Search Results for: blog boarding an older pet

Keeping Pets Warm in Cold Weather

We’ve been having an “arctic blast” here in the Pacific Northwest… and boy has it been COLD! I worry about keeping my dogs warm when we’re out walking — I bundle up with coat, hat, and gloves, but they’re out there in just their fur. My dogs Moose and Lally tolerate wearing clothes reasonably well. So if I were to buy them coats to wear, I think they would be willing to wear them. But booties to protect their feet? No way. A hat to protect their ears? Doubtful. So what can you do to protect your pets from the … Continue reading →

Ask a Pets Blogger: Helping Pets with Flaky Skin

My cat has terrible dandruff… at least I think it’s dandruff! She’s always got flakes on her skin and in her coat. What can I do to clear this up? This is a conversation I get to have often at the cats-only boarding facility where I work. As part of our check-in process, we give each cat a quick brushing with a very fine-toothed comb. Our goal is to check for fleas, but we often end up talking to owners about skin and coat care… and dandruff. Dry skin can be a seasonal problem, especially in the winter months when … Continue reading →

The Subtlety of Pets and Health

We recently had a guest at the cats-only boarding facility who was very sick. We just didn’t know it. This particular cat is one who comes to stay with us every few months. She’s an older lady of fourteen, with no apparent health issues and a love of a good brushing. As compared to other guests, she’s a quiet one. She’s happy to curl up on her fleece blanket most of the day, watching the world go by. But out of nowhere, she threw up one morning. A few days after that, one of my coworkers noticed a strange smell … Continue reading →

Coming Back to Hurt Pets After Vacation

When Wayne and I went on our vacation to Alaska, we boarded Murphy in a “pet resort.” A neighbor watched the cats for us. (She graciously offered to watch Murph, too, but we didn’t want to overwhelm her. She has four kids, school had only started the week before so they were still getting back in that groove, plus she has two dogs –one of which is a new puppy with potty training problems– and a cat of her own. We didn’t want to add having to walk Murph four times a day to her To Do list.) Separation Anxiety … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for May 26 – June 1

I goofed and missed last week’s Week in Review. Rather than catching you up on two week’s worth of articles, I’ll just start anew with what Aimee and I wrote last week. Enjoy! Monday, May 26 Aimee educated us about the Bichon Frise breed. Tuesday, May 27 In a Diary of a Cat Care B&B entry, Aimee mused about smelly cats. (It was very educational. Who knew there were so many kinds of bad cat odors? And causes of them too!) Wednesday, May 28 I wrote about the incredible video of a baby water buffalo surviving a lion and crocodile … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for April 14-20

If the spring in the air has kept you out instead of in more, but you still want to keep up on the happenings in the Pets Blog, fear not. This handy Week in Review will keep you in the loop about Aimee and I wrote about on: Monday, April 14 Aimee covered everything you’d ever want to know about guinea pig cages. Sometimes an inspirational animal story comes along that is just marvelously wonderful. The story of Oscar the naked cockatoo is just such a story. Tuesday, April 15 There is both an art and science to guinea pig … Continue reading →

Boarding an Older Pet

At the cats-only boarding facility, we see guests of all ages from playful kittens to sedate seniors. But if you own a senior pet, you may have more prep work before you board your cat or dog. Older pets often have more health issues than a young or adult (non-senior) pet. Your senior pup or kitty may not have the energy for long walks or hours of play. Your pet may have a health condition that requires daily medication, or a special diet. Some pets only need medication when they exhibit certain symptoms. Here are a few things you may … Continue reading →

The Basics of Horse Care, Pt. 1

With the Christmas season approaching many of us might be considering giving pets as gifts. I’ve always been clear on my stance: don’t give any animal as a surprise present. Make sure the giftee knows what he or she is receiving and is ready and willing for the responsibilities which come with that particular animal. Maybe some of you are actually thinking about purchasing a particular pet that was always my special holidays dream: a horse. Sure I wanted a dog, but I always thought that might be within the realm of possibility. A horse is what I always wanted … Continue reading →

Preparing your home for vacation

As time draws near for going on an vacation, I am beginning to compile in my mind all of the things I need to before I leave. This is a good opportunity to share these things with you. 1: Use a note book or journal: The first thing you need to do is get and find a notebook or journal to use for your vacation and vacation planning. I like to use a bright colored folder with a clasp on it so nothing falls out. In it I put a notepad and this is where I begin to compile important … Continue reading →

New Summer Thrills at SeaWorld Orlando

If the prospect of getting soaked by Shamu and friends in the “splash zone” at SeaWorld Orlando is not exciting enough for your brood of thrill seeking offspring, then get ready to kick your trip up a notch by boarding Manta. Seaworld’s newest attraction is the park’s first roller coaster in a decade. The high-concept thrill ride incorporates real-life sea creatures and enough twists and turns to make a real dent in the highly competitive theme park capitol of the world. Which is not to say that SeaWorld is trying to create the fastest, tallest or scariest new theme park … Continue reading →