Sunday, December 9, 2012

Nature's Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats RECALL

DOG TREAT RECALL

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning pet owners and caretakers not to feed their pets Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats with a lot code of BESTBY061913DEN because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The treats are made, packaged and distributed in the United States by Kasel Associates Industries Inc. (Kasel) and were sold at Costco stores in the Denver, Colo., area.
Kasel has declined to perform a voluntary recall at this time. However, Costco is working with FDA and has removed all of the affected products from its shelves. The company will also contact customers who may have purchased the product to provide additional instructions.
The product is sold in 3.0 lb. packages labeled as Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats. The product is packaged in flexible plastic which is yellow, blue, green and red, with black and white print writing. The packaging also has a digital photo of a dog on the front panel, and transparent sections to view the product inside. Lot code BESTBY061913DEN is located on the reverse side of the packaging in the transparent section immediately following the term “All American Dog.”
In September 2012, a retail sample of a Kasel dog treat product tested by the Colorado Department of Agriculture was found to be positive for Salmonella. An FDA follow-up inspection at the firm found certain finished dog treat products and 34 out of 72 environmental samples positive for Salmonella.
On October 2, 2012, the company recalled one lot of its Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats. However that recall did not extend to the lot code covered by this warning.
In November 2012, a retail sample of Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats lot code BESTBY061913DEN taken by the Colorado Department of Agriculture tested positive for Salmonella.
These treats are manufactured in the United States and are not associated with FDA’s investigation in reports of illnesses in dogs associated with consumption of chicken jerky treats.
FDA has not received any reports of illnesses associated with these treats. However, both people and animals can contract Salmonellosis from handling or eating contaminated products. People handling dry pet treats should thoroughly wash their hands after having contact with the treats as well as any surfaces exposed to these products.
Consumers should dispose of these products in ways that people and animals, including wild animals, cannot access them, such as placing them in a securely lidded garbage can.
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.
The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to become severely ill from Salmonella infection. The bacterium can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in these vulnerable populations. Most healthy individuals recover from Salmonella infections within four to seven days without treatment.
Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may experience only 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 product or is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
As with humans, dogs who are elderly, very young or have impaired immune systems are more vulnerable to Salmonella infection.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Top 10 Gifts For Your Dog 2012

I have decided to start a tradition on the top 10 gifts for your dog. Every year I'll list 10 of the most desired items that dog owners are purchasing. With Christmas right around the corner I know I love to splurge on my Bella and Buddy with Christmas presents, so I want to share great gift ideas for you and your dog. However this list does not limit only Christmas shopping for your pet. This list can go through out the year.

Top 10 Gifts For Your Dog 2012
  1. Dog Bed - Each year I feel a dog should receive a new bed. Why? Well through out the year of your fun loving doggies running around, chasing squirrels, digging holes, rolling in dirt and/or grass they bring everything on them in the home and on their bed. I'm guessing mostly everybody washes their dogs beds, and by that I mean the outer cover of the bed, however all the deberis gets caught up under the cover top and sits all year long. Getting them a new bed will bring a smile to their cute little faces. 
  2.  Kong Toys - ANY Kong toy. Dogs love them but of course each dog has a favorite type of Kong they really enjoy and can't put down. In the process of elimination you will find their favorite Kong. My Buddy loves the Kong AirDog Squeaker Stick and Bella wont let go of the Kong Classic. Being able to have them inside or outside the home is a wonderful benefit for them.


 3. Collar - Even if its just to replace their old collars. Switch over their tags and voila! This year my boyfriend got the doggies new collars made of Hemp. Natural Hand Made Hemp Collars by Nate Henshaw. My dogs love them and its nice to relieve them from the nylon collar and tags they normally would wear. The fur on their neck has grown back and not being awaken by moving dogs in the early morning has its many benefits.


4.  Personalized Dog Bowls - I just love the idea of having personalized dog bowls. Its those little things that add a touch of elegance in the home that includes the four legged ones. The link is for The Potters Barn on Etsy. American Hand Made is always the way to go.
5.  Dog Seat Covers - If you're like me then you take your dogs everywhere you possible can. Keeping your seats clean from hair, dirt and sometimes a wet dog can be very frustrating. Having a full seat cover for the backseat of your car or your SUV is a lifesaver.


6.  Furminator De-shedding Tool - This tool is AMAZING!!! Even though I have Labradors with short to medium hair, their shedding is a drag and last for months. Being able to cut that shedding time in half is a huge help. My house has all hardwood flooring and having to sweep up a new dog almost everyday gets very tedious.

7.  Dog Puzzle Games - These games are designed to help your dog work their mental problem solving skills. Having them figure out where the treats are hidden in the puzzle and then to find them is very rewarding. Its a great busy toy that keeps them thinking and on their toes.

8.  Rawhide Pet Holiday Stocking - Every year Petsmart and Petco put these great rawhides up for sale. I always get my babies one each. Bella and Buddy can't get enough them and spreading them as treats to give through out the month makes the gift last even longer. Through out the month of December they go on and off sale. The best price you will get is Black Friday for 50% off or, if there is any left, after the holidays. However those stockings go pretty quick.

9.  Home Made Dog Treats - The home made dog treat business is a booming business with every type of design and ingredients out there to make unique treats for the human eye. To be honest dogs don't really care about what the treats look like, they just want them to taste GREAT! REMINDER - Always read what type of ingredients are used.

10.  Dog Backpack - Doggy Backpacks are great for exercise and training. It gives your dog a sense of a job they have to perform and complete, plus its great to have them hold snacks, bottled water, and First Aid Kit while camping or hiking.
There you have it folks 10 great gifts to give your dog or gifts you can give a dog owner. If you have any suggestions or questions feel free to ask below. 

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Smelly Dawgy Breath and Oral Care

Isn't it a KILLER!!!!! 
Your dogs breath!!! It could NOT be any worse!!!
Then ADD the tartar build up and there's a problem... 

How do you deal with it? 

There are quite a few options nowadays out there to help with these problems from Chews to water additions to just a plain toothbrush and tooth paste. Over the the past 5 years I have tried pretty much almost everything on the market and I have researched and talked to Vet's. Here's something things I KNOW that work.

~These are the main chews on the market~

Pedigree Denta-Stix
They are X shaped semi hard sticks that help freshen breath and clean teeth. They work pretty well and the price ain't to shabby.Feed 1 a day and after about 2 weeks of usage you will definitely start to see and smell a difference. My dogs like them and every now and then I'll buy them some.



Here are the Ingredients:
Rice Flour, Wheat Starch, Glycerin, Gelatin, Gum Arabic, Calcium Carbonate, Natural Poultry Flavor, Cellulose Powder, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Salt (Iodized), Potassium Chloride, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate [source of Vitamin C], Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, D-calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin [Vitamin B2], Pyridoxine Hydrochloride [Vitamin B6], Dl-alpha Tocopherol Acetate [source of Vitamin E], Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1]), Potassium Sorbate (a Preservative), Smoke Flavor, Zinc Sulphate, Green Tea Extract, Turmeric, Iron Oxide, Copper Sulfate.

Greenies by Nutro
These are a green dyed, tooth brush shaped, semi hard chew sticks. I find that not only did they work for the breath but they also made my dogs sick. Breath was great, Tartar build up still there and they got sick. 1 out of 3 was my call to no longer give them to my babies. I rather deal with smelly breath and have to manual brush their teeth than to have an overly sick dog every week.



Here are the Ingridients:
Gelatin, wheat protein isolate, glycerin, pea protein, water, potato protein, sodium caseinate, natural poultry flavor, lecithin, minerals (dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, magnesium amino acid chelate, calcium carbonate, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, potassium iodide), vitamins (dl-alpha tocopherol acetate [source of vitamin E], L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate [source of vitamin C], vitamin B12 supplement, d-calcium pantothenate [vitamin B5], niacin supplement, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride [vitamin B6], thiamine mononitrate [vitamin B1], folic acid), dried tomato, apple pomace, vegetable oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), ground flaxseed, dried sweet potato, cranberry fiber, dried cultured skim milk, choline chloride, taurine, decaffeinated green tea extract, carotene, chlorophyll (sodium copper chlorophyllin)

Blue Bones by Blue Buffalo
Dark color, semi hard chews with a bone like shape. These smell horrible and I wondered how they were to get my dogs breath to smell better AND clean his teeth. To my ultimate surprise just TWO days after giving them each 1 bone a day, there has been a drastic improvement on their breath. I can take kisses now and get the lovely dovey face to face interaction I LOVE having with my babies. I will check their tartar at the end of this week. UPDATE: I checked their teeth and the tartar is gone!!!! OMG what a difference!!!! I'm extremely satisfied!!



Here are the Ingredients:
Whole Ground Potato, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Water, Vegetable Glycerine, Blueberries, Peas, Carrots (source of Vitamin A), Vegetable Juice, Sunflower Oil (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Oat Bran, Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Parsley, Alfalfa Meal (a source of Chlorophyll), Calcium Carbonate, Citric Acid, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (a source of Vitamin C), Zinc Propionate, Vitamin E Supplement, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Taurine

~Now onto the other options~
Gel, water additives and Sprays


Clean Teeth Gel by Tropiclean (Just for teeth cleaning)
NO Brushing Necessary! Works fast and naturally to help reduce plaque and tartar on dogs and cats -- no toothbrush required. A proprietary blend of natural, holistic ingredients produce a healthy oral environment. Kills the germs that cause bad breath, plaque and gingivitis. Soothes minor gum irritations. 

Here are the Ingredients:
Purified water, natural derived alcohol, natural mint, glycerin, natural cleanser, carbopol, chlorophyllin, green tea extract.

Water Additive by Tropiclean
Clean teeth, Fresh Breath, No brushing

Here are the Ingredients:
Purified water, Citric Acid, Cetylpyridnium chloride, chlorophyllin, glycerin, potassium sorbate, green tea leaf extract

Fresh Breath Foam by Tropiclean
Regular use of Fresh Mint Foam helps keep teeth clean. Its gentle formula helps freshen breath.

Here are the Ingredients:
Purified water, glycerin, natural mint, baking soda, polysorbate 20, corn alcohol, aloe vera juice, chlorophyllin, green tea extract

Now I don't know about about the products above. I'm really reluctant to even try them. If there are ingredients I can't read or even understand, than why would I give that to my dogs to have in their body? I hold off on those but this is all for your information to take as you please.
I have yet to try the other options however I will be asking for free samples so I can see how they work for my babies. For now I have settled on the Blue Bones by Blue Buffalo. And if you go back to the ingredient lists I provided for the other chews on the market, Blue Buffalo seems to have real natural and more wholesome ingredients.
 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Antlers for chewing???

Yes that's right deer antlers for your dog to chew. It's becoming the newest, easiest, and most dependable items for your dog to chew on. They last forever or until your dog looses them.

Here's so more Antler Information:
"100% natural, long-lasting dog chew comes from a completely renewable source – Deer Antlers. Wild deer shed their antlers once a year as part of a natural process, after which the deer re-grow another set. These shed antlers are gathered by ranch workers and transported to QT Dog’s manufacturing facility in Dallas, Texas. Here, the antlers are cut to the appropriate size, cleaned, and packaged.
Unlike processed livestock bones ANTLERZ™ don’t chip or splinter when they are being used by even the most aggressive chewing dogs. A dog’s chewing action grinds the treat down slowly. They are 100% natural, contain no plastics, no petrochemicals, no empty starches or artificial flavors."

The cheapest price I have found to purchase them is HERE.

I will be purchasing some Antlerz for my Bella and Buddy this weekend.

If you have your dogs chew on antlers, let me know how they like them. Pros and Cons.

Healthy Doggy Bowls

There might be some out there who forget, but do you ever realize how dirty your dogs food and water bowls are?

Just think about it......
Your dogs get feed in those bowls daily and drink water from their bowl daily. Over time of filling those bowls with dry, wet or a mix of dry and wet food, bacteria rapidly grows EVERY day in those bowls once they are done eating or even while they are drinking out of them.
So just a nice reminder to CLEAN THOSE BOWLS!!! Weekly basis is good or every day is even better.

Keep your pooches and even your kitties healthy with clean bowls they can eat and drink out of.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Shaemus In Need.....................

Shaemus is a wonderful loving Boxer Pitt mix puppy who is in need for Knees. Shaemus belongs to a friend of mine Kim and he is the twinkle in her eye and he needs your help. His story is below..............

"Shaemus is my loving and sweet 17 month old pittie/boxer mix pup and he needs to have surgery on BOTH of his hind legs! Shaemus is a very active and rambunctious pup, and in his playtime, he tore the ACL in his hind right leg. In trying to compensate for this injury, he tore the ACL in his hind left leg now, too. He now has complete bi-lateral ACL ruptures. 
The surgeries are what's called a tibial plateu leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and his knee joints are going to be completely reconstructed to function WITHOUT an ACL. He is slated to have his first surgery on September 10, 2012. He will be given about 6 weeks of recovery before I can schedule his second surgery. He is going to need a lot of love and care during the next 6 months. He can't play, swim, run, jump, or anything active while he's recovering. He's going to need lots of physical therapy and rehabilitation that I am going to have to administer. Each leg is going to cost about $4,000, totaling around $8,000. I have only a part-time job because full-time is hard to come by at my job. I have a very good job, but I have around $500 in student loans each month, along with a car payment and credit card bills, rent and electric. I am reaching out for help from anyone who is willing to lend me a hand with Shaemus' surgeries and PT. I simply cannot afford all of this by myself. I can't just stop making all of my bills during each month, thus putting me in financial ruin, to pay for these surgeries. Shaemus is my life, my sweet little boy, the one that I so much look forward to coming home to from work each and every day. I can't wait to come home and see his sweet smile! I can't imagine my life without him now. These surgeries are very important to me; I need to keep my Shaemus by my side for the next 10-15 years! I can't bear the thought of putting him down just because of torn ACL's. This is such a fixable issue that putting him down doesn't make any sense to me. Please, help me keep my Shaemus!!"

So far Shaemus has had his first surgery and is recovering just fine but still need to have his second surgery. 
I'm asking for you to HELP Kim financially afford his surgery and treatment for a FULL recovery .

To donate please click the link below 
Shaemus Needs Knees   

Wellness Natural Dog Food RECALL/ Diamond Pet Food Proccessing Plant

I often speak highly of the natural dog food brand Wellness, however I have been hearing some very disturbing information from other pet owners so I decided to do my own research.
Here is what Wellness posted on their Facebook page October 30th 2012




"At Wellness, your complete satisfaction is always our top priority. Only the best tasting, most nutritious food will do for our furry family members. With that in mind we want to let you know that we have discovered that a small amount of our 12lb Small Breed Adult Health Dry Dog Food with the “Best By” date of August 18, 2013 did not meet our high standards. A small batch of the product with this specific date code was found to be higher in moisture than our recipe calls for. High moisture may cause food to mold before its expiration date, but poses no health risk.
We want you and your pet to be completely satisfied, so we are asking those who may have this limited supply of food to contact us for a replacement. No other dates, bag sizes or recipes are affected. Thanks for your support of Wellness, and we apologize for any inconvenience. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-800-225-0904. We'll be open at 8am eastern on Wednesday morning."
Small Breed Adult Health Dry Dog Food - 12lbs best by August 18, 2013 has been recalled. Its not that the bag didn't meet their high standards, the food is contaminated!!!
After more research I found that the manufacturing company Diamond Pet Foods, manufactures many dog foods on the market and that plant seems to have more recalls than any other dog food manufacture plant. That raises a RED FLAG on my radar.  
 Diamond Pet Foods manufactures the following dog foods:
  • Costco's Kirkland Signature
  • Solid Gold Health Products for Pets
  • Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods
  • Kirkland Signature Nature's Domain (Available only at Costco)
  • Taste of the Wild Pet Foods
  • Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul
  • 4Health (Available only at Tractor Supply Company)
  • NutraGold Super Premium Holistic Formulas
In May 2012 products manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods were all recalled due to Salmonella poisoning in 9 different states. Humans that had handled the dog food were hospitalized and dogs who were so ill passed due to the poisoning. 

For your health and the health of your pets RESEARCH WERE the pet food you feed your dogs in being manufactured. Many pet food company's don't have their own manufacturing plants so they contract bigger companies to have it done. Those plants also contract with many other pet food companies as well so when there is a break out of contaminated foods it spreads through out the plant. 


DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! 


 

Charlee Bear Dog Treats Recalled


Here we go again another dog treat recall. Charlee Bear Dog Treats recalled

Below is all the specifics of the recall and what treats have been pulled from the shelves

Charlee Bear Protein Crunch Bars - Chicken Recipe with Carrots
5.5 oz packages; UPC Code: 8710890000
Lot number 19812; Best by date: 07-16-2015
Lot number 19912; Best by date: 07-17-2015
Lot number 20012; Best by date: 07-18-2015
Lot number 20212; Best by date: 07-20-2015

Charlee Bear Protein Crunch Bars - Chicken Recipe with Sweet Potatoes
5.5 oz packages; UPC Code: 8710890001
Lot number 20112; Best by date: 07-19-2015
Lot codes can be found on the back panel below the UPC Code. These recalled products were distributed around the U.S. in September and October.

If you purchased any of these products, you can return them for a full refund. Questions can be submitted by email to info@charleebear.com or by phone at 1-800-396-8893.
Signs of Salmonella Infection
  • decreased appetite
  • fever
  • abdominal pain
  • lethargy
  • diarrhea, bloody diarrhea
  • vomiting
If your dog has eaten these recalled products and has symptoms of Salmonella infection, contact your vet immediately.

People who touch products contaminated with Salmonella can also become infected. If you have handled the recalled products and have symptoms of Salmonella, contact your physician immediately.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Going into the Dog Treat Biz!!!!

Its been in the works for about a year now, but I have finally decided to go full force and open up shop on

 ~ All Natural Dog Treats~ 
NO Wheat, NO Corn, NO Soy

I'm proud to say that with my Love's support and excitement about the treats we are joining the many Home-Made Dog Treats in the industry.

I decided to give the name to my male black Lab Buddy. He is a treat fanatic!!! All treat flavors will be going through Buddy with his approval. If he doesn't approve then they don't go in our store.

One reason it took a year of research and asking questions and reading ingredients, is because I wanted Buddy's Kitchen Dog Treatz to stand out from the crowd made all Natural with no wheat, corn or soy. As I previously blogged about the dangers of those cheap fillers that are often found in Dog food and treats. I wanted a home-made treat with ingredients I would feel comfortable feeding to our dogs. Love always says if there are ingredients you don't know or even ingredients you wouldn't eat yourself, then why feed then to your dog? One reason why we are huge Blue Buffalo fans. We love our dogs like family and we feed them the same way.


Buddy's Kitchen Dog Treatz come by the dozen.
ALL Natural no dyes, no additives, no preservatives

NO CORN, NO WHEAT, NO SOY

Main Ingredients:
Brown Rice & Oat Flour, Oatmeal, Cinnamon, Water, Canola Oil
Flavors:
Peanut Butter
Apple Cinnamon
Pumpkin
Carrot
Chicken

Friday, November 2, 2012

New Collar Fashion

Natural Hemp Dog Collars
This idea came from Love and his best friend Nate. I never knew about Hemp made dog collars. I was thrown off at first because I had no idea the many products that could be made from Hemp other than clothing. Hemp rope is easily tied and braided into necklaces, wallet chains, and dog collars. I LOVED the idea once Nate came over one night and showed the collars he had made for our dogs Bella and Buddy. The great thing is these Hemp Collars they wear now have replaced their everyday nylon collars that house their dog tags which are loud and annoying to hear in the middle of the night.
I then went to Nate and offered to go into business with him. He makes the collars and I advertise them on my websites. Now we are making our way into the Natural Hemp Collar with Colors and soon we will add beads.