by admin on December 22, 2009
A dog in New York has tested positive for the H1N1 flu.
Bedford Hills, NY – A dog in Bedford Hills, NY is believed to be the first reported case of a dog infected with the H1N1 influenza virus in the United States.
Dr. Ann Hohenhaus of New York City’s Animal Medical Center, New York’s largest veterinary hospital, can comment on how to keep your dog and family safe and what to do if your pet appears to be ill.
FACTS and TIPS:
- The signs of 2009 H1N1 infection in companion animals mimic many respiratory illnesses: lethargy, fever, anorexia, difficulty breathing, coughing, sneezing, and nasal discharge.
- Tamiflu can not be given to companion animals to protect them against influenza infection, since efficacy of the drug in animals has not been demonstrated.
- Pet owners with symptoms of a flu-like illness should minimize contact with their pets. Covering coughs and sneezes plus handwashing or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer around pets is critical to prevent the spread of influenza to all members of the family.
- Companion animals are catching H1N1 from people, not the other way around. Currently, there is no evidence pets can transmit influenza to their owners.
Read the rest of Dog In Bedford Hills Tests Positive For H1N1.
Technorati Tags: H1N1 in dogs, swine flu, pets
by admin on December 16, 2009
New York loves a party! And this time of the year seems to be a constant party in some ways – with all of the holiday decorations, the food, and constant coming & going of friends and family. In the midst of it all though, as pet owners, it’s our responsibility to keep our pets safe.
According to Holiday Dangers to Pets, an article provided by Pawprints and Purrs Inc., each year, thousands of pets are seriously injured and/or become ill during the holiday season.
Animals are drawn to music, twinkling lights, decorations and food, which may be hazardous to their health.
“We tend to enjoy lots of rich, fatty foods during the holidays,” said Army Capt. Marion A. Alston, officer in charge, Camp Pendleton Veterinary Treatment Facility.
Avoid feeding pets human food. There are many holiday goodies that can cause vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis, he said.
“Food with bone fragments is especially dangerous,” Alston said. “Bones that have sharp points can perforate the animal’s stomach or intestines and cause potentially fatal illness. Even without sharp edges, bones can become lodged in the digestive tract and require surgical removal”
Along with keeping holidays treats out of reach of the furry family member, pet owners should heed caution to several holiday plants that can also be harmful to animals if nibbled or eaten.
Some of these plants include holly, mistletoe, lilies and pine, said Alston.
While decking the halls with boughs of holly and other holiday décor, there are some things to keep in mind that could help create a safe environment for the family companion.
Some simple guidelines as outlines by Americanhumane.org include placing candles on high shelves, putting tinsel, ribbon and garland out of reach and anchoring Christmas Trees to the ceiling with a string to prevent it from falling over.
Read the rest of Keeping pets safe for the holidays.
Technorati Tags: pets, holidays, pet safety
by admin on December 9, 2009
Health insurance for pets is becoming more mainstream. As this article in the Wall Street Journal reports, people are spending more money to keep their cats, dogs, and other pets healthy. Investing in pet health insurance can help offset the cost of illnesses as well as routine pet care.
The cost of medical care for pets is rising as fast as it is for humans, and that’s helping to spur sales of pet insurance.
Pet owners are able to choose from a rapidly growing array of policies, featuring everything from high-deductible designs to coverage of alternative-medicine treatments like acupuncture. Some pet policies focus on accidents and illness, while others include wellness checkups and shots. And some things that traditionally weren’t included in pet insurance, such as hereditary conditions, are now paid for under many plans.
Consumers need to be careful, since many pet policies can be as confusing as coverage you buy for yourself. Pet insurance often places strict limits on how much it will pay for particular procedures. And policies can have tricky designs that can leave consumers with big out-of-pocket bills for their animals. Premiums vary from around $10 a month to $75 a month, depending on factors including the richness of the plan, your location and your animal’s breed and age.
This year, pet owners are expected to spend around $12.2 billion for veterinary care, up from $11.1 billion last year and $8.2 billion five years ago, according to the American Pet Products Association. Complex procedures widely used for people, including chemotherapy and dialysis, are now available for pets, and the potential cost of treating certain illnesses has spiked as a result.
Read the rest of Polly Want an Insurance Policy? from the Wall Street Journal.
by admin on December 1, 2009
Premium Edge Cat Food, manufactured by Diamond Pet Food, was recalled in September, but more information was made available today regarding the problem with the cat food.
WASHINGTON — A Missouri company said Tuesday its recalled dried cat food has sickened 21 cats and the pet food was distributed in multiple states in the South and along the East Coast.
Diamond Pet Foods recalled certain bags of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat food in September because they could lead to gastrointestinal or neurological problems for cats. They do not contain enough thiamine, an essential nutrient for cats.
If cats fed these foods have no other source of nutrition, they could develop thiamine deficiency. If untreated, this disorder could result in death, said the Meta, Mo., manufacturer.
The company updated information on the recall on Tuesday, saying it has confirmed 21 reports of thiamine deficiency in New York and Pennsylvania and the pet food was distributed in 18 states altogether. These states include Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
[...]
For a full refund, consumers can return the recalled cat food to the place it was purchased. For more information, consumers can call 800-977-8797.
Read the rest of Recalled cat food sickens 21 cats from the Associated Press.
Technorati Tags: cats, cat food recall, Diamond Pet Food, Premium Edge Cat Food
by admin on November 24, 2009
New York City is once again looking for someone to head up the city’s animal shelters.
For the third time in six years, the struggling nonprofit group that handles animal control for the city is looking for a new leader.
The search comes as the city Health Department is negotiating a new multi-year contract with New York City Animal Care and Control to continue to run its shelter system.
Activists are seizing the moment, saying it’s a rare chance to focus attention on chronic problems at the shelters.
Queens and the Bronx are still without shelters, despite a city law signed in 2000 mandating them. Old facilities with poor ventilation means more animals get sick, advocates said. And rescuers are taking fewer pets from AC&C because sicker animals mean higher veterinary bills.
As a result, thousands of dogs and cats are euthanized due to illness, behavioral problems, lack of space and the grim fact that no one steps forward to adopt them, advocates said.
“The city has never given [AC&C] the money it needs,” said Esther Koslow, a former volunteer who started a petition drive to get the attention of Health Commissioner Thomas Farley.
“You need shelters that don’t make the animals sick,” Koslow said, adding that AC&C staff “are too quick to deem stressed-out, caged animals as unadoptable.”
But the group won’t be getting any more money from the city. In fact, Farley recently said the annual budget – which has hovered at around $8 million to $9 million in recent years – will be slashed again next year.
[...]
“We need a shelter professional who is committed to the idea of managing that place to excellence,” said Jane Hoffman of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, a nonprofit group that provides grants to rescuers who pull animals from AC&C shelters.
“I know they have some good candidates. I hope they get it right,” she said.
Read the rest of Who will lead city animal shelters at NYDailyNews.com.
Technorati Tags: nyc pets, cats, dogs
by admin on October 20, 2009
by admin on October 13, 2009
Wysong is recalling some of their dry dog food due to excessive moisture, which may cause mold.
The following batches of Wysong Canine Diets Maintenance™ and Senior™ have shown above acceptable moisture levels and may contain mold.
Wysong Maintenance™: lot #: 090617
Wysong Maintenance™: lot #: 090624
Wysong Maintenance™: lot #: 090706
Wysong Maintenance™: lot #: 090720
Wysong Senior™: lot #: 090623
We ask that if you have received any of these Wysong products to please not feed them, and contact Wysong for product replacement.
Email: Wysong@Wysong.net
Subject: Product Replacement
Alternatively, please return or exchange at the store from which you purchased the product. Credit will be issued via our Distributors to the Retailer.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
(Thanks to PetistUSA for letting us know about this one.)
Technorati Tags: dog food, pet food recall, Wysong
by admin on October 7, 2009
This year New York’s Columbus Day Parade, on October 12, will include Italian dog breeds.
New York, NY – The American Kennel Club® is proud to announce its participation in the 65th Annual Columbus Day Parade, the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture, on Monday, October 12th from noon to 3:00 p.m. on Fifth Avenue between 47th and 79th streets. For the first time ever the parade will include a procession of rare Italian dog breeds, recognizing Italy’s great contributions to the dog world and celebrating the upcoming Meet the Breeds event at the Javits Center on October 17th and 18th where pet lovers can meet 200 breeds of dog and cat.
The one million parade spectators will enjoy a contingency of over 30 marchers and 13 furry friends including the Bergamasco, an ancient shepherding breed with a striking coat of dense, flat mats that reach the ground; as well as the Cirneco dell’Etna, an ancient dog used in Sicily for rabbit hunting; the Lagotto Romagnolo, a dog from Northwest Italy with thick curly hair and a history dating back to the 16th century and the only two native Italian gun-dog breeds, the Bracco Italiano and Spinone Italiano.
Read the rest of Italian Dog Breeds and the American Kennel Club Say ‘Ciao’ to New York City in the Columbus Day Parade.
Technorati Tags: Italian dog breeds, NYC, Columbus Day Parade
