Tag Archives: pet care

Calling in My Assistant Dog Wranglers

As much of a handful as my dogs can be at times, I’m mostly able to take care of them without too much extra help. But this April, I’ll need the dog care backup team to take care of Moose and Lally for me. In case you don’t follow the Health Blog, here’s a quick recap: I’ll be having a hysterectomy thanks to some rather sizable fibroids (one is the size of a mandarin orange, one is the size of a football). The surgery requires a three to four day hospital stay, plus a grand total of ten days with … Continue reading →

Thoughts on a Year at the B&B

Time sure flies when you’re scooping kitty litter! Today is my one year anniversary with the cats-only boarding facility. I’ve learned a lot about our feline friends over the last three hundred and sixty-five days. The first (and most important) thing I’ve learned is a true appreciation for cats. When I first started work at the cats-only boarding facility, I knew a little bit about kitties. I’ve never owned one of my own due to allergies and a general preference for dogs… but after the past year? I could see myself living with a cat someday. It’s the guests themselves … Continue reading →

Prince Chunk and Other Plus-Sized Pets

I have extra-large pets on my mind, since we had a return visit from the biggest cat I ever saw at the cats-only boarding facility. Mr. Big-But-Lovable tipped the scale at a mind-boggling thirty-three pounds the first time we met in late spring. This time around, he’s down to twenty-nine pounds… and I can already see a difference. Mr. Big used to be very rigid through his torso, and nearly unable to flex at the waist. Now, with just four pounds gone, he’s already able to bend more. It’s really encouraging to see such improvement with such a small change! … Continue reading →

Type of Care Vet Schools Can Offer Your Pet

Yesterday I wrote about vet schools perhaps being an alternative to costly vet procedures. Something I quickly realized was that vet schools aren’t just like regular vets with cheaper prices. Most require referrals from your current vet. At least when you’re dealing with more specialized cases, like surgeries. However, this wasn’t always the case. Vet Schools’ Veterinary Services Some vet schools, like Virginia Tech’s Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, provided primary care services just like a regular vet practice would. Their “full service out-patient preventive health care” services included vaccinations, spaying and neutering, … Continue reading →

Human Preferences about Grooming

Once in a while, a long-haired guest at the cats-only boarding facility will get a little messy in the caboose region (if you get my drift). Sometimes a spot-cleaning or a full bath can take care of the problem. For repeat offenders, we often suggest a “sanitary clip” — a trim of the hair around the rump in order to help keep things clean. It doesn’t have to be a full shave — but with shorter hair in the nether regions, there’s less chance of a mess. Some owners flat-out refuse to have any sort of trim done. They like … Continue reading →

Make Bathing Easy: Prep First!

When it’s my turn to do baths at the cats-only boarding facility, the right preparation makes the work a lot easier. Before I even think about fetching a cat into the grooming room, I make sure I’ve set up the hand-held sprayer, towels, shampoo, nail clippers, and blow dryer. You can do the same thing at home to make grooming much easier! What might you need for bathing a pet? Brushes or combs — you can remove a lot of loose hair before the bath with a quick brushing. Tangles and mats can tighten as they dry, so it’s better … Continue reading →

You Know You Work With Animals If…

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With apologies to that Jeff Foxworthy guy, I saw a list of “how you know you’re a vet tech” today. Some of the things made me giggle; others made me go “huh?” But then, I’m not a vet tech. But I was inspired to start my own list: you know you work with animals if… You pluck shed tufts or pick eye goobers off other people’s pets. I’m guilty of this one all the time. I can’t resist picking those eye goobers! You measure your own pets’ food very carefully. Since I started at the cats-only boarding facility, I’ve gotten … Continue reading →

Chatting with Marlene Richardson, Former Pet Care Professional – Part Two

Southern Duchess Pet Care Service Logo, created by Megan Belanger and provided by Marlene Richardson, former owner of Southern Duchess In Part One I introduced you to my neighbor Marly Richardson, a former pet care professional. She shared how she got into the biz, but in this part she talks about the biz from a different perspective: things those who are interested in getting into it should take into consideration. Courtney Mroch: What kind of advice would you recommend to anyone thinking of starting their own pet care business? Marly Richardson: Pet sitting is so much more than playing with … Continue reading →

How To Restrain A Pet

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In medical emergencies, knowing the right way to restrain your pet can save your pet’s life. But knowing how to restrain your pet will be useful in more mundane situations, too — like at the vet’s, when you’re trying to trim toenails, or when your pet has a minor injury that needs attention. A humane restraint protects humans from being bitten or scratched. It also protects the pet from struggling and possibly making an injury worse. Perhaps most importantly, a humane restraint gives you a chance to administer first aid and check the severity of the injury. A reclining restraint … Continue reading →

Traveling To Hawaii—With Your Pet

Our retired neighbors would never dream of vacationing without their four-legged love child Jake. I swear Jake—a bichon frise–has seen more of this country than I have. However, up until about a month ago, the pampered pooch had never been to paradise. Because of what they thought would be complicated pet preparations, my neighbors never considered Hawaii a viable vacation destination. That all changed when my neighbors received free tickets to Oahu. It was only then that they learned that some hotels in Hawaii offer amazing amenities for traveling pets. They read a review actress and dog owner Cameron Diaz … Continue reading →