Pet Teeth and Dental Care

Dr. Jane Bicks explains how your pet's teeth and dental health is so important.
  

Dental Disease Can Be Painful, Even Deadly
I'm sure all of you know that dental disease causes "doggie breath", but you may not be aware that chronic inflammation can cause pain, lead to infections, and serves as a precursor to much more serious issues. For instance, severe periodontal disease is significantly correlated with increased risk of heart disease, such as infected heart valves (Glickman et al., 2009). Chronically inflamed and infected gums also increase the risk for kidney disease, limiting the amount of toxins they can purify from the blood (Glickman et al., 2011). I'd ask that you keep in mind that inflamed and infected gums are just as painful for dogs as they are for humans, potentially lowering your companion animal's quality of life. The bottom line is, a healthier mouth makes for a happier dog!

Please visit the March 2012 newsletter to read more!

Ticks

 "Courtesy of Life's Abundance"
Dr. Sarah, Life's Abundance staff Veterinarian does an excellent job of explaining all about ticks, preventing them and some home remedies that do not work.

Feline Digestive Disorders

From the Life's Abundance Pet Newsletter for February, 2012
Dr Jane Bicks shares about feline digestive disorders:

"Second only to upper-respiratory illness, digestive disorders are the chief reason for feline veterinary visits. Cats with digestive problems exhibit symptoms ranging from vomiting and diarrhea, to weight loss, constipation and excessive gas. While the causes are many, feline IBS and IBD are two common digestive disorders. On many occasions, they are mistaken for one another, which is unfortunate because they call for very different treatments. In this post, we'll cover the basics and try to clear up the confusion surrounding these disorders." Please click here to read the entire article

Lymph Nodes in Your Dog/Cat

 "Courtesy of Life's Abundance"
From the February 2012 Life's Abundance Pet Newsletter, Dr. Sarah demonstrates where your pets' lymph nodes are and what size they should be and so much more.

Do you check your dog or cat's lymph nodes?

Life's Abundance Dog -- Best of Breed at Westminster

 Best of Breed at Westminster is a Life's Abundance Dog!

The Life's Abundance office shared with all the reps that the prized Mastiff, Seamus (full name, Beowulfs Bit O'Blarney) beat out 18 other Mastiffs to take a coveted Best of Breed prize at Westminster!

We couldn't help but share big smiles as he grandly galloped around the show ring at Madison Square Garden … after all, he’s a Life’s Abundance dog! Susann Everett is his proud breeder and Traci A McKeown-Weaver is his thrilled pet parent.

Both Traci and Susann are Life's Abundance Field Reps - In addition to running her Life’s Abundance business, Susann operates Beowulf Mastiffs Global, a nurturing breeding business.

Congratulations!

Canine Vestibular Disease or CVD

 "Courtesy of Life's Abundance"
From the January 2012 Life's Abundance Pet Newsletter:
Dr. Sarah, Staff Veterinarian with Life's Abundance goes over Canine Vestibular Disease or CVD:

This video discusses what to look for as well as symptoms.  My Golden Retriever had experienced this and Dr. Sarah is correct when she explains the absolute panic that can set in when viewing your canine having an episode.

She discussed what to look for, how it can be treated and how it feels to your dog experiencing this.

"Courtesy of Life's Abundance" Click Here or below to watch the video!

Also! Read an awesome article from Dr. Jane in this month newsletter about "Home Design with Your Pets in Mind", Click here

Canine Massage

From the Life's Abundance Pet Newsletter for December.
Right now during the holidays we may feel stress as well as our pets. So I believe this might relax you as well as your dog.

Dr. Sarah, Staff Veterinarian goes over the popular practice of canine massage.
She gives invaluable information and discusses so many great points and ideas!

 - Making the environment stress free for you and you canine.
 - Clearing out anything that may be a stimuli. 

 - How much pressure should be used.

and so much more! Thank you Dr. Sarah !

"Courtesy of Life's Abundance"
Click Here or watch below!

RECALL: Dog Food

The FDA page for this recall can be found by clicking below:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm282753.htm

"Cargill Animal Nutrition Recalls River Run and Marksman Dry Dog Food"


Contact:
Consumer:
855-460-1532

Media:
Tim Loesch
952-742-6910

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 6, 2011 - Cargill Animal Nutrition today announced a voluntary recall of two regional brands of its dry dog food – River Run and Marksman – due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit. The affected products were manufactured at Cargill’s Lecompte, Louisiana, facility between Dec. 1, 2010, and Dec. 1, 2011. No illnesses have been reported in association with these products to date, and no other Cargill Animal Nutrition pet food products are involved in this recall. Affected products are:

• PROFESSIONAL FORMULA RIVER RUN HI-NRG 24-20 Dog Food, 50 pound bags
• RIVER RUN PROFESSIONAL FORMULA 27-18 Dog Food, 50 pound bags
• RIVER RUN 21% Protein Dog Food, 40 and 50 pound bags
• RIVER RUN Hi-Pro No-Soy Dog Food, 40 and 50 pound bags
• MARKSMAN DOG FOOD 24% Protein 20% Fat, 40 pound bags
• MARKSMAN DOG FOOD 20% Protein 10% Fat, 40 and 50 pound bags
• MARKSMAN DOG FOOD 28% Protein 18% Fat, 40 pound bags

The recall only applies to the above products with the following Packaging Date Codes (lot numbers): 4K0335 through 4K0365, LL0335 through LL0365, 4K1001 through 4K1335 and LL1001 through LL1335.

The affected dry dog food products were distributed in the following 15 states/territories – Kansas, Missouri, Northeast Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, Southern Illinois, Hawaii, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and limited areas of Florida and California. Retailers have already been instructed to remove the affected brands and products from store shelves.

While no adverse health effects related to these products have been reported, Cargill is implementing this recall as a precautionary measure. Consumers are urged to return affected products – whether in opened or unopened packages — to their place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, including photos of products involved, consumers can go to www.cargill.com/feed/dog-food-recall or call toll free 855-460-1532.

Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mold by-product. Pets that have consumed any of the above recalled products and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian.

About Cargill

Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 138,000 people in 63 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For more information, visit Cargill.com and its news center."
_______________________________________________________

Please click here to view the recall we posted to Facebook yesterday regarding another pet food recall



_________________________________________


Life's Abundance dog food has never been a part of any recall

Life's Abundance Pet Newsletter

We are pleased to share with you the Life's Abundance Pet Newsletter (click) for November 2011:

Dr. Sarah has a great video discussing dog park guidelines.
Some great points that you would think everyone should know.

Dr. Jane has a great article on your children wanting a pet but possible allergies.
She discusses great ideas and tips on how to handle this situation.

Please enjoy the newsletter!

Can dogs read your expressions?

Staff Veterinarian Dr. Sarah: Can your dog read your facial expressions?

This video is great information on how your dog can read not only your emotions
but your facial expressions as well.
  "Courtesy of Life's Abundance"

FDA Warns of possible danger with Vet Jet

FDA Warns of Possible Danger with Animal Vaccine Device
The FDA web page is below
Click here for the FDA web page

September 2, 2011

"The Food and Drug Administration is warning veterinarians and pet owners, particularly cat owners, of the possible risk of fractures with the Vet Jet™ transdermal vaccination system device. The device, made by Bioject, Inc., is sold exclusively as the delivery system for the Merial product, PUREVAX® Recombinant Feline Leukemia Vaccine. The device delivers the leukemia vaccine through the skin to cats."

"FDA is aware of three recent adverse event reports involving the use of the Vet Jet™ device in kittens. In two of the cases, the user failed or may have failed to properly lock the nozzle into the device before using it. The nozzle subsequently dislodged at the time of vaccination, causing a fracture of the femur (the thigh bone).

Merial is fully investigating the three cases. The company is also revising the “Instructions for Use” for the Vet Jet™ device to stress that users need to securely lock the nozzle into the device. In addition, Merial is sending a letter to all Vet Jet™ device users urging them to carefully follow the nozzle locking procedure."

FDA asks veterinarians and pet owners who want to report problems with the Vet Jet™ device to first contact Merial. They can also report problems to FDA by submitting FORM FDA 1932a.

Canine Socialization

 "Courtesy of Life's Abundance"
Does your dog need socialization? Dr. Sarah goes over stages of a puppy and the best time to teach and socialize.

Recall; Merrick Doggie Wishbone

The FDA page for this recall is below

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm267247.htm

"MERRICK PET CARE RECALLS
Doggie Wishbone (ITEM # 29050, Lot 11031 Best By 30 Jan 2013)
BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE SALMONELLA HEALTH RISK"



Contact:
Customer Inquiries:
(800) 664-7387

Other Inquiries:
James Witcher, COO (806) 322-2806


"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 8, 2011 - Merrick Pet Care, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas is recalling a single lot of its Doggie Wishbone pet treat (ITEM # 29050, UPC # 2280829050, Lot 11031 Best By 30 Jan 2013) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Merrick Pet Care has made the decision to recall the Doggie Wishbone pet treats in the abundance of caution. 248 cases of this lot were manufactured and shipped to distributors in 10 states. Those distributors have been notified. Only one lot of Doggie Wishbone is affected by this recall. No additional Merrick Pet Care products are involved in this recall. No other Merrick brand products are involved.

Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling the treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers immediately.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

The Doggie Wishbone was shipped to distributors and retailers throughout the US. These individuals have been notified and have activated their recall procedures.

No illnesses have been reported to date and there have been no consumer complaints for this product. This issue was identified through routine sampling by the Food and Drug Administration.

At Merrick Pet Care, the safety and efficacy of our products are our top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience due to this recall. Consumers who have purchased the Doggie Wishbone with the lot code 11031 are urged to return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-664-7387 M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm CST."