Beef treat recall

Another pet food recall affects beef-flavored dog treats.

Merrick Pet Care, Inc. announced the recall of all lots of 10-ounce “Beef Filet Squares” for dogs and “Texas Hold’ems” pet treats because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Read the recall notice from the company here.

According to consumeraffairs.com, this is the third time in recent weeks the Amarillo, Texas, based company has issued a recall for certain lot numbers of treats.

The food was distributed nationwide.

In July, Merrick pulled 86 cases of its beef filet squares off the market after a sample analyzed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested positive for salmonella. Earlier this month, the company pulled another 83 cases of those treats -- and the Texas Hold’Ems treats -- off store shelves. On Monday, Merrick recalled all lots of the treats sold in 10 ounce plastic bags because of ongoing concerns about salmonella contamination.

Merrick said it has not received any reports of illnesses linked to the recalled treats.

People can become infected with salmonella by not thoroughly washing their hands after touching contaminated products or any surface exposed to them.

Consumers who purchased the recalled treats can return them to the store for a full refund, the company said. For more information about this action, contact Merrick at 1-800-664-7387.

Stay out of my food bowl

File this under gross.

Your pet's food bowl could be making your children sick.

Here's an article in USA Today.

Dry pet food and cross-contamination after feeding a pet in the kitchen is responsible for salmonellosis outbreak in 21 eastern U.S. states between 2006 and 2008. The outbreak sickened 79 people, with almost 48 percent of the cases occurring among children under age 2, according to Casey Barton Behravesh, CDC veterinary epidemiologist and study's coauthor.

"This investigation resulted in identification of the first documented outbreak of human salmonellosis linked to the use of dry dog and cat food," Behravesh wrote.

The story also has links to the recall of several pet foods last week as well as what to look for if you suspect contamination.

Walkway event promotes pet safety

My colleague John Barry covered Hounds Over the Hudson — hosted by the Dutchess County SPCA — Saturday on the Walkway Over the Hudson.

Here is his story in today's Poughkeepsie Journal.

I stopped by to check things out and took a few pictures. It was a gorgeous day to be on the Walkway. The views were spectacular.

Bitten?

From the Seattle Intelligencer comes information about dog and cat bites.

Read the story here.

Veterinarian Beth Guerra said she sees a gamut of bites, from minor wounds to major trauma.

These do not just occur between strange dogs; often dogs in the same house that have been co-existing peacefully can find themselves in a fight, often over food or territory. The concern with this type of trauma, especially from larger dogs with extremely powerful bites, is that extensive injury can occur under the skin where only small punctures or even only mild bruising are visible.

She said while cat bites may seem innocuous, cats carry a bacteria in the mouth that can rapidly cause infection in the bite wound.

If you are bitten by a dog or cat, be sure to seek immediate medical attention, even if you do not feel the wounds are that severe. At the very least, the wounds should be washed immediately with soap and water. It is best to have any injuries assessed before complications develop.

Procter & Gamble recalls 2 Iams cat food lots

From the Associated Press:

CINCINNATI — Consumer products giant Procter & Gamble Co. said Sunday it is voluntarily recalling two lots of Iams brand prescription renal dry cat food because it could be contaminated with salmonella.

The products are available by prescription through veterinary clinics.

No illnesses have been reported, but an FDA analysis identified positive results on two lots of Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5 lbs: numbers 01384174B4 0 19014 21405 1 and 01384174B2 0 19014 21405 1.

Codes are found in the lower right corner on the back of the bag.

Anyone owning the food should throw it out. Pets can become infected and people handling the dry pet food can become infected with salmonella as well if they do not wash their hands. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, seniors and others with weakened immune systems.

Customers seeking more information or a refund may call P&G at 877-894-4458.

---------------------------

You can read the P&G press release here.

Hot weather tips from the DCSPCA

HYDE PARK — As summer temperatures continue to soar, the Dutchess Country SPCA is reminding residents to take precautions to keep their pets safe.

"Our companion animals suffer just like we do in the hot summer months and it is so important that we provide special care to ensure their well-being," said Joyce Garrity, executive director, Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The DCSPCA advises that pet owners take the following
precautions for pets:

• Never leave an animal unattended in a parked vehicle. Temperatures can rise quickly in a parked car, even with the windows cracked open. Heat stroke can be fatal to pets as well as to people.
• Keep lawn and garden pesticides out of the reach of your animals as they can be toxic to both dogs and cats. When walking your dog, stay away from streets that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides and/or other chemicals. Be sure to also keep citronella candles and insect coils in a secure place so that your animal does not have any contact with them.
• Make sure that clean, fresh water is always available for your pets. Do not leave a dog tied up outdoors. If your pet is allowed outdoors, make sure that it has access to a shady spot when it gets too hot. Paws can get burned on hot asphalt and concrete so take daily walks in the early morning or late evening to prevent your pet from becoming overheated. Take special care with animals with short-noses that may have trouble breathing in the heat and ones with white-colored ears, which burn easily in the sun.
• If you are caring for outdoor cats, make sure that they have access to a plentiful supply of water and keep feeding stations clean to prevent an invasion from ants and other insects.
• Keep a close eye on pets at a cookout. Reaching for tempting treats from the barbecue can result in burned paws and whiskers. And as tantalizing as it may be, do not give your pet treats from the grill as a sudden change in diet can result in a serious gastric upset. Also keep alcoholic beverages in a safe place and avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products that contain Xylitol, a sweetener.
• Not all dogs can swim, and precautions should be taken to prevent an accident from happening when you are at a pool, lake or ocean with your pet.
• Keep your pets well groomed to control fleas and ticks; however, don't shave your pets down too much as their fur insulates them from the heat and prevents sunburn. Ask your veterinarian for advice about how to handle emergencies for bee stings and insect bites, using pet first aid.
• Prevent "High-Rise Syndrome," a common tragedy that occurs when cats and dogs fall out of apartment windows during the sweltering months in the city. Keep all unscreened windows closed and make sure that adjustable screens are tightly secured to keep your pets safe.
• Learn how to spot signs of heat stress in your pet, which include the following symptoms: heavy breathing, a rapid heartbeat, excessive thirst, heavy panting, glazed eyes, restlessness, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue and becoming unconscious. If your animal shows any of these symptoms, immediately call your veterinarian. Also take steps to gradually lower their body temperature; move the animal into an air-conditioned area and apply cold towels to the head, neck and chest or run cool water over the pet and allow the animal to drink small amounts of cool water.

Summer safety tips

Though the mornings are deceptively cool, it is definitely summer here in Poughkeepsie.

The warmer months, as we are all aware, can be bad for pets.

The Humane Society of the United States has some tips for keeping pets safe and healthy during the summer.

See them here.

They, of course, include never leaving your pet in the car or put it in the back of a truck.

It is very dangerous, and in some states illegal, to drive with a dog in the back of a pick-up truck. Not only can flying debris cause serious injury, but a dog may be unintentionally thrown into traffic if the driver suddenly hits the brakes, swerves, or is hit by another car. Dogs should ride either in the cab (in a crate or wearing a seat belt harness designed for dogs) or in a secured crate in the bed of the truck.

And a reminder since today is the Fourth of July, please make sure your pets have identification tags, so if they happen to get spooked by the fireworks and get out of the house or yard they can be returned to you.

Happy July 4th, everyone.

Terrifying sounds from above

With summer and the warmer weather, pet owners have to careful to make sure their charges have plenty of fresh water and somewhere to get out of the sun.

But also, this time of year brings the dreaded fireworks — something that can lead to stray and lost pets.

Read this article from the Orange County Register written by Samantha Gowen.

This weekend KatyDog will spend hours inside her favorite soundproof bunker: the bedroom closet.

July Fourth and all of its hissing, popping, thundering fireworks is enough to send the family dog and cat running from the sheer terror of it all.

The summer holiday is one of the most dangerous for unsecured pets. Animal control reports more stray and lost pets on July Fourth than any other single day of the year.

Gowan gives recommendations provided by the Animal Assistance League:

• Keep the pet inside
• Use a radio or television to drown out the booming sounds
• For unusually nervous pets, consult a veterinarian about tranquilizers
• Make certain ID tags and licenses are current

Kate, at her advanced age, doesn't seem to be bothered by fireworks or thunder as much as when she was younger. It's probably due to a loss of hearing.

The first summer I had her, when we were living on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, I made the mistake of taking her out for a walk at the time the New York Philharmonic was playing the "1812 Overture" in Central Park, two blocks from where we were.

When the accompanying fireworks were set off, Kate just about crawled over a car to get away from them, then under a car.

Thankfully, we weren't too far from the apartment buildings front door, and I managed to drag her safely inside.

New paws keep cat on the move

Oscar is a lucky kitty.

He lost his two hind legs in an accident with a combine harvester, but a veterinarian took him to a neuro-orthopedic surgeon.

The surgeon made peg legs for Oscar and watch the video to see how well he gets around.

Not counting the surgery, the cost was $3,000.

Here's an Associated Press article by Maria Cheng via yahoo.com.

The artificial paws were designed to be fused to bone and skin.

The veterinarians then inserted the peg-like implants by drilling them into Oscar's ankle bones in his rear legs. The metal implants are attached to the bone where Oscar lost his paws and were coated with a substance that helps bone cells grow directly over them. The cat's own skin then grew over the end of the peg to form a natural seal to prevent infections.

After rehab training, Oscar was on all four feet in less than four months.

Pretty amazing.

Natural Balance recalls dry dog food

Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc. has recalled some of its dog food because it potentially is contaminated with Salmonella.

The Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food with the "Best By" date of June 17, 2011 in the 5-pound and 28-pound bags have been recalled.

No illnesses have yet been associated with the recall, said Food Safety News.

Read the whole article here.

The recalled product was manufactured on Dec. 17. The recall was issued after a sample came back positive for Salmonella in a routine test conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Salmonella in dry pet food can infect both humans and animals.

For humans, symptoms of Salmonella include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever.

More serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract problems. Anyone 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.

The recall was not issued for New York.

Recalled products were only distributed in pet specialty stores in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

People who purchased the product are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

NOTE: This is Dick van Patten's dog food company.

D-I-V-O-R-C-E whisperer

Do you confide in your dog or your cat?

Pets can be a bridge for children to cope with their parents' divorce, said marriage and family therapist Mitchell Rosen, writing in the Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise.

Read his article here.

More and more I'm seeing young children who tell me their confidant is their dog, cat, or horse. They go for long walks and tell their pet all about mom and dad's fighting or the fears they have about what might eventually happen. This is not crazy behavior but might very well be sanity preserving. A child, an adolescent, an adult; we all need someone we can confide to. The alternative is to pretend, escape or deny. None of these are very healthy.

Rosen said he has also seen adults ensure through their divorce papers visitation with their pets.

But too often we neglect to ask the kids and actually get mad at them if they don't want to visit because it means leaving their pet.

Still finding new ways our pets are increasingly part of our lives.

Easter safety tips

With Easter around the corner (I personally am looking forward to the next WaPo Peeps competition), here are some tips for keeping your pets safe during the holiday.

From the Almanac on the University of Pennsylvania Web site:

• Don't give your pets chocolate.
• Put alcoholic drinks out of reach of pets.
• Pets should not eat sugar substitutes.
• Keep flowers out of harm's way.

These sound like pretty good ideas for all year round.

You paid what for what?

My colleague Irwin Goldberg alerted me to an article in HV Biz magazine (unfortunately, I couldn't find a link to it) about Pet Acoustics' My Pet Speaker.

The $249.50 unit plays music composed with pets in mind and, according to the manufacturer's Web site, was "designed to support the hearing sensitivities of dogs, cats and horses."

OK.

A review by Helin Jung of PeoplePets.com found the speaker aesthetically pleasing (that's good), but said, "My Pet Speaker definitely didn't disturb her (the reviewer's dog Ethel)."

That's good, too.

Researchers quoted in the HV Biz article said some tones on commercial radio or TV station can be disturbing to animals' hearing.

Remember Law & Order (Chung-chung)?

The My Pet Speaker works with any music device, including mp3 players, iPhones and iPods. For $1.99 you can download from iTunes the Pet Acoustics Application which has relaxation music for animals.

For me, I think I will continue to leave the radio tuned to Symphony Hall on SiriusXM. Or sometimes classic country, though some of Randy Travis's low notes are too extreme for Kate.

Nature's Variety expands pet food recall

Nature's Variety has expanded its recall of pet food because of concerns over salmonella.

The chicken-flavored raw, frozen food being recalled by the Lincoln, Neb.-based company includes 3-pound packages of chicken medallions, 6-pound packages of chicken patties and 2-pound packages of chicken chubs.

See Nature's Variety press release here. It includes the UPC numbers for affected products.

The company said it is now recalling, out of caution, all Chicken Formula and Organic Chicken Formula products with a "Best If Used By: date on or before Feb. 5, 2011.

Tests indicate packages with best-by dates of Oct. 29 and Nov. 9, 2010, in addition to the previously recalled packages with a best-by date of Nov. 10, 2010, may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Nature's Variety said it now uses high pressure pasteurization on its raw frozen diets to kill bacteria, which is why the company said the products with best-by dates after Feb. 5, 2011 are safe.

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.

The company has a customer care line that operates 24/7. Call 1-800-374-3142.

Winter safety tips

With the subfreezing temps we've been having lately, you are taking care of your pets, right?

This kind of weather is pretty dangerous for pets who are outdoors.

An article by Tony Lascari from the Midland Daily News in Michigan — where it's been colder than longer than around here — points out some ways to make things better for your dogs and cats.

Outside dogs should be kept in shelters, preferably with a flap over the door and straw spread across the floor, said Sue Johnson, a veterinarian at Midland Animal Clinic.

Dan Allen, Midland County Animal Control's kennel officer, said the straw acts as insulation.

"If you put a carpet square in for a dog, when they go in the kennel they have snow on their legs and the snow melts from the body heat," he said. It then soaks into the carpet and can freeze, causing it to be even colder.

"The straw doesn't do that," Allen said. "The water goes through and it maintains its insulation value."

The article also talks about how indoor dogs are more susceptible to frostbite and shouldn't be outside for more than 10 minutes if the windchill is severe.

One thing I do before I take Kate out is have damp paper towels ready for when we come back in. In my apartment complex, they put down so much salt that the soles of my shoes never touch concrete during the winter. And we know what salt does to dog paws.

The weather outside is frightful

Though the calendar begs to differ, it really seems like winter, especially since we had about 4 inches of snow yesterday. (How about that thunder and lightning around 5 p.m.?)

So it's time to think about keeping your pets safe during the colder weather.

An article in the Deseret News from Salt Lake City, Utah, offers some suggestions.

"Warm-blooded mammals can't survive without adequate protection in the kind of cold weather we're going to be having," said Gene Baierschmidt, executive director of the Humane Society of Utah. "If you can't actually keep your animals in the house with the rest of your family or in a basement or garage, then please at least see that they have snug, insulated shelter away from the wind and elevated off the ground."

Baierschmidt includes farm animals in his advice, adding that horses should be brought into a barn.

Other cold-weather tips include:

• Keep cats inside.
• Older pets should never be kept outside at all, as well as young, ill or short-hair breeds.
• Don't let your dog off leash during a snowstorm; they could lose their scent and get lost.
• Spills of antifreeze, which is highly toxic to pets, should be immediately wiped up.
• Never leave your pet in the car during the winter; the car acts like a refrigerator during cold weather.
  

Holiday concerns for pets

With Christmas trees going up in myriad living rooms, keeping pets safe and sound should be on everyone's minds.

Dr. Calvin Clements, a Palmyra, Pa., veterinarian, answered some questions at PennLive.com.

Decorations on the tree can pose hazards to pets. Calling them an "attractive nuisance," Clements said glass ornaments can cause serious lacerations to the mouth, face and feet of pets. And if swallowed, they can seriously harm the gastrointestinal tract.

The hooks that are used to hang ornaments? He said they can become lodged inside the animals requiring surgery to remove them.

Tinsel and garland become an attractive play toy to many pets. If swallowed, these can result in serious consequences that if not identified early results in fatality. Electric lights are often a beckoning call to be chewed and swallowed. Obviously this can result in electrical shock and serious electrical burns of the oral cavity.

Clements also talks about holiday plants being poisonous (or not), holiday treats causing stomach upset and traveling and having visitors making your pet stressed.

A little preplanning, as well as caution and common sense, and both you and your pet will enjoy the holiday season.

Photo: Michael Woyton/Poughkeepsie Journal file

Thanksgiving pet tips

The holiday season can be joyous and fun for you and your family, but a little stressful on your pets.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has some Thanksgiving-related safety hints for pet owners.

They include:

• Don't offer pets raw or undercooked turkey.
• Sage, a common ingredient in stuffing, contains essential oils that can cause pets gastrointestinal upset.
• Don't let pets overindulge on Thanksgiving food.

And from my files, if you have a lot of coming and going at your house for the holiday, make sure your pets can't accidentally get out when greeting guests. Up-to-date I.D.s on pets' collars is must.

Here kitty, kitty. Come get your flu shot

Doctors say vaccinating children against the H1N1 flu — that's swine flu to you and me — could help prevent pets from getting ill.

A brief in the Chicago Sun-Times (third one) can be found here.

The veterinarian who treated the cat, Dr. Brett Sponseller, said two of the three people in the cat's Iowa home had flu-like symptoms before the cat became ill. The cat was lethargic, had a loss of appetite and appeared to have trouble breathing. Getting children vaccinated for swine flu also can help prevent the illness from spreading to pets. There is no swine flu vaccine for pets.

The cat has recovered, the news item states.

More from the Associated Press via the Huffington Post here.

Other influenza strains have been known to cross species, but Sponseller cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from the cat including whether other pets could also get the swine flu.

"It's well documented in influenza in general, but this is the first highly suspected case of H1N1 going from humans into a cat," he said.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/04/iowa-cat-gets-swine-flu-f_n_346397.html&cp

Officials said there is no evidence that swine flu can pass from pets to people.

Winter pet care tips — Brrrrrrr!

As much as I hate to admit it, it's no longer summer.

That means cooler, and then colder, weather is on its way.

An article in the Norwich Bulletin outlines a veterinarian's top winter tips for pet owners.

They include:

• Make sure your outdoor pet has plenty of fresh water. And don't allow it to freeze.
• Wash pet's feet off after they come inside. Ice-melting products, when ingested, can cause stomach problems.
• Honk your car horn before starting your car. Cats can seek shelter under the hood.
• Antifreeze is lethal, even in small doses. Keep pets away from it.