Monday, January 14, 2019

Could your Dog get Sicker in the Winter?

But the reality is, just like us humans, your canine buddy is susceptible to a range of illnesses brought on by exposure to Chicagoland’s Winter weather. Among these are hypothermia, frostbite, a cold, and kennel cough.  The obvious answer is to make your sure that your four-legged kid is not exposed to the harsh elements any more than they need to be.

What are the symptoms of a canine cold?

1.  Coughing, but know the difference between a cold and kennel cough.
2.  A runny nose…not just a normal wet nose.
3.  Sneezing.
4.  Watery eyes.

At Critter Sitters we understand that the health of your dog is nearly the same as to the health of your two-legged children.  We take extra care when we walk your canine in winter.  Far western suburban Chicagoland can get bitter cold this time of year and we are always aware of that.  Please call me, Sandy Hafenbrack at Critter Sitters serving Aurora, Sugar Grove, Elburn and the surrounding area at (630) 844-9554.

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Fox Valley Ninja Warrior

(Click the link above for more information)

"Calling all girls and boys! Drop in and put your ninja skills to the test! Compete against yourself, your friends and the ninja course to achieve the top time! There will be two different age appropriate courses, 4-6 years old and 7-11 years old. Each participant will create their own ninja headband."



 


Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Walking your Dog in the Winter.

So, how cold is TOO cold for your four-legged children?  Here is a general rule of thumb for winter in Chicagoland.  If your dog(s) are medium to large they should be able to handle a 30-minute walk if the temperature is above 20 degrees.  Smaller breeds should be limited to about 15 minutes…and nobody should be out there walking if it dips below zero!

There really is no pat answer.  Observe your canine (as we will).  See how they are handling it.  One thing we recommend, especially around here, is always factor in the wind chill.  That has as much to do with comfort as the surface temperature.  Also, consider snow cover.  And naturally, we recommend a sweater especially for short-hairs.

There is no dog-walking manual for winter weather.  What we bring to the table is experience and care.  We are Critter Sitters of Aurora, Sugar Grove, Elburn, and throughout the Southern Fox Valley.  Our loving staff of pet sitters always considers health and safety first and foremost.  Just give us a call for a free in-home visit at (630) 844-9554.