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pet tips

How to Alleviate Dog and Cat Allergies
pet Advice

How to Reduce Pet Allergies

We're in the midst of high pollen season, and here at Sugar HQ, we're trading tips on allergy relief almost as much as monthly must haves.
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How to Alleviate Dog and Cat Allergies

We're in the midst of high pollen season, and here at Sugar HQ, we're trading tips on allergy relief almost as much as monthly must haves. As temperatures rise, flowers and trees aren't the only ones shedding sneeze-causing particles: your pet is busy sloughing off fur and dander which can increase the intensity of itchy eyes and runny noses. Of course, you could research the best hypoallergenic pet breed for your home, but if you've already made a dog or cat a member of your family, here are a few tips on keeping the sneezes at bay!

Source: Flickr User Katie@!

Wash Your Hands Wash Your Pet Give Them a Good Wipe-Down Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum! Invest in Low-Dust Cat Litter Plug In a HEPA Air Purifier Try a Different Solution
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How to Get Your Cat to Stop Meowing
pet Advice

Pet Peeves: My Cat Won't Stop Meowing!

Q: My kitty is a chronic meower.
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Q: My kitty is a chronic meower. Every morning when I get up, she just follows me around meowing very loudly. Really, I don't mind too much, but the fact that I live in an apartment is what really troubles me. I'm scared that some of the other tenants might start to complain about her meowing so early in the morning. And it's not just friendly, tiny meows . . . these are like loud, long, irritating meows. What should I do?

A: Before I talk about ways to work through kitty's continuous meowing, there are a couple of things to check out first:

  • Make sure the cat has food, water, and a clean litter box. Your kitty could simply be communicating that she wants something to be done about one of those things.
  • Figure out when your cat is not meowing. Is it a certain time of day or during a certain activity? If you pay attention to kitty, does she continue to meow? When does she start again? Then, try to find a way to continue whatever activity stops the meowing (for example, if kitty consistently meows after you stop playtime, get some games for her to amuse herself with after you go to bed).
  • Consider a trip to the vet. When cats are vocal, they are usually trying to communicate something to us. Check with your vet to make sure your pet is healthy. There are certain times when cats are noisier, like when they are in heat or pregnant.

To hear more tips for solving the problem, keep reading.

Seasonal Allergy Symptoms in Pets
Spring

10 Signs of Seasonal Allergies in Pets

Spring 'tis the season for allergy flare-ups for many humans, but what about pets?
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Spring 'tis the season for allergy flare-ups for many humans, but what about pets? My pal Samson suffers from some droopy, goopy eyes and itchy, red paws that clued his owner into their dilemma. If you're not sure whether a pooch has an issue like this, check out 10 signs of skin or allergy problems:

  • Constant paw licking
  • Rubbing body against objects/ floor
  • Excessive scratching or chewing fur
  • Hair loss
  • Change in odor
  • Redness of fur and skin rashes
  • Flaky or greasy coat
  • Drippy eyes
  • Runny nose
  • Increased sneezing and wheezing

While it's true that a variety of illnesses can cause these symptoms, if you see several of them at the same time, now is a good time to take your pet to the vet to get checked for a clean bill of health!

Source: Flickr User The_Poenisher

Earth Day Ideas For Pet Owners and Animal Lovers
Eco

30 Great Ideas to Make Earth Day Last All Year

Just cause Sunday's the holiday, doesn't mean your eco-tastic efforts should stop on Monday at 12:01 a.m.
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Just cause Sunday's the holiday, doesn't mean your eco-tastic efforts should stop on Monday at 12:01 a.m. Remember 30 of my best tips to go green for days (and months and years) to come!



5 Ways to Green Your Pet's Routine
4 Green Kitty Litter Components
5 Cleaning Products to DIY

4 Ecofying Toy Box Solutions
6 More Tips For Wildly Green Living
6 Ideas Just For Kitty Owners
Easter Basket Items That Are Dangerous to Pets
Easter

This Easter, Don't Leave That Basket Unattended!

Easter Sunday is the perfect day to spend with family and loved ones (of both the human and pet kind!), but if you have furry ones roaming the house and yard, perils lurk in even the most innocuous of Easter baskets.
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Easter Sunday is the perfect day to spend with family and loved ones (of both the human and pet kind!), but if you have furry ones roaming the house and yard, perils lurk in even the most innocuous of Easter baskets. Do a quick tally of your Easter gear, and keep these items well out of reach of animals!

Source: Thinkstock

Chocolate Lilies Plastic Easter Eggs Dyed Hard-Boiled Eggs Plastic or Tinsel Grass Xylitol
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Spring Cleaning Homes With Pets
Eco

Spring Cleaning: Refreshing a Pet-Friendly Home

Thanks to cold weather and short days, it's easy to get complacent about house cleaning during those long Winter months.
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Thanks to cold weather and short days, it's easy to get complacent about house cleaning during those long Winter months. But now that Spring has sprung, I'm feeling recharged and ready to tackle the tasks I've largely ignored since Fall's warmer days! I won't place full blame on my pup, but for such a small member of the household, she sure contributes a lot of the mess: muddy footprints, fur everywhere, slobbery toys, and errant treat crumbs are just a few of her transgressions. So I've compiled my to-do list of must-hit spots in my Spring cleaning purge. Keep reading for my Spring tasks!

Hypoallergenic Dog and Cat Breeds
Cats

Sneeze-Free: Hypoallergenic Dog and Cat Breeds

If you know someone with pet allergies, then you're probably aware that some dog and cat breeds are less likely to cause your pal sneezes and itchy eyes.
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Hypoallergenic Dog and Cat Breeds

If you know someone with pet allergies, then you're probably aware that some dog and cat breeds are less likely to cause your pal sneezes and itchy eyes. It's not necessarily the animal's fur that keeps some sniffles at bay: these breeds produce less dander or certain proteins in their saliva, or shed less than other breeds, thereby reducing airborne allergens. While these pets are great companions for allergy sufferers, keep in mind that they aren't completely allergen-free, so taking other measures (like frequent house cleaning, hand washing, and air filtering) will be necessary if you make them part of your family. It's important to do your research when considering a new pet, but here's a roundup of hypoallergenic dogs and cats to get brains a-storming.

Source: Flickr User Asha Elizabeth Gupta

Affenpinscher Afghan Hound Airedale Terrier Balinese Basenji Bedlington Terrier Bichon Frise
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Effects of Beer and Alcohol on Dogs and Cats
pet Advice

Make St. Patrick's Day a Booze-Free Affair For Pets

While many of us will be imbibing in merriment on St. Patrick's Day, it's important to keep the booze out of reach of your pet.
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While many of us will be imbibing in merriment on St. Patrick's Day, it's important to keep the booze out of reach of your pet. Just as it does in humans, alcohol causes damage to an animal's brain, central nervous system, and liver, but since pets are much smaller than us, the effects can occur faster and more intensely and even lead to death. If your pet gets their paws on your bevvie, watch them closely for coordination problems, the inability to walk or stand up, drowsiness, vomiting, increased urination, and slowed, shallow breathing. If they display any of these symptoms, get them to a vet right away: these are signs of alcohol poisoning! But the best cure is to avoid it altogether: the luck o' the Irish may not be on your pet's side if he ingests that unattended Guinness.

Source: Flickr User celynek

Dog Activities For Spring
Advice

Spring Training: 5 Routines to Start This Season

Things are really heating up — the weather, that is — so use rising temps as an excuse to create a doggie athlete routine for Spring.
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Things are really heating up — the weather, that is — so use rising temps as an excuse to create a doggie athlete routine for Spring. I've come up with five activities to start a fitness plan, so find inspiration and get started now!

Source: Flickr User Emery_Way

Walk For Speed and Distance Play Impromptu Doggie Sports Play Organized Doggie Sports Train For a 5K Go Ride a Bike
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Free iPhone Apps For Pets
Tech

Tech App-titude: 5 Free Apps For the Savvy Pet Owner

If your iPhone is like another appendage, then you undoubtedly have apps to organize just about every aspect of your life: calendars, to-do lists, restaurant locators, pedometers, and diet monitors, to name a few.
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If your iPhone is like another appendage, then you undoubtedly have apps to organize just about every aspect of your life: calendars, to-do lists, restaurant locators, pedometers, and diet monitors, to name a few. And these days, busy pets are just as lucky. We've rounded up our favorite free iPhone apps for safe and savvy pets and their companions, from medical references to dog-park finders to squeaky toys.

  • Map My Dog Walk: You and Fido conquered an awesome hike last Fall, but a few months later, it's tough to remember the route. This app allows you to log your walk routes, share them with friends, and even calculate calories burned!
  • Remind My Pet: For any pets on medication, this app keeps track of dosing schedules and emails or texts you when they are due for their next one.

For the rest of the list, keep reading