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Do Tell: What Fresh Fruits or Veggies Do You Give Your Pets?

PetSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:30:27 -0800

I give my pup baby carrots as well as some pumpkin, and these bunnies really seem to enjoy this lettuce treat – what fruits or veggies do you feed your pampered pals?

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Sienna and Bess Have a Girls' Day Out

PetSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:00:11 -0800

Just two gals out for a Fall stroll, nothing to see here. Oh, who I am kidding, I'm happy to see so much of Sienna and Bess stateside, with her favorite red leash! I'm missing Porgy, but are you secretly hoping he's home with Jude?
Whether or not they're sharing custody, or if she's just not a fan of juggling two leashes, I hope her other dog has an equally fancy leash - while a vegetable-dyed, Eco-Leather Flat Stitch Lead ($26) in red looks smashing against dark fur, I think the lighter-colored pup would look dashing in a forest green hue to make the color pop!

Check out plenty more pics when you read more.

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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

New Product Alert! Bespoke Dog Accessories Collection

PetSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:10:27 -0700

Best known for his quality leather duffles and briefcases, Britain-based Bill Amberg expanded his business to include our furry friends, launching a new Bespoke dog accessories collection in London on Tuesday.

Including a chic bed, leather lead, and shearling-lined coat, there are no prices listed online yet, but I'm betting the hand-crafted, vegetable-dyed leather won't come too cheaply. Check out the shown off items in the gallery and let me know if anything catches your fancy in the comments below.

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Dog Days of Summer: How to Remove Burrs

PetSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:00:51 -0700

More prevalent in late Summer and early Fall, burrs can be an unnecessary parting gift from woodsy walks. Rumored to have inspired the creation of Velcro, the hooks and teeth on this seed are super tricky to get off clothing, so imagine how it would stick to a pet!

After frolicking in the forest, rub your hands all over your pet for a cockleburr check - if you feel the telltale bump, isolate and de-tangle with your hands until you're able to get a good grasp of it. Now don't fret, follow my removal tips when you read more.

Teasing works only on tiny sections at a time so concentrate on the biggest snarls first. Firmly grasp the burr in one hand, and use a metal comb to separate the hairs by brushing in small strokes towards your pet's skin.
If your pup's long-haired or the burrs are tiny, you can slicker brush them out by brushing away from your pet's skin.
For major snarls, generously apply some Mink Oil spray for dogs if you have it (or vegetable oil, if you don't) to slick the fur and help with the combing. After you've removed it, wash the area or bathe your pooch.
When all the above tactics fail, use scissors to cut as close to the burr as possible and snip it out.

Source: Flickr User Muffet

Will a Tyson-Freshpet Alliance Mean Affordable Food Options?

PetSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:10:42 -0700

What's for (doggy's) dinner tonight? Well, if your furry friend is a fan of table food, this news is for you. Yesterday, Tyson Foods, Inc. and Freshpet announced a "strategic alliance" aiming to bring innovative fresh pet food products to consumers. For the unfamiliar, Freshpet began selling refrigerated, meat-based meals, gently cooked with vegetables and brown rice in 2006 and now will join forces with the second-largest U.S. food company and the world's largest supplier of protein-based products for people.
Tyson can surely add their fresh food knowledge and refrigerated distribution expertise to the small start-up, find out what else when you read more.

According to Scott Morris, the Freshpet co-founder:

The alliance between Tyson and Freshpet will meet changing consumer needs by providing real food for pets – not 'pet food.' We believe these products will redefine the category and change the way people think about feeding their pets. The Tyson-Freshpet alliance is founded on an alternative nutritional ideology that pet owners should have the option of feeding their pets a high-quality, less-processed, meat-based diet with vegetables and whole grains.

It's a tricky balance I'd say, and most of my hesitation comes with pricing – not that I don't love to pamper my pooch with high quality dog food, but at nearly $50 for 14 pounds of food, I can't do that everyday. I can see the great alternative to mixing this with a pup's normal diet for an extra treat but are you buying in?

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Happy Second Birthday, Knut the Cute!

PetSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:05:18 -0800

The fella I'd name the world's most famous polar bear (followed by Flocke) celebrates his second birthday today at Zoo Berlin! That means Knut got even more visitors than usual . . . and a special dessert. 'Cause, really, what's a birthday without cake and ice cream? Of course, bears can't eat chocolate buttercream (my fave), so his "cake" was made of vegetable in ice – well, I bet he enjoyed it anyway.

This bear's faced some tough times from dealing with fame to the death of his BFF and original caretaker, Thomas Doerflein earlier this year but he's doing a-OK now.

Check out more piccys of Knut's birthday celebration and read more.

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Would You Taste Test Pet Food?

PetSugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:30:00 -0800

Even though I once accidentally ate one of North's P-Nuttiers, I can't imagine nibbling some kibble or spooning up some stinky wet food. That's not the case with this gentleman, though. Simon Allison is a senior food technologist at British retailer Marks & Spencer . . . and that fancy title means he has the lucky(?) job of taste testing pet food to carry in their stores. "I’m looking for a patè texture, almost to the point where you could spread it on crusty bread," Allison says, and counts amongst his favorites, the organic luxury chicken dinner with vegetables for cats. "It has the taste and aroma of chicken and some of what you call the red flavors - things like heart and liver; gutsy, savory notes." Ummm, yuck?! Granted, I don't even care for the consistency or contents of real patè, so I'm counting myself out but would you willingly (and knowingly) sample your pet's yums?

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Spoiled Sweet or Spoiled Rotten?

PetSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:15:40 -0700

Imagine you're driving along the expressway with your pooch, and you decide to stop for a snack at a service area. If you happen to be in Japan, you can now get a bento box for yourself... and your pup. "Dora Bento Pochi" are gourmet boxed meals for dogs available at eight different service stops in the Tokyo area.

The East Nippon Expressway Co. has produced bento boxes in the past, but this is the first time they have created anything expressly for dogs and, by my account, the first, fresh canine cuisine to be sold at rest stops anywhere.

So, what's in the box? With no preservatives or additives, you'll find prime chicken breast, unpolished-rice based bread, vegetable soups, seasoning, and a rice cracker for dessert. Better yet, the lid can be turned over to serve as a water dish.

What do you think?

On the Ball: Whip Up a Birdie Smoothie

PetSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:18:20 -0700

Did you know that fruits, vegetables, and greens should make up 20 to 25 percent of your bird's diet? Check with a vet for safe fruits for your pet – many pits and seeds can be dangerous for animals, as can trace amounts of pesticides on any unwashed, unpeeled items.

Here's an easy three ingredient bird smoothie recipe:

1 banana
4 strawberries, rinsed well
3 ice cubes

Plus, you'll need the following kitchen tools: a knife, measuring spoons, and a blender.

Peel the banana and cut it into slices. Cut the hulls from the strawberries. Add the fruit and ice cubes to the blender, and blend on high to "liquefy." Serve approximately two tablespoons, and feel free to sample the rest yourself! Don't forget to remove the leftover portion after two hours and thoroughly clean the bird's dish.

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