FDA issued a cautionary warning regarding chicken jerky products to consumers in September 2007 and a Preliminary Animal Health Notification in December of 2008. After seeing the number of complaints received drop off during the latter part of 2009 and most of 2010, the FDA is once again seeing the number of complaints rise to the levels of concern that prompted release of our earlier warnings.

Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be fed occasionally in small quantities.

FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs that may occur within hours to days of feeding the products:

• decreased appetite
• decreased activity
• vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood
• increased water consumption and/or increased urination.

If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product. Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine). Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.

FDA, in addition to several animal health diagnostic laboratories in the U.S., is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs. FDA’s Veterinary Laboratory Response Network (VLRN) is now available to support these animal health diagnostic laboratories. To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. FDA continues extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified a contaminant.

The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem and its origin. Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky. Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their state or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

For safe 100% made in the USA Chicken Dog Treats, you can purchase them Here.

A 600-year-old dog eating festival in Qianxi, China was banned this week after a massive social media outcry called for its cancellation. Fifteen thousand dogs are slaughtered annually at the festival, which commemorates a battle fought in the town. Before the battle, an invading army killed all the dogs in the town of Qianxi to prevent being exposed by barking dogs. After capturing the town, the army ate the dog meat to celebrate.

From then until the ’80s, the dogs were killed immediately before being cooked and served. Then the Chinese government intervened and banned on-site butchery. But the practice began to creep back into the festival over the past few years. Pictures of carnage from the dog eating festival made their way on to the internet, incensing thousands. This year, many of them took to the internet to call for the festival to be banned. The Chinese government reacted by banning the festival…

To Learn More, Click Here

]]> http://www.petspace.com/index.php/2011/12/petspace-chinese-dog-eating-festival-banned/feed/ 0 http://www.petspace.com/index.php/2011/08/petspace-introducing-your-dog-to-your-cat/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=petspace-introducing-your-dog-to-your-cat http://www.petspace.com/index.php/2011/08/petspace-introducing-your-dog-to-your-cat/#comments Fri, 26 Aug 2011 23:32:08 +0000 admin http://www.petspace.com/?p=831 Introducing cats to dogs takes planning, and while just throwing them together often is done, the pets do better with proper introductions.

Dog-to-dog introductions are best begun on “neutral” territory such as a park. But cat-to-cat introductions are different because cats aren’t willing to meet anybody until they are familiar with their environment. So an off-site meeting won’t work when introducing cats to dogs. Compromise by introducing the pets in your home, with accommodations made to the sensitivities of the cat and dog involved.

Confine your new pet (cat or dog) in a single room, door closed, with all the necessary pet paraphernalia. Include the new guy’s favorite bed or toy so the old, familiar smells help keep him calm. Isolating the new cat or dog tells your resident pet that not all of the house and territory has been invaded.

When the new kid is a cat, she’ll need an opportunity to wander around the rest of the house and become comfortable with her surroundings. Remember, cats aren’t interested in meeting new friends until they know all the good hiding places and have cheek-rubbed and mapped the territory. So send the dog outside for a while so that your new cat can explore his or her surroundings.

- cats are not very enthusiastic in being trained
- they are not interested in pleasing their owners

Therefore, patience, consistency, a good reward or positive reinforcement system and an enjoyable experience for your cats are the key ingredients toward successful cat training sessions. Training your cats for proper toilet, litter box, playing and leash manners and patterns require a good amount of time and patience. The task of your cat is to do the lesson at hand but yours is the patience. Cat training aids like treats are essential.

Because of the known independent nature of cats, some owners view them as untrainable which is wrong. Besides, physical exertions and mental stimulation are good for your cat’s health.

Your veterinarian may even suggest some helpful exercises and games for your cat. Behavior and psychology are the things you have to understand before training your cat. You may want to ask your veterinarians or consult books about cat training.

You will find Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate in a number of leading dog foods such as Arden Grange Senior Dog Food for all breeds and Eukanuba Mature/Senior Small Breed Dog Food.  Eukanuba also provides Mature/Senior dog food for medium breed and large breed dogs and lamb and rice senior/mature for all breeds.

Omega 3 and 6 and fatty acids are also ingredients that you will be familiar with as a number of adverts highlight the advantages of including Omega 3 and 6 in your diet.

Where dogs are concerned, these ingredients are vital for helping to maintain their skin and coat and again you will find Omega 3 and 6 and/or Fatty Acids in a number of senior dog foods such as Royal Canin Maxi Mature Dog Food, Royal Canin also provide mature dog food for Mini and Medium Breed Dogs.

Anti-oxidants are included in many dog foods to aid their immune system; these can be found in a number of dog food manufacturers’ senior foods including Hills Science Plan Mature Adult Dog Food.

Basic dog expenses can range from $700-$3000 per year, so before settling down, be sure doggy ownership is something you can afford. Also consider all the little extras that you may want to splurge on for your pampered pooch. If your dog suffers from a health condition, you could be looking at spending several more thousand dollars per year.

If you work very long hours or travel frequently, your lifestyle may not be appropriate for a dog. Though a social life is important to many people, do friends and dating take up the majority of your free time? Consider whether or not you are willing to make adjustments to your lifestyle to accommodate a dog in your life.

Finally, is your home appropriate for a four-legged critter? Pet-proofing is not quite the same as child-proofing. Our four-legged companions tend to be a bit craftier than kids when it comes to off-limits areas (especially those with edible components). You can hardly expect your dog to be fully trained on arrival, so there is bound to be the need for confinement and restraint. Be sure pets are allowed where ever you live and be sure there is plenty of room to train your pup.

1. How active or inactive am I and can my dog keep up or can I keep up with the dog?

2. How much time can I spend with the dog?

3. Is my environment large enough for a dog to live in? Does this dog need a small or large yard or does it even want to go outside at all?

4. Can I afford a dog, its dog food, yearly vaccines, vet bills and grooming if necessary?

5. Am I willing to change my life and routine to care for the dog and take the time to train and socialize the dog so it can be a life-long companion?

6. Will this dog be tolerant of my children and are my children at an age that they can interact properly with a dog and not annoy it.

Those these are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself before deciding on a breed, there are many things you should take into consideration so don’t rush into any purchase!

How much time will you have to exercise and play with your dog? Do you live in a small apartment? Are there size restrictions on dogs allowed in your rental? Do you have small children? Do you want a laid-back dog, or a bouncy, energetic one?

After you have thought about the qualities that you would like in a dog, it’s time to do some research on the dog breeds that might be best for you. The American Kennel Club’s website has a directory of dog breeds, and they are classified by group. The site describes the general characteristics of the group, as well as information about each breed.

The important thing is to take plenty of time to think about which type of dog will ultimately be best for you and your family.

Get your dog from a reputable breeder. If you want a purebred dog, this is a good option. A good breeder is concerned about the dogs they breed, and will make sure the dog is a good match for you.

Get your dog from a dog rescue organization. These groups find homes for unwanted or abandoned dogs of a particular breed. There is usually an organization for each breed.

Adopt your dog from a shelter. This is a good option if you don’t care about having a purebred dog. You can find a local shelter through pets911. Shelters have a wide variety of dogs available.

Feeding, walking, training and loving your new pet should be shared between family members. Be sure everyone in your home is aware of this and willing to take part.

If you’re getting a dog from a shelter, do what you can to talk to the dog’s previous owner. Unfortunately, some dogs may be violent or have a bad history, and this is something you should take into consideration, especially if there are children in your house.

Ask about the dog’s history, medical records and temperament. The more you know about the dog the more informed your final decision will be. Find out as much as you can about the dog’s shelter history.