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I must admit it took me some time to decide on what my first actual pet wellness blog post should be, then I read an article in an older issue of Pet Sitter's World, about household hazards for indoor pets and a light bulb went off in my head. Currently, we’re still in the throes of the pandemic lockdowns here in California and we’re being told that chemicals like lysol and clorox are the best at killing the nasty COVID virus. While that is true, there is also a real danger when using those products around our pets. See what most don’t realize is the surface needs to be wet for 30 seconds to 2 minutes to kill the virus. Honestly, that is an eternity when it comes to keeping pets off of a surface! Seriously, sit there for 2 minutes and do nothing. The chemical in products like lysol and pine sol, or other products with -sol at the end are made from phenol which is very toxic to dogs and cats, cats being especially sensitive to it. At Jenn’s Pet TLC, we are using alcohol wipes to disinfect because they are much less toxic and the surface dries much quicker than a lysol or clorox wipe. And please, please DO NOT do what that new lysol commercial is doing and spray the dog bed, cat bed or any surface your pet sleeps on with the disinfectant spray, I have half a mind to write to them to tell them how dangerous that is! The article from PSW recommends using Simple Green, which I agree is a very good product and it’s safe for the environment as well. For disinfecting we recommend alcohol wipes, vinegar based products or hydrogen peroxide based products. Be careful even with products labeled “natural” they can still contain ingredients dangerous to pets. “Natural” is a non-regulated term and really anyone can use it on their products. If you suspect your pet has gotten into something toxic take them to the vet immediately. You can also call the ASPCA poison control hotline 888-426-4435, but be aware that a fee applies.
Other household hazards can include plants like poinsettias and lilies which are the biggest dangers. There are others, but your best bet is to only keep pet friendly plants like wheatgrass, honeysuckle, catnip and some ferns like the Boston fern in your home. Click here for a link from Better Homes and Gardens on 15 Pet Friendly plants. In addition to plants, some foods and medications are dangerous. Avoid feeding grapes and raisins as they can cause kidney failure. Xylitol is a must to keep away as this is very deadly. Don’t feed garlic or onions or any seasoned meats/food to your pet. Other things like macadamia nuts, dairy (fed as a treat or pill masker is ok), yeast dough, chocolate, coffee, alcohol and chives. Aspirin and Tylenol must be kept from dogs and cats, but with cats it's especially deadly. Be careful when using essential oils as some pets are more sensitive than others. ALWAYS use a brand that you know is a good quality like DoTerra, YoungLiving or Arbonne and ALWAYS allow your pet to exit the room where the oils are being used. Unless given the ok by a vet, do not put essential oils on your pet. Our pets are like perpetual toddlers, if they can get into trouble they will and it just takes a little effort to make sure your home is safe for your indoor pet. Remember, they are there 24/7; even you are not home that much (even in a pandemic). If you’d like to read the full article in PSW it is linked here. Any questions or comments, please drop one below.
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Well I guess I should start somewhere and the best place to start is the beginning.
Hello, my name is Jenn Hodge, CPPS (that's Certified Professional Pet Sitter), and I have a passion for pets. Since 2009, I've had my own professional pet sitting and dog walking business. Over the years, I've noticed that many clients have questions and concerns about their pets' overall health and wellness. When I started looking into the pet food industry as a whole, I discovered lots of confusion, misinformation --and few easy answers for the average pet parent. Not only that, but the overall health of our pets has been deteriorating over the years with various chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, joint pain, etc. It breaks my heart to see these pets hurting and sick and their pet parents without any good answers. While I'm not a vet, I am working on my Pet Nutrition Certification and you're here to witness my journey as I study pet nutrition and overall pet wellness. Together we'll discover how to help your pet live their best life possible with proper nutrition, a cat or dog friendly home environment, great tips and more! I will always encourage you to have a conversation with your vet before trying anything new, but I also encourage you to find a holistic vet or a vet that practices both natural and traditional medicine. Just as with human doctors, one vet cannot know all the answers nor do they all have one collective opinion. So welcome to my journey to help pet parents (that's you!) discover how to help their pets live their best lives. This is going to be fun!! |
AuthorMy name is Jenn Hodge, CPPS. I've been a professional pet sitter since 2009 and I have a passion for helping your pets live their best life! I have 2 adorable and sassy cats, 1 horse and a fish tank with guppies and an aquatic frog. My husband, Ryan Hodge, CPPS and author, also works in my pet business. Archives
October 2024
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