PetSugar

Dog Days of Summer: Keep Pets Out of the Trash!

PetSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:45:31 -0700

Keep the trash safe from your nosy pets! In addition to the obvious dangers of cleaning product poisons or choking hazards, the bacteria and molds found in rotting foods can seriously endanger your furry friends . . . they can't distinguish between spoiled and fresh yums!

The millions of bacteria found in your old take-out or spoiled meat can lead to food poisoning and inflammation or bloating of the intestinal tract and abdomen (bacterial enteritis). What's more other foods like cheese, nuts, and pasta are ripe environments for a variety of molds that can produce the scary-sounding tremorgenic mycotoxins, substances that cause symptoms similar to snail bait or strychnine poisoning. If your pup has ingested these metabolites, look out for muscle tremors, spasms, seizures, and elevated temperature – it can require overnight hospital care so bring a pet to a vet if you suspect it!

Even if your trash is safely contained, learn one more risky spot pets can find these threats when you read more.

The fungi, molds, and bacteria that grow in garbage and compost can also be found in weathering fruit on the ground – so if you've got a fruit-baring tree nearby, don't let your pets eat the fallen fruit!

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I Need Your Help . . . Raccoons Want In (to My Garbage)

PetSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:45:01 -0700

In spirit of Earth Day, I thought we'd tackle a problem with wild animals. Sonoma b is having a big problem with some masked creatures. The very hungry raccoons seem determined to make a mess of her garbage. It's a company-issued, heavy-duty blue industrial plastic "can" filled with plastic kitchen bags. Even though it's emptied once a week, the pesky critters seem to find their way in before then! To hear what she has to say, read more.

"I have even put a cinderblock on top of the garbage can and they still toppled it over – and survived and ate and ran! I am going nuts each morning picking up their leftovers on my driveway!"

Of course, they want nothing to do with the separate brown recycling cans, but do any of you have tips for keeping them away from toppling the garbage (short of leaving the stinky can inside the garage)? Please help out in your comments below.

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A Piece O'Pumpkin Advice For Jack-O'-Lantern Snacks

PetSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:51 -0700

Since pumpkin is high on my list of healthy foods for a chubby or rumbly puppy tummy no matter the season, I feel the need to address those carved creations, if that's your kind of thing.

Not only can an open flame pose a danger, the unlit pumpkin is not pet-safe! While the fresh stuff is fine for furry friends, don't leave the jack-o'-lantern within paws' reach - after being carved and exposed to air, the vegetable grows bacteria and mold, which is very dangerous to doggies. Save the gourds for the garbage come Nov. 1 and pick up some canned pumpkin instead!

Source: Flickr User thegordons

PetSugar Street Team: Roll 'n Clean Is the Best Litterbox Ever

PetSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:00:29 -0700

An essential duty of kitty ownership is cleaning up the poop - can't be avoided. Now there are plenty of pricey products that come highly recommended (like the Litter Robot); however, community member Arcsis shared her love for an affordable alternative in the Street Team -this Omega Paw Roll 'n Clean Litter Box ($29):

My favorite thing about this is you never have to touch, or even come close to touching waste. You fill it with your favorite scooping litter, roll it upside down, roll back and empty the drawer. The end. Litter changed. I dump mine into scented garbage bags and toss in the bathroom trash.

Get the rest of her review when you read more.

I've read a few reviews about litter slipping out when you roll it. You need to put it together correctly, and make sure the clips are secure before you roll. My only issue is that small litter particles and/or dust does slip through the seam, but I need to sweep the stray litter from kitty's paws on the floor anyway, so it's a tiny, tiny problem. Not worth docking this wonderful product a star.

If you'd love to sing your praises for another pet product, join the Street Team and share your review with us!

Two Reasons to Toss Tennis Balls in the Washer . . . and Dryer!

PetSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:15:03 -0700

While I'd recommend tossing (in the garbage) any tennis balls with signs of fraying or peeling rubber, it's a good idea to wash those you'll be keeping this season. Think of all the dirt from endless games of fetch and throw them in the washing machine with some towels and pet-safe detergent.

After the fuzzy balls are cleaned up, you can air out or pop them in a dryer for a special trick. If you add a tennis ball to the dryer, it can help fluff up your drying towels, down bedding or other clothes that need an extra puff and fluff – bonus!

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To the Rescue: Composting Dog Poop?

PetSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:00:28 -0700

Of course any responsible pet owner knows to pick up after a dog, and there are still plenty of signs around reminding us all the same! When trying to live a little more green, opting for those biodegradable bags is a great start, but what about composting the waste afterwards? According to the experts at Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture, there's a (fairly) simple way to begin composting dog poop in your own backyard.

Take an old garbage can and drill a dozen or so holes in the side.
Use a keyhole saw to cut out the bottom and remove it.
Dig a hole in the ground that's deep enough for the garbage can.
Toss some rocks or gravel in the hole for drainage and position the garbage can on top so it's a little higher than the soil level.
Place the lid back on top.
When you scoop some poop, put it in the hole and sprinkle in some septic starter (like Septonic) and add some water.
The waste decomposes and enters the subsoil – remember, it is not used on garden beds!

I've already shared other eco-tastic tips, but here's one that takes a bit more effort. So what do you think – is throwing a biodegradable bag in the garbage where you'll stop or would you take it to the next level?

Give These Fleas to Your Dogs!

PetSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:15:14 -0700

Not real fleas, of course, but silly stuffed versions instead! Meet mutant insects Scratchy, the boy toy, and Scratchette, his female counterpart, sure to provide your pet hours of squeaking, squashing fun . . . without the scratching. These toys come in ultra soft plush for cuddling and feature funny faces and six floppy legs for pups to get a handle on. Pick up the "garbage green" or "itchy pink" fleas for just $22 – I think they kinda look like Fraggles, don't you?

Bare Bones: BioBags Eco Friendly Poop Bags

PetSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:00:06 -0700

When your dog does his business, where do you put the remains? Most likely you pick it up with your plastic poopie bags and toss it in the garbage like a good owner should. But all that plastic does a number on our landfills! Since today is Earth Day, I thought it would be a great time to focus on one of the most important jobs a pet parent can perform: cleaning up after your pet in an earth-friendly way.

Recently, San Francisco was the first city to put a ban on plastic bags being given out at stores and replaced them with paper or biodegradable bags since the evidence of the damage that plastic causes to the environment was overwhelming. With plastic taking over 100 years to decompose, your stash of old Target and Safeway bags will be hanging around for much longer than you (or your pet) will. Thankfully, these BioBags for Dogs ($6) are here to save the day. To see how they are helping the environment, just read more.

BioBags are being used in one of my fave local grocery stores here in SF in place of the dreaded plastic bag, and to me are a great alternative to the sometimes less-than-sturdy paper bag. Since I don't like the idea of chopping down ton of trees just to carry my groceries (or pick up North's doodie), I have collected a nice number of these BioBags to pick up poop with. But, now that they make smaller bags just for scooping poop, I have a few boxes on order already! BioBags are 100 percent biodegradable and completely compostable in ten to fourteen days, so you can at least get something back from your purchase in the form of some awesome plants and a clear conscience! What's more is BioBags makes a biodegradable cat Litter Box Liner ($7) as well, so your kitties can get in on the earth saving action, too!

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Pet-Proofing Your Home: Kitchen

PetSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:00:24 -0800

Next up in my pet-proofing series: the kitchen. Food presents a huge temptation to pets, especially when it's within reach of their paws or whiffs of their noses. It's natural for them to want to smell and nibble new foods so it's up to you to make sure they can only access safe yums. To learn how to safeguard your kitchen, read more

Food. Keep pets safe by storing all food out of their reach. Never underestimate their ability to find their way onto tabletops or into cabinets. Many common foods are risky to pets, including grapes and onions, so it's best to keep any food you feel may be a risk in a cabinet that's closed tight.
Trash. If you threw it out, there's probably a reason! Moldy and rotting food will make your pets ill but may still be a temptation. Be warned that anything you put in the garbage can be pulled out and spread around your home, so I recommend a metal one with a flip lid. Of special danger, coffee grounds in small amounts can poison your pet, in addition to any paper towels that may have trace amounts of cleaning solutions on them!
Cleaning products. Read (and follow the instructions on) the labels of all cleaning products you are using in your home. Use bleach and other poisonous liquids with care. Many pets are tempted to lick the floor, and these products can cause stomach upset - a special area of temptation is directly in front of the stove as it's the most likely place for lickworthy spills or splatters.

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Pet-Proofing Your Home: Bathroom

PetSugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:00:27 -0800

Next up in my pet-proofing series: the bathroom. This is a door that many pet owners (myself included!) choose to keep closed. Bathrooms can present a slightly different, additional risk for pet owners... the risk of embarrassment. I remember eating dinner at a friend's apartment in New York when, all of a sudden, I looked over, and her dog had brought us a lovely present he fished out of the bathroom trash can. Charming. She was understandably mortified about this gift and, the next time I visited, I noticed her mini, flip-lid trash can.

To learn about the common bathroom risks for your pet, read more

Paper products. So, it's not just about presenting garbage at the feet of strangers, some pets even eat paper – and other surprises – from the trash can. Other pets love to pull paper off the toilet paper roll or even chew and claw the spare rolls. If you feel that the paper products in your bathroom present too much of a temptation for your furry friends, use my simple solution: keep the door closed.
Laundry. Some pets will fish socks and underwear out of the hamper to scatter throughout the apartment, chew on any soiled clothes, or even decide to crawl in the hamper for a nap. Make sure if you do have a hamper, you keep it closed, and consider the type of lid. You don't want kitty to jump on top, fall in, and get stuck!
Toilet. I'm guessing you have a toilet and, if you also have a pet, please keep the top lid down! Regardless of the amount of fresh, natural spring water in your pet's bowl, many of them just want a taste of that toilet water. And, if you are letting them kiss you... well, that's a problem in my book.
Chemicals. Also present in the toilet are dangerous chemicals, especially if you've used those toxic blue tablets. But, even if you just store drain cleaners in the bathroom, keep them out of pets' reach. Also, be careful about any surfaces that pets could be licking or chewing – not only for the cleansers you use on them, but poisonous lead can often be found in paint, linoleum, and caulking compounds!
Small items. I've found teethmarks on a lip gloss tube from devilish North, so please keep makeup out of reach! Once again, be careful with any small, shiny objects that may fall to the floor... you don't want to wait 'til your earring emerges from the other end!

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