Reiki for Pets by Ruth

Reiki by Ruth writes about the benefits and use of Reiki. 

Sometimes our pets are anxious, aggressive, or otherwise stressed (obsessive licking or scratching are quite common) and we don't know why. Or maybe you do know, but have run out of solutions for correcting the behavior. Training can help A LOT for dogs, but sometimes they seem to just be stuck and you and the trainer can't get them to move ahead.

Reiki can be a huge help to dogs (and all animals, really) in this instance. Reiki is a form of Japanese energy work. It works on the chakra and energy systems prevalent in Eastern Medicine. All living things are made up of energy. Everyone has energy pathways running through their bodies that can become blocked due to stress or illness. Frequently physical illness is caused by stress.

Reiki has worked wonders on pets adopted from shelters. Changing families is an enormous stress even if all the homes are loving. Unfortunately sometimes the dog may have been in a bad situation. It's frequently not going to be possible to find out an adopted or stray pet's full history, but Reiki energy doesn't need to know the information. The energy goes where it is needed in the body on its own.

It seems on the surface that our pets have very short memories, but in fact, some incidents will stick with them for life. There is a dog I worked with  named Kody. He was very carefree as a puppy. When he was a couple years old, a family friend came over to his house and teased him. He got spooked. After that he was never quite the same. He became fearful of this person in particular and even just men in general. He'd bark aggressively when anyone came over and he began peeing on the floor when men approached him.

I went to Kody's house and sat down on the floor near him. He loved attention and eagerly came over to see what I was up to. I let him know that everything was ok and no one wanted to hurt him. I placed my hands out facing him so that he could feel the Reiki energy. After he relaxed I was able to place my hands directly on his back. Reiki practitioners pass energy to the client through their hands. In many cases the dog will fall asleep during a treatment in what many practitioners refer to as a 'reiki nap'. Kody was considerably more relaxed when I left his house that day. I went back periodically to give him more treatments and his relaxation lasted longer and longer with each treatment.

If you would like to try Reiki for your pets or you know they would highly benefit from the relaxation, contact Ruth.

She is available on weekends and weekday evenings.

Nature's Variety: Raw Organic Chicken Formula RECALL

I just recently went to a new All Natural Dog food store in the upstate NY area and it quickly became my new favorite pet supply store. I LOVE their large variety on all natural dog and cat foods they have. They also have a refrigerated section for raw diets. Not too long ago I explained what a raw diet is and the Pros and Cons.

Nature's Variety has a raw diet line of frozen proteins such as chicken, beef, venison, duck, lamb, duck, bison and rabbit. Its great because its FROZEN and you feed it to your dogs FROZEN. Its a bit pricey but worth it for a great raw diet.

Unfortunately a few days ago, they had to RECALL the Organic Chicken Raw food. The report is below.

QUALITY ASSURANCE NOTICE:  Nature’s Variety has announced a voluntary recall of one batch of Instinct® Raw Organic Chicken Formula with a “Best if Used By” date of 10/04/13. This action is being taken because pieces of clear plastic may be found in some bags and could cause a potential choking risk to pets.  The source of plastic has been identified and the issue has been resolved.
The affected product is strictly limited to a single batch of Organic Chicken Formula with the “Best if Used By” date of 10/04/13.  
This includes:
• UPC# 7 69949 60137 1 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions, 3 lbs. bag
• UPC# 7 69949 70137 8 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions, 27 lbs. case
• UPC# 7 69949 60127 2 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties, 6 lbs. bag
• UPC# 7 69949 70127 9 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties, 36 lbs. case
The “Best if Used By” date is located on the back of the package below the “Contact Us” section.  The affected product was distributed through retail stores and internet sales in the United States and Canada.  No other products were impacted.
Nature’s Variety became aware of a potential issue after receiving a consumer complaint.  The source of the issue was identified and resolved.  To date, there have been no reports of harm to dogs or cats.
Reed Howlett, CEO of Nature’s Variety, stated, “At Nature’s Variety we take quality and safety very seriously.  We believe that under all circumstances, the health and safety of pets comes first.”
Consumers feeding the affected product should discontinue use and monitor their pet’s health, and contact their veterinarian if they have concerns.  Consumers who have purchased one of the above products can obtain a full refund or exchange by either returning the product in its original packaging or bringing a proof of purchase back to their retailer.
Consumers with additional questions can call the Nature’s Variety Consumer Relations team at 1.888.519.7387 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST.

Hartz Mountain - Chicken Chews and Pig Skin Twist Wrapped in Chicken RECALL

This is a voluntary recall. Please check your dogs treats. 

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 to www.hartz.com for additional information.
**SOURCE The Hartz Mountain Corporation

Publix Super Market - RECALL thier brand of Chicken Tenders Dog Treats. (Florida)

~FLORIDA RESIDENTS ONLY~

LAKELAND, Fla. —  Publix Super Markets is issuing a voluntary recall for Publix Chicken Tenders Dog Chew Treats because it may contain trace amounts of antibiotic residue. The UPC, located on the back right-hand corner of the product, is 41415-18527 and the product comes in a 3.5oz bag. This product was sold in Publix grocery stores in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.
“As part of our commitment to food safety, including that of our four-legged family members, potentially impacted product has been removed from all store shelves,” said Maria Brous, Publix media and community relations director. “To date, there have been no reported cases of pet illness. Consumers who have purchased the product in question may return the product to their local store for a full refund. Publix customers with additional questions may call our Consumer Relations department, Monday-Friday, 8a.m. – 7p.m., at 1-800-242-1227 or by visiting our website at www.publix.com/contact.”
Publix is privately owned and operated by its 157,000 employees, with 2011 sales of $27.0 billion. Currently Publix has 1,067 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. The company has been named one of FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For in America” for 15 consecutive years. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized as tops in the grocery business, most recently by an American Customer Satisfaction Index survey. For more information, visit the company’s website, www.publix.com.

CADET Chicken Jerky Treat RECALL

More chicken jerky treats RECALLED. Reason: China and other countries are approved to use certain antibiotics however those antibiotics are not approved in the US. Its apparent that these antibiotics are making pets ill or leading them to death.

No other Cadet Brand products are affected by this withdrawal

IMS Trading Corp today announced it is voluntarily withdrawing its Cadet Brand Chicken Jerky Treat products sold in the United States until further notice.
The Company is taking this action after learning this week that the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets (NYSDAM) found trace amounts of antibiotic residue in samples of Cadet brand Chicken Jerky Treat products. These antibiotics are approved for use in poultry in China and other major countries, including European Union member states, but are not among those approved in the U.S.  Cadet Brand Chicken Jerky Treat products are safe to feed as directed and have not been linked to ANY illnesses in dogs or humans. However, due to regulatory inconsistencies among countries, the presence of antibiotic residue is technically considered an adulteration in the United States.
At first, New York State authorities requested that IMS Trading Corp remove Cadet Brand Chicken Jerky treats from retail locations only in the state of New York.  We have decided to expand this and conduct a voluntary withdrawal of these chicken treat products nationwide.
A double testing program is being established to check for these antibiotics in China (point of origin) and the United States before we consider to sell these products in the future.  Testing will be based on a scientifically sound statistical sampling program.
There is no indication that the trace amounts of antibiotic residue are linked to the FDA’s ongoing investigation of chicken jerky products. The trace amounts of antibiotic residue (in the parts-per-billion range) do not pose a health or pet safety risk.

More Jerky Treats Recalled

I have been saying this over and over to all my friends and family about these jerky treats that have been killing pets for over a year now but have yet to be PULLED from the shelves of PetsMart and Petco and other pet supply stores. DO NOT FEED YOUR PETS THESE CHINA PRODUCTS!!!

I'll say it again...

DO YOUR RESEARCH

DO NOT BY CHINA OR TAIWAN PRODUCTS

The report is below.

St. Louis, Missouri, January 9, 2013 . . . Nestlé Purina PetCare Company and its wholly owned subsidiary Waggin’ Train, LLC today announced it is voluntarily withdrawing its Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch brand dog treats sold in the United States until further notice.
The Company is taking this action after learning this week that the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets (NYSDAM) found trace amounts of antibiotic residue in samples of Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch chicken jerky products. These antibiotics are approved for use in poultry in China and other major countries, including European Union member states, but are not among those approved in the U.S. Antibiotics are commonly used globally, including in the United States, when raising animals fit for human consumption. Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch products are safe to feed as directed. However, due to regulatory inconsistencies among countries, the presence of antibiotic residue is technically considered an adulteration in the United States. This finding does not pose a safety risk to pets.
New York State authorities initially requested that the Company remove Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch chicken jerky treats from retail locations in the state of New York, which we have agreed to do. In addition, because of the differences in U.S. and Chinese regulations, Nestlé Purina decided to conduct a nationwide voluntary withdrawal.
“All of us at Waggin’ Train care deeply about pets and their owners, and the quality of our products is of the utmost importance,” said Nina Leigh Krueger, President, Waggin’ Train LLC. “Waggin’ Train has served millions of pets and their owners very well. In the final analysis, our Company and our loyal consumers must have total confidence in the products we sell and feed our pets. Once we understand and determine how to comply with the technicalities of different regulatory frameworks, we will work with all appropriate parties to define the best way to supply the market.”
Nestlé Purina contacted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding NYSDAM’s findings. There is no indication that the trace amounts of antibiotic residue are linked to the FDA’s ongoing investigation of chicken jerky products. The trace amounts of antibiotic residue (in the parts-per-billion range) do not pose a health or pet safety risk.
No other Purina treats or pet food products are affected by this withdrawal. In addition, Canyon Creek Ranch dog and cat foods, which are manufactured in the United States, are not included in this withdrawal.
For product refund or more information call our Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-982-0704 or go to www.waggintrainbrand.com

Bacteria Found in Merrick Canned Cat Food

I have done some research on Merrick and I have always liked their foods. I like their ingredients and that they make a Low Glycemic food for diabetic pets. That's hard to come by. Unfortunately every once in a while things slip through the cracks. Merrick Cat Canned food may have mold. Below is the report.


Some concerning pictures and information has been shared with TruthaboutPetFood.com by a pet owner in California.  Numerous cans of Merrick Cat food (from two cases) appear to have a canning problem, the pet owner found mold covering the food.

Kitty Mom Michelle G. contacted TruthaboutPetFood.com with a concern over mold found in numerous cans of Merrick Cat Food purchased from Petflow (an online pet food provider).  In speaking with Michelle, she shared that not all the cans seemed to have a problem.  “Some of the cans opened fine and the pet food looked pink and normal.  But some of them didn’t seem to be sealed properly, there was no vacuum seal noise when it opened – there was a dead sound.”
With the cans in question, the pet food varied in amount of mold that covered the food – some “had worse mold than in the picture” (below).  And some of the cans in question, the pet food had no mold but appeared brownish (instead of pinkish meat appearance).
The pet food cans from Michelle’s cases are…
Merrick BG Chicken Grain Free Cat Food 5.5 ounce cans Best By dates are:  14 Mar 14 Lot number:  12074 CL2 20473 1203
Michelle has reported this to Merrick, Petflow, FDA, and tomorrow (when offices open) her State Department of Agriculture will be notified.  Several of the moldy cans of pet food are now in her freezer (double bagged) in hopes the FDA or State will want to do testing.  The rest of the case of pet food is also being held for testing.  She stated she will keep us advised on the investigations of each party.
Thanks to Michelle for sharing her story with us – and for reporting this to authorities and to Merrick and the retailer.  When/if more is learned, it will be posted.
Note:  Always closely examine and smell your pets food before feeding.  If anything appears not to be normal – if it doesn’t look the same or smell the same – do not feed it to your pet.  Always keep the packaging (can or bag) until you are certain your pet has not/will not suffer an adverse event from the food.  The FDA or State Department of Agriculture will not investigate without the packaging (this includes cans).

Until further notice I would say stay away from Merrick canned foods as a precaution. Mold can start to grow and NOT been visible to the eye. 

American Made and Manufactured Dog Products

First and foremost I would like to put out there.............

BUY AMERICAN MADE AND MANUFACTURED

Another thing I'd like to put out there................

DO YOUR RESEARCH AND CHECK IF IT'S 

AMERICAN MANUFACTURED

I say the second part because its easy to BAG the products in America 

but much cheaper to get the PRODUCTS from overseas. 

There is a difference. How do you find out?

Call the 800 number on the bag, research the compnay or finish reading this blog. :)

Here is my RESEARCHED list of great American made and manufactured products I trust to feed my dogs and any dog that enters my home.

1. Blue Buffalo - I always put Blue first. Its what I feed my dogs and from the watching my dogs like hawks (cause I have no kids) I have seen the 100% change in their overall performance, look, smell, feel and how much they love the taste. The company they currently use to manufacture the food is located in Bern, KS. However they have been working towards getting their own manufactured plant in Joplin, MS. 100% owned and operated by Blue Buffalo.

2. Dogswell - Their brands include Dogswell, Catswell, Happy Hips, Breathies, Vitality, Mellow Mut and Happy Heart. I have recently purchased their Vitality Turkey and Veggies. My dogs LOVED them and they did NOT get sick. I watch for that. 

"Most DOGSWELL products are manufactured in the US. Some of our treats are manufactured in China, but we hold these facilities to the same stringent quality standards we maintain at our US facilities. DOGSWELL sources its ingredients based upon where we find top quality ingredients and a high quality supplier whose facilities and practices meet our safety testing standards."

3. Fromm - Family owned since 1904. Many breeders work with Fromm which is a very small company only distributed by small pet supply stores or breeders. In my research I found their wet food is manufactured in China however their dry food and treats are manufactured in Wisconsin.

Halo Purely For Pets - Halo has a small product line but all their products are made and from the US. I could not specifically find their manufacture location. They are Co-Owned by Ellen Degeneres. Brands include Halo Spot's Stew for Dogs and Halo Spot's Stew for Cat. 

5. Colorado Naturals - These Pet treats are AMAZING!!! Although recently having a recall, all their products are American made and manufactured in Denver, CO.  On their website they have listed specific reasons on how to look for China made products and how to find out. CLICK HERE to read up.

**Labels can be deceiving. Under FDA regulations a package must identify that product's responsible party. Unfortunately a way around this is to to use the U. S. distributors name and address rather than the manufacturer. Check all pet treat labels carefully to be sure there are no statements such as "Made in China" or "Product of China.** 

These are just a few of the MANY dog food companies out there. If you would like me to do some research on the food you feed your dogs, feel free Contact me. 

Sleeping with your dogs

It's always nice to think sleeping with your dog can be glamorous and restful however that is not how it happens in reality. Like children, dogs seem to always move around to the point where you are barely on the bed and you end up twisted sideways or in a small ball on the corner of the bed.

Its starts out all fine and dandy and everyone is comfortable, then someone needs to move and you feel so bad to move cause you know your pooch is far away in doggy dreamland and you don't want to disturb them. So you suffer.

I don't have any problems with my dogs in bed with me. I encouraged it for years since it was just me and my babies. I always slept great and I love having my babies surround me. Their warmth and relaxation always helped put me to sleep. But when I moved in with my boyfriend the bed was no longer big enough for 2 humans and 2 large breed dogs. Comprises had to be made and the rules are - 1. The dogs can be on the bed before we all fall asleep to give belly rubs and kisses goodnight. 2. Dogs have to be off the bed all night. In place since my boyfriend kept waking up with massive back pains due to them pushing us off the bed. 3. The dogs are allowed back on the bed in the morning when everyone is waking up for good morning kisses and belly rubs. 4. The dogs are allowed on the bed during the day but only allowed to LAY on the bed.
Our overall rule is the bed is a place for relaxation and sleep.What is it like in your home?

Claudia’s Cuisine Voluntary Product Withdrawal

Claudia's Cuisine Dog Candy Fruit Hound Cake 

Claudia’s Cuisine has issued a voluntary product withdrawal on Dog Candy Fruit Hound Cake (7.5oz) and Dog Candy Blueberry Hound Cake (7.5oz). No other products have been impacted. These products are being voluntarily withdrawn due to the potential to contain mold. Claudia’s Cuisine has not received any reports of illness associated with the affected product. If you suspect that your Claudia’s Cuisine product may have mold growth, please bring it to your closest PetSmart store for a full refund. If you have any questions about this voluntary withdrawal, please call Claudia’s Cuisine’s Customer Service at 501-851-0002 or email Irma@claudiascaninecuisine.com.