FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Pet Carousel Conducts Nationwide Recall of Beef Hoof Products and Pig Ears Because of Salmonella Risk
Company Contact:
Pet Carousel, Inc
800-231-3572
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 9, 2009 – Sanger, CA-- Pet Carousel has initiated a recall of all Pig Ears and all varieties of Beef Hoof pet treats because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The problem was discovered after FDA testing found positive results for Salmonella in pig ears and beef hoof products.
These products were recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect both humans and animals. People handling dry pet food and/or pet treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the treats or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Although rare, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care provider immediately.
Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may only experience a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed any of the affected products or is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
The following products have been recalled: The affected pig ear products were packaged under the brand names Doggie Delight, Pork Tasteez and Pet Carousel
Item No.:
18100-P Bulk
18016-P 10-pk red mesh bag
18120-P 20-pk red mesh bag.
The affected beef hooves were packaged under the brand names Choo Hooves, Dentley’s, Doggie Delight, and Pet Carousel
Item No.:
1506-K 5 lb. bulk
1507-K 10 lb. bulk
1520-K 20 lb. bulk
12125-T 10-pk vinyl bag
12110-T 10-pk, vinyl bag
12111-T 10-pk, vinyl bag
12122-T 10 lb., bulk
1503-K 3-pk, vinyl bag
1510-K 10-pk ,vinyl bag
1405-S 5 lb., bulk
1408-S 10-pk, vinyl bag
1410-S 10 lb., bulk
1420-S 20 lb., bulk
90058-H Cheese/& Bacon Stuffed Hoof, bulk
90056-H Peanut Butter Stuffed Hoof, bulk
17005-R Rope toy with Hooves.
The products were distributed nationwide in both bulk and retail packaging for sale in pet food and retail chain stores throughout the country. All sizes and all lots of these pork ears purchased on or after 08/16/2009 and all beef hoof products in all varieties purchased on or after 09/16/2009 made by Pet Carousel are included in this alert.
Pet Carousel has completed notifying its consignees and requested the consignees return affected products and remove them from retail sales. Out of an abundance of caution and concern for public safety, Pet Carousel is issuing this press release to inform consumers of potential risks and to ensure that all affected product has either been returned or otherwise removed from use.
Consumers who have purchased the products described above should cease use and return the product to their place of purchase. Additionally, consumers with questions may contact Pet Carousel at 800-231-3572 from 8:00am to 4:00pm PST.
Arm & Hammer is partnering with North Shore Animal League America (NSALA) to educate cat owners about the importance of pet identification tags.
To support the collaboration, Arm & Hammer has launched an integrated marketing campaign with the tagline: “Tag a Cat, Save a Life.” Ads will appear on packages of Arm & Hammer cat litter products, online and in handouts delivered to new cat owners at the point of pet adoption.
A print campaign will appear in consumer magazines throughout the summer, including Martha Stewart Living, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal and Family Circle. The campaign also includes online ads on sites including Pet Place, DogTime and Cat Channel.
Model and author Beth Ostrosky Stern (wife of Howard Stern) is a volunteer with NSALA and is a spokesperson for the effort, but will not appear in any A&H marketing materials. She will conduct a radio media tour, says an Arm & Hammer spokesperson.
Cat owners can obtain a free personalized ID tag via mail with the purchase of any two Arm & Hammer cat litters. The promotion ends Dec. 31 and requests must be postmarked by Jan. 15. The campaign will direct consumers to www.pettagoffer.com. The effort was created by Ferrara & Company for Arm & Hammer parent company Church & Dwight. Both are based in Princeton, N.J. <read more>
I’m about to repeat something that your mom probably told you many times when you were growing up and it has to do with brushing teeth. But this time the advice is for your pets.
Do you brush your pet’s teeth daily?
If you’re like most pet owners, the answer is a definite NO.
You may be thinking, “My pet would never let me near his/her teeth let alone sit still while I BRUSH them” or “My life is so hectic I can barely get my own teeth brushed, let alone the cat’s.”
Most pet owners never even look in their pet’s mouths, let alone brushing their teeth.
However, being aware of the condition of your pet’s teeth and in keeping them in good shape is just as important to their health as it is to yours.
And it just so happens that February is pet dental health month, a great time to learn more on what you can do to help your pet keep his/her teeth clean.
Having your pet’s teeth checked during it’s semi-annual wellness check is normally part of your vets routine. During this check your veterinarian can help you determine your pet’s oral health state.
Periodontal disease is very common in dogs and cats and depending on its severity, it can cause varying degrees of halitosis, tartar or plaque, gingivitis and/or tooth disease depending on age and breed.
Here are step-by-step instructions (see the video below from Howzini) on how to brush your dog’s teeth:
1. Put pet-safe toothpaste on your finger and allow the dog to lick some of it off (pet toothpaste comes in flavors such as chicken).
2. Start with just 1 tooth. Put toothpaste on the toothbrush and rub in a little toothpaste where the tooth meets the gum line.
3. Do not brush your dog’s teeth like you brush your own teeth. Instead, just smear the toothpaste on your dog’s tooth — 1 tooth at a time. Dog toothpaste is made to dissolve the plaque without much rubbing or scrubbing.
4. If the first tooth went well, then try the same thing on another tooth. Until your dog gets used to this process, you may need to do only a few teeth at a time — in one sitting.
Cats can sometimes be a little trickier than dogs, and here is a video that shows a cat getting her teeth cleaned:
Here are some things you can do besides brushing to help keep your pet’s teeth clean:
Get a professional dental cleaning to start. A routine teeth cleaning is very similar to the cleaning you receive from your hygienist.
Provide dental treats and chews to help slow the development of tartar.
Use veterinary approved toothpaste when you brush your pet’s teeth. Human toothpaste or baking soda can cause an upset stomach.
And just like in humans, if your pet has significant tooth or periodontal disease present, not only is his health and comfort at risk, but additional care may be necessary including tooth extractions, treatment for infections, growths and tumors.
To maintain good health, your pet needs a healthy mouth. Daily brushing can help and you can contact your veterinarian for recommendations on how you can prevent and/or treat dental disease in your pet.
As always, if you are looking for veterinary care, VetLocator.com has local vets that are available to provide the help that you need and if you can’t find what you are looking for, just shoot our Customer Care staff an email and we’ll be glad to help you out!
Unfortunately, pet product recalls are becoming an all too common part of our lives and while I am very happy to know the information, I wish pet food was safer.
I’ve kept a link to the FDA product recall page live on my Google Desktop so I receive the alert when they issue it.
Recently the FDA announced they’ve created a special tool so pet owners can view the latest recalls. We’ve created a special page on VetLocator just for pet product recalls that you can visit any time. On it you’ll find any new pet product recalls and other pet related links the FDA feels are important or of interest to pet owners.
(we also have a copy of the latest recall posted there too)
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The #1 winter pet weather-related injuries
With the recent cold weather that much of the country is experiencing, it’s a good time to remind you that pets can get frostbite too. While its not a problem here in Florida, we’re getting mufflered up when we go for our walks along the Gulf. Those winter winds are CHILLY!!! Even our pets are keeping close to warm places to ward off the cold days.
Animals who are outdoors in the freezing cold have some the of same problems we experience in the cold, namely frostbite and dehydration. One veterinarian we talked to said that frostbite and dehydration are the most common weather-related injuries for pets in colder climates during the winter. Just a heads up so you can keep your pets warm and healthy when it’s cold outside.
With all this cautionary news, we do want to change the subject to say:
Have a wonderful, healthy and happy holiday with your family and pets and our warmest wishes to you!
About a year ago, researchers at the University of Minnesota began an experimental procedure to save a dog from an aggressive brain tumor.
Researchers hoped that any success they achieved with Batman’s treatments would give them valuable insights into new ways of treating brain tumors in humans.
Batman had a common tumor called a glioma (a type of tumor with scattered invasive cancer cells). Most dogs diagnosed with this type of cancer are dead within a month.
But Batman was an exception. His experimental treatment worked! And now, over a year later, Batman is healthy and has no sign of cancer.
A miracle.
Not only was the treatment successful but his success was so dramatic, the National Cancer Institute is funding further research for up to 100 dogs.
So far 8 other dogs have undergone the same procedure and ALL of the dogs had their brain cancers shrink or disappear.
Researchers will finish their trials with dogs (and if you have a dog or know of a dog with cancer, it may qualify to participate in the trial FREE) and take the information they learn in the trials to develop a treatment course for humans with similar cancers.
They expect to begin clinical trials on humans in 2 to 3 years and if the results for humans is similar to those with dogs, then many people will benefit and their cancers will be cured.
And they will be sharing the same miracle that Batman did.
In the resource link below, you can see a video on Batman and his surgeon and also get information on how to get free cancer treatment for dogs who qualify.
Headlines tell a lot about trends. For example, recently this headline caught my eye:
Chinese perfect method of choosing sex of animals prior to birth.
The story was about Chinese scientists sorting pig sperm into male or female chromosomes and then using artificial insemination to impregnate two different sows. One gave birth to all male piglets and the other to all female piglets. This same method has also been used for buffalo and milk cows. Apparently pig sperm are much more difficult to sort as they are more delicate than the buffalo or cow sperm is. Although the scientists are working with farm animals – in the future this same method can be used for any type of animal and sperm.
Here’s another one:
Scientists successfully clone 5 puppies that are genetic copies of a German Shepherd that helped in the hunt for 9-11 victims.
In this case a company who wants to make headlines for cloning dogs (it’s a lucrative market that they want to promote), ran a contest for the most clone-worthy dog and Trackr, the above mentioned German Shepherd won the contest . Here is a picture of Trackr’s genetically identical offspring.
And finally this headline:
Allerca Inc. Sued over Non-Delivery of Hypoallergenic Kitten
In case you’re not familiar with who Allerca is, it’s a company that claimed to have developed the first hypoallergenic cat – with much hype and hoopla accompanying the announcement – along with photos of the first cat. They took orders from cat lovers who were allergic, charging around $8,000 for a kitten, and another $2000 or so to be on the rush list. Apparently there were problems and a man is suing because they failed to deliver the kitten he ordered over 3 years ago.
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The trend here is that the methods for creating designer pets, cloned, sorted, sterilized and categorized, continues to grow and pet owners are paying big dollars for them.
There is just one component that is missing in these engineered companions and that is who the occupants of these designer pet bodies are.
Cloning a dog does not return your same dog. It gives you a dog that looks like your old dog does (or 5 of them as in the case of Trackr). Choosing a designer pet does not mean you’ll get a great pet or companion, or one that is healthy and free from problems.
So my question to you is: If you could make a pet to your order, a designer pet, if you could do it, would you?
Linda
PS: As I write this article, my wonderful pet companion – not a designer pet by the way – sits quietly at my feet and glances at me as if to say: “Why bother? I’m better than any designer pet you could ever order.” and you know what? She’s right.
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