Posts Tagged ‘Pet health’

Bandera’s Neonatal Ataxia Health Testing Fund for Breeding Cotons

June 12, 2012

 

In June 2011 the American Coton Club created a Health Testing Fund for ACC Code of Ethics Breeders. One year later we are proud to announce that the Health Testing Fund for Bandera’s Neonatal Ataxia (BNAt) DNA testing of the Coton de Tulear has been extended to all Coton de Tulear breeders!

 

Due to the overwhelming generosity of the Coton community’s purchases of the 2012 Coton de Tulear Calendar the American Coton Club (ACC) has established the ACC Neonatal Ataxia Health Testing Fund that is now available to all Coton de Tulear Breeders.

 

Health and Education are a primary goal of the American Coton Club and this is one way that we can help the Coton Community in eradicating this preventable disease from the Coton de Tulear gene pool.

 

We would like to publicly thank all of those that ordered the 2012 Coton de Tulear Calendar as you have made it possible for ACC to establish this fund. We hope to continue to help the Coton Community.

 

Health Fund Details:

The American Coton Club will donate funds for DNA testing of Bandera’s Neonatal Ataxia (BNAt) for Coton de Tulear Breeders in hopes of helping to eliminate this disease from the Coton gene pool.

 

This fund is open to all Coton de Tulear Breeders to use for their breeding Cotons. The ACC will gift $20.00 per Coton de Tulear to Coton de Tulear Breeders who DNA test for Bandera’s Neonatal Ataxia, up to a maximum of 2 Cotons tested per breeder.

 

The ACC Bandera’s Neonatal Ataxia Health Testing Fund will be for Cotons tested from June 1, 2012 until the health fund is depleted. To reserve your gift please e-mail the ACC Health Committee before sending in your DNA samples. Proof of the completed test must also be forwarded to the ACC Health Committee before you may receive your gift. Proof of your test can be your certificate or a receipt from the lab. All test results will remain confidential. If your Coton was tested prior to this notice but after June 1, 2012 you may send in your proof of test to receive your gift.

 

We hope that the ACC Bandera’s Neonatal Ataxia Health Testing Fund will help defray the cost of the DNA test and will encourage breeders to test their breeding Cotons. Testing your breeding Cotons will ensure no carriers are bred to one another. Testing allows breeders to make informed breeding decisions so that we can eliminate this disease from the Coton de Tulear gene pool and never have to hear of a tragic Bandera’s litter being born again.

 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the ACC Health Committee or for more information about the disease and links to the research and testing facilities please visit our Coton de Tulear DNA test web page.

 

ACC would like to thank everyone for their generosity as well as a special thank you to all who submitted photos for the 2012 Coton de Tulear calendar. You all helped make this health testing fund possible! ACC has started working on the 2013 Coton de Tulear Calendar and encourages everyone to send in their Coton photos for the project. Please send photos to Photos@AmericanCotonClub.com.

 

Disclaimer: The Bandera’s Neonatal Ataxia DNA test may not be accurate for Cotons with unverifiable heritage. This test is specifically for purebred Cotons de Tulear.

 

 

Sincerely,

Hailey Parker on behalf of the ACC Board of Directors

American Coton Club

http://www.AmericanCotonClub.com/

info@AmericanCotonClub.com

 

Order your 2012 Coton de Tulear calendar today!!

A beautiful new full color 11″ x 17″ wall calendar has been created by the American Coton Club and is now available for purchase. Featuring twelve months of stunning photographs showcasing Cotons from around the world depicting both the beauty and charm of the rare breed Coton de Tulear, this is a must-have item for the new year!

You will see the Coton de Tulear breed as a versatile, wonderful and unique dog capable of everything from being a great family companion, to competing in agility, swimming with the family and conformation show dog.

The rare breed Coton de Tulear does it all!

The ACC is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization and proceeds from calendar sales will support health testing and educational programs for the Coton de Tulear. The 2012 Coton de Tulear Calendar is the perfect gift for Coton lovers!!

In addition to lovely Coton photos shown on the main calendar pages there are also many more Coton photos throughout each month!

 

 

Click here to order your 2012 Coton de Tulear Calendar today!
**Free shipping!!**

….

American Coton Club
Home of the Rare Breed Coton de Tulear
www.AmericanCotonClub.com
info@AmericanCotonClub.com

 

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PRESS RELEASE                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lisa Johnson                          June 15, 2011
ACC Health Committee
HealthCommittee@AmericanCotonClub.com
http://www.AmericanCotonClub.com

 

AMERICAN COTON CLUB ANNOUNCES HEALTH TESTING FUND

June 15, 2011: The American Coton Club launched a Health Testing Fund for Bandera’s Neonatal Ataxia (BNAt) DNA test for the Coton de Tulear rare breed of dog. The American Coton Club will donate up to $2,000. for the testing of ACC breeding Cotons.

 

The ACC Bandera’s Neonatal Ataxia Health Testing Fund is for ACC Code of Ethics Breeders who choose to DNA test their breeding Cotons. The ACC will reimburse $20.00 per Coton de Tulear to ACC Breeders who test for Bandera’s Syndrome, up to a maximum of 3 Cotons per breeder.

 

The ACC Bandera’s Neonatal Health Testing Fund will be for Cotons tested from May 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011. To reserve your reimbursement please e-mail the ACC Health Committee before sending in your DNA samples. Proof of the completed test must also be forwarded to the ACC Health Committee before reimbursement can occur. Proof of the test can either be your certificate or a receipt from the lab. All test results will remain confidential.

 

If you are an ACC Breeder and you have already completed your testing please send proof of testing to the ACC Health Committee and a reimbursement check will be mailed to you.
Remember ACC will reimburse $20 per Coton, with a maximum number of 3 Cotons per breeder.

 

We hope that the Bandera’s Neonatal Ataxia Health Testing Fund will help defray the cost of the DNA test and will encourage breeders to test their breeding Cotons. Testing your breeding Cotons will ensure no carriers are bred to one another. Testing will allow breeders to make informed breeding decisions so that we can eliminate this disease and never have to hear of a tragic Bandera’s litter being born again.
In the future, we hope to have a fundraiser which might afford the ACC an opportunity to help more Cotons to be tested, and not just ACC Cotons. For now, this is a place to begin, and one we can all be proud of.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the ACC Health Committee.

 

For information on DNA testing please visit the ACC web site: http://www.americancotonclub.com/dnatests.htm

 

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A Closer Look At Animal Welfare Issues :

THE COTON de TULEAR VS. THE AKC

 

By:  Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein

 

On my show tonight, the topic to be discussed will be the rare breed, Coton de Tulear, being recognized by the AKC. There are several National Coton clubs in the nation with one pursuing this recognition from the AKC.

Why would this recognition be a horrendous mistake for this rare breed? What will it mean for the future of this lovable dog? Do you, the animal lover, understand what the AKC stands for? Do they really care about the welfare of the dogs?

Tune in tonight when my guest, Robyn Rosenthal, representative of The Advocates for the Coton de Tulear (ACT), and “Mom” to two Cotons, will discuss this important and timely topic.

You can view this program at 6:30 PM locally on Channe 13 (Comcast), Channel 19 (Service Electric) or you can streamline it and watch it live at BCTV. Please feel free to call in with questions or comments or email  me directly at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com. You can also catch this show in replays on Friday at 9:30 PM, Saturday at 5:30 PM and Sunday at 8:30 AM. You can also view this show in the archives section as well.

….

About the host and author:  Tina is a  long-time animal advocate, Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein will take on local, national and worldwide issues affecting animals today. Tina will explore puppymills, animal cruelty, the dog fur industry, animal shelter issues, experimental research on animals and so much more. Tina is a local tv talk show host and has been a guest on other tv and radio programs throughout Berks County and beyond. Tina welcomes your comments and questions.

 

….

The USACTC has been named the AKC Parent Club for the Coton de Tulear. They may have received that privilege but the Coton de Tulear has still not been AKC recognized. There is no standing on the fence any longer. You pick a side and you either fight FOR the Coton or you fight to SHOW the Coton. There are no in betweens. If you are a member of the USACTC Club, then you are pro-AKC and you support Puppy Mills. Please join us in our continued opposition of AKC recognition for the Coton de Tulear!

…
There are still two Coton de Tulear organizations which will protect the rare breed Coton de Tulear. The American Coton Club and the Coton de Tulear Club of America. Neither organization will ever join the ranks of AKC and the puppy mills they support!!

American Coton Club
Home of the rare breed Coton de Tulear
http://www.AmericanCotonClub.com
info@AmericanCotonClub.com

…

ADVOCATES FOR THE COTON DE TULEAR “ACT” are concerned for the welfare of the Coton de Tulear.  ”ACT” reports USACTC & ACTA seeking AKC recognition for the Coton de Tulear

Veterinary Information Network (VIN) reports:

Veterinarians are trying to discern whether roughly a dozen dogs testing positive for hypercalcemia and consuming the same high-end diet is merely coincidence or a problem with the pet food in question.

 

The reports have cropped up on the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), an online community for the profession and parent of the VIN News Service. In message board discussions, veterinarians have revealed cases of hypercalcemia secondary to vitamin D toxicosis occurring in dogs that eat a single brand of dry pet food: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Diet, chicken flavor. In each of the cases, veterinarians report that dogs’ conditions have improved after switching brands.

 

So far, nothing concrete has identified a causal relationship between the food and illnesses in dogs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while reportedly alerted to adverse events tied to the food, has not prompted a recall, though the VIN News Service has been unable to reach officials with the regulatory agency directly.

 

Officials with Wilton, Conn.-based Blue Buffalo report that “tens of thousands of dollars” and hundreds of hours have been spent analyzing various batches of dog food, including samples from bags directly linked to specific cases of dogs testing positive for hypercalcemia and vitamin D toxicity.

 

Richard MacLean, vice president of business affairs, says one thing is certain: Test results thus far have shown nothing unusual about the product’s formulation; amounts of calcium and vitamin D, in particular, are within the company’s specifications and well below levels that might be considered toxic.

 

The company’s focus has been on Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe, manufactured in April 2010 with a best-used-by date of July 2011.

 

Vitamin D toxicity, or hypervitaminosis D, induces bone loss and abnormally high serum calcium levels, which could result in kidney stones and the calcification of organs like the heart and kidneys if left untreated.

 

“We really do take very seriously our commitment to providing health nutrition to pets,” MacLean says. “From the moment this issue came up, we are looking to find out if this is something we can do something about.”

 

Dr. Joy Mueller, a veterinarian in Santa Rosa, Calif., says the condition isn’t one that an owner will likely miss.

 

Recently, her two-year-old Australian shepherd became lethargic, releasing copious amounts of extremely dilute urine throughout her house and drinking large amounts of water. Heeding the red flags, she tested the dog’s blood and noted elevated calcium levels and a low platelet count. Hypercalcemia is often associated with kidney cancer and lymphoma.

 

Yet after ruling out possible problems with kidney function, Mueller turned to the Blue Buffalo Wilderness chicken and turkey flavored dry food that the dog had been eating for two weeks and changed brands.

 

The result was dramatic; the dog’s condition improved within 24 hours.

 

Mueller came to the association between the food and her dog’s condition independently of the VIN discussions on the topic, though she did not test her dog for elevated levels of vitamin D and cannot be certain that toxic levels of it prompted the animal’s illness. Still, she e-mailed the VIN News Service last Friday to spread the word about her findings to other veterinarians.

 

Reflecting on the turn of events, she says: “Vitamin D toxicosis was not my first thought. Various types of cancer including kidney cancer were the big rule outs. I wasn’t thinking food until I switched him.”

 

While Mueller believes that the food is tied to her dog’s condition, she suspects the reaction was idiosyncratic.

 

“It’s such a dramatic response that if a large number of dogs that ate this food had it, you would hear about more cases,” she says. “You can’t miss it peeing all the time and going through gallons of water.

 

“I suspect this has more to do with the dogs than the food,” Mueller adds. “I’m thinking beyond vitamin D. There may be dogs that have a genetic predisposition to the developing this condition after eating this food. It’s quite a mystery.”

 

Dr. Kathryn Cochran, a practitioner in Michigan, agrees. She reports that dogs of two different clients were examined in the practices where she works on June 30 and July 16. Both presented with hypercalcemia and test results showed high levels of vitamin D.

 

Another common thread: Both ate Blue Buffalo Wilderness Diet, chicken flavor, purchased at a PetSmart in Traverse City, Mich.

 

Cochran’s employer, Dr. Charles Morrison, posted the cases on VIN, and called the company. As a result, Blue Buffulo’s MacLean reports that seven bags were pulled from the Traverse City PetSmart, and tests were conducted on two. He reiterates that nothing unusual has come back on any of the samples analyzed by the company’s labs.

 

Cochran reports that the dogs have since recovered after being switched to a different brand of pet food. She notes that Blue Buffalo has been proactive about paying for tests, sending out claim forms and preparing to make restitution to owners if the product is found to have caused illness.

 

She’s concerned that other cases might not be identified.

 

“I’ve been tearing my hair out trying to get people to talk to me on this,” she says. “Maybe there are more cases out there like this.”

 

Experts in the field of diagnostics think so, too. Dr. Kent Refsal, an endocrinologist with the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health at Michigan State University, works at one of the only labs in America running tests for vitamin D toxicity.

 

“So if a veterinarian has an animal with an abnormality of calcium, they go through lists of differential diagnoses,” Refsal explains. “Our tests can sort through that. In terms of the kind of test outcomes we get, we do not see many instances that raise concern about vitamin D toxicosis.”

 

Considering the rarity of such events, Refsal took notice when the sample from Cochran tested positive for elevated levels of vitamin D.

 

Three weeks later, when Refsal received two samples in the same assay run from dogs in Texas showing evidence of vitamin D excess, he contacted the clinics in question and determined that the dogs were eating food from Blue Buffalo.

 

Since then, Refsal reports that similar tests results from two dogs in Colorado have Blue Buffalo-produced food as the common factor. The lab, he says, has contacted the Michigan Department of Agriculture with the findings, though the VIN News Service could not immediately reach agency officials concerning the cases.

 

“If someone is presented with a question of vitamin D toxicosis, you wonder whether the animal has been put on some kind of unusual dietary supplement. Our assay is just an indicator of vitamin D intake. It does not identify the source of it,” Refsal says.

 

Apart from diet, there are other possible explanations for hypervitaminosis D in animals, including exposure to vitamin D analogs like calcipotriene-based psoriasis creams or pest control products made of cholecalciferol.

 

Veterinarians like Mueller say those explanations are highly unlikely, and even MacLean, of Blue Buffalo, believes that it’s possible that there is a relationship between the food and the handful of sick dogs eating the product.

 

Yet, he cautions, no one has scientifically proven the link. He also notes that reports of at least three other dogs exhibiting signs of hypercalcemia and elevated vitamin D levels without a connection to Blue Buffalo products have surfaced on VIN.

 

MacLean reiterates that the company’s tests of its dog food have come back as low to mid-level for vitamin D content.

 

“Everything that we have suggests that it’s not our food,” he says. “We have 30,000 bags of this stuff out there and literally a dozen animals that have a common symptom. On an incident rate, that doesn’t invite the conclusion that there’s something defective about the product.”

 

 

August 31, 2010
By: Jennifer Fiala
For The VIN News Service

 

 

American Coton Club
Home of the Rare Breed Coton de Tulear
http://www.AmericanCotonClub.com
info@AmericanCotonClub.com

 

 

Katie Markley is happy to announce that Sue Vroom will be back on board with us in 2011 to conduct her new dog handling seminar. During her seminar, “Tips and Techniques for Traumaless Dog Showing”, Sue will draw from her lifetime of experience as a professional handler to help Owner/Handlers improve their chances in the conformation ring.

Many other seminars will be conducted during the 7th annual K9 College Cruise.  You’re sure to find many that will interest you!  Call today to reserve your kennel!  You’ll find detailed information at the K9 College website:  www.k9collegecruise.com

Other seminars to be presented during the 2011 K9 College Cruise include:

• Managing Puppy Development to Maximize Potential, Dr. Carmen Battaglia
• Pedigree Analysis for a Better Breeding Program, Dr. Carmen Battaglia
• Immunology and Nutrition, Dr. Jill Cline
• Probiotics, Dr. Jill Cline
• Law for Dogs: A Primer for Breeders and Owners, Lisa Curry, Esq.
• K9 Structure in Action, Pat Hastngs
• Tricks of the Trade, Pat Hastings
• K9 Reproduction, Dr. Robert Van Hutchison
• K9 Pediatrics – Dr. Robert Van Hutchison
• Genetics for the 21st Century, Dr. Anita Oberbauer
• Genetic Tests, Dr. Anita Oberbauer
• Ask Mary! ~ Agility, Rally, Obedience, Flyuball, Freestyle, Mary Ray
• Preparing the Dog for a Mentally & Physically Healthy Life, Turid Rugaas
• The Emotional Lives of Dogs, Turid Rugaas

Hope to meet you on-board!

If any Coton de Tulear owners or breeders attend please let us know and we’ll post an update about your trip here on the Coton de Tulear News page.

 

 

 

 

American Coton Club

Home of the Rare Breed Coton de Tulear

http://www.AmericanCotonClub.com

info@AmericanCotonClub.com

Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia

Observations

A 22-month-old male neutered Coton De Tulear dog was presented for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy under general anesthesia. The anesthetic plan included premedication with intramuscular meperidine (4 mg kg⁻¹) but meperidine was inadvertently administered at ten-fold this dose. Within 5 minutes, the dog was unresponsive to external stimulation, and by 10 minutes post-injection developed generalized signs of central nervous system (CNS) excitement.  Initial therapy included inspired oxygen supplementation, and single intravenous (IV) doses of diazepam (0.68 mg kg⁻¹) and naloxone (0.03 mg kg⁻¹) to no effect.   A second dose of diazepam (0.46 mg kg⁻¹, IV) abolished most of the signs of CNS excitement. General anesthesia was induced and the endoscopy performed.  Time to extubation was initially prolonged, but administering naloxone (final dose 0.1 mg kg⁻¹, IV) to effect enabled extubation. After naloxone, the dog became agitated, noise sensitive, and had leg and trunk muscle twitches. Diazepam (0.30 mg kg⁻¹, IV) abolished these signs and the dog became heavily sedated and laterally recumbent. Naloxone administration was continued as a constant rate infusion (0.02 mg kg⁻¹ hour⁻¹, IV) until approximately 280 minutes post-meperidine injection, at which time the dog suddenly sat up. Occasional twitches of the leg and trunk muscles were observed during the night.   The dog was discharged the next day appearing clinically normal.

Conclusions

Given that the CNS excitatory effects of normeperidine are not a μ opioid receptor effect, the use of naloxone should be considered carefully when normeperidine excitotoxicity is suspected.   Benzodiazepines may be beneficial in ameliorating clinical signs of normeperidine excitotoxicity.

Full published study is available in

Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia

Volume 37, Issue 5, pages 471–477, September 2010

1. Francis J Golder¹,
2. Jeffrey Wilson¹,
3. M Paula Larenza¹,
4. Owen T Fink²

 

Article first published online: 16 AUG 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-2995.2010.00553.x

© 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation
© 2010 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists

 

 

 

Alert provided by the American Coton Club
Home of the Rare Breed Coton de Tulear
http://AmericanCotonClub.com
info@AmericanCotonClub.com

 

 

 

Famed author and breeder Myra Savant Harris has a new book available for pre-orders from the American Coton Club aStore through Amazon.

Visit the American Coton Club and place your order now.  A must-read for every breeder!

http://www.americancotonclub.com/store.htm

American Coton Club

http://www.AmericanCotonClub.com

Home of the Rare Breed Coton de Tulear

info@AmericanCotonClub.com

There is a Coton de Tulear known around the world.  Mon Cherie is her name and traveling is her game.

Mon Cherie is the Travel Correspondent and Consultant for the American Coton Club, Home of the Rare Breed Coton de Tulear.  Her mom, Heidi Petran, calls her MC and today they will celebrate MC’s 12th birthday.  Cotons de Tulear are a healthy breed overall and can live 15-17 years, so MC has many good years ahead of her!

The American Coton Club wishes MC a very Happy Birthday.

Mon Cherie’s mom states that MC will have a little birthday bash later today.  Present at the party will be her best friend Olivia who is another Coton de Tulear.  Olivia is a youngster and she just wants to have fun and party.

If you would like to read more about Mon Cherie and her travels please visit the American Coton Club web site where Mon Cherie will be adding stories about her traveling adventures. Here’s a sneak peek:   Mon Cherie’s German Adventure

For information about the Rare Breed Coton de Tulear visit the American Coton Club web site.  Membership is $25. and  includes a subscription to the Whole Dog Journal, the Consumer Reports for dog owners.

American Coton Club

Home of the Rare Breed Coton de Tulear

http://AmericanCotonClub.com

info@AmericanCotonClub.com

Pet food maker was involved in massive recall in 2007

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2010/08/09/menu-foods-simmons-deal.html#ixzz0w8urgAsg

American Coton Club

Home of the Rare Breed Coton de Tulear

http://www.AmericanCotonClub.com

Merrick Pet Care Recalls Texas Hold’ems 10 oz. Bag (Item# 600616 Lot 10127 Best By May 6, 2010) Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

08.03.2010

Merrick Pet Care, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas is extending its July 2, 2010 recall of 10oz “Beef Filet Squares for Dogs (Texas Hold’Ems)” pet treat (ITEM # 60016 LOT # 10084TL7 BEST BY MARCH 24, 2012) to also include 83 cases of “Texas Hold’ems” (ITEM # 60016 LOT # 10127 BEST BY MAY 6, 2012) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling the treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle.

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

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

The Beef Filet Squares (Texas Hold ‘Ems) were shipped to distributors and retailers throughout the US. These individuals have been notified and have activated their recall procedures.

The treats are sold in 10oz plastic bags marked with “Lot # 10127 Best By May 6, 2012” on the top of the bag and on a sticker applied to the bottom.

No illnesses have been reported to date for either lot of product. A sample tested positive for Salmonella.

Consumers who have purchased 10 ounce packages of “Texas Hold’ems” are urged to return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-664-7387 M-F 8:00 – 5:00 CDT.

Source:  http://www.merrickpetcare.com/about_us/news_article.php?tid=434

American Coton Club

Home of the Rare Breed Coton de Tulear

Visit ACC at:  http://www.AmericanCotonClub.com

In a nutshell: Some brands of Iams & Eukanuba dog food are being recalled nationwide because of possible salmonella risks.

From the P&G Press Release

CINCINNATI, July 30, 2010 – The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) is voluntarily expanding its recall to include veterinary and some specialized dry pet food as a precautionary measure because it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. No salmonella-related illnesses have been reported.

The following products are included:

• Eukanuba Pure, all sizes and varieties
• Eukanuba Naturally Wild, all sizes and varieties
• Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin, all dry sizes
• Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas, all sizes and varieties

The affected products are sold in veterinary clinics and specialty pet retailers throughout the United States and Canada. No canned food, biscuits/treats or     supplements are affected by this announcement.  A full listing of UPC codes can be found at www.iams.com

These products are made in a single, specialized facility.  In cooperation with FDA, P&G determined that some products made at this facility have the potential for salmonella contamination.  As a precautionary measure, P&G is recalling all products made at this facility.

Consumers who have purchased the specific dry pet foods listed should discard them.  People handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product.  Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

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

For further information or a product refund call P&G toll-free at 877-340-8823. Click here for an extended product list.

Dr. Karen Becker shares some interesting truths about Heartworm prevention and the American Heartworm Society.

The American Heartworm Society (AHS) is a veterinarian based organization whose mission statement claims “to be the global resource for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heartworm disease.” As Dr. Becker skillfully points out AHS “has three platinum sponsors and five bronze sponsors.  All eight are major pharmaceutical manufacturers.” Platinum sponsor Bayer manufactures the Advantage Multi flea, heartworm and parasite prevention.  Platinum sponsor Merial manufactures Heartgard; and platinum sponsor Pfizer manufactures the Revolution Heartworm  preventative.

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/sponsors/sponsors.html

Conflict of interest?  Dr. Becker calls it a “Huge conflict of interest potential.” “When there’s money on the table – in this case billions of dollars – you pet’s health and quality of life can quickly become a secondary concern.” I couldn’t agree more.

While the risk of heartworm is real, Dr. Becker shares how difficult the heartworm is to acquire.
“Heartworms are a variety of roundworm with the clinical name dirofilaria immitis. They are spread by mosquitoes.

Dogs can only get heartworm disease through infected mosquitoes. They can’t get it from other dogs or other types of animals, from dog feces, or from their mothers while in the womb or through nursing.
Only certain mosquitoes can transmit heartworm to your dog. These mosquitoes must meet certain precise criteria, including:

•    They must be female.

•    They must be of a species that allows development of the worms in the cells of the body (not all species do).

•    They must be of a species that feeds on mammals (not all do).

•    They must have bitten an animal infected with stage 1 (L1) heartworms about two weeks prior, since approximately 14 days are necessary for the larvae from the other animal to develop to stage 3 (L3) inside the transmitting mosquito. This mosquito must then bite your dog. When the larvae reach stage L4-L5, which takes three to four months, under the right conditions they can travel via your dog’s bloodstream to the lungs and heart.

If your dog’s immune system doesn’t destroy these invaders, they will reach maturity (L6), the adult stage, in which males can grow to six inches in length and females to 12.

Two other critically important features in the transmission of heartworm are:

1.     The right temperature. During the time the heartworm larvae are developing from L1 to L3 inside an infected mosquito, which is approximately a two-week period, the temperature must not dip below 57°F at any point in time. If it does, the maturation cycle is halted. According to Washington State University heartworm report from 2006, full development of the larvae requires “the equivalent of a steady 24-hour daily temperature in excess of 64°F (18°C) for approximately one month.”

2.    Humidity and standing water. Mosquitoes are a rarity in dry climates.”
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/08/03/why-havent-pet-owners-been-told-these-facts-about-heartworm.aspx

Currently, the only organization we have providing us and our veterinarians with statistics on heartworm, is sponsored (supported) by Big Pharma producers of heartworm preventatives.  Should you give your pet a year round heartworm preventative?  I can’t tell you yes or no.  This is one of those decisions you have to make for yourself.  The risk is there, however the question remains of how much of a risk is it where you and your pet lives.  Dr. Becker’s article provides further prevention information, Click Here to open up her article in a new window.

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

Once again we thank Susan Thixton for keeping pet owners informed and sharing information with companion owners everywhere.

The American Coton Club posts news articles to help you, the consumer, make educated decisions on matters concerning your Coton.  The Coton de Tulear News blog is not intended to offer medical advice but instead to help you create a dialog with your veterinarian on how to best serve your Coton.