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URGENT: 3 Dog & Cat Food Brands Recalled for Salmonella

Friday, February 7th, 2014

Pro-Pet LLC Recalls a Limited Number of Dry Dog and Cat Foods Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination – No illnesses have been reported, this is a precautionary alert!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 5, 2014 – Pro-Pet LLC, St. Marys, Ohio, has initiated a voluntary recall of a limited number of Dry Dog and Cat Foods for possible Salmonella contamination. A single field test indicated products manufactured during a two day period, on a single production line may have the potential for Salmonella contamination. Pro-Pet LLC is voluntarily recalling the potentially impacted products made during this timeframe. There have been no reports of illness related to this product to date.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only 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 the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

 

Product Best By Lot Code UPC Number
40 lb Hubbard Life Happy Hound Dog Food 05 06 14 096 13 SM L2 2A 1219033878
40 lb Hubbard Life Happy Hound Dog Food 05 06 14 096 13 SM L2 1A 1219033878
18 lb Hubbard Life Cat Stars Cat Food 05 06 14 096 13 SM L2 1A 1219033873
40 lb Hubbard Life Maintenance Dog Food 05 06 14 096 13 SM L2 2A 1219033875
15 lb Joy Combo Cat Food 05 06 14 096 13 SM L2 1A 7065407721
40 lb Joy Combo Cat Food 05 06 14 096 13 SM L2 1A 7065407713
40 lb Joy Combo Cat Food 05 06 14 096 13 SM L2 2A 7065407713
20 lb QC Plus Adult Dog Food 05 07 14 097 13 SM L2 2A 2351780103
40 lb QC Plus Adult Dog Food 05 07 14 097 13 SM L2 2A 2351780104
40 lb QC Plus Adult Dog Food 05 07 14 097 13 SM L2 1A 2351780104

 

These products were distributed through select retailers, distributors and on-line consumer purchases in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia

No other products/lot numbers are affected by this recall.

Customers should immediately discontinue use of any impacted product and contact Pro-Pet at 1-888-765-4190 for disposition.

For more information on the recall, customers can contact the customer service line for Pro-Pet at 1-888-765-4190. Customer service representatives will be available Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm CT.

For more information and recalled product photos, check FDA website.

Here are my Reasons to be Thankful, what are yours?

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

Anyone who has ever shared their life with a pet understands how special their unconditional love is. Pets give us so many reasons to be thankful for them that it takes no real effort for any pet owner I speak to to list at least a dozen reasons they are thankful for their pets. reasons-to-be-thankful

For me, the constancy of love and devotion that I receive day in and day out from our office cats always brings a smile to my face.  I count on the morning routine just as much as they do when I arrive to feed them, and if I am traveling or if someone else takes over my morning feeding duties, all of us miss “the way things are supposed to be”. Have you noticed that the daily routine is part of what creates the relationship with your pets? It is very important that you remember to get it right, and for that I am thankful, since my hectic life is often far from routine.

I am thankful as well that I am able to notice and realize that our pets assumed their own “Take care of my owner” attitude when they joined us, and I acknowledge them each time they wear their hats in doing this.  Getting us up out of our desk chairs is one way they do it – (sitting in front of computers too long without a break is a notorious health wrecker).  As you can imagine, getting us up can be challenging for a cat, but smart kitties that they are, they have a list of tactics that they utilize to achieve their results – and my favorite is ‘mad dash kitty’ where our tuxedo races madly through the office until we get up to chase her.  Honestly I am healthier as a result of mad dashing after the cat.

As you can see, I have a list of more than a dozen reasons to be thankful, and if I took time to think of them, the list would run into the hundreds.

Which begs my question to you…what are yours?

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and keep front of mind during this special day all of those things you are thankful for.

Adam

Pet Safety Tips for Halloween!

Wednesday, October 30th, 2013

Halloween is almost here, and while it can be fun for all, there are a few things that should be keep in mind if our furry friends are involved. To happy-holloweenmake sure your pet stays safe on October 31st, remember these pet safety tips. Happy Halloween!

1.  Make sure you have your pet either safely tucked away in a kennel or spare room with music or TV playing in the background, so they are not too disturbed by trick or treaters.  A dog on the loose, barking and getting agitated is no fun for the dog, the trick or treaters or for you.  Sometimes your dog or cat can escape when you open the door to give candy, so secure them safely and enjoy the night.

2. Keep an eye on candy and party food around your pet. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs and so can the sweetener xylitol. Raisins and grapes also pose serious health hazards and are common to find in treats kids bring home.  Candy and food wrappers smell good and can present a choking hazard. And anything I didn’t mention when consumed by a pet can make them sick.  Keep pets away from this stuff.

3.  If you are having a party, keep an eye on alcoholic beverages.  We’ve all seen or heard stories of different animals who like to drink.  How sad that their owners allow it, not to mention that sometimes this can lead to a pet’s death.

4.  Decorations, candles, cords, dangerous hazards.  Halloween, like Christmas, has lots of opportunities for problems to pets and humans.  Keep your house and yard kid and pet safe when you decorate.

5. Keep your emergency numbers at hand for your pets in case you do have a problem that night.

Have a happy and safe Halloween from all of us at VetLocator.com Daily Paws!

Jerky Treat Mystery: Nearly 600 Pets Dead; Still No Source, FDA Says

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013
courtesy the Mawaka family

Photo courtesy: the Mawaka Family.   Toby, a 6-year-old Boston terrier, died in 2012 after his owners say he was sickened by chicken jerky pet treats made in China.

Nearly 600 pets have died and more than 3,600 have been sickened in an ongoing, mysterious outbreak of illnesses tied to jerky treats made in China, federal animal health officials said Tuesday.

Most of the cases have been in dogs of all breeds, ages and sizes — although 10 cats have been sickened, too — after eating chicken, duck and sweet potato jerky treats. The pace of the reported illnesses appears to have slowed, but federal Food and Drug Administration officials are now seeking extra help from veterinarians and pet owners in solving the ongoing puzzle.

“To date, testing for contaminants in jerky treats has not revealed a cause for the illnesses,” Martine Hartogensis, a deputy director for the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said in the new report. “Despite these warnings, we have continued to receive reports of illnesses in both cats and dogs.”

The new numbers are up from some 500 deaths and 3,200 illnesses tallied in January, but the rate of reports has fallen sharply since then, mostly because two of the largest sellers of pet jerky treats announced recalls tied to the presence of unapproved antibiotic residue detected in the products.

FDA officials don’t think that antibiotic residue is the big problem that has stumped the agency since 2007, when pet owners started reporting their animals were suffering gastrointestinal and kidney problems after eating the popular jerky treats.

Instead, it’s likely that the recall of Nestle Purina PetCare Co.’s Waggin Train and Canyon Creek Ranch treats, plus Del Monte Corp.’s Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers home-style dog treats simply resulted in fewer treats being available. Three other smaller retailers also recalled the treats because of the problem.

In fact, FDA officials remain as uncertain as ever about the source of the problem that has led to reports of illnesses and warnings about the possibility of Fanconi syndrome and other kidney problems in animals that ate jerky treats.

“We still are extensively testing treats for a number of things,” Hartogensis told NBC News. “We do seem to be getting some leads, but we still have a little bit of a ways to go.”

Kendal Harr, a veterinary clinical pathologist who has been tracking the problem, says that the specific compound responsible for the illnesses continues to elude experts.

“I think that what it tells us is that the intoxicant is something that we’re not used to dealing with as a toxin in North America,” she said.

Now, in an open letter to US veterinarians, FDA officials are asking the vets to track and send detailed information about any animals sickened by jerky treats, including results of blood and urine tests. In addition, the agency is asking vets to send urine samples from suspect pets for analysis.

“This testing will allow FDA to get a better idea of how many of the suspected cases involve Fanconi syndrome, whether or not the pets display symptoms of kidney or urinary disease,” the report said.

About 60 percent of reports cite gastrointestinal illness in the animals, and about 30 percent flag kidney or urinary troubles, the report said. About 135 cases of Fanconi syndrome, a specific kind of kidney disease, have been reported.

At the same time that they’re seeking help from vets, FDA officials are putting out a fact sheet for owners that can be posted at veterinary hospitals, pet supply stores and other sites.

The agency has repeatedly cautioned that the treats are not necessary for a balanced diet, but the warnings stop short of a recall, Hartogensis said. The agency is still validating tests to detect the same kind of antibiotic residue that New York officials found earlier this year.

“If we do find an adulterated product, we will recall them,” Hartogensis said. “In terms of doing a blanket recall, at this point we don’t have enough evidence to do a blanket recall within the authority that we have.”

Because there’s no formal recall, it’s not possible to list affected brands, although a previous FDA analysis indicated that three of the top-selling brands of jerky treats sold in the U.S. were mentioned in connection with pet illnesses.

That doesn’t sit well with pet owners like Robin Pierre of Pine Bush, N.Y., who contends that Waggin’ Train chicken jerky treats were responsible for the sudden death in 2011 of her previously healthy 2-year-old pug, Bella, who developed kidney failure. She has long called for FDA to crack down on treat makers — and manufacturers.

“I am disgusted that our government continues to protect corporate American and China,” she told NBC News. “They need to start protecting the American consumer so that this does not happen again. As soon as a product is in doubt, a warning label should be placed at the point of sale so that consumers can make an educated choice.”

If a pet does become ill after eating the treats, FDA is asking owners to provide detailed information — up to and including results of a necropsy to test an animal’s tissues after death.

In the meantime, officials are trying to reach pet owners who might still have treats on hand to make sure they know about the potential problems.

“Right now, the focus for us is to make the public aware that these cases are still coming in,” she said.

Pet owners can report problems with jerky treats at the FDA’s consumer safety portal.

Read more information on: NBC News

Cutie Patootie Mammal discovered: Happy Birthday Olinguito!

Thursday, August 15th, 2013

Daily Paws for Ashburn Virginia

Smithsonian researcher announces discovery of new mammal species. The new mammal species discovered is Olinguito It’s a raccoon-sized creature with a teddy bear face called the olinguito (oh-lihn-GEE’-toe).

A Smithsonian researcher says it lives in the mountainous forests of Ecuador and Columbia where it leaps through the trees at night. It eats fruit and weighs about 2 pounds.

The discovery was announced Thursday. Happy Birthday Olinguito!

Happy Birthday Olinguito!

Its May, and it is starting to get hot!

Monday, April 29th, 2013

daily-paws-may-dayHere in Florida that also means the start of flea season (and some say flea season never ends here…) So with the warming weather and spring fully in the air, your pets may be feeling the spring fever too.

Here are some ‘plan ahead’ tips for you when you are overcome with the need to be outdoors with you pets so you both remain comfy, cool and safe:

Plan Ahead Tip #1 – Dress appropriately for the weather and make sure you are considering your pet too. For us this may mean layers we can remove if we get too warm, and add when things cool. It always includes a hat and sunscreen.

Since your pet won’t usually be able to shed or add a layer, help your pet’s natural process for cooling down by giving them a little help. Pets have their own way to remove layers, usually by shedding, panting and sweating. It is the perfect time to cut and trim their coats if they need it. Use your own judgment on whether a cut is right for them. In Florida our triple coated dog gets a cut before she is miserable and overheated and that earns us extra kisses from our cooled down pooch.

Plan Ahead Tip #2 – Have enough water, doggy bags (because we’re assuming you won’t be traveling with your cats), plans for shade, and food with you. We have a very cool fanny pack that is roomy enough for our snacks and our dog treats and waste bags, plus 2 water bottle holders, one for each of us.

Plan Ahead Tip #3 – Speaking of snacks; bring the right kind with you. Depending on how your dog shares, and how long they take to eat a treat, choose wisely. Nothing worse that having to wait while your pup savors the last bites of a ten minute chew – well, there is something and that’s if your dog is protective and is antisocial while devouring his 10 minute chew. Healthy, nutritious and quick to eat for both of you is a good plan ahead tip.

Plan Ahead Tip #4– Bring clean up supplies. Yes, we live in Florida, land of endless beaches, lots of water, lots of …. Well everything!
This means our dog gets plenty filthy when we go out, either from sand or dirt or weeds or water or, or… And we’re not special here. Anyplace those four feet can touch down is a place where there is a potential for a mess. Even if your pup is carried everywhere, in a backpack, carrier or arms, things can get messy.

Towels, plastic bags and baby wipes are handy to have and will get used so bring them along.

Plan Ahead Tip #5 – If you are going to be out for an extended time, something that’s nice is a cooling mat that allows air to circulate all around your pet. Cooling pet beds help cooling your pet down, relieving sores and pains for senior pets and injured dogs or simply giving them a good sleep.

Plan Ahead Tip #6 – Know what to do if your pet gets overheated. The first thing is to know what the signs of heat exhaustion/heat stroke in a pet are. If you observe a swollen tongue, heavy panting, glazed eyes and rapid pulse or vomiting. Or if you notice your pet’s tongue looks purple or he is walking or staggering, he might be dealing with heat exhaustion. If you’re not sure, be safe and do this: place rubbing alcohol only on your pet’s paws and keep him in a cool (but not cold bathtub). Splash with water especially on the belly, or you can apply ice packs only on head, neck and chest. Then call your vet immediately.

Oh, I did mention flea season, didn’t I? Yes…this is your last a plan ahead tip…Plan Ahead Tip #7 – Before going out make sure your dog or cat has some flea protection – whichever you feel is best for your pet, and when they come in CHECK THEM FOR FLEAS. Even with protection fleas will often jump on looking for a meal before they jump off. If they jump off in your house…not something you want, is it?

They say that planning ahead is a good thing. I agree, don’t you?

Have a wonderful spring!

Linda – Daily Paws

Keeping your Pet Safe this Halloween

Wednesday, October 31st, 2012

The scary night is almost here!!!!!  Make it a fun and safe evening by keeping these safety tips in mind:

1.  Make sure you have your pet either safely tucked away in a kennel or spare room with music or TV playing in the background, so they are not too disturbed by trick or treaters.  A dog on the loose, barking and getting agitated is no fun for the dog, the trick or treaters or for you.  Sometimes your dog or cat can escape when you open the door to give candy, so secure them safely and enjoy the night.

2. Keep an eye on candy and party food around your pet. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs and so can the sweetener xylitol. Rasins and grapes also pose serious health hazards and are common to find in treats kids bring home.  Candy and food wrappers smell good and can present a choking hazard. And anything I didn’t mention when consumed by a pet can make them sick.  Keep pets away from this stuff.

3.  If you are having a party, keep an eye on alcoholic beverages.  We’ve all seen or heard stories of different animals who like to drink.  How sad that their owners allow it, not to mention that sometimes this can lead to a pet’s death.

4.  Decorations, candles, cords, dangerous hazards.  Halloween, like Christmas, has lots of opportunities for problems to pets and humans.  Keep your house and yard kid and pet safe when you decorate.

5. Keep your emergency numbers at hand for your pets in case you do have a problem that night.

Have a happy and safe Halloween from all of us at VetLocator.com Daily Paws!!

To Costume or Not to Costume

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012

It’s that time of year again, pets are worried and their humans are looking forward to it.  Yes it is Halloween.

And you may be asking yourself……TO COSTUME OR NOT TO COSTUME….That is the question.  And it’s a good question to ask.

Should you dress your pet up in a costume this year or not?

Facts: According to the National Retail Federation, 15 percent of Americans plan to deck out their dogs and will spend nearly $370 million on costumes for pets this year (that’s $40 million more than 2011).

Fact:  Some of the cutest pet photos are of dogs dressed up in amazing costumes.

Fact:  The average pet owner buying a costume for their pet is expected to spend $79.82 this year.

Fact:  People love seeing pets in costumes.

Fact:  Many of pet owners like to dress their pets up for Halloween.

However, like kids, there are some things to keep in mind before you decide to take the plunge and costume your pet.

The first thing is whether your pet enjoys, or will even tolerate being dressed up.  Some pets, dogs especially, love to be dressed up.  I knew one dog that would pout unless her owner dressed her up with one of her favorite scarves before they went anywhere.  Yes, she was a girl dog of course :).

Some pets HATE it and some are traumatized by the whole ordeal.  If your pet is one that just gets freaked or lies there in apathy, please don’t put them through having to wear a costume all day.  Snap a few photos to share with friends if you must, then take the darn thing off them.

But for the pets who enjoy all the fuss and excitement that goes with a costume, here are some suggestions in choosing one:

1.  Make sure the costume is easy to put on and is relatively comfortable.  Tight costumes that have to be pulled over your dog’s head will often get them anxious.

2.  Avoid costumes that are too tight and restrictive.  Make sure your pet can breathe OK, and the costume is not too hot for them.  Heat exhaustion can be a real problem.

3.  Avoid costumes with small or dangling accessories that your pet could chew on and choke.

4.  Make sure the costume doesn’t constrict your pet’s movement.

5.  Pets need to go to the bathroom.  Have a plan for how this will be accomplished without stressing your pet.

6.  Make sure the costume doesn’t interfere with your pet’s vision and hearing.  Costumes with goggles, ear muffs and masks can pose problems.

7.  For best results, keep the costume simple.  Better yet, why not go as a themed couple with you dressing up as a character and your pet being dressed in the same theme?

8.  Keep your costumed one under constant observation.  Safely dressed up or not, there are just too many things that can quickly go wrong when your pet is in costume, and, like a little child, when you see they have had enough excitement for the day, get them out of their costume, take them home and put them to bed.

Here are the 5 most popular Pet Halloween Costumes this season according to Wayfair, pet costume manufacturer:

Our advice?  First choose whether or not TO COSTUME OR NOT TO COSTUME based on the above.  If you choose to costume, have a safe and fun Halloween!

Cool Pet Beds Made From Old Electronics

Friday, September 14th, 2012

Check out these awesome pet beds made from old electronics. Very cool!

Pet Health Care Insurance, What You Need To Know

Tuesday, August 21st, 2012

by asterix611

How many times have you heard a pet owner wish he had bought pet health insurance?

Statistics show that people are willing to foot the growing medical bills for their beloved pets, making the need for pet health insurance a real concern. Advances in pet health care can leave owners with big veterinary bills. Pet health care insurance is now affordable and available for dogs, cats and exotics.

If you would not think of being without insurance for yourself and your family, that should include your pet companion as well. Pet insurance is not as expensive as human insurance and might come in handy.

Pet health care insurance is similar to human health insurance. Like all insurance, you hope you never use it. Pet health care insurance will pay or reimburse for veterinary services that are covered under the plan. Medical treatments and technologies used for humans are now being used for pets.

If your pet needs an emergency surgery, it would be nice to know that cost is not a factor, and you won’t have to pay for everything on your own. The insurance is just sensible.

Purchase insurance coverage ideally when your pet is still young before pre-existing conditions develop. You can enroll as young as eight weeks. Some plans only allow enrollment up to age 10 for cats and age 8 for dogs (age 6 for some breeds). Once enrolled, your pet may stay in the plan for the rest of its life.

Because of their natural adventurousness and high activity level, very young pets are famous for getting hurt and needing emergency care.

There are many pet insurance companies to choose from, and many different plans available. Read the fine print. Some companies have veterinarians that belong to their network. Under those particular policies, you pay a co-payment up front and the insurance company pays for the covered services. The downside is you have to find a veterinarian that is in the pet health care insurance “network.” Each policy is different and there is no one plan that fits everyone’s needs.

Services covered under many policies include spay surgery, neuter surgery, annual vaccinations, flea preventative, annual heartworm preventative, heartworm test, annual dental cleanings, accidents, illnesses, cancer, x-rays, and surgeries. In many cases, pet health care insurance will cover even more in maintaining the wellness of your loved pet. Your coverage may also include prescription foods, boarding, euthanasia, accidental death, recovery of lost pets, and micro-chip identification. Pet health insurance can prove to be invaluable.

Additional facts to consider when enrolling.

Are pre-existing conditions covered, and what constitutes a pre-existing condition? If a pre-existing condition is covered, what are the deductibles? Does the pet health insurance policy you are interested in cover prescription costs? Will my premium go up over time, as I file claims, or my pet gets older? Does the plan cover chronic or recurring conditions? What are the financial limits of coverage? How are they applied? Do you have more than one pet that could benefit from insurance coverage and are there multi-pet discounts available? Does your particular policy require monthly or annual payments? Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s health and question the insurance companies about the limits of the pet health insurance coverage before purchasing a particular plan.

The right insurance plan requires some homework. We’ve brought you the best.