MILO’S KITCHEN VOLUNTARILY RECALLS CHICKEN JERKY AND CHICKEN GRILLERS HOME-STYLE DOG TREATS
San Francisco – January 9, 2013 –
Milo’s Kitchen® today announced that it is voluntarily recalling its Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers home-style dog treats from retailer shelves nationally. No other Milo’s Kitchen® products are affected.
On Monday, New York State’s Department of Agriculture informed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Company that trace amounts of residual antibiotics had been found in several lots of Milo’s Kitchen® Chicken Jerky. After consultation with the New York Department of Agriculture and FDA, the company decided to voluntarily recall Milo’s Kitchen® Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers, which are both sourced from the same chicken suppliers.
The use of antibiotics to keep chickens healthy and disease-free while raising them is standard practice in poultry production for both human and pet food. However, the antibiotics found in the products were unapproved and should not be present in the final food product.
Milo’s Kitchen® has a comprehensive safety testing program in place for its products from procurement through manufacturing and distribution. Part of that program involves extensive testing for a wide range of substances commonly used to ensure the health of chickens. However, Milo’s Kitchen® did not test for all of the specific antibiotics found by the New York Department of Agriculture.
“Pet safety and consumer confidence in our products are our top priorities,” said Rob Leibowitz, general manager, Pet Products. “While there is no known health risk, the presence of even trace amounts of these antibiotics does not meet our high quality standards. Therefore, today we decided to recall both products and asked retailers to remove the products from their shelves.
“Consumers who discard the treats will receive a full refund,” said Leibowitz. “We are committed to Milo’s Kitchen® and stand by our guarantee of complete consumer satisfaction.”
Consumers with questions about Milo’s Kitchen products can get further information at 1-877-228-6493.
Cold-weather tips to keep pets safe this season
Veterinarian Susan Nelson, a clinical associate professor at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, offers tips for keeping pets safe in cold weather, such as letting them gradually get used to the cold. Dr. Nelson says smaller, less furry dogs such as Chihuahuas have a lower tolerance for cold than larger, well-insulated breeds such as huskies. Coats, boots and other winter gear designed for pets may help keep them warm but can also pose some hazards if not properly used and monitored, she adds. U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News (1/5)
With the arrival of winter, dog owners need to be aware of how to keep their canine friends comfortable and safe, an expert says.
“A general rule of thumb is if it is too cold for you outside, it is too cold for your dog,” Susan Nelson, a clinical associate professor and veterinarian at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Pet Health Center, said in a university news release.
Several factors, such as size, help some dogs tolerate the cold better than others.
“Small stature and short coats, such as with a Chihuahua, make dogs less tolerant of cold weather. Some of these dogs may not even tolerate cooler temperatures that are still above freezing for very long,” Nelson said.
“Larger body mass and longer, plusher coats allow dogs to tolerate lower temperatures for a longer duration — think Siberian husky,” she added.
Giving your dog enough time to get used to colder temperatures is a good idea. Being exposed to a gradual reduction in temperature allows your dog to develop a protective winter coat and adjust to the colder conditions.
While coats, sweaters and boots can give dogs added protection, they also have some disadvantages, Nelson said.
“Watch for choking hazards, such as buttons, on coats and sweaters,” she advised. “Ensure they are made of breathable fabrics and that the fabric doesn’t irritate the dog. They should only be worn when supervised as the dog could get caught up in them. Also, if the apparel gets wet, it can promote hypothermia that results from chilling caused from the body being in contact with the cold, wet fabric.”
Boots can keep snow and ice away from paws, but owners need to make sure they fit correctly, can be put on easily and stay on, and have good traction, Nelson said.
Pet Partner team Carole and Shellie on TV!
Carole Melvin and Shellie were at their regular visit at CHOC (Children’s Hospital of Orange County) when they were asked to help with a project. Channel 7 ABC news was doing a feature on charities and how a consumer should check out the charity first. So, Carole and Shellie ended up on TV in a special news segment when they were talking about the CHOC Foundation! Sometimes we’re called on to help in many different ways!
To view the whole story CLICK HERE
Canine distemper virus: Serious but preventable
Canine distemper virus causes a potentially deadly, multisystemic disease in canids and can be hard to distinguish from canine parvovirus and kennel cough, writes veterinarian Allison Dascoli. Testing can help differentiate between the illnesses, according to Dr. Dascoli, but she notes that canine distemper virus can be prevented with proper vaccination. Charleston Daily Mail (W.Va.)
Canine distemper virus is a severe, highly contagious multisystemic virus that can affect dogs and other carnivores worldwide. We can see the virus in any dog, but it is most commonly diagnosed in young, unvaccinated puppies. This is especially true of puppies and dogs that are kept in close contact in kennels or shelters.
In these situations, the virus is spread by infected animals in all body secretions and excretions. But the most common way it is spread is through respiratory droplets and aerosol spray. Once the virus enters the body, it travels to the lymph system and on into the blood. Once in the blood, it travels back to the respiratory tract, GI tract and nervous system, causing clinical signs of the disease. Animals can shed the virus for up to two weeks after recovery if they are able to mount a sufficient immune response. If they are unable to fight the virus due to a poor immune system, they will die quickly.
The clinical signs of the virus are variable. Generally, these dogs will have a fever, go off feed and be depressed. The respiratory signs include nasal discharge, running eyes, coughing and sneezing. Pneumonia is a secondary side effect and can be viral initially and then change to bacterial. GI signs will include vomiting and diarrhea. Neurologic signs also can occur with or without other signs. The encephalitis that we see can include seizures, pacing, circling, problems walking, paralysis, vision issues and twitches. Some dogs can succumb to neurologic signs weeks to months after an apparent recovery. Other signs you can see are enamel defects on their adult teeth and hardening of the footpads.
Diagnosis of distemper can be difficult. The lifestyle of the pet has to be taken into account. Older, vaccinated pets do not get distemper. Blood work is needed to look at blood cells and organ function to assess involvement. Chest X-rays can show pneumonia. The virus is only detectable for a certain amount of time in different tissues so sometimes a spinal tap is needed to collect fluid for analysis as well. But one of the better tests is called a PCR assay. It can be run on a blood sample, a conjunctival swab or on urine. These are all very expensive tests and multiple tests should be run to ultimately get to a correct diagnosis.
There is no effective antiviral treatment for canine distemper. Therefore all treatment is aimed at controlling the secondary symptoms. This includes broad-spectrum antibiotics, humidifiers, bronchodilators and expectorants to treat the pneumonia. Vomiting and anti-diarrheal medicine for the GI effects are given sometimes as necessary. Medicine to control seizures and excellent nursing care with fluids, cleaning the air passageways and balanced nutrition all help to support these patients.
The prognosis for distemper dogs is guarded. Mortality rates are the highest in younger animals and in animals that start to show neurologic signs. Even mild cases can appear to recover initially only to become clinical again.
Vaccination is the cornerstone in preventing canine distemper. The current American Animal Hospital Association guidelines for vaccines start at 8 weeks of age with a modified live virus vaccine and booster every four weeks until they are 16 weeks old. After the initial series, a booster should be given one year later, then every three years for life. If dogs are older than 16 weeks when vaccination is started, booster after four weeks, then one year later, then every three years to ensure protection for life.
The problem with distemper is that it can look like kennel cough and also like parvo, which are very common diseases we see in shelters. If you suspect distemper, immediately talk to your veterinarian. They will recommend testing to try to determine the disease. In all cases, you will need to isolate the pet and clean the environment well with disinfectants until you can get a diagnosis and a treatment plan started.
Abused children find comfort in furry friend
At the Snohomish County Courthouse, child interview specialist Gina Coslett of Dawson Place shows off Harper Lea, a 2-year-old lab trained to comfort children who are being asked to talk about crimes, or testify in a trial. Harper is a new addition to Dawson Place, which is the county's child advocacy center.
Harper is there as young victims of abuse talk about what happened
Last month, the 2-year-old Labrador retriever started working at Dawson Place, the county’s child advocacy center that serves more than 1,000 abused children a year.
Harper is a special pooch whose job is to offer kids comfort at times when they may be scared, confused and uncomfortable.
She snuggles with children who are asked to recount horrific crimes committed against them. Her coat often soaks up their tears. Harper senses when kids need to be nuzzled or when a good dog trick will chase away the hurt.
Children often leave her side, saying, “I think she loves me. I think she’s going to miss me.”
Since she was a puppy, Harper has been raised to be a service dog. She received extensive training through the California-based Canine Companions for Independence.
Her handler, child interview specialist Gina Coslett had been waiting almost a year to be paired with Harper. Coslett was convinced that she wanted a canine partner after working with another service dog named Stilson.
Stilson, a stocky black Labrador, works in the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office and has helped out at Dawson Place.
When he came to the office in 2006, Stilson was only the second service dog in the nation used by prosecutors.
He was so good at his job that people were convinced that Dawson Place also should use a service dog to help child victims.
The center offers centralized assistance for physically and sexually abused children. Medical personnel, counselors, advocates, state caseworkers, prosecutors and police are available in the same building to help streamline assistance to children and their families.
Children and teens receive free medical exams, mental health assessments and counseling. The center also houses detectives and prosecutors who investigate crimes against children.
Now through a partnership, the county’s law enforcement agencies all pay for Coslett’s salary and Harper’s expenses, said Mary Wahl, the executive director at Dawson Place.
Harper lives with Coslett and has become a part of the family. She’s even teaching Coslett’s other dog, Duca, a miniature Pinscher and rat terrier mix, some much-needed manners.
“They really are best friends,” Coslett said.
Harper loves to play, chase balls and buddy around with other dogs, but when her work vest is on she’s all business.
As a forensic interview specialist, it’s Coslett’s job to ask children about alleged crimes, either committed against them or witnessed by them. She must remain neutral and disconnected from the emotions that often fill the room during these interviews. She can’t hug the child or offer them any comforting words. There is no parent with the child and Coslett isn’t a therapist. That’s not her role.
“It’s so hard not to reach out, whether I believe them or not,” said Coslett, a mom and grandmother.
That’s where Harper comes in.
The friendly pooch greets the children and sits next to them while Coslett asks questions. She lays her head in their laps. Small hands pet her shiny coat. Sometimes it is easier for children to talk to her about their hurt than to the adult in the room. Harper won’t leave their side until Coslett gives the command.
Coslett said it is remarkable to see the dog follow a child’s cues. She senses when to get closer without being told. Harper can smell stress and fear.
“She knows she’s there to comfort,” Coslett said. “She takes over and knows what to do.”
The kids also like her tricks. She can turn off lights, give a high-five and carry her own leash. It’s heartening to hear a child’s laugh or see him smile after hearing about his pain in such detail, Coslett said. Harper provides some of that healing.
The Labrador was named after Harper Lee, the author of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
The book reflects on justice, doing the right thing and love, Coslett said. Harper seemed like a fitting name for a dog with so much heart.
Antifreeze manufacturers agree to add bittering agent to make products unpalatable to animals and humans
Bittering agent will be applied to products manufactured in all 50 states.
Antifreeze and engine coolant manufactured in the United States will now contain a bitter flavoring agent to prevent animals and children from being poisoned by the sweet-tasting liquid. Although legislation has been passed in several states, the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) and the Humane Society Legislative Fund jointly announced Dec. 13 that the industry would now voluntarily add the flavoring agent to products for sale on the consumer market in all 50 states.
“Poisoning occurs because animals are attracted to the sweetness of antifreeze and engine coolant, which inadvertently spills in our driveways or is left in open containers in garages,” the joint release says. HSLF says estimates range from 10,000 to 90,000 animals poisoned each year from ingesting ethylene glycol, the toxic substance used in antifreeze. The release claims that one teaspoon of antifreeze or engine coolant can kill an average-sized cat.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says ethylene glycol is rapidly absorbed following ingestion, leading to systemic toxicity beginning with effects on the central nervous system, followed by cardiopulmonary effects and, finally, renal failure. Clinical signs may be more subtle in animals than humans.
Veterinary school offers chemotherapy for pets
Dr. Shawna Klahn (left) and Dr. Nick Dervisis (right) have begun a new oncology program. “Bootsie” (left) of Blacksburg, Va., and “Josie” (right), a West Virginia native, are in treatment for cancer
Veterinarians at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine have administered chemotherapy to about 70 animals since launching an oncology program six weeks ago. Four-year-old Burmese mountain dog Dylan’s lymph nodes are back to normal after chemotherapy to treat his lymphoma, says veterinary oncologist Shawna Klahn. “What we have done is bring in a closed or a needless system and updated the safe way of giving chemotherapy,” she said. WSLS-TV (Roanoke, Va.)
BLACKSBURG, VA —
Dylan is a Bernese Mountain Dog getting chemotherapy at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg.
The school is offering a new service with the help of Doctor Shawna Klahn and Dr. Nick Dervisis. A biopsy showed cancer in Dylan’s lymph nodes.
“It came back as lymphoma,” Dr. Klahn explained. “He came into oncology and we started chemotherapy, and his lymph nodes are all down to normal as of today.”
Dylan is only four years old and the treatment he is getting, is expected to give him a better quality of life.
“There are no hopeless cases for us,” Dr. Dervisis says.
Doc is getting chemotherapy for a rare spleen cancer in cats. He is one of more than 70 patients that have gotten chemotherapy in the six weeks it has been offered.
Safety in administering the chemo drugs is extremely important.
“What we have done is bring in a closed or a needless system and updated the safe way of giving chemotherapy,” Dr. Klahn says. “It is safe for our staff, pets and our clients.”
From custom fitted face masks to gloves that are more durable than the typical latex everyone in the oncology department is working toward the same goal.
“Providing hope by improving their quality of life slowing down most of the cancer,” Dr. Dervisis says.
Pet hospice increases options for pets and owners
Veterinary at-home hospice services provide end-of-life care for ill pets, improving quality of life for animals and potentially extending life, albeit only for a few days in some cases. Hospice care must be administered by a veterinarian who works in conjunction with the pet’s regular veterinarian to provide palliative treatment such as pain management and catheter placement. San Francisco Chronicle
Shea Cox has spent her 11-year career as a veterinarian fighting to save animals’ lives.
Now, as a provider of pet hospice, she shepherds her patients through death, tending to their needs and those of their guardians, relieving animals’ pain so they can live out their final days surrounded by loved ones, not in the sterile confines of a veterinary clinic.
Modeled on human hospice, the growing field of pet hospice offers palliative care to animals in their homes. It ushers in a profound shift in how people care for dying and elderly pets, providing an option that falls between aggressive medical intervention and immediate euthanasia.
For pet owners, in-home care gives solace as they make painful end-of-life decisions.
Jeff Aoki of Oakland was in Colorado for his father’s funeral when he got a call that would only deepen his grief. His yellow Labrador, Sunny, had cancer that had spread throughout her body.
“I was devastated,” Aoki said. “Sunny was my rock, my best friend and constant companion.”
Aoki and his fiance, Sandy Wong, arranged for Sunny to receive pet hospice care from Cox. The care, which included a urinary catheter (a tumor had made it impossible for her to urinate), gave her a few extra days at home.
Aoki flew home, and for several days the couple showered Sunny with love, trips to the beach and park – and filet mignon.
When it was time to say goodbye, Cox put her to sleep in their backyard. “It was a sad, sad time but this made it so much easier,” Aoki said.
Missing plans
Cox – who was a human hospice nurse before becoming a vet – got the inspiration for her newly launched Bridge Veterinary Services while working as an ER/critical care vet at Pet Emergency Treatment and Specialty Referral Center, a Berkeley animal hospital.
“Working in that setting, I kept seeing nothing about making a plan if a patient had an incurable disease,” she said. “The choice was between either being in the hospital to get better or having to euthanize. It seemed like a disconnect; there had to be a way to offer something in between.”
With almost two-thirds of American households owning pets, it’s not surprising that attitudes toward animals’ final days have evolved from the rural past, when they were unceremoniously put down. The overwhelming majority of pet owners consider their companion animals to be family members, according to a 2011 Harris poll. At the same time, more and more people have witnessed their loved ones using human hospice.
Extending care
“We’ve decided as a culture to support human passing as compassionately as we’re able to, with hospice and palliative care,” said Oakland resident Erika Macs. As a hospital chaplain, she is intimately familiar with end-of-life issues. “It’s a natural progression that we would extend that to the animals in our lives that we’re caretakers for.”
When her 17-year-old cat, Mittens, became critically ill last year, Macs turned to Dr. Anthony Smith, a Hercules vet whose Rainbow Bridge Vet Services has offered hospice and home euthanasia for a dozen years.
“Dr. Smith was able to bring both a medical model and a sense of respectful, compassionate presence,” Macs said.
“The beauty of human hospice is it gives time to have (final) conversations,” Macs said. “With pets, it also gives time to say goodbye. The better the closure, the more quickly a person is able to heal and move on.”
Medical supervision
Pet hospice must be provided by a veterinarian because it involves medical assessments and pain medicines. Pet hospice vets coordinate with the animal’s regular vet. As in human hospice, if pets get better, they can transition back to regular medical treatment.
The costs pencil out to be more than regular check-ups but much less than invasive medical intervention. Bridge Veterinary Services, for instance, charges $250 for an initial appointment that includes a two- or three-hour at-home assessment and such initial care as inserting IV tubes or catheters.
Read more: https://www.sfgate.com/pets/article/Hospice-for-pets-comforts-owners-too-3958378.php#ixzz2FxpiHcoa
Washington, D.C.’s most powerful dog can be trusted
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s golden retriever, Bravo, has been privy to top-secret information, including the details of the raid that led to the death of Osama bin Laden. Bravo “sat in on almost all of the meetings involving the operations against bin Laden,” Panetta told the National Press Club. The Atlantic Wire
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta owns a golden retriever — code name: Bravo; real name: Bravo — who, besides witnessing first-paw the CIA’s plans to hunt down Osama bin Laden, is way better at keeping secrets than disgraced former CIA chief David Petraeus, reports Bloomberg.
Long known as “the most powerful dog in DC” (as opposed to the most powerful dog in the world, which would be Bo Obama), Bravo was privy to precise details of the Navy SEAL’s 2011 raid in Abbottabad. The auburn-furred dog, Panetta remarked at the National Press Club today, freely darted in and out of offices, including Panetta’s, where the raid was being planned, and “sat in on almost all of the meetings involving the operations against bin Laden.”
Although actual human beings are responsible for leaking the details of Osama bin Laden’s capture and death to the makers of Zero Dark Thirty (which comes out today), blame has never, ever fallen on Bravo’s air-tight muzzle. Panetta: “To this day, [Bravo] hasn’t told a damn soul what happened.”
That’s not just because Bravo can’t speak because Bravo is a dog. Indeed, Bravo is capable of literally sniffing out other leakers.
Speaking of leaks, a touchy subject here at the Pentagon, Panetta joked that Bravo was there to sniff them out.
In fact, Bravo did take a moment to study the shoes of CBS’ esteemed Pentagon reporter David Martin.
Nothing to see, or smell here.
Boy with epilepsy opens up about his life with service dog
Obtaining a service dog has been life-changing for 9-year-old Evan Moss, who has epilepsy and wrote about his condition and his dog to educate people. Evan’s dog Mindy alerts his parents when he has a seizure, allowing them to treat him. Evan and his family raised money to purchase Mindy by selling a book Evan wrote about needing her, and the proceeds allowed them to help other children obtain dogs as well. CNN
My name is Evan Moss and I’m a 9-year-old boy who likes Pokemon! A lot!
When I was 1 month old I started having seizures, and when I was 4 years old I went to Dr. Weiner and he gave me brain surgery to stop my seizures. It stopped my seizures for two years but not my appetite, it just kept on growing! It is still growing.
After two years my seizures came back and now they are longer. When was little I had like 15 small seizures a day. Now I have 10-minute seizures but I only have one every 14 days or so.
I have two dogs. One is Dinky and the other is Mindy. Dinky is our family dog and he really belongs to my sister, Aria. Mindy is my seizure dog.
Getting Mindy took a long time. We had to raise a lot of money and wait almost a year to meet her and then we had to drive from Virginia to Ohio to get Mindy.
Having Mindy is very fun! When I first got Mindy it was pretty hard because she didn’t listen to me, but now she does and she knows a lot of commands. I’ve even taught her some new things, like climbing up into the fort section of my swing set. The best thing about having Mindy is playing with her and I love racing with her. If she is on her leash she runs right next to me but I know she can run really fast.
I have epilepsy but I can do some extraordinary things like ride a zip line! Epilepsy can also be bad, though, and I’ve heard about some seizures that can kill you! Sometimes I worry that will happen to me but I don’t think about that too much, plus I have Mindy to help me.
Mindy barks when I have a seizure so my parents will know. When I have a seizure, my mom and dad give me medicine to help stop the seizure. People ask me a lot what it feels like but it’s hard to describe and sometimes I don’t remember having a seizure.
If I met someone who just found out they have epilepsy I’d say, “Don’t worry, you’re not in this alone!”