Sorry I haven't blogged for awhile but I have been super busy taking care of people's "furry kids" while they are away enjoying the holiday season. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you and your companion animals all stayed safe and healthy.

There is a lot going on in 2012 and I hope to keep you up to date on what I think you need to know, or what I find is just plain interesting. Please be sure to check in often.

Well, I am off to walk another "furry kid" May I wish you and your four-legged friends a Very Happy and Healthy New Year.

If you are planning on being away for the holidays and leaving the care of your "furry kids" to a pet sitter, please be sure to cover all the following important items.

1) Have plenty of their food on hand, dry and wet if you use both.

2) If your animal requires medications be sure to have what they will need on hand and leave carefully printed instructions on the administration of the medicines.

3) If you have a cat, have plenty of litter and plastic bags to put the used litter into.

4) Leave treats that are okay for your pet to have and let the sitter know where they are.

If your cat is overweight you are not alone. Close to 40% of cats in the US are overweight or obese. Just like humans, this is not a healthy situation. There are many illnesses associated with those extra pounds that can make your cat's life difficult and even much shorter.

To help reduce your kitty's waistline, it is important to remember to do it slowly. If a cat loses weight too quickly it can develop a serious liver condition. So discuss a weight loss program with your vet.

To determine how many calories your cat should be eating each day, use the following formula.

As the weather has turned much cooler, particularly in the early morning,  it is very important to dress your dog appropriately for his walks. If you have a small dog like  a Chihuahua, Yorkie , or Pug, remember these dogs really feel the cold. Even larger dogs who are short- haired can feel the cold weather and should have a warm sweater or jacket to wear. The garment should be comfortable and should not impair the dog's ability to move easily and to eliminate. It should also be fairly easy for you to put on and take off, otherwise the dog will hate wearing it.

I subscribe to a newsletter from Care 2 Healthy Living and they had a great article on Pet Proofing your Christmas Tree. Here are some of the iimportant suggestions they made.

As you know, puppies, kittens, dogs and cats are curious creatures and they are attracted to things that are new, shiny, and smell good. To keep them safe during the Christmas tree period, please follow these steps:

Hang delicate and treasured ornaments higher on the tree and make sure they are well-secured. ( Unbreakable ornaments are best when you have pets) .