How To Be A Good Vet Client

vetcaduceusxoJane has practical advice on how to How Not To Be A Dick At The Vet Hospital.  Both of Claire Lower’s parents are vets and she’s heard lots of stories about difficult owners.  Her father says, “Not all pet owners are crazy, but all crazy people have pets.”  Your pets will be better off if you’re not one of those crazy people!

Claire’s mom has also written a piece on her own blog on being a good vet client.  I was really struck by this piece of advice:

Be upfront with the doctor.  If you only have $250 to spend let them know.   The worst feeling is running blood tests and X-rays then finding out there is no more money to treat the pet.  I have a saying.. “X-rays are not therapeutic”

Don’t let your embarrassment hurt your pet.  Speak up and tell your vet what’s going on.  Your pets are counting on you!

DIY: Jack-O-Lantern Designs—Cats, Rabbits, Dogs, Ferrets, Rats, Mice, Fish & Reptiles

I’m a big dork about Halloween.  I really love it!  Here’s a repost of a big collections of patterns you can use to make a jack-o-lantern for almost any pet.

I love carving something different each year on our pumpkins and, though I’m very fond of cats, I thought other pets should be represented too.  Here are a variety of patterns for a bunch of different animals that should make some pretty nifty jack-o-lanterns.  And, yes there are more cats.  Just click on an image for a larger version to print or download.

And don’t miss these cat stencils and these dog breed stencils. Or you can make a stencil from your own photos of your pets.

Have a fun Halloween and keep your furred & feathered friends safe!

Cats

 

Rabbit

 

Dogs

Ferret

 

Rats

Mice

 

Birds

 

Fish

 

Reptile

Pet Food Recall: AquaMax, LabDiet & Mazuri

   

This is a big recall—over 110 varieties of food from AquaMax, LabDiet, & Mazurie.  Boo!  Many of the varieties included won’t affect you, unless you literally have a zoo.  But, buried in there are foods for fish, birds, guinea pigs, mice, reptiles, etc.  I don’t want to list just the foods I think might affect you, in case there is one for exotic pets that I’m not as familiar with.  So take a good look at the list!

The recall is due to elevated vitamin D levels which can harm or even kill animals and fish if fed for extended periods. Signs your pet has been effected are lack of interest in eating, weight loss and joint stiffness.

Please note this food was widely distributed.

  • U.S. nationwide
  • Bahamas
  • Cambodia
  • Canada
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile
  • China
  • Curaçao
  • Guam
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • Puerto Rico
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Taiwan
  • United Kingdom

Pet Food Recall: Dog, Bird, Mouse, Rat, Hamster, & Poultry

We’ve got a bunch of pet food recalls going on—several due to possible salmonella contamination, two because of dangerously high levels of Vitamin D, and another due to incorrect packaging.

First up we have an expanded recall of Diamond dog foods due to potential Salmonella contamination.  (If you have questions or want replacement product or a refund, contact Diamond Pet Foods at 800-442-0402, 8 am – 6 pm EST, Monday through Friday or check out their site www.diamondpetrecall.com.)

1. Diamond Puppy Food (dry dog food)

 Size  Product Code   Best-By Date   
 40lb  DPP0401B22XJW  6-Apr-2013
 40lb  DPP0401A21XAW  6-Apr-2013
 40lb  DPP0101C31XME  11-Jan-2013
 40lb  DPP0401B21XDJ  7-Apr-2013
 20lb  DPP0401B22XJW  6-Apr-2013
 20lb  DPP0101C31XME  11-Jan-2013
 20lb  DPP0101C31XRB  11-Jan-2013
 8lb  DPP0401B2XALW  7-Apr-2013
 6oz (sample)  DPP0401

 

2. Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice

Size Product Code Best-By Date
 6lb  DLR0101D3XALW  04 Jan 2013
 20lb  DLR0101C31XAG  03 Jan 2013
 40lb  DLR0101C31XMF  03 Jan 2013
 40lb  DLR0101C31XAG  03 Jan 2013
 40lb  DLR0101D32XMS  04 Jan 2013

 

3. Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula (dry dog food)

Size Product Code Best-By Day
 35lb  CLF0102B31XCW  27/JAN/2013
 35lb  CLF0102B31XCW  28/JAN/2013
 35lb  CLF0102B32XWR  28/JAN/2013
 6lb  CLF0102B3XALW  28/JAN/2013

 ______________________________________________

Kaytee is recalling 2 types of baby bird food due to dangerously high levels of Vitamin D which can cause kidney failure.  Signs of hypervitamintosis D in birds include:

  • Lethargy
  • Anorexia
  • Crop stasis
  • Vomiting
  • Dehydration
  • Polyuria
  • Polydipsia
  • Stunting or delayed development

For important information on tests and treatment read Kaytee’s hypervitamintosis D information page for you and your veterinarian.  (Call Kaytee at 1-800 Kaytee-1 (800 529-8331) or email kayteehandfeedingbabybirdrecall@central.com for information on a refund.)

1. Kaytee exact Hand Feeding Formula Baby Bird 

Size Product Code Lot/Serial # UPC Code Best-By Date
 6/7.5 oz  100032326  A1  07185947510  21 Mar 2013
20 Apr 2013
 6/18 oz  100032328  A2  07185947511  9 Mar 2013
19 Apr 2013
 4/5 lb  100032330

 A3  07185947512  14 Mar 2013
30 Mar 2013
16 May 2013
 4/5 lb  100034332  A3 (Petco)  07185947512 30 March 2013
 1/22 lb  100032336  A4  07185947518  21 Mar 2013
13 Apr 2013
16 May 2013

 

2. Kaytee exact Hand Feeding Formula Baby Macaw 

Size Product Code Lot/Serial # UPC Code Best-By Date
 4/5 lb  100032337  B1  07185947515  1 Mar 2013
14 Mar 2013
19 Apr 2013

 ______________________________________________

Kaytee is also recalling a mouse, rat, & hamster food due to potential salmonella contamination.  This food was widely distributed around the world—states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin; and, into the countries of Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, Dutch Antilles, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guam, Honduras, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, and Trinidad.   (Call 1-800-Kaytee1 (800 529-8331) phone number or Kaytee.com for questions regarding pets that have been fed the product.  For a refund, fill out this form on the Kaytee site.)

1. Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Mouse, Rat and Hamster

Size Material # UPC Code Best Before Code
 6/5 lb  100502315  71859 00001  03-Apr-2013 K61
 25 lb  100502086  71859 99995  31-Mar-2013
 6/3 lb  100502085  71859 99994  31-Mar-2013 K63
 25 lb  100502275 (Petco only)  71859 00000  30-Mar-2013

______________________________________________

And finally, DuMOR produced for the Tractor Supply Company is recalling a poultry feed due to incorrect packaging.  This one can be confusing if you look at the FDA site, so here it is in a nutshell.  Some packages of DuMOR Poultry Grower/Finisher (which is for chicks) actually contain DuMOR Poultry Layer 16% Crumbles (which is for egg layers).  The adult food can be harmful to chicks.  (For more information contact your Tractor Supply Company location, or Feed Solutions Customer Service at 615-315-4092 or 615-315-4090 (Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM CDT).

1. DuMOR Poultry Grower/Finisher

Item # Formula # Lot #
 0046445  60Y9  2MAR15OKC1