PetSugar

This Plant Lives to Eat Poop

PetSugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:50 -0800

People, poop is on the menu. (Yuck.) While I consider myself to be pretty brushed up on weird mammals and even dogs feeding on feces, admittedly, I'm less familiar with green things. Still, I couldn't resist sharing this interesting find with you. Thank me later.

This pitcher (Nepenthes rajah) plant is the largest carnivorous type in the world, found in Borneo. Although it does trap vertebrates, its preferred meal plan consists of tree shrew poo. Because it features (allegedly) tasty nectar, tree shrews and other small rodents are attracted to the sweet stuff and then leave behind their not-so-sweet droppings inside the pitcher feature, which can hold almost a half gallon of liquid if filled to the brim! While I'd never let my small dog near anything like this, imagine if a plant would one day devour all our pet poop. That's genius!

Source: Wikimedia Commons User NepGrower

Can You Pick Your Poison . . . Trees?

PetSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:50:12 -0700

Long walks past poisonous Fall blossoms, and now we've got trees to worry about, too?! If you like to check out the foliage with your furry friends, let's see if you can identify these toxic trees so you know where not to let him sniff around.

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This is a:

Do You Know These Poisonous Fall Bloomers?

PetSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:30:47 -0700

Fall's coming and although we've tackled poisonous Summer wildflowers, that season's (sadly) almost done. Let's get into the Fall spirit by looking at more flowers - each of these either begin blooming in autumn or continue through September (or later!) in some climates, so check out the pretty plants and see how well you do!

Question 1 of 7

Hibiscus:

Can You Identify These Toxic Summer Wildflowers?

PetSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:30:31 -0700

We've already tackled toxic garden flowers and dangerous bouquets, but now let's check out poisonous wildflowers you could see on your summertime walks. The six following plants are toxic to dogs and cats - test yourself now, and there's a recap at the end so you won't forget in the future!

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This plant is a:

Can You Identify These Doggone Toxic Blooms?

PetSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:00:38 -0700

It's almost Summer - woohoo! Since I'm looking forward to longer walks and exploring new areas with my pooch, I've gathered up some outdoor flowers . . . that I won't (literally) be gathering up. Since you're old pros on poisonous flowers you could get as presents, can you identify these toxic blossoms you'll want to pass on by with your dog? See how much you know about what not to bring back inside a home when you take this quiz.

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This plant is a:

6 Ways to Enjoy Flowers (Safely) With Your Furry Friend

PetSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 09:00:04 -0700

Warm weather walks aren't just a fresh way to get your pet out and about or work on your posture and fitness. They offer the visual bonus of blooming buds, chirping birds and an air of romance. In celebration of Flower Day, which happens to be today, I have put together a roundup of helpful hints for enjoying flowers and plant life both within your home and on the street. Do you know which plants are poisonous and which are fine for pup to munch one? Find out before you take that Summer jaunt through the wildflowers.

1. Let Him Stop and Smell the Flowers	2. Know Which Flowers Are Poisonous to Pets	3. Pet-Proofing Your Home by Avoiding Poisonous Plants
4. Just Say No to Cocoa Mulch	5. Plant a Pretty and Pet Safe Garden	6. Know What to Do When Kitty Eats Plants

Kitty Lovers, Just Say "No Thanks" to Easter Lilies!

PetSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:00:26 -0700

I've shared doggy dangers lurking in your Easter basket, but I wanted to remind you about a popular holiday flower that should never be brought into a home that includes cats.

Easter lilies are one of the most poisonous flowers for kitties. In fact, just one or two leaves or flowers can fatally harm a feline so, even if you think your pet will show no interest in this plant, please take no chances. This lily (along with Tiger, Asiatic, and other varieties) causes depression then vomiting, loss of appetite, and loss in body weight with the first symptoms showing up within 30 minutes . . . and acute renal failure coming at about 48 hours post-ingestion.

Please brush up on the ASPCA toxic plant list (and have their poison control hotline on hand) and rush any pet you fear has gotten a hold of this stem to the doctor immediately!

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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?

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Which Flowers Are Poisonous to Pets?

PetSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:00:24 -0800

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I gathered up poison information on popular plants to give or receive. Pretty as they may look around your house, which of these blossoms are poisonous to dogs and/or cats? From roses to daisies, test your knowledge on these 10 flowers when you start the quiz.

Question 1 of 10

Roses:

Dog Days of Summer: "Death Cap" Mushrooms

PetSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:30:49 -0700

As if the ominous name didn't clue you in, death caps are very dangerous. This species is responsible for the majority – 95 percent! – of fatal mushroom poisoning of people and pets. Not commonly found throughout the US, the fungi have been reported in areas as wide-reaching as upstate NY and New Jersey over to southern Oregon and the San Francisco Bay Area.

If you're taking a walk with your pooch, know how to recognize and avoid the (scientific name) Amanita phalloides. They grow year-round and thrive in moist environments commonly found on the roots of live trees. Although the above picture is one example, exact identification is unreliable because their appearance can vary . . . translation: Don't eat, or let pets eat, any wild growing mushrooms.

Learn how this affects your pets and should be treated when you read more.

Untreated ingestion of even a small portion of a death cap mushroom can be fatal because it causes liver injury and failure. If you suspect that a pet has sampled this species, bring him to the vet immediately. If treated early enough, the doctors can induce vomiting and give activated charcoal to save your pooch.

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