Chicken Jerky Warning

Preliminary Animal Health Notification

December 19, 2008

FDA Continues To Receive Complaints about Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs and Cautions Consumers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to caution consumers of a potential association between the development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats.  FDA continues to receive complaints of dogs experiencing illness that their owners or veterinarians associate with consumption of chicken jerky products. The chicken jerky products are imported to the U.S. from China.  FDA issued a cautionary warning to consumers in September 2007.

Australian news organizations report the University of Sydney is also investigating an association between illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky in Australia. At least one firm in Australia has recalled their chicken jerky product and the recall notification stated the chicken jerky product was manufactured in China.

FDA believes the continued trend of consumer complaints coupled with the information obtained from Australia warrants an additional reminder and animal health notification.

Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be
used occasionally and in small quantities.  Owners of small dogs must be especially careful to limit the amount of these products.

FDA, in addition to several veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the U.S, is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs.   To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses.  FDA has conducted extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified any contaminant.

FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs which may occur within hours to days of feeding the product: decreased appetite, although some may continue to consume the treats to the exclusion of other foods; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; and increased water consumption and/or increased urination.  If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product.  Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours.  Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine).  Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.

The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem.  Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky.  Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html in their state.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Open Heart Surgery for Dogs

Recently reported over at VIN is a new program for open heart surgery in dogs at UC Davis:

Griffiths and UC Davis are attempting a feat that during the past 30 years has confounded many another institution. High cost, the number of medical staff required for surgery and post-operative care, the time commitment required of staff, the types of conditions in dogs that call for surgery, and differences in how dogs respond to the operation compared with humans — these factors combined to stymie other programs.

Read the entire article at VIN here and Visit UC Davis Cardio page here

Popularity: 100% [?]

Pack of Lies ?

A Recent article in Off Lead Magazine challenges the long term held belief that dogs are pack orientated.

Political upheaval in Romania caused an unbalanced population of free-ranging or homeless dogs, this tragic situation however served to provide animal behaviorist with numerous observation opportunities that are usually reserved for observing wolves or dingos.

These Romanian dogs seem to only pair up on occasion closer to what animal behaviorist and author Dunbar refers to as “loose, transitory associations”.

Free ranging “un-domesticated” dogs do still roam in a few areas of the globe, further observation and analysis of their social behavior is of course needed to determine if the Romanian Dogs are indicative of true canine social behavior or a fluke.

Popularity: 22% [?]

A One of a Kind Neapolitan Mastiff

Unico after surgery

On a day when people tend to cover more bad news then good news; bad economy, the war, crime, corrupt politicians. We are no different many times in the Neapolitan Mastiff community. Early death of a dog, bad judging, bad breeder, politics getting in the way, the list goes on. However today comes a story of a truly unique dog, a one of a kind dog, whom just happens to be named

Unico

of Patrizio De Vitalle. »See his story here»
You see, not too long ago in the first days of spring 2008. Unico suffered a truly devastating injury, one that can be compared to an athlete’s career ending injury. Unico had suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament, and it was not known if he would ever recover not least be lame for the rest of his life. However the fight for Unico, started the second his injury took place, with his devoted owner Katriina miraculously getting the 72 Kilos Unico out of the deep woods to find help and to get him home.
The news was devastating to Katriina that day, but there was hope, and soon a successful surgery fallowed by days, weeks, months of little to no sleep making sure Unico would not re-injure his fragile knee during post surgery care. The endless nights with no sleep soon were replaced by long trips to Helsinki, and long hours of rehabilitation stretches and exercise.
Perhaps that “one of a kind” Neapolitan Mastiff, also has a “one of a kind” master in Katriina, because today we are glad to hear the “good news” that Unico has won BOB, Helsinki Winner 2008 and has qualified for 2009 Crufts. Brava Katriina Hagg, Patrizio De Vitale breeder of Unico, is no longer with us but he would be proud of his unique

Unico

Unico of Patrizio de Vitale BOB December 2008 with owner Katriina Hagg.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Pet Only Airline Coming to US in Spring 2009

Launching in the United States Spring 2009 is the first Pet Only Airline.  Below is the companies press release:

PET AIRWAYS LAUNCHES WEB SITE WITH MYPAWS CLUB SPECIAL DEALS

Delray Beach, FL – December 1st, 2008

Pet Airways today announced that it will be launching the first pet only airline, specifically designed for the safe and comfortable transportation of pets, with the first flights scheduled for Spring-Summer 2009.

On Pet Airways, pets will travel in the main cabin of specially outfitted aircraft, NOT in cargo. The cabins will be climate and lighting controlled for comfort and safety, and a pet-attendant will always be on-board watching over the pet passengers (“pawsengers”).
A typical Pet Airways’ flight will fly with a capacity of 100 pets, with initial routes from New York to Los Angeles, and back with stops in Washington DC, Chicago and Denver. Pet Airways plans to offer nationwide coverage with easily accessible pet check-in lounges in major metropolitan areas and flights out of more convenient, less congested secondary airports, allowing for easier access and quicker loading and unloading.

A web-enabled reservation system will allow customers to book travel and other services 24 hours a day on-line. In addition, a Customer Care call center will handle phone reservations and inquiries during business hours. Owners will be able to track their pets’ travel online via the Pet Airways proprietary Pawprints Tracking System.

According to Dan Wiesel, CEO of Pet Airways, “Currently, most pets traveling by air in the U.S. are transported in the cargo hold and are handled as baggage. The experience is not only frightening to the pets, but can cause severe emotional and physical harm, even death. This is not what most pet owners want to subject their pets to, but they have had no other choice, until now.”

In advance of the first flights, Pet Airways is offering charter membership in the Pet Airways MyPAWS club which offers members free flights along with substantial discounts on pet supplies from their MyPAWS Pet Store, discounts on pet-friendly hotels, discounts on pet health insurance, discounts and free shipping at our partner 1-800-Petmeds, samples from partners, and other benefits.

Media Contact
Alysa Binder
abinder@petairways.com

Popularity: 29% [?]

Hero Dog

Dogs still amaze me ! Even after living with them my entire life they still amaze me! Take a look at this video shot Dec 2nd on a busy hiway in Chile. One dog is struck on the freeway and another dog comes in and pulls him off the road! Watch the very end when the one dog is pulling the other, he doesn’t use his mouth he uses is legs! The Hero Dog, as he has become known, is clearly problem solving, looking for traffic and is RESCUING the other dog. Amazing…

Popularity: 18% [?]

Xylitol Dangers

Many dog owners are already aware of the dangers of the sugar substitute Xylitol, however manufacturers of all kinds of products are switching to this substitute and NOT placing warning labels on their products to advise us of the change.

Most disappointing to me is the recent change made by the makers of Rescue Remedy, they have added Xylitol to their Rescue Pastilles ;(

I have been a Bach Rescue Remedy fan for many years now and have used the product and recommended the product to many other fellow pet owners.

If you suspect your dog has ingested a product containing Xylitol, keep the packaging and call your veterinarian immediately. Xylitol causes your dogs blood sugar to drop and can lead to severe liver damage and death.

Learn More about Xylitol dangers:

• Snopes Xylitol Deadly to Dogs Article
• ASPCA Original Warning 2006

Remember READ LABELS  !!!!

Popularity: 17% [?]

Neapolitan Mastiff Italian Champion Achille del Regno di Sicilia

Already an Italian champion, Achille del Regno di Sicilia was crowned A.T.I.MA.NA. 2008 Champion, not only this but taking on this title in the mother country of the Neapolitan Mastiff breed, Italy. There is no question that

Achille del Regno di Sicilia is the complete package.

Achille is a product of a Sicilian Mastinari Giovanni Di Blasi, with the kennel label of Mastino Conca d’Oro. This Mastini is a result of by in large two separate bloodlines coming together to make that near perfect specimen that is rare in the dog world. Achille’s father is a proven stud, named Sicano Sine Die, a son of an Italian Champion Vilardo Arke Kunon Ronaldo, whom is also a son of another Italian Champion and much famed Brigante Del Castellaccio. These two affixes, Vilardo Arke Kunon, and Del Castellaccio representing very important bloodlines and kennels in the history of southern Italy. On the bottom of this pedigree you will also see important dogs from Palazzo, but again dogs from Sicily from Vilardo Arke Kunon.

The mother of Achille, Saetta Dello Stradone Vesuviano, are different bloodlines from Naples. A daughter of Goliath, whom in turn was a son of famous reproducer Taison Della Grotta Azzurra (grey). On the bottom of this side of the pedigree you will also see a selection based on Gennarino, whom is also a son of Taison.

The combination of the two lines, Sicilian, with bloodlines from Naples, is perhaps a modern day breeding of Di Ponzano lines bred to dogs from Napoli, making this champion at least in my eyes more appealing and interesting.

It is not only a pleasure to see such results from such breeding, and only a plus when one hears of the splendid Mastini temperament that Achille displays and inherited from it’s ancestors.

But what’s a champion of beauty if there are those other special characteristics missing in our breed? Achille represents to us Neapolitan Mastiff fanciers, a way to silence our critics, with out having to say a single word to the ignorant or haters of the breed, Achille del Regno di Sicilia is the complete package. Beauty, functionality, and Mastini temperament.

Popularity: 18% [?]

187 Pit Bulls

Recently reported at B-Bulldogs is a story about 187 Pit Bulls seized in a dog fighting ring, which you would think is the saddest part of the story….It’s not

So it comes as no surprise to learn a few days later that every single one of the 187 dogs from that Houston bust have been euthanized. Every one. By the authorities that “rescued” them from fighting.

You can read the whole report by B-Bulldogs here and the Houston Chronicle Report here

Popularity: 17% [?]

The Lost History of the Canine Race

The Lost History of the Canine Race: Our 15,000 year Love Affair with Dogs by Mary Elizabeth Thurston

The author, an anthropologist, offers a fascinating historical account of dogs and man. A well written chronicle of the dog’s rise thru man’s society, the classdom that effected both man and dog during the Victorian era, the established of “pure breds”, War dogs and much more!

Particularly I enjoyed the history of dogs in North America chapter, the discussion of several breeds now extinct that once originated on our shores. Although sad and tragic it serves as a lesson about preservation and man’s historical ruthless disregard for animals. It reminded me of the breed specific legislation that many states are trying to impose by “banning” breeds in an effort to eliminate them all together.

The favorite target of these “activists” right now is the American Pit Bull Terrier, who unfortunately has been demonized by their efforts. But just a few moments ago in our American History this breed was good enough to go into battle and fight for our country, now the American Pit Bull is no longer associated with our military or upper class, so no one blinks an eye and efforts to dissolve the breed gain momentum….Modern day Classdom ?

Pictured above is one of the only renditions of the Coastal Indians Wool Dog, now extinct. The dog’s fur was used to make textiles. Sure is a cute little guy ! Wish I could of met one……

Overall I have to give this book Rating – Excellent

Popularity: 16% [?]