This page explains how we choose, check, write and maintain the information on Petopia. It applies to every page on the site, in all three languages.
What we cover
We answer the everyday questions pet owners actually ask: whether a food or plant is safe, how old a pet is in human years, how much it should eat, how to handle a behavior problem, what to do after finding a stray animal, and lighter topics such as national animals and popular dog breeds. We pick topics from the questions readers search for and send us, and we only publish a page when we can answer the question with reliable sources.
Sources we rely on
We build each page from established references, not from other pet blogs or forums:
- Veterinary and toxicology references: the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, Pet Poison Helpline, the Merck Veterinary Manual, veterinary hospital groups such as VCA, published guidelines such as those from AAHA, and peer-reviewed studies.
- Official and primary sources: government websites and legal texts, the registration figures published by kennel clubs and official dog registers, and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- Reference works and open data: encyclopedias, conservation organizations, and OpenStreetMap and Wikidata for places.
Health, food, plant, ranking and calculator pages list their sources at the end. When reliable sources disagree, we say so on the page instead of picking one quietly.
How we decide our ratings
Our labels follow fixed rules, so the same label means the same thing on every page:
- Foods for dogs and cats. Yes: safe for most healthy pets when served plain and in moderation. With care: not toxic in itself, but only safe in certain forms or small amounts. No: toxic or dangerous.
- Plants. Non-toxic: not expected to poison cats or dogs, although chewing any plant can upset the stomach. Mildly toxic: can irritate the mouth or stomach, and the signs usually pass on their own. Toxic: can cause serious illness. We rate cats and dogs separately, because some plants are far more dangerous for one than the other.
- National animals. We mark an animal as officially designated only when a law, decree or government document names it. Otherwise it is a national symbol, chosen by a coat of arms, a currency, a public vote or tradition. We list only member states of the United Nations, with one animal per country.
- Most popular dog breeds. We include only countries whose kennel club or official register publishes registration figures, and we point out that registrations are not the same as the number of dogs people actually keep.
- Calculators. Every calculator uses a published method and explains it next to the result, including the limits of a simple estimate.
How we write
- The first sentence of a page answers the question directly, and the details follow.
- We write in plain language and explain medical terms when we have to use them.
- Every number on a page comes from a source we have checked. If we cannot confirm a figure, we leave it out.
- We say clearly when something needs a veterinarian, and we never suggest home treatments that could delay care.
Three languages
Every page is available in English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. Each version is adapted to the words people use in each region, such as different names for the same plant in Taiwan and in mainland China, and keeps the same facts and sources. A new page goes live only when all three versions are complete.
Photos
Photos come from libraries that allow this use, such as Unsplash, Pexels and Wikimedia Commons, and each one is credited to its photographer and source. We check that every animal and plant photo shows the right species.
Updates and corrections
The “last updated” date on a page comes from our edit history. We review pages when better information becomes available, for example a new toxicology finding or a new year of breed registrations.
If you find a mistake, please email hello@novquest.com or contact us. We check every report against our sources, correct factual errors as soon as we can, and the page’s date changes when we do.
Independence
Petopia is free to use and is supported by advertising. Advertisers have no say in what we write, we do not publish paid or sponsored content, and no one can pay to change a rating.
Not veterinary advice
We are not veterinarians. Our pages are general information to help you make better decisions and know when to get help, and they do not replace an examination by a veterinarian. If you think your pet has eaten something toxic or is unwell, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away. See our disclaimer for details.