NEWS: (May 2009): In yet another food recall, Nutro has announced a voluntary recall of a number of Nutro Natural Choice and Nutro Max cat foods, due to excess zinc and insufficient potassium in the diets. Diets affected have "Best if used by" dates between 5-12-2010 and 8-22-2010. For more information go to the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/nutro05_09.html.
NEWS: (Summer 2009) Ticks and the bad diseases that they carry are rapidly invading Washington, and all pet owners and those who enjoy the outdoors need to take suitable precautions to prevent Lyme Disease, Ehlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and several other serious chronic diseases. We recommend that any pet that gets a tick should be checked for these infections 3 to 4 weeks after the tick was removed, sooner if the pet is acting sick. For more details, see details under "Tick Diseases" in the "News" menu to the left.
NEWS: (February 2009) Chicken Jerky Treats (see below) are still in the news--don't give them, since the FDA is still reporting problems. And the problems with Salmonella in peanut butter have spread to pet foods, so it is a good idea NOT to give any treats or foods that contain peanuts or peanut butter.
NEWS: (Fall 2008) Chicken Jerky Treats from a number of brands appear to be causing health problems in dogs since August of 2007. The problems were initially associated with treats from Wal-Mart, and Wal-Mart quietly removed these products from their shelves for a month before notifying the media of their own recall. Since then, treats from a wide variety of companies (all produced in China) have been associated with kidney problems in dogs. Here is what we know:
No cause has been found for the current problems, so the FDA has not officially issued a product recall. Since we don't know the cause, we don't know how to determine whether the products are now safe. Previous recalls involved Melamine, a chemical that causes kidney failure, but tests have not shown dangerous levels of Melamine in these jerky treats. A second recall this year involved the bacteria Salmonella, but again the tests were negative for this infection.
Symptoms of affected animals include increased thirst, lethargy, and lack of appetite. Urine tests show sugar in the urine, despite the fact that blood sugar levels are normal (indicating that the contaminant damages the tubules within the kidney). If severe kidney damage occurs, blood tests will reveal elevated kidney values.
To reduce the risk of problems from Chicken Jerky Treats, we are recommending NOT feeding any chicken jerky treats until this issue is resolved. There are lots of other treats that can be given, and most other treats are better for the dog anyway.
If you have any other questions, please call Sacajawea Healthcare for Pets.
NEWS: The cause of Feline Hyperthyroidism may have been discovered. This common disease of older cats has become increasingly common since the 1970s. New studies strongly suggest that a group of chemicals called PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) may cause this disease. PBDEs were used as flame retardants on upholstery and carpeting from the 1970s until 2004, and they are still used on electronics. Apparently cats concentrated these chemicals in their bodies by grooming and ingesting chemical-laden housedust. Fish-based cat foods are also suspected of carrying large amounts of PBDEs, presumably because these household chemicals enter the water supply and concentrate in ocean fish.
Preventing Hyperthyroidism will not be easy until all treated household products are phased out. We can avoid feeding fish-based cat foods, which is a good idea for other reasons. Cats that spend more time outside will be less affected by indoor chemicals, although there are many other hazards outside. Replacing that old couch or getting new carpetting may seem extreme, but ultimately we will need to rely on government and industry to eliminate these chemicals to reduce throid problems in cats. Further studies will be done to determine the amount of risk to humans from PBDEs.
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