Canine Influenza

Pam
By now most readers may have heard about the outbreak of canine influenza in the Midwest. There are currently over 1,000 reported cases. The unfortunate fact is the strain is H3N2, and the current influenza vaccine against H3N8 is not thought to be protective. Canine influenza was discovered about 8 years ago in racing greyhounds in Florida and is documented in 40 states. States with the highest exposure to the virus include the Midwest, the Carolina’s, and Colorado. The risk is also increasing in Kansas. The virus causes flu-like symptoms: coughing, fever, malaise, loss of appetite, nasal discharge, and pneumonia. The kicker is that the virus causes permanent damage to… Read More Continue Reading

Orijen Dog Food Review

Pam
Orijen foods emphasize whole prey ingredients and biologically appropriate foods, incorporating richly nourishing meats, organs and cartilage in ratios that bring Orijen ever closer to Mother Nature.  Orijen is made by Champion foods in Alberta, Canada, and the company has won awards for the food as Pet Food of the Year from the Glycemic Research Institute in Washington, DC. The company has also been named Manufacturer of the Year/Western Canada, and won a Growing Alberta Leadership Award.They are very proud that they have their own kitchens and don’t sell their food to other companies, and this pride is reflected in the high price of the products. There are 5 dry adult… Read More Continue Reading

Nylabone® Products Recall

Pam
Nylabone® Products recalled one lot of its Puppy Starter Kit dog chews on April 22, 2015. The recall was prompted after routine testing detected the presence of Salmonella in the product. When pet owners try to determine if they have bought any of the recalled product, they should look on the back of the packaging for the following lot and “best by” date: 1.69-oz packages  of Nylabone® Puppy Starter Kit dog chew with lot number 21935 and a “best by” date of 3/22/18. Additionally, the packaging has UPC code 0-18214-81291-3. The recalled items were distributed across the United States and Canada, as well as through at least one domestic online… Read More Continue Reading
Spring Contacts

Gassy Pets: Smelly Cat Shouldn’t be Stinky

Pam
One of the endearing qualities of companion animals is a complete lack of awareness about what is socially acceptable. If they’re hungry, they eat. If they have an itch, they scratch. And, if they have gas, they… well… anyone who has ever seen Phoebe from ‘Friends’ sing about ‘smelly cat’ knows what I am talking about. What causes excess gas? Well – lots of things. Flatulence comes from excess gas in the intestinal tracts of dogs and cats, and it can a normal biological function, but too much gas signals something is out of balance. Dogs that eat too quickly or brachycephalic breeds such as pugs or bulldogs tend to… Read More Continue Reading

Taste of the Wild – Good or Bad?

Pam
The recent lawsuit and myriad pet food recalls have left consumers wondering what is safe to feed their dogs. To aid in their search, here is a review of Taste of the Wild, grain-free formulas that are marketed to be based on what a dog (or cat for that matter) would eat in the wild. Before we get into a review of the product, let’s go over what is inherently wrong with the marketing angle of this product. Dog’s are not wolves. They haven’t lived ‘in the wild’ for over 10,000 years – genetic studies reveal that dogs were domesticated 11,000-16,000 years ago, and have lived scrounging around the scraps… Read More Continue Reading

Pet International Recall

Pam
Pet International recalled 1,500 units of the company’s 6-inch Beef Trachea Pet Treats on February 11, 2015. The reason cited for the recall was possible contamination of the product with Salmonella bacteria. The possible contamination by Salmonella was discovered after the Colorado Department of Agriculture detected the bacteria while performing routine sampling. The affected product includes: 12-pack plastic pouches of Buster’s Natural Pet Supply Beef Trachea Treats with lot code 8501450 and UPC code 8501450. The 6-inch treats were distributed in the cities of Conifer and Lakewood in the state of Colorado. Salmonella can cause a variety of symptoms in humans and pets, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and… Read More Continue Reading

Tuffy’s® Pet Foods Nutrisca® Dog Food Recall

Pam
Tuffy’s® Pet Foods, operating out of Perham, Minnesota, recalled lots of its Nutrisca® Chicken and Chick Pea Recipe Dry Dog Food on February 11, 2015. Possible Salmonella contamination was given as the reason for the recall. Distributed nationwide through a variety of sources, including retail stores, online sites, and distributors. The particular products that were a part of the recall included: 4-lb bags of Nutrisca® Chicken and Chick Pea Recipe Dry Dog Food with UPC code 8 84244 12495 7, which can be found on the lower part of the bag. Additionally, the affected product can be further identified with the first five digits of the following lot codes: 4G29P,… Read More Continue Reading

J.J. Fuds Recall Expansion

Pam
On February 4, 2015, J.J. Fuds once again expanded an earlier recall of its products to include all lots of its Chicken Tender Chunks, Beef Tender Chunks, and Duckling Tender Chunks Pet Food. The reason for the recall was listed as possible contamination of the product with Salmonella and Listeria. The products that are a part of the recall include: All 5-lb bags of J.J. Fuds Premium Natural Blends Chicken Tender Chunks with UPC number 654592-345935. All 10-lb bags of Premium Natural Blends Chicken Tender Chunks with UPC 654592-345805. All 5-lb bags of Premium Natural Blends Beef Tender Chunks with UPC 654592-345942. All 10-lb bags of Premium Natural Blends Beef… Read More Continue Reading

J.J. Fuds Chicken Tender Recall 2

Pam
J.J. Fuds expanded its earlier recall of the company’s Chicken Tender Chunks Pet Food to include lots of its Beef and Duck Strips on January 27, 2015. The reason for the latest expansion of the recall was due to possible contamination, though the specific type of contamination was not specified in the newest recall. The earlier recall was due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The products that were a part of the expanded recall include: 5-lb bags of J.J. Fuds Duck Strips with UPC 654592-345928 and a lot code date of 5/7/14 10-lb bags of J.J. Fuds Beef Strips with UPC 654592-345751 and a lot code date of 1/6/15 Due… Read More Continue Reading

J.J. Fuds Chicken Tender Chunks Recall

Pam
On January 23, 2015, J.J. Fuds issued a recall of a specific lot of its J.J Fuds Chicken Tender Chunks. Claiming the offending product could possibly be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the company, which operates out of Valparaiso, Indiana, issued the recall after routine sampling by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development turned up positive for Listeria. The product being recalled includes: 5-lb bags of J.J. Fuds Premium Natural Blends Chicken Tender Chunks with UPC 654592-345935 and a lot code date of 5/5/14. Pet owners can find the UPC and lot code date on the master case label or the back of each individual plastic bag. The product… Read More Continue Reading