To Retract or Not to Retract - Weighing the Pros and Cons of Retractable Leashes

I recently had a situation come up with one of my sitters - she was walking two small dogs, both on retractable leashes (provided by the client...we typically use our client's equipment when pet sitting). One of the pups pooped and as she was bent over picking up the steamy treasure (both retractable leashes in one hand), one of the dogs spotted another dog across the street, darted after it and pulled his leash from my sitter's hand. A small scuffle between the dogs ensued, but my sitter was ultimately able to grab the pup and regain control of the situation. Both dogs are fine, but it could have been much, much worse.

There are benefits to retractable leashes: they give dogs more freedom to roam and explore without tugging and pulling on their walker, they fit comfortably in a human hand, and the spring-loaded cord eliminates getting the leash tangled up in the dog's legs.

A typical cord burn from a 
retractable leash

But lets take a look at some of the risks according to healthypets.mercola.com and my personal experiences:

• Some retractable leashes can extend up to 26 feet, allowing dogs to get quite far from their humans, making them able to run into the street or make unwanted contact with other dogs or people.
• The cords of retractable leashes are typically very thin and could snap in an instant should a large-sized dog take off at full speed. Not only can this put the dog (and whatever he is chasing) in danger, but also the human if the cord snaps back at the other end.
• Personal experience has shown me that those cords HURT! Attempts to "reel" a dog in by grabbing the cord can result in burns and nasty cuts. I have suffered many a burn from these cords getting wrapped around my ankles.
• Dogs can be in danger of neck injuries, wounds, lacerated tracheas, and injuries to the spine as a result of the sudden jerk that occurs when they entirely run out the leash.
• The handles of retractable leashes are bulky and can be easily pulled out of human hands, resulting in a runaway dog...see first paragraph of this post!
• Retractable leashes actually encourage dogs to pull while on them because the dogs learn that pulling extends the lead.

What do I recommend? A standard six-foot leash with a loop at the end so that you can put your hand through it. Proper training for your dog to walk politely and properly on a leash is also helpful.

AlleyCat's Pet Service will soon be adopting a "No Retractable Leash" policy. All sitters will be equipped with six-foot, standard leashes (hot pink, of course) to use on all of our dog walks...just another way to keep our furry friends safe and happy!

Post by: Allison Otero, owner of AlleyCat's Pet Service

alleycatspetservice.com

Love is in the Air: Valentine's Day Safety Tips for Your Pets

 Valentine's Day - a day for flowers, chocolates, champagne, and other delights. Fun and romance for humans can lead to ruff times for our furry and not-so-furry pets. Here are some tips to keep your babies safe this holiday season:

Flowers - Did you know that lilies are EXTREMELY toxic to cats and cause kidney failure that sometimes leads to death? Even the tiniest of nibbles of any part of the lily can be dangerous. So, if you receive a beautiful bouquet of flowers and it contains lilies, better pluck them out and toss them, or, better yet...make a smaller arrangement with them and keep them at work or in a part of your house where cats are off-limits. If you think your kitty has ingested any part or amount of a lily plant, immediately take them to the vet. Click here for a complete list of toxic and non-toxic plants.

Chocolate - MMMMM! Most people's favorite part of Valentine's Day. But, as we all know, chocolate can spell trouble for our canine friends and family. The toxicity level depends on a few things such as: the size of your dog, the kind of chocolate (baker's, semi-sweet, milk, or dark), and whether it's mixed into something else like cake or cookies. Generally, the darker and more solid, the higher the toxicity. If you suspect your pooch has eaten some chocolate, don't panic! Call the ASPCA Poison Control number and they can tell you by the amount of chocolate your dog ate, what product it was, and how big your dog is how worried you need to be (peoplepets.com/people/pets/article).

Sugar-free Foods - In this day and age, where everyone is watching what we eat, you can pretty much find sugar-free versions of just about everything. But did you know that Xylitol, which is the sugar alcohol used to put the "free" in sugar-free is EXTREMELY dangerous to dogs and can cause liver failure? This sweetener is commonly found in sugar-free: gum, candies, peanut butter, and many other products. Make sure you check the ingredient list and if Xylitol is on it, store it far away from your pup's reach!

Ribbons and String - While they make our packages of love look pretty, to a kitty cat, it's an invitation to pounce! For unknown reasons, it's very instinctive for cats to eat ribbon and string. Once ingested, it can get caught in their intestines and cause a perforation. If you notice that your cat has eaten some string and it makes it's way to the exit, AKA your cat's bum, read this before you decide to pull it out.

Alcohol - Our pets can be curious, and if any of you have one like my Jackson, they will get into just about ANYTHING! Even a small bit of alcohol can be harmful to small animals, causing vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, central nervous system depression, tremors, difficulty breathing, and even fatal respiratory failure. So, if there are any glasses sitting around with left over booze...be sure to dump it...or drink it!!!

Candles - This is not only a good safety tip for your pets, but also for us as humans! Never leave a candle unattended when you have pets. They can knock them over in an instant. Blow 'em out!

Enjoy this day of love...but do it safely! And don't forget to show some love to your fur babies too!!

Post by: Allison Otero, owner of AlleyCat's Pet Service
alleycatspetservice.com

Components of a Well-Stocked Pet First Aid Kit

We hate to even think about it... our beloved pet is sick or gets injured and needs immediate help; the animal hospital is miles away, closed, or otherwise unavailable. A hurricane or other disaster is approaching or has occurred and you have been instructed to evacuate. 

What do you do?

Most households have first aid kits in cases of emergency for humans - our pets need one too! Below are some helpful items to include in your Pet First Aid and Evacuation Kit (http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/pet_first_aid_kit.html).

Don't panic...there is a lot of information below so don't feel like you have to rush out and get all of the items on this list today...start with the basics, which you probably already have, and when you run across more of the specialty items, grab them and build on your kit.

The Basics

• Pet first-aid book - can be purchased on-line at Amazon.com OR, better yet, look up your local American Red Cross office and take the course!
• Phone numbers: your veterinarian, the nearest emergency-veterinary clinic (along with directions!) and a poison-control center or hotline (such as the ASPCA poison-control center (APCC), which can be reached at 1-800-426-4435), emergency contact other than the people you will be with, list of pet-friendly motels, 
• Paperwork for your pet (in a waterproof container or bag): proof of rabies-vaccination status, copies of other important medical records and a current photo of your pet (in case he/she gets lost)
• Leash
• Self-cling bandage (bandage that stretches and sticks to itself but not to fur—available at pet stores and from pet-supply catalogs)
• Muzzle or strips of cloth to prevent biting (don't use this if your pet is vomiting, choking, coughing or otherwise having difficulty breathing)
• Food: Two weeks supply in an airtight container (rotate every three months)
• Usual treats (rotate every three months)
• Water: Two weeks supply of water (store in a dark place, rotate every two months). Estimate a quart a day
• Food and water dishes
• Spoons and can opener
• Toys
• Grooming supplies
• A list of animal shelters in your area, in case you and your pet get separated
• Copies of proof of ownership papers (registration information, adoption papers, proofs of purchase, and microchip/tattoo information to store in the evacuation kit). List each of your animals and their species/breed, age, sex, color, and other distinguishing characteristics
• Pet life preserver if in flood zone
• Absorbent gauze pads
• Adhesive tape
• Antiseptic wipes, lotion, powder or spray
• Blanket (a foil emergency blanket would be best)
• Cotton balls or swabs
• Gauze rolls
• Hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting—do this only when directed by a veterinarian or a poison-control expert)
• Ice pack
• Non-latex disposable gloves
• Petroleum jelly (to lubricate the thermometer)
• Rectal thermometer (your pet's temperature should not rise above 103°F or fall below 100°F)
• Scissors (with blunt ends)
• Sterile non-stick gauze pads for bandages
• Sterile saline solution (sold at pharmacies)
• Tweezers
• A pillowcase to confine your cat for treatment
• A pet carrier

Other useful items

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), if approved by a veterinarian for allergic reactions. A veterinarian must tell you the correct dosage for your pet's size
• Ear-cleaning solution
• Expired credit card or sample credit card (from direct-mail credit-card offers) to scrape away insect stingers
• Glucose paste or corn syrup (for diabetic dogs or those with low blood sugar)
• Nail clippers
• Non-prescription antibiotic ointment
• Penlight or flashlight
• Plastic eyedropper or syringe
• Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) to clean the thermometer
• Splints and tongue depressors
• Styptic powder or pencil (sold at veterinary hospitals, pet-supply stores, and your local pharmacy)
• Temporary identification tag (to put your local contact information on your pet's collar when you travel)
• Towels
• Needle-nosed pliers

Common-sense advice

In addition to the items listed above, include anything your veterinarian has recommended specifically for your pet, such as medication (two-weeks supply), insulin and syringes.

Check the supplies in your pet's first-aid kit occasionally and replace any items that have expired.

For your family's safety, keep all medical supplies and medications out of the reach of children and pets.

Post by: Allison Otero, owner of AlleyCat's Pet Service

alleycatspetservice.com

Fun Dog Products I'm Currently Obsessed With

Mr. Parker

Jackson AKA "Jax"

Lately I have been getting asked, "OMG! Where did you get that?" when I'm out with my pups, Parker and Jackson. People are either referring to their adorable and personalized bandanas or their light up collars...

My dogs are not fond of wearing clothes, but I love to add flair to my sweeties when we attend fun pet-related festivals or while we are parading around downtown Winter Garden on the weekends.

One Saturday at the Farmer's Market, I found a booth for Lavendar Menace. They make personalized bandanas/scarves for dogs and cats. They have literally hundreds of fabric patterns and they can embroider them...all for $12 each. They have sizes for all sizes. The best part is they slide through your animal's collars, so there is no tying them around their necks. Brilliant! BONUS - their customer service is AWESOME! If they can't complete your order on the spot, they will ship it to you (locally) for free.

So far, I have gotten scarves for Christmas, Valentine's Day, a non-holiday pattern and Super Bowl (Go, Broncos!!). This weekend I plan to get St. Patrick's Day and/or Mardi Gras patterns. Yes, I'm a little obsessed!

Their information is: www.facebook.com/lavendermenacedesigns; 620-931-4258; they are at the Winter Garden Farmer's Market every Saturday and the Lake Eola Farmer's Market every Sunday.

The other fun items are Jackson and Parker's light up collars. Made by GoDoggie-GLOW, these collars come in a variety of colors and keep your pup safe and visible during late-night walks or early morning when it's still dark outside. They also provide much-needed light when hunting for poop to pick up in the dark! 

The collars have three speeds - solid, flashing, and slow flashing...FUN! They were quite festive during the holidays.

You can find these collars on amazon.com - do a simple search for GoDoggie-GLOW and viola!

I hope you enjoy these products as much as I do!!

Post by: Allison Otero, owner of AlleyCat's Pet Service
alleycatspetservice.com