Your Dog is Not a Ming Dynasty Emperor: The Perils of Long Nails

 

 

One of my responsibilities as a professional pet sitter and dog walker is keeping an eye out for signs of illness, behavioral changes, and anything out of the ordinary and yes, including the consistency of your pet’s elimination (glamorous, I know). But the most common issue I see? Nails.

I often find myself telling clients that it might be time for a trim. Because unless their dog is auditioning for the role of a Ming Dynasty emperor, those claws need to go. Overgrown nails aren’t just a minor cosmetic issue; they can lead to serious discomfort, joint pain, and misaligned toes. Plus, if your dog is slipping and sliding across hardwood floors like Tom Cruise in Risky Business, it’s time to grab the clippers.

Long nails change how dogs walk, forcing them to shift their weight awkwardly, which can eventually lead to arthritis or joint issues. And if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of an overgrown paw slap, you already know the dangers firsthand.

So do your pup a favor, get those nails trimmed. Because trust me, the only thing worse than a dog with long nails is the grimace on your face when they use you as a launchpad! 😬

Angry Villagers!

 

I'm a pet parent and I'd like to think I have a healthy level of concern for my pets when I'm traveling and my pet sitter is taking care of them. Most of my clients express healthy levels of concern as well. But every so often I get a Helicopter Pet Parent. This is the pet parent that trusts you enough to pet sit their fuzzy babies, but not enough to where they are calling you once, twice, thrice even four times to check on Fluffy.

I was booked for Overnights and midday dog walks for "Fido." I arrived on my third night with Fido. After our evening walk, my phone died so I plugged it in. I prepared myself and Fido for bed. I was fresh out of the shower and in my jammies when I heard loud banging at the door! It was Angry Villagers with their torches and pitchforks demanding my head! Actually it was neighbors armed with smart phones and flashlights.

I was pissed and scared but mostly pissed, and answered in an aggressive tone, "CAN I HELP YOU?!" The neighbors were called by my client and ordered to storm the castle and knock on the door because I wasn't answering my phone...which was dead! 

The neighbors asked if I could open the door, probably so they could burn me at the stake. "Hell no!" I didn't say that, but I told them I wasn't comfortable with that since I didn't know who they were and my insurance policy states that blah, blah, blah...and told them I'd call the client myself. "Goodnight!" How you gone send Angry Villagers over to storm the castle because you haven't heard from me since my last update which was 2 hours ago?! 

I called the client back after missing their several calls and texts, because my phone was dead and politely explained to them that if they didn't trust me, that I had no problem helping them find another qualified sitter.

Poor 'Fido' was the Esmeralda to my Quasimodo, I was one bell tower short of a complete reenactment. Thankfully, no torches or stakes were needed. The Angry Villagers retreated, the client calmed down, and this Quasimodo lived to see another day. Unlike Victor Hugo’s novel which is just utterly sad and depressing. YAY!