FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Pet Carousel Conducts Nationwide Recall of Beef Hoof Products and Pig Ears Because of Salmonella Risk
Company Contact:
Pet Carousel, Inc
800-231-3572
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 9, 2009 – Sanger, CA-- Pet Carousel has initiated a recall of all Pig Ears and all varieties of Beef Hoof pet treats because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The problem was discovered after FDA testing found positive results for Salmonella in pig ears and beef hoof products.
These products were recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect both humans and animals. People handling dry pet food and/or pet treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the treats or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Although rare, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care provider immediately.
Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may only experience a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed any of the affected products or is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
The following products have been recalled: The affected pig ear products were packaged under the brand names Doggie Delight, Pork Tasteez and Pet Carousel
Item No.:
18100-P Bulk
18016-P 10-pk red mesh bag
18120-P 20-pk red mesh bag.
The affected beef hooves were packaged under the brand names Choo Hooves, Dentley’s, Doggie Delight, and Pet Carousel
Item No.:
1506-K 5 lb. bulk
1507-K 10 lb. bulk
1520-K 20 lb. bulk
12125-T 10-pk vinyl bag
12110-T 10-pk, vinyl bag
12111-T 10-pk, vinyl bag
12122-T 10 lb., bulk
1503-K 3-pk, vinyl bag
1510-K 10-pk ,vinyl bag
1405-S 5 lb., bulk
1408-S 10-pk, vinyl bag
1410-S 10 lb., bulk
1420-S 20 lb., bulk
90058-H Cheese/& Bacon Stuffed Hoof, bulk
90056-H Peanut Butter Stuffed Hoof, bulk
17005-R Rope toy with Hooves.
The products were distributed nationwide in both bulk and retail packaging for sale in pet food and retail chain stores throughout the country. All sizes and all lots of these pork ears purchased on or after 08/16/2009 and all beef hoof products in all varieties purchased on or after 09/16/2009 made by Pet Carousel are included in this alert.
Pet Carousel has completed notifying its consignees and requested the consignees return affected products and remove them from retail sales. Out of an abundance of caution and concern for public safety, Pet Carousel is issuing this press release to inform consumers of potential risks and to ensure that all affected product has either been returned or otherwise removed from use.
Consumers who have purchased the products described above should cease use and return the product to their place of purchase. Additionally, consumers with questions may contact Pet Carousel at 800-231-3572 from 8:00am to 4:00pm PST.
While many people simply choose the veterinary clinic closest to their homes, the quality of the service they receive can vary greatly between veterinarians. Even if the location isn’t ideal, finding an excellent veterinarian is just as important to the health and comfort of your protection dog as finding a good doctor would be to you. It goes without saying that your veterinarian should be fully licensed. However, there are a number of other factors that make the difference between a comfortable, efficient and productive visit, versus a difficult and time-consuming experience.
Your first step should be to gather information on surrounding clinics. Word of mouth is not always reliable, but asking around the neighborhood is a good starting point. Introduce yourself to other dog owners in the area to see if they have any recommendations. Doing research on-line is also a good way to gather information and read client testimonials. Not every opinion on-line will be accurate or trustworthy, but large numbers of negative reviews may help you steer clear of a poorly run clinic.
Once you have assembled a list of potential clinics in the area, you should call each one. It is good to ask questions regarding the facility and services provided. Ask if the veterinarian is on-call for emergencies, or if the clinic has an ultrasound machine. If these services are not provided, it does necessarily mean that it is a poor clinic. However, you will need to know the location of the nearest animal hospital that can provide these services in the event of an emergency. While most veterinarians practice on a wide variety of animals, it is beneficial to try to find a veterinarian who is especially experienced in dealing with dogs, or better yet, working breeds such as the German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois. Just as a professional athlete would look for a specialist in joint and muscle stress, you will want to look for a veterinarian who has experience dealing with the stresses that are put on the joints and muscles of working dogs.
Finally, you should narrow your choices down to only a couple of clinics. Make appointments for a first-time visit, and take not of the experience. Watch for cleanliness in the facility, the veterinarian’s ability to communicate problems clearly, whether or not the experience is rushed, and professional service at reception. During the examination, try asking the veterinarian to explain some of what they are doing. A good veterinarian should answer your questions clearly and professionally.
The horror of the China melamine pet food tragedy a few years ago is all too fresh in many folks memories. For those of you who aren’t quite clear on the details, ‘protein’ imported from China and used as an ingredient in locally manufactured pet food contained melamine rather than protein – a substitution that ultimatley cost many pet’s their lives or their health, and cost their owners so much more, including expensive veterinary bills, damanged or dead pets and questions that were finally answered after way too many pets had died.
Pet products from China have been behind other pet health problems, especially jerky treats. Recently the Food and Drug Administration issued an update to its ongoing investigation of animal illnesses linked to jerky pet treats. To date the FDA has a reported 22,200 pet illnesses related to these treats, many resulting in kidney disease in dogs.
So how to keep your pet safe from becoming a victim?
Know where the treat originates from. Eliminate imported jerky treats. Better safe than very sorry!!
If you cannot find US produced treats your pet will eat make your own.
Always keep an eye on your pet for any unusual signs that could signal a problem: loss of appetite, listlesness, vomiting, diarrhea, unusually thirsty, etc. You know your pet and you know what is unusual.
If you feel something is not right, stop the treats and get your pet to the vet. You can take a stool and urine sample to help the vet determine what is going on.
It is better to be safe and better to visit the vet than wait to see what happens when your pet is ill.
First of all, isn’t that the saddest sentence you’ve read today?
It is for me.
Think about it, in VetLocator.com’s directory of veterinarians and pet health specialists there are enough professionals to take care of every animal that lives in the US. More than enough.
And that’s what being a veterinarian is all about. Helping pets.
It is what they’ve spent years and tremendous money working on.
But there has always been a divide between professionals who can provide care for pets and pet owners who can afford the care their pets need.
Some pet owners don’t have a problem with the cost of care. There are many owners who fall into the financially secure pet owners category and their pets are lucky indeed, but a much larger group is the group of pet owners who can afford most of the well-pet care needed (regular checkups, vaccines, spay and neutering and some emergencies) but are not prepared for a serious medical problem, an emergency or an ongoing condition that requires specialized medication and treatment. These pet owners are concerned about costs but have resources to provide for most care and emergencies that arise.
And then there are those pet owners that hope for the best but have no funds or resources for an emergency because they are living on a low fixed income, don’t make enough money or have some other financial situation that has left them without resources to cope with pet health care.
We receive a lot of emails from the last group.
I just read one that said “Please help us. Our dog was just hit by a car but the vet would not treat him because we don’t have any money. What can we do???”
So sad!!!!!!! And so frustrating!!!!!!
An emergency is a bad time to have to think about such a problem. It’s better to think about it before there is an emergency, because when you confront it before hand you will have some idea of what to do (besides panic when you realize you can’t afford to help your pet).
So let’s look at how to cope with an expensive pet health emergency. There’s a lot of good advice on what to do, but it essentially boils down to three things:
1. Set aside a small amount each month for such emergencies (very few people take this advice, but it is good advice)
2. Enroll in a pet program that provides discounted pet health services (limited use in an emergency because you must use the providers that accept the program)
3. Pay for pet insurance. Of all three, this is the best advice FOR AN EMERGENCY, that’s what we are talking about in this article. Depending on the type of insurance, you can get coverage that only covers emergencies. Here are some policies compared so you can see.
4. The other option mentioned is financing pet care. Companies like Care Credit provide financing for procedures that your pet might need. This is a resource, but if you are struggling financially or don’t have qualifying credit, it is not an option to count on in an emergency.
Now we come to this scene (the one we get the most email about). No reserve funds, no credit, no pet insurance, you have an emergency or your pet has a condition that requires expense that you cannot afford. Here are some options and these are the options we suggest for those who find themselves in this situation:
***It is important to note that there are no guarantees you will receive funds or help. Many of these groups are overwhelmed with requests and most are unable to fill the need of all the requests received and some of the resources we used to recommend have closed because the requests so far exceeded their capabilities, they ran out of money and could not continue. And, if you are reading this and you have been helped, it is also very important that you give back to those groups you received help from. That makes sense, right? In this way you help ensure should you need it in the future, it will be there for you and you will be doing something good for needy pets and those who unselfishly donate time and money to help.
Please visit each site for specifics on how their assistance works. At the time this list was created, the groups below were still making assistance available to those in need. Some of the groups that used to provide assistance have disappeared or have no funds because of demand, so make sure you check before applying.
Angels 4 Animalswww.angels4animals.orgAngels4Animals is a non-profit organization and a program of Inner Voice Community Services which has a mission to serve as the guardian angel of animals whose caretakers find themselves in difficult financial situations. Their work is accomplished in conjunction with veterinary clinics across the country. Their services range from financial aid to complete treatment to those pets and pet owners in need.
Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP)www.fveap.orgThe Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.Seniors, people with disabilities, people who have lost their job, Good Samaritans who rescue an injured or ill cat or kitten – any of these folks may need emergency financial assistance.They have a specialized fund for cats with Vaccine Associated Sarcoma (VAS) (also known as Injection Site Sarcoma). VAS is a group of cancers caused by vaccinations.They do not provide funds for routine exams, vaccinations, Insulin, or Spay/Neuter.
IMOMwww.imom.org*accepting applications for emergencies onlyMission Statement: Helping people help pets. To better the lives of sick, injured and abused companion animals. We are dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged. (Note: IMOM has a special fund for diabetic cats)
Shakespeare Animal Fundwww.shakespeareanimalfund.orgAnyone can apply for funds, but SAF offers assistance primarily to those on that are considered low income. It is always a one-time grant and they only grant for emergencies, not routine care. Please see their site for specifics.
The Pet Fundwww.thepetfund.com*only available for NON-EMERGENCIESThe Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need urgent veterinary care. Often animals are put down or suffer needlessly because their owners cannot afford expensive surgery or emergency vet visits. Companion animal owners must often make the difficult decision to put an animal down or neglect urgent medical needs because of the costs involved. The purpose of the Pet Fund is to work towards a future where decisions about companion animal medical care need never be made on the basis of cost.This fund is only available for non-emergency situations and there is a long waiting list, so it would not be for anything immediate. See their site for specifics.
RedRoverwww.uan.orgThe RedRover Relief program provides funding to Good Samaritans, animal rescuers and pet owners to help them care for animals in life-threatening situations. Learn more about our RedRover Relief grants and find out the eligibility requirements on their website under RedRover Relief.
Brown Dog Foundationwww.browndogfoundation.orgThe Brown Dog Foundation is an organization dedicated to helping families who find themselves in a temporary financial crisis at the same time their pet requires life-saving treatment or life-sustaining medications. They are designed as a one-time benefit. They mostly provide grants for pets in Tennessee (where they are located) but may consider cases outside the state. See their site for qualifications.
The Mosby Foundationwww.themosbyfoundation.orgThe Mosby Foundation is organized exclusively for charitable purposes, to assist in the care of critically sick, injured, abused and neglected dogs through financial support and public education. Their priority for accepting an application for funding will continue to be a critical situation confirmed by a licensed veterinarian either by fax or phone.
We learn which your loved ones pet is a piece of the family. You like to make sure they have the greatest of everything, the number one house, the number one food, the greatest toys, as well as the right potential healthcare. We know which choosing the right vet is a daunting task. We like to make sure there is:
Experience
We may assure we which all certified veterinarians have a lot of experience treating family dogs. Not only have they gone by years of schooling plus hands about training when generating their doctorate, they were equally necessary to invest many hours interning with additional veterinarians. If you are selecting a veterinarian for a pet, you should make sure the veterinarian knows a breed of dogs breed traits. Should you have an exotic pet, like a snake or lizard, make certain the veterinarian has a functioning knowledge of the varieties.
Chemistry
The most crucial thing to consider whenever selecting a veterinarian for the pet is to take into account a veterinarian a pet loves. Most pet owners understand how difficult it’s to receive the pet to relax for their shots plus checkups whenever they are scared of the vet. It is significant to keep in mind which not all dogs respond to a individual inside the same means, animals plus folks have chemistry.
Prepare for Emergencies
When you’re selecting a veterinarian for your loved ones pet always have a contingency program inside spot for emergencies. None of us likes to consider regarding the family pet getting hurt or sick inside the center of the evening yet it may arise. Be sure we understand the quantity of the closest animal hospital.
Location
One of the aspects that many individuals employ to obtain a veterinarian is place. Your pet veterinarian ought to be situated someplace to receive the pet for them instantly when there is an emergency. Twenty miles is the difference between existence plus death should you pet is sick or injured.
It is not unusual to obtain which more then 1 veterinarian functions at a veterinarian clinic plus pet hospital. Having more then 1 veterinarian may create it difficult to establish a individual relationship with a veterinarian. On the different hand, having many veterinarians obtainable in 1 place signifies which you’ll have a simpler time scheduling an appointment for a pet plus more vets can place their heads together when the pet develops a complicated disease.
We all have problems. The economy, who to vote for in the upcoming election, whether it’s going to rain and should you take an umbrella with you when you go out.
Problems. Yeah. They’re a part of life and we all have them.
Most people who have pets also have some sort of pet problems. For us its the cats we have. They are finicky. One of them was the runt of the litter and she arrived with some serious immune and digestive issues. Whenever I look at her it is with anxious eyes. Is she thinner? What’s she doing as far as twitching and licking. Those are the tell-tale signs of a systemic problem that may need my attention very soon.
But for all that, she’s wonderful. She’s loving. She’s a mean hunter that keeps the pests and rodents away from her home. She’s ours and we are very glad she and her brother are sharing our offices.
I’ve gotten to know her veterinarian very well and I adore him.
Finding him, however, was not an easy task. You’d think that in the business we have it would be easy to find a vet. We know hundreds, and in our local area we have dozens to choose from within a 5 minute drive of our front door. I almost feel like the Hairclub for men man when I say “Not only do we own VetLocator, but we use it too (as a reminder – and for those of you not familiar – the Hairclub for men man said “not only am I the owner but I’m a customer too” as he dramatically shows his partially bald head.
In my case I interviewed 3 or 4 veterinarians, went to one, then to another and then to a third vet. Each was OK but I did not feel what I wanted to feel. I didn’t feel a partnership with the vet or the office or something.
So I kept looking.
And my looking paid off.
I found a wonderful veterinarian that treated our little girl and changed her condition and symptoms so they were under control. Finally. I found a veterinarian who is great and his office and staff are equally wonderful. He’s a keeper and we’ve formed a good partnership on keeping Kewpie healthy.
Today our cats are mostly very healthy and it is rare I need to contact our veterinarian. Besides regular checkups I can control things pretty well from home.
But if I ever need something, have a question or an emergency I know my partner is there and the problems I am facing at the moment will be addressed and we’ll handle it together.
As I said, we all have problems. Finding the right vet and forming a pet health partnership for your pets gives you one less problem to try and solve.
And that makes things just a little, or a lot, better.
Isn’t that a nice thing?
If you are looking for a pet health partner, do what I did. Use our directory to locate the nearest ones to where you are, then interview them and the staff and office too, to find the one that is the best fit for you and your pets. It is so worth the effort.
And if you need help, you can always contact our customer care. We’re here for you too.
