JudysHealthCafe

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nature’s Variety has expanded its recall of chicken-flavored pet food because of concerns over salmonella.

The Lincoln, Neb.-based company said Monday that the raw, frozen food is being recalled because it could be contaminated with salmonella.

The recall includes three-pound packages of chicken medallions, six-pound packages of chicken patties and two-pound packages of chicken chubs.

Initially, the company recalled only packages with a best-by date of Nov. 10, 2010. Now packages with best-by dates of Oct. 29 and Nov. 9, 2010, are also being recalled.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Pets can also become ill if they consume the bacteria.

If you have purchased one of the affected products, please return the unopened product to your local retail store to receive a complete refund, or to exchange it for another variety. If your package has been opened, please dispose of the raw food in a safe manner by securing it in a covered trash receptacle. Then, bring your receipt (or the empty package in a sealed bag) to your local retailer for a complete refund or replacement.

Visit the Nature’s Variety website for more information on the pet food recall.

Looking for a SAFE pet food? Try Life’s Abundance All Natural Dog and Cat Food!
                                 NEVER BEEN ON A RECALL LIST!

Friday, December 4, 2009
Pig Ear/Cow Hoof Recall
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is issuing this health alert to warn consumers not to use Pig Ears and Beef Hooves pet treats manufactured by Pet Carousel because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The products were distributed nationwide in both bulk and retail packaging for sale in pet food and retail chain stores. Pet Carousel is based in Sanger, Calif.

The affected pig ear products were packaged under the brand names Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel. The affected beef hooves were packaged under the brand names Choo Hooves, Dentley’s, Doggie Delight, and Pet Carousel. All sizes and all lots of these products made by Pet Carousel are included in this alert.

During September 2009, the FDA conducted routine testing of pig ears made by Pet Carousel. The test results detected a positive reading for Salmonella. This prompted an FDA inspection of Pet Carousel’s manufacturing facilities. During the inspection, the agency collected additional pet treat samples. Further analysis found Salmonella present in beef hooves, pig ears and in the manufacturing environment.

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. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle.

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 FDA will continue to investigate this matter to determine the source of the Salmonella contamination and offer updates as appropriate.

Consumers can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food and pet treat products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in their area.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM THE FDA - November 27, 2009 - On September 23, Diamond Pet Foods issued a voluntary recall for Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat because they have the potential to produce Thiamine Deficiency. Today’s announcement provides additional information from the company’s posted announcement of September 23 when the initial recall information was provided.

Thiamine is essential for cats. Symptoms of deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. At the first stage the cat may show decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting, and weight loss. Later, neurologic signs can develop, which may include ventriflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, circling, falling, and seizures. These ultimately may result in the death of the animal if left untreated. If your cat has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The affected products were distributed in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida.

The affected date codes were RAF0501A22X 18lb. (BB28NOV10), RAF0501A2X 6 lb. (BB28NOV10), RAF0802B12X 18lb (BB30FEB11), RAH0501A22X 18 lb. (BB28NOV10), RAH0501A2X 6lb. (BB28NOV10, BB30NOV10, BB08DEC10)

To date, 21 cases of thiamine deficiency in cats have been reported and confirmed by Diamond. The reports have been confined to the New York and Pennsylvania areas and none have been received since October 19.

Diamond has tested the product and found the cat foods were deficient in thiamine. Samples taken by the FDA indicated that there were additional lots with insufficient levels of thiamine. No other complaints have been reported on any other product manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods.

Consumers who have purchased the affected lots are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-977-8797, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Time.

Dog barking is a natural behavior and dogs bark for as many reasons as we speak, grumble, scream and cry. Short of a radical and dangerous approach, you will never eliminate a dog’s bark entirely. That would be like you taking a lifelong vow of silence. So our goal is to manage our dog’s barking so that it isn’t a nuisance. In order to properly do this we need to set reasonable goals. Rather than try to eliminate all barking let’s start with an achievable goal such as reducing the frequency of the barking or shorten the duration of the barking.

Our first step will be to determine what triggers the undesirable barking. In many cases what triggers a dog’s bark can be quite complex and difficult to determine. In these situations you are far better off consulting with a professional dog trainer who is an accredited behavior analyst. If you suspect the barking is caused by fear or anxiety then you will definitely need the help of a professional. Both fear and anxiety are incredibly complex emotions in a dog which will require a detailed plan to resolve. But if the cause of your dog’s barking is straightforward (the doorbell, passing pedestrians, other dogs, children etc.) then you may be able to simply manage the situation. If management techniques do resolve the problem and you can easily maintain them then this approach may be the most effective for you.

The first thing you need to do is to make sure your pooch is getting adequate exercise. However much they may be getting now, increase it. Much like humans, exercise will help the dog’s brain regulate mood and reduce impulsive behavior. Exercise alone will often reduce excessive barking. A dog that is well exercised will be more relaxed and less likely to react to whatever may normally trigger their barking. A tired dog is a happy dog.

The next step is to make sure your dog is getting quality “face” time with you and your family. Dogs often bark out of pure loneliness and boredom. They are pack animals and we are their pack. If it is boredom that you suspect is the primary trigger for your dog’s barking, then look into some of the excellent interactive toys now available for pets. You can even use toys that will dispense your dog’s meals keeping it mentally stimulated figuring out how to get its dinner. Consider putting your pooch into daycare or hiring a dog walker. They will greatly benefit from the additional exercise and companionship.

Another very effective ‘management’ technique is to ‘crate-train’ your dog and limit the access your pooch has to certain areas of the house. For example, if your neighbor complains that your dog barks while you are away, you can keep your dog in its crate in a quiet part of your house to minimize the chance of outside noises causing the barking. And a properly crate-trained dog feels safe and secure in its crate (download our free e-book on crate-training).

When problem barking is caused by a specific trigger like a doorbell, then you will need to concentrate on 1) not rewarding them for the barking when the bell rings and 2) replacing the barking with a different behavior when the door bell rings. We often unconsciously reward our dogs for undesirable behavior. For example; if our dog reacts to the doorbell by barking and then jumps on guests, we often try to control their behavior by holding them and talking to them. This attention is just what your dog was looking for. Instead, if you teach your dog an alternate behavior, such as finding its favorite toy whenever the doorbell rings, then it will be distracted and physically unable to bark at the doorbell as it holds its favorite toy in its mouth. So first teach your dog to find its favorite toy using plenty of rewards. Once your pooch is reliably and enthusiastically finding its toy when you tell it to “get your toy”, then you are ready to practice the new behavior (getting the toy) when the doorbell rings. Have a friend or family member ring the doorbell. Just when your dog starts to react, send it to find its toy. When it returns to you with the toy, reward it generously. Do this repeatedly over a period of days. And don’t forget the rewards. Don’t be surprised if your pooch looks for its favorite toy at the sound of the doorbell without any prompting from you. If you successfully master this behavior you can then apply it to a number of situations where you want your dog to “get your toy” rather than do whatever it is doing. Remember, even after your dog has mastered this behavior, you will need to occasionally reward it with treats or lots of love to remind it of the value of “get your toy.”

© 2009 Niki Tudge is the owner and founder of The DogSmith, America’s Dog Training, Dog Walking and Pet Care Franchise. To learn more about joining the DogSmith visit http://www.888dogsmith.com/franchise.html  

Niki achieved her Canine Behaviorist Diploma in England and Dog Obedience Training Diploma in the US. Niki is an Endorsed member of the National Association of Dog Obedience Trainers and a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and The Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. Niki is also certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. You can reach Niki via email at NTudge@888dogsmith.com  or www.888DogSmith.com