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 November 2008 Thank You! We wanted to take a moment to personally thank all of you for your prayers, cards, emails, well-wishes and hilarious love notes from the pets we miss so much! Tracy's surgery went extremely well and so far there have been absolutely no complications. She is healing remarkably well and her surgical team is pleased with her progress. JT and Maisy are, of course, completely exhausted after taking care of her for a whole month - those two have certainly earned some rest and relaxation! Holiday Shopping Deals I invite you to shop where we shop! Maisy frequently uses: www.wyliewagg.com has every high-quality item that spoiled dogs love! 2008 Seasonal Hours As a reminder, all major holidays are observed by FPS. Unless you have already made arrangements with (and received confirmation from) FPS, your pet(s) will not be walked on Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving day). To request services on December 23, 24, 25 and/or 26, we must receive your written (email or text accepted) request by5:00pm on Wednesday, December 10. We are already filling up very quickly, so our additional staffing needs will be determined by those new reservations. One-of-a-Kind Holiday Cards Be sure to ask us about scheduling our friends at Cynthia Green Photography for your holiday cards! Cindy has shot for magazines such as Rolling Stone and celebrities like John Grisham and Billy Joel. Cindy's work will show your family as the unique, loving and dynamic group that you are - including the pets in your life! She can be contacted directly via email or through our staff. Tips From the Pros As most of us prepare to travel over the holiday season, we'll likely have our bathroom bags scattered over hotel room (or our mothers' spare room) floors. It's easy to forget how dangerous our daily medications can be to our pets. This time of year, it's always good to know the Top 10 Human Medications That Poison Our Pets. In 2007, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center received 89,000 calls related to pets ingesting over-the-counter and prescription medications. To help you prevent an accident from happening, here are the top 10 human medications that most often poison our furry friends. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are the most common cause of pet poisoning in small animals, and can cause serious problems even in minimal doses. Pets are extremely sensitive to their effects, and may experience stomach and intestinal ulcers and—in the case of cats—kidney damage. Antidepressants can cause vomiting and lethargy and certain types can lead to serotonin syndrome—a condition marked by agitation, elevated body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, disorientation, vocalization, tremors and seizures. Acetaminophen is especially damaging to cats, damaging red blood cells and interfere with their ability to transport oxygen. In dogs, it can cause liver damage and, at higher doses, red blood cell damage. Methylphenidate (for ADHD) Medications used to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in people act as stimulants in pets and can dangerously elevate heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature, as well as cause seizures. Fluorouracil (anti-cancer drug) is used topically to treat minor skin cancers and solar keratitis in humans. It has proven to be rapidly fatal to dogs, causing severe vomiting, seizures and cardiac arrest even in those who’ve chewed on discarded cotton swabs used to apply the medication. Isoniazid Often the first line of defense against tuberculosis, isoniazid is particularly toxic for dogs because they don’t metabolize it as well as other species. It can cause a rapid onset of severe seizures that may ultimately result in death. Pseudoephedrine is a popular decongestant in many cold and sinus products, and acts like a stimulant if accidentally ingested by pets. In cats and dogs, it causes elevated heart rates, blood pressure and body temperature as well as seizures. Anti-diabetics Many oral diabetes treatments—including glipizide and glyburide—can cause a major drop in blood sugar levels of affected pets. Clinical signs of ingestion include disorientation, lack of coordination and seizures. Vitamin D derivatives Even small exposures to Vitamin D analogues like calcipotriene and calcitriol can cause life-threatening spikes in blood calcium levels in pets. Clinical signs of exposure—including vomiting, loss of appetite, increased urination and thirst due to kidney failure—often don't occur for more than 24 hours after ingestion. Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that can impair the central nervous systems of cats and dogs. Some symptoms of ingestion include significant depression, disorientation, vocalization, seizures and coma, which can lead to death.
If you suspect your pet has ingested any of the following items, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435. Remember:keep all medications tucked away in bathroom cabinets or zipped suitcases—far from curious cats and dogs. Have a safe & happy holiday season! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 2008 Valued Clients, Doesn't it seem like yesterday we were getting kids home for the summer, juggling karate camp and the family beach vacation? Now it's homework, Monday night football and science fair projects! Here at Family Pet Services, LLC (FPS), we understand the feeling all too well of "where, oh where, did the time go?!?" Just five short months after our first step onto the Northern Virginia pet sitting scene, we've got over 30 families we regularly help with pet care! We have grown exponentially (thanks to many of you referring your friends and family), learned invaluable lessons from each pet and owner, as well as hatched many brilliant (and a few not-so-brilliant) ideas for new service opportunities. We would like to take this opportunity to genuinely thank you for your patronage and introduce you to our first email newsletter! Each newsletter we send will contain tips for behavioral issues (typically from our experiences or organizations we belong to like Pet Sitters International), updates on any scheduling changes (holidays, etc.) and even the occasional blog from our own beloved dog in According to Maisy. So sit back, relax and enjoy the October edition of Family Pet Services Online! Gratefully yours, Tracy Canada Proud Owner - FPS 703.981.7347 (cell) (And, of course, Maisy!) Upcoming Staff Changes Tracy Canada will be undergoing major surgery on Tuesday, November 11 and until at least Wednesday, November 19 she will be completely unavailable. For approximately four (4) weeks following the surgery, she will be unable to personally walk and care for your pet(s). However, your pet's care WILL continue in her absence! Many of you have previously met Tracy's husband, J.T., who will be handling a large portion of her responsibilities immediately following her surgery. Always willing to lend a helping hand, J.T. will provide your pet(s) with the same extraordinary love and attention they receive from Tracy. In line with our "family" policy, Tracy's mother will also be aiding your pet(s) with their daily care. Clients who wish to personally meet their pet's temporary replacement walker prior to Tracy's surgery should contact FPS no later than Monday, October 27. We are also in the process of interviewing and recruiting part-time walkers for seasonal and occasional help. As always, our policy is to keep you informed every step of the way. No one else will ever receive a key to your home or care for your pet(s) without your knowledge of and complete comfort with the reassignment. And please let us know if you (or someone you know) might be interested in the position!  Holiday Service Schedule All Federal and major U.S. holidays are observed by FPS. Mid-day walking clients should assume their pet(s) will not be walked on these days unless arrangements are made in writing with FPS at least two (2) weeks prior to the holiday. All services occuring on a Federal or major holiday will be assessed a $20/day surcharge* unless otherwise notified in writing by FPS. For 2008, the remaining FPS holidays are: - Monday, October 13 (Columbus Day)
- Tuesday, November 11 (Veteran's Day)
- Thursday, November 27* (Thanksgiving Day)
- Thursday, December 25* (Christmas Day)
Clients are encouraged to contact FPS as soon as possible to schedule their holiday season pet care. This is one of the busiest times of the year for us, so our staffing needs are determined by the bookings we receive in advance. We look forward to celebrating the holiday season with you and your pet! Be sure to ask us about scheduling our friends at Cynthia Green Photography+ for your holiday cards (pets included)! *Holidays marked with an asterisk (*) will incur the holiday surcharge on the day before, the day of and the day after the holiday. +Cynthia Green has shot for Rolling Stone, celebrities like John Grisham and Billy Joel, as well as private contracts and pet photography. She can be contacted directly via email or through our staff contacts. Need Some Extra Holiday Cash? Clients interested in earning some extra holiday or general spending money should also ask us about our Community Care Program. Families who have the experience, space and time to take in the occasional boarder (a typical contracts is for 1-2 pets and last 2-7 nights) can contact us at info@vafamilypets.com. Approved families can receive anywhere from $30 to $75 per night for "babysitting" a well-mannered, non-agressive dog in their home overnight. And remember - even if the program doesn't suit your family, it can be the perfect option for animal lovers whose living arrangements will not allow pets. Let your friends and family know about the opportunity! Stay Ahead of the Game! Mark your calendar now for the 2009 schedule of FPS Holidays: - Monday, January 1*
- Monday, January 19
- Saturday, February 14+
- Monday, February 16
- Sunday, April 12
- Sunday, May 10+
- Monday, May 25
- Saturday, July 4*
Monday, September 7 Monday, October 12 Wednesday, November 11 Thursday, November 26* Friday, December 25*
* Holidays marked with an asterisk (*) will incur the holiday surcharge on the day before, the day of and the day after the holiday. +Holidays marked with a cross (+) will incur a holiday surcharge but services will occur as normal normal.
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