Royal Canin's Feline Prescription Food RecalledNovember 7, 2012Royal Canin Canada says it is recalling all of its Medi-Cal Feline Dissolution Formula prescription canned cat food.Pet food company Royal Canin Canada says it is recalling all of its Medi-Cal Feline Dissolution Formula prescription canned cat food. Pet food company Royal Canin Canada says it is recalling all of its Medi-Cal Feline Dissolution Formula prescription canned cat food because one production lot contains contaminated wheat gluten. This product is produced for Royal Canin Canada by the Ontario, Canada, plant of Menu Foods, the company that's recalling nearly 100 pet food products due to a contamination of the industrial plastic melamine in wheat gluten used in many pet food products. Although only one production lot is believed to be affected, Royal Canin Canada says that to eliminate any risks to cats, it's proactively advising veterinary clinics to remove all of the Feline Dissolution Formula cans. To date, the company says it has not received any reports of illness in cats eating the product, but that it will provide financial reimbursement for veterinary costs to veterinary clinics that treat any animals made sick by the product. Royal Canin says that its Medi-Cal Feline Dissolution Formula product is the company's only wheat …
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Wellness Dog Food Recalled Amid WellPet Website OutageNovember 5, 2012 WellPet LLC of Tewsbury, Mass., recalled 12-pound bags of its Wellness Small Breed Adult Health dry dog food due to high moristure levels, the company reported Wednesday through its Facebook page. The recalled bags have a best-by date of Aug. 18, 2013. The high moisture levels create the potential for mold. The company, which manufactures the pet food brands Wellness, Holistic Select, Eagle Pack and Old Mother Hubbard, was forced to make the recall announcement via Facbook because its websites are down due to damage from Superstorm Sandy, a spokeswoman said today. Though the company's Massachusetts employees are at work, the website servers are housed in New Jersey, where the storm wrecked significant damage. The websites may be operating again Friday, company spokeswoman Amy Grosheider said. The company's consumer affairs team is serving pet owners and retailers by fielding phone calls at 800-225-0904 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT and by responding to email at info@wellpet.com. The company said customers who bought any of the recalled products can return the it to their place …
Vet Clinics In The Northeast Struggle With Loss Of Power, FloodingOctober 31, 2012 Veterinary clinics in the Northeastern United States are affected by Super Storm Sandy newsline Vet Clinics in the Northeast Struggle with Loss of Power, Flooding Like many businesses in storm-ravaged parts of New York City and New Jersey, veterinary clinics and hospitals continue to feel the lingering effects of Superstorm Sandy. BluePearl Veterinary Partners, which runs three 24-hour emergency and referral hospitals in New York City for pets, did not lose power during the storm, but many others did. The BluePearl hospitals have generators, none of which incurred any flood damage, noted David Wohlstadter, senior emergency clinician with BluePearl. “We saw a lot of cases from animal hospitals that would have potentially been open,” he said. “Referring vets sent us cases since their power went down.” BluePearl’s Manhattan location saw 25 cases over the course of last night. “We’re not seeing any storm-related injuries,” Wohlstadter said. “We are seeing injuries and illnesses that we would otherwise see, such as a vomiting or diarrhea.” Wohlstadter noted BluePearl Manhattan had also seen an influx of some …
Flooding And High Winds In The Northeast Could Displace Owners And PetsOctober 29, 2012 Emergency veterinary clinics and disaster response teams were preparing for Hurricane Sandy today as the storm headed toward the Northeastern United States. The hurricane may reach southern New Jersey this evening and is forecast to bring 90-mph winds and flooding to the Northeast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Emergency clinics expect a long week as many private practice veterinarians close their offices. The 24/7 Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center of Turnersville, N.J., is the only clinic in the area to stay open, said human resources director Mary Ann Leone. “We had a busy weekend, but the calls weren’t necessarily related to the storm,” Leone said. “Since all the primary vets have closed, we’re the only clinic that’s seeing animals.” The three BluePearl Veterinary clinics in New York City also are open. The American Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams are waiting to deploy in states that require additional help. The teams, funded by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, will assist with treatment and in establishing bases of operation for veterinary triage …
Greenies To Make Television Debut In OctoberOctober 25, 2012 The Greenies brand will make its first foray into television advertising with the debut of “Season’s Greenies” spots broadcast on national cable and network channels. The first nationally televised commercial will appear Oct. 29 on CBS during “The Price is Right,” according to the manufacturer, The Nutro Company of Franklin, Tenn. The 15- and 30-second ads will run through December and target 25- to 54-year-old consumers, said Ian Greene, management supervisor at Trone Brand Energy, the High Point, N.C., marketing agency behind the commercials. “For our inaugural use of television, we’re building on pet parents’ desire to give special gifts for the holidays,” said Tim Blankenbaker, senior brand manager at Greenies. “We reveal that Greenies canine dental chews are the ultimate choice because dogs go crazy when they see, smell and taste them, and they’re actually really good for them, too.” The TV spots will play off the sight of children ecstatically receiving a toothbrush as a present. As a dog is revealed pawing at, jumping for and devouring a Greenies chew, the voice-over announcer says, “Kids never get this excited about
Peanut Recall Expands To Bird And Small Animal FoodOctober 25, 2012 Wildwood Seed & Specialties of Monroe, Ore., voluntarily recalled a limited supply of its Sleek and Sassy bird and small animal foods that contain raw in-shell peanuts, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported today. The products use peanut ingredients that Sunland Inc. recalled because of possible salmonella contamination. No pet or consumer illnesses have been linked to the Wildwood products, the FDA stated. The potentially affected lots were distributed to retailers in Oregon and Washington and were sold in plastic bags, jars and paper bags. The recalled products bear the manufacturing codes 01148 through 01241 and have the following UPC: • Garden Conure: 0-1253111602-0 (2-pound bag); 0-1253111604-4 (4-pound bag); 0-1253111620-4 (20-pound bag); 0-12531-11640-2 (40-pound bag) • Garden Large Hookbill: 0-1253113102-3 (2-pound bag); 0-1253113104-7 (4-pound bag); 0-1253113120-7 (20-pound bag); 0-1253113140-5 (40-pound bag) • Garden Large Hookbill, No Sunflower: 0-1253113202-0 (2-pound bag); 0-1253113204-4 (4-pound bag); 0-1253113220-4 (20-pound bag); 0-1253113240-2 (40-pound bag) • Garden Parrot: 0-1253112103-1 (3-pound bag); 0-1253112125-3 (25-pound bag) • Nutty Garden & Grain: 0-1253115502-9 (2-pound bag); 0-1253115504-3 (4-pound bag); 0-1253115520-3 (20-pound bag); 0-1253115540-1 (40-pound bag) • Garden Macaw: 0-1253115602-6 (2-pound bag); 0-1253115604-0 (4-pound bag); 0-1253115620-0 (20-pound bag); 0-1253115640-8 (40-pound …
Gentle Leader Co-Inventor Dies At 90October 24, 2012 Robert “R.K.” Anderson, a revolutionary animal behaviorist, founder of the Animal Behavior Resources Institute and co-inventor of the Gentle Leader head collar and Easy Walk harness, died Thursday night at his Falcon Heights, Minn., home. He was 90. Anderson, DVM, MPH, Dipl. ACVB, Dipl. ACVPM, remained active until a few weeks ago as an animal behaviorist and as a professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. “Today, dogs and cats have lost their best friend, one they may have never known they had,” Steve Dale, a syndicated columnist, radio host in Chicago and certified animal behavior consultant, wrote on his Facebook page. “I lost an inspiration.” The University of Minnesota released a statement that called Dr. Anderson “a gentle giant in the world of veterinary medicine.” “Anderson led a distinguished career that is immortalized through numerous awards and honors, two inventions that revolutionized dog training and handling, several nonprofit organizations, which he helped found, more than 75 scientific papers, and countless numbers of students whom he mentored,” the university stated. Anderson attended the American Veterinary Medical Association convention in August in San Diego and sat in on behavior classes, Dale …
Nature’s Recipe Recalls Two Lots Of Dog BiscuitsOctober 23, 2012 Nature’s Recipe, a brand of San Francisco-based Del Monte Foods, voluntarily recalled a limited number of Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken on Saturday because of possible salmonella contamination. The two recalled lots were distributed nationally, primarily through pet specialty retailers, the Food and Drug Administration stated. The products were sold in 19-ounce stand-up resealable pouches and marked with: • Lot code 2199TP, UPC code 30521 51549, best-by date of 10-11-13. • Lot code 2200TP, UPC code 30521 51549, best-by date of 10-12-13. Salmonella can affect animals that eat contaminated products. People who handle the products or have contact with a pet carrying the infection are at risk as well. No pet or consumer illnesses have been linked to the recalled biscuits. The affected dog treats were manufactured in one of the company’s U.S. plants, the FDA reported. Neither the FDA nor Nature’s Recipe revealed how the problem originated or which plant was involved. Consumers who bought any of the recalled products are advised to stop feeding the treats and discard them. For instructions on obtaining replacement products, Nature’s Recipe asked customers to use the Contact Us form at
AKC Grants Include One Health ComponentsOctober 22, 2012The American Kennel Club awarded 17 research grants totaling $1.7 million to 13 institutions and universities through the club’s Canine Health Foundation Oak Grant program, the AKC reported today. Many of the grants contain a One Health - One Medicine component, including one that will test the efficacy of a novel procedure to treat canine brain tumors with the eventual goal of translating the procedure to human health care. “Naturally occurring disease in dogs is emerging as the most rigorous model for breakthroughs in treatments and therapies,” said Shila Nordone, the foundation’s chief scientific officer. “One Health - One Medicine allows us to prevent, treat and cure canine disease while simultaneously supporting human health,” she added. Since being founded in 1995, the foundation, which is funded by the AKC, Nestlé Purina PetCare and Pfizer Animal Health, among others, has invested more than $29 million in canine health research. Donations for the grant program may be made through the foundation website. Last year, the program awarded $1.5 million through 21 grants to 14 institutions. Grants …
How I Talk To Kids (and Their Parents) About Their Pets’ DeathOctober 22, 2012 Recently, I went on an odd house call. I was quietly led through a side-yard gate, ushered silently through a lush garden and ultimately secreted into a cozy, well-appointed pool house. The purpose of my visit, as with so many of our house calls, was the euthanasia of one of the household’s animals. The point of all the surreptitiousness, however, was more to do with ensuring that the children—4 and 8 years old—weren’t exposed to the event taking place only 15 yards from their all-consuming Dora the Explorer experience. Which struck me as rather strange. After all, death is a part of life, one we’ll all have to face at some point. And frankly, because it seemed odd that people enlightened enough to want their pet euthanized at home would hold out on their kids on something so … well … important, life-altering and potentially growth inspiring. But then some degree of eccentricity is to be expected when it comes to something as personal and gut-wrenching as the death of our beloved pets. We know it from our own experiences too, right? So it is that we can, in most cases, forgive any stray peccadillo …
