News, Advice and Resources for Thoughtful Pet People
It took 2 days, three flights, a Senator & a Representative, over 50,000 signatures, and Baghdad Pups, but Ratchet, a rescued Iraqi dog, is now in the U.S. Check out the video of his arrival—he’s a sweet, well adjusted dog, considering all he’s gone through.
The Chicken-Basted Rawhide Chips for Dogs are being recalled due to possible salmonella contamination. The lots affected are 2lbs. bags of with lot code JC23282 and UPC number 3270096463.
Here is good information on the symptoms & treatment of salmonellosis in dogs & cats. The FDA has information on how to safely handle salmonella contaminated pet food. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has a very informative page on salmonellosis in humans.
You can find out more about previous pet food recalls in the Pet Food Recall Archive.
(Cue zombie sound effects.) In a positive move to protect the safety of out pet’s food, the FDA is banning cow brains and spinal cords from pet food. These are the parts of the cow most likely to carry the prions that cause mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.
So far, dogs appear to be immune to prion caused diseases, however, cats are at risk and can contract feline spongiform encephalopathy. The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine has a good article on our pets and spongiform encephalopathy.
Ratchet, a stray puppy found on a burning pile of trash, was lucky enough to be rescued by Army Spc. Gwen Beberg. She took care of him and he took care of her. With the help of Baghdad Pups, she arranged to have him flown to the U.S. to live with her parents until she returns. At the last moment, the Army seized Ratchet and his future looked grim. But, now the Army has changed it’s mind and seemingly stepped back from the issue. Maj. Daniel Elliott, a spokesman for U.S. forces, said:
Ratchet is a wild dog indigenous to Iraq. A stray, befriended by a soldier. As such, we do not control him, nor can we ‘order’ him not to leave” the base.
It looks like Ratchet will be heading to his new home soon. Army Spc. Beberg may be paying a price for her efforts to save Ratchet. She is apparently facing demotion.
Don’t miss the video.
I was a Girl Scout and I took their motto, “Be prepared”, to heart. I am so prepared and you can be too. The First Aid Companion For Dogs & Cats will help. Our pets never seem to have health problems while our vet is open. It’s always late on a Saturday night or on a holiday. This book is so handy at those times for letting me know if we need to seek immediate care or if a visit to the vet can wait or is even necessary.
The book was written by Amy D. Shojai with input from over 80 veterinarians. It has good illustrations instead of photos, which I like because photos of horrible wounds can keep some people from using a book. The injuries and conditions are presented in alphabetical order, which makes it easy to find information even if you’re panicking. There’s also an index if that works better for you.
One of the things that separates this book from others I’ve seen are the thoughtful sections at the beginning. You should read this part of the book before an emergency happens.
All of that great information doesn’t even include the bulk of the book, which covers injuries and conditions. Each section begins with when and if you should call your vet. For instance, in the section on bloat, you are advised to call you vet immediately. Next is a list of supplies you will need, including things like a blanket and karo syrup or honey to combat shock, liquid Mylanta, rectal thermometer, etc. The section covers what steps to take immediately, what treatment a vet will likely give, follow-up care, ways to prevent the condition, and the “Best Approach” to deal with the problem in the first place or if it happens again. All the information is presented clearly and in a way that’s easy to access. We like this book!
