COGNITIVE DECLINE

Do you have an older pet? I'm a pet parent with a 7 year old pup, the age dogs enter their senior years. The facts are that almost 1/2 of all dog owners have a dog age 7 or older. Cognitive decline is a real issue for senior dogs in the last trimester of life. Now it's possible to teach an old dog new tricks! Nutrition plays a large part in brain health. There are ways to keep your fur child healthy and happy as he ages. Research shows that ingredients like the ingredients in Brain Drops TM have been known to increase cognitive function in senior dogs, allowing them to thrive in their twilight years. https://multibra.in/zts46

Joint Discomfort

Spring is here, although right now it's a bit bi/polar here in the South; warm, then cold, then hot, then colder.  But one thing we know is that the warm weather is definitely on it's way.  Our pets can suffer from stiff joints and they feel it more during colder weather.  Although they may seem better when the warm weather arrives the damage to their joints continue.  Dogs do not feel pain the same way we do; once they are in pain the condition has progressed to a place action must be taken.

One in five adult dogs experience joint discomfort from everyday activities.  Both large and small dogs need joint support.   To protect your pet's joints from continued discomfort and progression of this condition, look for a glucosamie-based joint support formula that incorporates natural herbal remedies to support healthy cartilage and soft tissue.

Joint support products are ideal for stiff and sore joints and supports normal healthy joint function.  Look for ingredients like Glucosamine, Green-Lipped Mussel, Chondrotin Sulfate and Hyaluronic Acid to promote healthy soft tissue, healthy cartilage and thick viscous joint fluid.

The sooner you start treatment the longer your pet will have a vital, pain free life without pain and discomfort.  Often the addition of a joint support product can keep your pet off prescription medication.

I believe in pawTree's Joint Support Plus (there's one for dogs, one for cats).  You can find it at my website.  Whatever product seems right for your pet, be sure to begin treatment now for the good health of your pet.

www.pawtree.com/yourpetnana

WHY DO DOGS LICK

I adopted a dog from an abusive situation. Her name is Daisy  and she is a 7 year old long hair chihuahua who can't control her licker;   I got curious about why dogs lick and found this @Cesar's Way.  Says it as well as any other explanation I found.  Hope you find it interesting.

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by Josh Weiss-Roessler

See if this sounds familiar: After going for a long walk with your dog and feeding her, you sit down to relax. She comes over, so you start petting her, but as soon as you do, the licking begins. You’re not a fan, but it isn’t a big deal at first… and then it progresses until she’s slobbering all over your face.

This happens every single time you offer affection! Why?

Related: Obsessive dog licking

Dogs lick their pack members and themselves for many reasons, and if you want to curb the behavior, it helps to understand its cause.

We taste good
If your dog is licking their bowl, the floor after a spill, or the counter after you’ve been cooking, you might pretty easily come to the conclusion that they simply like the taste. But did you know that the same thing can be true when they’re licking us? Sometimes we have tiny food particles that they can taste, and beyond that, dogs enjoy the salt on our skin.

Grooming
You might not think of your pup as particularly concerned with hygiene, but dogs often lick to clean themselves, just like cats. Pay close attention, though, because excessive anal cleaning can indicate that the glands need to be expressed.

Healing
Dog saliva has enzymes that kill off bacteria, and when a dog licks himself, it helps to get rid of dead tissue and clean dirt from wounds. Some dogs, however, just can’t stop themselves and may actually reopen wounds or cause other kinds of harm through excessive licking.

Compulsion
Speaking of excessive licking, if you notice that your dog is licking the same object or area over and over or that they seem to be doing so whenever they are scared or nervous, it might be time to seek medical help. While licking can be a healthy stress reliever, obsessive licking merely reinforces anxiety and makes the problem worse.

Communication
Dogs lick other dogs to tell them all sorts of things: everything from “I’m hungry” to “I submit to you” to “Let’s be friends.” They do this with people as well, but we’re typically not as good at interpreting the message. If your dog is licking you with intensity, take a look around and see if something is amiss. Maybe the water bowl is empty or the doggie door is closed. Chances are your dog needs something.

Affection
This is the most common reason that domestic dogs lick and tends to be the kind of licking most pet parents want to change. Licking for affection causes your dog to release pleasurable endorphins that calm and comfort them, but sometimes it can just get to be too much for people. If you want your dog to stop, ignore them and walk into another room whenever it begins. Eventually they will learn that licking causes you to leave, which isn’t what they want.

We all love dogs, but are there any dog behaviors that are annoying to you? Let it out in the comments.

Clean Eating For Dogs

As a pet professional I form close bonds not only with the pets in my care but with the pet parent as well. The pet parents appreciate the level of care and concern my team and I provide for their fur baby and share health concerns with us, many nutrition related.

I have a friend who opened the most amazing pet store where I have referred people in the past who express nutritional concerns about their pets. She carries a variety of high quality food and even though I refer her, many of my clients are busy and don't go have time to get to her shop. 

At a recent pet event I discovered a line of pet food that impressed me. pawTree is a pet food company that offers clean eating for dogs. I know how good my body feels when I consume quality food  and I'm delighted to announce my association with  pawTree. I can now offer my clients and any concerned pet owner a personalized nutrition plan for their dog. I love that the company uses the highest quality ingredients and is sourced and manufactured in the US. pawTree is highly rated and comes with a guarantee: if you do not see a difference in your pet, there is a 100% money back guarantee. Who else has that much confidence in the quality of their product?  

PawTree, delivered to your door. I love the convenient and we can set up the profile at the kitchen table. No extra trip, no guessing what food is best. Recipes formulated by veterinarians and nutritionist to deliver great nutrition. We are so excited to offer the pawTree line to the services we offer our clients. 

Pet AuPair Extraordinaire LLC, Your Pet Nana,  loves your pet. From snout, to tail, to paw and inside out, your pets well being is our passion. 

pawTree parents love how the clean nutrition personal doggy profile is changing the quality of their pet's life. If your doggie needs a diet do over, let's set up a pet profile and see how clean eating can enhance your pets life. 

It's Not Just Babysitting

When someone decides to hire a professional pet sitter to come into their home and care for their pets, they are not just just hiring someone to baby sit and one price  does not fit all situations.

At Pet AuPair we always have an in home consultation to meet pet and parent to evaluate what expectations are and the services required. That is when a price is quoted. There are many variables that are taken into consideration when quoting a price. Pet AuPair Extraordinaire, LLC has several sitters available and we strive to provide the one best suited to your needs.

The presence of a professional pet sitter offers the stability and comfort of a loving care giver in the home. We take walks, we play, we cuddle; but never underestimate the comfort to your pet of having someone in the home, eating a meal, washing dishes, watching TV or listening to music. All the comforting sounds of normal home life.  Our goal is to proved as stress free an environment as possible.

As we build relationships with pet owners   we are often questioned about food or supplements.  I'm delighted to share my affiliation with pawTree, a holistic company that provides personlized nutrition for pets. Manufactured and sourced in the US and highly rated. I love the quality of the products and the ease of having products shipped direct to the home. If your doggy needs a diet do-over fill out a pet profile at our website; www.pawTree.com/yourpetnana

We also provide a level of security for your home while you are away in the event of an unexpected maintenance issue.  Pet AuPair regularly networks with other businesses in the area and have connections to people we can calll should an emergency arise. 

Our website, www.yourpetnana.com is now online. 

We love what we do. We kissed a dog and we liked it. 

Don't Let Them See You Pack!

Recently I had two pet care assignments for clients who were traveling overseas.  Most pets are accustomed to their parents taking trips and when I stay with them we bond quickly and have a really great time.  However, I have noticed that when a pet owner is going to be away for a longer period of time and the pet observes a lot more luggage than they are accustomed to seeing, when I arrive I can see and sense and different level of stress in the dog. Pets that are normally glad to see me behave differently; they are needy, they follow me around, they cry more and are more upset whenever I leave.  It takes longer for me to soothe them, and if a pet has any level of separation anxiety it is even harder to comfort them.

I learned early on when caring for pets not to let the see me pack when it was time to leave.  Seeing me pack and load my car only causes additional stress to the pet, so I do it all on the sly.  What I want to say to the pet parent, if you will be traveling with more luggage than normal,  don't let your pet see you pack!

I can offer a few suggestions that can help your pet's comfort level before you leave:

1.  Wash and fold all the clothes you need ahead of time.  Your pet has seen you wash and fold clothes before, so it will not spark a note of concern.  Lay out all the clothes you need to pack and have them ready to put in your suitcase.

2.  When it is time to pack, put your pet outside or have your spouse take the pet for a walk, so he/she doesn't see you pack.  Load your car before the pet comes back into the house.  If you ever take your pet to day care, take the pet to day care while you finish packing.  Your pet sitter can pick the pet up and will be so excited to see her that any stress will be gone.  Or, have your pet sitter arrive before you leave to take your furchild for a walk.  Any pet can become agitated when their parent is leaving, but for a pet with any level of separation anxiety, this will help set him/her up for a more comfortable visit with the pet sitter while you are away.

Your pet's comfort is our priority, but there are some things we cannot overcome.  Help Your Pet Nana, or any pet sitter of your choice, care for your pet to the best of his/her ability by setting the stage for your dog's comfort before we arrive. 

www.yourpetnana.com

Pug Love

This week I'm staying with two oldie puggies while their Dad is away.

Meet Miss BeBe, she's lost most of her toofers and is blind. I love how her tongue hangs out of her 

mouth when she's at rest. 

This is sister Sophie. She doesn't have all her toofers but she sees just fine. 

They like to join me on the couch for a bit of tellie.

I love the back yard here.

Great place for a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine and a good book later in the day.

Missy BeBe getting her bed ready. I think I like it this way.

No, maybe this is better.

Now this is my comfy spot.

Sophie is comfy too. Both girls say nighty night everypuppy. Sweet dreams. 💤😴