Signs It’s Time to Change Your Dog’s Food

Pam
With all of the dog foods out there, it can be a painstaking process to decide which one is right for your dog. Because of this, some people choose to buy the same dog food for their dog’s entire life. However, Dr. Jessica Vogelsang warns that this is an error. “We now know our pet’s dietary needs can and do change over time due to factors like their life stage, their overall health and their activity level.” Buying the Right Dog Food for Your Dog’s Age In regards to nutrition, there are 3 key life stages to consider in determining which food is right for your dog. The first one… Read More Continue Reading

5 Ways You Can Feed Your Dog Naturally

Pam
By Kimberly Gauthier, Keep the Tail Wagging After 2 years of loose stool, skin allergies and itchy paws, I switched to raw food for our dogs. I was resistant to the change, but realized that the money I was spending on vet appointments and prescriptions would be better spent on a better diet for our dogs. I’ve spent the past 2 years researching dog nutrition for my dogs and sharing what I’m learning on Keep the Tail Wagging; my blog. What I’ve learned all boils down to Healthy Gut, Healthy Dog. Many of my dogs’ health issues could be traced back to their gut and once their gut became healthy,… Read More Continue Reading

Wellness Dog Food: A Review

Pam
Wellness® dog food has been approved by the Whole Dog Journal, and has also been included in many “Top 10” lists of dog food formulas. At time of publishing Wellness® offers a bewildering array of products, including 35 dry foods, 40 canned foods, and a variety of mixers and toppers. Wellness® is owned by Wellpet LLC (owned by the Berwind Corporation), a company that combined Eagle Pack, the former Wellness® and Old Mother Hubbard. As of May 2012, at least some of Wellness’s foods were being manufactured by Diamond since they were included in the Diamond recall that month that featured a number of well-known brands. We have heard from… Read More Continue Reading

Puppy FAQs

Pam
Why does my puppy have hiccups? For a puppy, hiccups without regurgitation are generally not a sign for alarm. Puppy hiccups are usually a harmless, involuntary contraction of the diaphragm experienced by all breeds and sizes, with episodes lasting just a few minutes. Some unborn pups even hiccup inside their mother’s womb! Hiccups are harmless, however, regurgitation, which is the act of suddenly upchucking undigested food or water with hardly any effort by the puppy is a cause for concern and should be checked out immediately by your veterinarian. How important is heart-worm prevention? Heart-worm disease is a potentially fatal disease that is now found in most areas of the… Read More Continue Reading

Merrick Pet Treats Recalled for Salmonella

Pam
Merrick® Pet Care, Inc. has issued a recall for its Jr. Texas Taffy pet treat, which were manufactured at its facility in Amarillo, Texas. Issued on January 28, 2011, the recall includes those products with item number 27077, UPC number 02280827077, and products that include lot number 10364 and below. Shipped to retailers and distributors throughout the United States, the product is being recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination. Customers who bought the product should return any unused portion immediately for a full refund, or at the very least dispose of it in a covered trash receptacle. If consumers or their pets show any signs of Salmonella contamination — diarrhea,… Read More Continue Reading

Kroger Dog Food Recalled for Aflatoxin

Pam
Kroger® Company announced a recall on December 18, 2010, for a variety of its pet food products sold in select states across the United States. Included in this recall are Kroger® stores in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Also included in the recall are Gerbes® and Dillons® stores in the states of Missouri and Kansas; Baker’s ® stores in Nebraska; Food 4 Less® stores Indiana, Illinois, and Nebraska; and Pay Less®, Scott’s®, Owen’s®, Jay C®, and Hilander® stores in Illinois and Indiana. The affected products are being recalled due to the… Read More Continue Reading

Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall

Pam
Blue Buffalo™ of Wilton, Connecticut, has issued a recall for batches of a variety of the company’s products. Issued on October 8, 2010, the recall is for the some of the company’s Blue Wilderness® line of products, including 4.5-lb bags of Chicken Flavor dry dog food, “best by” dates of JULY2611Z, JULY2711Z, AND JULY2811Z; 11-lb bags of Chicken Flavor dry dog food with a “best by” date of JULY1211B; and 24-lb bags of Chicken Flavor dry dog food with “best by” dates of JULY1211B and LUKY1311B. Also included in the recall are Blue Basics™ 11-lb bags of Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon and Potato dry dog food with “best by” dates… Read More Continue Reading

Hartz Naturals Real Beef Dog Treats Recall

Pam
Hartz Mountain Corporation issued a recall on September 3, 2010, for its Hartz® Naturals™ Real Beef Treats for Dogs. The recall was issued due to possible contamination of the product with the Salmonella bacteria. The recall affects 74,700 8-oz bags of Hartz® Naturals™ Real Beef Treats for Dogs with UPC number 32700-11519 and lot code BZ0969101E. The affected product was imported from Brazilian supplier, Bertin S.A., and distributed to customers throughout the United States. Random sampling testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detected the presence of the Salmonella bacteria in the lot in question, resulting in the recall. Any customers who purchased the affected product should stop… Read More Continue Reading

Merrick Expands Dog Treats Recall

Pam
Merrick® Pet Care updated their recall on August 16, 2010, of its 10-oz “Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” and “Texas Hold’em” treats to all lost of the aforementioned products. Shipped to retailers and distributors across the United States, the company felt extra precaution was necessary due to possible contamination by Salmonella bacteria. If consumers purchased any of the affected product, they should dispose of it in a covered trash receptacle for safety. The item number for the affected product is 60016 and includes all lots produced at the company’s Amarillo, Texas, plant. Some of the symptoms associated with Salmonella infection include fever, diarrhea, and stomach pain. If pets show signs… Read More Continue Reading

Merrick Expands Recall of Dog Treats

Pam
Merrick® Pet Care, based out of Amarillo, Texas, has expanded its recall of its “Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” product to include additional cases of its “Texas Hold’ems” product. Issued on August 3, 2010, the recall was issued due to potential Salmonella contamination. The expanded recall includes 83 additional cases of the “Texas Hold’ems” with an item number of 60016, lot number of 10127, and a “best by” date of 5/6/12. Furthermore, the treats in question were sold in 10-oz plastic bags that had the lot number and “best by” date printed on the top and bottom of the bag. Shipped to retailers and distributors across the United States, consumers… Read More Continue Reading