If you’ve ever lived with a dog, you’ve probably been at the end of your rope at some point with  at least one of the problems Randy Grim addresses in this entertaining but informative book. 

Grim runs a shelter for abandoned dogs (www.StrayRescueForDogs.com).  Like all of us who do dog rescue, he is faced all too often with adopters who want to return their dogs because of  behavior problems.

The chapter headings will give you an idea of his wit as well as the range of behaviors he covers.

Chapter 1      A.D.D. dogs (i.e., hyperactive dogs)

Chapter 2     Escape Artists

Chapter 3     Dogs Who “Play” When You’re Away (i.e., separation anxiety)

Chapter 4     Shuuut Up!  (i.e., excessive barking)

Chapter 5     The Turd Eaters (ahem, coprophagia)

Chapter 6     Cujo in the Dog Park (i.e., dog-to-dog aggression)

Chapter 7     Dogs Who You-Know-What in the House (i.e., housebreaking and dogs marking territory)

Chapter 8     Dogs Who Lick Baby Snot (i.e., setting boundaries around babies)

Chapter 9     Bullies With an Attitude (i.e.,  dominance aggression)

Chapter 10   Cowardly Lions (i.e., fear aggression)

Chapter 11   Allergy Season (i.e., I’m allergic to my dog)

Chapter 12   Scaredy Cats (i.e., submissive peeing)

Chapter 13   I Love Old Dogs (i.e., I love puppies and want to dump my old dog because she’s, well, old)

Chapter 14   To Crate Or Not To Crate (i.e., give them a den for security while you’re gone, not a punishment)

Chapter 15   Affordable Strays (i.e., how to find a stray dog’s owners, how to afford to keep a stray when money is tight.) 

This book is a must-read for all people working in dog rescue, and, let’s face it, for all dog owners. It is the most entertaining training manual you’ll ever read.

Technorati Tags: solving behavior problems in dogs, hyperactive dogs, escape artists, separation anxiety, barking, poop eating, coprophagia, dog aggression, housebreaking, marking territory, dogs and babies, dominance aggression, fear aggression, submissive peeing/urination, allergic to dogs, puppies versus old dogs, crating a dog

Two more companies have recently announced recalls due to possible salmonella contamination.

Earlier this year Merrick recalled their Beef Filets Dog Treats, saying it was because of improper processing. After FDA involvement, they have now announced the recalled product may be contaminated with salmonella. They have also expanded their recall to a more recent batch. You can find all the details on dates and batch numbers at www.PetsitUSA.com/blog/ or go to Merrick’s website at www.MerrickPetCare.com. 

United Pet Group has also voluntarily expanded their recall of a variety of cat and dog supplements, sold under the brand names Doctors Foster & Smith, ProPet, Petco, Excel, Nature’s Miracle, and DDS. Again, the recall is due to possible salmonella contamination. For a complete list of products involved in the recall, you can go to United Pet Group’s web site, or find an easy-to-read table at www.PetsitUSA.com/blog.

I highly recommend following the PetsitUSA blog for recall information. Therese Kopiwoda, who writes the blog, is one of the best informed, up-to-the-minute  sources on pet food recalls.   

Technorati Tags: pet food recalls

Natural Balance issued the following alert recalling certain of its Sweet Potato & Chicken Formula dog kibble:

 Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc., of Pacoima, CA, announces a voluntary recall of Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food with the “Best By” date of June 17, 2011, in 5-lb. and 28-lb. bags because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

 No illnesses have been reported to date. The recall notification is being issued out of an abundance of caution based on an isolated instance in which a product sample with a “Best By” date of June 17, 2011, had a positive result for Salmonella in a random sample test conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This product was originally manufactured on December 17, 2009, and is the only Natural Balance product being recalled.

 Salmonella can affect animals and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. This product was manufactured on December 17, 2009.

 Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

 Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

 Recalled products were only distributed in pet specialty stores in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

 The only product affected by the recall is the Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food with the “Best By” date of June 17, 2011, product information as follows:

 Product Bag Size Bag UPC Code Bale UPC Code Best By Dates
Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Formula 5 lb 7-23633-9000-4 7-23633-99003-5 June 17, 2011
Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Formula 28 lb 7-23633-99002-8 June 17, 2011

Consumers who have purchased Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog formula with the “Best By” date of June 17, 2011, are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. A separate letter and instructions will be forwarded to all relevant Natural Balance customers. For additional information, please contact Natural Balance Pet Foods Customer Service at (800) 829-4493 (8am – 5pm, PDT) or by visiting www.naturalbalanceinc.com.

Technorati Tags: dog food recall,   salmonella contamination

One of my favorite blogs is Dogster, for the Love of Dog Blog. They carried this photo and video today of a police officer rescuing a dog whose leg was caught in a fence. The ending is very cute and unexpected. Take a look, and don’t miss www.dogblog.dogster.com for other amusing videos and content.

  Here’s a link to the video of this rescue:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid34830125001?bctid=88147925001

Technorati Tags: dog accidents, dog tricks, dog rescue

If you’re as distraught as I am about the harmful effects of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on marine life, you’ll be happy to know about something we and our pets can do right from home.  

You probably wouldn’t be reading this blog if you didn’t have pets, so get out the broom and put those fur tumbleweeds to good use.

A San Francisco-based organization, Matter of Trust, has a program for stuffing that dog, cat, and human hair into used pantyhose, making hair mats to absorb the oil.

Each one of us might not save a lot of fish and birds, but together we can have a huge impact.

These folks at Matter of Trust are well organized. They have a network of receiving locations on the Gulf coast so that the response doesn’t overwhelm a single location. This is an awesome form of re-use of waste material that would otherwise stack up uselessly in landfills instead of sucking up oil floes.

Read more about their program at http://www.matteroftrust.org/ and be sure to pass this along to any hairdressers or barbers you know.

So take a minute to go now to Matter of Trust for instructions on how you can easily contribute to the cause.

Technorati Tags: oil spills, saving marine life from oil spills, pet and human hair help clean up oil spills

Veterinarian Nick Trout, author of the New York Times bestseller Tell Me Where it Hurts, has given us another lovely portrayal of the deep bond between humans and their pets. He draws a beautiful verbal picture of the soul connection we feel for certain animals that pass through our lives.  Trout takes us on the emotional roller-coaster the owners of dogs Helen and Cleo go through in trying to save their beloved pets.

An interesting sub-theme is how much these animals come to mean to the veterinarians themselves.  It is all too easy to see the professional neutrality vets maintain in the examining room as detachment. Dr. Nick gives us a glimpse into the compassion and dedication he invests not only in the treatment, but in the animals themselves. I found his empathy comforting.

An unexpected bonus is that Trout not only has an interesting story to tell, but he he has a clever turn of phrase and tone that makes the book a really enjoyable read.

If you’ve had a poignant experience with one of your pets that expresses the love, loss, or redemption embodied in this book, please share it in “comments” below.  The most touching story will earn the writer a free copy of the book, Love is the Best Medicine.

Technorati Tags: human-animal bond, soul connection between animals and their owners compassion in the vet’s office

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued a press release warning of canine distemper in raccoons . All pet owners should take extra precautions with their pets and be sure vaccinations are up to date.

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

April 16, 2010

Contact:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Capt. Bill Hebner (425) 775-1311, ext. 115
or Margaret Ainscough, (360) 902-2408
King County, Christine Lange, 206-263-9752
PAWS, Mary Leake Schilder, (206) 419-6646

Raccoon distemper suspected in King County
Residents are urged to exercise caution and take precautions to protect pets

King County residents are reminded to avoid feeding wildlife, keep domestic pets away from wild animals, and be sure their pets’ vaccinations are current, in response to a suspected outbreak of canine distemper in area raccoons.

Samples from a raccoon collected in Bellevue have been submitted to Washington State University for disease testing, and final results are expected early next week.

Canine distemper is not transmissible to humans but is highly contagious among dogs, ferrets, and certain wild animals such as raccoons, coyotes, skunks, weasels and harbor seals. Cats are not affected by canine distemper.

“Dogs are normally vaccinated against canine distemper, but the disease has become generally uncommon and some pet owners are not getting their pets vaccinated,” said Dr. Sharon Hopkins, the Veterinarian for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “If you have questions or concerns about your pets’ immunity to canine distemper, contact your veterinarian.”

Distemper causes encephalitis, inflation of the brain, in animals. Infected animals may have runny eyes and stagger, tremble, foam at the mouth or snap, according to veterinarians. Daytime activity by a raccoon does not necessarily indicate the animal is sick.

In recent days, local officials in Bellevue, Redmond and Renton have received a number of reports of sick raccoons. King County Animal Care and Control responded to a call for assistance last week from Issaquah law enforcement and captured a raccoon believed to have distemper.  Animal Control Officers have also picked up 3 deceased raccoons on the East Side of King County at the request of citizens.

“Wildlife disease epidemics tend to occur in cycles, appearing when animal populations are high,” said Kristin Mansfield, staff veterinarian with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

“While we have seen an increase in the number of raccoons this year at our wildlife hospital that appear to be infected with canine distemper, we encourage people not to panic,” said PAWS’ Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. John Huckabee. “The best way to avoid potential exposure to pet dogs and ferrets is to avoid feeding or otherwise attracting wildlife, intentionally or unintentionally.”

People should feed pets indoors, and secure garbage and compost. Bird feeders and chicken food also attract raccoons. Residents should also secure pet doors so that raccoons cannot enter indoor living spaces.

WDFW offers advice for dealing with problem wildlife on its website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/ and PAWS Wildlife Center can offer tips for solving and preventing conflicts by calling (425) 787-2500 x817.

King County residents who encounter raccoons exhibiting symptoms of canine distemper can call (206) 296-PETS to receive information and suggestions about potential resources. Animal Control Officers will also pick up deceased raccoons.

Raccoons present a risk of transmitting other diseases including leptospirosis, raccoon roundworm and rabies.  For information about these risks, see http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/zoonotics/raccoons.aspx

People bitten by raccoons should contact their health care provider and Public Health at 206-296-4774.

WDFW also maintains a list of Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCOs), who are licensed by the department to respond to problem wildlife. Contact information may be found on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/enforcement/nwco/or by calling WDFW’s North Puget Sound regional office at (425) 775-1311. 

Technorati Tags: canine distemper in raccoons; pets at risk from sick raccoons

Pets & People Staying Healthy Together

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month, when we celebrate the importance of learning the necessary skills of CPR, first aid, safety and care for our four-legged, furry, family members.

Please join us for a fun, information-packed first aid class on April 17, 2010 in North Seattle. No other class in the Pacific Northwest offers as much hands-on practice. Don’t delay, only for more spaces left.

Find out how to handle small and large emergencies for your pets. Know the skills to save their lives.  To learn more about the class and to register, go to www.AnimalsReign.com.

If you’ve had an emergency where your pet first aid training saved your pet from serious harm or death, please tell us your story below.

Technorati Tags: pet first aid and CPR, emergency preparedness

Veterinarian Patty Khuly, DVM, writes a daily blog called Fully Vetted.  Her recent post on pet vaccinations from a veterinarian’s perspective was food for thought. Here’s an excerpt. You can read the whole article at http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2010/march/pet_vaccinations.  

“…the lion’s share of vaccines seem to provoke no illness. The pet is vaccinated in hospital and goes home within fifteen minutes, where no untoward effects of the vaccine are typically noted.

Most reactions we do see include swelling of the muzzle and face, myalgia (muscle pain) and fever, and less commonly, vomiting. These are often treated with antihistamines and pain relievers. The most severe, life-threatening reactions are very rare indeed. The only one I have had the displeasure to attend occurred in vet school when a cat, vaccinated at a nearby hospital, suffered acute respiratory distress almost immediately after a vaccine was administered. The kitty died — very quickly, I might add.

Lest I forget, let me now mention another more common, if controversial, life-threatening reaction: the vaccine-related sarcoma. As the cat people among you probably already know, vaccine-related, highly-malignant tumors are sometimes seen in cats. Although it was difficult to prove, this disease has finally received its due respect as a phenomenon related directy to vaccination. Our hospital has only seen four or five possible cases in over thirty years, but it’s out there as a potential consequence of vaccine administration.

My goal here is not to scare the bejeezus out of you, just to inform you of how we vets think about vaccines. We know they’re potentially dangerous. We all worry about the possibility of a reaction. And that extends to our families, too. I didn’t have my own son vaccinated without trepidation either, but — believe it or not — I consider it my civic duty to vaccinate myself and my whole family, pets included.

If you want to discuss safety, here’s the reality: In a population where 100 percent of the individuals are vaccinated, the safest condition is to be the only unvaccinated one. The implication here is that vaccination has its risks. Best not to receive the vaccine. But if everyone opts out, no one’s protected. A conundrum, indeed.”

What do you think about vaccinating your pets? Do you vaccinate? Do you titer instead?

Technorati Tags: pet vaccinations, titer or vaccinate, side effects of dog and cat vaccinations

I hope this doesn't make me sick!

I know my mom wouldn't give me anything toxic.

This morning while at the vet I met Genghis, a handsome Burmese cat. He had been vomiting for several days, according to his owner, who had just found the information on the Internet today about the Nature’s Variety recall. Genghis has been eating Nature’s Variety with a use-by date slightly earlier than is included in the recall. It was a good reminder that although the notice has been all over the Internet for the past couple of days, not everyone has come across it yet, so I’ll add the Nature’s Variety press release about it here.

Nature’s Variety News – March 8, 2010

Dear Friends,

Today Nature’s Variety is announcing that out of an abundance of caution, we are voluntarily recalling all Chicken formula and Organic Chicken Formula products with a “Best If Used By” date on or before 2/5/11.

Nature’s Variety has received new test results from an outside facility that indicate that Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet with the “Best If Used By” date of 10/29/10 and Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet with the “Best If Used By” date of 11/9/10 may be contaminated with Salmonella. Therefore, we are voluntarily recalling these date codes of product from the marketplace.

Also, out of an abundance of caution, we are expanding our voluntary recall to include all Chicken Formula and
Organic Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diets for dogs and cats with any “Best If Used By” date on or before 2/5/11. We
believe taking this action is an important and responsible step in order to reinforce your confidence and trust.

No other Raw Frozen Diets are involved in this expansion other than chicken, and no other Nature’s Variety products are involved. The products included in this expanded recall are any Chicken Formula or Organic Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet with a “Best If Used By” date on or before 2/5/11, including:

. UPC#7 69949 60130 2 – Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions

. UPC#7 69949 60120 3 – Chicken Formula 6 lb patties

. UPC#7 69949 60121 0 – Chicken Formula 2 lb single chubs

. UPC#7 69949 50121 3 – Chicken Formula 12 lb retail display case of chubs

. UPC#7 69949 60137 1 – Organic Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions

. UPC#7 69949 60127 2 – Organic Chicken Formula 6 lb patties

The “Best If Used By” date is located on the back of the package above the safe handling instructions.

If you have purchased one of the affected products, please return the unopened product to your local retail store to receive a complete refund, or to exchange it for another variety. If your package has been opened, please dispose of the raw food in a safe manner by securing it in a covered trash receptacle. Then, bring your receipt (or the empty package in a sealed bag) to your local retailer for a complete refund or replacement.

More info:  http://www.naturesvariety.com/news/33

Technorati Tags: cat food recall, dog food recall, Nature’s Variety recall