Sentinel Pet Care

read moreSentinel Pet Care provides pet sitting, dog walking, dog training, and house sitting services to the following communities in Baltimore County and northern Baltimore City. If your community is near the boundary please call us at 410.337.7387 to be sure we provide service.

read moreFor me the decision to spay or neuter my pets has always been a non-issue. It's a simple, automatic decision to have all of my pets spayed or neutered and I assumed that most people thought this was a no-brainer too. That was until a recent conversation with a client who was struggling with the decision because of conflicting information they received from friends and family as well as having a trusted veterinarian urging them not to do it. I was amazed, dumbfounded even, that a vet of all people, would say such a thing given all the positive benefits of doing so (look for a future post about how to tell when you need to find a new veterinarian).

read moreSpringtime is here and we pet care professionals live for this warmer weather! The season brings budding trees, flowers and magnificent gardens, but it brings one serious potential hazard too. That is the proliferation of lawn care companies spraying millions of gallons of herbicides and pesticides on lawns across America. We've already been immersed in a sea of those little yellow or white lawn signs that let us know that something has been sprayed on that particular lawn. Our policy is to avoid walking near these lawns altogether, but it has become increasingly difficult to avoid them lately.

read moreWith Thanksgiving just a few days away it's time to think of family, friends, great food and, of course, pet safety! It's our natural tendency to want to share some of the holiday feast with our pets, but here are a few things to keep in mind before you do. While it's ok to feed your pet a little turkey, don't feed any skin because of its high fat content. And when I say "Little", I mean just one or two small strips. It's important to make sure the turkey is well-cooked, otherwise there's the ever present danger that it can contain salmonella bacteria which can be deadly.

read moreAs professional pet sitters and dog walkers we see pets of all ages and are often distraught to see older pets in chronic pain that goes untreated. Not long ago there were few pain medications available for our pets, but fortunately, within the last decade many medications have been developed to help our pets be more comfortable. Most pet owners that we've talked to over the years are surprised to learn that these medications even exist and sometimes don't recognize that what's going on with their pets is actually chronic pain from arthritis or an injury.

read moreOne of the most important and cost effective things you can do to ensure the safety of your pet is to "pet proof" your home. Pet proofing means removing dangerous items from your pet's reach, being aware of the many potential hazards that your pet may encounter and thinking ahead about situations which could cause your pet harm. As Pet Sitters we've seen some pretty hilarious things as well as some horrible situations. Some of the most common issues we see are dogs having easy access to very dangerous food items, chemicals, drugs and medications, and trash cans.

read moreAll of us want to provide the best care possible for our dogs and since our lifestyles get busier and busier, many dogs spend an inordinate amount of time stuck in the house while their owners work long hours and aren't able to get home in the middle of their work day to exercise them. We can customize a dog walking routine that suits your particular schedule, whether you work 9 to 5 or twelve hour overnight shifts. Many dogs will become destructive due to long hours of boredom and our walks will help break up their day and provide them with much needed exercise, mental stimulation, engagement and potty breaks.

read moreSentinel Pet Care is more than just your dog walker and pet sitter. With over 22 years experience caring for and training companion animals, we offer our clients a unique combination of experience and service that you won't find anywhere else. We've helped our clients resolve behavioral issues, understand how their dogs think, and consulted with our clients about proper nutrition, healthy pet food choices and healthcare solutions. If you're an active client you've probably already taken advantage of these services.