How do you keep your pet HAPPY when you are away?

How do you keep your pet HAPPY when you are away?

We know as a pawrent that your fur-baby is one of the most important things in your world. All pawrents think the same question. How do you keep your pet HAPPY when you go away? It can be a stressful thing heading away on holidays and not knowing if your fur-baby will be happy while you are gone. There are a few things that you should consider with going away and choosing the right environment for your pet to stay in. We have put together a list of 3 things that we think are the most important things to consider when going away and leaving your fur-baby behind.

What is your pets personality?

All you want as a pet owner is for your pet to be happy. Their personality plays a big role in choosing the right location for them to stay while you are away. If they suffer from separation anxiety or are high energy they need someone with them most of the time and space to run around, making a kennel possibly not the best place for them to be. There are in home services available as well as kennels.

Is your pet’s preventative care up to date?

It is important to ensure that your vaccinations are up to date if you are placing your pet in a kennel or someone’s home. Both for your pet’s health and for those that also visit the facility. Make sure your pet is up to date with their flea/tick/worming as well. You don’t want them picking anything up!

What to pack.

Ensuring you pack everything your pet needs in important! Taking their own bedding will give them a sense of security and home. Toys will also help but remember these may go missing or be destroyed in some fun with playmates. Also making sure their diet doesn’t change is also important, a sudden change in diet can cause stomach upsets and no one enjoys an upset tummy whilst on holidays.

Pet Friendly Cafes on the Gold Coast

Pet Friendly Cafes on the Gold Coast

We know that there is nothing better than being able to take your fur-baby out with you and enjoy something to eat on the weekends. So we have put together a list of Pet Friendly Cafes on the Gold Coast just for you! Pop down, relax and have a coffee or a pupachino!

Cafe Name Address
Café Catalina 10/11 Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast Hwy Southport
Genki Café 1114 Gold Coast Hwy Palm Beach
Elephant Rock Cafe 776 Pacific Parade, Currumbin Beach
Crema Harbour Town Harbour Town, Cnr Gold Coast Hwy & Oxley Dr Biggera Waters
Café 19 5 Masthead Way, Hope Island
Real Food Kitchen 1/4 Park Avenue, Burleigh Heads
Hidden Perk 15 Ikkina Road, Burliegh Heads
Burleigh Social 2 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads
Le Vintage Boutique café 1 Kurilpa Street, Worongary
All time Coffee 2478 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
Parc-Bah Espresso shop 4/5 19 Alicia St, Southport
Elk 16 Chelsea Ave, Broadbeach
Glenelg Public House 9/2454-2460 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
Paddock Bakery 20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami
BSKT Café 4 Lavarack Rd, Mermaid Beach
Commune Café 1844 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads
Street Corner Espresso 1/1840 Lower Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
Barefoot Barista Shop 5/10 Palm Beach Ave, Palm Beach
The Deck Cafe 1/794 Pacific Parade, Currumbin
Dune Cafe 945 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
Cafe by the Bridge 2 Thrower Drive, Currumbin
Quay Street Cafe & Bar Shop 48a, Quay St, Sanctuary Cove
Cabukee 3029 The Boulevard, Emerald Lakes

Want to take a holiday a little longer than a coffee break? Inquire about how one of our trained professionals can care for your pet while you are taking a break.

Lisa & Alexandro with Sasha and Sheba

Going away is not a problem for us knowing our girls are in capable hands. We have raised Sasha and Sheba since they were 8 weeks old and treat them like family members. Needless to say, when we are away for extended periods, finding someone to care of them is a top priority. We investigated Doggy hotels and kennels and were shocked by the size of the matchbox cages and rare play times (if they were lucky). We felt so fortunate to find someone as passionate about pets as Gillian and her pet sitting family. Having our girls remain in our comfortable home and have the personalised care come to them has been wonderful and we have seen an improvement in their behaviour and temperament. We can’t say thank you enough.

Winter Is Coming – Arthritis in Pets

Winter Is Coming - Arthritis in Pets

During the cooler months a lot of pawrents notice that their furbabies are a little slower than normal. Most simply put it down to old age. Especially those that are getting on. But what if we said that maybe it isn’t just old age and its something that you can help your furbaby with? Arthritis is a disease that is manageable for our babies and it is worse in winter.

Here are our tips on helping relieve the tenderness and especially during the cooler months!

Those love handles

Being overweight places more stress on your pet’s joints and cause inflammation within the joint, this can affect the progression of arthritis. Make sure your pet is the ideal weight, your vet can help you with a suitable diet too if there is love handles to loose.

Move It Move It

Exercise goes hand in hand with weight management but regular and controlled exercise, such as on lead walking and swimming, are great for pets. These exercises help keep the joints mobile and muscles strong. Swimming is a great way to loose weight and not place too much pressure on the joints.

Home Sweet Home

A warm, comfortable and supportive place to rest your paws after a big day can help ease the discomfort of arthritis. Trampoline bed with lots of padding is great or a purpose built mattress. Help your pet around the home with ramps instead of steps and jumping in and out of the car.

Doctor Doctor!

Vets are a great place for a regular checkup and chat about your pet’s overall health. They don’t have to be sick to visit! Your vet will have a range of options and solutions to suit your pet. Medications, weight loss programs, advise and alternatives are all at the hands of your pets doctor, after all they did spend 5 plus years studying!

Heading away this winter and want your furbaby to say somewhere cosy or in their own bed safe and sound? Book one of our amazing Aunties today.

Michelle with Benny the Kelpie

I can’t express my thanks enough to First Class Pet Sitting. Gillian is a wonderful caretaker for my 17 month old kelpie, Benny. She is extremely reliable, a great communicator, passionate about dogs and cats, and really gives me peace of mind that my dog is in excellent care. I feel if I have any questions or concerns about my dogs care I can call Gillian and she will take the time to address any queries.

Kathryn & Peter with Ruby the Labrador

We fell in love with First Class Pet Sitting during our three week holiday in Europe over Christmas. Our 12 year old Labrador, Ruby, suffers from arthritis and obesity and is very timid around strangers. We were very hesitant to leave her, however during the initial interview we could see Gillian had built rapport with her. We received updates every day via email which helped make the distance seem less. We returned to find a dog with a renewed energy for life and a new best friend.