My Pet Lady

07/29/2025

At My Pet Lady, we deeply value each and every client and their beloved pets, as their well-being is at the heart of everything we do. If you're seeking a pet care provider who offers a genuinely personal and caring relationship, built on trust and understanding, then we are the ideal team to nurture your furry family members.

Apps may make booking easy, but ease doesn’t equal quality. ⭐️ True pet care is built on trust, consistency, and connection—not convenience alone.

Your clients want to know who’s walking their dog, how they’re trained, and that they’ll actually show up and care. That’s something no algorithm can guarantee.

This is why independent pet care professionals matter now more than ever.

On podcast episode 616, we talked all about Wag! filing for bankruptcy and what it means for pet sitting small business owners.

Listen on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pet-sitter-confessional/id1476639735?i=1000719459323

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4fpakxpp4K5zYqBvwCi7Oq?si=-PBQpt3HSbSzI0Oc_crhpw

01/26/2025

Do your pets enjoy enrichment games like the ones below? One fun and simple game you can create at home is a treat-dispensing puzzle like the one below using a muffin tin. Place treats in the cups and cover some of them with tennis balls or other toys. Your cats and dogs will have a blast figuring out how to uncover the goodies! The Tricky Treat Ball below was purchased from Amazon and can be filled with your dog or cat's favorite treats. Share with us your favorite puzzle games for your furry friends!

02/06/2024

Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody (CPMA)
This will be a game changer for dogs who get Parvo!

A mortally ill puppy named Richard has been given a second chance at life after receiving a new state-of-the-art medical treatment for parvo.

02/06/2024

A mortally ill puppy named Richard has been given a second chance at life after receiving a new state-of-the-art medical treatment for parvo.

12/05/2023

Here is your feel good story for today. I think most dog owners can relate.

During the pandemic I chose a breed often compared to a velociraptor. It ruined my life—until I discovered that he’s the best dog who’s ever lived.

11/13/2023

Oh yes.😆

07/22/2023

test

05/02/2023

This sweet boy needs a family!

03/11/2023

I learned about this disease at a pet sitter conference I attended a few weeks ago. One of our attendees did a great write up and I am happy to share. Ask your vet if they test for this!

While at the Texas Pet Sitters Conference recently, we had the chance to hear from Dr. Roy Madigan, a veterinarian, and the principal scientist in the Canine Chagas Treatment Study.

We felt it imperative to share with our clients, and our community, the surprising information we learned.

Chagas disease is a parastic disease that is spread by kissing bugs. Similar to heartworm disease, animals can become infected with Chagas if they're bitten by, or ingest, a kissing bug.

The symptoms of Chagas can show up in a variety of ways. For less severe cases, lethargy, decreased appetite and weight loss may present. In more severe cases, you may see fluid in the abdomen, heart failure, vomiting, and unfortunately, sudden death.

Dr. Madigan estimates that up to 23% of companion dogs in Texas currently are positive for Chagas (compared to about 3.3% that are heartworm positive).

Chagas tends to attack the heart tissue, and is a progressive disease. The most common symptom seen when this happens is arrhythmia. It is also known to attack the brain.

Testing for Chagas is not common. The pet owner usually has to seek it out. There is currently a reliable test called "ELISA" that costs around $120.00. Dr. Madigan tells us that by next year, a new version will be available that will cost around $35.00 and will include a heartworm test. It will be readily available to all veterinary practices. They are currently awaiting approval from the FDA.

The treatment for Chagas is in a pill form and lasts for 12 months. Dr. Madigan reports that while it is 100% effective, it does not fix the harm that has already been done to the body by the parasite.

Our best defense against Chagas is preventative action. Pyrethroid insecticides will kill kissing bugs. Oral flea and tick medicine will kill Chagas.

If you see your pet with a kissing bug, do not squish the bug. Use a plastic baggie to capture it (don't touch it!) and contact https://kissingbug.tamu.edu/contact/ for instructions on how to submit it for testing.

It takes up to three weeks for a pet to test positive after exposure to Chagas, so don't immediately get your pet tested.

It is not only dogs who get Chagas. Cats also are affected. Chagas is the number one cause of seizures in cats.

Humans can also get Chagas. If your pet tests positive, every pet in the house should be tested, as well as all humans.

Antibodies are not effective at preventing reinfection, so a vaccine is not an option. Researchers are currently working to develop a slow-release injectible to protect pets.

Our takeaways:

*Chagas is impacting more pets than most people know. If your pet is showing unusual symptoms, ask your veterinarian to test them for Chagas. The sooner it is detected, the better off your pet will fare.

*Chagas is a treatable disease.

*Be aware of your enviroment. Keep your yard clean. Turn off outdoor lighting. Bring pets inside at night. Remove piles of rocks, leaves or wood near your home. Keep vegetation trimmed regularly. If you find a kissing bug, submit it for testing.

*If your pet tests positive for Chagas, test ALL your pets. Also, test all humans in the house.

For more information, please visit https://kissingbug.tamu.edu and www.vidapharmacal.com

02/22/2023

Yes, foster fails happen and as many people will tell you, the best!