PetSugar

Do Your Pets Have Allergies?

PetSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:30:27 -0700

Uh-oh, little smooshy Samson has a problem, and the name is pollen! LilPeaPod took Samson to the vet over the long weekend, having lately noticed lots of sneezing, droopy and goopy eyes, and one other interesting symptom: red, itchy paws. After a few painless skin tests, she found out that Samson has allergies!

Right now is the height of pollen season, and allergies aren't just for humans. Your pets can inhale lots of pollen as they walk with their noses to the ground and even be allergic to grass, just like Samson is. If you notice your pets licking their paws, scratching their face, or even an extra wet nose in the Spring and Summer, they may have allergies. Thankfully, it can be relieved with (pet-safe) antihistamines so your pets can enjoy the fruits of Spring, just like the rest of us.

Broken Umbrellas Equal Stylish Raincoats

PetSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:45:05 -0700

Desperately grasping a broken umbrella is one of the worst feelings I can think of . . . as is the accompanying sogginess. I've definitely been caught out in the rain and slammed the wire-jutting contraption into the trash as I slosh to work.Well, no more. See these adorable raincoats? They're made from recycled umbrellas! All jackets ($10 and up) are completely customizable – hood, no hood, felt, vintage, hand-picked linings, etc. – for your lucky, weather-resisting pup. Created by product designer Taryn Zychal, her two pugs serve as models but designs can come in sizes from XS to XXL.

I already know what I'm doing next time I break an umbrella and, if this sounds like something you'd like to support, even if you don't have a dressed-up dog, she's currently offering a great plan:

To get the best variety of broken umbrellas, I am currently reimbursing shipping costs to anyone who would like to send me their broken umbrellas, so it will literally cost them nothing to ship it to me. I want to collect broken umbrellas from all over the world so hopefully people will dig the idea and start sending them my way!

Her online store, Recycling Zychal, is up now and she'll continue to add more fabrics as they come in from all of you. As if you needed yet another reason: a portion of all sales go towards the Humane Society of the United States so you won't leave the animals high and dry . . . just dry.

Source

Can You Guess How the Owl-Faced Monkey Got Its Name?

PetSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:00:41 -0700

Born on March 19, check out this cutie pie. Hellooooo. The owl-faced baby monkey (fancy name: Cercopithecus Hamlyni) poses with mom, Kamina, who looks a bit more like this namesake, wouldn't you say? Yup, I definitely see it, this babe will grow up with that intense owly gaze, trademark coloring and hopefully help the animals' population. After all, there are only 31 left in captivity (and five breeding females) to help this threatened species. See more pictures of the monkeys at France's Mulhouse Zoo below.

View 5 Photos ›

Source

New Product Alert! Wonderdog Birdie

PetSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:00:18 -0700

There's a new collar in town from Wonderdog – hello, little Birdie. No tweet tweeting here but your pup (who's naturally getting a new collar for his Spring collection) should go cuckoo for these three items.

Featuring blue birds, red birds or pink birds, I love the contrasting background colors for each, sure to pop on coats of all colors. My only complaint: no harnesses for my smooshy . . . but they've got matching leashes ($36) to make high-flying sets for all the collar-wearers out there.

Safe Biking For Spring!

PetSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:30:49 -0700

If you enjoy touring the town on a bicycle, there's no reason why your little dog should be excluded from your sunshine-y fun. Products like this Buddy Bicycle Basket ($65) let a pooch come with, no problem. I've got a few recommendations when considering a carrier for your furry friend:

Go pet-specific or stay home. Don't just toss a tiny pet in a normal basket and hope for the best. Prior to take off, purchase a carrier meant for animals.

See two more suggestions when you read more.

Check weight recommendations. Even if Fluffy fits in the basket dimension-wise, check pound limits to make sure the bottom can hold up to her heft.
Be secure. First off, I wouldn't recommend riding a bike with a pet that's easily distracted – a harness attachment is essential to safety but you still don't want a furry friend likely to leap out and smell the roses (read: chase a squirrel).

Some carriers come with tops or peek-out windows – use your best judgment as you know your pet and her limits – and do a test ~~run~~ ride around a quiet neighborhood before hitting any big city streets.

Spotted: Clouded Leopard Cubs, Up Close and Personal

PetSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 04:15:46 -0700

Spring has sprung, and I can't resist passing along all the cute baby animals I've seen this season. Recently spotted (ha!) were two endangered Clouded Leopards born at the National Zoo. The cubs are being bottle fed to protect their small size from big mama yet, even at one-half pound and not even a week old, the lil ones have quite the loud voices so watch below and see!

Hungry for more? Check out the pictures below!

View 5 Photos ›

Photos: National Zoo

Registry Alert! Hasani Has a Ball . . . But Needs More

PetSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:00:29 -0700

This baby gorilla lives up to his name's meaning for sure – I can't get enough of Mr. "Handsome!" He's nearly four months old and can now make his way around the exhibit, giving keepers his winning gaze and grin. Since it's not yet time for Hasani to come on public display (but count me there!), this zoo offers a Nursery Cam on site from 12 to 2 p.m. daily if you live in SF.

Since he's been seen around the world in that naming contest, if you want to give him a treat, check out Oscar Jonesy and Monifa's online gift registry. They've got plenty of requests (big and small) and for each $25+ donation, you'll get an electronic photo and footprint of the little love to tide you over 'til you can see the real thing.

See more piccys of baby Hasani when you read more.

View 10 Photos ›

Photos: SFZoo.org

This Monkey Babe Looks Just Like a Monchhichi

PetSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:15:27 -0700

When I was little, I went through a phase of collecting Monchhichi figurines, remember those all you kids of the 80s?! I haven't thought of them in years until I saw this lil face and it came rushing back. Meet Elke, an infant Francois Langur born at Sydney's Taronga Zoo. Newborns are bright red or orange all over, but this color changes slowly and reaches black by one year of age. A critically endangered species, there are only around 1,000 of these leaf-eating monkeys still in northeast Vietnam – see one more photo of the rare babe when you read more.

Source

Does Your Dog Stop and Smell the Flowers?

PetSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:00:34 -0700

Spring is here and that means blooming flowers by our feet and their faces. Do your pooches enjoy a stop-and-sniff (but no snack) when plants are blossoming or pass on by the new plants popping up on the scene?

Source

Awwdorable Baby: Jenny and Jolan the Camel-ly Family

PetSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:05:43 -0700

I am baby camel hear me . . . roar? Since I wasn't so sure what noise these creatures made, I did a bit of research and turns out they moan, groan, bleat, and roar. (Trivia tidbit - they also make a rumbling growl that served as one of the sounds creating Chewbacca's voice in the Star Wars movies!)

I've gotten a bit off track but, no matter what Jenny is trying to say here, I'm answering back – this lil J's already absolutely adorable. Meet the one-day-old (!) camel seen with her 17-year-old mother at the Budapest Zoo Park and Botanic Garden. Jenny weighs about 77 pounds and can snuggle right up to Jolan. Hopefully, she won't start the trademark camel spit up yet!

View 5 Photos ›

Source