Purina Cat Food Recall For Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7

Nestlé Purina Recalls Limited Number of Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food Bags Due to a Potential Health Risk

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company (NPPC) is voluntarily recalling a limited number of 3.5- and 7-pound bags of its Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food from a single production run and shipped to customers in 12 states in December 2010. This is being done because some bags of the product have been found to be contaminated with Salmonella. Only Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food with both the “Best By” date and the production code shown are included in this voluntary recall :

*”Best By” Date and Production Code are found on the back or bottom of the bag.

No additional Purina cat or dog products are involved in this voluntary recall. No other Purina ONE brand products are involved. Only Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ brand products which match the “Best By” dates and production code above are included in this recall.

Consumers who have purchased Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food products with these specific “Best By” Date and Production Codes should discontinue feeding the product and discard it.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the product, and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated products. People handling contaminated dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may exhibit decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If you pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The product was distributed to customers located in California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin, who may have further distributed the product to other states.

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company became aware of the contamination as a result of samples that had been collected in several retail stores.

At Nestlé Purina PetCare, the safety and efficacy of our products are our top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience due to this voluntary recall. For further information or to obtain a product refund, please call NPPC toll-free at 1-800-982-6559 or visit www.purina.com.

Researches Find New Gene Pattern In Dog Bone Cancer Study

Dogs Help Researchers To Improve Their Understanding Of Bone Cancer

A team led by Dr. Jaime Modiano, a College of Veterinary Medicine and Masonic Cancer center expert in comparative medicine, discovered a gene pattern that distinguishes the more severe form of bone cancer from a less aggressive form in dogs. Dogs are the only other species besides humans that develops this disease spontaneously with any frequency.

Quotes

"Our findings pave the way to develop laboratory tests that can predict the behavior of this tumor in dogs and children at the time of diagnosis," said Dr. Jaime Modiano, College of Veterinary Medicine and Masonic Cancer Center expert in comparative medicine. "This allows us to tailor individualized therapy to meet the patient's needs."
"Patients with less aggressive disease could be treated conservatively, reducing the side effects and the risks associated with treatment, while patients with more aggressive disease could be treated with more intense therapy," said Modiano.

A new University of Minnesota discovery may help bone cancer patients fight their disease more effectively, according to new research published in the September issue of Bone.

Bone cancer typically affects children; the course and aggressiveness of the disease can vary from patient to patient and is very difficult to predict. Some patients respond remarkably well to conventional therapies. Their disease shows less aggressive behavior and they can survive for decades without recurrence. Others respond poorly to treatment or their disease comes back rapidly. Often, these patients survive less than five years.

Recently, a team led by Dr. Jaime Modiano, a College of Veterinary Medicine and Masonic Cancer Center expert in comparative medicine, discovered a gene pattern that distinguishes the more severe form of bone cancer from a less aggressive form in dogs. Dogs are the only other species besides humans that develops this disease spontaneously with any frequency.

In fact, dogs are much more likely to develop bone cancer than humans, but according to Modiano - who specializes in the relationship between animal and human disease - human and canine forms of bone cancer are very similar and the gene pattern is an exact match. The discovery of this key differentiating signature may be beneficial in the treatment planning of human bone cancer patients.

"Our findings pave the way to develop laboratory tests that can predict the behavior of this tumor in dogs and children at the time of diagnosis," said Modiano. "This allows us to tailor individualized therapy to meet the patient's needs."

The downstream impact of the findings

University of Minnesota researchers hope to use their findings to develop practical and useful lab tests for humans and for companion animals that will help clinical care providers determine the type of cancer a patient faces, and how aggressive that cancer may be.

Then, depending on which type of cancer a patient has, clinicians could adjust interventions and treatment plans accordingly.

"Patients with less aggressive disease could be treated conservatively, reducing the side effects and the risks associated with treatment, while patients with more aggressive disease could be treated with more intense therapy," said Modiano.

The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute, the AKC Canine Health Foundation and the Kate Koogler Canine Cancer Fund.

Source:
Kelly O'Connor
University of Minnesota

Chiquita's Friends PAL Honorees Awards For Three Special People

The Chiquita's Friends Pal awards is being held today at Rancho Chiquita in Malibu, CA to honor three special people for what they have done in their community on helping save the lives of dogs.

The Honorees for the event will be Linda Blair ( Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation ) Robert Cabral from ( Bound Angels ) and Dr. Lisa Newell from ( K9 connections). This should be a great night and hopefully these donations will help the lives of many more animals.

A Special Thanks goes out not only to these three but to all those who work on helping rescue animals so that they may find a new life. Thank you from the Dogman2.

Thieves Rob An Animal Shelter In Warwick, RI

You can tell that times are getting real bad when thieves have to rob an animal shelter called Care for Animals in Warwick, RI.



The owner of Care for Animals Dr. Annette Rauche said: It's disappointing for us, who all work very hard here to do a service for the community. We're very passionate about what we do, so it's a big setback for us.

Most of all the animal shelters though out the country are working on less funds and they are trying to do the best they can with what they have. Then you read something like this and it breaks your heart, knowing that they will have to struggle because some low life robs their money and meds that was for the animals.

Read the article by Alison Bologna here.

Royal Pets Market and Resort Grand Opening On August 6

Pet Owners Invited to a New Royal Wedding as Royal Pets Market and Resort Hosts its Grand Opening August 6


Tampa-area pet enthusiasts have a new one-stop retail and resort destination. Royal Pets Market and Resort hosts its grand opening on August 6, kicking off the festivities with a canine Royal Wedding and a $500-gift-card grand prize for each bride and groom.



Tampa-area pet enthusiasts have a new one-stop retail and resort destination. Royal Pets Market and Resort hosts its grand opening on August 6, kicking off the festivities with a canine Royal Wedding and a $500-gift-card grand prize for each bride and groom.

Pet owners still have time to post their submission to be selected as the King or Queen of the event. Visit Royal Pets’ Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/RoyalPets to watch an animated Ryan Fleacrest and Mary Bark dish out the details. Contestants are also competing for a $250 gift card for second place, and a $100 gift card for third place.

Attendees can also win door prizes, and participate in a raffle for a TV, bicycle and barbecue grill, as well as receive discount certificates for products and services. Pet parents are invited to bring their pets to the grand opening event. Royal Pets Market and Resort is located at 16010 Mapledale Blvd in Carrollwood, where demographics show the average family owns two pets.

According to co-owner Denise Wolin-Gore, the store offers luxurious, first-class amenities at affordable prices. “Our customers can expect the most professional and attentive service here,” says Wolin-Gore. “To say we’re passionate about pets is an understatement. We’ve designed every detail of our store to truly give pets, and their parents, the royal treatment. The result is a warm, fun shopping experience guaranteed to impress both our four-legged and two-legged friends.”
The 17,000-square-foot emporium is the first of its kind in the pet industry and includes an air-conditioned indoor dog park, high-end grooming salon, “Barkery” with tempting pet treats, and a pet hotel that can accommodate up to 100 cats and dogs. Even non-four-legged shoppers can enjoy special amenities like gourmet coffee while they shop and watch the dogs playing in the park. The resort features a luxurious lobby, spacious suites with private play yards, plush bedding and flat screen TVs; 24-hour concierge service and staff on site; and pet cameras so owners can monitor their pets online. Cats will be housed in soundproofed rooms ensuring any barking from their canine neighbors isn’t audible. Nightly boarding fees range from $29 to $55.
Grooming services range from a special bathing system that combines water and oxygen with specially formulated shampoo, to cucumber facial scrubs and moisture therapy wraps. Royal Pets also offers a selection of premium, organic, natural, raw, freeze-dried and holistic dog and cat food. Taught by trainers using Master Kennel methods, behavior classes are available for all ages, including a free potty training seminar.
The Royal Pets Market & Resort will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Weekday grooming/hotel drop-off begins at 7 a.m. For more information, call 813-448-6744.

About Royal Pets Market and Resort
Give your pet the royal treatment. Located in Carrollwood, Florida, this 17,000-square-foot emporium is a one-stop pet retail and resort destination. The new store features luxurious hotel amenities, wall-to-wall choices in pet retail products, unique grooming services, behavior training, a “Barkery” of enticing treats, and an indoor dog park. For more information, call 813-448-6744 or visit RoyalPetsMarket.com.

Police Go To Make An Arrest And Find 38 Dogs

When the Hampton, GA police went to arrest a guy named Gerry Hobby for impersonating an officer they found thirty eight dogs living in horrible conditions in his home. Hobby has been charged with thirty eight charges of animal cruelty along with other charges.

Gerry Yoder from the Henry County Animal Shelter said: We weren’t expecting thirty eight in one day! Several of the dogs are emaciated and don’t have any teeth. Most of them though are ready to go to a new home.

Now the Henry County Animal Shelter is looking for your help on finding these poor dogs new home.

Read the article here.

Dog’s Domestication 33,000 years ago?

What the studies have come up with is that dogs became domesticated some thirty three thousand years ago or possibly more based on three independent radiocarbon dating facilities.

Susan Crockford who wrote Rhythms of Life said: The Razboinichya dog find demonstrates that the right wolf/human conditions suitable for getting domestication started were present at least 33,000 years ago. However, such conditions would have had to be present continuously stable for many wolf generations, perhaps twenty over about forty years for the domestication process to generate a true dog.

This is pretty amazing on how prehistoric dogs were around so long ago and who really knows how smart or how domesticated they were back then.I guess we will have to rely on research to answer that.

Read the article by Jennifer Viegas here.