FDA Issues Warning For Chicken Jerky

December 22, 2008January 20, 2009

FDA Issues Warning For Chicken Jerky

chickenjerky

The FDA has issued a warning about the possible danger of feeding pets chicken jerky from China. This follows Australia recalling Chinese chicken jerky. Australia recalled KraMar Supa Naturals Chicken Breast Strips after it was link to dogs falling ill. If this issue with chicken jerky sounds familiar, it’s because this is a repeat of the same problem a year ago.

The FDA warns that feeding your dog chicken jerky from China may result in illness and sometimes death. Signs of illness include:

decreased appetite
decreased activity
vomiting
diarrhea (sometimes with blood)
increased water consumption
increased urination

If your dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding them chicken jerky. If any of the symptoms above are severe or last more than 24 hours, get your dog to a vet immediately to check for kidney failure and Fanconi syndrome. Scientists don’t yet know what is causing transient Fanconi syndrome in affected dogs.

Fanconi syndrome is more commonly seen as a genetic disease found in Basenjis affecting the kidneys. The cases of Fanconi syndrome linked to jerky treats are acquired not inherited.

December 20, 2008

DIY: Holiday Round-Up Of Gift Ideas

Here’s the collection of DIY projects I’ve written about recently that would make good, inexpensive presents this year when money is tight for so many.

PetProject hopes all of you are enjoying the season, that you & yours are healthy & happy, and that the coming year is filled with joy.

On with the projects!

Cat Toys:

Dog Toys:

Pet Beds:

Nest Bed
Bed From A Sweater (including my version)
Bed From A Suitcase
Knitted & Felted Bed
Hooded Pet Bed

Dog Sweater:

Small, No-Sew Sweater From A Sock

December 18, 2008

Friday Fun: Bailey The Unknown Reindeer

It’s snowing here at PetProject, so this seems like a good Friday Fun video for today. This is awesome video of Bailey the Dalmation bounding through the snow! Our dog Saffron apparently got her fill of cold & snow as a stray on the Yakima Reservation. She prefers snuggling on the couch.

December 16, 2008December 3, 2011

DIY: 2 Braided Tug Toy For Dogs

Today, I’ve got a super simple DIY dog toy for you and it’s thrifty too. Yea! Braided tug toys are pretty durable since there are no seams to rip and no stuffing to come out. These two versions are even washable.

Fleece:

The first braided toy uses fleece. If you’ve got pieces long enough, you can use scraps. Otherwise, the tutorial this tutorial calls for 3 1/4 yards of fleece. Check the remnants table at your fabric store and keep an eye out for sales. If you want a wider braid, try four strands. Just follow these instructions on four strand braids(scroll down).

Pant Legs:

The second braided toy uses pant legs from old pairs of pants. You’ll need two pairs of pants. I think a large binder clip might be handy for when you’re hand sewing each end. An alternate way to finish the ends, might be to tie them off with twine by wrapping the ends a several times and knotting the twine. Easy and cheap!

December 15, 2008October 17, 2011

DIY: 2 Tutorials To Knit & Felt A Pet Bed

Here are two different tutorials for knitting a pet bed for a cat or small dog. I suppose if you know how to alter patterns, you could knit a big bed for a large dog too. I just love that people take the time to make these tutorials and are happy to share their patterns. Very generous!

The KittyPi bed is knitted and then felted. This makes a great, durable bed that’s shaped like a flat-bottomed bowl. The felting gives it some structure, but it’s still soft and comfy. Love it! Don’t miss the two page gallery of beds people have made—lots of inspiration. The pattern is from Wendy at WendyKnits and since she’s generously shared this pattern, I want to let you know she has written two books—Wendy Knits: My Never-Ending Adventures In Yarn and Socks From The Toe Up.

The Dotty Cat Bed pattern is another lovely knitted and felted pet bed. (via craftzine) It has a wonderful polka dot pattern and it too makes a flat-bottomed bowl when it’s felted. Those dots are a nice touch. You can see what the bed looks like before felting. This great pattern is from Kelly over at Kelp!Knits. You can see some of her gorgeous sock patterns too—Interlocking Leaves, Oak Leaf, & Hanging Vines.

You’ll need to use a natural fiber yarn to get it to felt. Here are a few tutorials on felting, in case you need them: this one covers both hand & machine felting, here is a printable one on machine felting, and another on hand felting.