Petsmart Adds More Pet Carousel Products To Recall ListNovember 10, 2009 Petsmart's voluntary recall of beef hoof products was expanded Nov. 10 to include a dozen more products manufactured by Pet Carousel Inc. of Sanger, Calif., because of concerns of potential salmonella contamination. The newly recalled products include additional beef hoof chews and certain rope toys containing hoof or bone components. The retailer also expanded the purchase dates to include products bought from Sept. 1 to Nov. 6. The complete list of recalled products is: Dentley’s Bulk Cattle Hoof: 1611247 (SKU), 73725703323 (UPC) Dentley’s Choobles 10-Pack Beef Hooves: 5019015 (SKU), 73725736055 (UPC) Choo-Hooves Stuffed With Cheese-Bacon: 1611993 (SKU), 3465190058 (UPC) Choo-Hooves Stuffed With Peanut Butter: 611994 (SKU), 3465190056 (UPC) Flossy Chews Choo-Hoove Roper Two-Hooves: 1813131 (SKU), 3465117005 (UPC) Flossy Chews Roper Bone Buddy: 1815505 (SKU), 3465190002 (UPC) Flossy Chews Beef Bones With Rope Toy: 5080721 (SKU), 3465117055 (UPC) Flossy Chews White Bone Rope: 5147942 (SKU), 3465117065 (UPC) Knucle Steaks 2-Pack: 5084141 (SKU), 3465190046 (UPC) Choo-Hooves Dog Chews 3-Pack: 1611410 (SKU), 3465184103 (UPC) 3-Pack Smoked Hooves: 5042279 (SKU), 3465114003 (UPC), 34651140037 (UPC) 5-lb. Cow Hooves: 5042275 (SKU), 34651150609 (UPC), 3465115060 (UPC) 5-lb. Smokies-Hooves: 5042277 (SKU), 34651140556 …
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University Of California Launches Global Health InstituteNovember 10, 2009 The University of California on Nov. 9 launched a Global Health Institute using almost $4 million in startup funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The institute will begin a one-year master’s degree program for enrolling students in fall 2011 and focus the expertise of the university’s 10 campuses in creating solutions to the world’s global health challenges. “One Health: Water, Animals, Food and Society” is one of the three multicampus, multidisciplinary centers established under the institute. “It is becoming very clear that we in the United States both receive and contribute to global health problems,” said Patricia Conrad, DVM, Ph.D., a professor in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, who will lead the One Health Center. “This year we saw how new diseases like H1N1 influenza are only a short flight away from us in California and how, within days, they can spread worldwide. We also are seeing how financial decisions made in the United States can profoundly impact the entire world’s economy, just as our carbon use can alter the world’s climate. “Our students see this clearly, and they want the practical skills, relevant knowledge and opportunities to help solve the …
Beverly Hills Moves Toward Declaw BanNovember 6, 2009 Beverly Hills is the latest California city to push for an ordinance that would ban cat declawing. The City Council gave initial approval with a 5-0 vote Nov. 5. A second vote is expected Nov. 17, the Los Angeles Times reported. Beverly Hills is following Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Malibu and Berkley in trying to get declaw ordinances passed and enacted before Dec. 31. The hard push is to avoid Senate Bill 762, which takes effect Jan. 1. SB 762 was signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on July 2 and, in short, will not allow cities and counties to pass ordinances banning medical procedures. The legislation, supported by the California Veterinary Medical Assn., was in response to West Hollywood’s 2003 ban on the procedure. The CVMA contends that standards for medical professionals should be uniform statewide. According to the CVMA’s position statement: “The decision to declaw a cat should be made by the owner in consultation with their veterinarian. The declawing of cats may become necessary for medical or behavioral reasons and should be used instead of abandonment or euthanasia.” Anti-declaw groups such as The Paw Project say the procedure causes …
FDA Warns Not To Use Pet Carousel’s Pig Ears, Beef HoovesNovember 6, 2009 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use pig ear and beef hoof pet treats manufactured by Pet Carousel Inc. of Sanger, Calif., because of potential salmonella contamination. The pig ear products were packaged under the brand names Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel. The beef hooves were packaged under the brand names Choo Hooves, Dentley’s, Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel. The products were distributed nationwide in bulk and retail packaging for sale in pet food and chain stores. All size and all lots of the products are included in the FDA’s warning, issued Nov. 5. Petsmart voluntarily recalled its Dentley’s beef hooves Nov. 4. The products include Dentley’s Bulk Cattle Hoof and Dentley’s 10-Pack Beef Hooves. Read the full story here. The FDA’s warning came after the agency did routine testing in September of Pet Carousel’s pig ears. The results detected a positive reading for salmonella, thus prompting an investigation, according to the FDA. The FDA said it found salmonella present in not only the pig ears, but in beef hooves and in the manufacturing environment. The FDA has not reported any illnesses associated with the pet …
Petsmart Recalls Dentley’s Beef HoovesNovember 5, 2009 Due to concerns of potential salmonella contamination, Petsmart has voluntarily recalled two of its Dentley’s Beef Hoof products for dogs. Customers who purchased the following products between Oct. 2 and Nov. 3 should discontinue using them immediately: Description SKU# UPC# Use By Date Dentley’s Bulk Cattle Hoof 1611247 73725703323 10/14/2012 Dentley’s 10 Pack Beef Hooves 5019015 73725736055 10/14/2012 Customers can return recalled products to any Petsmart store for a complete refund or exchange. Jessica White, Petsmart spokeswoman, said the company was notified of the potential salmonella contamination by the manufacturer, Pet Carousel Inc. of Sanger, Calif. According to Petsmart, the affected products were shipped from Pet Carousel’s facility in Sanger to Petsmart distribution centers in Ottawa, Ill., Groveport, Ohio and Newnan, Ga., then shipped directly to certain Petsmart stores. Petsmart has opted to …
New Orleans Mandatory Dog Spay/Neuter Ordinance ScrappedNovember 5, 2009 New Orleans City Council member Cynthia Hedge-Morrell withdrew her mandatory spay/neuter and breeding restrictions proposal on late Nov. 4, a day before it was to be voted on by the full council. Hedge-Morrell introduced the ordinance in September stating that the aim was to encourage pet owners to be responsible as well as help fund animal control operations. The ordinance had been amended since the introduction to allow dog owners to have the choice of whether to keep their dog intact by paying an initial $30 permit application fee plus a $20 annual permit fee. However, since the proposed fee must first be advertised to the public before the council can vote on it, the ordinance was withdrawn from the agenda, according to Joshua Barnett, director of communications, Office of Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell. “We are going to use this time as an opportunity to get more info and input from breeders and veterinarians [to make this the best ordinance it can be],” Barnett said. A time frame as to when the topic would be re-visited couldn’t be determined, according to Barnett. The American Kennel Club has been strongly opposed to the ordinance and …
New Legislation Aims To Regulate How Research Facilities Acquire AnimalsNovember 5, 2009 Two bills were recently introduced that aims to ensure that all dogs and cats used by research facilities are obtained legally. House Bill 3907 and Senate Bill 1834 would amend the Animal Welfare Act through the “Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2009.” Similar legislation was introduced in 2007, but no action was taken. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council recently sent out an alert urging people to read the bills and to contact the committee members with any inquiries. The legislation, as outlined by PIJAC, states that a research facility or a Federal research facility, or any person selling, donating or offering a dog or cat to a research facility or a Federal research facility, may obtain a dog or cat for research or educational purposes from the following: a dealer licensed under section 3 that has bred and raised the dog or cat; a publicly owned and operated pound or shelter that a) is registered with the Secretary, b) in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and c) obtained the dog or cat from its legal owner, not a pound or shelter; a person that is donating the dog or cat and …
Iowa Cat Tests Positive For H1N1November 4, 2009 Iowa officials confirmed Nov. 4 that a cat has tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. This is the first time this strain of influenza has been diagnosed in a cat. Up until this point, H1N1 had only been found in humans, pigs, birds and ferrets. The 13-year-old indoor cat was taken to the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where it was tested. “Two of the three members of the family that owns the pet had suffered from influenza-like illness before the cat become ill,” said Ann Garvey, DVM, public health veterinarian at the Iowa Department of Public Health. “This is not completely unexpected, as other strains of influenza have been found in cats in the past.” Both the cat and its owners have recovered from their illnesses. The diagnosis was made in collaboration of the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, the Center for Advanced Host Defenses, Immunobiotics and Translational Comparative Medicine, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Animal Industry Bureau. This is not the only recent H1N1 first. On …
Canine Influenza Virus Shelter Study LaunchedNovember 3, 2009 The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has launched a three-year study on Canine Influenza Virus (CIV), also commonly called the dog flu. The study, funded by the Morris Animal Foundation, aims to help shelters develop testing and control methods to limit the effects of the disease in communities nationwide. Miranda Spindel, DVM, ASPCA director of veterinary outreach, and Gabriele Landolt, DVM, of Colorado State University’s Department of Clinical Sciences, will conduct the study, which will include ASPCA shelter partners in Tampa, Fla.; Austin, Texas; Sacramento, Calif.,; Charleston, S.C.; New York; and Denver, Colo. “Infection control practices can reduce the risk of CIV and are key to preventing the spread of viral disease within facilities,” Dr. Spindel said. “Due to the fact that the virus is easily transmitted between dogs housed in close contact with each other, it is problematic for animal shelters. This study seeks to address this vulnerable population.” The study will also determine whether a rapid “bedside” test can be effectively used for screening dogs upon entering the shelter. If such a test were available, dogs could be tested for CIV prior …
FDA Issues Alert On Pet Insulin Product Due To Formulation ProblemsNovember 3, 2009 Veterinarians are being warned to closely monitor dogs and cats receiving Vetsulin because the product may have varying amounts of crystalline zinc insulin in the formulation, according to an alert sent out Nov. 2 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. Vetsulin, which is manufactured by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, is a porcine insulin zinc suspension used to treat diabetes in animals. Because the product is out of specification, there could be a delay in insulin action and overall longer duration of insulin activity, according to the FDA. Products having significant problems with stability can affect the management of chronic diseases. Unstable insulin products can result in unpredictable fluctuations in the glucose levels of diabetic patients, the FDA noted in its alert. Veterinarians are urged to monitor patients for any changes in onset or duration of activity, or for any signs of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. The classic signs of hyperglycemia include increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss and lethargy. The classic signs of hypoglycemia include disorientation, unsteadiness, weakness, lethargy and seizures. The FDA said that while Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is working with them to resolve the issue, supplies may be limited. Therefore, the FDA …
