Wagz 'N Whiskerz Pet Blog

It Is Tick Season....

2008-05-01T14:13:00.002-04:00

This morning I had an OMG moment when my Golden - "Tag" walked in the house with a tick on his head. It was right next to his eye. So I thought I would take a look online to see what method was the best in removing it. I had heard all sorts of ways from suffocating the tick by placing liquid soap or nail polish on the ticks rear. My father liked to light a match to the ticks bottom and then there is the method of pulling it straight out.
I read that ticks are the leading carriers of diseases to humans in the us second to mosquitoes worldwide. Scary!
After doing a little research I found that a human can actually get Lyme or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to name a few diseases just by touching the tick. Nice!
I read that some of the suffocation methods of placing liquid soap, gasoline, petroleum jelly or nail polish on the ticks bottom may cause the tick to force infected fluid/germs into the host. Cinging the ticks bottom with a match may do the same thing. The most effective method I found was simply removing the tick with a pair of tweazers. You have to ensure you pull the head out with the tweazers. Pull slowly and straigh out. No twisting because you don't want to risk leaving a peice in the skin and causing a secondary infection. Plus the ticks barb is straight not spiraled. It may take some time to slowly pull the tick off if the tick has been attached for a while because they actually secrete a cement like substance to help them attach to the host once they bite. Once the tick has been removed you don't want to squeeze it because you could cause the tick to release nasty diseased germs.
You may want to keep the tick in a container for a month since it may take up to a month for symptoms of a disease to present itself. Even if you have been bitten by a tick - it may take a month or so for the tests to prove what disease you may have even if you are showing lots of symptoms. What I find as scary is that some ticks can be as small as the period in this sentence. Once they are full of blood from the host they will drop off and sometimes you will not even know you have been bitten.
I could not get my dog to keep from bobbing his head when I tried to remove this particular tick so I immediately called my vet. They removed the tick by a gentle, straight pull. They applied an anticeptic afterwards to the wound. My vet mentioned that a product called "Preventic" was the best product she has seen in a long time. She mentioned that she sees a lot of dogs who live in the backwoods and are just covered in ticks. She said that instead of pulling all of the ticks off of the dog she just puts one of these collars on them and lets the ticks fall off. The collar has to be replaced every 3 months and she said she just takes a sharpie marker and writes the replacement date on the collar so that she knows when to replace it. This product can only be used on dogs - not cats. Also - it is not good to put on an animal if your children will come in contact with it.
I think for the next couple of months it may be worth me keeping the kids and doggies separated. I really don't want to see another little critter on one of my dogs or in the house. :-)

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rmsf/Q&A.htm#tick
http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/tick.asp
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/fleaside.html
http://www.preventic.com/

Baby Chanel at Tyson Equestrian Farm in Acworth Georgia

2008-04-29T08:10:00.001-04:00

One of our trainers at Tyson Equestrian Farm was lucky enough to have a little baby about 8 weeks ago. Her name is Chanel and she's adorable. This is her daily exercise in the indoor arena. Kids love her of course as well.

Chanel at Tyson Equestrian Farm Acworth Georgia HD from Mark Jensen on Vimeo.

Kitties love shiny, sparkly things....

2008-04-26T22:19:00.002-04:00

My persian, Alex, loved sparkly or shiny toys. One of his favorite things to chase was an aluminum foil ball. Just a piece of aluminum foil that I balled up and tossed for him. He chose this over all of the other expensive kitty toys I bought him. He would actually fetch the ball just like the dogs and bring it back to me to toss for him again.

Awesome Pet Treat!

2008-04-26T22:15:00.002-04:00

My doggies love peanut butter. I don't know a doggie that doesn't actually. I like to take an apple (a whole apple) and core it. I leave the skin on and then stuff the center with peanut butter and freeze it. They love it and it keeps them busy for a long time since the peanut butter is frozen.

Home Remedies

2008-04-26T21:33:00.002-04:00

My two goldens "Tag" and "Abbey" love being outside whether they are hanging out in the yard or riding in the car or the boat. They are big 80 pound babies. Sometimes they get caught in a rain storm and when they come in the house they stink like, well - you know...old wet dog. Yuck. I like to take a dryer sheet or two and rub their coat with it. Makes them smell so much better!

Tag has longer hair than Abbey and may sometimes get a "dreadlock" on his pants. I use a sewing seam ripper to pick through the hair instead of cutting it out. This trick also worked for my persian kitty - Alex.

To get pet hair off of your clothes or to loosen some dead hair off of your dog or cat you can run a rubber glove over your clothes or the pets fur. Mom taught me that trick!

kitten vs. frontrow

2008-04-24T09:29:00.000-04:00

cute...

kitten vs. frontrow from mattcoats on Vimeo.

Funny Kitten playing in the bathtub

2008-04-23T17:35:00.003-04:00

Our Kitten "Tiger Tracks" playing in the bathtub from Mark Jensen on Vimeo.

Hilarious! Cute and Funny Dog Pictures

2008-04-23T17:28:00.001-04:00

Hilarious! Cute and Funny Dog Pictures from JohnTan on Vimeo.

Pet me Pet me Pet me!

2008-04-23T17:19:00.001-04:00

PET ME ! NOW ! from Capucha on Vimeo.

Siberian Husky Dog Goes on Hunger Strike!

2008-04-23T17:10:00.003-04:00

too cute...

Hunter's Hunger Strike from Clayco on Vimeo.

Cute kitten playing with dog video

2008-04-23T17:08:00.001-04:00

goodnight from Courtknee Rogers on Vimeo.

Let's Count Dogs video from vimeo.com

2008-04-23T16:59:00.000-04:00

Let's Count Dogs! from wavyisland on Vimeo.

Cute Dog Cat Video from vimeo.com

2008-04-23T16:55:00.001-04:00

just cute....

My dog and my cat from Ginger on Vimeo.

Our Policies

2008-04-23T16:52:00.001-04:00

Policies

PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICY
In order to provide the best service, for you, your pet and others, we have established the following policies.

PAYMENT
Payments for walking or sitting service are to be paid in full at the time of booking or on our first day service begins. We accept checks or cash.

CANCELLATIONS
24 Hour notice is required. Any cancellation on made after 7 am on the day of a scheduled service or series of services are not refundable. You can leave a voice mail message at the office prior to 7 am the day of the visit. All remaining paid services will be given a credit and can be used for future services.

HOLIDAY PAYMENTS & CANCELLATIONS

* All reservations for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s must be paid in full at booking.
* Cancellations two weeks prior to first visit are 50% refundable for entire schedule and will be given a credit and can be used for future services.
* Cancellations one week prior to first visit are 25% refundable for entire schedule and will be given a credit and can be used for future services.
* Cancellations less than one week’s notice is non-refundable.

HOLIDAY CHARGE: Holiday charges will be applied per visit for the following holidays: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Christmas Eve.

VISITSBETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9:00 PM AND 7:00 AM: Visits made between the hours of 9:00 pm and 7:00 am are subject to an additional $10 per visit.

SAME DAY SERVICE REQUESTS: All walk or sit services booked the same day as service need to be received within (3) hours notice to be placed on the schedule and are subject to an additional surcharge of $5 per visit.
Any walk or sit service booked less than (3) hours notice are subject to an additional surcharge of $10 per visit.

KEY COPIES: We must have 2 working keys at the time of the consultation or give the sitter $2 to make a copy for the office. Key drop off/pick up charge of $15.

INCLEMENT WEATHER: Please refer to the Paulding County school announcements as we cancel mid-day walks when they are closed due to snow or ice. For pet sitting, our sitters will visit your pet as soon as it is safe. If that timeframe is longer than expected, we will contact a neighbor or your emergency contact. In the case of everyday storms, we will still continue our visits but will give the pet more inside time if there is lightning.

Our Client Comments

2008-04-23T16:50:00.003-04:00

Client Comments

Dear Christine,

As a busy executive with a difficult travel schedule, I have been delighted with the great attention provided to Dixie by your Wagz 'n Whiskerz service. As you know, keeping a pet with my kind of schedule is almost impossible. Knowing that I can maintain the companionship of my dog - even when I travel so extensively - has been a terrific benefit to my own well-being.

You have been very flexible about working with my schedule, and it almost seems like Dixie looks forward to my out-of-town trips. The attention that you pay to her has gone a long way to keeping her good disposition. I also really appreciate the little extra things that you do, such as bringing in the mail, watering the flowers and keeping the house looking occupied while I am away. You've always been very good about keeping me updated, as well. Frankly, I don't know how I could get by without your help. The overnight boarding kennels are just not as good as the TLC you provide.

Whenever anybody asks me how I manage things when I'm out of town, I'm quick to sing your praises and recommend your services. If any of your prospective customers ever ask you for a reference, please don't hesitate to send them in my direction. I'm sure that they would be as pleased with your services as I have been.

Sincerely,

A.K.

Hi Christine -

I just wanted to send a quick note to thank you again for watching our pets while we were gone. It's so nice to be able to go away and be confident that all of your fuzzy babies are well taken care of. They really loved your visits and THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all of the extras! I know it made the alone time easier for them. They aren't used to not being pampered :) Please feel free to use me as a reference and I will be sure to pass your name along to anyone who is interested.

I look forward to talking to you soon

--B.V.
(and Arlo, Woody, Charlie and Jez)

Dear Christine:

On behalf of our 3 kitties and family, we'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks for taking such great care of our pets. Due to the length of time away from our home while overseas, we were especially concerned about their wellbeing and potential loneliness.

You are a very conscientious and caring person which was evident from the start. You understood our concerns and the importance of our pets. The extra care and TLC that you provided to them was sincerely appreciated. You really went out of your way to provide daily email updates to us and the attention to detail was awesome. Each night we all read the emails as a family and often laughed at the cats' antics and it was a great relief to know that their needs were well met which helped us enjoy our vacation more.

We also appreciated the special attention paid to ensuring that the lights were turned off/on, windows opened and the overall safety and security of the home.

I would not hesitate to recommend your services to anyone selecting pet care services. Please do not hesitate to use me as a reference should any potential customers seek a referral.

Warm regards,

K.V.

Hi Christine –

Just wanted to send a quick note before we left again. I just finished reading thru all of the notes and it always amazes me how far above and beyond you go for our critters! You can tell how happy they are because when we get home they are so content, they don't show any of the weird "stress" behavior they used to have when we had to board them. Talk to you soon!

-B.V.

Our Pet Nanny Service Area in Georgia

2008-04-23T16:50:00.001-04:00

Service Area

Services are offered in and around the following communities.

*
Bentwater
*
Seven Hills
*
Governors Towne Club
*
Brookstone

Not in our coverage area?

If you outside our coverage area, please visit the Pet Sitters International web site at http://www.petsit.com to locate a pet sitter in your area.

Our Services for petsitting

2008-04-23T16:49:00.001-04:00

Hooch Activities

Let’s Play Ball: For the doggie that has a ball fetish. A great way for your pet to burn some high energy.

The Hose Monster: If your dog loves water then he/she will love being chased by the “Hose Water Monster.”

Tug-O-War: For the dog that likes to really pull you around.

Puppy LePew: For the doggie that needs a good hair day. (Bathing would take place at the Doggie’s home – location and weather permitting.)

Flying Saucers: For the doggie that has a frisbee fetish. A great way to for your pet to burn some high energy.

Hug-Me-Tender: For the doggie that likes a good, old-fashioned belly and ear rub.

Garfield Activities

Lap Lovin: Does your kitty just wait for you to sit down so that he/she can get in some “Lap Lovin” time? If so, then this is the program for the kitty that likes to snuggle up and turn on the purr motor. This activity is a must for older kitties.
Yes, enroll my cat in _____Lap Lovin sessions at $5.00 each (15 minues)

A Hunting We Will Go: Does your kitty like to stalk catnip filled mice, chase balls or feathers? Your frisky feline can hone in on their predatory skills with a staff member with this activity.
Yes, enroll my cat in _____Hunting sessions at $5.00 each (15 minutes)

Lewis and Clark: Is your cat constantly pioneering the latest adventure in a paper bag when you return from the grocery store? Your adventure crazed kitty can explore the fun adventures in a grocery bag with a staff member.
Yes, enroll my cat in _____Lewis and Clark sessions at $5.00 each (15 minutes)

Welcome to the blog

2008-04-23T16:48:00.000-04:00

Wagz ‘N Whiskerz is an in-home pet nanny service, focused on quality for the discerning client. Your loved ones stay in the comfort of their own home and are lovingly cared for by our staff. We founded this service after our own frustrations of our loved ones being exposed to other animals that may carry fleas or contagious illnesses and then seeing them come home stressed or ill after being taken out of their own familiar environment. We knew a better way had to exist for pet lovers like ourselves who demanded the highest quality care for our family members.

At Wagz ‘N Whiskerz, we strive to deliver the highest quality care available and give you peace of mind that your loved ones are being well cared for just as we care for and pamper our own family members. We insure you are well informed of their happiness during our care by providing a “report card” on your pet’s well being as well as what activities took place during the scheduled visits.

We believe in the strictest standards when it comes to security and quality of care.

* Wagz ‘N Whiskerz is bonded and insured as is each member of our staff is bonded and insured.
* We are a member of National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), which insures we provide the highest quality care through education and governorship in the industry. We adhere to NAPPS standards and ethics policies.
* We do not advertise on our vehicles. We believe that advertising on vehicles may pose a threat to the safety of your home while you are away.
* We log all of your personal information in our computer system. The system has to be accessed by several passwords before your personal information can be retrieved.
* Your key is immediately stored in a combination safe when not in use. Your key is tagged only with a pet name on it and is never identified by the owner name or address.

Call us to book an initial “free” consultation visit.

I look forward to providing our service for you and your furry family,

Christine Remm
Founder

best pet sitter nanny in georgia

2008-04-23T16:45:00.003-04:00

of course!

pet sitter nanny bentwater seven hills georgia

2008-04-23T16:45:00.001-04:00

test again

pet sitting acworth georgia nanny best

2008-04-23T16:44:00.001-04:00

test

Pet Nanny Sitter Sitting Acworth Georgia

2008-04-23T16:43:00.002-04:00

another test... Wagz N Whiskerz does pet sitting in and around Bentwater and Seven Hills here in Acworth Georgia.

Wagz 'N Whiskerz (wagznwhiskerz.com) Pet Blog Test

2008-04-23T16:43:00.001-04:00

another test

wagz n whiskerz pet blog

2008-04-23T15:05:00.000-04:00

testing images... :)

and more text here... ha ha ha..
christine rocks...