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Archive for December, 2008
Last Minute Gift Ideas for Every Pet on Your List
Is your pet hard to shop for? Has even Santa Claws run out of ideas? Check out these inexpensive and fun gifts!
Dogs
No doubt about it - dogs love bones. Whether you purchase a rawhide product or a Nylabone, your dog will be happy to chomp on something other than your new sofa or your favorite patent leather shoes.Cats
Lawrence Welk isn’t the only one who liked bubbles…cats go nuts for them! Check out these fantastic catnip bubbles that smell like the real thing! Imagine a game where you can relax while your cat gets exercise…you blow the bubbles…and your cat jumps and bats at the translucent floaters! It’s amusing…and cheap! Only $2.99 a bottle!Small birds
Small birds are just as inquisitive as their larger counterparts. They need mental stimulation and bird toys are a great way to keep them entertained while you are out. Whether the toys spin, shine or ring, you can count on your feathered friend being busy and content!Large Birds
For those of you who own a cockatoo or macaw, you know how important toys are for their mental and physical health. Since large birds are more destructive than their smaller cousins, it is important to have toys that can withstand their strong beaks and talons. Large birds love to chew and the tougher the toy -the better. Kong has created a durable, rubber toy for birds and there are plenty of inexpensive knotted toys that will keep your bird busy as well!Ferrets
Whoever came up with the expression, “Curiosity killed the cat” never met a ferret. If there were ever a creature who wanted to get into “the life of things,” it’s these guys! A great Christmas gift would be a Pet Polar Toy or a Kong Treasure Toy.Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Rats
We humans crave pretzels and chips from time to time…why not give our cage pets a salty snack? Rabbits and guinea pigs enjoy salt licks and it also satisfies their urge to chew. Another inexpensive treat that your pets will enjoy is a Munch Salad Shred-A-Bowl. It contains all of the foods that small animals enjoy and again, gives them ample opportunity to do what they do best - GNAW!Hamsters, Gerbils, Mice
Tunnels, tubes and trays! Disney’s new Hamster Habitat is a great cage for little critters with plenty of room for expansion. The habitat has top and side doors - providing easy access for petting, feeding and cleaning. Add on with Hamster Habitat Fun-nels and watch your pet explore.Fresh Water Aquarium Fish
Spruce up your finned friends home with some new decorations, plants or bubblers. Not only will the tank be more aesthetically pleasing, it will give your fish new hiding spots and ways to stake out new territory.What are you getting your pet for Christmas? Do you have any suggestions for pet gifts? We’d love to hear from you! Leave us a comment below!
No More Searching! Pet Information Now Available at Your Fingertips
If you’ve been looking for essential pet information, but an increasingly hectic schedule leaves little time to search for it, be sure to check out this one-stop source for tips on pet care, services and products.
The Pet Owner’s WORLD provides useful advice for both new and experienced pet owners. This electronic magazine contains informative feature articles and pet-care tips to help pet owners raise healthy, happy pets.
The 2008 edition of Pet Owner’s WORLD is now available electronically and includes information on:
Budgeting for a Vacation. Are you ready for that well-deserved vacation, but suffering financially from recent economic woes? Consider more local ideas, beginning with your own backyard. Day trips to state parks, historical sites and amusement parks within your home state all offer budget friendly escapes. Should you want to investigate a more detailed list of your home state’s offerings, check out the “Local Secrets, Big Finds” section on Travelocity.com.
Pet Loss. The loss of a loved one does not only apply to human family members. If you recently had a pet cross the “Rainbow Bridge,” you know how difficult it can be to deal with such an experience. Pet sitters understand exactly what you’re going through. As a professional, they have experienced the journey of grief along with their clients before. And, they have likely formed their own bond with your pet during the course of the relationship. While your pet sitter will be sharing your pain, they may also be able to offer a helping hand to make your loss more bearable.
Holiday Tips for Pet Owners
The holiday season is often the most joyous time of the year. However, joy can turn to tragedy if simple precautions are not taken to ensure the safety of your pets.
“Pets are curious by nature,” said Dr. Steve Hansen, a board-certified veterinary toxicologist and senior vice president of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Hansen, whose department also includes the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center, asks pet parents to be mindful of their pets this holiday season.
“Thinking about your home from your pet’s point of view will help ensure everyone has happy and safe holidays,” Hansen said. “Pets have the ability to get into everything, especially during the holidays when there is more to see and do.”
Simple holiday traditions, such as trimming the tree and decorating the house, can pose potential problems to pets if not monitored carefully. But, the most common pet-related emergency that occurs over the holidays is the consumption of human pharmaceuticals. Safely store all prescription and non-prescription medicine.
Food is the culprit for the second most common holiday pet emergency. Pet owners be cautious of the following:
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Dark and baker’s chocolate
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Xylitol
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Macadamia nuts
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Avocados
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Bread Dough
If your pet ingests any potentially harmful product, call your vet or a local emergency animal hospital immediately.
Welcome to Buzz on Pets!
Here we grow again with our journey into the world of social media. I started Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, almost 15 years ago. Prior to that, I had opened one of the country’s first pet-sitting businesses, Crazy ‘Bout Critters, and operated it for 10 years. During this time, I was inundated with questions from aspiring pet sitters across the United States. This led me to write the book Pet Sitting for Profit, which is currently in its third edition.
I would have never imagined that my pet-sitting business, my book or PSI would grow to inspire and empower pet lovers throughout the world but, for their sake and the sake of pets they serve, I am certainly glad it has.
PSI membership has grown to include more than 8,000 independent professional pet-sitting businesses with an average of 191 clients each. Collectively, these sitters service more than 1.5 million clients and deliver more than 17 million pet-sitting engagements per year. Simply put, we know pets, we love pets and we are passionate about pets.
This blog has been created to provide pet owners and pet lovers with tips, advice and information on topics ranging from natural disaster planning to the best pet toys and everything in between.
I am thrilled about PSI’s emergence into the blogosphere. Buzz on Pets is a milestone for the organization and, most importantly, for the benefit of all pets!
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