Merry Murphy Pet Sitters

Are Rising Costs Forcing the Need for Pet Insurance?

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Pet Insurance is a topic covered this week on NPR. The topic is called "Health Insurance: Now for Your Dog, or Hedgehog."  Few news stations report on health topics as well as NPR, or even offer such varied topics that matter so much to animal owners or care-givers.  It was only a matter of time before we were updated on the latest information concerning insurance for our pets.

Many of my clients have related the exorbitant costs they have faced with a pet's medical bill.  Many love their pets and do not want to place a dollar limit on what they will spend...but that isn't a realistic or pragmatical way to view the issue of pet care. Pet Insurance is making a strong push forward in our society. At present, the average annual cost for pet health-care is $80.00.  In fact, pet-patient,owner, and veterinarian experience a medical relationship much like Americans did at one time with their own health-care.  Yet, it seems that medical advances and the rising cost of pet health-care will be bringing the insurance question for animals into our own homes.    Go to NPR to get the full story.  The story is fascinating.

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Call Merry Murphy Pet Sitters for all of your pet sitting needs in Charlotte, N.C. 704-246-4148

Older Pets and Heart Health

Prevention of heart disease or reversing heart disease concerns me partly due to the fact I have two older dogs.

So much of what we have learned in preventing heart disease in humans can be applied to our animals as well. 

For the most part, you can spot the older pet in a park.  The younger ones are giving their owners a "run for their money" with their endless bounds of youthful energy.  The older dog usually walks along with his owner at a 'contented pace'. Our older companions are glad to take breaks and simply enjoy the sun, and the interesting "smells" in the air.

It is not at all unusual for your older dog and cat to sleep 70 to 80 per cent of the time.  Naturally, we all need to be thinking of how at this older stage of life, there are less calories being expended by your pet, and with this slower metabolism, it is time to carefully watch their caloric intake.

There are plenty of natural dog foods on the market that can help prevent heart disease, and decrease the harmful affects if heart disease symptoms have already been presented by your pet.

You can ask your veterinarian for recommendations, and you can certainly search the internet for pet food designed just for the older pet!

Call Merry Murphy Pet Sitters at 704-246-4148 for all your pet sitting needs in Charlotte,N.C.

Merry Murphy Pet Sitters: A Good Veternarian to Know

I have been listening to the March 19th NPR re-broadcast of "Veterinarian Translates Barks and Meows" this week, and have been entertained, moved, and educated.

I particularly like how Dr.Nancy Kay covered dealing with the "end of life" decisions we face with our pets.
Kay breaks down probable scenarios and the typical reactions pet owners are likely to have and the consequences of each action.  What is so good about the information is the way Kay gives common sense approaches to dealing with events that we have or will face one day.

One of our biggest challenges when dealing with the question of "Is my dog in too much pain?" is to consider this: You know how it feels to be in bed with the flu.  If you had to live with this pain constantly, would it be worth it? 

Certainly, each of us have our own unique situation simply because it is our own personal experience with our best friend.  Yet, we all need assistance and more information when dealing with our pets.

I highly recommend listening to the NPR interview. You can find the show concerning pets here. You can also find out more about the great veterinarian,Nancy Kay, and purchase her new book.~

For your pet sitting needs in Charlotte,N.C. call Merry Murphy Pet Sitters at 704-246-4148. Please visit our website!

Some Pet Hospitals No Longer Docking Tails,Cropping Ears

According to USA Today, Banfield ( a group of Animal hospitals) is refusing to dock tails,crop ears, or allow devocalization of a dog's bark. 

USA Today reports this quote from Banfield:

"After thoughtful consideration and reviewing medical research, we have determined it is in the best interest of the pets we treat, as well as the overall practice, to discontinue performing these unnecessary cosmetic procedures," says Karen Faunt, vice president for medical quality advancement. "It is our hope that this new medical protocol will help reduce, and eventually eliminate, these cosmetic procedures altogether."

The hospitals will continue to carry out the surgeries on pets for which it is medically necessary, she says." end quote~

The procedures have been controversial for sometime, and the shift in attitudes will hopefully take away these standards.  The AKC is not happy about the trend, but there is an increasing amount of pet owners who do not like to see their pets bandaged due to the procedures, and would gladly stop them if their dogs could still win in the ring.

Ear cropping and tail docking originally started due to practical need. The tails were docked to protect hunting dogs as they ran through brush. The ear docking came from the need to prevent dogs ear from injuries whose primary work was protection. Long ears were easily infected in fights with wild animals.

from Merry Murphy Pet Sitters, "trusted pet care for when you are away"

Dog Walking and Exercising With Your Dog

Setting up a dog or walking  exercise routine with your dog is a great idea, but if you haven't been exercising, or walking your dog regularly, you need to plan things and take it slow with your dog.

If your dog is older, and you want to start a regular walking routine, you must keep in mind the same factors you would for yourself if you hadn't exercised or walked for a long period.

Here are some ideas on Dog Walking

• Toughen up your dogs paw pads by walking on trails,or any area that has a dirt or grassy surface for about two weeks.
• Try not to do the heavy exercising right after your dog eats. Your pet is subject to digestive upsets on a full stomach.
• Give only small amounts of water before and after exercising.
• Keep your dog on a leash so you can regulate the pace,especially if the walking is new to you, and if you are walking a young energetic dog.

For Dog Walking services when you can't be there call Merry Murphy Pet Sitters at 704-246-4148

Dog and Cat Care: Health is Being Compromised During Recession

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I wrote a few days ago about the subject of saving money during the recession and ways veterinary care can be planned with preventive care to save money during hard times.  Reports from vets in Charlotte are grim to say the least.

Unfortunately, many vets are reporting drastic cuts in pet care, noting longer stretches between visits. Meanwhile, the lack of preventive pet health care is leading to more expensive care, once the medical problem has got out of hand. For instance, reports of not preventing heart worm in animals leads to several hundred dollars being spent once a pet is critically ill.

Once thought to be recession proof, managers of veterinary clinics say they can tell we are in a recession simply by the questions clients are asking about pet care.

Merry Murphy Pet Sitters, 704-246-4148, for pet sitting in Charlotte, N.C.

Dogs Who Fear Thunderstorms

I have a pet dog that I rescued a few years ago that has anxiety attacks when the thunder begins to sound during a storm.

Pets have been subject to storms more this year in Charlotte,N.C. than any year I can remember in recent memory.  So I tried to implement a little of Caesar's techniques for dog phobias, and then ran into this article on Science Daily.

Basically, research done in 2006 says: "A new study shows that dogs can get very upset during thunderstorms, whether or not their owner holds them. The study measured the stress hormone cortisol to be up to three times normal levels while the dogs heard recordings of a thunderstorm. The company of other dogs did help, though vets say medications may be more effective".

Since I have another dog,Murphy,perhaps that has kept Sadie's symptoms from getting too out-of-hand.  I think at this point we can forgo the medication, but it is something I will keep in mind if my dog's symptoms get any worse!

For pet sitting services call Merry Murphy Pet Sitters at 704-246-4148, or visit our website.

Cat Sitting Vs. Cat Boarding: Taking Care of the Older Cat

Due to the fact that older cats do not handle stress as well as they did when they were younger, many vets recommend  using a professional cat sitter who will check on your older cat at predetermined times.  Boarding a cat at a facility is fraught with anxiety; so if at all possible, hire a pet sitter who will you help you out if you need to be away from home.

A lot of people think there is simply "nothing" to caring for an older cat.  Actually, playing with your older cat helps to keep his weight down and can delay worsening of arthritic-type symptons.

Brush your cat's hair daily, and look for any lumps. If any are noted,make an appointment with your veternarian. Cats are prone to more growths (tumors) than are dogs.  Many times, especially in cats, these growths tend to be malignant in the older cat.

Finally, keep plenty of water around for the senior cat. Older cats do not go out of their way to get water, and will benefit from you strategically place small bowls of water around the house.

Enjoy your pet! Time is a precious commodity!

You can call Merry Murphy Pet Sitters in Charlotte,N.C. for pet-sitting, dog-walking, and other pet services in Charlotte,N.C.

Dogs and Cats Soothe the Soul

All the more reason to use Merry Murphy Pet Sitters!

(CNN) -- Dogs and cats soothe the soul and provide companionship, but a report released this week suggests they sometimes cause broken bones and sprains, too.

Most data on human-pet relationships have been devoted to the health benefits, such as lower blood pressure.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that every year, more than 86,000 fall injuries are caused by pets. Dogs are the biggest culprits, causing 88 percent of the injuries. Cats cause 11.7 percent of the falls, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

CDC researchers formulated the national estimates based on data from 66 emergency rooms.

"Many of them occurred while people were walking their dog or chasing either their dog or cat," said Judy Stevens, an epidemiologist with the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. "Over half the injuries with dogs were either falls or tripping over the pet or they were pushed or pulled by the pet."

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Pet Sitters Can Keep Safety Watch on Pets and House

ABC News reported the following article, and it is a tragic happening. Over all, Merry Murphy's prefers that pets remain in the safe and healthy environment of their home. Though accidents can happen anytime, you and your pet sitter will be more familiar with the risks in a familiar setting as versus a kennel.

As domestic diva Martha Stewart mourns the death of her puppy, pet experts are warning owners to be extra diligent when choosing a facility to board their beloved pooches.

Following the tragic death of Martha Stewart's dog as well as 16 others, animal experts offer advice to pet owners on how to find a safe kennel for their pets.

(Melissa Evanko/Pocono Record/AP Photo, ABC News)
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Stewart's chow chow,5-month-old Ghengis Khan, was killed Friday when the Pazzazz Pet Boarding kennel in eastern Pennsylvania exploded after a propane tank ignited, setting the facility on fire. A total of 17 dogs were killed in the fire.

According to reports, officials said that a spark or static electricity could have been responsible for the fire, and that while the investigation is ongoing, the incident is being considering an accident.

Stewart declined to comment directly to ABCNews.com but said in a posting on her blog that she was "deeply saddened" by the death of her dog. A representative for Stewart declined to specify why Ghengis Khan was at the kennel and not at Stewart's home at the time of the fire.

Free Pet Food from Humane Society

Just last Friday,Charlotte's Humane Society gave out free pet-food. Efforts like this are going on around the country, and people should feel compelled to get the word out to those in need. Donating food to any animal service organization would be appreciated.

The Humane Society and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg animal shelter on Byrum Drive both accept donations of pet food for the needy. The city shelter recently started a Pet Food Bank in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank.

While adoptions are up at the Humane Society and city shelter, more people are also giving up their pets here and across the country in the downturn. Surrenders of dogs and cats were up nearly 11 percent at the city shelter in the last half of '08 compared to the same period the year before.

For more information or to donate food: Humane Society, 704-377-0534; Charlotte-Mecklenburg animal shelter, 704-336-3786.

Pet Care Scoop: Pet Fitness Tips

from Pet Care Scoop:

Did you know that senior cats and dogs get gray hair? And that's not all that changes as pets age. From a decline in eyesight and hearing to changes in digestion and energy level, pets go through many of the same aging stages as humans. Here are 10 tips for taking care of aging pets. Post a comment to tell us how you comfort and care for wise old pets!

1. How old is "old"? 
Cats can begin to age noticeably as early as 7 to 8 years old, although they aren't considered truly senior until after age 10.

Figuring out when a dog is "old" is a bit more complex. Dogs age rapidly during the first two years of their lives, so that by the beginning of age three, canines are about 24 human years old. After that, dogs age differently depending on their size, with big dogs aging more quickly than little dogs. continued

According to the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 56 to 60 years of age is considered the start of the senior years in humans. To find out how that age corresponds to dogs of all sizes, try this cool tool.