We're gearing up for the holidays here at The Pet Maven, and we thought we'd share a few of our favorite reasons why hiring an in-home cat sitter is the best idea for your cats.

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• • - The cat is able to stay home in a safe, comfortable environment
  • - The cat is able to avoid the stress of traveling to a kennel
  • - The cat will be safe from exposure to colds, kennel cough, ringworm and more that they might be subject to picking up in a boarding facility. 
    
  
  
• For a more complete list of the benefits for your cat and for you, please visit the National Association of Professional Pet-Sitters' website. 

New York is a city full of energy and excitement, but even the most social of us can become overwhelmed by the non-stop pace. Is it any wonder that our sensitive best friends sometimes deal with those same anxieties?

The causes of anxiety in dogs are diverse. Traumatic experiences and separation anxiety are common culprits, and sometimes aging or chronic illness can increase your dog's sensitivity to situations they formerly enjoyed.

Anxiety can be situational or chronic but the first key to dealing with both is diagnosis. Be alert for common symptoms like the half-moon eye, or unexpected behaviors like shaking when their fur is not wet.

If your dog shows symptoms of anxiety or stress, your vet should be the first place you should go. He or she can look for underlying health issues that might be the cause, and they can suggest a sensible course of action.

Diet can also play an important role in dog's behavior, just as it does in humans. Dr. Karen Becker says that many pets' diets are lacking in omega-3 fats, and that a simple change of food or adding supplements can sometimes work wonders.

If your dog does show signs of stress, one of the worst things you can do is ignore it. Chronic stress can take its toll on your pet's health, just as it can on you! So next time you take a spa day, why not take a quick assessment of your dog's stress level too? After all, best friends look out for each other!

Spring is definitely in the air, and those of us who suffer from seasonal allergies are probably more aware of this than many. But did you know that pets can get seasonal allergies, too?

Pets can display some of the same allergy symptoms as humans, like sneezing and watery eyes. You should also be on the lookout for an increase in behaviors like: 

•      Chewing or licking feet or flanks
  
  •      Rubbing their face and ears
    
    •      Asthma-like breathing
      
•      And more ...

The good news is that a lot of the same things that help with your seasonal allergies, will also help your pet. Frequent baths and keeping sleeping areas clean and laundered will help reduce both pollen and dust mites. Air purifiers and vacuums equipped with HEPA filters are also very useful for zapping allergens away.

Make sure you see your vet if your pets' allergies seem very severe. If you find signs of fur loss and skin inflammation, it's probably time for medication. Many pets can take the same over the counter medications humans do, but in much smaller doses, and only your vet can make a safe dosage recommendations based on your pet's size and health.

Welcome to our new blog.

We created this blog to provide additional information to our animal caregivers the ultimate in peace of mind for cat sitting and pet grooming through a house call solution.