Tails Of a Middle Aged Pet Sitter

09/23/2022

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted about a job at Lifeline which is a no kill shelter. I started yesterday and it was amazing! So many kitties and pups!! I work in cat adoptions 🐱 My coworkers are nice, too. since 1992 my title has been “_______’s mom” and I loved it! Now it’s time to get MY life started 😎 I work Thursday through Saturday 11-7. Come see me! We currently have a BOGO on kitties from the same litter 😀

09/07/2020

09/03/2020

Please keep ur fur baby’s in mind this holiday weekend. Most vets need 24 hours for a prescription refill so, if ur pets are on sedatives, u may want to call them before close of business today 🐶

08/24/2020

This video is in slo mo because my most favorite thing in the world is a pink doggie tongue 😛 but see how she’s panting? It’s become a constant thing for her 🥵 I’ve suspected Cushing Syndrome for several months and our amazing vet, Dr. Courtney Lesnick @ Best Friend Animal Hospital, confirmed it last week. I’ve only shared her diagnosis here because I’m so scared and heartbroken that it’s been very difficult for me to talk about 😭 For the first time since January of 2018 her liver panels are perfect. There’s one value that should be under 100 and it’s been in the 189-257 range for 2 years and 7 months 😭 Last week it was 47 and we were THRILLED 🤩 then the other shoe fell and crushed my heart.

90% of my friends had no idea what Cushing Syndrome is so I’ll share the definition and a symptom list plus a link to a site with more information. I lost my childhood dog, Peanut, to it. So I recognized the symptoms, but was in total denial 🙁

“Cushing’s Syndrome happens when your dog’s body makes too much of a hormone called cortisol. This chemical helps them *respond to stress, control their weight, fight infections and keep their blood sugar levels in check. However, too much or too little of it can cause problems.” ~ WebMD

*Macy Gray has always felt a storm coming long before any tv forecasters knew about it, but wasn’t scared of anything else 🧐 Now a light sprinkle, the sound of neighbors bringing in their garbage cans and even leaves rustling across the patio will set her off and she runs upstairs to hide 🤷‍♀️ She was on trazadone, but the doctor had to switch her to Xanax because her neurosis is so extreme😱 We now know it’s progressing due to her high levels of cortisol.

SYMPTOMS:

The syndrome mostly affects middle aged and older dogs (Macy Gray is 10) and the warning signs may be harder to spot in the beginning.

You may notice your dog:

*Is thirstier than usual ✔️
(Macy Gray will drink until her tummy can’t retain it and
she throws it back up)

*Seems hungrier ✔️
(I give her canned food mixed with kibble to hide her
meds in every morning. I’ve had to stop free feeding
because she’s 59 lbs and the max weight for her breed
is 60 lbs. She is a beautiful Treeing Walker Coonhound

*Pees more often; housebroken dogs may have indoor
accidents ✔️
(She always scratches at the door to go out so we’re
both getting a lot more exercise)

*Loses hair or it seems slow to grow

*Gets a pot belly ✔️
(This was her first symptom which I thought was just
weight gain due to her age but, when she lays on the
floor, there’s a lot of hound on the ground 🤭)

*Has thinning skin

*Seems very tired and inactive ✔️
(Macy Gray has carried a blanket from the couch
downstairs to a hiding spot between the wall and my big
overstuffed chaise upstairs in my room. I often find her
there throughout the day.)

*Pants a lot ✔️
(This was the symptom that led us to the doctor 😛)

*Gets skin infections

Here’s the link to WebMD if you feel your fur baby is showing symptoms of this disease:

https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/dog-behavior-problems-medications

07/01/2020

It’s July 1st, fur fanatics!
I give my dogs their heartworm chewy on the first of every month. It’s an easy way to remember a very important thing 🐶 🐱

06/09/2020

The first dog has been diagnosed with COVID-19 😢 not just a carrier like the little pug a few months ago.
Please protect ur pets just like u protect urself 🐶 🐱

05/31/2020

https://wamiz.co.uk/news/23165/top-5-breeds-you-should-never-exercise-in-hot-weather

It may not come as a surprise to most of us that dogs are not as good at cooling their bodies down as we are. Here are three dogs that are especially prone to heatstroke.

05/25/2020

I haven’t been posting during this pandemic because, until last week,
I haven’t had any clients. I’m happy to say business has picked up 😊

Today’s post is a bit sensitive but I feel like I have to address it. I have a huge heart for seniors and have many senior clients. That being said, I’d like to say a few things.

1. Older pets who can no longer run to meet u at the door often develop special needs. They don’t understand the changes in their minds and bodies. That laminate flooring that was such a great idea for the occasional accident is now treacherous for them. Their hind legs can’t get traction and the situation can appear to be partial paralysis when all they truly require is a surface that isn’t slick.

2. Elderly pets often develop separation anxiety.
If ur going to be away from home all day consider having a friend or neighbor stop in to check on them.

3. Dry skin is not uncommon for seniors. Just like humans, as they age their skin becomes dry.
I have a 7 year old beagle who has this issue. I drop a vitamin E capsule in her food every morning and it has stopped her scratching episodes.

4. Their joints ache just like aging humans. My Treeing Walker just turned 10. As soon as I saw the first signs of her slowing down or not jumping up on the couch as easily I took her for a checkup and began adding glucosamine to her breakfast.

5. I saved this for last because it’s such a painful subject. Everyone wants their pet to live forever but the reality is they can’t 😢
In the last 15 years I’ve lost 2 dogs and 3 cats. I was very selfish when my cocker spaniel got old. She was 15 and needed assistance getting up and could barely squat long enough to p*e. I loved her so much that I let her live like that for over a year. If I’ve learned anything about seniors it’s you have to know when it’s time even though it breaks ur heart. Your pet is ur best friend and this is the time for u to be theirs. If ur pet’s quality of life is no longer optimal it’s time to consider ur options. They can’t tell u when they are in pain but they may limp or move a lot slower. Your vet can evaluate ur pet and possibly find something that medication can take care of. If there’s nothing the doctor can do to keep them comfortable it’s not fair to let them suffer. I’ve found that losing a pet can be more painful than losing a human 😭 but knowing they are no longer in pain is very comforting. It’s very easy to become selfish and try to extend ur pet’s life so u don’t have to give them up. I’m not ashamed to say I’ve done it, but it isn’t always the right thing for ur precious fur baby. 🐶 🐱

05/09/2020

U better fu***ng believe it!

Some People are Snakes

03/03/2020

Before u sign Spot up for obedience training try this. My Treeing Walker, Macy Gray, weighs 58 lbs and used to pull very hard when I walk her. She’s actually taken off after a squirrel and I fractured 2 ribs from trying to hang onto her leash 😢 She also likes to bark with every right step 🤷‍♀️
I purchased this at the Atlanta Pet Expo about 6 years ago and now she walks the neighborhood without incident. It’s simply canned air. No liquid sprays out, but the sound it makes when the air sprays out immediately gets their attention.
I’ve used it at home to keep my dogs from jumping on guests, I’ve also used it as a housebreaking tool. When I would catch my pup raising his leg for an indoor p*e p*e or squatting for a 💩 in the house this would stop him in his tracks.
I do NOT recommend it for dogs with neurosis. That will only complicate their issues. Amazon sells this in a 3-pack for what u would pay in the store. If u want to try a can before investing in bulk Puppy Pantry in The Vineyards on Hwy. 211 carries it in 2 different sizes.