While You're Away
Use these tips to safeguard your pet’s health and happiness while you’re away
Even the best pet-sitter can’t duplicate the reassurance your pet gets from your presence. If you think your pet might feel anxious in your absence, try these strategies to help make them more comfortable:
Keep them too busy to miss you
- Fill 1 or 2 rubber toys with a mixture of kibble/peanut butter, mashed white or sweet potatoes, cottage cheese (make sure your dog can tolerate these foods) or a canine paste designed for this purpose. Freeze 1, then your dog can work on 1 right away and the other when it thaws.
- Leave radio tuned to a classical music station.
- Hide small, healthy treats around the house for your pet to find.
- Use products that induce calm. Available over-the-counter, Comfort Zone with D.A.P. (Dog−Appeasing Pheromones), made by Farman Pet Products, is a diffuser that releases synthetic versions of the calming pheromones produced by a lactating female dog. The odorless, species−specific, pheromones don’t affect humans or cats, but they can help your dog feel less anxious. Also consider vet-prescribed products to induce calm, or look for over-the-counter supplements that aim to decrease anxiety with such ingredients as special nutrient blends, herbs − valerian root and kava kava, vitamin B as well as Bach Flower Remedies (specifically the "Rescue Remedy").
- Leave behind a reminder of you. Place a t-shirt or bathrobe with your scent in the pet’s bed for xtra comfort.
Set-Up Your Sitter To Succeed
Whether you choose a neighbor, friend or professional petsitter, help him/her care for your pet by providing necessary info in writing. Memory often proves unreliable.
- Schedule. Include date/time of your departure and return to avoid any possible confusion.
- How to contact you. Provide more than 1 option (cell phone, email, hotel fax, etc)
- Feeding schedule. Give details: "At 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. fill ceramic bowl on kitchen-floor with 1 scoop of kibble (using plastic scoop inside bag in pantry)" beats saying "Feed twice a day."
- Medical info. List your vet’s address and phone # along with driving instructions. Include the same info for your 24 hr emergency clinic. Note allergies or special medical requirements.
- Command words. Spare your pet and sitter frustration by explaining that you use "release", not "drop it", or "come", not "here boy".
- Exercise instructions. Where, when and how far should your dog walk? What kind of games to you encourage? How does he/she handle the dog park?
- House rules. Do you allow your dog on your bed? What snacks do you permit? Is catnip ok?
- Equipment location. Where do you keep your pet’s leash, brush, toys and other items?
- Behavioral concerns. Inform the sitter of any behavior that could result in harm to the sitter, such as possessiveness over certain items, other people or certain areas of the house or yard. Also tell him/her if your pet has a habit of dashing for open doors or gates? (a "runner")
Contact
~~ CARE FOR PETS UNLimited ~~
LOVING care for your pets
and Pet-Taxi for S. Wpg
(204) 477- 0383
petcare1@mts.net
