Here we go again… Diamond is involved in another recall.
Here is the report I just got from the FDA:
04/10/2012 12:30 PM EDTDiamond Pet Foods is voluntarily recalling Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice. This is being done as a precautionary measure, as the product has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses have been reported and no other Diamond manufactured products are affected.Here is the complete information from the FDA site:
Diamond Pet Foods Recalls Some Bags of Dog Food
Posted on April 10th, 2012 by adminWatch Tip: Products Not Tested on Animals
Posted on January 15th, 2012 by Anna Nirva
Be a compassionate shopper; this is a New Year’s resolution you can keep. Purchase products for your home and personal care (including cosmetics) that are not tested on animals, so that you do not support animal testing laboratories and the companies that contract them. Proven alternatives to animal testing are available, especially for consumer products. Test-free consumer products are widely available now and many are no more expensive. Read labels; look for the words “not tested on animals.” If you don’t see those words, assume that the product is tested on animals.
Shoppers, start here, if you don’t find compassionate products locally:
- Leaping Bunny portal access to companies that are cruelty-free
- PETA’s Caring Consumer Program list of cruelty free-companies (PDF)
- “In Defense of Animals” Cruelty-free Companies (International) Listing
None of these lists is all-inclusive. Each has different participation criteria. A company may choose not to sign the required statements or agreements required to participate in a listing.
What is animal testing?
Personal care products, cosmetics, and household cleaning products are tested on animals in laboratories, but USA laws do not require it. Large consumer product manufacturers typically contract with animal testing laboratories. Rats, mice, rabbits, dogs, cats, monkeys, and other animals are kept in small cages and kennels throughout their short lifetimes. They are forced to swallow or inhale test substances, and in one common test, up to 50% of them are expected to die. Caustic chemicals are applied to sensitive eyes (or applied to fur and skin). (Medical testing is a related subject not addressed here but very serious concerns exist.)
Yet test results are often unreliable, inconclusive or inapplicable to humans, many believe. The tested products are often included in consumer products, even if test results indicate some level of toxicity. If you are concerned about household or personal care products being safe for your family, you should also the question that animal testing used to justify that professed safety. And for animal lovers who believe animals suffer pain and deserve compassionate treatment, you should boycott products and companies that do not align with your values.
More information about testing:
- LA Times article about recent advances in animal testing
- About.com Environmental Issues: Animal Testing
- Wikipedia: Animal Testing
- Wikipedia: Alternatives to Animal Testing
Be aware that some types of products, including pharmaceuticals and some chemicals, require animal testing by law.
Five Simple Things You Can Do to be Compassionate to Animals
Watch Tip: DEET is Poison for Dogs & Cats
Posted on July 17th, 2011 by Anna NirvaTip for week of July 17:
Important: NEVER apply human bug repellents to your dogs or cats, especially those with DEET (Off®, Cutters®, Repel®, etc.). If a product label does not specifically state it is safe for use on a dog or cat, assume that it is toxic for either type of pet. Purchase and use products made specifically for dogs on dogs and for cats on cats. Teach your children and grandchildren about the dangers too.
Yes, they are family, but they are not human
Loving pet parents could find themselves in vet clinics, praying desperately for a miracle, because they naively sprayed a human insect repellent on their pet—or perhaps their uninformed child did it. Without thinking about the power of chemicals and the differences between our species, they created a tragedy.Veterinarians can tell many stories about the dogs and cats they have treated for DEET toxicity. This danger is widely known.
If your dog or cat that was sprayed or wiped with a DEET product and is showing symptoms such as skin irritation or burn, vomiting, tremors, staggering gait, seizures, you must immediately rush your pet to the vet for intensive care.
I understand very well how it can happen. Years ago I nearly killed my favorite tree in our yard, a young red oak tree, with Cutters spray. It was being attacked by large buzzing June bugs and I lost patience one evening. Without thinking, I angrily grabbed the first can of insect repellent I found and sprayed the tree thoroughly, hoping to kill the bugs. I felt immediate satisfaction about having taken action, but my heart dropped the next day when all the leaves fell off the poor tree. Thankfully the tree recovered and grew a new set of leaves before the summer ended. If the bugs had been chewing on my dog or cat, I shudder to think of what I might have done. That was one powerful chemistry lesson.
Protecting your pet from insects and the diseases insects carry is very important. If you haven’t already, resolve to visit a pet retailer soon to purchase specific repellents for your pets so you are prepared for your next outing. (Again, remember to use only dog products on dogs and cat repellents on cats.) There are many natural formulations available now. Also you can easily find recipes for home-made repellents online that just might work very well for your four-legged family.
Remember too that topical spot-on products purchased from your veterinarian and properly used may provide the protection your pet needs. Be aware that some sensitive dogs and cats won’t tolerate these products, so watch them carefully for 24 hours after applications. Also, near the end of the monthly use cycle, the products might lose some effectiveness in some environments.
Pro-Pet Adult Daily Vitamin Supplement Recalled Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
Posted on June 23rd, 2010 by admin
The FDA just announced a new recall on Pro-Pet Adult Vitamins. Here’s the body of the announcement:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –- June 22, 2010 – United Pet Group, Cincinnati, Ohio is voluntarily recalling all unexpired lots of its PRO-PET ADULT DAILY VITAMIN Supplement tablets for Dogs due to possible Salmonella contamination. The Food and Drug Administration is aware of this recall.
The product was sold nationally at various retailers. The product comes in 100-count white plastic bottles with a light blue label, and UPC code 26851-01800. These products are being removed from retail stores and consumers should immediately stop feeding these supplements to their pets. The affected products are those with expiration dates on or before “06/13”. The expiration date can be found imprinted vertically on the right side of the product label.
Natural Balance Pet Food Recalls Dog Food Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
Posted on June 20th, 2010 by admin
Natural Balance Pet foods has voluntarily recalled their Sweet Potato and Chicken Dry Dog Food due to Salmonella contamination.
Here is more information from the official FDA announcement:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — June 18, 2010 – Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc., of Pacoima, CA, announces a voluntary recall of Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food with the “Best By” date of June 17, 2011, in 5-lb. and 28-lb. bags because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
Product Review — Water-Less Pet Bath Towel
Posted on April 26th, 2010 by admin
Are you looking for a quick, painless way to clean your not-so-dirty dog or cat? Check out the Water-Less Pet Bath Towel! I brought one in today and the dogs are STILL trying to get me to give them another rubdown with it.
If you have a dog who just had a wrestling match with a skunk or took a medicinal mud bath in the back yard, the Water-Less Pet Bath Towel won’t do it for you. But if you’ve got a dog who’s a bit over do for a bath and you want to knock off some of the natural oils and dust, this relatively inexpensive set of two towels can do a nice job.
I tried it out on all three of my pack members and they are CRAZY for it! It must feel pretty good to them because none of them wanted to give up their space in front of me. I can see the Water-Less Pet Bath Towel rub down is going to be a regular event in our house.
Rescue Chocolates Hit the Sweet Spot for Dogs in Need
Posted on February 3rd, 2010 by admin
How’s this for a double-duty Valentine Day present? Really good chocolates with all the profits going to rescue groups to help dogs in need? Very cool! Check out Rescue Chocolate for tasty selections such as Peanut Butter Pit Bull and Pick Me! Pepper. Thevegan, kosher chocolates are made in NY and 100% of the net profits are given to rescue groups.
Just remember that chocolate is poisonous to dogs so no sharing with those furbabies!
Westie Has Bad Reaction to Canine H1N1 Vaccine
Posted on February 3rd, 2010 by admin
If you’re thinking about having your dog vaccinated against the newly emerged canine H1N1 you might want to read the following letter I just got from one of my neighbors here in St. Louis. The letter is from her sister-in-law. I asked my neighbor Heather to validate it and she quickly okayed its publication.
Just FIY:
Yesterday we went to the vet for Annie’s annual vet appt. The vet told me that she was a perfectly healthy 10 1/2 year old Westie, and he couldn’t believe how “young” she still seemed. She received her normal bloodwork and vaccines, then I was told that this new canine virus was going around and that there is a new vaccine was 100% effective in lowering the severity of this virus H3N8. It is initially a 2 shot procedure followed by a booster once a year. I had no reason to question it, so we went ahead and got this vaccine. After we were home for an hour, Annie started limping, then she became lethargic, she stiffened up, wouldn’t eat or even take a bone (which she LOVES). She stared off into space and started breathing really quickly. I was so scared that I took her back to the vet a few hours later, he examined her and said he thought she was just in pain from her vaccines. She has had 10 years of vaccines and has never acted THIS way afterwards.
Her behavior worsened when we got home, so I went on line only to find out that this vaccine is BRAND NEW…has only become available in US since 8/09.The drug company, Schering-Plough says it had been tested on 700 dogs with no side effects. So I guess, we were the 701st dog! The Government approval certificate is “conditional” b/c they seem to be waiting to see what will happen to these dogs. This vaccine is completely optional, and I was just trying to do what I thought was best for Annie. If I knew this, I would have never tried such an “experimental” drug.
We were up with her all night and were ready to take her to the emergency vet if her breathing got any worse. Finally, at about 2am her breathing slowed down and she was able to fall asleep. By morning she seems to be back to normal, no limping, and took her bone. I will not take her back for her follow up shot next week, and I recommend to all of you, do NOT to put your dog through this. I will contact the drug company about this, but I’m not sure it will make a difference, so I wanted to tell all the dog lovers in my life! I really thought we were going to lose Annie last night.
Jacki
Are You Ready for Tweets from Your Dog? Not me!
Posted on February 1st, 2010 by adminMike Sachoff over at WebProNews reports that Mattel is coming out with a device to go on dog collars to let them tweet. I am so not ready for this!
I don’t read human tweets. I’m not ready to read doggie tweets. How many times can I read Sol’s tweets that he wants more chicken or Beatrice’s tweets complaining that Star is a wiggle butt. I’m all for listening to dogs but reading their tweeted interpretations may be a bit beyond me. If dogs want to go online tell them to write full blogs like Bo!
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