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March Madness: Sweet Sixteen Mascot Quiz

PetSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:15:08 -0700

If you're not following the college basketball tourney or flunked the last quiz, here's a chance to redeem yourself and get set for the sweet sixteen round. I've gathered some facts about the remaining teams so get sporty and start this quiz.

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Take the quiz

March Madness Quiz: Do You Know Your Wild Mascots?

PetSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:45:59 -0700

I filled out our office March Madness bracket and I'll clue you into my secret – since my alma mater performed miserably, I went for the animal mascots! Now I'm not sure how things will turn out for me in the end, but it was fun doing my research on the sporty creatures. Since some teams remained the same from last year, and others were totally new, take my quiz to see how you do in 2009!

Take the quiz

Did You Leave a Pet at Home and Move Away?

PetSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:20:59 -0800

Empty nest syndrome doesn't just affect parents as pets can be hit hard by a human family member moving out! After all, if Fido's used to curling up at your feet at night or Fluffy accustomed to laying on your lap while you watch TV, the vacant spot can not only cause confusion but sometimes even separation anxiety or other behavioral changes. Sadly, both of my childhood pets had passed away before I went off to college so I've never experienced this – have you?
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Do Tell: Was Your University Pet-Friendly?

PetSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:50:49 -0700

Even though tons of colleges have animals as mascots, they may not be welcome inside dorm doors. I attended a university where nearly everyone lives on campus for all four years . . . and the housing is not pet-friendly. However, the year I lived in an apartment style unit, I had a friend who would sneak her family dog to stay on weekends, once found a kitten in the hallway, and even had a pal with a lil bird.Nowadays more and more institutions offer pet-friendly rooms – how was it like for you (and did you ever look for a loophole)?

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Quiz: More Than Just Bulldogs and Wildcats!

PetSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:14:11 -0700

Rather than rely on season records or uniform colors, I made many of my March Madness picks based on whether or not the school had an animal as a mascot. While it may be an unconventional method, I decided to extend the popular "Who Let the Dogs Out?" quiz to this year's college basketball tourney. After pondering what a Tar Heel or Hoosier is (turns out neither are animals), I created a nice little quiz of wild mascots for you. For some I included the animal picture, others just the names - you don't even need to know basketball to play!

Take the quiz

Who Let the Dogs Out?!

PetSugar — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 07:00:58 -0800

How well do you know your doggies? I've sniffed out eight schools with pups as their mascots . . . and listed their names below. Can you match the pooch's name to the school he represents?

Take the quiz

The Scoop: First H1N1 Cat Case Confirmed by AVMA

PetSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:41 -0800

Following last week's case in Oregon where vets confirmed the first H1N1 transmission between a human and a pet ferret, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has confirmed that a 13-year-old, indoor-only cat in Iowa in fact has swine flu.

While it's uncommon for flu viruses (like the H3N8 for dogs) to jump between species, doctors at Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine performed two sets of tests to find the feline was in fact infected. According to her owners, they had been sick with flu-like symptoms before noticing the cat was ill and, until recently, there was no reason to think cats could catch the 2009 swine flu. Kitty symptoms are primarily respiratory, which includes sneezing and teary eyes, as well as any unusual food refusal.

Get the CDC's tips for interacting with all pets (and people) when you read more.

As with humans, the CDC recommends:

Wash your hands frequently.
Cough or sneeze into elbows.
Discard any tissues out of reach of cats.
As hard as this is, be a little less affectionate with your animal (distance-wise) while you're ill.

Source: Flickr User theogeo

It's Feral Cat Day - Have You Ever Seen One?

PetSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:25:00 -0700

Today's National Feral Cat Day to honor those felines that live in the wild. Before you start wishing they all could be rescued and adopted, know that many of these kitties are better-accustomed to living on their own terms in the wild. In areas around the country where this is common, Trap-Neuter-Release plans are enforced to keep a handle on the population.

On a personal note, these kitties have a special place in my heart from my college days, when they were frequently found, fed, and even adopted out whenever possible right on campus. Our pals over at Paw Nation dedicated several posts to this cause, including an interview with comedian Marc Maron about his feral cats:

"You know, I'm not a cat guy, but I'm a 'my cat' guy. If I go to your house, I'll pretend to like your cats, but secretly I'm thinking what a fat, stupid, ugly cat you have. That cat's an indoor cat; my cats are animals. Your cat can't even muster up the gumption to play with that fake mouse you bought it. It's days away from hanging itself on its scratching post. Or dying of ennui."

Don't worry, he's kidding. (I think.) Ever spotted a feral feline out and about?

Source: Flickr User edbrambley

Cat Owners Eight Times More Likely to Have MRSA at Home

PetSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:55:01 -0700

If you're not familiar with it already, MRSA is a bacteria resistant to certain antibiotics, dangerous because of, well, its drug resistance. The first cases in pets popped up about five years ago in therapy dogs exposed to patients or healthcare workers, but the tables could turn, putting humans in more danger any day.

Typically, humans usually infect pets (and not vice versa), but animals can serve as a reservoir for the bacteria and pass it back to humans. Healthy animals rid themselves of bacteria in a matter of weeks.

According to a study this Summer, Elizabeth A. Scott and colleagues at the Center For Hygiene and Health in Home and Community at Simmons College in Boston swabbed household surfaces and found that one variable that overwhelmingly predicted the presence of the germ was the presence of a cat - they were eight times more likely than others to have MRSA at home.

To learn some tips to keep your human (and furry) family safe, read more.

Wash your hands or use antibacterial hand gels before and after playing with a pet or handling wastes and food.
Don't let pets lick near your face or any cuts or sores, and be sure to keep your broken skin bandaged up.

Who Let the Dogs Out? March Madness

PetSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:15:00 -0700

March Madness ends this week (I know, it's April already) but the final men's college basketball game between North Carolina and Michigan State tips off later on today. I'm tipping you off on some b-ball themed posts we've had in the past so let this get you pumped, or clue you in, for the sport craze.

Sweet Sixteen Mascot Quiz	Do You Know Your Wild Mascots?	Have Your Dogs Ever Attended a Sporting Event?
Go Ahead, Slam Dunk It, Kitty!	Teach Your Goldfish How To Score a Goal	Name That College Dog