterinarian.)

As we gather around the table for Thanksgiving dinner, we call to mind things in our lives that we are thankful for and often, our dogs are at the top of the list. They greet us with wagging tails, cuddle with us when we are sick or sad, and provide hours of entertainment with their antics. While we include our pets in our celebration, here are a few tips to keep them healthy and happy during the holiday season.

 

1.) Do not feed your dog table scraps. In my years of working as a veterinary assistant, I have seen many dogs get sick from ingesting table food. Items that contain onions, garlic, grapes or chocolate can be toxic to your dog and turkey bones can splinter, damaging the stomach and intestines. Instead, spoil them with a new toy or special dog treat that they can enjoy during dinner. If you have guests that will feed the dog from the table, consider putting your dog in his crate or in another room during the meal. Besides making your dog sick, feeding your dog from the table can encourage begging.

 

2.) If your dog accidentally gets into something he should not have and becomes ill, seek veterinary help immediately. Waiting until your regular vet is open on Monday can have serious consequences for your dog. Familiarize yourself with local emergency clinics in the event that something should happen.

 

3.) Large groups of people coming into your home can be stressful for your dog. Even the biggest social butterfly can become overwhelmed. Have a quiet area for your dog to go when they want to take a break from company. A crate or a dog bed in a quiet room are good alternatives.

 

4.) Do not force your dog to socialize if he does not want to. It is always a good idea to let your dog make the first move when meeting a new person. Dogs that are nervous can feel threatened if someone they do not know reaches in for a pet. You can arm your guests with treats that they can drop for your dog to help him feel more comfortable.

 

5.) If you will be traveling during the holidays, be sure to make arrangements for your dog in advance. Both boarding facilities and in-home pet sitters book quickly during the holiday season. Be sure to leave ample time for your dog to get any needed vaccinations.

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Sheila, one of Pawty’s favorite cattle dogs, wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

From the Pawty family to yours, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Heather Hummel

Dog Trainer/Caregiver

Who Wants To Pawty LLC

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PAWTY POINTERS – Potty Training Tips

(DISCLAIMER: We are dog trainers and pet sitters. Any tips or information in these blogs are things we have found helpful in our years of experience. We are not veterinarians and any questions about health or nutrition should be directed to your veterinarian.)

Brining a new puppy or dog home is typically one of the happiest events in a family’s household.  With it comes many challenges, potty training being one of them!  Here are some tips to help with this ever so important task.

 

  • Keep your dog on a schedule. For young puppies, depending on how many weeks old and their size, taking them out every thirty minutes to every hour is recommended if they have an area large enough to move around and play in. At night time or when you are away from the house, they don’t have to go out as often if crated in an appropriate sized space. A good rule of thumb to follow is one hour for every month old they are, plus one. (i.e.) A nine week old puppy may be able to stay crated for three hours. The more opportunities you give them to go outside and go potty the less likely they are to have accidents in the house or crate. Your dog should also be taken outside immediately after waking up from sleeping, after eating, and after vigorous playtime.

  •  Pick an area of your yard that you would like to use as the potty area. Take your dog out on a leash to that same spot in the yard every time. Take your treats with you so you can give your dog a treat and praise him immediately after he goes potty. After your dog goes potty you can give him some playtime off-leash if you have a fenced-in yard. This will help teach your dog to go potty as soon as he goes outside. It is important to praise him immediately after he goes potty rather than waiting until he goes into the house. By waiting until he goes into the house, your dog will think you are rewarding him for coming inside rather than for going potty.

  • Crate training your dog is also helpful with potty training. Your dog’s crate should be just large enough for him to stand up, turn around, and lay down sideways. If the crate is too large, your dog can go potty in the corner of the crate and then curl up and sleep in a different part. Most dogs will not potty where they sleep. Remember, the crate should always be a safe place and never used as punishment.

  • Supervise your dog at all times so they cannot go into another room and have an accident. If you cannot keep an eye on your dog, for example while you are making dinner, put him in his crate.

  • NEVER scold your dog or rub his nose in it for having an accident. Your dog will not understand that you are angry that he went potty in the wrong place, your dog will think that you are angry that he went potty. Scolding him for going potty in the wrong place can also create an aversion for him to go potty in front of you outside which can make it very difficult to praise him for doing the right thing. If you notice your dog about to have an accident indoors, clap your hands or whistle to startle him. Usually this will stop a puppy from what they are doing, take him and immediately go outside with him. Be sure to stay outside with him so you can praise him when he goes potty outside.

  • Clean up any accidents with a cleaner that contains enzymes such as Nature’s Miracle. Bleach or cleaners without enzymes will kill the germs but will not break down the urine or feces and get rid of them completely. If your dog can smell where he had gone potty previously, he will be more likely to return to that spot and have an accident again.

  • Keep a notebook by the door where you can write down what time you took your dog out and what your dog did while he was outside. After a couple of days you will start to notice patterns and your dog’s potty habits. This will help you plan when your dog’s potty breaks should be. The most important part of potty training is patience. Every dog is different in the amount of time it takes, but consistency in schedule and routine is key!

Cuteness brought to you by "Aspen" the puppy!

Cuteness brought to you by “Aspen” the puppy!

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Indoor Fun To Prevent Winter Boredom In Dogs

(DISCLAIMER: We are dog trainers and pet sitters. Any tips or information in these blogs are things we have found helpful in our years of experience. We are not veterinarians and any questions about health or nutrition should be directed to your veterinarian.)

     I look out the window at the at the softly falling snow. A gentle wind blows the snow across the ground. I appreciate the beauty of winter until I look at the thermometer, it’s a whopping 5 degrees and the wind chill makes it feel like -10. My Australian Cattle Dog, Sheila, sits by the door and looks at me hopefully wanting to go for a run or have a nice, long game of fetch. “Sorry Sheila” I say “Looks like we’re going to have to play inside. Again.”

     This is a problem dog owners run into every winter. Your dog is bored. You know they need exercise, but its too cold to have them outside for longer than a few minutes. So what’s a dog owner to do? Here are a few ideas to help keep the winter boredom at bay.

     Winter is a great time to enroll your dog in a training class. Obedience training is a great way to not only teach your dog manners but to challenge their mind. Teaching your dog something new is a great way to burn energy. If you think about the last time you had to do something mentally challenging such as taking a test, preparing for a presentation at work, or doing your taxes, you probably felt pretty tired afterwards. The same is true for your dog. Besides obedience classes, there are also classes that teach tricks, nose work, and dogs sports such as Agility or Flyball. There is a class out there for every dog and every interest.

     It is possible to exercise your dog indoors. Some dogs really enjoy learning to walk on a treadmill. In fact, I think they like it more than most humans do. The important thing to remember is to be safe and start the treadmill very slowly at first. As they get more comfortable, you can start to increase the speed.

     If you have an open area in your house, you could also play fetch with your dog indoors. Instead of using a tennis ball that could potentially break lamps or TVs, use a soft cloth ball and don’t throw as far as you would outside. When using a shorter throw, you can also teach your dog to “Catch” the ball and bring it back to you.

     As a kid, you probably enjoyed playing “Hide and Seek”. Well, your dog does too! Take several small treats and hide them throughout the house for your dog to find. This will work your dog’s nose and his mind as he searches for the treats. You can also do this before you leave the house to keep your dog entertained while you are gone.

     If you see your dog as the intellectual type, there are plenty of puzzle toys out there to challenge your dog’s mind. You hide treats in the compartments of the puzzle and your dog will have to slide doors open or flip doors up to get to the treats. There are also treat dispensing balls that your dog rolls around the floor to dispense the treats. To help avoid weight gain, instead of using treats, you can feed your dog his dinner in a puzzle. My dog, Sheila, loves it!

     As you can see, there are a lot of ways to have fun with your dog even when the weather is bad. Until next time, stay warm Pawty fans!

 

-Heather Hummel
Pet Sitter/Dog Trainer
Who Wants to Pawty LLC

 

Have a topic that you would like us to blog about? Please leave a comment on our Facebook Page under the link of the latest blog announcement! We just may pick the topic you ask for!

PAWTY POINTERS – 10 Uses for “Wait” and “Stay”

(DISCLAIMER: We are dog trainers and pet sitters. Any tips or information in these blogs are things we have found helpful in our years of experience. We are not veterinarians and any questions about health or nutrition should be directed to your veterinarian.)

Greetings Pawty fans! We are happy to introduce “Pawty Pointers”,  a series within the Pawty Blog to bring you helpful tips and information. We hope that you find Pawty Pointers useful and educational!

 “Wait” and “Stay” are two commands that will help your dog with impulse control as well as help to keep them safe. In today’s blog we will discuss 10 ways to use these helpful commands.

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“Pawty Pete” demonstrating the “Wait” cue while his doggie friend photo bombed him from around the fireplace!

1. Door Darting: The front door is a very exciting place for your dog. They go out to go on a walk, their family comes home through it, and groceries and the pizza guy come through it. However, it can also be a dangerous place. If your dog runs out the door, they could knock someone down, run away and become lost, or get hit by a car. Teaching your dog to sit and wait at the door until you give him permission to go out can help protect him from these things.

 

2. If your dog gets excited at meal times, teaching him to sit and wait until you set the food bowl down will help keep your dog from knocking the bowl out of your hands.

 

3. Is your dog underfoot while you a trying to cook? Teaching your dog to stay out of the kitchen while you are preparing meals can help keep you from tripping over your dog and hurting yourselves. This will also protect your dog from any hot liquids or foods that may spill while cooking.

 

4. If your dog has a habit of jumping up on you or guests, teaching your dog to stay in a specific place such as a dog bed or a rug can help break them of that habit.

 

5. In the house, stairs can be a potential hazard. If your dog runs up or down the stairs at the same time as people do, someone could trip and fall. This is especially true if there are children or elderly people in the house. To prevent this, you can teach your dog to wait at the top or bottom of the stairs until the humans are finished using them.

 

6. Busy parking lots can be a dangerous place for your dog. By teaching your dog to wait after you have opened the car door, you can look around to make sure that no cars are coming before you allow your dog to get out of the car.

 

7. Besides parking lots, busy streets can also be a dangerous place. It’s a good idea to teach your dog to sit and wait at intersections until you give them permission to cross the street. This will keep them from running into traffic and potentially getting hurt.

 

8. “Wait” and “Stay” can also keep your dog from getting into things that could be potentially harmful. If you drop a glass and it breaks or you drop a bottle of pills on the floor, you can have your dog sit and stay while you clean up the mess. This type of situation is where the “Leave It” command is also very helpful. We will discuss this command in a later blog.

 

9. Impress your friends! You can show off how well-behaved your dog is when you have him sit and stay while you walk out of the room or have him sit and stay for 30 seconds or more.

 

10. “Stay” and “Wait” are also building blocks for more complicated tricks such as balancing a treat on your dog’s nose or learning to jump up and sit on a stool or block. Once your dog knows basic obedience skills, they can learn all sorts of fun tricks!

 

Have a topic that you would like us to blog about?  Please leave a comment on our Facebook Page under the link of the latest blog announcement!  We just may pick the topic you ask for!

A Few Winter Safety Tips

 (DISCLAIMER: We are dog trainers and pet sitters. Any tips or information in these blogs are things we have found helpful in our years of experience. We are not veterinarians and any questions about health or nutrition should be directed to your veterinarian.)

     Greetings Pawty fans! I’m Heather and I’m a Dog Trainer/Caregiver for Who Wants to Pawty LLC. I am thrilled to be writing for the Pawty Blog. As anyone who knows me knows, I can talk for hours about pets. Since we’re enjoying some lovely winter weather, I thought I’d take the opportunity to talk about winter safety for your pets.

     Extremely cold temperatures are just as dangerous for your pets as they are for people. Frostbite and hypothermia can happen in a matter of minutes. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to protect your pets during the winter months.

     The first is pretty simple, don’t leave your pets outside for long periods of time. If your dog is anything like mine, they probably don’t want to be outside for longer than they have to be when the wind chill is -25º F. You can also put a jacket or a sweater on your pet to help keep them warm, especially if they still like to go for walks in the winter. To protect your dog’s paws from cold sidewalks and salt, you can put boots on them. Besides keeping their paws warm and providing traction in icy conditions, boots provide entertainment for the humans as you watch them get used to walking in them. There are the YouTube videos to prove it.

     Speaking of salt, be sure to use a pet-safe brand of sidewalk salt. The chemicals in traditional salt can make your pet sick and cause irritation to the paw pads.

     Anti-freeze will keep your car from freezing but it is extremely toxic to your pets. Check underneath your car frequently and clean up any anti-freeze leaks. Keep bottles of anti-freeze far out of reach of your pets. If you think your pet may have ingested anti-freeze they need to be seen by a veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. If your regular veterinarian isn’t available, they need to be taken to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital. It only takes a small amount of anti-freeze to make them very sick.

     Sadly, not all pets have warm homes to live in. Stray dogs or cats will often hide under cars or in the wheel wells to try to escape the cold. Small kittens or mice may even crawl up under the hood. Before you drive, check to be sure that an animal isn’t using your car as shelter from the cold.

     Now that you have these tips to help keep your pets safe, in an upcoming blog I will talk about how to keep your dog entertained when it’s too cold to play outside.

-Heather Hummel
Dog Trainer/Caregiver

  Have a topic that you would like us to blog about?  Please leave a comment on our Facebook Page under the link of the latest blog announcement!  We just may pick the topic you ask for!

CUTE LITTLE "ELWOOD" THE DOG SPORTING HIS SWEATER AND BOOTS!

CUTE LITTLE “ELWOOD” THE DOG SPORTING HIS SWEATER AND BOOTS!

 

How The “Pawty” Started

Our Very First Blog Entry!  Welcome And Enjoy!

(DISCLAIMER: We are dog trainers and pet sitters. Any tips or information in these blogs are things we have found helpful in our years of experience. We are not veterinarians and any questions about health or nutrition should be directed to your veterinarian.)

Hello Pawty fans and welcome to The Pawty Blog! We will be bringing you posts about dog training, pet safety, and tips from your pet sitter. In the mix, some posts will be serious while others will be just for fun and we hope to include some guest bloggers as well! New to the Pawty? Let us introduce you to Who Wants to Pawty LLC.

     Who Wants to Pawty LLC was started by Anne VanderMeulen, the President of the company. Anne left a career in banking to pursue her dream of working with animals in 2000 when she took her first job at a veterinary clinic. Through her years of working in veterinary clinics, Anne saw the need for in-home pet care. She saw in-home pet care not just as pet sitting when owners went on vacation, but also for owners who needed help administering medications to their pets. In 2012, Anne founded Who Wants to Pawty LLC.

     Who Wants to Pawty LLC started off as a pet sitting and dog walking company. Most of the early clients were cat owners that Anne met while working at Abbeywood Cat Clinic (now Abbeywood Cat Hospital in Westmont, IL). Anne saw pet sitting not just as feeding pets and cleaning up after them, but giving them the same love and affection as she would her own pets.

     As the business grew, Anne needed additional pet sitters to handle the growing demand. Anne hired her first employee in the summer 2012 and from there, the business continued to grow. Today, Who Wants to Pawty LLC has a team of pet sitters that share Anne’s passion for pet care.

     While pet sitting was growing, Anne wanted to expand Pawty further. Anne wanted to add dog training to the list of services Who Wants to Pawty LLC offered. She hired a pet sitter that was also a dog trainer. While she had heard wonderful things about her as a trainer, Anne wanted to have the knowledge herself before offering training classes. That’s when Anne decided to enroll at Animal Behavior College to become a certified dog trainer. Anne graduated with honors in 2014 and on December 3, 2014, Who Wants to Pawty LLC held it’s first group dog training class which met at The Animal Clinic of Romeoville. Who Wants to Pawty LLC offers Pawty Basics 101 and 102, which cover levels 1 and 2 of basic obedience as well as solutions to common problem behaviors such as jumping up, chewing, barking, etc. Who Wants to Pawty LLC has plans to offer other types of group classes in the near future and also offers private, in-home training sessions.

     We are very excited to be bringing you the Pawty Blog to start off 2015. Keep watching our blog and website for other exciting offerings that this year will bring.

Check back in the next day or two for our first Winter Safety Post!