For Immediate Release: Nov. 5, 2009

Media Inquiries: Rita Chappelle, 301-796-4672, rita.chappelle@fda.hhs.gov

Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA Health Alert for Certain Pet Treats Made by Pet Carousel

Products may be contaminated with Salmonella

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is issuing this health alert to warn consumers not to use Pig Ears and Beef Hooves pet treats manufactured by Pet Carousel because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The products were distributed nationwide in both bulk and retail packaging for sale in pet food and retail chain stores. Pet Carousel is based in Sanger, Calif.

The products were manufactured under conditions that facilitate cross-contamination within batches or lots. Although no illnesses associated with these products have been reported, the FDA is advising consumers in possession of these products to not handle or feed them to their pets.

The affected pig ear products were packaged under the brand names Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel. The affected beef hooves were packaged under the brand names Choo Hooves, Dentley’s, Doggie Delight, and Pet Carousel. All sizes and all lots of these products made by Pet Carousel are included in this alert.

During September 2009, the FDA conducted routine testing of pig ears made by Pet Carousel. The test results detected a positive reading for Salmonella. This prompted an FDA inspection of Pet Carousel’s manufacturing facilities. During the inspection, the agency collected additional pet treat samples. Further analysis found Salmonella present in beef hooves, pig ears and in the manufacturing environment.

Salmonella can affect both humans and animals. People handling dry pet food and/or pet treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the treats or any surfaces exposed to these products. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle.

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.

Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may only experience 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 products or is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

The FDA will continue to investigate this matter to determine the source of the Salmonella contamination and offer updates as appropriate.

Consumers can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food and pet treat products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in their area. You can locate the nearest consumer complaint coordinator at:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators/default.htm

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Yesterday I received a heartbreaking letter from Bobbie, she had given her pup Nikko a Windee chewie and the dog choked to death. I am not familiar with these treats but we had a scary experience with Copper years ago when she was chewing a rawhide.

I was away on business and Lisa had given her one of the chewies with the knots on the end. Copper had eaten them before with no issues, the girl can chew. This time she almost choked to death when one of the knots separated and got stuck in her throat. Lisa thought she was going to watch her die, it was horrible. Eventually she was able to grab hold of a piece and pull it from her throat, we were very lucky, she never would have made it to the emergency vet.

We have never bought those types of chewies again. I have heard horror stories about many different types of rawhides/chewies, and while some pups have no issues it is always good to be aware of what can happen. Here’s Bobbie’s story…

On Saturday night, (8/16/09) my 6 year old Shih Tzu, Nikko, was eating a dog chewie named Windee (a/k/a Moo tubes & Beef Trachea). He began choking and I tried but could not get the Windee chew from him. I thought the choking stopped before I went to bed but the next day I woke up and Nikko was dead. The necropsy performed that morning revealed approximately 2 inches of the chew lodged in the trachea leading to death by asphyxiation.

The 6″ Windee chew is manufactured by Jones Natural Chews Company (the label says Jones Gourmet Chews Company) located in Rockford Illinois.  The chew is advertised as \”good chewing for all size dogs\”. There are absolutely no warnings that choking can occur and cause death OR the Windee can lodge in the trachea and thus cause death by asphyxiation. Read the rest of this entry »

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I’ve done a variety of posts on plants, medications, and foods that are poisonous to dogs.

Recently I did a post on the Saco Palm, a plant that contains arsenic and is deadly to dogs. There are many plants which are dangerous to dogs but I had never heard about this particular one. I was made aware when Dogster member Mica contacted me warning  about the dangers and asking that I share the story of her pal Tallulah Belle, who almost died from ingesting the plant.

We all know smoking is bad, but did you know that it can kill your dog?  In USA Today writer Mary Brophy Marcus discusses the dangers of nicotine.

Smoked or unsmoked cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff, even in small amounts, can be toxic, say the veterinarians at McLean Animal Hospital in McLean, Va.

According to their website, a lethal dose of nicotine in dogs can be about 20 to 100 mg. Read the rest of this entry »

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In Pontiac and Inkster, MI. hundreds of dogs have died from an outbreak of parvo.

Dogs are infected by contact with feces from contaminated dogs and often die three days after symptoms appear.

Hundreds of dogs, mainly puppies, are dying in Pontiac and Inkster because of an outbreak of parvovirus, a virulent disease that is easy to prevent and expensive to treat, veterinarians and animal protection workers said Sunday.

“This is the worst outbreak I’ve seen in Pontiac in the 20 years I’ve been working here,” said Pam Porteous, manager of the Animal Care Network, which operates in Pontiac and Inkster. She said she has been told by shelter workers that Detroit and Flint have outbreaks, too.

Porteous said some 300 dogs have died in Pontiac alone this summer.

Porteous said low-income communities are especially vulnerable because residents often can’t afford to vaccinate their puppies — shots cost $10 to $80 each — and because they typically keep their pets outside as watchdogs, where the animals can be infected by stray dogs with the disease.

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I received an email from Dogster member Mica, she wanted to share the dangers of the Sago Palm. On May 20th her pal Tallulah Belle was poisoned, she was one of the lucky ones, she survived.

I’ve done other posts on plants that are dangerous but the Sago Palm was never on the list. This plant contains cyanide, yet there are no labels warning about the danger to animals and children.

Here’s Tula’s story, use her experience to prevent this from happening to your beloved pet.

I AM A LUCKY PUPPY / MAY 20TH I POISONED MYSELF WITH A SAGO- PALM

Howlo Pupsters,

Very important info following: Pass the word. Warn your friends. Keep your eye on the SAGO PALM plant. They are beautiful, hardy and DEADLY to dogs, cats and human kids.

On May 20th I ate part of the base of my mom’s SAGO PALM plant.

Two hours later I was vomiting repeatedly and violently. I became weak and lethargic.

The Vets had never had a case of SAGO PALM poisoning so I was rushed to the PET ER. They had never had a case of SAGO PALM poisoning either due to this NOT being a plant normally found in Maryland. That is changing now and they are everywhere.

The ASPCA Poison Control Hotline saved me. The Vets there provided the treatment protocol to the ER that saved me. THANK YOU ASPCA.

50-75% of All dogs who ingest any SAGO PALM go on to develop liver failure at 24 – 48 hours after ingestion. They die or have to be euthanized.

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This recall is not for the consumer but those in the medical field. However, it’s commonly used in veterinary  medicine so if your pet is having surgery it’s something you want to be aware of.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 16, 2009 – Teva Pharmaceuticals USA is initiating a voluntary recall of Propofol Injectable Emulsion 10 mg/mL 100 mL vials, lot numbers 31305429B and 31305430B. The product lots identified are being recalled due to the presence of elevated endotoxin levels in some vials within these lot numbers.

Teva has been notified of 41 propofol-treated patients who experienced post-operative fever, chills and other flu-like symptoms. Based on available information it appears that all febrile or flu-like reactions were self-limiting with spontaneous resolution.

Adverse health effects, such as fever, chills, or rigors, are possible with exposure to product with elevated levels of endotoxins. Serious adverse effects, such as disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock, and death, are possible with exposure to product with high endotoxin levels.

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An infectious superbug capable of being passed from pets to humans is on the rise and becoming increasingly problematic.

It was only a few years ago when scientists suspected that the bacteria was being transmitted by pets.

The superbug, a strain of bacteria known as MRSA, has evolved a resistance to antibiotics. It has long plagued hospitals but in recent years has become more common in homes. MRSA has even invaded beaches.

In the July edition of The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Richard Oehler of the University of South Florida College of Medicine and colleagues lay out the latest thinking on MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and pets.

The infections can be transmitted by animal bites and most threaten young children, the researchers note.

“As community-acquired strains of MRSA increase in prevalence, a growing body of clinical evidence has documented MRSA colonization in domestic animals, often implying direct acquisition of S aureus infection from their human owners,” they write. “MRSA colonization has been documented in companion animals such as horses, dogs, and cats, and these animals have been viewed as potential reservoirs of infection.”

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The following is not a recall, the FDA has suspended  Evanger’s emergency permit so they can no longer ship their food interstate.

FDA Suspends Temporary Emergency Permit of Pet Food Maker

June 12, 2009

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today it was suspending the temporary Emergency Permit issued to Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co., Inc.

Evanger’s, operating in Wheeling, Illinois, deviated from the prescribed process, equipment, product shipment, and record keeping requirements in the production of the company’s thermally processed low acid canned food (LACF) products. The deviations in their processes and documentation could result in under-processed pet foods, which can allow the survival and growth of Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), a bacterium that causes botulism in some animals as well as in humans.

In April 2008, Evanger’s was issued an “Order of Need for Emergency Permit” after the agency determined that the company had failed to meet the regulatory requirements to process a product that does not present a health risk. In June, 2008, FDA issued Evanger’s a temporary Emergency Permit. During inspections conducted between March 2009 and April 2009, FDA determined Evanger’s was not operating in compliance with the mandatory requirements and conditions of the Temporary Emergency Permit.

“The FDA is stopping Evanger’s ability to ship pet food in interstate commerce,” said Dr. Bernadette Dunham. “Today’s enforcement action sends a strong message to manufacturers of pet food that we will take whatever action necessary to keep unsafe products from reaching consumers.”

In order for Evanger’s to resume shipping in interstate commerce, the company must document that corrective actions and processing procedures have been implemented to ensure that the finished product will not present a health hazard. Read the rest of this entry »

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In Philadelphia, PA. a few shelters have been shutdown after six dogs died.

The shelter, on Erie Avenue near B Street, was preparing to enter into a quarantine, which went into effect at noon, after the death of six dogs this week from what is believed to potentially be canine influenza, said Kim Wolf, a spokeswoman for the PSPCA.

Another shelter run by the Animal Care & Control Team (ACCT) was quarantined yesterday, she said.

Canine flu has yet to be confirmed as the cause of these deaths, but Rachel Lee, the medical director of PSPCA, said that the dogs had exhibited severe symptoms characteristic of the respiratory infection. Results of diagnostic tests are expected to be ready by Thursday.

“We cannot confirm that it is canine influenza yet,” said Lee. “But we are treating it as if it is, at this point.”

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I’ve just been informed that three Dogster pups, all belonging to the same household, have been poisoned by antifreeze. It saddens me to share the news that all have passed over to Rainbow Bridge.

The beautiful dogs lost were Jake, Joey, and Nari.  Not much is known at this time, but it’s suspected that someone in the neighborhood is responsible.  I will update as soon as I have more information. In the meantime, please visit their homepages and leave a little love. I have no doubt their owner is in desperate need of some kind thoughts to help get her through this. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family.

Antifreeze poisoning is a big issue because dogs are drawn to the sweet smell. Dogs  have even been known to chew through the container when they find it left in the garage or elsewhere in the house. It’s so important to make sure the container is stored in a safe and secure place, just like you would do if you had a small child at home. It’s reported that about 10,000 accidental poisonings, both cats and dogs, happen per year.

Death by antifreeze poisoning is not a pretty way to go, it’s a long and painful death. The good news is that if you get your pet to the vet within 9-12 hours after ingestion they may recover.

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