Does your dog scarf down his food?

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Sometimes dogs so things very fast…puppies grow up fast, dogs run fast, play fast, and wag their tails fast.  Some dogs even eat fast, which is not something that we, as pet owners, want them to do.  The risk of eating too fast is that they can suffer from bloat.  Bloat is when speedy eating and gulping cause excessive amounts of air, food, and liquid to fill the stomach and it blows up like a balloon.  The result is a trip to the vet and about 25-40% of dogs do not survive.  Luckily, pet owners have an easy solution for their pets ravenous eating.  It’s called the slow feeder dog bowl.  There are many different brands, but they all do the trick.  We, at Gwinnett Pet Watchers, have many clients that use these bowls for their dogs and they work great and save lives.  Do not take any chances if your dog is a rapid eater.  Go get yourself (and your pet) the slow feeder dog bowl!

What Are We Feeding Our Pets?

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Do You Realize What Harmful Ingredients Are In A Popular Dog Food Brand? 

 

I used to feed my dogs Iams food. Thirty years ago when I first started training dogs, Iams and Eukanuba were considered  very good dog food .  Did you know that Iams and Eukanuba yep, Proctor and gamble. Back then I was training dogs for an organization called  Bad Dogs Inc. The owner Bob Moorefield, was a big believer in good nutrition.  Bob also  feeding a good food meant cleaning up less waste.

Over the years the formula for both Iams and Eukenuba has changed. I know that I don’t know everything there is to know about dog food but I do know enough that I no longer put  Iams no longer  on my list of good dog foods.

Both Iams and Eukanuba contain Ethoxyquin. Ethoxyquin is a fat preservative used in some dog foods that is controversial. Some of these fears are linked with the product also being used as a pesticide and in making rubber. Most experts agree that when use properly the  additive is not toxic. For this reason after repeated investigations the United States FDA has ruled the additive may be safely used in animal feeds when used according to regulations.

 

Read more about Ethoxyguin later …

 

Do you brush your dog’s teeth?

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Dental health is very important to your dog’s health.  Get yourself a toothbrush made especially for canines; you can even get a full kit that includes the toothbrush and toothpaste.   It is important to get toothpaste made especially for canines or make a paste out of baking soda and water. Never use fluoride with dogs under six months of age—it can interfere with their enamel formation. And please do not use human toothpaste, which can irritate a dog’s stomach. Special mouthwash for dogs is also available—ask your vet.  After you have the correct supplies, taking these steps will make brushing a lot easier for the both of you:

  • First get your dog used to the idea of having her teeth brushed. Massage her lips with your finger in a circular motion for 30 to 60 seconds once or twice a day for a few weeks. Then move on to her teeth and gums.
  • When your pooch seems comfortable being touched this way, put a little bit of dog-formulated toothpaste or a paste of baking soda and water on her lips to get her used to the taste.
  • Next, introduce a toothbrush designed especially for dogs—it should be smaller than a human toothbrush and have softer bristles. Toothbrushes that you can wear over your finger (or a clean piece of gauze) are also available and allow you to give a nice massage to your dog’s gums.
  • Finally, apply the toothpaste to her teeth for a gentle brushing.
  • A veterinary exam beforehand may be helpful to find out if your dog’s gums are inflamed. If your dog has mild gingivitis, brushing too hard can hurt her gums.
  • Try to brush two to three times per week.

Following these simple steps can prevent gum disease and tartar on your dog’s teeth and we, at Gwinnett Pet Watchers, recommend it for all of our canine friends!

DOGTV

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Have you heard of the cable channel dedicated to entertaining your dogs while you are away from home?  It is called DOGTV and according to the network’s creators, their research has proven that it really does appeal to dogs.  The theory makes sense…you are at home on a quiet night with your dog curled up next to you on the couch watching tv, when something peaks your pup’s interest.  They get up, get close to the television and stare at the screen.  Why not create a 24 hour channel with things like bouncing balls, dogs playing at the park together, and grassy fields that your canine friend can enjoy?  The channel offers three to six minute segments with sights and sounds that your dog will love.  Pair this with a favorite bone or chew toy and you will have entertainment for hours.  The channel started out in California, but is now available right here in Lawrenceville, Buford, and all of Gwinnett County through DirecTV or online.

The Best Pet Sitter in Gwinnett County!

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Last Friday one of my sitters was having car trouble so I had to fill in. This was not a planned vacation so it gives me an excellent opportunity to check in and see how my sitters are treating our clients.
At one home I found a note thanking Amelia taking the time to pick up a little as she was washing the pets bowls. At another house the client came home while I was still walking their dogs so I had a chance to visit the owners. They could not say enough about how wonderful Amelia is. The praises range from her wonderful text messages, neighbors seeing how happy the pets are when being walked , and the fact the owner know the pets love her!
I am not saying that it is easy to find good people, but it sure is easy to recognize good people when you find them. A very special that a girl to Amelia, obviously you are going above and beyond to take care of our clients. Thank you for all you do every day!

amelia and her jack

If you live in the Lawrenceville, Buford, Sugar Hill, or Suwannee area and would like to have Amelia take care your pet(s) give me a call 404-819-3641 and we will set up a free consultation.

Snow Storm 2014

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What a crazy day at Gwinnett Pet Watchers. We all knew that the snow was coming, but I don’t think any of us had any idea that everyone was going to head home at the same time. This caused absolute gridlock in the city of Atlanta Georgia.

Gwinnett pet watchers is a pet sitting company that covers Gwinnett County. Gwinnett County is a northern suburb of Atlanta. Most of our clients do not work here in Gwinnett, but work inside the perimeter.

Around 1 o’clock on January 28, 2014; my phone started ringing off the hook. Many of my clients were tied up in the traffic trying to get home; and they were worried about their pets. The roads in Lawrenceville, Buford, Dacula, Lilburn and Snellville were just fine. The biggest problem we were running into was the traffic around schools where parents were picking up their children.

We have four sitters that cover Gwinnett County. So we split the clients up and  used our knowledge of back roads to  stay away from all schools. We were able to get all  of our clients home and take care of their  four legged kids. Everyone  got out to use the bathroom. We gave them  fresh water and food and got them settle down to wait for their parents to come home.

Yet another good reason to have a relationship with a pet sitter. You never know when an emergency will strike and you will need help with your fuzzy little friends.

A Trip to the Vet

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Jake split one of his nails playing fetch over the weekend. I took it to the vet this morning to have the nail cut back and see if he needed any antibiotics. You know these crazy people with their pets who are so overprotective that they actually make the dog nervous and obnoxious, oh my God I am That pet owner!!
When the vet tech came in I explained that and Jake is very skittish and i was concerned that he might nip if he was frightened. I proceeded to put a box muzzle on him to protect him from himself. She then put a leash on him and was going to walk him to the back room to get weighed and get is now clipped. As she was leading him through the door he put on his brakes and looked at me with those big brown eyes. I told her he might not go with her and that I probably should walk with them. She looked at me with the same look I give my clients and said trust me as soon as that door is closed and he can’t see you I will have better control of him.
A few minutes later they came back in. She had the muzzle in her hand and Jake was wagging his tail. she said he had been perfect. He had let them cut his nails and got his rabies shot. She said he was a perfect gentleman not a whiner and did everything they asked him to.
It’s funny how I know all this stuff and put it into practice daily, but when it comes to my pets I turn into “That” pet owner.  I really could be one of my own clients.

New York Governor Signs Puppy Mill Regulation Bill

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What a great victory for animal rights.

I don’t know if you have walked through any of our shelters lately, they are overflowing with pets who need homes. I hear the well meaning message from  rescue groups “don’t buy a puppy until all animals  in our shelters have homes.” While this is well meant it doesn’t address the root of the problem. We must put  puppy mills and backyard breeders out of business or  we will continue to fight a losing battle against the overpopulation in our shelters.

Many of you who know me know I think less government is better. However government should stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. That would include the elderly, children, and animals.

Obviously the laws that we have on the books right now either are not being implemented or just don’t work. It is time to make some changes. Good job New York, the state of Georgia could take a list lesson on this one.

Another Great WalMart Find

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On the same day I found the Grandma’s Casserole, I decide to look up another dog food that had peaked my interest that is kept in a colder.  Freshpet Selects slice and serve.  Looking at the package makes one think this would be a very helpful dog food, but as we all know packaging can be very deceiving, otherwise I would be feeding my dogs Beneful  with all the pictures of vegetables and fresh meat on the package.

However when I did my research on Freshpet Select I was very pleasantly surprised as it gets a five star rating! And you can buy it in most grocery stores!!

This product comes in a roll, I take it and stuff my dogs Kong’s and that is how I now serve them there dinner.  Not only do the dogs love this new twist at dinner time, it takes them a while to eat it, so I get a few min to unwind or in most cases fix my two legged family their dinner.

We give Freshpet Selects Four Paws Up!   Let us know if your dog likes it as much as ours.

Your Puppy and their Pet Sitter

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Well it is definitely that time of year where people have gotten puppies for Christmas presents. They are totally adorable bundles of fur and love.  You took the time to pick the perfect puppy that will fit in with your family. You have spent days coming up with unique name for this wonderful new arrival. Now the real work starts. While the puppy is young it is the perfect time to instill the rules of the house to ensure a lifelong loving happy relationship.

 

The phones at Gwinnett Pet Watchers are ringing off the hook. New and existing clients are calling to get our help in raising their new puppy’s. This is one of our favorite times of the year. After all we get all the snuggles all the puppy breath without ever getting our shoes chewed on.

We have a special product called a potty break. We offer this service for all of Lawrenceville, Buford, Dacula ,Sugar Hill and Suwannee . We also offer this service to most of Loganville, Grayson and Snellville. We added the potty break to our line’s of  services when we realized there were a lot of people in Gwinnett County that are away from home for long periods of time Monday through Fridaybecause of their long commute to work . The potty break is ideal for the dog whose owner is at home in the morning, and in the evening to walk and give it plenty of attention. What we do is come in the middle of the day and get the pup to outside for a bathroom break.

People with new puppies use this service a little differently. Many will have us come in at 10 or 10:30 AM for the first break and then come back around 2 or 2:30 PM for the second break. With this schedule the puppy is only in its crate for 3 to 4 hours in between breaks. The client pays $10 per visit and in this example $20 per day. A price that is well worth the jumpstart to house training.

 

When the puppy gets to be about eight months old (like children each puppy develops at a different rate) we can usually move to one 30 minute walk. This gets the puppy out of its crate for a nice walk to get some exercise and to expel some energy. This  makes for a much happier experience for the owners when they come home from a long day at the office.

Call us today 404-819-3641 to  set up your free consultation. We can come up with the perfect plan for you and your new puppy.