The Benefits of Hiring an In-Home Pet Sitter

Companion animals aren't just pets, they are part of the family. Unlike the rest of the family though, they tend to spend a lot of their time home alone while everyone else is away at work and or at school. This means they are left to their own devices to get into all manner of mischief until someone returns home to feed, play with, exercise, and entertain them. Even the most loving and well-behaved of pets can engage in less than desirable behavior when left alone for several hours at a time.

Our client, Della waiting patiently by her bowl.

So how can you make sure your fur (or feathered) baby isn't bored or engaging in destructive behavior when you're away from home during the day? Hire a pet sitter! (And we know a really good one!) The average home visit is about 30 minutes. When you schedule a visit from a certified pet sitter to pop in on your BFF during the workday, you're actually providing them with a social life and the necessary stimulation that will help to keep them healthy and happy.

If you're gone for long periods during the day, you really don't want your dog to have to "hold it." It's not any better for their bladder than for yours, and let's face it - being regular and staying healthy means having the opportunity to go as needed. Even a quick let out for bathroom business and the ability to romp around for some brief exercise will go a long way to the quality of your dog's day (and prevent unnecessary accidents for you to clean later.)

Our client, Benjamin, patiently awaiting a treat after a walk.

Cats may seem like finicky loners, but they really do crave affection and attention. A bit of quality time with a trusted caregiver after you've been gone a few hours will go a long way in keeping them out of trouble. Also, cats need regular exercise just as much as dogs do, and even though they can be pretty good at entertaining themselves, it's always more fun to play with a pal than on your own.

Our client, Sidney enjoying a little play time.

There are additional advantages to having someone reliable pop by for a pet play date as well. Your sitter can bring in your delivered packages, administer medications, and send you text updates and photos to provide you with the peace of mind that everything is okay at home. This can be a huge advantage parents of senior pets, those with health concerns, or animals recuperating comfortably at home after minor surgery.

Our client, Olive, in her car seat on the way to daycare.

Petit Pet Care also offers pet taxi service for our established clients to get pups and kitties to their veterinary appointments so moms and dads don't have to miss work to take them. We can also drop your baby off to daycare for you so you can get to work on time. In addition, we offer lockout service for pet parents who have misplaced their keys and can't get into the home back to their babies.

If you happen to be outside our service area, or if your pet is larger than 40 lbs, we will happily refer you to another sitter. Just like a nanny or home health worker, a pet sitter visit provides quality time - play, exercise, stimulation - as well as a second pair of eyes to let you know if anything is amiss with your pet.

For more information about Petit Pet Care's services and pricing, or to book a sit, please visit our website: http://www.petitpetcare.com


Please also see:

What Your New Orleans Pet Sitter Can Do For You


For more information on playtime and stimulation:

The Importance of Play and Your Cat

Playtime 2016: Some of Our Favorite Pet Toys

2016 Year-end Pet Care Roundup

December in New Orleans is wholly unpredictable. You never know if you'll wake up to snow or if you'll be walking around in shorts. Of course warm weather is usually followed by rain and the return of cold air, but it's a cycle we in the Crescent City put up with gladly as fall transitions into winter.

Along with the official calendar start of our coldest season, December is a festive time filled with a multitude of celebrations and holidays. All that fun and festivity can mean stress or potential hazards for your baby. (Did you know there are almost two dozen internationally celebrated holidays in the month of December?)

Our client, Max, pausing to pose out on a walk.

Christmas trees, decorations, and gifts, Hannukah and Kwanzaa candles, as well as holiday foods and drinks, all need to be handled with mindful care in order to avoid unnecessary pet distress and expensive emergency vet care. Be sure that visiting guests in your home know about these risks as well when they come over during the holidays.

Our client, Winnie, posing near her Christmas tree.

We've covered pet safety around poinsettias and Christmas trees in previous posts, as well as some of the potential dangers when we deck our halls with boughs of holly, etc., but while poinsettia are only mildly toxic to companion animals, ingestion of holly or mistletoe can be much more serious. 

Our client, Chester, hamming it up for the camera in true holiday spirit.

Always keep the number for the pet poison hotline handy in case of emergencies: 1-800- 213-6680. For specific tips on how to have stress-free holidays in December as well as during the rest of the year, be sure to visit our Pinterest board Having Happy Holidays.

Last month we took you on a visit to Little Paws Dog Park in the upper 9th ward to continue our series on local dog parks (we started the series off last year with a visit to the Wisner Dog Run uptown). Earlier this year it was the Crescent Dog Run in the Bywater, and in spring of 2017 we'll be visiting City Bark.

A view across Little Paws Dog Park from the shade. 

Recently we also shared some Fall Safety Tips with you to help keep your fur babies healthy and happy throughout the autumnal season. As we're now heading into winter, we'll be sharing cold season care tips next in January for taking care of pets both indoors and out.

We've mentioned the importance of play before, and last spring we told you about some of our favorite toys. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 58% of cats and 54% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. It might also surprise you to know that obesity is the number one health problem in birds.

Our client, Benny, out for a walk in the fall air.

Obesity in pets can cause arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart and respiratory disease, and even some forms of cancer. We touched on feline fitness in the October blog post, and how to judge the exercise level for your dog in our June post on dog walking.

Last, but certainly not least, a few months back we playfully asked if New Orleans had gone to the dogs, and told you about places around town from coffee shops to big box stores that were not only pet friendly, but kept treats on hand for four legged visitors.

These pups were out shopping for wine in the Marigny with their mom.

There are a surprising number of bars around town that allow dogs - mostly during the non-busy hours. Then again, it is New Orleans...

As we approach the end of 2016 - a year for the history books - we'd like to take a moment to remind you that Christmas trees and pets don't mix! Be sure any lit candles in your holiday decor won't come in contact with fur or be knocked over, and that all holiday food and drinks are kept well out of reach.

Happy December!

Feline Fitness: Cats and kitties need exercise too!

Do cats need regular exercise? You bet - and for the same reasons that dogs and people do! Step outside on any given day that the weather is nice, and you'll most likely see someone walking or jogging with a dog. For most people this isn't an unusual sight, but have you ever considered the idea of walking a cat?

People take their dogs everywhere these days; there are even dog-friendly "yappy hours," (at least there are here in New Orleans,) where Fido can have a non-alcoholic drink and a treat while you get your sip on and enjoy a little grownup time out, so why wouldn't it be natural to give kitty a chance to get out of the house as well?

Petite Pet Care client Prudence at play in the grass.

While some cats will easily walk beside you as you take a stroll (with or without the dog), most will need their own special harness and a little bit of training so that they can feel comfortable and safe at your side. Of course, the harness will also keep them from dashing off after, or away from, other animals.

It will take a little time to leash train your cat, but in the end it will be worth it. Many people feel bad about keeping their indoor cats inside full-time, and leash training is one of the ways to safely let your cat spend some quality time outside. (See the links below for step-by-step instructions on how to train your cat to walk on a leash.)

PPC pet sitting client Pip actively at play.

Just like with dogs, walking isn't the only way to help kitty stay active. Cat's love to play and have the uncanny knack of being able to turn just about anything into a toy, so it's only natural that engaging in interactive play with your indoor cat twice per day is the ideal way to keep her active, fit, and entertained. (See our previous post The Importance of Play and Your Cat.)

PPC client Leroy pausing during play.

 
Regular aerobic activity will not only keep your feline family member healthy inside and out, it helps to discourage undesirable behaviors. and your play time workouts will strengthen the bond between you. Pet obesity is a huge problem, and regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight. Getting some exercise is especially important for older cats that are not as active as kittens and can lose muscle tone.

PPC pet sitting client Ringo enjoying the outdoors.

Who let the cat out? While some cats regularly go in and out of the house, these are usually not words anyone wants to hear unless you happen to have an outdoor cat run or a kitty condo in the back yard. If you're one of those folks who feels bad about your cat having to be inside all of the time, a kitty enclosure could be just the thing for your fur baby.

Cat condos, or catios, are simple or elaborate enclosures that are screened in to allow your indoor cat to spend time outdoors without you having to worry about safety hazards. The idea is to give your cat enough room to have some space to turn around easily as well as and something to climb. No patio or back yard? You can attach a small box to a window to allow your cat to experience the smells and sounds of nature.

A cat run is a lot like a chicken run. It's basically a low, covered tunnel that allows a cat to roam around an outdoor area and experience being outside without getting into any trouble. The run can be on the ground or attached to the side of a house or fence.

Any one of these measures will do a lot for your cat's quality of life. Don't worry though, if you can't just can't manage to work in two play sessions a day with your cat, you can give us a call!

For more ideas for keeping your cat active, see our Pinterest board, Cat Culture.


Useful links:

Nine Lives, One Leash

Training Your Cat to Walk on a Leash

10 Cat Exercises You Pet Will Enjoy

Exercise Ideas for Indoor Cats

Useful Ways to Help Your Cat Exercise

Easy DIY Cat Enclosure

NOLA Dog Parks Part 2: The Crescent Park Dog Run

In a previous blog post, we took you on a virtual visit to the Wisner Dog Run uptown. As we continue our series on New Orleans' dog parks, this time we bring you across town to one of the city's better hidden gems.

Park side of the "Rusty Rainbow."

Tucked away downtown, between Nola's historic Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods, is Crescent Park. If you didn't know it was there, you probably would never happen upon it. It's not visible from the street, and the only indication of its existence (if you're in the Bywater) is a large, rusty, metal arc, which looks more like something out of an industrial factory complex than the entrance to a beautiful, riverside, urban park.

A portion of the 1.4 mile park (which spans from Elysian Fields Ave. to Mazant St.) opened to the public in February of 2014, which included the renovated Piety Wharf, and a fenced-in, off-leash dog run. At that time the park was only accessible from Piety and Mazant streets. The Marigny end opened in July of 2015, giving visitors full access to the park's 20 acres of carefully planned "native" landscaping and spectacular views of the riverfront.

The "Rusty Rainbow," as the large arc is dubbed, is situated at the Piety St. entrance into the park (accessed from Chartres) and provides pedestrian-only access over the train tracks. It's a bit of a climb, and not the best way into the park for anyone challenged by stairs.

Vehicular parking is available at the Piety entrance as well as at Bartholomew, which is closest to the dog run. (There is also stair access at the Mandeville entrance in the Marigny, as well as an elevator.)

View of the Piety lot with park map

View of the Bartholomew lot at Alvar end.

The actual entrance to the Crescent Dog Run is inside the park at Pauline Street. Cement markers like the one below, are located throughout the park and correspond to the perpendicular streets. These help you to know how where you are in the park in relation to the adjacent neighborhoods.

Of course, the run has a list of rules. The most important of which pertain to the age and health of dogs visiting the park (no puppies under 6 months) and the supervision of children (no kids under 8 years old). Dogs are only allowed off-leash when inside the run. Smoking, alcohol, drugs, and firearms are not allowed inside the run. 

The run has a couple of benches, some grassy areas, and several trees. The trees are still young and don't provide much shade, but there is plenty of room for dogs to roam, explore, and get some exercise.

Fountains are located throughout Crescent Park, as are pet waste stations and bike racks. Unfortunately, the only restrooms are at the opposite end of the park by the Mandeville entrance.

Crescent Park is open from 8 am to 6 pm. During Daylight Savings Time, it stays open until 7:00. Keep in mind, Crescent Park and the dog run are on the other side of the tracks of an active railway line. Be sure to plan visits to allow for the possibility of having to wait for a train to pass.

If you missed our previous post in the series, you can read about it here: 

A Glimpse at the Dog Run at Wisner Park

For more information on the dog run and amenities at Crescent Park, please see the links below:


Instagram Loves the New Crescent Park Addition

Top Dog Park Nominee: Crescent Dog Run

Visiting Crescent Park

Why Your NOLA Dog Might Need Additional Walking

One of the great things about New Orleans is that it is green year round, which makes it a great place to walk with your dog. From our gorgeous, oak-lined avenues and grassy "neutral grounds" to our large lush parks, the city provides a wealth of places to get out and give our four-legged best friends a little fun and some exercise.

Parks are a good place to walk because they usually have lots of shade.

Parenting a dog is a lot of responsibility, possibly even more so than raising a human child. Dogs have needs that are not always obvious, and unlike human children, they do not become more independent with age. Properly addressing your dog's needs will ensure you have a healthy, happy, and well-behaved pet.

In providing for their quality of life it's important to make sure that dogs have proper nutrition and daily exercise, as well as mental stimulation. In our previous blog post on Play Time we mentioned some of our favorite toys for entertaining and exercising pets. This month we are focused specifically on dog walking.

One of dog walk clients, Reilly ready to get going.

Many people think of dog walking merely as a time for their pet to "do it's business," and some dogs are actually quite particular about their elimination and won't "go" in their own yards. A quick trip around the block or short stroll through the neighborhood may be the extent of the dog's daily exercise.

Many of us lead busy lives. As a result, some dogs may be let out into the yard while their parent gets ready for work and only walked in the evenings. This may be okay for older dogs or low activity breeds, but most dogs will need a bit more time out of the house, not just for walking, but to explore and play a bit.

Here's our client, Lizzy happily rolling in the grass along Bayou St. John.

While taking a stroll is great exercise for both you and your dog, the benefits of daily walks also include mental stimulation and better socialization. Walk time is also an opportunity to have your dog practice desired behaviors like sitting and calmly waiting for further instructions (or a treat!), as well as how to interact appropriately with other dogs or people.

So how much time should it take? Celebrity Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan recommends setting aside thirty minutes to an hour in the morning for a walk. (Don't have 30-60 minutes in the morning? That's where Petit Pet Care comes in!) Of course the timing and frequency will depend on the age and breed of the dog.

Puppies and young dogs have a lot of energy and getting them out of the house for a stimulating walk keeps them from getting bored or engaging in destructive or otherwise unwanted behaviors. Some dog breeds, regardless of age, such as terriers and those bred for herding need more time outside than others to burn excess energy. These dogs could need up to 60 or even 90 minutes of exercise per day.

Our client, Max on a walk in Uptown New Orleans.

If your dog needs a little more time to burn off energy than a thirty minute walk can provide, you can bring along a favorite fetch toy to throw for them to retrieve. Be sure to bring along a bottle of water and a drinking bowl for your BFF to rehydrate. Also, vary the route of your walk; dogs like a little variety just like people do.

It's important to remember that the physical activity you choose for your dog needs to be appropriate to it's size, age, and breed. While many small breed dogs are prone to obesity, they just aren't made for trotting along beside you on your crosstown bike ride or 20 mile run. If your dog's recommended activity level doesn't match yours, you may want to hire a dog walker. (Fortunately, we can help you out with that!)

***

As we approach the official start of summer (and hurricane season) we want to remind you to take extra care with all your pets now that The Heat Is On!


For more information on walking and it's benefits to your dog as well as activity needs by breed, see the links below:

The Importance of Walking Your Dog

How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need?

Exercising With Your Dog 101

Exercise Needs (by dog breed)

Dog Breeds Prone to Obesity

Play Time 2016 - Some of Our Favorite Pet Toys

Our pets provide us with countless hours of entertainment as well as a wealth of unconditional love and affection. They are members of the family with their own personalities, and as such we dote on them as if they were human children. Just like human children they tend to have an ever increasing collection of toys in order to keep them busy when we're away, or with which to have fun with us and other members of the family.

Pet toys have come a long way from the random fetching sticks and tennis balls used by previous generations of pet owners. Today's dogs have a variety of assorted toys to play with ranging from stuffies to cuddle with to active toys such as tug ropes, and even other toys to prevent boredom and keep them active when they're home alone.

The photo above is shows one of our canine clients, Jerry Lee, with his Kong, a chew-friendly rubber toy that holds treats (and we know how much dogs love treats). These are great toys to have as the dog has to work a little to get to the treat. Kong toys come in different shapes and sizes, though the Classic is the most popular.

If you put peanut butter inside the Kong, it can keep him or her busy for hours -- perfect for when you're headed out to work or plan to be away from home for a few hours. Just be sure to choose the right size Kong for your dog, it's important that it not be too big or too small. Like any other toy, if it's too small it could present a choking hazard for your dog; likewise, a toy this is too large could frustrate your dog or possibly even cause them to be injured.

Jerry Lee LOVES his Kong! He carries it around with him, and he's learned that if he pushes it off the couch, sometimes a treat will pop out!

Contrary to popular belief, not all dogs like to fetch. For dogs who do, it's a great bonding exercise that helps to work off excess energy. The photo just above shows our canine client Max and one of our favorite toys for active play, the Chuckit! ball launcher. The great thing about this low-tech gadget is that it allows you to throw farther, and then you don't have to pick up a dirty, slobbery ball with your hand when it's time to throw again. Also, we prefer rubber balls to fuzzy tennis balls; they throw and roll farther, and wash off easier, and come in different sizes. We also find that dogs prefer the rubber balls over tennis balls as well.

When it comes to play time and cats there's one tried and true item that never seems to fail - the laser pointer. For some reason cats just go crazy trying to catch that little red spot on the floor, and it's hilarious to watch them try. As most pet parents already know, cats will pounce on just about anything that moves, including a foot under the covers. As well, anything that dangles, from the cords to our electronics and appliances, to fringe on anything, or even stray shoe strings, to them is fair game.

While we want our kitties to have fun and keep themselves occupied, we also want them to be safe and healthy at play. As much as cats love any kind of string, balls of yarn (or rubber bands or anything that frays) are a bad idea. If swallowed, yarn can get stuck in their intestines, and if tangled in their claws... ouch!

Above is one of our kitty clients, Harold, with an assortment of cat toys for interactive and individual play. It's important to remember that not all cats will take to all toys; while kittens will play with practically anything, older cats tend to be more discerning. We find Feather Flips to be a real favorite; they are soft and throw well, and cats seem to like the feathers. Feather teasers are also popular. They allow you to play with your cat and avoid being accidentally scratched.

On some levels, when it comes to toys cats are easy to please. Many are happy pouncing on an empty paper towel tube and others will play with wadded up newspaper. Some cats will even play fetch if they have a favorite toy they can chase when rolled or tossed.

Playtime isn't just about keeping your pet (or yourself) entertained. It's an important part of keeping them fit and healthy and providing necessary daily stimulation.


Petit Pet Care Important Pet Toy Tips:

--There should be a variety of toys for solo play as well as for interacting.
--Always make sure toy size and texture are appropriate.

--Regularly inspect all toys to make sure there are no tears or loose parts your pet could swallow.

--Cats and yarn is a big no no.

Remember that ALL pets need toys to provide mental and physical stimulation and alleviate boredom, not just cats and dogs. Ferrets, rabbits, birds, turtles, hamsters...

Visit our Playtime Pinterest board for links to playtime ideas and pictures of some of our furry friends at play with their favorite toys.


More Pet Playtime Resources:

6 Steps to Teaching Your Dog to Fetch

Dog Toys: How to Pick the Best and Safest

Games to Play With Your Cat

Spring Has Sprung!

It's spring in New Orleans and that means the return of warmer weather, as well as lots and lots of rainy days. It also means the return of mosquitoes and other undesirable insect pests, and because of the unseasonably warm 2015 winter, for many it may also mean battling with a worse than usual allergy season.

Now that we've (hopefully) seen the last blast of really cold air, we can all feel more encouraged to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather, revitalize the garden, and get more exercise with our four-legged friends. For those who suffer with seasonal allergies it's not as easy to get motivated to get up and get out, and parenting a pet with allergies presents a whole other set of challenges altogether.

A common springtime question in garden centers is "what plants are safe/harmful around pets?" While there are a number of plants in the harmful category, the answer really has a lot to do with the age, size, and type of pet you have as well as the amount of plant chewed or consumed.

Because of the multitude of indoor and outdoor plants that can potentially pose a hazard to your four-legged family members, we've begun compiling a resource on Pinterest with links from a variety of sources to provide you with the most comprehensive information available.

Tulips, lilies, kalanchoes, azaleas, oleander, foxglove, and sago palms are just a sampling of common plants that can be poisonous to pets. It should also be noted that many products such as fertilizers and herbicides (including those labeled organic) can potentially be harmful to pets that spend a lot of time outdoors. Remember, pets sometimes groom their paws so anything they step on could end up in their mouths.

Safe garden plants for pets include catnip and mint, basil, marigolds, cornflower, strawberries, coreopsis, and lavender. Indoor plants generally considered safe around pets include ferns, spider plants, African violets, and air plants. Please note that while some plants are safe for dogs, such as certain types of lilies, they are NOT safe for cats. If you have both dogs and cats be sure to choose plants that are safe for both.

As mentioned above, warm weather means the return mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Mosquitoes are known for spreading heartworm, while ticks transmit Lyme and other diseases that affect both pets and people. Fleas can transmit tapeworms, harmful bacteria, and even cause anemia. Check pets regularly for fleas and ticks and take pet-friendly preventive measures to control insects in your yard.

Spring is also the time of cleaning and clearing and you want to be sure that you tackle those tasks with your pets in mind. Don't let a mop bucket lead to a pet emergency, and make sure all cleaners are non-toxic and pet-friendly.

Shedding is one of the most challenging issues when living with a pet as hair gets everywhere, including on visiting guests. Lint rollers, brushes, dryer sheets, and squeegees are some of the tools that can help keep pet hair under control. (See below for specific tips.)

Good weather also means more outdoor partying, and spring is the start of festival season in New Orleans as well. Make sure pets are kept away from all party foods, beverages, and waste, and be sure that any visiting house guests are mindful of potential pet hazards as well.

Happy Spring!

For more tips and info see our Pinterest board, Springtime Pet Tips 

Helpful Links:

6 Tips For Your Pet Health Spring Checklist

Spring Cleaning Tips for Pet Owners

An In-Depth Look at Seasonal Allergies in Dogs and Cats

A Pet Parent's Spring Cleaning Checklist

Garden and Houseplant Safety

How Do I Know if My Dog Has Allergies?

Refreshing a Pet-Friendly Home

16 Ways to Save Your Home (and Sanity) During Shed Season