What better way to officially kick off my Tuesday emails than by telling you about the super important holidays you probably missed last week: Professional Pet Sitters Week (March 3-9) and the second annual Thank your Pet Sitter Day (March 6)!

Don’t worry, I won’t take it personal or hold it against you that you forgot 🙂

But seriously, did you even know there was such a title as a “Professional Pet Sitter”? I sure didn’t before 2019 when I started my business and joined the membership organization called Pet Sitters International (PSI).

I then took it one step further and decided to become a Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS). This means I had to study, pass a pretty lengthy exam, and most importantly agree to adhere to PSI’s Quality Standards and Member Code of Conduct and Ethics.

Now, every 3 years, I must complete a certain number of CEUs in order to maintain this unique designation. That’s how serious I am about caring for your pets!

But enough about me. Last week I celebrated by doing what I do best…walking and loving on your furry ones! On Wednesday for Thank your Pet Sitter Day, I also attended PSI’s 2024 FOCUS One-Day Online Summit for Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers.

This year’s theme was all about Senior Pets.

I wanted to share a few nuggets I learned from each of the four sessions, since, as much as I hate to accept it, aging in our pets is inevitable. It’s better to be prepared for what’s to come and/or prevent unnecessary pain when possible!

Quick PSA: please always consult with your vet before implementing something new.

1) Dental Health

• Annual vet check-ups and HOME CARE can help prevent Periodontal Disease.
• Home care can be as simple as regular teeth brushing (or dental WIPES for pets that are a little more fussy) and appropriate dental chews (should be bendable, compressible, flat, and pass the thumb nail test)

2) Old Dogs, New Tricks

• Brain games provide so many benefits to senior pets in particular (strength, mobility, coordination, mental stimulation, relationship building, and FUN).
• Examples include store-bought toys, DIY toys, sniffy walks, and scent games/nose-work.
• Variety is the spice of life…changing up their routine can actually improve a dog’s life.

3) Palliative & Hospice Care

• Grieving the loss of a pet is real grief and not enough importance is put on this very difficult time. When a (human) loved one dies, there are practices in place such as a funeral and wake in order to help process the loss. Sadly, the same cannot be said for losing a pet.
• ​Animal Hospice Group is a great resource for building your senior pet care support network and providing resources for what care may be needed.

4) Senior Felines

• Signs of aging and pain may include: changes in food/water intake, coat condition (dull/clumpy), gait or limping, changes in attitude toward certain people, changes in litter box use, and loss of interest in favorite activities.
• MYTH: Pets cannot feel spiteful or guilt. Instead of using [harmful] labels such as naughty, stubborn, sassy, grumpy, etc. when speaking to a vet about your cat, try describing their behaviors (i.e. the above bullet shows a few examples).

If you have ANY questions about the above information, please don’t hesitate to reply to this email! I would love to help clarify anything or elaborate on something you’re interested in trying.

Stay Comfy,

Tanya