Aunt Kit Pet Nanny

Colorado Springs and El Paso County have ordinances regarding pets. For now, let’s look at the Colorado Springs Dog Ordinances.

Pet Licensing for Dogs and Cats. All dogs and cats at least four months old must have current rabies vaccine and a current license. You can license your pet online or print out a licensing form at www.hsppr.org or call (719) 473-1741 x 127. Licenses may be purchased for one or three years. Fees are discounted for spayed and neutered animals, pets of senior citizens, and for purchasing a three-year license.

Barking Dogs. Constant barking can seriously disrupt the peace of a neighborhood. It is illegal to disturb the peace at any time of day, and owners of disruptive pets may face fines or even a court appearance. If a neighbor’s noisy pet frequently bothers you, call Animal Control (719) 473-1741 to learn about possible courses of action. Personal experience is that more than one person and more than one complaint are necessary to engage Animal Control.

Leash law. Al dogs must remain leashed while on public land. Dogs and other animals found roaming off their owner’s or keeper’s property are considered stray and may be impounted by an Animal Welfare officer. The owner or keeper may be fined for violating the leash law.

Animal Cruelty & Neglect. It is illegal to mistreat a dog or any other type of pet, whether by active cruelty such as beating or by neglect such as failure to provide appropriate food, water and shelter to the animal. If you suspect an animal is being mistreated, call Animal control at (719) 473-1741 to request an investigation.

Dangerous Animals. It is illegal for anyone to own or keep an animal that attacks or threatens to attack a person. Dangerous animals should be reported to Animal Control. The animal may be impounded or placed under special containment requirements.

For more information on local dog ordinances visit www.hsppr.org

April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month and a great time for all pet owners to learn how best to handle pet accidents and emergencies. Pet Sitters International (PSI) encourages all pet owners to learn what to do if their pet becomes injured. 

Dr. Emily Pointer, DVM, at Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City, said that the most important aspect pet owners should take away from National Pet First Aid Awareness Month is how critical it is to be prepared. 

“An emergency situation can be handled much faster and more appropriately if an owner has resources like a first aid kit and list of important phone numbers (veterinarian, emergency animal hospital and poison control) easily accessible,” Dr. Pointer said. 

Just like people, most pet accidents happen in or nearby the home. Examples of the most common pet accidents include toxic ingestion, dog bites, high rise syndrome, ripped toenails, foreign body ingestions with gastrointestinal problems, eye emergencies, broken bones, trouble giving birth and being hit by a car. 

Dr. Pointer says that a good way to become prepared for emergencies is to be proactive; think about the most common accidents and then figure out how to prevent these emergencies from arising. 

Simple first-aid procedures can be the difference between life and death. Knowing how to apply pressure to a source of bleeding and place a temporary bandage is vital to your pet’s safety, and may even save the life of your pet.  

According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), 25 percent more pets would survive if just one pet first aid technique were applied prior to getting emergency veterinary care. 

“Even after a pet owner has administered first aid, it is extremely important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible,” Dr. Pointer said. “There are many, many emergencies that cannot be managed, even in the initial period, with simple first aid.”

 Dr. Pointer advises pet owners to call their veterinarians, an emergency veterinary center or poison control immediately and, above all, remain calm. Panicking will only stress the injured animal.

 To find a professional pet sitter in your area, visit the PSI Locator.

 © Copyright 2010 by Pet Sitters International. All rights reserved. For reprint permission for this article, contact EllenPrice@petsit.com.

I wrote this article because I know several families that have hedgehogs as pets. Hedgehogs are the cutest things and there are 22 ailments that are good to know as well as how to keep your pet healthy and happy.

Let’s start with the tips to keep your hedgehog happy and healthy.

1. Handle your hedgehog daily to keep it tame and social.
2. Hedgehogs are solitary animals. If you have more than one, then you will want to house them individually.
3. Temperature is important. Keep the environment between 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit to keep it comfortable and prevent hibernation.
4. Keep your hedgehog in a quiet place. Loud noises cause stress for your pet.
5. Provide a running wheel in its cage.
6. Keep your hedgehog in a spacious and clean house.
7. Weigh your pet weekly and don’t let it get too fat or thin. Males average about 15.8 to 21 ounces. Females weight between 8.3 to 17.6 ounces.
8. Make sure fresh, clean water is always available.
9. Feed your pet a nutritious diet. Hedgehogs are omnivorous. They eat insects, worms, small lizards, mice, eggs, vegetables, fruit and commercial hedgehog diet food.
10. Check your pet daily for signs of problems.

So, what are you checking for? There are 22 ailments that are common to hedgehogs. So here is a brief summary.  Please, let your pet sitter know if your pet hedgehog is suffering from any of these ailments so proper care is given while you are away.

1. Lack of appetite, difficult or refusing to eat. Hedgehogs stop eating when they have dental disease, parasite or infections, in pain, or are sick.
2. Injury. Take care not to step on, drop or crush your pet. Hedgehogs may climb, slip, fall and break a limb. Even with the spines, these little guys are no match for aggressive animals that may bite them.
3. Cancer.Cancer is common, especially for older pets. Usually these are mammary tumors, gastrointestinal tumors, lymphosarcoma, tumors of the mouth, and skin tumors. Most cases the cancer is malignant.
4. Heart Problems.Heart muscle disease is common for these pets.
5. Dehydration.Dehydration can be obviously caused by not drinking. It can also be cause by illness, diarrhea, vomiting and a hot, dry environment. In an emergency, use an electrolyte solution like Pedialyte and give it to your pet with an eyedropper.
6. Dental Problems. Also common, dental problems include excessive tartar accumulation, gum and periodontal disease, infections, tooth root abscesses, diseases of the jawbone and cancer. If your pet is reluctant to eat, drops food while eating or is drooling, it may be suffering from dental problems.
7. Ear Problems. Parasites, infection or injury may be the cause of the ear problems. Most ear diseases are caused by parasitic mites. Mites are tiny and difficult to see. They live around the ears, on the head, and at the base of the quills. Mites cause itching, crusty skin lesions on the margins and tips of the ears and excessive dander. In severe cases they cause head shaking, tilting the head to one side, loss of balance and loss of hearing.
8. Eye Problems. Sensitivity to light and pain are symptoms of an eye injury. If they are partially closed, cloudy, have a discharge or protruding unnaturally, keep your pet in a room with subdued lighting until you can see the vet.  Proptosis is a condition where the eye has come out of the socket and the eyelids is behind the protruding eye. The reason for this condition includes (not limited to) too small an eye socket and over-sized eye, large amount of fat behind the eye, tooth root infections and trauma.
9. Fatty Liver Disease. A very common and serious health problem for captive hedgehogs. When obese, the fat accumulates in the pet’s liver, which affects the pet’s health. Symptoms are lethargic, lose interest in food, eventually lose weight and die. Some hedgehogs may have a ‘sudden death’ as a result of this disease. Overfeeding is the primary cause of this disease, along with no exercise. (Remember the running wheel)
10. Gastrointestinal Disease.This disease is caused by bacterial or viral infections, internal parasites, incorrect diet, stress, unsanitary housing conditions, foreign bodies and cancer. Signs of the disease include lack of appetite, vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, constipation, diarrhea, green stools or mucus in the feces. Normal feces are brown or black, firm, and semi-dry.
11. Constipation.Causes of constipation include dehydration, insufficient water intake, dry or hot environment, obstruction of the intestinal track (hair, foreign objects) and parasitism.
12. Diarrhea. Diarrhea can be caused by infection, parasitism, stress and incorrect diet. The feces may be foul smelling, green in color, mucous-like or liquid. Around the anus may be red, swollen, irritated and soiled. It must be treated immediately to prevent rapid dehydration and death.
13. Intestinal Obstruction. This is a life-threatening condition for your pet. Signs include vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy, dehydration and weight loss. Emergency surgery is usually necessary.
14. Intestinal Parasites.There are several intestinal parasites that can infest your hedgehog. These include roundworms (like whipworms and pinworms), tapeworms, and protozoa. Parasites can cause severe illness, weight loss and diarrhea. Your vet will need to determine the type of parasite and prescribe the proper medication for your pet.
15. Heatstroke. Hedgehogs cannot tolerate temperatures more than 85 degrees F. With heatstroke, your pet will quickly become comatose and die.
16. Infections. Your pet’s infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Signs include lack of appetite, weight loss, and lethargy. Severe infections can cause death.
17. Kidney (renal) Disease.The kidneys fail to function with this disease. It causes weight loss, increased thirst and urination, and eventually death. Kidney disease is common to this little pet. One study showed 50 percent of hedgehogs died from kidney disease.
18. Vestibular Disease (syndrome). The vestibular system helps animals keep their balance and coordinate eye movements. The vestibular system is located in the inner ear. Signs of the disease include loss of coordination, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, head tilt (usually on the affected side), falling over or rolling over to one side, and nystagmus (abnormal, rapid rhythmic eye movement).
19. Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome (WHS). This serious neurological condition is seen commonly in hedgehogs less than two years old, although not limited to that young age. Hedgehogs lose muscle coordination and have difficulty balancing. They wobble, trip and fall, have difficulty eating from dishes and swallowing. It worsens over time until the pet falls repeatedly and cannot right itself. The pet may make running movements while on its side and develop tremors and seizures.  In a quarter of all cases, hedgehogs had abnormal protrusions of one eye. In many cases, paralysis starts with the hind limbs and advances to the forelimbs. All cases end in death. There is no treatment for this disease and is believed to be genetically inherited.
20. Respiratory Problems.Hedgehogs are prone to pneumonia. Some respiratory problems are caused by fine, powdery, materials that irritate the respiratory track. Pneumonia is caused by infectious agents and is life threatening. Viral infections take hold while the animal is weak, chilled or stressed. Signs of pneumonia include difficulty breathing, nasal discharge, lack of appetite and lethargy.
21. Skin Disease & Quill Loss.Skin disease is the most common hedgehog disease.  Most are caused by mites. The parasites cluster on the skin of the head, ears, flanks and inside of legs. Mites can cause itching, severe quill loss, excessive danger, reddening, dry, flaky skin, sores that become infected. Skin fungus, such as ringworm, may infiltrate the skin and worsen the condition. Fleas and ticks are also a concern, along with improper diet, hormonal imbalance. Take your pet to the vet as soon as possible for proper treatment.
22. Urogenital Disease. Diseases of the urinary track and genitals are common. The pet may have difficulty or unable to urinate. Others may have dark-colored urine or blood. The symptoms include lethargy, lack of appetite, pain, dehydration, decreased or excessive drinking and vomiting.

Source: Critters USA, 2011, (pp74-79), “Hedgehog Health Concerns,”Sharon Vanderlip, DVM

Springtime! It is the time we are charmed by Peter Cotton Tail, jelly beans, and baby chicks.  As I was reading up on bunnies to answer questions for new owners, I found an article in Critters USA, 2011, “Give Rabbits Shelter” by Anastasia Thrift that discusses whether to cage a bunny or to have a pen.

In all instances, rabbits should be confined when you are not able to supervise them, until you have a bunny-proof area where they can play. Consider that most rabbits are confined up to 20 hours a day. The rabbits need space to move around, play, and perform their bunny dance, or binky.

When a bunny is happy and excited it leaps into the air, does a sideways kick with a twist, a 90 – to 180- degree turn or a wild run around the room. It often ends with a head shake. That’s quite a performance!  So, Sandi Ackerman of Rabbit Meadows Sancturary in Seattle, WA, suggests a minimum cage size for small to medium-sized rabbits (up to six pounds) be at least 8 square feet. For example, a 2 by 4 foot area. Sixteen square feet is even better and she even suggests stacking the 8 foot square areas on to each other.

Ackerman suggests pens consist of eight 2-foot panels that, when set up in a square, will total 16 square feet. A space saver size might be a 2- by 6-foot pen to give your bunny 12 square feet.  Of course you can also do the 8 foot areas, too. Pens come in heights from 2 feet to 4 or 6 feet. And, in case your rabbit is a jumper, you may want to put a cover over the top.

Cages work best for dwarf breeds or shy bunnies. Most bunnies prefer the exercise pens.

In your pen, you will want to have a hay rack, food bowl, water bowl or bottle, bedding, litter, litter box, chew blocks, nest box, and toys.  So enjoy Springtime and your new bunny! May you enjoy your pet doing the bunny dance!

When you leave your pets with a pet sitter, you do want to have peace of mind. Here is a list of items you should do before going on your trip and are shared with your sitter.

Make sure your sitter is aware of anyone who may be on your premises or entering your home during the pet sitting assignment. Its good for you, the sitter, and your neighborhood watch group.

Use timers on interior lights and program them to turn on at dusk and off at bedtime. Use motion sensors on exterior lights. If evening visits are scheduled to your home, the pet sitter will really appreciate this safety precaution!

Make sure doors and windows are securely locked before leaving. This should include the garage doors, sliding glass doors and basement doors and windows. If outside doors have panes of glass near a push-button lock, consider installing a dead bolt lock as well.

If applicable, advise gate security that a pet sitter will be visiting your home and authorized entry.

Inform your neighbors of your absence and use of a pet sitter.

Make sure any fences are secure and gates are locked.

Continuing with the idea that you are leaving your pets with a sitter, there is a need to pet-proof your home.

Case in point is Rusty the Cat. Rusty loves to open doors, so his owner places items in higher cupboards that are out of Rusty’s reach. Rusty is a perfect example of a pet that can go ‘where they’ve never gone before.’

Make sure the toilet lids are down in any accessible bathrooms. The water is not fresh or healthy for your pet.

See that medications are locked up. The sound of pills rattling in a plastic bottle may entice a pet to chew the bottle open.

Remove candy and nuts from coffee tables or locations where a pet can reach them. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and nuts can be dangerous as well.

Check to see that any hobby supplies, i.e., paints, glue, needles and thread, etc., have been placed away from an inquisitive pet’s reach.

Next post is home security while you are away!

When you leave your petkids in the care of a pet sitter, you can travel with peace of mind. To make sure your pet sitter has all the necessities to take the best care of your pet, make sure you have completed some major preparation.

1. Notify your veterinarian in writing that a pet sitter will be caring for your petkids and authorize the vet to extend medical care during your absence if it becomes necessary.
2. Provide written verification that your petkid is up-to-date on its shots. Have your petkid wear current identification and vaccination tags on its collar.
3. Keep all supplies in one general and visible area. This includes food, treats, utensils, food and water bowls, medications, leash, can opener, toys, paper towels, cleaning supplies, garbage bags, litter and scoop, bedding, broom and dustpan and/or vacuum cleaner, towels (for that rainy-snowy walk), newspapers (if paper trained), and water can for plants.
4. Be sure to tell your pet sitter about any unusual habits your petkid has; i.e, destructive behavior when left alone, change in bowels or eating habits, hiding places, etc.
5. Tell the pet sitter if bathrooms or any other household areas are off limits to your petkid and/or sitter. Secure access to these areas before leaving home.
6. If your petkid is prone to chew, please leave ‘chew toys’ and take proper precautions to guard your personal items and home furnishings from his teeth while you are away.
7. For the comfort of your petkid, adjust your thermostat before leaving on your trip and advise your pet sitter the range it should be kept in. A closed-up house can get uncomfortably warm or cold in a short time.

Next blog, pet proofing your house!