Blog — Category_Dogs

How Smoking Affects Your Pet Smoking can have extremely adverse affects on your pet. The harmful substances found in cigarettes such as nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide cause animals to develop the same problems that can arise from smoking as humans do. Some of these conditions include respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis or asthma, heart disease, multiple forms of cancer and nasal tumors. There are a number of ways that toxins from cigarettes can make their way into your pet’s system. The first being secondhand smoke. Breathing in cigarette smoke isn’t good for your furry friend’s health, and can lead...

Seasonal Allergies Spring is truly a remarkable season. The flowers are blooming, the grass is growing and it just seems like earth is coming back to life. However, despite all of the cheerful colors and warmer weather, allergies quickly become a problem. Dogs often struggle with seasonal allergies just like we do! There are a number of potential culprits that could be causing your pet’s discomfort, namely pollen, plants, mold or insects. It’s important to observe your pet and to recognize some of the warning signs so that you can take the necessary steps to help. Below are some allergy...

How to Walk Your Dog in Chicago Last Updated: 3/17/2019 Here at Sparky Steps, we know how excited your pup gets when you sing out “do you want to go for a walk?” That’s why our dog-walking team consists of only the most compassionate, enthusiastic and safety-oriented people. There are many great things to see and do throughout Chicago, which begs a very serious question: “How can I make sure my dog and I have the best walk possible?” Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Map out your adventure To ensure the best possible walk, plan out the route you...

Foods that are safe for dogs and foods that you should avoid! Last Updated: 3/6/2020 We all know the look. You sit down at your dinner table and all of a sudden, your dog is giving you the puppy dog eyes. Of course you want to give your furry friend some delicious table scraps. But which foods are okay for them to eat? Safe Food Peanut Butter Peanut butter is a tasty treat for your dog. It’s packed with protein, healthy fats, vitamin B and vitamin E. However, ensure that the peanut butter is unsalted and is not low fat....

Sparky Steps - Chicago Pet Sitters on a Social Mission My name is Michael Jaurigue and I'm the Founder here at Sparky Steps. We started this company with a mission, a social mission. To help with the issue of animal homelessness. Before we opened up, my co-founder, Laurie and I would go and volunteer at the local animal shelters. I realized that volunteering was easy and fun! It was sad for us to see so many pups without homes. That's when we decided to do something about it. We created Sparky Steps to create a place for people who really...