First Coast Pet

Posts Tagged ‘London pet sitting’

Christmas has arrived again, a time for cheerful pleasure , however it is also a risky time for both us and our beloved animals. Pet Sitters London have attempted to list their top tips to reduce the dangers to our animals over Christmas. Pet sitters are frequently asked for help or notice potential risks to pets at Xmas. This is often a neglected part of pet care.
1. Your Christmas Tree
The most important this about this is ensuring that it is in a safe location and is strongly fixed. This enjoyable activity of putting it up with your children, needs to be done in such a way that the cat, when it jumps up onto it, will not bring it down on to the pet. Animals and cats can be put out of joint at Xmas and can become worried and likely to do anything, with all the new people around, with all the new smells and sounds. Try to avoid putting the tree close to furniture that will help the cat leap onto the tree. If possible and particularly if the tree is not the most stable, can you tie it to the wall and or ceiling with some wire. A temporary hook into the wall is a great safety feature. Weighting down the tree roots / stem to improve stability is another way of avoiding problems.
If it is a real tree, clean up the pine trees, not just because it looks nicer, but pets can eat them and this can make them sick. If you put water in the bucket holding, either avoid the chemicals that prolong life, or as they can be toxic, ensure your dog cannot drink this water.
2. Care with the Decorations.
The most dangerous to young children and pets are the glass balls, why not buy yourself a safe painted wood or plastic version. Dogs that chew these can die. Some of the bright streamers can also be attractive to dogs, to chew and block the intestines.
Take care with using hooks on fixing the ornaments to the trees, use string – it is far safer.

3. Dangers with Electrics.
Care with the electrical leads, man and beast can trip over them, bringing down what ever is attached. So use cable tidies, to put them out of harms way. Be very careful if you have a dog or cat that chews and is curious. Keep the electric turned off if no one is present, or shut the door.

4. Animal Behaviour
It is a time when, in principle you have a lot of free time, which is an opportunity to care for your pets, even start a pet training programme that you have been meaning to do. However you have many distractions, with a lot on and people coming and going.
So watch your pet.
Animal behaviour can become eccentric at Xmas with the new sounds, smells and people. Animals are territorial and can see a reduction in attention, their preferred spot taken over by the Christmas tree as a threat to their quarters. They are much more likely to change behaviour, cats become worried and nervous, they often go off their food – even if you are offering them some nice Beef or Turkey. Dogs risk being aggressive, if they do not have enough exercise or too much attention to the visitors. A particular danger even with very well trained and behaved dogs is the “ out of the ordinary” attacks on kids and babies. Separate them if not being supervised carefully all the time. If busy consider a professional dog walker from a company such as Dog Walkers London. If you do not have the time for exercising the dog, book your dog walker for a few walks over the period, though you may need to do this early as they are often busy doing pet sitting at Christmas.
5. Boxes of Christmas Presents
dogs] especially with many people looking at them. Be especially careful if you have moved their bed to put the tree up and the presents around it. Dogs can rip the presents to pieces in minutes if you are unlucky. A great follow on risk is stomach blockages from the ribbons that they can eat, resulting in a trip to the local London veterinary clinic.
6. Food Dangers for Pets
It is always tempting to feed the pets some of the nice food that you have at Christmas. Do not give from the table, transfer to their normal food bowls at normal feeding times. It can take you the rest of the year to stop begging at the table, if it worked well at Christmas
Be particularly careful with the seasonal dangers such as Mistletoe, Holly and Poinsettias which are particularly dangerous plants. Other dangers are things like onions that may be with your meat that could be given to the pet. Chocolate is also another risky treat for pets, as well as sugary products that are not part of a normal animals food. Sugary products can cause teeth problems and with 30-50 % of dogs suffering from being over weight these calories should be avoided. For pet and human, maybe go for a dog walk, he would most likely prefer it.
7. Safety of the Home
Before the season, do a thorough check, looking for potential dangers, our dog walker, often notice dangers and pass them onto the owners, such as live candles that might be knocked over by pets, especially dogs wagging tails.
Turn off potentially dangerous electrical items such as the Xmas tree lights when no human is present in the house.

Xmas has arrived again, a period for gaiety , however it is also a dangerous period for both us and our beloved pets. Pet Sitters London have attempted to list their top tips to reduce the dangers to our pets over Christmas. Pet sitters are frequently asked for guidance or notice possible risks to pets at Xmas. This is often a neglected part of pet care.
1. Your Xmas Tree
The most important this about this is ensuring that it is in a safe location and is strongly fixed. This pleasurable activity of putting it up with your children, must be done in such a way that the cat, when it jumps up onto it, will not bring it down on to the pet. Pets can be put out of joint at Christmas and can become worried and liable to do anything, with all the new people around, with all the new smells and sounds. If you can avoid putting the tree too near to furniture that will help the animal jump onto the tree. If possible and particularly if the tree is not the most stable, can you tie it to the wall and or ceiling with some wire. A temporary hook into the wall is a great safety feature. Weighting down the tree roots / stem to improve stability is another way of avoiding problems.
If it is a real tree, clean up the pine trees, not just because it looks nicer, but pets can eat them and this can make them sick. If you put water in the bucket holding, either avoid the chemicals that prolong life, or as they can be toxic, ensure your pet cannot drink this water.
2. Xmas Decoration Care.
Glass Christmas balls are particularly dangerous, an alternative are the wooden and plastic balls. Eating these can be very dangerous. Another danger are the bight ribbons and streamers that can be attractive to dogs, to chew and block the digestive tracts.
Avoid using hooks on fixing the ornaments to the trees, use string – it is far safer.

3. Electrical Dangers.
Care with the electrical leads, man and beast can trip over them, bringing down what ever is attached. So use cable tidies, to put them out of harms way. Be extra careful if you have a dog or cat that is curious and if it chews. Keep things turned off if no one in the room, or shut the door.

4. Animal Behaviour
Though you may appear to have plenty of time, you are often distracted and paying more attention to other people / things than your pet.
It is important to have a rational understanding of the reliability of your pets. If in any doubt close the rooms with any potential danger to, or caused by pets.
Pet behaviour can become eccentric at Christmas with the new surroundings and people. Pets are territorial and can see a reduction in attention, their favourite spot taken over by the Christmas tree as a threat to their quarters. They are then more liable to change behaviour, cats become worried and nervous, they often go off their food – even if you are giving them some nice Beef or Turkey. Dogs risk being destructive, if they do not have enough exercise or too much attention to the visitors. A particular risk even with very well behaved and trained dogs is the “ out of the ordinary” attacks on kids and babies. Separate them if not being supervised carefully all the time. If busy consider a professional dog walker from a company such as Dog Walkers London. If you do not have the time for exercising the dog, book your dog walker for a few sessions over Xmas, though a good idea to do this early as they are likely to be busy.
5. Christmas Presents
dogs] especially with many people looking at them. Be extremely careful if you have relocated your dogs bed and replaced it with the tree and presents. Dogs can rip the presents to pieces in minutes if you are unlucky. A great follow on risk is stomach blockages from the ribbons that they can eat, resulting in a trip to the local London veterinary clinic.
6. Food Dangers for Pets
It is always tempting to feed the pets some of the nice food that you have at Christmas. Do not give from the table, transfer to their normal food bowls at normal feeding times. It can take you the rest of the year to stop begging at the table, if it worked well at Christmas
Be particularly careful with the seasonal dangers such as Mistletoe, Holly and Poinsettias which are particularly dangerous plants. Some food such as onions, which could be in the nice stew or some of the chocolate being handed around. Sugary products can cause teeth problems and with 30-50 % of pets suffering from being over weight these calories should be avoided. For pet and human, maybe go for a dog walk, he would probably prefer it.
7. Home Safety
Before the season, do a thorough check, looking for potential dangers, our pet sitters, often notice dangers and pass them onto the owners, common ones include live candles that would be knocked over by pets, especially dogs wagging tails.
I would advise Christmas tree lights to be turned off at night and when no human is present in the house.

So a little thought is a key element of pet care

Our best wishes for a safe and Merry Xmas for you and your animals.

Xmas has arrived again, a period for merriment , on the other hand it is also a hazardous period for both us and our beloved animals. London Pet Sitters have tried to identify their top tips to minimize the risks to our animals over this seasonal period.  Cat sitters are frequently asked for help or notice potential risks to pets at Christmas. This is often a neglected part of pet care.
1.  Your Xmas Tree
It is crucial that it is in a safe location and is strongly fixed. This pleasurable activity of decorating the tree with your children, needs to be done in such a way that the cat, if it jumps up onto it, will not bring it down on to everyone. Animals and cats can be disrupted at Xmas and can become scared and likely to do anything, with all the new people around, with all the new smells and sounds. Try to avoid putting the tree close to furniture that will help the dog leap onto the tree. Ideas include tying the tree to the wall and or ceiling with some wire. A temporary hook into the wall is a great safety feature. Weighting down the tree roots / stem to improve steadiness is another way of avoiding problems.
If it is a real tree, clean up the pine trees, not just because it looks nicer, but pets can eat them and this can make them sick. If you put water in the bucket holding, either avoid the chemicals that prolong life, or as they can be toxic, make sure your dog cannot drink this water.
2. Care with the Decorations.
Glass Xmas balls are particularly dangerous, an alternative are the wooden and plastic balls. Eating these can be very dangerous. Another danger are the bight ribbons and streamers that can be attractive to dogs, to chew and block the intestines.
Take care with using hooks on attaching the decorations to the trees, use string – it is far safer.

3. Dangers with Electrics.
The electrical wire can be both a dangerous trip hazard and an electrical hazard if pets bite into them. So tidy the wires up. Be very wary if you have a cat or dog that is curious and if it chews. Keep things turned off if no one is present, or close the door.

4. Animal Behaviour
It is a time when, in principle you have a lot of free time, which is an opportunity to care for your pets, even start a pet training programme that you have been meaning to do. However you have many distractions, with a lot on and people coming and going.
So watch your pet.
Pet behaviour can become eccentric at Christmas with the new sounds, smells and people. Pets are protective and can see a lack of attention, their favourite spot taken by the tree and presents as a menace to their quarters. They are then more liable to change behaviour, cats become worried and nervous, they can even go off their food – even if you are giving them some nice Salmon or Liver. Dogs risk being destructive, if they are not getting their exercise or too much attention to the visitors. A real danger even with very well trained and behaved dogs is the “strange” attacks on children and babies. Keep kids and dogs apart if not being supervised carefully all the time. If busy consider a professional dog walker from a company such as London Dog Walking. If you do not have the time for exercising the dog, book your dog sitter for a few sessions over Christmas, though a good idea to do this early as they are likely to be busy.
5. Christmas Presents
Shiny boxes are designed to be of interest to [pets. Be especially careful if you have moved their bed to put the tree up and the presents around it. Dogs can rip the presents to pieces in minutes if you are unlucky. The most dangerous consequence is often the digestion of string that can cause digestive blockages, resulting in a trip to the local London veterinary clinic.
6. Food Dangers for Pets
Even at Xmas avoid feeding animals at the table, this habit is very difficult to break as they do not understand why it was OK at Christmas but not now!
Some Christmas items are particularly dangerous, especially the Holly. Some food such as onions, which could be in the nice stew or some of the chocolate being handed around. Sugary products can cause dental problems and with 30-50 % of dogs suffering from being over weight these calories should be avoided. For pet and human, perhaps go for a dog walk, he would probably prefer it.
7. Home Safety
Before the season, do a thorough check, looking for potential dangers, our dog walker, often identify risks and pass them onto the owners, common ones include live candles that could be knocked over by pets, especially dogs wagging tails.
Turn off potentially dangerous electrical items such as the Christmas tree lights when no human is present in the house.

Our best wishes for a safe and Merry Xmas for you and your animals. 

Pet sitting for some individuals is a great job, for others it would be totally out of place. A great pet sitter requires to adore animals, all animals. It is not just a need, it should be a natural love. Whether it is a rabbit, guinea pig or one that some individuals may fear. Normal pet issues for potential pet sitters are scorpions, spiders, lizards, snakes and reptiles. In a larger company, they may be able to handle this, but typically pet sitting is a small business with only two or three people, so you will need to handle these animals as a pet sitter. Happily these animals require minimal care, but as a pet sitter you will still need to feed and water them. Often the owner may require the pet sitter to give small live animals to the pet. In my experience other animals that cause possible problems for pet sitters include rats, “I don’t like the scaly tail”, especially as the rats and owners adore the frequent fussing and handling of the animal.

The requirement for pet sitters is normally normally during the major holidays of Christmas, Thanksgiving and summer holidays. There is also a demand for pet sitters at weekends year round the year. Because of this seasonality, pet sitting frequently includes dog walking which is often required all year.

Dog walking in a first-rate pet sitting business will limit the maximum number of dogs to four or less. Superior companies such as London dog walking will give you T-shirts, sweaters and rain protection. This is of common benefit, as the free outfits are branded, dog walking is one of the best adverts for their pet sitting services. You will not however be allowed to have these on view when pet sitting, as it will announce that the owners are away on vacation. Though one of the benefits of pet sitting with someone entering and exiting and doing other things such as emptying the mail box, reduces the likelihood of burglary.

Pet sitting often requires the pet sitter to do other tasks around the house. A pet sitter will often look after the garden and indoor plants. Pet sitters habitually look after cats, who due to their territorial origins, rarely like being separated from their home. Cat lovers dislike the separation from their loved pets, so companies such as London cat sitting will place photos and comments on their web site for the pet owners.

Good companies such as London pet sitters and clients demand that a pet sitter be police checked as they are often visiting homes alone

So pet sitting is a wonderful job for those whom it fits, try it!