It's another hot July in Minneapolis! With the heat it is a good reminder that it is not a good idea to leave your dog unsupervised in your back yard. Dogs can get into things in your yard such as tree debris and insects. In Golden Valley, MN, we have coyotes that have actually jumped fences to gain access to your back yard and that isn't a good thing for your unattended dog. Other ways your dog can get into trouble is fence fighting with a neighbor's dog or incessant barking. Some dogs will dig holes to get under your fence. Someone could open the gate to your yard without your knowledge and then your dog could end up lost. Supervision is key especially if you have an new puppy or an aggressive dog, Prevention is a lot easier than trying to fix destructive behaviors later on. There are a lot of things your dog can get into and when the weather is hot, it's better to make sure they are kept healthy, supervised and in your good hands.
​

There has been a lot of focus and discussion about grain free pet foods and heart failure in dogs. The FDA has been involved and has been investigating  certain grain free pet foods that contain peas, lentils and potatoes. Although it seems that this is still being studied, here is a link to an article that  helps to explain the current status and what we can do. 
 
https://justinshmalberg.com/blog

    

Daisy Dog Care has completed the PSI (Pet Sitters International) Certificate in Professional Pet Sitting and earned the designation of PSI Certified Professional Pet Sitter.
 
To earn this prestigious designation, a professional pet sitter must successfully earn the PSI Certificate in Professional Pet Sitting, agree to adhere to PSI’s Recommended Quality Standards for Excellence and agree to abide by PSI’s Member Code of Conduct and Ethics.
 
Successfully completing the Certificate in Professional Pet Sitting Program indicates that an individual has acquired the knowledge necessary to make vital assessments on pet health and nutrition, canine and feline behavior, separation anxiety, pet loss and more. A certificate holder is also equipped, as a business owner, to make decisions on customer service, employee hiring and safety.

If you walk your dog near a lake, stream or pond, be on the look out for Blue Green Algae which is known to be toxic to our pets. 

• A summertime hazard many pet parents aren’t aware of is toxic blue-green algae, which are found in freshwater lakes, streams and ponds
• Blue-green algae contain deadly cyanobacteria that can cause severe illness and death, most commonly in dogs who swim in or drink from contaminated water sources
• Exposure to blue-green algae is a medical emergency and immediate veterinary care is required
• Since blue-green algae toxicity is often fatal even with aggressive treatment, play it safe by keeping your pet away from any body of water that is greenish in color
• Not all blue-green algae are toxic; harmful blooms usually smell bad and resemble pea soup, green paint or floating mats of scum

​healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2017/06/14/toxic-blue-green-algae.aspx

Here are some ways to celebrate National Pet Day!
NATIONAL PET DAY

The Holiday Season is once again upon us.  Here are some tips for the Holidays and Pets. 
Click here for the link
​

The sugar substitute known as Xylitol has been in the news recently.  The most common food that contains xylitol is chewing gum, but is being added to many foods that may come into contact with your pet.  Xylitol will make your pet sick and in some cases, unfortunately can kill your pet. Check your food labels and make sure that you do not have any of these items within your pet's reach.  The link below details additional information about Xylitol.

http://bit.ly/1QrOs3f

Here is a great link from The Best Friends Animal Society regarding Pets and Hot Weather.
Pets and hot weather

I have two small Yorkshire Terriers.  They both eat the same food, and yet one of my dogs has stomach issues from time to time.  My vet recommended that I try a probiotic and that has really helped my little guy.  Here is an article I just came across talking about probiotics and pets.

Probiotics and Pets