Looking After Pets

Christmas has arrived again, a time for merriment , on the other hand it is also a hazardous time for both us and our beloved pets. Pet Sitters London have attempted to list their top tips to minimize the dangers to our pets over Xmas. Dog walkers are frequently asked for help or spot potential dangers to pets at Xmas. This is often a neglected part of pet care.
1. Your Xmas Tree
It is crucial that it is in a safe location and is firmly fixed. This enjoyable activity of decorating the tree with your children, needs to be done in such a way that the cat, when it jumps up onto it, will not bring it down on to the pet. Pets can be put out of joint at Xmas and can become panicky and likely to do anything, with all the new people around, with all the new sounds and smells. Try to avoid placing the tree close to furniture that will help the dog leap onto the tree. Ideas include tying the tree to the ceiling and wall with some wire. Use a hook in the wall might help. Weighting down the tree roots / stem to improve steadiness is another way of avoiding risks.
If it is a real tree, clean up the pine trees, not just because it looks nicer, but pets can eat them and this can make them sick. If you put water in the bucket holding, either avoid the chemicals that prolong life, or as they can be toxic, ensure your animal cannot drink this water.
2. Xmas Decoration Care.
The most dangerous to young children and pets are the glass balls, why not buy yourself a safe painted wood or plastic version. Eating these can be very dangerous. Another danger are the bight ribbons and streamers that can be attractive to dogs, and can block the intestines.
Take care with using hooks on fixing the decorations to the trees, use string – it is far safer.

3. Dangers with Electrics.
The electrical wire can be both a dangerous trip hazard and an electrical hazard if pets bite into them. So tidy the wires up. Be very careful if you have a dog or cat that chews and is curious. Keep the electric turned off if no one in the room, or shut the door.

4. Animal Behaviour
Though you may appear to have plenty of time, you are often distracted and paying more attention to other people / things than your dog.
It is important to have a rational understanding of the reliability of your pets. If in any doubt close the rooms with any potential danger to, or caused by pets.
Animal behaviour can become eccentric at Christmas with the new sounds, smells and people. Pets are territorial and can see a reduction in attention, their favourite spot taken over by the Christmas tree as a threat to their quarters. They are then more liable to change behaviour, cats become worried and nervous, they often go off their food – even if you are offering them some special Beef or Turkey. Dogs risk being hostile, if they are not getting their exercise or too much attention to the visitors. A particular risk even with very well behaved and trained dogs is the “ bizarre” attacks on kids and babies. Keep kids and dogs apart if not being supervised carefully all the time. If busy consider a professional dog walker from a company such as Dog Walkers London. If you do not have the time for exercising the dog, book your dog walker for a few sessions over Christmas, though you may need to do this early as they are often busy doing pet sitting at Christmas.
5. Boxes of Christmas Presents
Pets are intrigued by boxes, in sparkling colours and materials with lots of people showing attention. Be particularly careful if you have relocated your dogs bed and replaced it with the tree and presents. It is not unknown for dogs to take it out on the presents. The most dangerous consequence is often the digestion of string that can cause digestive blockages, resulting in a trip to the local London veterinary clinic.
6. Food Dangers for Pets
It is always tempting to feed the pets some of the nice food that you have at Christmas. Do not give from the table, transfer to their normal food bowls at normal feeding times. It can take you the rest of the year to stop begging at the table, if it worked well at Christmas
Mistletoe and Poinsettias. Other dangers are things like onions that may be with your meat that could be given to the pet. Chocolate is also another risky treat for pets, as well as sugary products that are not part of a normal animals food. Sugary products can cause teeth problems and with 30-50 % of dogs suffering from being over weight these calories should be avoided. For pet and human, perhaps go for a dog walk, he would probably prefer it.
7. Home Safety
Before the season, do a thorough check, looking for potential dangers, our pet sitters, often identify dangers and pass them onto the owners, common ones include live candles that could be knocked over by pets, especially dogs wagging tails.
Turn off potentially dangerous electrical items such as the Christmas tree lights when no human is present in the house.

Xmas is with us again, a period for merriment , however it is also a dangerous period for both us and our beloved pets. London Pet Sitters have attempted to identify their top tips to minimize the risks to our pets over Xmas.  Dog walkers are often asked for advice or notice possible risks to pets at Christmas. This is often a neglected part of pet care.
1.  Your Xmas Tree
The most important this about this is ensuring that it is in a safe location and is firmly fixed. This enjoyable activity of decorating the tree with your kids, needs to be done in such a way that the cat, when it jumps up onto it, will not crash it down on to everyone. Pets can be disrupted at Xmas and can become worried and likely to do anything, with the crowds, with all the new sounds and smells. Try to avoid putting the tree close to furniture that will help the pet jump onto the tree. Ideas include tying the tree to the wall and or ceiling with some wire. A temporary hook into the wall is a great safety feature. Weighting down the tree roots / stem to improve stability is another way of avoiding problems.
Real trees pose a further risk from the pet digesting the pine needles – so clean them up regularly. Some of the water additives for prolonging the life of the tree are dangerous, make sure your pet cannot drink this water.
2. Xmas Decoration Care.
Glass Xmas balls are particularly dangerous, an alternative are the wooden and plastic balls. Eating these can be very dangerous. Another danger are the bight ribbons and streamers that can be attractive to dogs, to chew and block the digestive tracts.
Avoid using hooks on fixing the ornaments to the trees, use string – it is far safer.

3. Electrical Dangers.
Care with the electrical leads, man and beast can trip over them, bringing down what ever is attached. So tidy the wires up. Be very wary if you have a dog or cat that is curious and if it chews. Keep the electric turned off if no one is present, or close the door.

4. Animal Behaviour
Though you may appear to have plenty of time, you are often distracted and paying more attention to other people / things than your cat.
So watch your pet.
Animal behaviour can become erratic at Christmas with the new surroundings and people. Animals are protective and can see a lack of attention, their favourite spot taken by the tree and presents as a threat to their quarters. They are much more likely to change behaviour, cats become scatty and scared, they often go off their food – even if you are giving them some nice Salmon or Turkey. Dogs risk being hostile, if they do not have enough exercise or too much attention to the visitors. A particular danger even with very well trained and behaved dogs is the “ out of the ordinary” attacks on children and babies. Separate them if not being supervised carefully all the time. If busy consider a professional dog walker from a company such as London Dog Walking. If you do not have the time for exercising the dog, book your dog sitter for a few walks over the period, though a good idea to do this early as they are likely to be busy.
5. Christmas Presents
Pets are intrigued by boxes, in sparkling colours and materials with lots of people showing attention. Be particularly careful if you have relocated your dogs bed and replaced it with the tree and presents. Dogs can rip the presents to pieces in minutes if you are unlucky. The most dangerous consequence is often the digestion of string that can cause digestive blockages, resulting in a trip to the local London veterinary clinic.
6. Food Dangers for Pets
Even at Xmas avoid feeding animals at the table, this habit is very difficult to break as they do not understand why it was OK at Christmas but not now!
Mistletoe and Poinsettias. Other dangers are things like onions that may be with your meat that could be given to the pet. Chocolate is also another risky treat for pets, as well as sugary products that are not part of a normal animals food. Sugary products can cause teeth problems and with 30-50 % of dogs suffering from being over weight these calories should be avoided. For pet and human, maybe go for a dog walk, he would most likely prefer it.
7. Safety of the Home
Before the season, do a thorough check, looking for potential dangers, our pet sitters, often notice dangers and point them out to owners, such as live candles that would be knocked over by pets, especially dogs wagging tails.
I would advise Christmas tree lights to be turned off at night and when no human is present in the house.

Our best wishes for a safe and Merry Xmas for you and your animals. 

Existence as a pet sitter is a great job, for others it would be totally incompatible. A wonderful pet sitter requires to adore animals, every animals. It is not just a requirement, it ought to be a natural love. Whether it is a hamster, dog or one that some folks may fear. Common pet issues for potential pet sitters are scorpions, spiders, lizards, snakes and reptiles. In a larger company, they may be able to handle this, but typically pet sitting is a small business with only two or three people, so you will need to handle these animals as a pet sitter. Luckily these animals require minimal care, but as a pet sitter you cannot avoid feeding and watering them. Sometimes the owner may need the pet sitter to give small live animals to the pet. In my experience other animals that cause possible issues for pet sitting include rats, “I don’t like the scaly tail”, especially as the rats and owners love the frequent fuss and handling of the pet.

The demand for pet sitting is usually centred around the major holidays of Christmas, Thanksgiving and summer holidays. There is also a demand for pet sitting at weekends throughout the year. Because of this seasonality, pet sitting frequently includes dog walking which is something that is needed all year.

Dog walking in a first-class pet sitting business will restrict the highest number of dogs to below four. Superior businesses such as London dog walking will give you T-shirts, sweaters and all weather gear. This is of common benefit, as the free clothes are branded, dog walking is great publicity for their pet sitting services. You will not however be allowed to wear these when pet sitting, as it will let the world know that the owners are away on holiday. Though one of the advantages of pet sitting with someone going in and out and doing other things such as emptying the mail box, reduces the probability of break-ins.

Pet sitting often requires the pet sitter to do other tasks around the house. A pet sitter will often maintain the garden and house plants. Pet sitters frequentally look after cats, who due to their territorial origins, hardly ever like leaving their home. Cat lovers dislike the separation from their feline partners, so companies such as London cat sitting will place photos and a diary on their web site for the pet owners.

Good businesses such as London pet sitters and clients will require a pet sitter be police checked as they are frequently visiting homes alone

So pet sitting is a wonderful job for those whom it fits, try it!