Steve's Real Food Recalls Turducken Diet For DogsMarch 8, 2013 Due to possible salmonella contamination, Steve's Real Food issued a recall on March 7, 2013, of 5-pound bags of its Turducken Canine Diet (8-ounce patties) distributed from Oct. 2012 to Jan. 2013. The issue came to light when Minnesota Department of Agriculture personnel, after a routine sampling, determined one 5-pound bag had the “potential for contamination.” Gary Bursell, CEO of the Murray, Utah-based pet food manufacturer, said he thinks that the alert might have stemmed from finding an open bag. “We use a biodegradable film on the bags, and we've had problems sealing the patty bags, not the nuggets,” Bursell said. Consequently, Steve's Real Food made the decision to recall the July 27, 2012, production run of 5-pound bags of Turducken Canine Diet Patties, which the suspect bag was part of, and preempt any action by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Bursell explained. The entire amount of product recalled is 40 cases, consisting of 240 bags or 1,200 pounds of patties. Bags of the recalled product have lot number B-209-10-27-13 and a best-before date of Oct. 27, 2013. The product was distributed by Holistic Pet Source in Nashville, Tenn.; PFX Pet Supply …
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Veterinarian Deidra Blackmon Dies In Texas ShootingMarch 7, 2013 Texas veterinarian Deidra Blackmon, DVM, was shot to death March 3 after a man apparently became angered when one of her friends vomited near his car, police reported.Dr. Blackmon, 33, was an associate veterinarian at Animal Emergency Hospital of North Texas Dr. Blackmon, 33, was a 2010 graduate of Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and an associate veterinarian at Animal Emergency Hospital of North Texas. “Like Deidra, we are all healers but are struggling how to heal each other,” chief of staff J. Bruce Nixon, DVM, stated on the hospital's Facebook page. “We will carry Deidra in our broken hearts and remember that we have been graced by her presence and friendship.” Jeffery Hansana, 24, who was arrested on a murder charge, encountered Blackmon and her friends when both groups were parked at a convenience store in Saginaw, Texas, police said. Blackson and two female friends had stopped after celebrating an upcoming wedding with a visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards entertainment district. The women drove away after one of Blackmon's friends got sick but …
Profit Jumps 47% At Pethealth As 2012 Revenue Sets RecordMarch 7, 2013 Business Booming at Pethealth Pethealth, insurance, microchip, business, profit, revenue, PetPoint, petGrowth in its pet insurance and microchip identification businesses helped Pethealth Inc. achieve record revenue in 2012 and a 47 percent jump in profit. Pethealth is North America's second largest provider of medical insurance for dogs and cats. newsline Profit Jumps 47% at Pethealth as 2012 Revenue Sets Record Posted: March 7, 2013, 6:05 p.m. EST Growth in its pet insurance and microchip identification businesses helped Pethealth Inc. achieve record revenue in 2012 and a 47 percent jump in profit, the Canadian company reported Wednesday. Pethealth, North America's second largest provider of medical insurance for dogs and cats, sells policies in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. The Oakville, Ontario-based company also licenses its cloud-based PetPoint animal management software system and sells RFID microchips and pet recovery services. "Our noninsurance business continues to grow, and this growth looks set to continue," said president and CEO Mark Warren. For the year, Pethealth reported record revenue of $37.4 million, a gain of 13 percent over 2011 numbers. Its profit rose …
Researchers Report Higher Rates Of 5 Diseases Linked To NeuterMarch 5, 2013 Sterilization Can Put Golden Retrievers at Risk, Study Finds Davis, golden retriever, health, study, hip dysplasia, disease, spay, neuter Hip dysplasia occurred twice as often in male golden retrievers neutered before age 1, UC Davis researchers reported Wednesday in a study that also revealed an increased likelihood of other diseases linked to the spaying and neutering of the breed. A study looked at the rates of hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament tears, lymphosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma and mast cell tumors in 759 golden retrievers.newsline Researchers Report Higher Rates of 5 Diseases Linked to Neuter Posted: Feb. 14, 2013, 4:20 p.m. EST Hip dysplasia occurred twice as often in male golden retrievers neutered before age 1, University of California, Davis, researchers reported Wednesday in a study that also revealed an increased likelihood of other diseases linked to the spaying and neutering of the breed. The study, published in the online peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE, looked at the rates of hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament tears, lymphosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma and mast cell tumors in 759 golden retrievers examined during the past decade at UC Davis’ William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. For all five diseases …
New AVMA Euthanasia Guidelines Expand Advice On Preferred MethodsMarch 1, 2013 The guidelines, available online on the organization’s AVMA Policies page, were prepared over three years by a 13-member Panel on Euthanasia. The committee was led by chairman Steven Leary, DVM, Dipl. ACLAM, of Washington University in St. Louis, and vice chairwoman Wendy Underwood, DVM, of Eli Lilly and Co. in Indianapolis. “The latest update of our euthanasia guidelines offers much more depth and breadth of expertise in the affected species and the environments in which euthanasia is performed,” Dr. Leary said. “The guidelines are used by everyone from veterinarians in private practice, to caretakers on farms and researchers in biomedical facilities, to law enforcement, to governmental regulators.” The new guidelines acknowledge euthanasia as a process that involves more than just what happens to an animal at the time of its death, the AVMA reported. In addition to providing more information about techniques used for euthanasia across a broader range of species, the edition offers detailed information about animals’ physiologic and behavioral responses to euthanasia and addresses euthanasia’s effects on those performing and observing it. “As we learn more about …
Retro Flea RepellentsFebruary 28, 2013 Flea control remains a contentious subject in the companion animal health industry. Each company has its own take on the best way to prevent flea infestations. With at least anecdotal reports of fleas gaining resistance to fipronil, most companies agree that an integrated approach is necessary. Where the companies diverge is on how to administer that approach. From adding new molecules and delivery systems to environmental controls to simply increasing client compliance, many methods are available to approach flea control. Collaring the Flea Problem Bayer HealthCare’s Shawnee, Kan.-based Animal Health division introduced the Seresto flea collar at the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Fla., in January. The product is available for both cats and dogs and promises to repel ticks for eight months. Bayer developed the collar using a polymer developed by its parent company’s MaterialScience Division. The Seresto collar incorporates imidacloprid, the same chemical found in Bayer’s Advantage topical flea control products, and flumethrin, a pyrethroid acaracide.Flea collars have been around for decades, but Bayer says its version of the old neck halo is unlike anything on the market. The chemicals in the collar work synergistically …
Radiography Manufacturer Cuattro Veterinary Sells Majority Interest To HeskaFebruary 26, 2013Heska Corp., a Loveland, Colo., manufacturer of veterinary diagnostic and specialty products, acquired a 54.6 percent stake in Cuattro Veterinary USA LLC, the new owner reported Monday. Cuattro Vet, a division of Pekin, Ill.-based Cuattro LLC, launched UNO (equine) and CloudDR (small animal) flat-panel digital radiography products and services for the U.S. veterinary market in May 2011. The company also offers ultrasound equipment and cloud-based PACS. “Cuattro Vet products are a new platform and market for Heska, yet the professional sales, marketing and service organizations of both Cuattro Vet and Heska serve the same high-quality veterinary practices throughout the United States,” Heska stated. “The company anticipates...increased market presence, bundling programs, cross-promotion and the ability to provide more value propositions to each customer contact.” Cuattro Vet founder Kevin Wilson joined Heska as president and chief operating officer. Cuattro Vet's sales and marketing team will continue to be led by executive vice presidents Rod Lippincott and Steve Asakowicz, Heska reported. Heska paid $7.65 million in cash and stock for its interest in Cuattro …
Denver Processor Recalls Pet Treats Made Over 5-Month PeriodFebruary 26, 2013 Among the recalled items are selected lots of Petco pig ears, Target bully sticks and Nutri-Vet jerky. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported the recall Feb. 21. The recall came nearly three months after the FDA warned pet owners about a single lot of Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats sold at Costco and produced by Kasel. The agency issued the advisory Dec. 6 after Kasel declined to voluntarily recall the treats, which were identified as possibly being tainted by salmonella. Positive salmonella tests led Kasel last fall to recall some Boots & Barkley Roasted American Pig Ears and Boots & Barkley American Variety Pack Dog Treats sold at Target and another lot of Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats sold at Sam’s Club. No people have been sickened by salmonella linked to the company’s treats, but a small number of animals fell ill, the FDA stated. Company owner Ray Kasel defended the plant’s practices and accused the FDA of blowing the salmonella issue out of proportion. “The truth of the matter is that the FDA was in this facility two weeks …
Nature's Variety, Honest Kitchen, Hy-Vee Issue Dog Food RecallsFebruary 26, 2013 No illnesses or injuries were reported with any of the products. Nature’s Variety The recalls began Feb. 15 when St. Louis-based Nature’s Variety called out a single batch of Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula with a best-by date of 10/04/13. Some bags may contain pieces of clear plastic that could pose a choking risk to pets. The recalled foods include medallions in 3-pound bags (UPC number 7 69949 60137 1) and 27-pound cases (UPC number 7 69949 70137 8), and patties in 6-pound bags (UPC number 7 69949 60127 2) and 36-pound cases (UPC number 7 69949 70127 9). Consumers may return the food for a refund or exchange. More information is available at 888-519-7387. The Honest Kitchen San Diego-based The Honest Kitchen recalled five lots of its Verve, Zeal and Thrive dog foods Feb. 21 because of potential salmonella contamination. The food was produced from August to November 2012 and sold nationwide in the United States and Canada. The ingredient in question was a batch of human-grade parsley received from a supplier that no longer does business with The Honest Kitchen, said …
FreeHand, Founded On Principle Of Buy One, Give One, Is PurchasedFebruary 13, 2013 The new owners will continue the “buy one, give one” model, said Kavanaugh, FreeHand's chairman and senior adviser. “Millions of dogs are needlessly killed each year because municipal shelters and rescues can’t afford to feed them, and FreeHand solves this,” said Kavanaugh, CEO of the entertainment company Relativity Media. “My wife, Britta, and I are proud to be a part of what we call an ‘ecosystem for good.’” Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Los Angeles-based FreeHand was co-founded by Tom Bagamane, who also founded Integrated Pet Solutions and is a former director at The Kong Co. Bagamane will stay on as managing director of FreeHand. FreeHand manufactures four holistic, dry dog foods. With each bag sold, an equal amount of food is given to a local rescue organization or shelter. The company has given more than 16,000 pounds, or 46,000 meals, to U.S. shelter dogs since the program's inception. “We have tremendous momentum in building our brand in the first six months since our product launch," Bagamane said. "This is certain to increase with the acquisition of the company, with Ryan …
