How Many Times A Day Should We Be Feeding Our Dog(s)?

As a pet sitter, I do my best not to judge the way my human clients care for their pets. Of course I think I am the most perfect animal mom and everyone should do things MY way, but sometimes I run across some practices that I'm really not fond of. And then I do some research and learn that my way is actually NOT the best way. Once example of that was when a few of my clients only use clay/non-clumping litter for their kitties. At first I thought it was gross and felt badly for the kitties but then I dove into the subject and found that clay litter is actually better in many cases for some cats...especially wee little kittens - another blog for another day!

So this brings me to my next "Oh-em-gee-I-can't-believe-that-Fido's-people-do-that-they-are-the-worst-pet-parents-in-the-world!" moment...feeding your dog only once a day. GASP!

I marched my righteous self straight to the interwebs and started researching why feeding a dog once a day is horrible. I planned to present my findings to my clients who would immediately change their minds! Yeeeeaaaaahhhh, not so fast, Miss. Know-It-All!

The short of it is that there really is no hard rule about how often to feed a dog, UNLESS they are a puppy, in which case they should be fed three to four small meals throughout the day. So, here's what I found...

With the proper food and diet for a healthy dog's size, breed, and age, once-a-day feeding is totes fine! In some cases, it's best! Why? The answer goes back to their physiology and the way their digestive systems work - NEWS FLASH!! Dogs are not like humans in the way their bodies process food. In fact, in the wild, dogs are hunters, they eat large meals and then may go days without another meal. This practice shows to allow their digestive systems to rest and "reset" to prepare their bodies for their next big meal. When your dog's digestive system is functioning smoothly, the typical meal takes seven to twelve hours to pass through their system. This largely depends on what they eat - raw diets digest faster than a dry kibble diet.

The behavioral aspect of once-a-day feeding is also interesting and makes perfect sense to me. The more often you feed your dog (or cat, for that matter), the more accustomed to that food they become. Take a dog who is free fed, meaning they have access to food 24 hours a day...how excited are they about that food? Maybe at first they like it, but when they realize that's all they get all. the. time. they may not be too excited over it. It would be like us having access to an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet all the time (I think this is actually called "heaven"). We would most likely grow tired of it and our excitement about meal time would diminish. According to sojos.com, "A critter with no passion for food is an unhappy critter. A pet should have an unbridled passion for food. They need to look forward to their next meal with anticipation and excitement. This lays the foundation for a well-tempered, happy pet." I tend to agree!

Some people say that their dog(s) would drive them batty if they only fed them once a day...I know my Jackson would most likely begin plotting my slow and painful death, so this is not an option for him. However, our Parker is about as excited about eating as I am about getting my yearly mammograms, so I am going to give this once-a-day feeding a go for him! Just keep in mind that you must make sure you are feeding a good, natural food and enough of it at meal time if you are going to make the switch.

Happy eating, everyone!!  

Allison Otero
Owner, AlleyCat's Pet Service, Inc.
alleycatspetservice.com

Pet Products That I'm Currently Obsessed With

As professional pet sitters, we are in close communication with other pet professionals - veterinarians, trainers/behavioralists, pet supply store owners, groomers, etc. Through these relationships, we are always learning about new products for our furry friends. I'd like to take this time to share with you some of the items that I am raving about (and, I'll even tell you where to get them!).

Here you see Parker rocking his
 Paws and Bone belly band

Belly Bands (bellybands.net): As most of you know, I have two dogs: Parker and Jackson. Parker has a terrible habit...he pees in the house. Yeah, yeah, I should have fixed this when we rescued him from the streets at the approximate and ripe age of 10, but I haven't. Not because of lack of trying - we have really tried everything and can't break the habit. Anywho, I had to find a way to deal with this issue and immediately thought, "diapers!" I headed to my local big name pet supply store and picked one up and brought it home. I put it on Parker and he looked at me like, "Bitch, you serious right now? I look ridiculous." Not to mention, his penis was hanging out of the front of it. So, back to the store I go to get another size...get home...same thing...wang all hanging out and it was just bulky and uncomfortable. Then I took to the internet and found bellybands.net. Ah-ma-zing! Not only are they custom fitted for your dog (they have male and female), but they come in several patterns so that your pup will look dapper in his/her diaper!

Kongs: This is an oldie but goodie. You know these things...usually red, look like bee hives and they are hollow. They are much more than a MOSTLY indestructible (I say "mostly" because I have known some dogs to completely destroy a Kong) chew toy. They come in different sizes and chew levels and the Kong peeps have cleverly come out with treats to put inside of them to keep your pup(s) busy...brilliant, I say! But here's a tip...in addition to the items that the Kong company sells to put inside, there are other yummy and healthier items to fill them with: peanut butter (PLEASE MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT CONTAIN XYLITOL!!!), unflavored yogurt, canned/purred pumpkin, soft dog food, apple sauce (again, make sure it's all natural and does not contain Xylitol), veggies (green beans, broccoli, carrots, etc.). And are you ready for this??? Hold on to your butts, folks - fill these Kongs and put them in the freezer!!! This will make them last longer and will keep your dog(s) busy!

The patty formula also
comes in nugget form!

Primal Pet Foods, Inc. (primalpetfoods.com): If I could scream my favorite product from the roof tops, it would be Primal's Turkey & Sardine raw patties. Gross? Yes. A little pricey? Yes. But here's the deal-i-o, the higher quality food you feed your animals, the less they will eat and the less they will eliminate. It's true! Parker is picky and when I put this raw slab o' meat down in front of him, I am pretty sure I heard, "Ummmm, you gonna cook this?" So, he's not a fan and eats another brand of food. So, like humans, not all dogs are going to like this. However, my Jackson laps this up like a boss. It has helped him slim down to his current svelte self (he's fighting off the ladies), he basically poops tiny nuggets (so tiny that I sometimes don't even pick them up because they get lost in the grass) because his body is absorbing all of the healthy goodness that's inside these patties. It has given him a luxurious coat and tons of energy. A raw diet for your dogs and cats is, by far, the absolute best and making it yourself is messy and can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing as far as supplements go. So, leave it to the pros and go PRIMAL! I encourage you to check out this company and it's products by visiting their website. When you realize that they rock, go pick up your Primal products at Gracies of Winter Garden (graciesofwintergarden.com).

Glycoflex Plus (glycoflex.com): Keeping the nutrition theme going, THIS! Jackson, my special Puggle, tore his cruciate ligament jumping off the couch. The cruciate ligament is like the dog equivalent of a human ACL. He was gimping around for a few weeks and we thought he was going to have to have surgery to the tune of $2,000. Ugh! But, miraculously, with rest and anti-inflammatory meds, he is just about 100% healed. Since both of my pups are getting up in age, their veterinarian recommended a Glucosamine supplement. Off to Gracie's I went and Kim (the owner) recommended Glycoflex Plus. It contains Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM (this is short for a VERY long name, but is an organic sulfur that contains a compound that is known for it's join health benefits), and other antioxidants. It's a yummy treat so your dogs will enjoy taking it and it "helps cushion joints, promote cartilage building and alleviate discomfort caused by normal daily activities." This product is perfect for dogs of all ages! Check it out!

Catit Flower Fountain (catit.com): A while back, I wrote a blog about how important water is to cats and their kidney function. In an effort to encourage my six kitties to drink more water, I purchased two different water fountains. For some reason, cats are drawn to the sound of running or flowing water and it encourages them to drink. The first fountain I got was a bit expensive, but a few of my clients had the same one so I thought I would give it a whirl. After about three weeks, the fountain part (where the water flows from the top to get the desired "trickle" sound) started to fail. I asked others who had the same fountain if they experienced this problem and ALL of them said they did. So I set out to search for another fountain for my mittens and ran across this adorable thing. I mean, first off, it's the cutest fountain I've ever seen. Secondly, it's plastic and not heavy. It has a deep reservoir for the water and, my favorite thing about it is that it doesn't have a bunch of parts like the other one, which makes cleaning a breeze! My kitties love this little gem and I highly recommend it. I got mine from Amazon.com.

So, there you have it, folks! My favorite products du jour. I'm sure I'll run across some other helpful and fun items soon and will report on them when I do! 

Allison Otero
Owner, AlleyCat's Pet Service, Inc.
alleycatspetservice.com

Why You Should Hire A Professional Pet Sitter

***DISCLAIMER - this post is in NO way knocking veterinary offices or boarding facilities. Sometimes this is the best option for pets and there are some fantastic vet and boarding facilities out there.

I recently saw a heartbreaking story on the news about a family who hired a college student (friend of a friend) to care for their four dogs while they were away for seven days on vacation. Sadly, the student visited the dogs on the first two days and then "forgot" to visit them again. Tragically, two of their beloved dogs died.

Can you even imagine? I know, for me, my animals (don't ask how many) are my babies and I would be devastated if this happened to me. So, this got me to thinking. Before I started my business, I had ZERO clue that there were people who actually pet sit for...wait for it...wait for it...A LIVING! What?! It's true, so I set out to start and grow the BEST pet sitting business in all of the land...it's a work in progress, but I, with the help of my insanely amazing team are getting there!

With that goal of running the best professional pet sitting company in the universe in mind, I did some research and found that more than 63% of all households in the U.S. have some kind of pet. Approximately 169 million cats and dogs make up the bulk of that number, which doesn't include: rabbits, reptiles, fish, etc. So THEN, my little, fake blonde brain got to thinking, "Why would hiring a sitter to come to the pet's home be better than boarding at a veterinary office or other boarding facility (see disclaimer!!)?" Here are some reasons:

• the pet is kept in a familiar environment with sights, sounds, and smells that they are used to
• keeping up with the pet's normal routine (potty schedule, feeding, medication, etc.)
• one-on-one, personal attention
• the convenience of not having to transport pet to/from boarding facility
• pets not being exposed to fleas and illnesses that can be contracted from other animals
• someone to check on the overall safety and condition of the client's home: adjusting blinds, watering plants, turning on/off lights to give the home a "lived in" or a "someone-will-be-coming-here-regularly-so-burglars-go-elsewhere look."

So what's the difference between a professional and say, the neighbor's kid next door? 

• A professional will be...this is a BIGGIE...bonded and carry commercial liability insurance (probably the MOST important difference)
• a professional will provide references
• a professional will be trained and have experience (I say this with some hesitation because I was the new biz on the block once but had a TON of experience. Don't rely solely on the amount of time a prospective pet sitter has been in business but rather their experience with pets)
• a professional will be a member of a national pet sitting association such as NAPPS (petsitters.org) or PSI (petsit.com)
• a professional will have a contingency plan in effect in the event of personal illness or emergency
• sometimes professional pet sitters will be trained and certified in dog/cat first aid and CPR...yes, there really is such a thing!
• a professional will have established relationships with local veterinary offices
• a professional will have a service contract that clearly spells out services and fees

Now, find me a kid neighbor who has all of that going for them in this arena! I mean, I'm sure the kid is cool and all, but wouldn't you rather a professional be in charge of your fur babies?

When you are looking for a reputable pet sitter, use that bulleted list above when you are choosing - ask about their credentials and call their references. Shop around! Different pet sitters offer different benefits, so choose one that is best for you and your family. 

Believe me, your vacation will be a lot more relaxing when you know your pets and home are in good, capable, and professional hands!

Allison Otero
Owner, AlleyCat's Pet Service, Inc.
alleycatspetservice.com