FDA Continues to Caution Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products
November 18, 2011The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is again cautioning consumers that chicken jerky products for dogs (also sold as chicken tenders, strips or treats) may be associated with illness in dogs. In the last 12 months, FDA has seen an increase in the number of complaints it received of dog illnesses associated with consumption of chicken jerky products imported from China. These complaints have been reported to FDA by dog owners and veterinarians.FDA issued a cautionary warning regarding chicken jerky products to consumers in September 2007 and a Preliminary Animal Health Notification in December of 2008. After seeing the number of complaints received drop off during the latter part of 2009 and most of 2010, the FDA is once again seeing the number of complaints rise to the levels of concern that prompted release of our earlier warnings.Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be fed occasionally in small quantities.FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs that may occur within hours to days of feeding the products: decreased appetite; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; increased water consumption and/or increased urination. If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product. Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine). Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.FDA, in addition to several animal health diagnostic laboratories in the U.S., is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs. FDAs Veterinary Laboratory Response Network (VLRN) is now available to support these animal health diagnostic laboratories. To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. FDA continues extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified a contaminant.The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem and its origin. Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky. Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their state or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints. Want to get your pet or someone elses the ultimate gift?
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Veterinary Medical School News on Vaccine Protocols
Dr. W. Jean Dodd's vaccination protocol is now being adopted by ALL 27 North American veterinary schools. I highly recommend that you read this. Copy and save it to your files. Print it and pass it out at dog fairs, cat shows, kennel club meetings, dog parks, give a copy to your veterinarian and groomer, etc., etc. Get the word out. Hi everyone.... THIS is wonderful news that the veterinary schools are now going to be teaching that over-vaccination of pets (once a year boosters) is only not necessary, but in some cases can be harmful or deadly! It has information for both dogs and cats. There still is an ongoing study regarding the Rabies vaccine. Most states now allow (reluctantly) 3 year Rabies, but the study is collecting data on whether or not even that may be too much. They are looking at 8 or 10 year Rabies. I hope you all stop having yearly boosters for your pets. If you're concerned with immune levels, have the vet run a Titer test. THEN and only then, if the levels are below acceptable, should you have a booster. After all, when is the last time you had a "booster" for smallpox, or whooping cough, or anything else you had shots for as a child? Immune systems work the same in all mammals, and the concept that pets have to have yearly shots doesn't make any more sense than if you had have shots every year. If mammal's immune systems were that weak in fending off these things, all of them, us included, would have been extinct years ago!
VACCINATION NEWS FLASH
I would like to make you aware that all 27 veterinary schools in North America are in the process of changing their protocols for vaccinating dogs and cats. Some of this information will present an ethical & economic challenge to vets, and there will be skeptics. Some organizations have come up with a political compromise suggesting vaccinations every 3 years to appease those who fear loss of income vs those concerned about potential side effects. Politics, traditions or the doctor's economic well being should not be a factor in medical decision.
NEW PRINCIPLES OF IMMUNOLOGY
Dogs and cats immune systems mature fully at 6 months. If a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine is given after 6 months of age, it produces an immunity which is good for the life of the pet (i.e: canine distemper, parvo, feline distemper). If another MLV vaccine is given a year later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralize the antigens of the second vaccine and there is little or no effect. The titer is not "boosted" nor are more memory cells induced.
Not only are annual boosters for parvo and distemper unnecessary, they subject the pet to potential risks of allergic reactions and immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. There is no scientific documentation to back up label claims for annual administration of MLV vaccines. Puppies receive antibodies through their mother's milk. This natural protection can last 8-14 weeks. Puppies & kittens should NOT be vaccinated at LESS than 8 weeks. Maternal immunity will neutralize the vaccine and little protection (0-38%) will be produced. Vaccination at 6 weeks will, however, delay the timing of the first highly effective vaccine. Vaccinations given 2 weeks apart suppress rather than stimulate the immune system. A series of vaccinations is given starting at 8 weeks and given 3-4 weeks apart up to 16 weeks of age. Another vaccination given sometime after 6 months of age (usually at 1 year 4 months) will provide lifetime immunity.
Pfizer pulls flea/tick preventive for severe side effect
By Christie Keith
April 20, 2011
Veterinary Practice News reported tonight that Pfizer is pulling its flea
and tick preventive, ProMeris for Dogs, from production after it was linked to
cases of a serious canine skin infection known as Pemphigus foliaceus (PF).
The findings arose out of a study published in the March issue of Veterinary
Dermatology. The study's lead author, Thierry Olivry, DrVet, PhD, Dipl.
ACVD, along with resident Ursula Oberkirchner and pathologist Keith Linder, DVM,
PhD, all of North Carolina State University, reported on a Labrador retriever
diagnosed with ProMeris-caused PF. From the article in Veterinary Practice
News:
"Dogs (in the study) developed lesions in a draping pattern or along the
dorsal side after having ProMeris Duo applied," Olivry says. "Some dogs showed
systemic signs that included lethargy, generalized pain and anorexia. In the case of
a 7-year-old (spayed) female Labrador, a two-week history of skin lesions and
lameness was presented.
>"Ten months prior to referral, the dog's monthly flea and tick prevention
>was >changed from Frontline to PD. The patient received a total of three PD
>applications, three and five months separating them. One month after the
>third >application of PD, the owner noticed extensive crusting on the application
>site >between the shoulder blades as well as lameness in the left front leg. The
>dog >was examined by the primary care veterinarian, who suspected a tick-borne
>disease as the cause of this dog's lameness. Doxycycline was then
>prescribed."
Olivry expressed concern that many general practice veterinarians might
similarly misdiagnose the patient.
"The patient's health worsened dramatically over the following days. The dog
appeared in pain, she showed lameness of the left front paw and skin lesions
had progressed. The veterinarian prescribed prednisone (1 mg/kg twice daily) and
tramadol, while a fentanyl patch was applied and doxycycline was continued.
>"Only minimal improvement of the lameness and skin lesions was seen with
>this >regimen, and the patient was referred to North Carolina State University.
>Olivry and his team concluded this case with a diagnosis of PTPF.
>"The dog returned for a re-evaluation visit the following week," Olivry
>says.
>"At that time, skin lesions had improved, as there was only minor crusting
>left >in the interscapular region and pinnae. The dog no longer exhibited signs
>of >lameness, and tramadol was discontinued. The dose of prednisolone was
>tapered >progressively over the following 11 days. The disease has remained in
>remission >without any relapse for more than two years."
For more information, including signs of PF and what to do if you used
ProMeris on your dog and she is showing any of them, read the complete story here.
Pet Foods May Not Be What You Think!!
Just as the food industry has incorporated the use of many unhealthy additives in people food, so have pet food companies.
Many pet foods contain dyes (made from crude oil...yes, the same stuff you put in your car's gas tank), artificial flavorings, preservatives that extend shelf-life to unbelievable degrees, and fillers that would make you gag if you knew about them.
Take "meat by-products" for example. What exactly ARE meat by-products? This is straight from the website www.naturalnews.com...
Let's start with what usually appears as the protein source and the primary ingredient in pet food: Meat byproducts or meat meal. Both are euphemisms for the parts of animals that wouldn't be considered meat by any smart consumer. The well-known phrase "meat byproducts" is a misnomer since these byproducts contain little, if any, meat. These are the parts of the animal left over after the meat has been stripped away from the bone. "Chicken by-products include head, feet, entrails, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, stomach, bones, blood, intestines, and any other part of the carcass not fit for human consumption," writes Henry Pasternak in Healing Animals with Nature's Cures.
Meat meal can contain the boiled down flesh of animals we would find unacceptable for consumption. This can include zoo animals, road kill, and 4-D (dead, diseased, disabled, dying) livestock. Most shockingly, this also can include dogs and cats. That's right, your pets could be cannibals. Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser writes, "Although leading American manufacturers promise never to put rendered pets into their pet food, it is still legal to do so. A Canadian company, Sanimal Inc., was putting 40,000 pounds of dead dogs and dead cats into its dog and cat food every week, until discontinuing the practice in June 2001. "This food is healthy and good," said the company's vice president of procurement, responding to critics, ''but some people don't like to see meat meal that contains any pets."
How roadkill ends up in Fido's food bowl
The process that turns these animals and animal parts into pet food is also disgusting. After all, it takes a lot to turn roadkill into something owners feel good about pouring into their pets' bowls. Ann M. Martin describes the process in Food Pets Die For: "At the rendering plant a machine slowly grinds the entire mess in huge vats. Then this product is cooked at temperatures between 220 degrees Fahrenheit and 270 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes to one hour. The mixture is centrifuged (spun at a high speed) and the grease (or tallow) rises to the top and it is removed from the mixture. The grease becomes the source of animal fat in most pet foods. Oftentimes, when you open a standard can of dog food, you will see a top layer of fat. The centrifuged product is the source of that fat, which is meant to entice a hungry dog or cat. After the grease is removed in the rendering process, the remaining material is dried. Meat meal, and meat and bone meal are the end product of this process. This dried material is usually found in dry pet food."
Other references include:
Pet foods without meat-by-products:
Newmans Organic dog food (canned and dry; turkey and brown rice canned variety is especially high quality)
Newmans Organic cat food (canned and dry)
Weis brand tuna and tuna and chicken canned food
Purina One Smart Blend dry cat food
Flint River Ranch pet foods
Blueberries (fresh or frozen) on the other hand are really good for dogs! Most dogs also enjoy baby carrots, apple wedges (but not the seeds, see below),bananas, melon, and pears.
Foods NOT to give your pets and why;
You probably will want to limit your pet's fruit intake, as too much can cause soft stools, or diarrhea.
Some other foods to avoid are:
Onions, because they can destroy red blood cells and can cause anemia.
Tomatoes can cause tremors and heart arrhythmia's. Tomato plants are the most toxic, but processed tomatoes themselves are also unsafe.
Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, muscle tremor and paralysis. These symptoms are usually temporary.
Walnuts are poisonous to dogs.
Apple seeds, cherry pits, and peach pits, pear pips, plums pits, peaches, and apricot pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous.
Chocolate can cause seizures, coma and death. Baker’s chocolate is the most dangerous. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. But any chocolate, in large enough quantities, can be a very bad thing.
Grapes and raisins can cause acute renal failure.
Sugar substitutes can quickly plummet a pet's blood sugar and cause siezures and coma.
Raw salmon due to infection by a rickettsial organism called Neorickettsia helminthoeca.
For Pets
The following modalities adapt well to our 4-legged friends:
Reiki for dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. $20/ half hour
Pet Massage $20/ half hour
Live Blood Cell Nutritional Microscopy $25
Dried Blood Cell Nutritional Microscopy $25
Both Live & Dried Microscopy $40
Bioterrain Auditing (dogs & cats only) $40
Intuitive Healing for Animals $60/session
