iPawz

Pain, heart medication and more 'people pills' can be poison to pets

Human medications and supplements pose serious risks to pets, and exposures accounted for many of last year's 180,000 calls to the Animal Poison Control Center. Heart medications are the most commonly eaten pills, said veterinarian Tina Wismer, but there are a host of others, including over-the-counter substances, that can sicken pets. "It only takes one extra-strength naproxen to kill a shih tzu-type dog. Ibuprofen can cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure in dogs and cats, and acetaminophen can actually cause the blood to change so it can't carry oxygen and cause liver failure," Dr. Wismer said.

 

“Companies are constantly making more and more palatable supplements and the soft gels for example are made from a gelatin which is made from cow hide, which might be attractive to an animal," said Doctor Tod Cooperman.

Dogs are more likely than cats to sniff their way into trouble. How an animal recovers after an accidental poisoning depends on its weight and what kind of medicine is consumed.

Just like with toddlers, make sure your pets can’t get into cabinets or jump on counters, protect medicines in locked cabinets and high shelves. Also make sure to chase down (vacuum up if necessary) those pills that fall and roll under beds and cabinets. Tiny paws can often reach them.

 

Pet owners turn to M2M, GPS to keep tabs on pets

Vendors are targeting pet owners with connected devices powered by machine-to-machine and GPS technology to help keep track of animals and find them when they get loose. Products include DogWirelessPlus.com's Smart Station and Pet Link collar, which use a wireless dog fence, and GPS locators which lets users track animals on a smartphones.

For families with on-the-go pets: A GPS pet locater that attaches to a pet’s collar allows the owner to access location data via a smartphone or connected device. As an example, Securus, www.securusGPS.com, released its SpotLite 2.0 earlier this month. The site lists the price at $99.99 + service plan, and shows it in stock at this writing. 

Another option, pictured above: The SportDOG TEK Series 1.0 GPS Tracking system gives you GPS tracking capabilities in one single compact handheld device. It's the perfect Tracking Trainer system for hunters who run hounds for hunting, have rabbit hunting beagles or any dogs used for upland birds. Not just for hunters,it can also be used by all dog owners.

 

Pets as family means new opportunities in veterinary medicine

As people are increasingly willing to devote resources to treating pets with serious illnesses, the lines between human and veterinary oncology are blurring, cancer treatment and other veterinary specialties are gaining prominence and drugmakers are responding. "Over the last few decades, we've seen a major emphasis on pets within the family," said veterinarian Christine Jenkins of Zoetis. "This points to the growing importance of pets within the household and of pet medicine."

full story at WSJ

Diggin' Your Dog Recalls Strippin' Chicks Pet Treats Distributed in Colorado and Nevada

Full information here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 7, 2013 - Diggin' Your Dog™ announced today that they are voluntarily withdrawing one lot of its Strippin' Chicks™ Pet Treats produced on 8-30-12 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The sample was obtained in Colorado and the company has accounted for its distribution in Colorado of this lot.

No other Diggin' Your Dog™ products, lots, or production dates are affected.

The lot being voluntarily withdrawn is: Strippin' Chicks™ Pet Treats 5 oz Bag. Lot Code 250322 Use By Date: 2-23-14.

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.

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

2-Year Long Drug Investigation leads Dog Fighting Operation

After a two-year-long drug investigation The Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office, Elizabeth City Police Department, The Federal Drug Enforcement Agencies (DEA), North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (NCALE), North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI), Camden Sheriff’s Office arrested two people Desmond B. White B/M 35 and Maurice Baum B/M 37 on Federal drug charges and executed 4 Federal search warrants at four different locations in Elizabeth City on February 5, 2013.  These suspects are being held without bond on the Federal Drug charges.

During this operation Law Enforcement uncovered a large amount of evidence in dog fighting activity by these two suspects.  The Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office initiated a massive crackdown on the dog fighting activity with the assistance of Elizabeth City Police Department, Camden and Perquimans Sheriff’s Office and the SPCA of Northeastern North Carolina.  The investigation in the dog fighting began on February 5, 2013 with the seizure of 45 dogs from three properties in Elizabeth City and one location in Camden along with paraphernalia items used in fighting, training dogs to fight and medical supplies to treat an enhance a dog in fighting.

It is the HSUS’ policy that all dogs seized from animal fighting operations be treated as individuals.  All of the dogs rescued from this operation will be individually evaluated for potential placement with HSUS Dogfighting Rescue Coalition placement partners.

PetSmart Charities is providing the necessary food, supplies and enrichment items for the dogs.

Facts:

• Dogfighting is a felony in all 50 states
• The HSUS offers rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person involved in illegal animal fighting.
• The HSUS asks anyone with information about animal fighting criminals to call 877-TIP-HSUS (877-847-4787). Tipsters’ identities are protected.
• Rescue groups interested in becoming members of the HSUS’ Dogfighting Rescue Coalition should visit humanesociety.org/dogfighting.
• This case will now be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office and go to the Grand Jury for appropriate charges.

full story here

2 new breeds entered into the 2013 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Each year, the WKC Dog Show usually accepts a few new breeds previously not recognized to show. 2013 saw two new breeds...


RUSSELL TERRIER (Terrier Group)

The Russell Terrier is considered the ultimate working earth terrier due to their small size (10" to 12" tall) and unique chest. The hallmark of the breed is its small, oval-shaped, spannable, compressible chest, which allows them to hunt efficiently below ground, pulling, pushing and bending through tight turns and narrow tunnels. Their origin dates back to the 1800's in England where they were utilized for fox hunting and carried horseback in terrier bags. Pack hunters, they are non-confrontational, not a sparring breed. They are predominantly white with spots and come in three coats - smooth, broken, and rough. They are athletic, intelligent, and fiercely loyal. 


TREEING WALKER COONHOUND (Hound Group)

The energetic Treeing Walker Coonhound is perfectly suited for the task for which it was bred - tracking and treeing wild raccoons. Developed from the Walker Foxhound, the Virginia Hounds, and the earliest English Foxhounds brought to America, the Treeing Walker is a fast, alert, hot-nosed hunter with superb endurance, treeing ability and the desire to perform. It has a clear, ringing bugle voice or a steady clear chop with changeover at the tree. Today's Treeing Walker retains the same color and similar conformation to the Walker Foxhound. The breed is intelligent, confident and sociable. 

photos from the Wikimedia Commons.

Watch the Best in Show judging for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 2013

Watch the Best in Show judging from the 137th WKC Dog Show. The 2013 Best In Show Trophy was awarded to "GCH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari" a.k.a. "Banana Joe," an Affenpinscher. 

B/G1/BIS

9     GCH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari  Breed: Affenpinscher Sex: Dog AKC: TR 71691502 Date of Birth: July 30, 2003 Breeder: Mieke Cooymans Sire: Kyleakin Space Cowboy Dam: Bling Bling V Tani Kazari Owner: Zoila Truesdale & Mieke Cooymans

 

Monopoly reveals newest game token as a cat

After a Facebook vote, Hasbro has decided to replace the iron game piece with a cat in its popular Monopoly game. At least 20 pieces have been rotated through the game over its history, according to Hasbro.

It’s sad news for some, as the sly cat will replace one of the game’s venerable pieces, which has also been chosen by voters. The boot, iron and wheelbarrow were tied for last place until Tuesday night when the wheelbarrow and shoe hung on and the iron got the boot.

Voluntarily withdraw of Hartz® Chicken Chews™, Hartz® Oinkies® Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken for dogs

SECAUCUS, N.J., Jan. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hartz Mountain Corporation is voluntarily withdrawing its Hartz ® Chicken Chews™ and Hartz ® Oinkies® Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken for dogs in the United States because they contain trace amounts of unapproved antibiotic residue.

We

are taking this action after recent Hartz testing found trace amounts of unapproved antibiotic residue in samples of Hartz® Chicken Chews™ and Oinkies® Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken products. Even though two-thirds of the products we tested did not contain antibiotic residues, we would rather be overly cautious by voluntarily withdrawing these products from the market.

These antibiotics are approved for use in poultry in China and other countries, including European Union member states, but are not among those approved in the U.S. Based on the FDA's review of the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets (NYSDAM) results, there is no evidence that raises health concerns, and these results are highly unlikely to be related to the reports of illnesses FDA has received related to jerky pet treats.

Immediately upon learning of this finding, Hartz contacted the FDA to share our test results and execute a nationwide voluntary withdrawal.  There have been no known illnesses to date associated with the consumption of these products.

"Upon learning about the nationwide voluntary withdrawal of several other brands of chicken jerky products through media reports, Hartz acted immediately to begin additional testing to determine if the same unapproved antibiotic residues were present in our products," said Sean McNear , Sr. Director of Quality and Regulatory at Hartz Mountain.

There is no indication that the trace amounts of unapproved antibiotic residue are linked to the FDA's ongoing investigation of chicken jerky products produced in China. The trace amounts of antibiotic residue do not pose a health or pet safety risk.

No other Hartz products are affected by this withdrawal.

If you have these products contact the Hartz Consumer Affairs team (24 hours/day 7 days/week) at 1-800-275-1414 for a product refund or go towww.hartz.com for additional information.

SOURCE The Hartz Mountain Corporation

RELATED LINKS
http://www.hartz.com

This article, The Hartz Mountain Corporation is voluntarily withdrawing its Hartz(R) Chicken Chews(TM) and Hartz(R) Oinkies(R) Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken for dogs, is syndicated from PR Newswire and is posted here with permission.

Comfort dogs help Newtown deal with grief

A team of Golden Retrievers arrived in Newtown, Conn., over the weekend to help grief-stricken residents deal with the school shooting tragedy.

Lutheran Church Charities sent 10 dogs to the town for residents who want to pet them or pray with the dog's handler, Tim Hetzner, president of the organization, told the Chicago Tribune.

“Dogs are non-judgmental. They are loving. They are accepting of anyone,” Hetzner said. “It creates the atmosphere for people to share.”

"The dogs have become the bridge," dog-handler Lynn Buhrke told the Tribune. "People just sit down and talk to you." 

When the charities' dogs are not responding to a national tragedy, they will often visit people in hospitals, nursing homes and parks. Each dog carries a business card with its name, Facebook page, twitter account and email so those that meet the canine can keep in touch.