Results arrived this week revealing toxic zinc levels in an unopened bag of Nutro Max Cat Adult Roasted Chicken Flavor food. The Nutro cat food bag stated it was best if used by June 7, 2010. The zinc levels were deadly coming in at 2100 parts per million. A cat eating this food would receive over 38 times the amount of zinc recommended by the National Research Council, or 175 mg of zinc a day. A 9 pound cat would ingest a lethal dose of this food in just over 2 days. Chances of any cat surviving after eating this food would be very unlikely. Signs of Zinc toxicity are similar to those of pancreatitis with severe episodes of vomiting and diarrhea. If the cats survived long enough liver and kidney damage could be possible consequences as well.

The receipt for the purchase of this food showed that it was purchased 1 day AFTER the Nutro Cat Food recall was announced. Apparently Nutro had not yet informed the retail store of the problem. Nutro didn’t seem to be overly concerned. Pfpsa.org is glad to work with clients and law firm’s interested in pursuing a class action against Nutro Pet Products.

Most of us remember the deadly pet food recalls of 2007. What few people realize, is that AAFCO aggressively lobbied for allowing non-protein nitrogen in pet food and was able to slip this allowance past numerous state legislatures, including Washington State. By AAFCO standards, melamine and cyanuric acid in pet food was nothing more than a labeling violation. AAFCO sees nothing wrong with including those substances in pet food at up to 1.25%. Using cyanuric acid, for example, by AAFCO standards, would allow 5,875 ppm cyanuric acid content in pet food, provided the label included a decidedly deceptive disclaimer of “This includes not more than 1.25% equivalent crude protein, which is not nutritionally available as protein”. What is the real value of the pet food safety guidelines offered by AAFCO? If pet owners purchase pet foods and products that comply with AFFCO guidelines, how would they impact the health of their pets? In one study, as little as 30 mg/kg day of cyanuric acid destroyed the kidneys of lab animals in just six months.

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Hi Dr. Carol,

I know I have told you many times, but your pet anti-aging-wellness products are absolutely the best. It’s not just one product, I mean ALL of your products. I honestly wouldn’t know what I do without you and your wonderful dog and cat products! Our pets depend on you.

My husband loves your digestive enzymes for cats.

It seems to settle (Joe the Himalayan) stomach, our vet has seen major improvements that she made a notation on his chart and herself because she wants to inform her other patients to try your enzymes.

As for the new paaws cat vitamin product, I can’t wait to get it! I will definitely let you know what they think. Thanks again for everything Dr. Carol.

I wanted to share this story with all of our pet lovers: Karena, a client of mine put my “Naturally Healthy Dogs” book to good use last week. Her dog Danzig had severe diarrhea. Karena read the section on home remedy’s and decided to use chicken broth to help with hydration. She added sweet potatoes and broccoli and her dog loved it because the soup was sweet tasting. The soup did it’s job and Danzig was cleared up in less than 12 hours.

Karena wanted to know if the sweet potatoes and broccoli were okay and whether they were better raw or steamed. Whichever, your dog prefers is fine. These and other other veggies–carrots, broccoli, etc. are excellent.

Karena also wanted to know when my new cat VitaLife vitamin supplement formula would be ready. My new cat AM/PM advanced health complex formula will be a great tasting powdered supplement owners just sprinkle onto the food in the morning and evening. I should be receiving it soon and I’ll let everybody know when it is ready to ship.

Your Best Friend’s Best Friend,
Dr. Carol

Although pets have yet to be been reported ill, several people have become ill and the numbers are rising. To date, 485 people were sickened and six have died after eating the tainted peanut butter products.

As the FDA continues its investigation of tainted peanut butter and paste made products at the Blakely, Georgia facility of Peanut Corporation of American, seven lines of pet food products have been added to the recall list. These products are to be avoided as they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria, which are highly contagious and transmissible between owners, tainted pet food, pet treats and pets.

In addition, recalls have been issued by several companies that received peanut butter or peanut paste from the Georgia facility. A searchable database of all pet food products involved in this recall can be found at the FDA link at the end of this article.

PetSmart says it has voluntarily removed the Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits because of the potential risks. PetSmart officials are in contact with all the company’s vendors to see if any other pet products they carry contain the affected peanut paste. The Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits affected by the voluntary recall were made after Aug. 21, 2008.

The FDA will continue to update the list of recalled products as quickly as new information becomes available. Pet owners should practice good hygiene and carefully wash their hands with hot water and soap before and after handling pet foods and treats. It is also wise to wash your pet’s food and water bowls daily.

Salmonella bacterial infections in pets usually cause lethargy, diarrhea with or without blood, fever and vomiting. Some pets may lost their appetite and experience a fever along with abdominal pain. If your pet shows any of these signs or has ingested any recalled product, contact your veterinarian. Pets can also be “healthy” carriers and show no signs themselves but transmit the disease to other pets and people.

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The economy is in bad shape and may be for years. Whether it’s the stock market falling or crazy bail outs, saving money in tough economic times is a challenge. Pet owners also feel the stress of trying to make ends meet and many may be tempted to take shortcuts with their pet’s health care. So, when and where can pet owners cut back on their dog and cat costs?

Studies have repeatedly shown that a large majority of pet owners consider their pets as a family member. We spoil them with birthday parties, presents, and all manner of toys and treats to keep them happy. But, when money is tight, extra expenses need to go. Sadly, some pet owners choose to avoid veterinary visits as one means to save money. And believe it or not, others might give up their pets completely.
Knowing what you can safely do at home to lower your pet’s health care costs is a good way to insure a healthy pet and a healthy wallet. You should also know what to avoid!!

First, don’t skimp on wellness or preventive care. Vaccinations and parasite prevention are important parts of maintaining your pet’s health and yours as well. Diseases like Rabies and Leptospirosis are Zoonotic, meaning they can be spread between animals and people. Similarly, intestinal parasites or even fleas and ticks, are capable of transmitting serious diseases to our families.

Some owners might choose to buy vaccines online or from a pet store. While this idea sounds like a cost-saving measure, there are many risks. It is easy enough to learn how to give a shot, but can you trust that the supplier properly stored the vaccines? Vaccines are delicate biological suspensions and require constant refrigeration to be effective. Some need proper mixing in order to work correctly. Improper preparation could make the whole process worthless.

Choosing a lower cost flea product or a “do-it-yourself” de-wormer at a general merchandise store is another option a pet owner might investigate to save money. Sadly, according to the Center for Public Integrity (www.publicintegrity.org), these over-the-counter products are likely responsible for a sharp increase in pet deaths and adverse events in recent years. The EPA has received more than 25,000 reports of over-the-counter pesticide reactions in pets since 2003. So, although you might save a few dollars on the product, the extra trip to the veterinarian will likely cost a lot more!

Pet emergencies shouldn’t be a place for shortcuts either. Many caring owners simply address bite wounds and minor lacerations themselves with topical antibiotics in order to avoid going to the vet when their dog or cat is initially injured. But, a large majority of these animals end up coming into the veterinary hospital with raging infections. It is also important for owners to avoid bandaging their pet’s wounds without first getting a few pointers from their vet. Homemade bandages if applied too tightly act like tourniquets, causing swelling of the limb and serious loss of circulation. Always check with your veterinarian before giving any over the counter human medication to your pet! Many pet poisonings such as those associated with accidental over dosages of Tylenol and Ibuprofen can easily be avoided.

But don’t worry; veterinarian, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM. has a few tips to help owners cut down on their veterinary bills at home.

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The last thing any pet owner wants to do this holiday season is rush to the animal emergency clinic. Since the holidays often pose many unexpected pet health issues, veterinarian and author, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM offers a few tips to help ensure your pets safety this season, so your holiday doesn’t end in disaster.

During the holidays, the majority of pet emergencies are due to pets eating something inappropriate. Certain foods cause upset stomachs, others are poisonous, and some can be life-threatening.

Since about 60% of pet lovers share holiday meals with their 4-footed family friends here are a few basic guidelines to keep in mind.

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The Hartz Mountain Corporation has issued a voluntary recall of its chicken-basted rawhide chips for dogs. The product, according to Hartz is potentially contaminated with Salmonella. The recall is for the two-pound plastic bags of chips with the lot code JC 23282.

Salmonella is a bacteria that is contagious to pets and people causing severe life threatening diarrhea, vomiting and illness. People handling the rawhide chips, especially children, the aged, and those with compromised immune systems aremost at risk for contracting the disease. Healthy people potentially infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for any or all of these signs: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. In certain cases, Salmonella can result in very serious problems, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract disorders. Anyone experiencing these signs after having contact with this product should contact their physician.

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Chagrin Falls, Ohio; October 14, 2008 In many areas of the country, heavy rains and the start of cooling weather brings out a fresh crop of mushrooms. Many mushrooms are potentially toxic and can affect our pets.

Recent storms and downpours have created a surge of sick dogs. Dogs with vomiting, nausea and diarrhea are flooding veterinary offices particularly in the south. The signs are linked to pets that have eaten a fungus found in most yards; namely mushrooms. Some of the dogs get sick and recover but a few have died within 12 hours of injecting the toxic mushrooms.

The recent rains made conditions perfect for an explosive growth of mushrooms. Moist soil is an ideal medium for mushrooms to flourish. Pet owners need to be on the alert. When most owners discover a batch of mushrooms in their yard, their first instinct is usually to pick them up to protect their pets, but that’s not actually the best thing to do.
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Hi Dr. Carol,

This letter is LONG overdue from me and my mom, and we apologize. My dog “Bruiser” and I want to thank you for all your help in getting me back on the road to a healthy life!

Bruiser was diagnosed with Giardia in February 2008 (after many tests for intestinal upset and vomiting and quite a “mess” in our family room). You helped when we could not get the “smell” out of our carpets with your “Elimin Odor“……that spray was a God send, thank you. His specialist vet put him on Metronidazole which helped resolve the loose (to say the least) stools and to rid him of the Giardia parasite.

In the meantime, his Holistic vet had diagnosed Bruiser as being Hypothyroid and put him on Thyroxine and he was on this drug from mid-February through mid-May until I emailed you again being at my wits end with stools that would just NOT FIRM up. I had placed several phone calls to my regular vet, and he had no answers for me. You came through for me yet once again, suggesting I put Bruiser on “Tylan” to cure up the loose stools, which did the trick (for a while).

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Dr. Carol,
We have two black labs Coal & Belle; they are 1 yr and a couple weeks. When they were younger they played with rocks and chewed on them. Then they started swallowing them. When we would catch them chewing on them we would tell them to “drop it” then pick up the rock and tell them “no”. Coal would and still does it the worst.

He throws up and sometimes, out come the rocks that way, and the smaller ones pass through. He loses his appetite for a day or so but gets it back. Yesterday morning I woke up to his vomiting, no rocks, ate breakfast which didn’t stay down. He hasn’t had a bowel movement since yesterday morning; he threw up quite a bit in the morning and a couple of times later on. Now this morning he only vomited once and it was bile because he hasn’t eaten since yesterday. He just lays he won’t eat I even tried to give him his favorite treat he sniffed and turned away from it. I am suspecting a rock has gotten stuck.

He did drink some water awhile ago. I don’t know what to do. I can’t really afford to take him to the vet. I am on a limited income with 2 kids too. I don’t think the vet would let me make payments if it comes to something expensive.
Help, I love my puppies like my own kids. But am lost about what to do, I sit with Coal a rub his belly which and he rolls over like he is saying that feels go keep doing it.
Thank you, Debbie

Hi Debbie,
It sounds like he is either impacted and his intestines are blocked perhaps with the
rocks, or he is constipated as a result of eating the rocks. Bloat is a remote possibility. As a veterinarian for over 25 years, this sounds like an emergency and although this is not what you were hoping to hear, I would take him to your vet today to avoid further problems!!
I am glad to talk to you and offer suggestions.
Thank you,
Dr. Carol