Cautionary Statement and Disclaimer
These recipes are to give you information only.
Not all of them have been tested by me.
You are free to use any of the advice or suggestions entirely at your own risk.
Please note that in no way will I be held responsible for any problems that might occur, or any damage or loss sustained due to the use of information (or by me supplying inadequate or incomplete information)
Any Information is designed to help you make informed decisions and is in no way intended to be used as a substitute for professional advice or treatment.
Be sure to consult with your vet before adhering to any of the information, advice or recommendations regarding your pet’s health that may be presented.
Please understand that you are solely responsible for the use of any information given and the use of any information will be solely at your own risk.
lil Country Paws
From the "Doggie Chef"
On todays menu we have.
1lb Shin Beef
1lb Ground Beef
1lb Talapia
1lb chicken Giblets
4 whole eggs
4 lbs Assorted Veggies
1 Cup of Brown Rice and Barley.
Cook the shin and ground beef for 10 mins in boiling water then remove to container.
Cook the fish for 4 mins at boiling and remove
Cook the Giblets for 10 mins at boiling and remove
Chop and cook veggies for 10 mins and remove
Cook Barley for 30 mins drain and remove
Cook rice for 35 mins, drain and remove
Hard boil the eggs, remove shells, and chop, grind down the shells.
Mix everything together and cool in the fridge
This last my two dogs 2.5 to 3 days (dogs way 75lbs and 91lbs), 2 meals per day.
Top with either cottage cheese or Live plain yogurt, add the oil of 1 cod liver oil capsule per meal, and 750 mgs of natural oyster shell calcium per meal.
Consultant Shopping Links, Monthly Specials, Events, Recipes and more....
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Site for Feline info......
Know the basics on Feline Diets and home made foods. This site is packed with useful links and info regarding your favorite feline friends.
http://www.catinfo.org/
http://www.catinfo.org/
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Looking for homemade pet food & treat recipes?
I belong to numerous pet boards and of course I've found time & time again, more and more people are searching the internet for homemade pet treats and food. Having lost one of my own, I can truly understand their fear. The one thing I like to make people aware of, is our pets nutritional needs are different from that of a human. So although some of the recipes I collect and will share with you from time to time and sound absolutely scrumptious, they can be lacking in nutritional value and that's where Sojos can help. Simply by adding a little Europa or Muesli to your pets favorite recipe will add the nutritional value that was missing originally.
Europa Ingredients: Sweet Potatos, Carrots, Broccoli, Celery, Apples, Whole Egg, Flax Meal, Parsley Leaf, Calcium Carbonate, Carob Powder, Kelp Powder, Alfalfa, Ginger Root, Garlic
Monzie's Muesli Ingredients: Organic Oats, Organic Barley, Organic Rye, Organic Quinoa, Organic Flax Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Kelp Powder, Carob Powder, Vegetable Broth Powder, Garlic, Parsley, Organic Alfalfa, Organic Dandelion
Missing Link for Cats & Dogs: One of our favorite general vitamin/mineral supplements. Nutritional supplementation is a great thing to add to any pet food, especially for puppies and kittens, older animals, or animals with special nutritional needs. Like Sojos Pet Food Mix, Missing Link derives its nutrition from unprocessed, nutrient-rich, human-quality whole foods. The Missing Link is nitrogen flushed and vacuum-packed for freshness to protect its precious nutrients. For years, veterinarians and pet owners have used Missing Link to promote better digestion, healthy skin and coat, increased energy, quicker recovery, reduced allergies, reduced odor, less joint stiffness and overall health and well being. Available in Missing Link for Cats, Missing Link for Dogs, and now Missing Link Plus for Dogs (with Joint Support).
Here are some great recipe books to start you down the right path that both you and your pets will enjoy and if you have a recipe your pets would like to share, send it to us here at lil Country Paws and we'll add it to our blog.
BARKER's Grub
A cookbook filled with wholesome, easy-to-prepare meals for your mutt or your pedigreed pooch -- and you'll find all the necessary ingredients in your fridge or at the local supermarket. She includes not only fun everyday meals, but healing meals for specific health problems, as well as special diets for different life stages, such as:
* Lo Mein Barking Style: the doggie alternative for Chinese takeout
* Beef Puppy Food: just the right mix for a growing dog
* Davie's Juicy Jiggly-Wiggly Anemia Diet: a blood-boosting dish of liver, rice, and spinach
Throw Me a Bone
50 delectable recipes for snacks, meals, and treats for your canine companion.
Maybe you're cooking everything because your collie has colitis or your Akita has a wheat allergy or your older dog just isn't thriving on commercial kibble. Maybe you're mixing up the occasional biscuit or treat to help your best fur-bearing friend over that I-just-ate-a-tennis- ball-and-don't-feel-so-good episode. Whatever the reason, the recipes in this book (which have been approved by dog trainer and nutritional consultant Stacy Alldredge) will satisfy the most discerning doggie palate. Many of them, in fact, can be shared with a favorite human (though preferably not from the same dish).
Real Food for Dogs
Instead of scolding your dog for begging at the table, pull up a chair and invite him to sit down! With these 50 vet-approved, easy-to-prepare recipes - from Pooch Pancakes to Gobble-Down Goulash - you can make nutritious and delicious food for your dog, and you'll laugh out loud at Anne Davis's delightful illustrations as you cook. You'll also learn "Canine Nutrition 101" and pick up helpful tips on dog care. A section on prescription diets is included for dogs with special needs.
I belong to numerous pet boards and of course I've found time & time again, more and more people are searching the internet for homemade pet treats and food. Having lost one of my own, I can truly understand their fear. The one thing I like to make people aware of, is our pets nutritional needs are different from that of a human. So although some of the recipes I collect and will share with you from time to time and sound absolutely scrumptious, they can be lacking in nutritional value and that's where Sojos can help. Simply by adding a little Europa or Muesli to your pets favorite recipe will add the nutritional value that was missing originally.
Europa Ingredients: Sweet Potatos, Carrots, Broccoli, Celery, Apples, Whole Egg, Flax Meal, Parsley Leaf, Calcium Carbonate, Carob Powder, Kelp Powder, Alfalfa, Ginger Root, Garlic
Monzie's Muesli Ingredients: Organic Oats, Organic Barley, Organic Rye, Organic Quinoa, Organic Flax Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Kelp Powder, Carob Powder, Vegetable Broth Powder, Garlic, Parsley, Organic Alfalfa, Organic Dandelion
Missing Link for Cats & Dogs: One of our favorite general vitamin/mineral supplements. Nutritional supplementation is a great thing to add to any pet food, especially for puppies and kittens, older animals, or animals with special nutritional needs. Like Sojos Pet Food Mix, Missing Link derives its nutrition from unprocessed, nutrient-rich, human-quality whole foods. The Missing Link is nitrogen flushed and vacuum-packed for freshness to protect its precious nutrients. For years, veterinarians and pet owners have used Missing Link to promote better digestion, healthy skin and coat, increased energy, quicker recovery, reduced allergies, reduced odor, less joint stiffness and overall health and well being. Available in Missing Link for Cats, Missing Link for Dogs, and now Missing Link Plus for Dogs (with Joint Support).
Here are some great recipe books to start you down the right path that both you and your pets will enjoy and if you have a recipe your pets would like to share, send it to us here at lil Country Paws and we'll add it to our blog.
BARKER's Grub
A cookbook filled with wholesome, easy-to-prepare meals for your mutt or your pedigreed pooch -- and you'll find all the necessary ingredients in your fridge or at the local supermarket. She includes not only fun everyday meals, but healing meals for specific health problems, as well as special diets for different life stages, such as:
* Lo Mein Barking Style: the doggie alternative for Chinese takeout
* Beef Puppy Food: just the right mix for a growing dog
* Davie's Juicy Jiggly-Wiggly Anemia Diet: a blood-boosting dish of liver, rice, and spinach
Throw Me a Bone
50 delectable recipes for snacks, meals, and treats for your canine companion.
Maybe you're cooking everything because your collie has colitis or your Akita has a wheat allergy or your older dog just isn't thriving on commercial kibble. Maybe you're mixing up the occasional biscuit or treat to help your best fur-bearing friend over that I-just-ate-a-tennis- ball-and-don't-feel-so-good episode. Whatever the reason, the recipes in this book (which have been approved by dog trainer and nutritional consultant Stacy Alldredge) will satisfy the most discerning doggie palate. Many of them, in fact, can be shared with a favorite human (though preferably not from the same dish).
Real Food for Dogs
Instead of scolding your dog for begging at the table, pull up a chair and invite him to sit down! With these 50 vet-approved, easy-to-prepare recipes - from Pooch Pancakes to Gobble-Down Goulash - you can make nutritious and delicious food for your dog, and you'll laugh out loud at Anne Davis's delightful illustrations as you cook. You'll also learn "Canine Nutrition 101" and pick up helpful tips on dog care. A section on prescription diets is included for dogs with special needs.
FDA delayed April recall till July
Information obtained by ConsumerAffairs.Com reveals that although a rendering plant in Texas recalled more than one million pounds of melamine-tainted meat and bone meal products in April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not post information about the recall until July.
Darling International took the action during the height of the largest pet food recall in U.S. history.
When it finally did post the notice, the FDA listed the move as a Class III enforcement action, which means “use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.”
The FDA’s Web site states Darling issued two separate recalls on April 20 of 682,600 pounds of dry rendered tankage -- or meat and bone meal products -- because the products contained melamine.
That's the chemical that triggered the massive recall in March of millions of containers of pet food, and is blamed for causing kidney disease and deaths in thousands of dogs and cats nationwide.
The FDA said Darling International processed the melamine-tainted bone meal products at its Wichita, Kansas, plant and distributed them in the Sunflower State and in Nebraska.
News of this latest melamine-related recall -- and its delayed posting -- alarmed pet owners nationwide. They fear the tainted products could have made their way back into their pets’ foods.
They also wondered why the FDA didn’t immediately post the recall.
“The FDA made no mention on its site of this recall until July 25th, and it's listed as a Class III recall,” cat owner, Don E. of Washington, told ConsumerAffairs.com. “So a meat and bone meal product, adulterated with melamine that could be used in pet food, is a Class III recall. But melamine in pet food is a Class I recall.”
Pet owner Mike G. of Florida raised similar concerns.
“Why would this firm which deals in rendered animal proteins, not in vegetable proteins, have to recall products containing melamine?” he asked. “This was in late April, about when it was learned that 'salvaged pet foods' had been fed to hogs, chickens, and farm-raised fish.
“Does something not seem right?”
A spokesman for Darling International says his company understands pet owners’ worries.
But Ross Hamilton, international director of governmental affairs and technology for Darling, said none of the melamine-tainted meat and bone meal products wound up in pet food.
“I empathize with pet owners and my message to them is none of this got into pet food,” he told ConsumerAffairs.com.
The contaminated material, however, did get into commercial feed for pigs and chicken.
“The loads that were recalled did go into to animal feed…commercial animal feed,” Hamilton said. “But after it left our facility, it was blended with other feeds, and at that point, the FDA said the melamine wasn’t detectable in the food. It was diluted down through normal procedures and by the time it got into commercial feed, it was so diluted that you couldn’t detect the melamine.”
The FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tested animals that consumed the melamine-tainted feed. Those tests concluded that meat from these animals is safe for humans to eat.
“There is very low risk of human illness from eating such meat,” the FDA states on its Web site.
How did the melamine-tainted materials wind up at Darling’s Irving, Texas, plant?
“One of our facilities inadvertently received it from Menu Foods (Emporia, Kansas) plant and we didn’t find out it contained melamine until after the recall began,” Hamilton said. “When the FDA was doing a trace-out from Menu, they found some of this material -- it’s meat scraps -- that we routinely pick up from Menu.”
He added: “We have manufacturing hazardous plans in place for hazards that we are aware of. But this one (melamine) was one that we weren’t aware of. This was one that we had to add to our list; it was a surprise to us.”
Hamilton said the FDA didn’t “cover-up” this recall, as some pet owners have alleged. He said the agency simply didn’t make it public until it finished its investigation.
“We worked with them on this recall,” Hamilton said. “They’re pretty meticulous and delayed posting this until they had closed out their investigation.”
Darling International took the action during the height of the largest pet food recall in U.S. history.
When it finally did post the notice, the FDA listed the move as a Class III enforcement action, which means “use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.”
The FDA’s Web site states Darling issued two separate recalls on April 20 of 682,600 pounds of dry rendered tankage -- or meat and bone meal products -- because the products contained melamine.
That's the chemical that triggered the massive recall in March of millions of containers of pet food, and is blamed for causing kidney disease and deaths in thousands of dogs and cats nationwide.
The FDA said Darling International processed the melamine-tainted bone meal products at its Wichita, Kansas, plant and distributed them in the Sunflower State and in Nebraska.
News of this latest melamine-related recall -- and its delayed posting -- alarmed pet owners nationwide. They fear the tainted products could have made their way back into their pets’ foods.
They also wondered why the FDA didn’t immediately post the recall.
“The FDA made no mention on its site of this recall until July 25th, and it's listed as a Class III recall,” cat owner, Don E. of Washington, told ConsumerAffairs.com. “So a meat and bone meal product, adulterated with melamine that could be used in pet food, is a Class III recall. But melamine in pet food is a Class I recall.”
Pet owner Mike G. of Florida raised similar concerns.
“Why would this firm which deals in rendered animal proteins, not in vegetable proteins, have to recall products containing melamine?” he asked. “This was in late April, about when it was learned that 'salvaged pet foods' had been fed to hogs, chickens, and farm-raised fish.
“Does something not seem right?”
A spokesman for Darling International says his company understands pet owners’ worries.
But Ross Hamilton, international director of governmental affairs and technology for Darling, said none of the melamine-tainted meat and bone meal products wound up in pet food.
“I empathize with pet owners and my message to them is none of this got into pet food,” he told ConsumerAffairs.com.
The contaminated material, however, did get into commercial feed for pigs and chicken.
“The loads that were recalled did go into to animal feed…commercial animal feed,” Hamilton said. “But after it left our facility, it was blended with other feeds, and at that point, the FDA said the melamine wasn’t detectable in the food. It was diluted down through normal procedures and by the time it got into commercial feed, it was so diluted that you couldn’t detect the melamine.”
The FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tested animals that consumed the melamine-tainted feed. Those tests concluded that meat from these animals is safe for humans to eat.
“There is very low risk of human illness from eating such meat,” the FDA states on its Web site.
How did the melamine-tainted materials wind up at Darling’s Irving, Texas, plant?
“One of our facilities inadvertently received it from Menu Foods (Emporia, Kansas) plant and we didn’t find out it contained melamine until after the recall began,” Hamilton said. “When the FDA was doing a trace-out from Menu, they found some of this material -- it’s meat scraps -- that we routinely pick up from Menu.”
He added: “We have manufacturing hazardous plans in place for hazards that we are aware of. But this one (melamine) was one that we weren’t aware of. This was one that we had to add to our list; it was a surprise to us.”
Hamilton said the FDA didn’t “cover-up” this recall, as some pet owners have alleged. He said the agency simply didn’t make it public until it finished its investigation.
“We worked with them on this recall,” Hamilton said. “They’re pretty meticulous and delayed posting this until they had closed out their investigation.”
FDA blocked more than 100 Nutro Products
August 28, 2007
• More about Pet Food Recalls ...
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July blocked more than 100 Nutro Products -- various styles and flavors of its dog and cat food -- from entering the United States.
ConsumerAffairs.com learned the FDA took that action at the Port of Los Angeles -- and listed Nutro’s pet food on its Import Refusal Report -- because the products appeared to contain poisonous substances and unsafe additives.
The FDA has authority to block and detain any regulated products from entering the United States if they “appear to be out of compliance with The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.”
Some of Nutro’s pet food on the Import Refusal List include its Adult Turkey with Chicken Liver, Choice Adult Cat w Turkey & Duck, Choice Complete Care Kitten Rich in Chicken with Liver, and Adult Large Breed Chicken & Rice.
News of the FDA’s action alarmed Mike G. of Florida. He owns multiple cats and feeds them Nutro products.
“What isn’t clear is which ‘additive’ it is that is ‘unsafe,’ and which ‘substance’ it is that is poisonous,” he told us. “The three Nutro canned cat products I have in front of me all state ‘Made in USA.’ But they don't say which state or which US territory.”
He added: “I don’t so much care where (the products came from). It’s the 'which' (unsafe additives and substances) that concerns me.”
Mike contacted Nutro about his concerns, but says the company ignored his inquires.
He wasn’t surprised.
“From previous experience, most responses from Nutro have been non-responsive,” he said.
Mike shared with us the message he sent to Nutro, which echoes concerns we’ve heard from other pet owners:
“I want to know, specifically, before I feed any of these foods I have in the house to my cats, exactly where Nutro cat foods are made, exactly where those foods on the FDA Import Refusal Reports were made, and specifically which ‘additive’ it is which is ‘unsafe,’ and which ‘substance’ it is which is deemed ‘poisonous’ or 'deleterious.’ ” “If I do not receive a satisfactory response I will be taking these cans back to where they were purchased, and will never again be purchasing other Nutro products.
“In the aftermath of several thousand pet deaths,” he added, “Nutro and other companies need to demonstrate their commitment to pet safety by answering pet owners' questions satisfactorily.”
Non-responsive
ConsumerAffairs.com also contacted Nutro about the FDA’s action. It took the company more than a week to respond to our repeated calls.
Nutro, however, didn’t answer our specific questions.
The company’s Consumer Services Manager, Tamara Cerven, instead e-mailed us Nutro’s official, canned response.
“It has been brought to our attention that confusion has been caused by the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) Import Refusal Report,” the company’s statement said. “We wish to assure our customers that this report is in no way a cause for concern about the quality and safety of Nutro pet foods currently on store shelves.”
Nutro said the products listed the FDA’s Import Refusal Report are ones affected by Menu Food’s massive recall in March of melamine-tainted dog and cat food.
“This report lists recalled product(s) that have been returned to Nutro from overseas,” according to the company’s statement. “This product is not intended for sale.”
Nutro said it immediately discontinued all sales of its melamine-tainted products and removed them from retail stores, warehouses, and distribution centers after Menu recalled 60 million containers of contaminated pet food.
“Nutro also ordered recalled product to be shipped back to the U.S. from overseas for proper handling,” the company said in its written statement. “Some of this product is the subject of the FDA report.”
Nutro said customers with questions about the FDA’s action can call its customer service line at 1-800-833-5330 or visit its Web site at www.nutroproducts.com.
Mike doubts pet owners will get any answers, though.
“They failed to respond to my mail, responding only to you,” he told us today.
“My confidence was rattled with both Nutro and Iams in March when I learned that they both used Menu Foods. I'm one who drove further to the ‘pet-superstores’ to purchase what I had believed to have been better, safer' foods . . . only to learn they were made by the same company using some of the same unsafe contaminated ingredients which they also put into the ‘cheaper,’ ‘less-quality’/ ‘less-safe’ foods in the supermarkets.
“So their failure to respond to me now, personally, is the last straw for me. If and when products begin to flow from their own plant and I get a thorough read-through of the label, I might then reconsider purchasing their product. But not before.”
• More about Pet Food Recalls ...
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July blocked more than 100 Nutro Products -- various styles and flavors of its dog and cat food -- from entering the United States.
ConsumerAffairs.com learned the FDA took that action at the Port of Los Angeles -- and listed Nutro’s pet food on its Import Refusal Report -- because the products appeared to contain poisonous substances and unsafe additives.
The FDA has authority to block and detain any regulated products from entering the United States if they “appear to be out of compliance with The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.”
Some of Nutro’s pet food on the Import Refusal List include its Adult Turkey with Chicken Liver, Choice Adult Cat w Turkey & Duck, Choice Complete Care Kitten Rich in Chicken with Liver, and Adult Large Breed Chicken & Rice.
News of the FDA’s action alarmed Mike G. of Florida. He owns multiple cats and feeds them Nutro products.
“What isn’t clear is which ‘additive’ it is that is ‘unsafe,’ and which ‘substance’ it is that is poisonous,” he told us. “The three Nutro canned cat products I have in front of me all state ‘Made in USA.’ But they don't say which state or which US territory.”
He added: “I don’t so much care where (the products came from). It’s the 'which' (unsafe additives and substances) that concerns me.”
Mike contacted Nutro about his concerns, but says the company ignored his inquires.
He wasn’t surprised.
“From previous experience, most responses from Nutro have been non-responsive,” he said.
Mike shared with us the message he sent to Nutro, which echoes concerns we’ve heard from other pet owners:
“I want to know, specifically, before I feed any of these foods I have in the house to my cats, exactly where Nutro cat foods are made, exactly where those foods on the FDA Import Refusal Reports were made, and specifically which ‘additive’ it is which is ‘unsafe,’ and which ‘substance’ it is which is deemed ‘poisonous’ or 'deleterious.’ ” “If I do not receive a satisfactory response I will be taking these cans back to where they were purchased, and will never again be purchasing other Nutro products.
“In the aftermath of several thousand pet deaths,” he added, “Nutro and other companies need to demonstrate their commitment to pet safety by answering pet owners' questions satisfactorily.”
Non-responsive
ConsumerAffairs.com also contacted Nutro about the FDA’s action. It took the company more than a week to respond to our repeated calls.
Nutro, however, didn’t answer our specific questions.
The company’s Consumer Services Manager, Tamara Cerven, instead e-mailed us Nutro’s official, canned response.
“It has been brought to our attention that confusion has been caused by the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) Import Refusal Report,” the company’s statement said. “We wish to assure our customers that this report is in no way a cause for concern about the quality and safety of Nutro pet foods currently on store shelves.”
Nutro said the products listed the FDA’s Import Refusal Report are ones affected by Menu Food’s massive recall in March of melamine-tainted dog and cat food.
“This report lists recalled product(s) that have been returned to Nutro from overseas,” according to the company’s statement. “This product is not intended for sale.”
Nutro said it immediately discontinued all sales of its melamine-tainted products and removed them from retail stores, warehouses, and distribution centers after Menu recalled 60 million containers of contaminated pet food.
“Nutro also ordered recalled product to be shipped back to the U.S. from overseas for proper handling,” the company said in its written statement. “Some of this product is the subject of the FDA report.”
Nutro said customers with questions about the FDA’s action can call its customer service line at 1-800-833-5330 or visit its Web site at www.nutroproducts.com.
Mike doubts pet owners will get any answers, though.
“They failed to respond to my mail, responding only to you,” he told us today.
“My confidence was rattled with both Nutro and Iams in March when I learned that they both used Menu Foods. I'm one who drove further to the ‘pet-superstores’ to purchase what I had believed to have been better, safer' foods . . . only to learn they were made by the same company using some of the same unsafe contaminated ingredients which they also put into the ‘cheaper,’ ‘less-quality’/ ‘less-safe’ foods in the supermarkets.
“So their failure to respond to me now, personally, is the last straw for me. If and when products begin to flow from their own plant and I get a thorough read-through of the label, I might then reconsider purchasing their product. But not before.”
Monday, August 27, 2007
Shared pet food recipes.....
This is a great recipe for a homecooked food. 1 cup of Brown Rice, 1/2 cup of turkey, (brown the turkey to take out the pink) add
vegetables, such as spinach, celery, green beans and grate some carrots. Cook these all together, then add to the brown rice. Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Very healty, bowel movements are perfect. Also give your pet a multivitamin every day,
and you will see how well your pet will do on this diet. I have been doing this for three months now and it is wonderful. Try it, you will see the difference this makes.
Replace veggies with Sojos Europa....The grain-free alternative to kibble, Europa is a wholesome pre-mix that you combine with meat and water to create a fresh, homemade dog food. Europa works great for dogs with sensitivities to grains, and also as a great fruit and vegetable supplement to our other mixes.
Ingredients: Sweet Potatos, Carrots, Broccoli, Celery, Apples, Whole Egg, Flax Meal, Parsley Leaf, Calcium Carbonate, Carob Powder, Kelp Powder, Alfalfa, Ginger Root,
Garlic
Then use our Missing Links supplement for the perfect balance to all your homemade pet foods....
Missing Link is one of our favorite general vitamin/mineral supplements. Nutritional supplementation is a great thing to add to any pet food, especially for puppies and kittens, older animals, or animals with special nutritional needs. Like Sojos Pet Food Mix, Missing Link derives its nutrition from unprocessed, nutrient-rich, human-quality whole foods. The Missing Link is nitrogen flushed and vacuum-packed for freshness to protect its precious nutrients. For years, veterinarians and pet owners have used Missing Link to promote better digestion, healthy skin and coat, increased energy, quicker recovery, reduced allergies, reduced odor, less joint stiffness and overall health and well being. Available in Missing Link for Cats, Missing Link for Dogs, and now Missing Link Plus for Dogs (with Joint Support).
More Pet foods being recalled....
Although the debacle of pet food contamination has been replaced by dangerous made in China toys, more pet food items have been placed on the list, including Ol’ Roy from Wal-Mart.
Ol’ Roy Dry Dog Food in 55 pound bonus bags have been reported as contaminated with Salmonella. Distribution area includes Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.
Numerous feed premixes in 25 kg bags ranging from Bioplex Copper to Purina Ratite Bioplex are in the recall, too. According to the recalls.org site, the Bioplex Copper products were made using copper sulfate pentahydrate that was contaminated with dioxin like PCBs.
Mars Petcare US, Inc. has voluntarily recalled select Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food in 50 pounds bag. A press release indicated that only two areas are affected: Reedsville and Richlandtown, Pa.
However, Mars has voluntarily recalled certain five pound bags of Krasdale Gravy dry dog food sold mainly in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania due to salmonella poisoning potential.
In addition, Wal-Mart quietly removed Chicken Jerky Strips and Chicken Jerky dog treats from stores. According to a Philadelphia television station, a woman’s Chihuahua died after eating the items. Both originated from China.
The stores pulled the products and blocked cash registers from ringing up the items.
Ol’ Roy Dry Dog Food in 55 pound bonus bags have been reported as contaminated with Salmonella. Distribution area includes Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.
Numerous feed premixes in 25 kg bags ranging from Bioplex Copper to Purina Ratite Bioplex are in the recall, too. According to the recalls.org site, the Bioplex Copper products were made using copper sulfate pentahydrate that was contaminated with dioxin like PCBs.
Mars Petcare US, Inc. has voluntarily recalled select Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food in 50 pounds bag. A press release indicated that only two areas are affected: Reedsville and Richlandtown, Pa.
However, Mars has voluntarily recalled certain five pound bags of Krasdale Gravy dry dog food sold mainly in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania due to salmonella poisoning potential.
In addition, Wal-Mart quietly removed Chicken Jerky Strips and Chicken Jerky dog treats from stores. According to a Philadelphia television station, a woman’s Chihuahua died after eating the items. Both originated from China.
The stores pulled the products and blocked cash registers from ringing up the items.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Homemade pet foods are a great alternative...
Homemade pet food is a good alternative as purchasing pet food gets more complicated. But it's not as simple as cooking up some chicken for your kitty.
"Any change in diets should be done cautiously because animals do well on consistent diets, and changing from one diet to another can be upsetting in and of itself," Mahr says. Furthermore, homemade diets don't always meet an animal's nutritional needs, and what's good for a dog may not be good for a cat.
Mahr recommends consulting your veterinarian or a pet nutritionist if you are considering making your own pet food. The American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition may be able to help you locate a pet nutrition expert in your area.
Susan Davis a certified clinical nutritionist in Lake Forest, California, who helps people develop homemade diets, says what she recommends for a 10-year-old senior dog is different from what she recommends for a puppy. Pets with diseases and other health problems also have particular nutritional needs. Some human foods, such as brown rice, lean meats and carrots, are okay to serve pets. But avoid giving animals sweets or junk foods. Some foods, like grapes, raisins, chocolate and mushrooms, are toxic to dogs and cats.
Scrutinizing pet food labels
Davis, who advocates a holistic diet for animals, offers pet owners advice for buying quality, healthy pet food. When reading labels, "the ingredients shouldn't include a lot of chemicals you can't pronounce, like ethoxyquin, which is a potential carcinogen," she says. "Also avoid anything that is called a byproduct or digest, such as fish digest or beef digest."
Try to avoid foods with the additives BHT, BHA and food coloring, Davis says. Look for brands that include canola oil or olive oil rather than animal fat.
The FDA does not consider ethoxyquin, BHT and BHA to pose a health threat to pets. However, the agency has asked pet food companies to voluntarily lower the amount of ethoxyquin they use in their products.
Because ingredients must be listed in weight descending order, look carefully at the label. "A lot of pet foods have fillers like soy, corn or wheat as the first ingredient, but if it is a protein product, the protein source should be the first ingredient," Davis says.
Learn more about Sojos homemade BARF mixes by visiting our store. Make your own in minutes and know your pet is safe. Use raw or cooked meats.
The grain-free alternative to kibble, Europa is a wholesome pre-mix that you combine with meat and water to create a fresh, homemade dog food. Europa works great for dogs with sensitivities to grains, and also as a great fruit and vegetable supplement to our other mixes. Click here to learn more.
Ingredients: Sweet Potatos, Carrots, Broccoli, Celery, Apples, Whole Egg, Flax Meal, Parsley Leaf, Calcium Carbonate, Carob Powder, Kelp Powder, Alfalfa, Ginger Root, Garlic
lil Country Paws
"Any change in diets should be done cautiously because animals do well on consistent diets, and changing from one diet to another can be upsetting in and of itself," Mahr says. Furthermore, homemade diets don't always meet an animal's nutritional needs, and what's good for a dog may not be good for a cat.
Mahr recommends consulting your veterinarian or a pet nutritionist if you are considering making your own pet food. The American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition may be able to help you locate a pet nutrition expert in your area.
Susan Davis a certified clinical nutritionist in Lake Forest, California, who helps people develop homemade diets, says what she recommends for a 10-year-old senior dog is different from what she recommends for a puppy. Pets with diseases and other health problems also have particular nutritional needs. Some human foods, such as brown rice, lean meats and carrots, are okay to serve pets. But avoid giving animals sweets or junk foods. Some foods, like grapes, raisins, chocolate and mushrooms, are toxic to dogs and cats.
Scrutinizing pet food labels
Davis, who advocates a holistic diet for animals, offers pet owners advice for buying quality, healthy pet food. When reading labels, "the ingredients shouldn't include a lot of chemicals you can't pronounce, like ethoxyquin, which is a potential carcinogen," she says. "Also avoid anything that is called a byproduct or digest, such as fish digest or beef digest."
Try to avoid foods with the additives BHT, BHA and food coloring, Davis says. Look for brands that include canola oil or olive oil rather than animal fat.
The FDA does not consider ethoxyquin, BHT and BHA to pose a health threat to pets. However, the agency has asked pet food companies to voluntarily lower the amount of ethoxyquin they use in their products.
Because ingredients must be listed in weight descending order, look carefully at the label. "A lot of pet foods have fillers like soy, corn or wheat as the first ingredient, but if it is a protein product, the protein source should be the first ingredient," Davis says.
Learn more about Sojos homemade BARF mixes by visiting our store. Make your own in minutes and know your pet is safe. Use raw or cooked meats.
The grain-free alternative to kibble, Europa is a wholesome pre-mix that you combine with meat and water to create a fresh, homemade dog food. Europa works great for dogs with sensitivities to grains, and also as a great fruit and vegetable supplement to our other mixes. Click here to learn more.Ingredients: Sweet Potatos, Carrots, Broccoli, Celery, Apples, Whole Egg, Flax Meal, Parsley Leaf, Calcium Carbonate, Carob Powder, Kelp Powder, Alfalfa, Ginger Root, Garlic
lil Country Paws
Mars Petcare US, Inc. has voluntary recall......
Dog :: Select Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula Dry Dog Food 50lb bags recalled in Pennsylvania
Mars Petcare US, Inc. announces a voluntary recall of select 50 lb bags of Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food sold in two stores in Pennsylvania. Only three bags of product were actually sold, with only one bag still unaccounted for.
The pet food is being recalled because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, which can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination, in people, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems.
The recalled product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners should dispose of product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle) and return the empty bag to the store where purchased for a full refund.
Recalled pet food
Product: Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food
Size: 50 pound bag
UPC Code: 4286900062
Best By Date: July 12, 2008
Best By Date Location: Back of bag
Affected Stores: The stores are located in Reedsville, PA and Richlandtown, PA
Mars Petcare is issuing this action out of an abundance of caution and it sincerely regrets any inconvenience to pet owners as a result of this announcement. This voluntary recall has been issued because FDA detected Salmonella in a sample of Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food with a best by date of July 12, 2008 during a recent review.
In an effort to prevent the transmission of Salmonella from pets to family members and care givers, the FDA recommends that everyone follow appropriate pet food handling guidelines when feeding their pets. A list of safe pet food handling tips can be found at: www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html
This product UPC has been blocked from retail sale at these locations.
Additional information about the product is available on www.marspetcare.com. Pet owners who have questions about the voluntary recall should call (866) 298-8332, or visit the web site for more information.
Looking for an alternative way to feed your pets. Use our all natural, organic Sojos mixes and make your own pet foods in minutes.
Monzies Organic Muesli for Dogs differs from our other pre-mixes in that it is organic and wheat & corn free. Simply add meat & water and you've got a fresh, organic, homemade dog food in minutes. Click here to learn more.
Ingredients: Organic Oats, Organic Barley, Organic Rye, Organic Quinoa, Organic Flax Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Kelp Powder, Carob Powder, Vegetable Broth Powder, Garlic, Parsley, Organic Alfalfa, Organic Dandelion
lil Country Paws
Mars Petcare US, Inc. announces a voluntary recall of select 50 lb bags of Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food sold in two stores in Pennsylvania. Only three bags of product were actually sold, with only one bag still unaccounted for.
The pet food is being recalled because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, which can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination, in people, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems.
The recalled product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners should dispose of product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle) and return the empty bag to the store where purchased for a full refund.
Recalled pet food
Product: Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food
Size: 50 pound bag
UPC Code: 4286900062
Best By Date: July 12, 2008
Best By Date Location: Back of bag
Affected Stores: The stores are located in Reedsville, PA and Richlandtown, PA
Mars Petcare is issuing this action out of an abundance of caution and it sincerely regrets any inconvenience to pet owners as a result of this announcement. This voluntary recall has been issued because FDA detected Salmonella in a sample of Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food with a best by date of July 12, 2008 during a recent review.
In an effort to prevent the transmission of Salmonella from pets to family members and care givers, the FDA recommends that everyone follow appropriate pet food handling guidelines when feeding their pets. A list of safe pet food handling tips can be found at: www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html
This product UPC has been blocked from retail sale at these locations.
Additional information about the product is available on www.marspetcare.com. Pet owners who have questions about the voluntary recall should call (866) 298-8332, or visit the web site for more information.
Looking for an alternative way to feed your pets. Use our all natural, organic Sojos mixes and make your own pet foods in minutes.
Monzies Organic Muesli for Dogs differs from our other pre-mixes in that it is organic and wheat & corn free. Simply add meat & water and you've got a fresh, organic, homemade dog food in minutes. Click here to learn more.
Ingredients: Organic Oats, Organic Barley, Organic Rye, Organic Quinoa, Organic Flax Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Kelp Powder, Carob Powder, Vegetable Broth Powder, Garlic, Parsley, Organic Alfalfa, Organic Dandelion
lil Country Paws
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
How to elliminate doggie waste odor from your yard...
How to cover the smell outside from dog waste
The only way to effectively cover up the smell outside from dog waste is to neutralize the odor instead of trying to cover it. And the only way to neutralize the odor of what comes out of a dog is to control what goes in.
1. Reducing the smell of dog poop can be achieved by switching to a higher quality food. The more digestible a food is the better. A food that is easily digested will result in food that is smaller in volume and smell. Look for a food that is corn, wheat, and soybean free. The top three ingredients should be a type of meat or high quality protein. Fillers are not digestible, so the fewer fillers in the food, the fewer fillers in the dog’s waste. Chain pet stores do not carry high quality pet foods because there is less of a markup for them, so check independent pet stores and feed stores for a filler-free dog food.
2. Reduce the smell of dog poop by feeding a human grade liquid chlorophyll supplement that neutralizes smells. Years ago an animal herbalist recommended a supplement of liquid chlorophyll for one of our dogs having digestive problems. We learned that not only does liquid chlorophyll aid in digestion and heart function, but it also is a natural deodorizer that neutralizes (not just covers) odors from a dog’s breath, body, and waste. A small squirt or two of liquid chlorophyll in your dogs water every morning will significantly decrease the smell of his body and his waste. Dogs love the taste of liquid chlorophyll and a large bottle lasts about 6-8 weeks in our single large dog family.
lil Country Paws
The only way to effectively cover up the smell outside from dog waste is to neutralize the odor instead of trying to cover it. And the only way to neutralize the odor of what comes out of a dog is to control what goes in.
1. Reducing the smell of dog poop can be achieved by switching to a higher quality food. The more digestible a food is the better. A food that is easily digested will result in food that is smaller in volume and smell. Look for a food that is corn, wheat, and soybean free. The top three ingredients should be a type of meat or high quality protein. Fillers are not digestible, so the fewer fillers in the food, the fewer fillers in the dog’s waste. Chain pet stores do not carry high quality pet foods because there is less of a markup for them, so check independent pet stores and feed stores for a filler-free dog food.
2. Reduce the smell of dog poop by feeding a human grade liquid chlorophyll supplement that neutralizes smells. Years ago an animal herbalist recommended a supplement of liquid chlorophyll for one of our dogs having digestive problems. We learned that not only does liquid chlorophyll aid in digestion and heart function, but it also is a natural deodorizer that neutralizes (not just covers) odors from a dog’s breath, body, and waste. A small squirt or two of liquid chlorophyll in your dogs water every morning will significantly decrease the smell of his body and his waste. Dogs love the taste of liquid chlorophyll and a large bottle lasts about 6-8 weeks in our single large dog family.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Woman wages campaign against Purina
August 13, 2007
For the past year, professional dog breeder Julie N. has waged a one-woman campaign against pet food giant Nestlé Purina.
Stryker: black Lab
Beeble: Bichon
Kayla: Bichon
She’s convinced the company’s food contributed to the recent and mysterious deaths of three of her healthy dogs -- two Bichon Frise and a Labrador Retriever.
And this spunky Harlan, Kentucky woman has evidence that suggests Purina’s products might be the culprit in the death of at least one of her dogs.
“I’m not going away,” says Julie, who fed her dogs Purina One, Purina ProPlan and Purina Dog Chow. “I want justice for my dogs and peace of mind for myself.”
Julie’s nightmare started last July when her 12-year-old Labrador Retriever, Stryker, suddenly died of liver complications.
“He was a healthy dog,” she says, “but then his liver just shut down.”
One month later, Julie’s puppy, Beeble, unexpectedly died.
“She was a healthy 12-month-old Bichon Frise. But then she suddenly started drinking excessive amounts of water, was vomiting, and became very lethargic.”
Julie immediately took Beeble to the veterinarian.
“He put her on antibiotics, but that night she had a seizure. She also had a difficult time breathing. She was so weak that she couldn’t hold up her head.”
Julie rushed Beeble back to the vet.
“And he admitted her and put her on IV’s. Beeble also had some nasal discharge and our vet checked her for canine flu. But she passed those tests.”
Beeble died on August 17 — four days after she started IV treatments.
“There’s no reason that puppy should have died,” Julie says. “Her parents had genetic clearance. She was a perfectly healthy dog.”
Deaths Come In Threes
There’s an old saying that deaths come in threes. And that’s what happened with Julie’s dogs.
On October 26 -- two months after Beeble’s death -- another one of her dog’s died. In this case, it was Julie’s eight-year-old Bichon Frise, Kayla.
“Kayla was a healthy female who did pet therapy. But then she started drinking enormous amounts of water. At first, I thought she might have diabetes. But the tests were negative on that.”
What caused Kayla’s death?
What about Beeble and Stryker?
And what role did Purina’s foods play in their deaths?
Julie says she may never know why Stryker died. “At the time, we didn’t do an autopsy because we just thought it was old age.” But she vowed to found out why Beeble and Kayla died.
“I don’t want anybody else to go through the same pain that I’ve gone through,” she says. “These are my children. They were here after my dad passed away and when my brother was ill. They were my babies … all my dogs are my babies.”
Julie, however, didn’t test Purina’s food for possible toxins.
Her dogs died months before Menu Food recalled 60 million containers of melamine-tainted food. That action -- the largest pet food recall in U.S. history -- occurred in March 2007.
Thousands of dogs and cats that ate the contaminated food suffered kidney disease or died.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered melamine in the imported wheat gluten and rice protein used to make the pet food. FDA officials traced the source of that chemical contamination to two now-defunct companies in China.
“It didn’t dawn on me to save the food so I could have it tested,” Julie says, unable to hide the regret in her voice. “And Purina told me to throw the food away.”
She did, however, have autopsies performed on Beeble and Kayla at the University of Tennessee’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Knoxville.
“I wish we would have done the same with Stryker,” she says of the Lab that was titled in obedience. “But like I said, we just thought he died from old age. I don’t think that anymore ... I think there’s something wrong with the dog food.”
According to Beeble’s autopsy report, that’s possible.
Pathologists at the University of Tennessee discovered problems with the puppy’s liver that were “consistent with exposure to a hepatotoxin such as aflatoxin.”
Aflatoxins are poisons produced by fungus or mold. These toxins are often found in corn and other agriculture crops and commonly cause liver disease.
But how could Beeble become exposed to -- and ingest -- aflatoxins?
Simple.
“The aflatoxins could have come from the (dog) food,” Beeble’s veterinarian, Douglas Mickey, told ConsumerAffairs.com. He reviewed Beeble’s and Kayla’s autopsy reports and -- with Julie’s permission -- agreed to discuss them with us.
“Aflatoxins are known to be found in moldy grains, like corn that would be in dog food,” he said, adding: “If you’re asking me if there’s a possible connection between the pet food and Beeble’s death, the answer is: you can’t rule that out.”
Aflatoxins in pet food have contributed to the deaths of more than 100 dogs in recent year, including:
• The deaths of 25 dogs in 1999. In that case, Doane Pet Care recalled more than one million bags of corn-based dry dog food tainted with aflatoxins. Fifty-four brands of dog food, including Ol’Roy, were part of that recall;
• The deaths of 100 dogs in 2005. In that instance, Diamond Food recalled some of its pet food because the moldy corn in the products contained aflatoxins.
Kayla’s Death Remains A Mystery
Aflatoxins, however, did not play a role in Kayla’s death, Dr. Mickey said. “That dog didn’t die from anything in her food.”
Her death remains a medical mystery.
Kayla’s autopsy report revealed she had “multiple organ mineralization,” which Dr. Mickey said was likely caused by an adrenal problem.
“But (the pathologists) couldn’t pinpoint on the autopsy what caused the mineralization of all those organs,” Dr. Mickey said. “It would be consistent with adrenal or kidney problems, but her adrenal glands and kidneys were fine.
“Kayla’s death has puzzled everyone who has looked at it.”
Everyone, that is, except Julie.
Despite the autopsy report, she’s convinced Purina’s dog food contributed to Kayla’s death.
And she says a recent ConsumerAffairs.com investigation -- about the mysterious reproductive problems several Newfoundlands across the country have encountered -- confirmed her belief.
Our investigation revealed that healthy Newfoundlands -- in Idaho, Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania -- had suddenly stopped getting pregnant or -- if they conceived -- delivered deformed and dead puppies.
All these gentle giants had previously delivered healthy litters, their breeders said. They were all two to five-years old, which veterinarians say is the best age for dogs to deliver healthy litters.
None of the dogs were related — a factor that could have caused genetic problems. And nothing in the breeders’ protocols had changed.
The only factor the Newfoundlands had in common was their food: They all ate Purina dog food.
“After I read your story, I was convinced that there was a link between the deaths of my dogs and what happened to those Newfoundlands,” Julie says. “What got me with your stories was how those breeders talked about the mummified fetuses (deceased puppies) their dogs had delivered. In Kayla’s autopsy report, it talks about the mineralization of all her internal organs.
“That made me think that there’s a connection with those stone puppies and my dog’s internal organs turning to stone.”
Dr. Mickey, however, said there’s no correlation.
“It’s not the same thing,” he said. “Kayla apparently had adrenal problems ... that’s a metabolic disease.”
“I think they now realize something is wrong with their food.”
If that’s the case, Julie wonders why Purina is finally taking her concerns seriously.
In just the past two weeks, the pet food maker’s insurance company has requested copies of her dogs’ medical records and autopsy reports.
“But when they called, they wanted me to know that my dogs’ deaths had nothing to do with the recall because they died before that action was announced,” she says. “I told them that stuff from China (melamine) could have been in the food long before anyone knew.”
Purina, she says, downplayed her concerns when she first contacted the company last fall — right after Kayla became sick.
“One lady kept saying she’d never heard of any adverse effects from the company’s food. Purina also kept sending me letters (of condolences) and samples of their stinking food. That made me ever madder. I don’t want their food. I’ll never feed Purina again to my dogs. I cook for my dogs now and they’re much healthier.”
Julie no longer recommends Purina to her customers, either.
“I’ve gone as far as to state in my puppy contract that if you feed Purina products, I have a right to void the health guarantee on the dogs,” she says, adding her pups cost $1,000 to $1,500.
Of Purina’s latest interest in her dogs’ deaths, Julie says: “I think they now realize something is wrong with their food.”
Purina Defends Its Products and Actions
A spokesman for Purina denied that assertion, saying there’s nothing usual about his company’s recent actions in Julie’s case.
He says it demonstrates Purina’s commitment to its customers.
“We’ve been in contact with this consumer since last September and since we’ve worked with her that long, we like to follow up on the process,” said spokesman Keith Schopp. “We would want to gather the appropriate documents and any other records that we could look at and then take the appropriate action.
“As part of our standard operating procedure,” he added, “we would initiate a claim and investigate a matter further if a consumer requested compensation above product replacement.”
Schopp said he hadn’t seen Beeble’s autopsy report, which stated the puppy’s liver problems were consistent with exposure to aflatoxins.
“But there are no aflatoxins in our products in the United States,” he said. “Our veterinarians, however, would like to look at that autopsy report and talk her vet.”
What about a possible connection between Julie’s concerns and those raised by the Newfoundland breeders?
Schopp said there’s no link. “This consumer is not reporting any reproductive issues.”
He also defended his company’s response to Julie’s concerns.
“We’ve expressed our sympathy for the loss of her dogs and told her that we want to find out more about her situation,” he said.
What does Julie want from Purina?
“The main reason I contacted them was because I didn’t want any other dogs to die,” she says. “I wanted them to test the food and to apologize.”
Julie says she didn’t wage this battle against the St. Louis-based company for financial gain — even though her vet bills total more than $2,750.
“I’m not out for money. I just don’t want anyone else to go through a dog’s mysterious death.”
lil Country Paws
For the past year, professional dog breeder Julie N. has waged a one-woman campaign against pet food giant Nestlé Purina.
Stryker: black Lab
Beeble: Bichon
Kayla: Bichon
She’s convinced the company’s food contributed to the recent and mysterious deaths of three of her healthy dogs -- two Bichon Frise and a Labrador Retriever.
And this spunky Harlan, Kentucky woman has evidence that suggests Purina’s products might be the culprit in the death of at least one of her dogs.
“I’m not going away,” says Julie, who fed her dogs Purina One, Purina ProPlan and Purina Dog Chow. “I want justice for my dogs and peace of mind for myself.”
Julie’s nightmare started last July when her 12-year-old Labrador Retriever, Stryker, suddenly died of liver complications.
“He was a healthy dog,” she says, “but then his liver just shut down.”
One month later, Julie’s puppy, Beeble, unexpectedly died.
“She was a healthy 12-month-old Bichon Frise. But then she suddenly started drinking excessive amounts of water, was vomiting, and became very lethargic.”
Julie immediately took Beeble to the veterinarian.
“He put her on antibiotics, but that night she had a seizure. She also had a difficult time breathing. She was so weak that she couldn’t hold up her head.”
Julie rushed Beeble back to the vet.
“And he admitted her and put her on IV’s. Beeble also had some nasal discharge and our vet checked her for canine flu. But she passed those tests.”
Beeble died on August 17 — four days after she started IV treatments.
“There’s no reason that puppy should have died,” Julie says. “Her parents had genetic clearance. She was a perfectly healthy dog.”
Deaths Come In Threes
There’s an old saying that deaths come in threes. And that’s what happened with Julie’s dogs.
On October 26 -- two months after Beeble’s death -- another one of her dog’s died. In this case, it was Julie’s eight-year-old Bichon Frise, Kayla.
“Kayla was a healthy female who did pet therapy. But then she started drinking enormous amounts of water. At first, I thought she might have diabetes. But the tests were negative on that.”
What caused Kayla’s death?
What about Beeble and Stryker?
And what role did Purina’s foods play in their deaths?
Julie says she may never know why Stryker died. “At the time, we didn’t do an autopsy because we just thought it was old age.” But she vowed to found out why Beeble and Kayla died.
“I don’t want anybody else to go through the same pain that I’ve gone through,” she says. “These are my children. They were here after my dad passed away and when my brother was ill. They were my babies … all my dogs are my babies.”
Julie, however, didn’t test Purina’s food for possible toxins.
Her dogs died months before Menu Food recalled 60 million containers of melamine-tainted food. That action -- the largest pet food recall in U.S. history -- occurred in March 2007.
Thousands of dogs and cats that ate the contaminated food suffered kidney disease or died.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered melamine in the imported wheat gluten and rice protein used to make the pet food. FDA officials traced the source of that chemical contamination to two now-defunct companies in China.
“It didn’t dawn on me to save the food so I could have it tested,” Julie says, unable to hide the regret in her voice. “And Purina told me to throw the food away.”
She did, however, have autopsies performed on Beeble and Kayla at the University of Tennessee’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Knoxville.
“I wish we would have done the same with Stryker,” she says of the Lab that was titled in obedience. “But like I said, we just thought he died from old age. I don’t think that anymore ... I think there’s something wrong with the dog food.”
According to Beeble’s autopsy report, that’s possible.
Pathologists at the University of Tennessee discovered problems with the puppy’s liver that were “consistent with exposure to a hepatotoxin such as aflatoxin.”
Aflatoxins are poisons produced by fungus or mold. These toxins are often found in corn and other agriculture crops and commonly cause liver disease.
But how could Beeble become exposed to -- and ingest -- aflatoxins?
Simple.
“The aflatoxins could have come from the (dog) food,” Beeble’s veterinarian, Douglas Mickey, told ConsumerAffairs.com. He reviewed Beeble’s and Kayla’s autopsy reports and -- with Julie’s permission -- agreed to discuss them with us.
“Aflatoxins are known to be found in moldy grains, like corn that would be in dog food,” he said, adding: “If you’re asking me if there’s a possible connection between the pet food and Beeble’s death, the answer is: you can’t rule that out.”
Aflatoxins in pet food have contributed to the deaths of more than 100 dogs in recent year, including:
• The deaths of 25 dogs in 1999. In that case, Doane Pet Care recalled more than one million bags of corn-based dry dog food tainted with aflatoxins. Fifty-four brands of dog food, including Ol’Roy, were part of that recall;
• The deaths of 100 dogs in 2005. In that instance, Diamond Food recalled some of its pet food because the moldy corn in the products contained aflatoxins.
Kayla’s Death Remains A Mystery
Aflatoxins, however, did not play a role in Kayla’s death, Dr. Mickey said. “That dog didn’t die from anything in her food.”
Her death remains a medical mystery.
Kayla’s autopsy report revealed she had “multiple organ mineralization,” which Dr. Mickey said was likely caused by an adrenal problem.
“But (the pathologists) couldn’t pinpoint on the autopsy what caused the mineralization of all those organs,” Dr. Mickey said. “It would be consistent with adrenal or kidney problems, but her adrenal glands and kidneys were fine.
“Kayla’s death has puzzled everyone who has looked at it.”
Everyone, that is, except Julie.
Despite the autopsy report, she’s convinced Purina’s dog food contributed to Kayla’s death.
And she says a recent ConsumerAffairs.com investigation -- about the mysterious reproductive problems several Newfoundlands across the country have encountered -- confirmed her belief.
Our investigation revealed that healthy Newfoundlands -- in Idaho, Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania -- had suddenly stopped getting pregnant or -- if they conceived -- delivered deformed and dead puppies.
All these gentle giants had previously delivered healthy litters, their breeders said. They were all two to five-years old, which veterinarians say is the best age for dogs to deliver healthy litters.
None of the dogs were related — a factor that could have caused genetic problems. And nothing in the breeders’ protocols had changed.
The only factor the Newfoundlands had in common was their food: They all ate Purina dog food.
“After I read your story, I was convinced that there was a link between the deaths of my dogs and what happened to those Newfoundlands,” Julie says. “What got me with your stories was how those breeders talked about the mummified fetuses (deceased puppies) their dogs had delivered. In Kayla’s autopsy report, it talks about the mineralization of all her internal organs.
“That made me think that there’s a connection with those stone puppies and my dog’s internal organs turning to stone.”
Dr. Mickey, however, said there’s no correlation.
“It’s not the same thing,” he said. “Kayla apparently had adrenal problems ... that’s a metabolic disease.”
“I think they now realize something is wrong with their food.”
If that’s the case, Julie wonders why Purina is finally taking her concerns seriously.
In just the past two weeks, the pet food maker’s insurance company has requested copies of her dogs’ medical records and autopsy reports.
“But when they called, they wanted me to know that my dogs’ deaths had nothing to do with the recall because they died before that action was announced,” she says. “I told them that stuff from China (melamine) could have been in the food long before anyone knew.”
Purina, she says, downplayed her concerns when she first contacted the company last fall — right after Kayla became sick.
“One lady kept saying she’d never heard of any adverse effects from the company’s food. Purina also kept sending me letters (of condolences) and samples of their stinking food. That made me ever madder. I don’t want their food. I’ll never feed Purina again to my dogs. I cook for my dogs now and they’re much healthier.”
Julie no longer recommends Purina to her customers, either.
“I’ve gone as far as to state in my puppy contract that if you feed Purina products, I have a right to void the health guarantee on the dogs,” she says, adding her pups cost $1,000 to $1,500.
Of Purina’s latest interest in her dogs’ deaths, Julie says: “I think they now realize something is wrong with their food.”
Purina Defends Its Products and Actions
A spokesman for Purina denied that assertion, saying there’s nothing usual about his company’s recent actions in Julie’s case.
He says it demonstrates Purina’s commitment to its customers.
“We’ve been in contact with this consumer since last September and since we’ve worked with her that long, we like to follow up on the process,” said spokesman Keith Schopp. “We would want to gather the appropriate documents and any other records that we could look at and then take the appropriate action.
“As part of our standard operating procedure,” he added, “we would initiate a claim and investigate a matter further if a consumer requested compensation above product replacement.”
Schopp said he hadn’t seen Beeble’s autopsy report, which stated the puppy’s liver problems were consistent with exposure to aflatoxins.
“But there are no aflatoxins in our products in the United States,” he said. “Our veterinarians, however, would like to look at that autopsy report and talk her vet.”
What about a possible connection between Julie’s concerns and those raised by the Newfoundland breeders?
Schopp said there’s no link. “This consumer is not reporting any reproductive issues.”
He also defended his company’s response to Julie’s concerns.
“We’ve expressed our sympathy for the loss of her dogs and told her that we want to find out more about her situation,” he said.
What does Julie want from Purina?
“The main reason I contacted them was because I didn’t want any other dogs to die,” she says. “I wanted them to test the food and to apologize.”
Julie says she didn’t wage this battle against the St. Louis-based company for financial gain — even though her vet bills total more than $2,750.
“I’m not out for money. I just don’t want anyone else to go through a dog’s mysterious death.”
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Big August Sale
I'm having a Super August Sale just for you. Buy now and save $$$$$$$! Just email me with the products you want and I will send you an invoice. We accept Paypal and Google payments. Note: If using Google to pay, your item will not ship till payment clears. (3 to 5 business days) Allow 5 to 10 business days for delivery. This does not include weekends.
A3405 Advanced Formula C-Plus®
Heavy Duty Laundry Detergent
$8.99
Now $7.99
A68473 Bathroom Solutions Set
1 each - Bowl Patrol, GrimeGuard Bathroom Cleaner, Stanely Bowl Swab
$24.56
Now $22.06
A68566 BBQ Solutions Set
788 (2), 292 (1) + A3730 (1)
$26.66
Now $23.66
A370402 Children's Chewables (Qty. 2)
$19.50
Now $18.00
A68476 Cool-A-Ped Solutions Set
1 each - Foot Treatment, Feet TreatMint Foot Spray, Foot Scrub Brush
$20.87
Now $18.37
A3394 Degreaser Concentrate
All-Purpose Cleaner
$8.69
Now $8.19
A339902 Degreaser Concentrate with Orange Oil (2 pak)
$17.38
Now $15.38
A3476 Foam-it-Away Disposal Cleaner
$9.99
Now $8.99
A68475 Foam-it-Away Set
1 each - Degreaser Conc. Spray, Try-it Conc. Spray, GrimeGuard Glass Cleaner
$22.66
Now $20.16
A3362 Furniture Cream
Cleans, Polishes, & Protects
$7.99
Now $6.99
A68647 Germ Busting Solutions Set
A3835 G-X Spray Disinf., A3888 Germ Clean Conc., A3512 Simply Kleen Hand Soap
$22.87
Now $20.37
A3888 Germ Clean
$8.79
Now $8.39
A3388 Germ-trol® II
Cleaner, Disinfectant, & Deodorizer
$8.89
Now $8.39
A68109 Grime Guard Bathroom Cleaner Set
A3473 GG Bathroom Cleaner + A4200 Trigger Sprayer
$8.78
Now $8.58
A68109 GrimeGuard Bathroom Cleaner Set
$8.78
Now $8.58
A3835 G-X Spray Disinfectant
$8.09
Now $7.79
A68658 Home Helpers Solutions
A3100 Stanley Dryer Vent Brush, A3075 Super Scrubby Brush
$17.48
Now $15.48
A385002 IX Insecticide Spray - Qty. 2
$15.98
Now $13.98
A3785 Kettle Cleaners
Heavy-Duty Scrubbers
$5.99
Now $5.49
A68474 Kitchen Solutions Set
1each - Kitchen Shine Protector, Oven Cleaner, Stove & Countertop Cleaner, Xtreme Sponge
$24.66
Now $22.16
A3372 Mop and Duster Spray
$6.79
Now $5.99
A68479 Multi-Surface Solutions Set + Anniversary Broom Set
1 each - Geli-Clean Multi-Surface, Stainless Steel and Window Cleaners + Broom and Handle
$46.22
Now $41.22
A68568 Naturals Foot Care
317 Foot Scrub Brush, A6507 Cool-A-Ped Foot Trmt., A6510 Cool-A-Ped Foot Spray
$20.57
Now $17.57
A3845 Orange Wonder
all purpose spot & stain remover
$7.39
Now $6.89
A68653 Orange Wonder Solutions
A3845 Orange Wonder, A3328 Orange Mir. Power Gel
$12.28
Now $10.78
A339202 Original Degreaser (Qty. 2)
$15.78
Now $13.78
A68481 Oxy Spot Solutions Set
1 each - Oxy
$12.27
Now $10.77
A68480 Oxy Z3 Solutions Set
1 each - Oxy Z3 with trigger and Super Scrubby Brush
$13.27
Now $11.77
A68498 Polish Quartet Set
$25.96
Now $25.56
A68646 Professional Floor Solutions
A3461 Magic Clean & A3462 Magic Shine Floor Finish
$16.28
Now $14.28
A68649 Simply Kleen & Soft Solutions
A3509 Simply Kleen Hand Soap (CM), A6539 Simply Soft Hand Lotion (CM), A4471 Foaming Wash Disp.
$17.97
Now $15.97
A3512 Simply Kleen Mint Julep Hand Soap
$5.69
Now $5.19
A68650 Sneaker Solutions
A3075 Super Scrubby Brush, A3327 Oxy Z3, A4202Foaming Trigger Sprayer
$13.27
Now $11.77
A68657 Spa Favorites Solution
A6502 Pavana Moisturizer, A6506 All Purpose Creme
$29.25
Now $26.25
A68655 Sparkle Solutions
A3338 Lustre Last Silver Polish, A3339 Copper & Brass Polish
$14.88
Now $12.88
A68652 Stanley Anniversary Broom Set
3050 Anniv. Broom, A3203 i-handle, A3754 Black Dust Pan
$24.58
Now $22.08
A68651 Stanley Anniversary Trio
A3394 Degreaser Conc, A3845 Orange Wonder, A3785 Kettle Cleaners
$22.07
Now $19.57
A3375 Stove & Countertop Cleaner
$7.39
Now $6.49
A68656 Summer Relief Solution
A3512 Simply Kleen Hand Soap, A6541 Cocoa Butter Hyd. Cream, A6507 Cool-A-Ped Foot Treatment
$19.97
Now $17.47
A68648X Summer Solutions Set
GreenTea Foaming Body Wash, Naturals Deodorant, Luminosa Green Tea Body Moisturizer, Foaming Dispenser
$30.92
Now $27.42
A357602 Tuscan Garden Signature Scent Air Freshener
$10.78
Now $9.28
A3335 Wood Master Oil Soap
$7.59
Now $6.59
A3144 Woolux Dry Mop Head
$15.29
Now $14.29
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