May 27, 2014 - Pet Center, Inc of Los Angeles, CA. is voluntarily recalling its 3 oz bag of Lamb Crunchy’s dog treats (LAM-003) (UPC# 727348200038) with date code 122015 product of USA, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surface 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 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. This product was distributed to CA, WI, CO, and WA. to the following distributors; Gelson’s Market, General Pet, Nor-Sky Pet Supply, and Independent Pet. No illnesses have been reported to date. Salmonella was detected by the State of Colorado, Department of Agriculture in a random sample. Consumers who have purchased this product are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 800-390-0575 Monday-Friday between 7:30am through 4pm PST
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Gentle and non-confrontational, the Basset is instantly recognizable by its big, heavy body, long ears, and short legs. Basset, in fact, comes from the French word bas, which means "low." One thing is for certain, the Basset Hound is an excellent tracker and hunter but also a loyal pet. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS The Basset Hound has a heavy, bony structure, making it larger-proportioned than other breeds. The dog’s short legs and long, heavy body help it run smoothly and powerfully, even in places with thick cover. It moves with its nose pointing to the ground. The tight and thick coat, which can be found in variety of colors, protects the dog from brambles during a hunt. According to experts, the wrinkles and the long ears help the dog in trapping scent, while its muzzle is spacious in order to accommodate its complicated olfactory apparatus -- an apparatus that makes the large and strong Basset Hound stand out among other dogs, even with its short legs. PERSONALITY AND TEMPERAMENT By nature, the Basset Hound is very friendly with children and other pets, and is also one of the most relaxed and good-natured of the hound breeds. However, this slow-moving dog may become stubborn at times. Kids should not strain the dog’s back, which is prone to problems. The Basset Hound is fond of trailing and sniffing, baying loudly while on the trail and inspecting things slowly. As it is a good tracker, the hound will continue to follow game, even if it gets lost. CARE Daily mild exercise, like playing in the garden or walking on a leash, is good enough to satisfy the Basset. The dog’s face, particularly the wrinkles and around the mouth should always be kept clean, while the coat does not require much grooming. This breed has a tendency to drool and it functions best indoors as a house pet. HEALTH The Basset Hound, which has an average lifespan of 8 to 12 years, is prone to major health conditions such as Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD), gastric torsion, elbow dysplasia, thrombopathy, entropion, otitis externa,ectropion, glaucoma, von Willebrand's Disease (vWD), and canine hip dysplasia (CHD). Obesity is a common problem in the breed, which can lead to back problems. It may also suffer from patellar luxation. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may recommend eye and hip exams on this breed of dog; platelet tests may help confirm vWD. HISTORY AND BACKGROUND The Basset Hound was first mentioned in 16th-century text, which spoke of badger hunting. However, people have used short-legged breeds since ancient times. When such dogs were bred successfully to create the Basset Hound is anyone's guess. The pre-Revolutionary French used short-legged dogs for hunting, but not much was documented about these dogs. After the French Revolution, many common hunters required a dog that could be followed on foot. This dog also had to be strong, heavy-boned, and short-legged, with good scenting ability. The Basset was a good choice, as the dog moves slowly, thereby allowing the hunter to attack the quarry easily. Although it normally used to hunt rabbits and hares, the Basset could hunt larger mammals as well. Four types of short-legged hound were eventually created, of which the Basset Artesien Normand was closest to the modern day Basset. The Basset was crossed with Bloodhounds in the late 1800s, in order to increase the dog’s size. The result was then crossed with the Artesien Normand. It was during the same period when the first Bassets were introduced to America and England, leading to the breed’s popularity. In the mid-1900s, the Basset became popular as a pet and also in the fields of entertainment and advertising, for its funny expression. Because of its gentle, non-confrontational nature, the Basset remains a favorite among dog fanciers, hunters, and families today. Health Alert – Imported Dogs with Questionable Rabies Documentation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received reports of an increasing number of dogs with questionable documentation of prior rabies vaccination. The dogs are being imported into the United States from rabies-endemic countries. Imported dogs
Background CDC has learned of several instances when importers have provided inaccurate rabies vaccine certificates for puppies arriving into the United States. These documents state that the puppies are older than 4 months of age and fully immunized against rabies. However, upon examination, these animals were found to be less than 4 months old and sometimes as young as 4-8 weeks of age. Documentation has also included falsification of birth location and breed registration. Federal regulations require that dogs coming from rabies-endemic countries be fully immunized against rabies [i.e., puppies at least 3 months of age must receive the initial rabies vaccination at least 30 days prior to U.S. arrival, and adult dogs (i.e., ≥15 months old) should be current on rabies booster vaccination]. Dogs that are not fully immunized and are coming from rabies-endemic countries may be allowed entry into the United States, at the discretion of CDC, if the importer signs a confinement agreement. This agreement requires the importer to confine the dogs at a specified location until they can be vaccinated against rabies and for 30 days thereafter. Adult dogs with a history of previous rabies vaccination (i.e., expired vaccination) may be released from confinement immediately after revaccination. Recommendations CDC recommends that veterinarians request the original rabies vaccination certificates (and English translations, if necessary) for any new patients. Veterinarians should strongly recommend that a dog be vaccinated against rabies by their clinic if:
Requested Actions Please direct any questions about rabies vaccine or health certificates to the local animal control agency. Clients may also be referred to the CDC website or the websites below for any questions regarding zoonotic disease risks (i.e. diseases that can be passed from pets to people), animal importation requirements, and traveling with pets. 7 Amazing Facts You May Not Know About Your Canine Companion
Dogs can be very open to their owners but their behaviors may also sometimes be hard to understand. How well do you know your dog? For instance, if your dog acting is mysterious after a good night’s sleep, is it because he is trying to catch your attention or is there really a serious matter that needs to be addressed? Let’s talk about some facts you may not know about your dog.
Many pets exhibit strange, seemingly unexplained behaviors. If your dog’s behavior changes, particularly if it does so suddenly and without cause, you should consult with your veterinarian. It’s not impossible that your dog is experiencing a medical issue that is causing the change. Now that you are aware of the clinical signs of allergies in pets, here are the top recommendations for alleviating your canine or feline companion’s symptoms.
1. Take your pet to the vet — Since there are so many conditions that can appear clinically similar to allergies, having your veterinarian examine your pet is an important first step. Diagnostics, including skin impression smear and scraping, blood testing, and others may be needed to determine the nature of the condition and the most appropriate treatments. 2. Bathing and topical treatments — Cleaning your pet’s skin surface and hair coat using a pet-appropriate shampoo helps remove environmental allergens, bacteria, oil, and other irritating substances. Full-body bathing or localized cleansing can be performed on a twice daily or daily basis depending on your pet’s needs. The general recommendation for pets suffering from environmental allergies is to be bathed on an every seven day or more frequent basis if needed. Besides shampooing, a leave-on-conditioner or veterinary-prescribed topical treatment can help to manage your pet’s general or localized skin irritation and infection. 3. Eye rinses — Applying a few drops of eye irrigating solution, just like that which you would use in your own eyes and can purchase from a human pharmacy, is one of the simplest means of removing allergens from your pet’s eyes. Doing so every morning, afternoon, and evening for 24 to 48 hours can help lend perspective on whether your pet's problem is simply mild environmental inflammation or merits evaluation by your veterinarian. Eyedrops or eye ointment containing an antibiotic, steroid, or other drugs may be called for. 4. Ear cleaning — Allergens, broken hairs, microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, mites, etc.), and other substances can all get stuck in your pet’s ear canals. Gently irrigating (flushing) the ear canals with a pet-appropriate ear cleaning solution removes these offensive materials and modifies the pH and microenvironment of the ear canal to deter microorganism growth. Additionally, plucking the hair from the ear canal and inner flap prevents accumulation of environmental allergens that can irritate the ear canal and promote the growth of microorganisms. If your pet is a swimmer, sprinkler-diver, or is frequently bathed, then irritating the ears post-watery activity can help ensure that moisture doesn’t linger in the canals. 5. Dietary modification and nutraceuticals — Skin allergies can correlate with our environment and with food components (protein, carbohydrates, fat, etc.). Therefore, it is vital that owners consider changing their allergy-prone pet's diet as part of a food elimination trial. Novel proteins and carbohydrates (those your pet has not previously consumed) should be chosen and vigilance must be employed to prevent your cat or dog from consuming other food sources (non-approved human foods and pet treats, etc.) that could negatively impact the trial by causing an allergic flare up. Truly, it’s so important to not cheat on your pet’s food elimination trial. Additionally, your veterinarian may suggest diets that are human-grade and whole-food, as feed-grade ingredients in kibble or canned pet foods can potentially contain undesirable contaminants that could sicken your pet on a short- or long-term basis, or further contribute to allergies. Nutraceuticals like fish oil derived Omega-3 fatty acids have a natural anti-inflammatory effect and promote healthy lipid layers in the skin to permit the body’s defenses toward microorganisms and allergens. As there are so many connections between allergens and the variety of clinical signs our pets may exhibit, it’s important that owners recognize the signs and work with their veterinarians to help ensure that minimal discomfort is experienced and the most rapid resolution is achieved. Does your pet suffer from seasonal or non-seasonal allergies? If so, what kind and how do you manage the multi-faceted issues? Jerky pet treats, mostly imported from China, are now linked to more than 1,000 deaths in dogs and illness in some 5,600 others – along with sickness in 24 cats and at least three people, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in a recent press release.
But after seven years of investigating and testing, the FDA still doesn't know exactly why. “The agency continues to caution pet owners that jerky treats are not required for a balanced diet, and encourage them to consult with their veterinarians, both prior to feeding treats and if they notice symptoms in their pets,” the FDA reported in an update on its investigation on May 16. Since 2007, the agency has received more than 4,800 complaints from consumers whose pets fell ill after consuming chicken, duck or sweet potato jerky treats usually made in China – including 1,800 reports since its last update in October 2013. About 60 percent of cases -- some of which affect more than one family pet -- involve symptoms of gastrointestinal or liver disease, 30 percent involve kidney or urinary disease, and 10 percent involve other complaints, including neurological or skin ailments. The three humans include two toddlers who accidently ate the snacks, and one adult who may have purposely eaten them. One child was diagnosed with salmonella infection; the other developed fever and GI distress that mirror the symptoms of dogs in the same home that also ate the treats. The adult reported nausea, according to an FDA spokeswoman. The FDA now plan to team up with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to launch a study to compare foods eaten by sick dogs with “controls” that did not fall ill “in order to determine whether sick dogs are eating more jerky pet treats than health dogs are,” the FDA reported. In its new report, the FDA said it detected in some China-made chicken jerky samples the antiviral drug amantadine, used to treat the flu and Parkinson’s disease. The agency said it doesn’t believe that amantadine contributed to illness or death in pets but has warned suppliers, both in China and the U.S., that its presence is an adulterant and could be grounds for banning of the sale of those products. The tainted treats are not sold by a single manufacturer. Based on demand, some U.S.-based companies that sold the China-made treats are now manufacturing them in this country, using only American-sourced ingredients. Any pet (or person) can be affected by environmental allergens regardless of season. Most plants thrive, flower, and whither during spring, summer, and fall, so those are the seasons most associated with allergies.
Regardless of location, blooming flowers, dying plants, warmer or cooler temperatures, dryness, moisture, and wind cause allergens and other irritants to be dispersed into the atmosphere, which affect the eyes, nose, skin, and other body systems. How does a pet owner know if his canine or feline companion is suffering from allergies? Clinical signs include:
If you have a concern about your pet suffering from seasonal or nonseasonal allergies, make sure you schedule an appointment for a physical examination with your veterinarian. Bravo! is recalling select lots of Bravo! pet food due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The following Bravo! pet food products are being recalled: RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! BEEF BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand) All 2lb., 5lb., and 10lb. tubes Product Numbers: 52-102, 52-105, 52-110 Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier BRAVO! BALANCE PREMIUM TURKEY FORMULA (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT) 3 lb. box with (12) 4oz. burgers Product Number: 31-401 Best Used By Dates: 1/07/16 and 2/11/16 RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! LAMB BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand) All 2lb., 5lb., and 10lb. tubes Product Numbers: 42-102, 42-105, 42-110 Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! LAMB BASIC FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand) 2lb. tubes Product Number: 42-202 Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! BEEF & BEEF HEART FOR DOGS AND CATS (Made in New Zealand) 5lb. tubes Product Number: 53-130 Best Used By Date: 10/10/15 or earlier RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! 100% PURE & NATURAL PREMIUM GRASS-FED BUFFALO FOR DOGS AND CATS (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT) NET WT 2LBS (32 OZ) .91KG (Tubes) Product Number: 72-222 Best Used By Date: 1/7/16 BRAVO! TURKEY BALANCE FORMULA (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT) NET WT 2 LBS (32 OZ) .09KG, Chub (tube) Product Number: 31-402 Best Used By Dates: 1/7/16 and 2/11/16 NET WT 5 LBS (80 OZ) 2.3KG, Chub (tube) Product Number: 31-405 Best Used By Dates: 1/7/16 and 2/11/16 RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! LAMB BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS (Manufactured by: Bravo! Manchester, CT) 5 LBS (80 OZ) 2.3KG, Chub (tube) Product Number: 42-105 Best Used By Date: 2/11/16 Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Additionally, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. If you or your pet had contact with the recalled product, you are advised to watch for symptoms that may develop. Common symptoms associated with Listeria infection include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If you, your pet or a family member is experiencing these symptoms, you are urged to contact a medical professional. According to a company release, Bravo! discontinued all manufacturing in New Zealand on Oct. 10, 2013, and will work immediately with distributors and retailers to properly dispose of any affected product left on freezer shelves. The recalled Bravo! pet food products, which can be identified by the batch ID code (best used by date) printed on the side of the plastic tube or on a label on the box, were dispersed nationwide to distributors, retail stores, internet retailers and directly to consumers. At the time of this release, a limited number of dogs were reported to have experienced nausea and diarrhea that may have been associated with the recalled Bravo! pet food products. The company has received no reports of human illness as a result of these products. Pet owners who have product(s) affected by this food recall are advised to dispose of the product(s) in a safe manner such as placing the item(s) in a securely covered trash receptacle. Customers can also return to the store where the product(s) were purchased and submit the Product Recall Claim Form available on the Bravo! website www.bravopetfoods.com for a full refund or store credit. More information on the Bravo! recall can also be found at www.bravopetfoods.com, or call toll free 1-866-922-9222. On May 8, researchers, families and country-music star and animal advocate Naomi Judd testified in front of Congress about the benefits that therapy dogs have on kids diagnosed with cancer.
The American Humane Association, with the financial support of Zoetis and the Pfizer Foundation, has launched the first scientific effort to document the positive effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in helping pediatric cancer patients and their families. “I believe that, to a very large extent, how you treat the whole patient and the family makes a difference,” said Judd, who appeared before Congress in support of the study. “I’ve seen with my own eyes how the power of the human-animal bond can help patients muster the life force they need to overcome anxiety, depression and fear, and begin to heal.” Each year in the U.S., nearly 13,000 children are newly diagnosed with cancer and more than 40,000 are in treatment at any given time. Three years ago, the American Humane Association began the Canines and Childhood Cancer (CCC) Study to rigorously measure the well-being effects of AAT for children with cancer, their parents/guardians, and the therapy dogs who visit them. “AAT is an accessible and affordable adjunctive treatment option that holds promise for populations from all ages and walks of life, including children who often have a natural affinity for animals,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane Association in a statement. “The documented benefits of AAT include: relaxation, physical exercise, unconditional support, improved social skills, enhanced self-confidence, and decreased loneliness and depression.” The study, which is currently in its final stage, includes a comprehensive needs assessment (Stage I), a six-month pilot study (Stage II) and a full clinical trial (Stage III). “Until now, evidence of the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy has been largely anecdotal: these are powerful stories, but they lack the precise scientific detail that hospitals and physicians require to include them in a medical regimen of care,” says Judd. “That’s where the researchers at American Humane Association come in.” The full clinical trial is happening in five hospitals nationwide: St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa, Fla.; Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland, Oreg; UC Davis Children's Hospital in Sacramento, Calif.; UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center/Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts in Worcester/North Grafton, Mass.; Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. The groundbreaking study hypothesizes that pediatric cancer patients undergoing a consistent, regular chemotherapy treatment regime will have an improved health-related quality of life throughout the course of their treatment sessions with therapy dogs. Research will also focus on how ATT affects the health and mental states of animals in therapy programs. So far, data from the study demonstrates that participating dogs do not experience distress when participating in AAT sessions with children. Judd, who is a Hepatitis C survivor, understands first-hand the impact that animals can have on patients with life-threatening illnesses. “Several years ago, when my doctors told me that exposure to a contaminated needle during my nursing days had caused me to be infected with Hepatitis C, I was given just 3 years to live,” she says. “I experienced the bone-chilling fear that these little ones must have to deal with every day of their lives. I can tell you that my four-legged companions were more than a constant source of comfort—there were days when they were the only reason I got up in the morning, and they gave me a renewed desire to live.” The full clinical trial is expected to last for 14 months, with findings being distributed in 2015. If you are looking for the perfect companion to play beach Frisbee with, the Border Collie is for you! The Border Collie is characterized by its incredible agility, high level of energy, intelligence, obedience, and incredible sense of loyalty to his master. Its training ability and responsiveness to praise, meanwhile, are due to its eagerness to please.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS The Border Collie is a medium-sized dog with a body that is a bit longer than it is tall. Always alert and aware of its surrounding, the Border Collie has an intelligent expression. When a Border Collie has short hair, its coat remains smooth; as it grows longer, however, the texture of the coat becomes to slightly wavy to rough. The Border Collie appears in many different colors and color combinations, including solid color, bi-color, tri-color, merle, and sable. Random white patches are occasionally found scattered on the dog's body or head, but are usually clear white or ticked. Because of its strong bones, the dog is able to run gracefully and have a tireless gait, changing direction and covering ground almost effortlessly. The Border Collie's stamina and agility also allows it to remain active for long periods of time. PERSONALITY AND TEMPERAMENT Highly energetic and enthusiastic, the Border Collie is intelligent, obedient, and loyal towards its master(s). Eager to learn, the Border Collie is most in its element when challenged with difficult tricks and tasks. A lack of activity, conversely, may lead to frustration in the breed. The Border Collie often keeps its distance from strangers, displaying a guarding instinct. It also has a tendency to stare at other animals and chase them. CARE Although the Border Collie can live outside, it prefers be indoors, spending time with its family. The breed is generally not suited for apartment living and should be given regular access to the outdoors. To avoid having a frustrated or ill-mannered Border Collie, provide it plenty of physical and mental exercise daily. An occasional brushing of the hair is recommended, as the Border Collie's coat may become tangled with dead hair. HEALTH This breed, which has a lifespan of 10 to 14 years, is prone to minor health problems such as seizures, progressive retinal atrophy, osteochondritis dissecans, lens luxation, hypothyroidism, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and Collie eye anomaly (CEA), and major ailments like canine hip dysplasia (CHD). The Border Collie may also occasionally suffer from compulsive behavior, cerebellar abiotrophy, and ceroid lipofuscinosis. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may run hip, DNA, CEA, and eye exams on this breed of dog. HISTORY AND BACKGROUND While the exact origins of the Border Collie remain unknown, it is believed the breed may have developed from various sheepdogs used to protect flocks of grazing animals along the border of England and Scotland (and thus the origin of the breed's name). During the 1800s, various herding dogs were present in Great Britain. Among them, "fetching" dogs would organize cattle and bring them back to the shepherd by barking at the cattle or nipping at the animals in order to keep them in line. In 1873, a sheepdog trial took place whereby Hemp, often considered the progenitor of the Border Collie, skillfully gathered the cattle in a calm manner without nipping or barking at them. The breed continued to be referred to as sheepdogs until 1915, after which they came to be known as Border Collie. This breed gained huge popularity in the United States as a herding dog, sought after because of its proven obedience during trial shows. After much effort from Border Collie fanciers, the breed was finally recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995. Today, the Border Collie is loved for many of its characteristics, including its extraordinary instinct and uncanny ability to reason. |
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