September 28, 2012 -- TARGET DOG FOOD RECALL

WE RECEIVED THIS EMAIL MESSAGE FROM ASHWORTH ANIMAL VETERINARY HOSPITAL--(this is Miss Scarlett's vet) so please take seriously won't you?

Boots and Barkley Bully Sticks Dog Treats Recall

September 21, 2012 – Kasel Associated Industries of Denver, CO is voluntarily recalling its Boots and Barkley American Beef Bully Sticks product because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The event was reported by the FDA in a news release dated September 21, 2012.
According to the FDA bulletin:

Salmonella can sicken animals that eat these products and humans are at risk for salmonella poisoning from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the pet products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.
Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms.
Consumers exhibiting these symptoms 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 any of these signs, please contact your veterinarian.

According to the bulletin, the affected American Beef Bully Sticks were distributed nationwide through Target retail stores from April through September 2012.

What Products Are Being Recalled?

The product is sold in a clear plastic bag containing six bully sticks each and are marked with bar code number 647263899189.

The manufacturer is recalling all lot numbers because the following lot codes tested positive through analysis by the State of Colorado Department of Agriculture:

• BESTBY20APR2014DEN
• BESTBY01JUN2014DEN
• BESTBY23JUN2014DEN
• BESTBY23SEP2014DEN

No illnesses have been reported to date in animals or humans in connection with this problem.

What to Do?

Consumers are urged to return the recalled product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Those with questions may contact Kasel Associated Industries at 1-800-218-4417 Monday thru Friday from 7am to 5pm MDT.
You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

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September 21, 2012 - Optional Pet Insurance

September 4th, I blogged about pet insurance versus cost of major surgery. I got busy and searched for some information. This quote (online) is from Trupanion and should only be used as a guideline. Each pet owner must do their own research on such an important issue as pet insurance. At any rate--I FOUND IT INTERESTING AND SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...

Dog Insurance

The unfortunate fact is that one in two pets will experience a major healthcare crisis during its lifetime¹. It is more common than ever for dogs to develop cancer, diabetes, hip dysplasia and other major health conditions. But now with advances in veterinary care, injured and sick dogs can all be treated more efficiently and effectively than ever before.

While these heath concerns will always be emotionally draining for the pet owner, the strain is compounded by the financial toll that comes with advanced veterinary care. Dog insurance can help lessen the financial strain felt in these situations by providing coverage for necessary treatments.

Trupanion offers pet insurance for your dog that is simple and easy to use. There are no payout limits and no restrictions on the care required for your dog. Monthly dog insurance premiums are determined by your location, and your dog’s breed and age at time of enrollment.

¹Source: Survey: "Trupanion's Use of Addressable Minds," April 2010, conducted for Trupanion pet insurance provider by Onufrey Group LLC

The High Cost of Dog Accidents & Illnesses
Real-Life Examples	Cost Without Coverage	Trupanion Would Cover:
		With a $0 Deductible	With a $500 Deductible	With a $1000 Deductible
Ingesting foreign body	$7,552	$6,797	$6,347	$5,897
Vomiting & diarrhea	$1,767	$1,590	$1,140	$690
Broken leg	$3,856	$3,470	$3,030	$2,570
Ear infection	$4,253	$3,828	$3,378	$2,928
Diabetes	$8,550	$7,695	$7,245	$6,795

Scarlett O'Hara
$28.08

Deductible Information NONE

Edit Pet Age/Breed  - COCKER SPANIEL

 3 YEARS OLD

$28.08/mo

Your core policy includes:

·         Accidents

·         Illnesses

·         Hereditary¹ Conditions

·         Congenital Conditions

·         Diagnostic Tests

·         Surgeries

·         Medications

·         Hospital Stays

·         Veterinary Supplements

What is not covered?

·         Routine care

·         Veterinary exam fees

·         Pre-existing conditions

·         Applicable sales tax

No Lifetime Limit
Trupanion has no limits per claim, per incident, or per year and no lifetime payout limit. Our pet insurance covers all diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications if your pet becomes sick or injured. This includes hereditary and congenital disorders, and chronic or recurring conditions.

September 4, 2012 - PET SURGERY versus PET INSURANCE

Facebook is always filled with the pros and cons of being a pet owner. They go from one extreme to the next...There are the Michael Vick's in this world, along with the careless, unloving owners who abuse their animals. I occasionally see pets I think look lost or feel helpless. The newspapers are full of pets being set on fire, beaten, or beaten to death. I frankly cannot stand to watch the ARL commercials on television because I would run right out and take them home with me. People can be ignorant about the REAL responsibilities of being a pet owner.

Now let's talk about the other extreme...veterinary bills, food, treats, bathing supplies, haircuts, etc., etc., etc. Miss Scarlett is not what we consider to be an inexpensive pet. She has a nervous tummy so she has to have a special diet purchased only through a veterinary clinic. She has long and luxurious ears that never seem to get enough air to them.That makes her prone for ear infection; of which we are struggling with right now. I made a trip to Ashworth Road Veterinary Animal Hospital, where Jessica had medication ready for me to begin treatment.

In addition, Miss Scarlett is a sophisticated Cocker Spaniel and requires a "special haircut." Her groomer, LuAnn, at PetSmart is the only person we allow to touch a hair on her head. They have a special bond and LuAnn is so, so very good to her. That means leave her a nice tip to show our appreciation. And don't forget the cost of vaccinations, boarding if you are going to be going on vacation and cannot take your pet, dog tags, trainer, and anything else I might have missed.

Here are the 10 most expensive surgeries (ranked by frequency) that cost pet owners more than thousands of dollars in the year 2010...YIKES! You need to ask yourself: "What am I willing to spend on my pet"?

Torn Knee Ligament/Cartilage	$1,578
Intestinal – Foreign Object	$1,967
Stomach – Foreign Object	$1,502
Intervertebral Disc Disease	$3,282
Stomach Torsion/Bloat	$2,509
Broken Leg (Plate)	$1,586
Laryngeal Paralysis	$2,042
Tumor of the Throat	$1,677
Ear Canal Surgery – Ablation	$1,285
Ruptured Bile Duct	$2,245

So now let's talk about pet insurance...how expensive is it and where do I go to find it? I would begin with your insurance representative you use for your car or home--if they carry it, and can write a policy, add it to your "Bundled Insurance"--who knows, they might even give you a discount.

August 26, 2012 - CLEAN HOUSE--SICK DOG?

It's just amazing how easily a house or apartment can get dirty when you have pets. They really have a way of turning a spick-and-span home into a disaster area seemingly overnight. I was discussing this the other day with one of my staff members. She has two small dogs and a cat, and she was astonished at how quickly her home got dirty. “I cleaned my entire house from top to bottom on Thursday night,“ she sighed, “and when my friends came over on Sunday morning there were already paw prints all over the floor and drool on the windows. It just never ends!”

I had to chuckle a little because I knew exactly what she meant. Even little dogs can make a big mess! And when you are a caring dog lover (as I know that you are), you only want what's safe for your dog.  Let me ask you a question...when choosing a cleaning product for your home, how frequently do you consider how it might affect your dog's health?

If your answer is “never,” I'm going to encourage you to start thinking about that today.

Many commercial cleaning products - and I'm talking about some of the top brands at your grocery store - are loaded with chemicals that can be hazardous to your dog's health.

These potentially toxic ingredients may be a threat to your health, but they also can affect your dog. And your dog's body is far more sensitive than most people realize. A dog's sensitive body systems are irritated by a much smaller amount of chemicals than human systems are. A few spritzes of cleaner might make your nose run, and it might also bother your dog - but the effects are worse, and they happen faster. Chemicals build up in your and your pet's body over time too. A dose of chemicals that might take years to impact your health might affect your pet's health in only months.

Many toxic chemicals are easily absorbed through skin, paws, and the lungs. When your dog walks on the floor, licks a wall or window, or sniffs a carpet, any chemicals present can find their way into your pet's body with ease.

How can you tell what's safe and what's not? Unfortunately there's not an easy answer, but I'm going to give you a handy clue.

The secret's in the label. Manufacturers are not required to list potentially dangerous ingredients on product labels.  Doing so is purely voluntary. For example, most popular cleaning products tells you what the "active" ingredient is, but the remaining 98.8% - the "other stuff" - aren't listed! Besides, who would want to buy a product that said it contained all kinds of harsh cleaners which could potentially harm their pet or family?

Now, here's the tip I promised to give you which will guide you through this tricky situation...

Although most cleaning products won't list inactive ingredients, they do have to contain a warning label if it contains ingredients which are proven to be hazardous.

The labels will use "signal" words like "Danger", "Warning", or "Caution" to indicate just how toxic the product is. Products labeled "Danger" or "Poison" are typically the most hazardous. Those labeled "Warning" are moderately hazardous and those with a "Caution" label are considered slightly toxic.

For the safety of your dog and other pets (and children, of course), choose products that are nontoxic enough to not require ANY of the signal words on the label. That's the only way you can be assured that your pet won't be poisoned through skin or paw contact, or through their tongue or lungs.

If you've been looking for something that's safe to use around pets and really gets the job done, there's a great line of products you need to know about. It is called Earthpawz.

 

 

August 1, 2012 -- Does Music Actually Soothe Pets?

I ran across this article in my Inbox today and thought it might be a good time to revisit our thoughts on this...we are always in such a rush to get here--get there...but what about our pet? I've read articles about pets that eat the kitchen cabinets, and dismantle blinds and leave all kinds of messes for their owner to come home to. Take some time and give this "good thought" about a music CD playing to relieve their anxiety...just sayin

Pet anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways. We love our pets, so of course we worry about their health and safety. We don't want to see them upset or stressed out, especially when we can do something about 
 
Some pet owners have said that your pets become upset when they are left home alone for any period of time. That's a common problem - in fact, it's so common that it even has a name: “separation anxiety.” Others have mentioned their dogs' anxiety or carsickness when traveling in the car. Some pets become very anxious when they are in unfamiliar surroundings like kennels and vet's offices. And some actually throw up or chew away areas of their hair and skin during thunderstorms, or when they hear loud noises like fireworks. When they are stressed, many dogs are likely to hide and not be found. Some dogs get so scared that they simply run for cover, which in turn leads to YOUR anxiety about finding your dog.

I've heard of lots of creative ways to ease your pets' stress, like leaving the TV or radio on for "company" when they are home alone. Unfortunately, that could actually be doing more harm than good. Studies have suggested that TV and radio can actually CREATE stress for our pets because of the drastic changes in programming and the random mix of musical styles. Think about it—how scared would you be if you suddenly heard gunshots, sirens, or dogs barking? The TV and radio certainly create "noise," but they don't necessarily create a relaxed environment.

Dog owners sometime ask me, “Does music soothe pets the same way it can relax people?" The answer is "yes" - but it depends on the music.

Music Eases Pet Anxiety - But Not Just ANY Music Will Do

Maybe you've heard the old saying that “music soothes the savage beast.” While this might conjure up images of tigers with iPods, the truth is that music really CAN calm animals down. Really!

Studies have been done to examine the relationship between music and stress, and some of the results might surprise you. Classical harp music is used around the world to help alleviate stress in dogs, cats, chimpanzees and other animals. Even animal shelters are installing sound systems and using music to create a more serene environment. In particular, studies show that dogs and cats seem to show lower levels of stress when exposed to classical music. Cats will relax in front of the speakers when classical music is playing, and many dogs will actually bark less - especially when listening to the music of Bach.

Many pets respond favorably to classical music under stress-inducing situations, often slipping into a very serene and peaceful state of mind after only a few minutes of listening. But all classical music will not have the same calming effect. For the music to soothe a pet, it must have a soothing dynamic from start to finish and transition calmly between pieces- which is not the case with most "off-the-shelf" classical music.

That's why I want to tell you about the Music My Pet CD.

This remarkable "Classic Cuts" CD was developed for the specific purpose of calming our pets. It uses the sounds that have been proven to calm dogs, cats and other household pets. Music My Pet was created by the same folks that brought you Disney's award-winning Baby Einstein series for kids, so this is music for pets at its very best.

I think this CD is amazing!


Acclaimed producer/composer/performer Tom Nazziola is the man behind the musical genius of Music My Pet. By researching the latest studies on pet anxiety, he identified the sounds, chords and harmonies that had the best effects on pets (and on us). Then he used these elements to re-orchestrate popular classical music by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and other esteemed composers. Nazziola has optimized each arrangement for the soothing dynamic that's so important. The result is a calming collection of beautiful classical music that will help ease your pet's stress.

When your pets are left at home alone, this musical CD can provide them with a more comforting environment. Not only will it help calm your pets, it will also ease your troubled mind. When you must leave your pets home alone, this CD will create a serene atmosphere for them while you're gone.

But you don't need to just use it at home. One pet owner whose dog gets carsick on long road trips has had great results by playing the Music My Pet CD in the car. One of my staff members plays it before visitors come over and she has said that it results in much less barking, jumping, and rough playing.

Want to try it out?  Click here to listen to a sample track from the CD.

The Music My Pet CD can help your pets cope with nervousness, stress and separation anxiety, and provide the healthy relaxation they need. Give it a try. It could do your pets a world of good.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon


P.S.  My staff and I were so impressed by this CD that we wanted to make it available for all our PetPlace.com subscribers. You'll pay just $13.99 with this special offer from PetProductAdvisor.com, but supplies are limited so act now. To learn more, just go to: www.petproductadvisor.com/musicmypet

P.P.S.  If this crazy world has you stressed out, the Music My Pet "Classic Cuts" CD will also help you relax. Just take a listen and see for yourself.

Compliments of

The HEAT and your Dog!

I wanted to take this opportunity to remind all of "us parents" that the heat is very hard on our pets...sometimes more so than on us. After all, we wear shoes to protect our feet. That insulates them from knowing how hot the concrete or blacktop really is.

I have also shortened the length of our walks. Some evenings we may walk again. Another thing I do for Miss Scarlett after our "shortened walks" is give her fresh, cold filtered water from the fridge. And then I take a hand towel and run it under the cold water faucet, wring it out, having her lie down on her "BLUE PAD" and lay it over her body until the panting recedes....she appreciates that!

We can all enjoy this summer weather, we just need to use common sense--you know; what God gave us.

June 28, 2012 – Fireworks and Your Canine Friend

On Fri, Jun 22, 2012 at 11:00 PM, Andi O Blume <andioblume@mchsi.com> wrote:

 Hi Renee--just getting back to you about the sounds of fireworks. I  saw that you are offering a "safe haven" for our pets, but the reason  I asked is for at least a week before--and after July 4th, people  continue this abuse in all neighborhoods so I was wanting some noises  to help Miss Scarlett with this; as well as for other pet owners. 

Desensitize Fireworks BEFORE the Day!

Large 24" Fireworks Shell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aip619LJMDo

 Renee’s Email:

I would encourage that anytime you hear fireworks, you have a party with your dog!  Give her great treats (like steak) and then when the fireworks stop --the party stops.  Sometimes dogs like to go into their kennels because they feel safe; in that case I might give them a good chew bone and let them stay in their kennel for the duration of the fireworks.  The best bet is to desensitize before this season comes around by purchasing a CD with fireworks on it and starting it out really softly to coordinate your dog’s threshold and give cookies. Then as your dog becomes more comfortable, turn the sound up.  Continue this process until you have the fireworks blaring out the stereo :)