Join me tonight at 9p ET for the second live interactive webinar hosted by Dr. Chad Zadina of Ask Dr. Pawz. I will give a brief presentation highlighting the good and bad of pet food, labeling, and more…and am available via instant chat to answer your questions.
Register now for the webinar by creating a free account at Ask Dr. Pawz and reply that you will be attending the Pet Nutrition event. See you tonight! Dr. Donna
Join me for a live interactive webinar to discuss natural pet nutrition on Monday, July 11, 2011 at 9p ET. I will be the co-host of Dr. Chad Zadina from Ask Dr. Pawz! and will be available to answer all of your pet nutrition questions. Register for the webinar by creating a free account at http://askdoctorpawz.com/ and reply that you will be attending the Pet Nutrition event. Include any questions you might want to discuss. Space is limited….sign up now! Don’t forget to sign up for a USTREAM account (http://www.ustream.tv/login-signup) if you wish to participate live in the webinar. Look forward to seeing you there! Dr. Donna
If your pet is taking Phenobarbital for a seizure problem, ask your vet to double check your tablets.
Recently several lots of Phenobarbital (32.4 mg tablets) were voluntarily recalled by Qualitest Pharmaceuticals because of a label mix-up. A medication containing Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen were incorrectly labeled as Phenobarbital tablets.
As a result, it is possible that a pet may unintentionally be given Hydrocodone/Acetominophen tablets instead of phenobarbital. This could cause a problem with a pet’s seizure control because of missing their phenobarbital doses. Additionally, acetominophen can be toxic to pets and 3 serious adverse reports involving dogs have been reported.
Find out more about the Phenobarbital Recall from the FDA.
People often choose to follow a vegetarian/vegan diet for a variety of reasons–ethical concerns and health considerations being the most common. If an owner expresses interest in feeding their dog a vegetarian/vegan diet, I try to educate them on what constitutes the healthiest choice for their omnivorous companion and why.
Vegetarian/vegan diets can indeed be used in dogs…and actually have a place in the treatment of certain medical conditions in dogs, however, it is critical that a dog owner work with a veterinary nutritionist or someone knowledgeable about canine nutrient requirements in order to feed this type of diet healthfully.
I was interviewed by CNN.com for my opinion on vegan diets for dogs and they posted the article today…check it out! Good food for thought if you are considering a vegetarian or vegan diet for your dog.
I offer a variety of nutrition consultation services that may help you in choosing or creating a complete and balanced diet plan for your dog (or cat!).
Attention pet owners feeding ground beef…there has been a recall!
Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, is recalling approximately 14,158 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced yesterday.
For more information on this recall and tips on preparing ground beef for safe consumption: Ground Beef Recall
Jones Natural Chews Co. is recalling 2,705 boxes of pig ears because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products.
The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by Washington State Department of Agriculture which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria.
Consumers who have purchased any of these pig ears are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-877-481-2663.
Visit Pig Ear Recall – Salmonella for more information on specific pig ear batches affected and what what to monitor yourself or your pet for in regards to Salmonella.
Attention all cat owners using Wellness!
There has been a voluntary recall for possibly low thiamine (vitamin B1) levels.
The following Wellness canned cat food lots involved in this recall are:
Thiamine is an essential vitamin for cats and a deficiency is more likely in cats fed the affected foods for several weeks. Deficiency may result in gastrointestinal or neurological issues. Notify your veterinarian if your cat has any of the following signs:
Consumers who still have cans of this cat food should stop feeding IMMEDIATELY and contact Wellness at 877-227-9587, M-F, 9a-7p ET with questions.
Although they might wiggle when they walk….obesity is no joke.
The health risks of obesity are real–arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure.
These preventable diseases are the high price that U.S. pets are paying for the extra calories they eat every day.
Last week the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (www.petobesityprevention.com) reported that 53% of cats and 55% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight and obesity is at record highs since 2007.
Talk to your vet….and if your pet is overweight, make a plan! Get your pet eating healthy and include daily exercise to help them start shedding those extra pounds in no time.
Need help creating a food plan that is low-calorie, healthful and nutritious…contact me about a nutrition consult.
Cheers to your pet’s best health!
On Monday, Feb 14, a fatal case of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus was confirmed in a Wisconsin cat. The cat’s owner had been ill with flu-like signs prior to the illness of her two cats. Both cats developed severe respiratory illness and unfortunately did not respond well to treatment and both were euthanized. One cat tested positive for 2009 H1N1 and the virus was the presumptive diagnosis in the second cat also.
Until now, the last confirmed case of 2009 H1N1 in a pet was reported in January 2010. These new cases are a reminder that the virus is still around and is capable of infecting people and their pets.
If your pet is showing any abnormal respiratory signs, have them evaluated by your veterinarian promptly. Make sure to tell your veterinarian if a person in your house has recently been ill with flu-like symptoms. As always, proper hygiene can help prevent spread of the virus–do not have close contact with your pet if you are sick; do not allow your pet to “kiss” or lick your hands or face; always wash your hands before and after handling pets, their food bowls, toys, etc.
Wishing you all good health….
Since late 2009, Vetsulin has only been available to diabetic dogs and cats through a Critical-Need Program. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has just announced that they expect the U.S. Vetsulin supply for this program to run out in late February or shortly thereafter. The company is working with the FDA to resolve the original stability problem (from 2009) and this new manufacturing issue (possible bacterial contamination). At the present time there will be no additional batches of Vetsulin manufactured. There is no evidence that the Vetsulin currently on the market and being used for pets enrolled in the Critical-Need Program is affected.
If your pet is on Vetsulin, ask your veterinarian about changing to a new insulin product. There will be resources for you and your veterinarian about transitioning to a new insulin posted on www.Vetsulin.com.
