Thanksgiving Tips for You and Your Dog

Thanksgiving is almost here! The start of the winter holiday season brings with it the opportunity to spend time with family and friends, expressing thankfulness for their presence in your life. This thankfulness can extend to the pets in your life as well. Below you will find some simple, effective ways to express thankfulness toward your pets.

Don’t Feed Fido Human Fare

Although you may be tempted to share with your pet some of the delicious meals you are enjoying with friends, you should resist doing so. Dogs have very sensitive stomachs, and even a relatively small amount of human food can give him diarrhea, constipation or another unpleasant illness. Pancreatitis is a common condition that dogs get from being fed from the dining room table. The high fat content of human foods causes their pancreas to swell, causing much discomfort. Signs of pancreatitis include lack of appetite, diarrhea and depression.

No Bones Whatsoever

Never, ever feed your pet bones from your table. These bones, especially if they are chicken or turkey bones, can splinter and break while your dog is swallowing them, necessitating an emergency visit to the vet. Additionally, salmonella is occasionally found in the center of the bones of poultry, even when the meat is well-cooked. Keeping these bones away from your pet is an easy way of lessening his chances of becoming sick.

Safety Zone

The presence of new people in your home may cause your pet to experience insecurity. He probably will not appreciate the chaos and noise as much as you do. Try to make a safe haven for your pet somewhere in the house, away from all the traffic and noise. Allow your pet to spend time in the safety zone now so that he can become accustomed to it. If you wait until the day the festivities begin to confine your pet, he may become angry with you.

Thanksgiving And Black Friday Walks

Chances are, you probably will not have time to walk your canine. This is why you should hire a dog walker. Dog walkers ensure that your pet is not lonely and gets the exercise he needs while you are enjoying the holidays. As many dog walkers celebrate Thanksgiving themselves, it is important to book your dog walking appointment well in advance. And maybe you could even tip the dog walker, for taking care of your dog on a holiday.

Active Canines of the Bluegrass

I am a unique, owner operated pet assistive services business in Lexington, KY. I am insured & licensed and have worked as a registered nurse in Lexington hospitals for the last 23 yrs. I can supply excellent references upon request. Our initial “meet and sniff” visit will be complimentary to allow for the assessment of your needs and approval by all involved. I can care for any type of pet that may share your world—-making your life less hectic and your pet’s life more satisfying. Let me lighten your care responsibilities on a daily/weekly visit schedule, or just during those times when you must leave town and can’t take your pet along! While dog walking and pet sitting are my most frequent requests, I can tailor my care to include many services which other companies just might not offer. Call today for a needs assessment and see just what I can do to make your life easier!

Fees:
remember, if you hire me, I will be the one coming and going from your home!

Initial consultation visit is free. You may not like me, your pet might not like me (can’t ever remember that!), or, whatever! There are a few papers to sign giving me the ability to take your pet to the vet if an emergency would occur, general info stuff, you can show me what you feed, where it is kept, and any other things you would want me to take care of for you. This is when I need to get a key from you if you are going to hire my service.

20-30 minute walk on leash in your neighborhood $18.00
45 minute walk on leash in your neighborhood $22.00
Each additional dog walked at the same time, add $2.00
“Potty” visit to go out in their own yard, no walk $13.00

Kitty Visit $13.00
Each additional kitty, add $2.00

Medication Administration $2.00

Yard Clean Up: Depends on the size of the yard, the number of dogs, how long it’s been since it was last cleaned, and the frequency of clean ups. We can talk about price on this service.

I can also pick your dog up and take it to vet/groomer appts. and then ferry it back home if you have that need, and I will bath dogs upon request. My full listing of prices is on my web site, and custom pet/
personal services are offered with pricing assessed at that time. Don’t be afraid to ask.