This kitty opens FIVE doors so it can go outside.  Wow!

And this dog is LITERALLY toilet trained.  Awesome!

Natura Pet has expanded their March 18th recall due to salmonella contamination to include ALL dry products (treats, and foods for ferrets, cats, kittens, puppies, & dogs) with an expiration date on or before March 24, 2014 for the following brands:

• Innova
• 
EVO
• 
California Natural
• 
HealthWise
• 
Karma

The treats being recalled are:

• Innova Cat Treats
• EVO Wild Cravings
  • Turkey & Chicken Formula Cat Treats
  • Herring & Salmon Formula Cat Treats 
  • Weight Management Cat Treats
  • Herring Formula Dog Treats
  • Red Meat Formula Dog Treats
  • Turkey & Chicken Formula Dog Treats
  • Weight Management Dog Treats

Salmonella can cause serious illness in cats and dogs and cross-contamination to humans is possible resulting in serious illness.

• Here is good information on the symptoms & treatment of salmonellosis in dogs & cats.
• The FDA has information on safe pet food handling to prevent food born illnesses like salmonella.
• The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has a very informative page on salmonellosis in humans.

The salmonella contamination was found by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Department of Agriculture.  The affected products are sold online, through veterinary clinics and pet retailers in the U.S. and in Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Costa Rica.

If you have questions, contact Natura Pet or call (800) 224-6123.  If you want to replace your affected product, download this form and follow the instructions.

 photo of “Ninja” by joshDubya

A new study shows we have bacteria on & in us that comes from our dogs.  Specifically, from their tongues and paws.  That may not be all that surprising, but what is surprising is that parents tested actually share more bacteria with the family dog than with their human children.  This isn’t necessarily harmful.  In fact, some studies link childhood exposure to pets with fewer allergies & better immune systems in adulthood.

Related posts:

• Vaccine For Cat Allergies
• Dogs May Boost Immune System In Children
• Cats And Dogs Protect Children From Stomach Bugs

This DIY interactive toy just requires a muffin tin and 6 smallish balls.

Five K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs are in Boston helping survivors of the bombings.  Two of the dogs were brought in from Newtown, Conn., where they were helping students and parents at Sandy Hook Elementary.  The dogs also help medical staff cope with the stress of treating so many casualties.  The K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs are part of Lutheran Church Charities.  You can keep up with them on Facebook.

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DNA from 33,000 year old skull found in 1975 shows the animal was more closely rated to modern dogs than to wolves as was previously thought.  This, the Altai dog, is the 2nd oldest example of primitive dogs—the oldest is the Goyet dog.

Check out this post on primitive dogs in the Americas.

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Cats kill way more animals than we thought.  Instead of killing 500 birds a year in the U.S., they’re killing 1.4 billion to 3.7 billion bird and 6.9 billion to 20.7 billion mammals.  Non-pet outdoor cats do most of the killing, but pet cats are responsible for 1/3 of the deaths.  All the more reason to keep your cats inside unless they’re supervised.

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Gareth Morgan, a New Zealand businessman & philanthropist, wants to ban cats from New Zealand because of their threat to the unique wildlife found there.  The facts are pretty stunning:

• Cats have contributed to the extinction of 9 native bird species ^[3].
• Cats impact on 33 endangered native bird species ^[4].
• One feral cat killed 102 endangered native short tail bats in a week ^[5].
• Cats kill native birds. In our cities domestic cats kill native birds faster than they can possibly breed ^[6].
• Around 40% of New Zealand’s native land-birds are already extinct, and of the ones remaining 37% are endangered. ^[7]

A complete ban seems extreme, but a complete ban on any outdoor cats might be a good thing.  This would have serious implications for any trap & release programs dealing with feral cats.

(Please note: If you suspect your dog has ingested ANY Gorilla Glue or another diphenylmethane diisocyanate-based polyurethane glue, get her to a veterinarian immediately.)

I just learned that some dogs like the sweet smell & taste of Gorilla Glue and eating it can kill them. (It’s also possible cats like the taste too, so be careful with them too.)  The problem isn’t that the glue is poisonous though.  Gorilla Glue and other diphenylmethane diisocyanate-based polyurethane glues (Sumo Glue, Sticky Ass Glue, Elmer’s Glue-All Max) expand and harden on contact with moisture.  (The U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services has an extensive extensive list of glues containing Diphenylmethane diisocyanate.)

When this glue comes into contact with saliva & gastric fluids, it expands & hardens in your dog’s digestive tract creating a deadly blockage.  Symptoms include:

• vomiting
• drooling
• retching
• loss of appetite
• lethargy
• bloated abdomen

Keep this type of glue well out of reach of your dog, quickly clean up any spills, and dispose of contaminated paper towel or rags where your dog can get to them.

If you suspect your dog has ingested ANY of this type of glue, get her to a veterinarian immediately.  Even a small amount of glue can be deadly.  Just 2-3 teaspoons turned into this 6×8″, 1lb. hard lump pictured below that had to be surgically removed.

This video shows just how much a small amount of this glue can expand when it contacts moisture.

Cool information about normal gaits in quadrupeds from University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.  Follow the link and click the buttons under the dog or other animal for more information on each type of gait.  (via Dr. Sophia Yin.)

Why should you check it out?  First, it’s really interesting to see how dogs move—what all four legs are doing and what your dog’s footfalls are.  Second, if you know what a normal gait looks like, you’ll have an easier time recognizing an abnormal gait making it easier to catch any problems in your dog sooner.

If you have a product included on these lists, contact NaturaPet at  http://www.naturapet.com/about/contact-us or (800) 224-6123.

Salmonella can cause serious illness in cats and dogs and cross-contamination to humans is possible resulting in serious illness.

• Here is good information on the symptoms & treatment of salmonellosis in dogs & cats.
• The FDA has information on safe pet food handling to prevent food born illnesses like salmonella.
• The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has a very informative page on salmonellosis in humans.

Check the Evo recall for size, lot numbers, UPC and Best-By-Dates for the following varieties:

1. TURKEY & CHICKEN FORMULA CAT & KITTEN FOOD
2. HERRING & SALMON FORMULA CAT FOOD
3. FERRET FOOD
4. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT DOG FOOD
5. RED MEAT FORMULA – LARGE BITES DOG FOOD
6. SENIOR FORMULA DOG FOOD
7. SENIOR FORMULA DOG FOOD

Check the Innova recall for size, lot numbers, UPC and Best-By-Dates for the following varieties:

1. CAT & KITTEN FOOD
2. SENIOR CAT FOOD
3. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT CAT FOOD
4. ADULT DOG FOOD – LARGE BITES 
5. PUPPY FOOD 
6. SENIOR PLUS DOG FOOD
7. LARGE BREED ADULT DOG FOOD
8. LARGE BREED PUPPY FOOD
9. PRIME GRAIN FREE HERRING & SALMON FORMULA ADULT DOG FOOD
10. PRIME GRAIN FREE BEEF & LAMB MEAL FORMULA ADULT DOG FOOD
11. SALMON & HERRING FORMULA ADULT DOG FOOD
12. LARGE BREED ADULT DOG FOOD BILINGUAL
13. ADULT DOG FOOD – LARGE BITES BILINGUAL

Check the California Natural recall for size, lot numbers, UPC and Best-By-Dates for the following varieties:

1. GRAIN FREE KANGAROO & RED LENTILS FORMULA ADULT DOG FOOD BILINGUAL
2. GRAIN FREE KANGAROO & RED LENTILS FORMULA ADULT DOG FOOD 

Check the HealthWise recall for size, lot numbers, UPC and Best-By-Dates for the following varieties:

1. CHICKEN MEAL & OATMEAL FORMULA WEIGHT CONTROL DOG FOOD
2. CHICKEN MEAL & BROWN RICE FORMULA PUPPY FOOD
3. LAMB MEAL & OATMEAL FORMULA ADULT DOG FOOD

Abby and her rats’ relationship is so much richer because of this training.  Her rats have learned to pay closer attention to her and they have much more interesting & stimulating lives than if they just sat in a cage all the time.  And I’m sure Abby has a deeper understanding of her rats since she’s had to think about what they’re capable of and how to communicate with them.  So cool!

Sorry for the lack of posts!  I’ve been really sick with an awful cough that just won’t go away.  I’m so looking forward to feeling better and bringing you new posts soon.  Hope you & yours are healthy & happy!!

For a refund, call 1-800-645- 5145, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30AM – 5:00PM Eastern Standard Time.

Hy-Vee, Inc. is recalling 2 types of dog food because of elevated levels of Aflatoxin.  Affected products were distributed to Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin between October 26, 2012 and January 11, 2013.

Return product to stores for a refund.

Honest Kitchen is recalling 3 products due to Salmonella contamination from human grade parsley.  Affected products were sold in the US and Canada through stores, mail order, & online after August 2012.  Honest Kitchen is handling their recall better than most companies—they also announced new safeguards to protect pets.

To supplement its quality control processes while maintaining its commitment to gentle processing that protects natural nutrients, The Honest Kitchen is enacting additional procedures:

• All dehydrated leafy greens will be steamed, to further protect against the possibility of Salmonellaand other pathogens;
• All leafy greens will receive a second test for pathogens after arrival at the Company’s manufacturing facility, in addition to the testing conducted internally by suppliers;
• The Company has discontinued its relationship with the supplier who provided the parsley used in the production of the lots being recalled.

Consumers can receive a replacement or full refund of the MSRP of the affected products plus $1 to cover postage, by mailing the UPC and lot code along with a completed Reimbursement Form to The Honest Kitchen, 145 14th Street, San Diego, Calif. 92101, Attn: Reimbursements. All refunds will be processed within five business days (plus postage time).

Nature’s Variety is recalling 1 product due to pieces of clear plastic in the product that can be a choking hazard.  The problem has been found and resolved.

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. Or, click here to email them directly.

Nutri-Vet, LLC. is recalling 9 products due to Salmonella contamination.  The affected products were distributed in the US through online sales & retail stores from April 2012 through February 2013 with Best By Dates ranging from April 20, 2014, through October 3, 2014.

Stop feeding these to your pets and return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Nutri-Vet at 1-877-729-8668 Monday thru Friday from 7am to 5pm MDT.

Kaytee Products many treats due to Salmonella contamination.  Affected products were distributed in Canada, China, Guam, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UAE, & the US to:

For more information, call 1-800-Kaytee 1 (800 529-8331) or visit the Kaytee website.

Kasel Associated Industries is recalling a huge number of products due to Salmonella contamination—everything manufactured at its Denver, Colorado facility from April 20, 2012 to September 19, 2012.  They manufacture Boots & Barkley, BIXBI, Nature’s Deli, Colorado Naturals, Petco, and Best Bully Stick.

Consumers who have purchased any listed products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Kasel Associated Industries at (800) 218-4417 Monday thru Friday from 7am to 5pm MDT.