PetSugar

Choco-Chart for Dogs

PetSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:00:56 -0700

Chocolate contains theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean. While the amounts necessary to poison your dog vary by type of chocolate, it's the theobromine that causes the danger to pets.

Check out my handy choco-chart, based on toxicity information from Dog Owner's Digest. I've started you off with some weights and amounts – print this out, calculate your pup's weight, fill in the blanks, and store in a safe place.

Type of chocolate	1 pound dog	10 pound dog	20 pound dog	40 pound dog	______ pound dog
White Chocolate	200 ounces	125 pounds	250 pounds	500 pounds	______ pounds
Milk Chocolate	1 ounce	1/2 pound	1 pound	2 pounds	______ pounds
Sweet Cocoa	0.3 ounces	1/6 pound	1/3 pound	2/3 pound	______ pounds
Baking Chocolate	0.1 ounces	1 ounces	2 ounces	4 ounces	______ ounces

The average chocolate candy bar contains 2 to 3 ounces. Dark chocolate falls closest to the baking chocolate estimations whereas semi-sweet chocolate falls in between milk chocolate and sweet cocoa.

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What Do You Know About Guinness's Record-Setting Animals?

PetSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:43 -0800

A cute Great Dane named Titan recently captured the Guinness World Record as the world's tallest (living) pooch! His record breaking last week made me think about all those other animals currently topping the charts for age, size and more. Test yourself on some bizarre newsmakers and start this extreme animal quiz!

Question 1 of 8

From snout to tail-fin, how long is the world's longest goldfish?

Pay As You Go: Check Out My Handy Chart of Airlines' Pet Fees

PetSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:40:10 -0700

For most of us - the most that wouldn't have hundreds of dollars to spare, won't take multiple trips a season or don't own a private jet - the price of air travel with pets can prohibit inclusion of furry friends in all but the most important of situations (like relocation). If you're wondering how much it will cost to include a pet on your next trip, I've gathered up the prices for the major airlines. How much will you pay as you go? Find out the one-way rates in the chart below.

Airline	In-Cabin	Checked Baggage	As Cargo
AirTran	$69	n/a	n/a
Alaska	$100	$100	n/a
American	$100	$150	n/a
Continental	$125	n/a	800-575-3335
Delta	$100	$175	$179–$689
Frontier	n/a	$100–$200	n/a
JetBlue	$100	n/a	n/a

See the rest of the chart when you read more.

Airline	In-Cabin	Checked Baggage	As Cargo
Midwest	$125	$150	n/a
Southwest	$75	n/a	n/a
Spirit	$100	n/a	n/a
United	$125–$175	$175–$500	800-822-2746
US Airways	$100	800-428-2966	n/a
Virgin America	$100	n/a	n/a

(If a phone number is listed, you'll need to call a representative who can give you the current rates for your pet's type, weight, kennel size, and destination.)

Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over Lazy Dog: In the LINK of an Eye!

PetSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:30:27 -0700

The saying comes true for this fox and that dog - Urlesque
Adorable video of black panther cubs frolicking along - Paw Nation
Side-by-side pet insurance chart helps you pick and choose - Dogtime
Pattern and Paw adds 13 new designs - moderncat
Pet Fennec Fox cuddles with his doggie pal - Wag Reflex
Commission a realistic, life-size sculpture of your furry friend? - People Pets
XOXO. Blake and Penny rest on the Gossip Girl set - Celebrity Dog Watcher
Lost dog reappears nine years and 1,200 miles later - Dogster

Would You Read Your Dog's Horoscope?

PetSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:00:52 -0700

I used to read my horoscope daily, without fail. But these days, I barely have time to read the paper, let alone delve into what the stars have in store for me. So it's a total guilty pleasure to read my horoscope on DearSugar first thing in the morning, and now I can get North's horoscope from Animal Planet! You should already have your kitty figured out with help from the feline astrological chart, now it's time to see what the future holds for your pooch!

Although I'm not sure if these horoscopes are anything like their human counterparts – where it's sometimes left vague so the message can be applied to more people – but yesterday, it mentioned his sensitivity to crowds, which I have to admit, was totally true. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Or maybe I should check again tomorrow to see if it's really right . . .

Molly Sims and Poupette Get Fit . . . and You Can, Too!

PetSugar — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:00:31 -0800

Getting fit starts with you! Sign the online PetFit Challenge and get ready to make a change for your dog or cat. The site offers useful features like a calorie-burn chart, a treat translator, and a fairly terrifying "human parallel" showing how your pet's additional pounds would translate on a human body. Eeks!

When you're ready to get started, download the Owner's Guide to Healthy Weight Management for dogs or cats with its tracking chart and pictures to help you look for - and see - a difference. Get creative and make a new fitness routine incorporating some do-together exercises, too!

Curious Cat Curls: Tie an elastic band to a toy around your dumbbells. As you curl, watch your cat go crazy to try to catch the toy as it ascends and descends.
Dog Squat Tease: Stand with your legs spread shoulder width in preparation to do a leg squat. As you descend, tap your dog with his favorite toy. As you rise, lift the toy above your head to encourage your dog to jump after it. This can be done in your home and outside as well.

Click here to see a couple more exercises on FitSugar!

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To the Rescue: Counting Calories for Dogs

PetSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:45:38 -0800

Just like people, pups that take in too many calories per day tend to gain weight! FitSugar tipped me onto a handy chart that lists the calories in over 125 common dog food brands. If your pooch could stand to lose a few, in addition to increasing her exercise, reconsider the nutritional value of the food she eats. Make sure that when switching brands, you read the back of the new packaging for portion suggestions based on weight. If a pet is overweight (or a breed prone to obesity like cocker spaniels, basset hounds, or dachshunds), ask your vet to recommend a nutrition plan and consult this recommended calories for weight loss chart. Both can tell you how to safely decrease portions while still providing enough calories and nutrition for your pet.

When switching food, do so gradually (by quarters) over a week's time to let dogs adjust to a new meal. For example, on...

Days 1-3: Feed 25 percent new food and 75 percent old food.
Days 4-5: Feed 50 percent new food and 50 percent old food.
Days 6-7: Feed 75 percent new food and 25 percent old food.
Day 8: Feed 100 percent new food.

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Reader's Choice: Share Your Fave Songs Inspired by Pets!

PetSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:00:16 -0700

Before, when I was talking about music being good for your pet's health, it got me to thinking about how many songs are actually inspired by animals that make it to the music charts. My grandmother used to sing this super sad tune called "Old Shep" written during the depression era that still brings a tear to my eye every time I think about it. It was re-recorded by Elvis, who himself has written several animal hits like "Hound Dog" that have been stuck in my head once or twice before. But do you know of any other songs inspired by pets? I have a few in mind already, but this will be fun to see how many we can come up with, some I'm sure none of us have ever heard before. List your songs in the comments below, and next week I'll do a recap of all your great songs!

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Cat Astrology!

PetSugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:15:22 -0800

Now usually I check out DearSugar for my horoscope fix, but when I spotted this chart for our four-legged friends, I couldn't resist sharing the cuteness with you. I loved all the comments about the anatomy of a cat brain, and I can't wait to hear your take on astrology for kitties! Because I've only got a pup, I asked my pal, BellaSugar about her two furry felines, Milo and Minou. Turns out this handsome fella (Milo) just celebrated his birthday on Mar. 2! Bella laughingly agreed with the Pisces description of "touchy, devoted, sweet natured, adaptable, and unpredictable" - I guess he's very lovey . . . but only when he wants to be. Curious to know about the other signs, just read more.

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 20): bold, athletic, adaptable, impatient, and impulsive
Taurus (Apr. 21 - May 21): affectionate, patient, stubborn, strong willed, and quiet
Gemini (May 22 - June 21): agile, alert, restless, vocal, and fickle
Cancer (June 22 - July 23): loyal, gentle, grumpy, clingy, and devoted
Leo (July 24 - Aug. 23): fearless, energetic, dominant, demanding, and gregarious
Virgo (Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): shy, aloof, intelligent, charming, and finicky
Libra (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): easygoing, peaceful, lovable, people oriented, and smart
Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 2): responsive, independent, possessive, strong willed, and loving
Sagittarius (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): free spirited, playful, amusing, curious, and friendly
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): reserved, cold, territorial, good natured, and patient
Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19): independent, rebellious, people oriented, aloof, and outgoing
Pisces (Feb. 20 - Mar. 20): touchy, devoted, sweet natured, adaptable, and unpredictable

Are You Buying It: 50 Calorie Packs for Dogs?

PetSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 03:00:50 -0800

What will they think of next?! Your eyes aren't fooling you, those are 50 calorie snack pouches for pooches. Filled with a perfect portion of 90 percent lean beef Pup-Peroni, it helps you be confident that you're not going overboard with the indulgences (and even offers a packs per day per pound of dog chart). On the one hand, I do know that pet obesity is a growing problem and on the other, I'm not sure I want to involve my pup in the 100 calorie pack-style feeding frenzy. However, I can see this product being super useful for providing a set limit of easy-to-carry snacks to a dog walker or day care but, otherwise North snacks pretty guilt-free already. . . except when he wants to eat paper, that is. What do you think?