Gulfside Pet Sitters, LLC

02/13/2025

Warning to keep our pups away from stagnant/contaminated water, puddles, etc

🚨 WARNING FOR PET PARENTS! 🚨

‼️ Deadly Pythiosis Infection Reported in Sarasota & Manatee Counties ‼️

A rare and often fatal infection called Pythiosis has been detected in at least five dogs in our area within the last month—four of those cases were fatal. 💔

🐶 What is Pythiosis?

Pythiosis is caused by the aquatic mold Pythium Insidiosum and can severely affect a dog's skin or gastrointestinal tract; frequently misdiagnosed as a fungal infection. It thrives in contaminated or stagnant water, including floodwaters, swamps, puddles, and retention ponds.

⚠️ Symptoms to Watch For:
🔹 Sores on the skin
🔹 Weight loss
🔹 Vomiting
🔹 Diarrhea
🔹 Loss of appetite

💡 How to Protect Your Pet:

🚫 Avoid letting dogs wade, swim, or drink from stagnant or contaminated water. Can affect horses and humans, too.
🛑 Be extra cautious after storms or floods
⏳ Seek immediate veterinary care if symptoms appear—early detection is critical

A local veterinarian warns that Pythiosis is incredibly difficult to treat and often fatal if not caught early.

📢 Please share to help spread awareness! Keeping our furry friends safe starts with education. Stay vigilant, Sarasota & Manatee pet families! ❤️🐾

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween from Fred and Lychee! 🎃🧜‍♀️

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas! 🎄Our holidays are always a little crazy. Today it's 12 visits and an overnight with a couple hours squeezed in for family "linner" and gifts. But the best part is extra cuddles from these 8 cuties and giving their 5 families a chance to be together for the holiday. They've all been so kind and appreciative, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to spoil their fur babies 😻

10/21/2023

12/31/2022

Gelato was my baby of 13 years. She stole our hearts the day my father brought her home & pretended he needed help with groceries; I opened the door to this precious puppy. Jelly loved to shake up her toys & throw them into your lap for fetch, make grunting noises & playful growls, put her head firmly on your lap to get your attention & sometimes climb right on top of you & nuzzle her head under yours. She was faithfully waiting at the top of the stairs to be a good watch dog & to greet you. Her favorite toy, Froggy, had more "surgeries" than we could count. She knew if she "curtsied" repeatedly she would get a treat, as that was her lunch/bedtime routine. Jelly seemed to be the Queen of the ducks as every time she laid in the yard, they all swam up the lake & circled around her.
We knew we were lucky on her 10th birthday as our last two angels were only 7 & 9 when they passed. Having a Golden is the biggest blessing, but you know there's a high risk of cancer. We discovered in early summer, she had an aggressive, inoperable nasal tumor. She was strong through radiation treatments & subsequent side effects. She had good days & bad, but tried to be her happy self. A pup that years ago tore her ACL & didn't let on for months. She kept eating & going outside even when she could no longer do the stairs herself & later when we knew the cancer was growing back. She survived the horrific hurricane, made it through hours of our 1st floor being under 5ft of water until I could carry her downstairs when a small patch of grass appeared. She surprised us all when she started climbing the stairs again, as if she knew she had to be stronger after Ian left everything in ruins. She celebrated Thanksgiving & Christmas with us & enjoyed her own turkey dinners. But 3 days ago, she told us it was time. I held her during her second seizure. She knew her family was with her, & her loving Dad & personal vet was there to take care of her in her final moments at home. Our hearts are shattered & empty, but she is at peace.
I've worried how it would feel working with other pets during/after her passing & am so thankful to have been with her in her final moments. It's been a hard week but good to stay busy & bittersweet playing with my amazing Gulfside family. Thank you for reading about our beautiful girl. I pray we all have a much happier 2023

09/05/2022

Having a lazy Labor Day 😸🇺🇸

07/24/2022

Don't you just hate when that happens 😹

07/20/2022

Missing sweet KeeKee 💙 She was such a unique kitty who loved drinking from the shower and ended up taking a "bath" in the process 😻 Kee had chronic kidney disease which escalated unexpectedly. I am so grateful to have cared for her this last year and to have been there to comfort her in her final moments. The American Veterinary Medical Association provides some good information on kidney disease which affects 30% of kitties over 10 years of age https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2021-02-01/creating-brighter-futures-cats-chronic-kidney-disease

06/21/2022

I have the pleasure of staying with sweet little Frankie this week 😍 All of his toys are bigger than him 😂

03/25/2022

Lett-uce eat 🐰🥬