Category Archives: Heads Up News

Online Reviews – How important are they? Should you care?

  I just returned from a week’s trip to California, part business and part family. While I was there I had lunch with a family member who happens to be married to a successful chiropractor. He’s been in business for 20+ years in an affluent area of Southern California and every year I’ve known him, his practice has grown. He’s a pretty terrific guy, is a well-known figure in his town and I know for a fact that most of his patients adore him. So I was surprised to hear the lunch conversation going something … Continue reading

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This open letter from a nonprofit spay and neuter clinic to their local county animal shelter is a MUST READ

Here is a reprint of an open letter from PetLuv, a Florida non-profit spay and neuter clinic to the Hernando County Animal Services announcing they are severing ties with the shelter and exactly why.  It is a must read…. Hernando Today News Published: December 29, 2010 Updated: 12/28/2010 06:04 pm This is a letter addressed to Liana Teague, manager, code Enforcement & Animal Services. If it isn’t already obvious, this is official notification the PetLuv is severing its relationship with Animal Services. Over the years we have made many offers of programs, manpower, resource, and … Continue reading

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National Animal Supplement Council Issues Warning About Misleading Quality Assurance Programs

  Sep 21, 2010 11:00 ET Marketing Tactic or Quality Seal: National Animal Supplement Council Issues Warning About Misleading Quality Assurance Programs VALLEY CENTER, CA–(Marketwire – September 21, 2010) –  National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) announces a buyer beware to people purchasing animal health supplements with misleading quality assurance claims. The warning contains five fact-checks to inquire of supplement suppliers to verify credibility and substance behind so-called quality seals. The buyer beware is being issued in response to the growing popularity of animal health supplements and recent confusion in the marketplace over marketing-geared quality seals for … Continue reading

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Weird side effect of hot flash treatment is concerning

The FDA is looking into reports of health risks to children and pets exposed to a spray estrogen treatment for women.  The product is Evamist, used by women to contol hot flashes during menopause.  The product is sprayed on a woman’s forearm between the elbow and wrist. Women who use Evamist who then hug a child or pet or have them in contact with bare skin containing the product.  Experts advise avoiding children and pets or, if that’s not possible, wearing long sleeves to prevent contact. The health risks are a bit alarming: The FDA … Continue reading

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Mice Direct recalling frozen mice.

Image via Wikipedia Frozen mice and other reptile feed Frozen reptile feed (mice, rats and chicks) is being recalled because it could potentially be contaminated with salmonella, the FDA announced. Georgia company Mice Direct is recalling the critters, which were distributed in all states except Hawaii through pet stores and by mail order and direct delivery. Human illnesses that may be related to the frozen reptile feed have been reported in 17 states. The recalled product should not be fed to animals, even after heating in a microwave, because the heating may not be adequate … Continue reading

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American Veterinary Medical Foundation Helps Gulf Coast Veterinarians Support Struggling Pet Owners

Image via Wikipedia ATLANTA, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ — In response to the record number of pets filing into shelters and increasing need along the Gulf coast, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) has partnered with Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Merial to support veterinary clinics and shelters affected by struggling pet owners who are unable to provide food and medical care for their pets.  The Gulf Coast Pet Relief Program is part of AVMF’s Animal Disaster Relief and Response Fund (ADRR), a fund designated to support state and national disaster relief efforts.  This effort will offer … Continue reading

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Veterinary Pet Insurance lists top sources of pet poisoning

Image by ♪_Lisa_♪ via Flickr Every month VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance and the nation’s largest pet insurer) receives hundreds of poisoning claims for pets who have been poisoned.  They analyzed the claims made for poisoning between 2005 and 2009 and came up with the following list of the most common poisoning claims: 1.  5,131 cases of Accidental Ingestion of Medications (pet or human drugs) 2.  4,028 cases of Mouse & rat poison 3.  3,661 cases of methylxanthine toxicity (consumption of chocolate and caffeine) 4.  2,808 cases of plant poisoning 5.  1,669 cases of household chemical … Continue reading

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Legislators Challenge Humane Society’s Euthanasia Practices and a controversial video

Image by therapycatguardian via Flickr 2 Connecticut Lawmakers have asked the Humane Society to issue a moratorium on euthanizing an animal because of behavior issues.  The matter is, understandably, a controversial one and the story is getting good media coverage. Below you’ll find two different news stories on the matter and then a controversial video from a veterinary tech on Euthanasia – one that I’m sharing with the pet owners in our Daily Paws blog. ——- CT News Junkie | Lawmakers Continue to Hammer Humane Society Unsuccessful at its first attempt to get the Connecticut … Continue reading

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Deadbeat pet owners – even celebrity pets can have them

Image via Wikipedia The headline caught my eye:  Veterinarian calls Mariah Carey a deadbeat dog owner, so of course I just had to read the rest of the story. It seems that Ms. Carey engaged the services of celebrity veterinarian Dr. Cindy Bressler to help with the birth of one of her dogs, Dolomite, including a month-long stay in California for the event. For services delivered to Ms. Carey’s pets between October 31 and December 2, Dr. Bressler billed the singer $37,790.50 of which she’s received $8,231.50. Dr. Bressler is suing Mariah for the balance, … Continue reading

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Weigh In: How do you feel about Bayer selling Advantage and Advantix directly to stores?

In case you haven’t heard, Bayer, the maker of Advange and Advantix, has begun selling their prescription chemical flea and tick control products to pet stores. This flies in the face of their former policy, which was in effect for many years, of selling these potent chemical insecticides only through veterinarians. This move by Bayer is even more interesting because of the recent announcement by the EPA that it is receiving reports of increased number of reactions to chemical flea and tick insecticidal products. We’ve put together a short survey about this move by Bayer … Continue reading

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