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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Would You Use a LitterLocker to Discard the Poops?

PetSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:00:17 -0700

Those with picky kitties will confirm: it's extra important to keep the litterbox clean and also key to tell what you're scooping so you don't miss a spot. But let's just say it's better seen and not smelled. Yuck.

Now dumping the clumps in the trash works just fine for out-of-sight, out-of-mind but maybe not out-of-nose. If you'd rather keep that mess out of your kitchen altogether, check out the LitterLocker ($30). To use, empty the scoop and turn the handle to seal stinky poo away inside a 3-layer plastic bag for extra protection. Refill bag rolls are $9 for a two-month supply, is this too pricey for you?

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!

Fight Six Summertime Dangers

PetSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:30:32 -0700

Such a lovely season doesn't come without dangers! From scorching sidewalks to balmy sunlight, plenty of perils lurk right in your neighborhood. Keep dogs safe and healthy this Summer and know the risks of and remedies for the following six hazards.

Poison patrol: Mushrooms	Poison patrol: Cocoa mulch	Poison patrol: Trash
How-to: Remove a tick	How-to: Soothe paw burns	How-to: Treat heat stroke

Chomp, Chomp For Corn . . . but No Cobs For Dogs!

PetSugar — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:00:37 -0700

Letting a pup have a few bites of corn isn't a horrible idea provided she's not allergic, but I wouldn't recommend doing this on a regular basis. The issue is not with the kernels (which can be a dog food "filler" item), but cobs are very dangerous for pets - they can cause intestinal obstruction if swallowed! Make sure to hold on tight while she nibbles, and throw it away in a pet-proof trash can after the snack to make sure she doesn't go in for seconds.

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.

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Last Minute Gifts For Dog Lovers

PetSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:15:25 -0800

Sure, you can always give a dog a bone, but there are plenty more inventive ways to reward the dog lovers in your life and their best friends this holiday. If you've waited until this moment don't fret - I've found a selection of gift ideas you can purchase here or any major store.

I speak for my fellow dog lovers when I say small gag gifts are always a hit. This Woof & Poof Musical Scottie Dog ($24) is a playful decoration for any time of year and makes funny sounds.
A shiny new dog bowl will please any hungry hound and delight any puppy parent.
Does your dog lover like to bake? Duck into stores like Williams-Sonoma for Scotty Dog cookie cutters ($10).
Every friend of Fido has struggled to keep the dog food dry and fresh. Gift a large bulk container to keep the smell in and pets out.
A Portable Bag-It Trash Bag Dispenser will pack a stash of pick up bags can connect to a backpack or dog leashes.

Portable Bag-It Trash Bag Dispenser With 12 Trash Bags (Package of 3 Dispensers) by Sunshine Kids - $3.99	Commercial Bulk Food Storage - $29.99
Copper Cookie Cutter, Scotty Dog - $10.00	Holden Designs Holden Single Feeder - $79.00
Gaia & Gino - twins food/water dog bowl by richie tanaka - $40.00	Woof & Poof Musical Scottie Dog - $36.00
Woof & Poof Musical Scottie Dog - $36.00	Crypton Doodle Dog Pillow - Pool - $40.00

Do Tell: Suggest Halloween Costume Duos For You and Fido!

PetSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:30:42 -0700

Halloween's just 10 days away, do you know what you're going to wear? Now, I've always wanted to choose a costume linked to my pet ever since the year I thought it'd be awesome if we went to a big NYC Dog Parade as Lilo and Stitch (after all, I had the long hair and North def. has the huge ears).

On a similar note, can you think of fun costume duos you could link with your furry friend. Consider famous costars – you as Ariel and Fido as Sebastian – or something a touch more outside the box like Oscar the Grouch seen here with a trash collector. Suggest your ideas in the comments below and I'll pick several to reveal next week!

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To the Rescue: Stool Samples Made Easy

PetSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:00:45 -0700

One of the ickiest, but most important, parts of a dog's annual checkup is the stool sample. Usually we scoop poop several times a day, but it goes straight into the trash without a second thought. However, most vets require and request this very deposit to check for worms and other diseases. For first time visitors, the logistics (How much? How fresh?) can be baffling. Here's a simple how-to for this doodoo must do:

Mark a freezer-style resealable plastic bag with your pet's name, your name and collection date.
Turn this bag inside out being careful to have the sealing part safely covered.
After your dog's most recent meal before the doc's visit, bring this bag along with your normal scooper of choice.
Collect a small deposit (like one poop) – they actually don't test much more than a tablespoon – and seal up the bag taking care not to smush it.

It's as easy as that! Labeling helps make certain your pup's sample is correctly matched – remember, less is more, and fresh is best.

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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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