PET FOOD RECALL – Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Beef Nibblets Entrée for Dogs, 1lbs package

Vital Essentials has just sent us an email to inform us that they have initiated a voluntary recall of a limited amount, 73 cases, of Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Beef Nibblets Entrée for Dogs in the 1lbs package. They state “The recall is being issued in an abundance of caution following the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s collection of a retail sample from a single batch which tested positive for Salmonella.  No other Vital Essentials products are included in this recall.  No illnesses in humans or pets have been reported.”

Affected products can be identified by following lot number: “Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Beef Nibblets Entrée for Dogs” with “Lot #13753”.

This voluntary action has not yet been listed on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website – https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/

©24FEB18, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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Podcast – The Old Town Animal Orphanage with Stephanie Fournier

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In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from February 24, 2018, Kate and Don talk with Stephanie Fournier, Vice President of the Board of the Old Town Animal Orphanage. We discuss the Animal Orphanage, its’ mission, how the organization is governed and funded, and the animals in their care. We also talk about the adoption process and how you can help by adopting a pet, volunteering or donating. Two upcoming events where you can help are the 1st Bowl-A-Thon for the Joni Fund on March 10 and a Spaghetti Supper and Silent Auction on March 21st.

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

Contact Info

Location: 71 Airport Rd, Old Town, ME 04468

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 565, Orono, Maine 04473

Phone: (207) 827-8777

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalOrphanageMaine/

Email: info@animal-orphanage.com

 

 

 

©24FEB18, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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Podcast – Pet Dental Care with Dr. Dave Cloutier from Veazie Veterinary Clinic

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In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from February 17th, 2018  Don has a conversation with Dr. Dave Cloutier of the Veazie Veterinary Clinic in which they discuss: how dental disease affects our pets and why we need to be concerned, what a veterinarian does when they perform a dental exam and cleaning, typical dental problems of cats and dogs – they are different, home dental care for dogs and cats, and lastly we discuss specialty dental procedures like root canals. Your pet’s teeth matter so; please take care of them.

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

To Contact Dr. Cloutier

Dr. David Cloutier
Veazie Veterinary Clinic
1522 State Street, Veazie, ME 00401-7014

(207) 941-8840

 https://www.veazievet.com/

https://www.facebook.com/veazievet/

 

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog ( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

 

Health & Wellness – Pet Dental Carehttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/02/06/health-wellness-pet-dental-care/

Product Review – Wysong DentaTreat™http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/02/06/product-review-wysong-dentatreat/

 

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show ( http://www.woofmeowshow.com )

Pet Dental Care with Dr. Katie Carter from River Road Veterinary Hospitalhttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/04/29/pet-health-and-wellness-pet-dental-care-with-dr-katie-carter-from-river-road-veterinary-hospital/

Pet Dental Health with Dr. Mark Hanks from Kindred Spirits Veterinary Clinichttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/02/28/podcast-pet-dental-health-with-dr-mark-hanks-from-kindred-spirits-veterinary-clinic/

Pet Dental Care with Dr. Dave Cloutier of the Veazie Veterinary Clinichttp://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow-2014-02-08-Pet_Dental_Care_with_Dr_Dave_Cloutier_of_the_Veazie_Veterinary_Clinic.mp3

 

©20FEB18, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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PET FOOD RECALL – Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits, Ol’ Roy, and Skippy

< Updated 18FEB18 >

DogFoodAdvisor has reported that the J.M. Smucker Company is voluntarily withdrawing several canned dog food products because of a concern that these foods contain low levels of a euthanasia drug, pentobarbital. This begs the question, are euthanized animals being used as an ingredient in pet food, and if not, how does Smucker’s explain pentobarbital showing up in their food?

Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits. Ol’ Roy and Skippy are all brands affected by this recall. For more information on specific UPC codes, visit the following page at DogFoodAdvisor – https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/smucker-withdraws-multiple-dog-food-brands/

This voluntary action has now been listed on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website – https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/newsevents/ucm597135.htm

 

Shared Blog Post – Many Pet Parents Now Demand This, Saving Their Pets From Potential Agony

The Difference Between Being An Anti-Vaxxer and a Responsible-Vaxxer

In this blog post from February 11th, veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker discusses pet vaccination protocols and the difference between an anti-vaxxer and those recognizing the importance of taking a responsible approach to vaccinating pets, which concerns the over-vaccinating of pets. Dr. Becker notes that “Vaccines should never be viewed as “harmless preventive medicine,” as they can trigger vaccinosis and very significant disease in pets” and discusses how using titer tests can help prevent over-vaccination.

If you are interested in vaccinating your pet as safely as possible, I encourage you to read this article < click here > and those listed below.

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog ( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

Shared Blog Post – AAHA Vaccination Guidelines 2017 for Dogs – A Review by Dr. Jean Dodds – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/11/06/shared-blog-post-aaha-vaccination-guidelines-2017-for-dogs-a-review-by-dr-jean-dodds/

Shared Blog Post – Updated Canine Vaccination Guidelines by Nancy Kay, DVM – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/11/06/shared-blog-post-updated-canine-vaccination-guidelines-by-nancy-kay-dvm/

Vaccinations–Interviews with Dr. Ron Schultz – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2013/07/15/vaccinations-interviews-with-dr-ron-schultz/

How to Report Adverse Reactions to Vaccines, Drugs, Devices, Foods, and Flea and Tick Products – http://bit.ly/ReportAdverseReactions

Complementary Medicine – Tikken – Vaccines, Aggression & Homeopathy— http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2014/10/06/complementary-medicine-tikken-vaccines-aggression-homeopathy/

Shared Blog Post – It’s Time to Put a Stop to the Mindless Over-Vaccination of Pets – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/07/05/shared-blog-post-its-time-to-put-a-stop-to-the-mindless-over-vaccination-of-pets/

 

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show
http://www.woofmeowshow.com )

Podcast – A Holistic Approach to Vaccines for Dogs – Part 1 w/Dr. Judy Herman – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/07/15/podcast-a-holistic-approach-to-vaccines-for-dogs-part-1-wdr-judy-herman/

Podcast – A Holistic Approach to Vaccines for Dogs – Part 2 w/Dr. Judy Herman – http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/07/22/podcast-a-holistic-approach-to-vaccines-for-dogs-part-2-wdr-judy-herman/

Vaccinations- Why they are important, Core Vaccines & Vaccination Schedules w/Dr. Ronald Schultz (June 22nd, 2013) – http://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow-2013-06-22-Vaccinations-1.mp3

Vaccinations, Titer Testing, Non-Core Vaccines and Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex with Dr. Ron Schultz (June 29th, 2013) – http://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow-2013-06-29-Vaccinations-2.mp3

 Vaccinations– Non-Core Vaccines for Cats and Adverse Reactions to Vaccines with Dr. Ron Schultz (July 6th, 2013) – http://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow-2013-07-06-Vaccinations-3.mp3

Vaccinations – The Rabies Challenge Fund with Dr. Ron Schultz (July 13th, 2013) – http://traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/WoofMeowShow-2013-07-13-Vaccinations-Rabies_Challenge_Fund.mp3

Podcast – Holistic and Complementary Wellness for Pets – Our Personal Journey — http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/10/08/podcast-holistic-and-complementary-wellness-for-pets-our-personal-journey/

 

Podcast – Cats & Cerebellar Hypoplasia with Stephanie Fournier of Cerebellar Hypoplasia Advocates of Maine

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In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from February 10th, 2018 Kate and Don talk with Stephanie Ambrose Fournier of Cerebellar Hypoplasia Advocates of Maine about this developmental condition which affects cats. We discuss the disorder, its symptoms, how it is diagnosed, and what it is like to live with a cat with cerebellar hypoplasia. Stephanie has shared her home with several CH cats and will tell us some of her stories about Oliver, Fallon, Weebs, and Daisy. Lastly, we talk about Cerebellar Hypoplasia Advocates of Maine and how they have helped several CH cats from around the world.

You can hear The Woof Meow Show on Z62 Retro Radio, AM620, and WKIT HD3 at 9 AM on Saturday. If you are not near a radio, listen on your computer at http://www.wzonthepulse.com or your smartphone or tablet with the free WZON 620 AM app. A podcast of the show is typically posted immediately after the show and can be downloaded at www.woofmeowshow.com and the Apple iTunes store.

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

Contact Info

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cerebellarhypoplasiaadvocatesofmaine/

Recommended Resources

Web Sites

Brain Tissue Underdevelopment in Catshttps://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/neurological/c_ct_cerebellar_hypoplasia?page=show

Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Catshttps://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cerebellar-hypoplasia-in-cats

What is Feline Cerebellar Hypoplasia?https://lifewithchcats.com/what-is-cerebellar-hypoplasia/

©10FEB18, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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Shared Blog Post – How to Help Ease the Emotional Burden of Caring for a Dying Pet

How to Help Ease the Emotional Burden of Caring for a Dying Pet – Caring for a terminally ill pet is not easy. In her blog post from February 3rd, 2018, veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker offers suggestions on how to make this emotional process easier.

To read the full post https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/02/03/how-to-be-emotionally-healthy-when-pet-is-ill.aspx

Podcast – The Importance of Spaying and Neutering with Dr. Katie Carter of the River Road Veterinary Hospital

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In this episode of The Woof Meow Show from February 3, 2018, Kate and Don discuss the various aspects of spaying and neutering dogs and cats with Dr. Katie Carter of the River Road Veterinary Hospital. Neutering pets is an important topic, which is why we do a show on it every year. While this topic used to be much more cut and dried, it has gotten a bit more complex, especially the timing of spaying and neutering. It is a subject that has implications for animal welfare as well as physical and behavioral health. During the show, we discuss the actual process of spaying and neutering, animal welfare implications, as well as medical and behavioral pros and cons of this surgical procedure. If you have a pet or are considering getting a pet, this is a subject you need to know and understand.

You can hear The Woof Meow Show on Z62 Retro Radio, AM620, and WKIT HD3 at 9 AM on Saturday. If you are not near a radio, listen on your computer at http://www.wzonthepulse.com or your smartphone or tablet with the free WZON 620 AM app. A podcast of the show is typically posted immediately after the show and can be downloaded at www.woofmeowshow.com and the Apple iTunes store.

< Click to Listen to Podcast >

Contact Info

Dr. Katie Carter
River Road Veterinary Hospital
210 River Road, Orrington, ME 04416

(207) 825-2105

http://riverroadvet.com/

https://www.facebook.com/riverroadvet/

Recommended Resources

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show ( http://www.woofmeowshow.com )

Podcast – Spaying and Neutering with Dr. David Cloutier from Veazie Veterinary Clinic ( May 2017 )http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/05/01/podcast-spaying-and-neutering-with-dr-david-cloutier-from-veazie-veterinary-clinic/

Podcast – Considerations When Spaying and Neutering Pets with Dr. Mark Hanks from Kindred Spirits Veterinary Clinic ( February 2016 )http://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/02/14/podcast-considerations-when-spaying-and-neutering-pets-with-dr-mark-hanks-from-kindred-spirits-veterinary-clinic/

 

©03FEB18, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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Helping Your Dog Thrive – Brambell’s Five Freedoms – Part 2, Freedom from Discomfort

By Don Hanson, ACCBC, BFRAP, CDBC, CPDT-KA

< A version of this article was published in the February 2018 issue of Downeast Dog News>

< Updated 7MAY18 >

< Click to download or print a PDF file containing all 5 columns in this series >

Last month I introduced you to Brambell’s Five Freedoms and how they provide a valuable reference point for assessing a dog’s quality of life. I discussed the first of the freedoms; Freedom from Hunger and Thirst. This month we will examine Freedom from Discomfort.

 

Discomfort:

  1. an inconvenience, distress, or mild pain
  2. something that disturbs or deprives of ease
  3. to make uncomfortable or uneasy

– Collins English Dictionary

Many things in our dog’s life may cause pain or anxiety. This may vary in individual dogs depending on their genetics, temperament, anatomy, size, age, and other variables.

  • Are you familiar with how your dog expresses discomfort so that you recognize when your dog is anxious and afraid? – Dogs often indicate stress by various changes in their body language, often called calming or displacement signals. Signs such as looking away, yawning, and tongue flicks will typically occur before signals such as growling or snapping. If you wish to keep your dog comfortable, you first need to know how they indicate their discomfort. Just because a dog is not reacting does not mean they are comfortable. Most people have not been taught how dogs communicate, yet it is one of the most important things they need to know. ( FMIhttp://bit.ly/DogsSignsofFear )
  • Is your dog’s environment free from things that may cause anxiety, stress, and pain? This will vary with the individual dog. Common causes of anxiety can include children, adults, other animals, objects, loud noises, having their picture taken, having their nails trimmed, being hugged, wearing a costume, and many more. One of the easiest ways to avoid these issues is to spend time thoughtfully socializing and habituating your puppy to novel stimuli during their critical socialization period which occurs between 8 and 16 weeks of age. (FMIhttp://bit.ly/SocializationPuppy ) If your dog was older than 16 weeks of age when they joined your family it is very likely that they were not adequately or appropriately socialized. Remedial socialization is possible with an older dog, but it is even more essential that you plan such sessions carefully and that you proceed slowly. In this case, consulting with a professional fear-free, force-free, pain-free trainer is highly recommended. ( FMI – http://bit.ly/HowToChooseADogTrainer )
  • Have you trained your dog? When a dog joins a family, many expect them to automatically fit in, even though dogs and humans are two very different species with different cultural norms. We must teach our dogs how to live in our world, and that can best be accomplished through reward-based training. Failing to train our dog is almost sure to cause discomfort for both them and us. ( FMI – http://bit.ly/WhatIsDogTraining )
  • Are you committed to NEVER using aversives to manage or train your dog? If you are using an aversive (shock collar, choke collar, prong collar, leash corrections, or anything where the intent is to physically or emotionally punish) to train or manage your dog, you are making your dog uncomfortable. The very definition of an aversive is to cause discomfort, possibly up to the point of causing physical or emotional pain. Dogs that are trained in this manner are unlikely to be happy and have a much greater probability of becoming aggressive. ( FMI – http://bit.ly/RewardVSAversive )
  • Does your dog have shelter from the elements, especially extremes of temperature, wind, and precipitation? This one seems straightforward, yet every year dogs are left out in dangerous weather and freeze to death.
  • Does your dog have a quiet, comfortable place where they can rest undisturbed and where they will feel safe? Dogs, like people, need downtime and a place where they will feel secure and safe so that they can get adequate rest. People and especially kids need to respect the adage “Let sleeping dogs lie.”
  • If you have multiple pets, does each pet have adequate resources? Many people have multiple pets. Do the pets get along and enjoy each other, or is there frequent conflict? Are there sufficient resources (food, space, and attention) for all of the pets? If your dog feels they do not have what they need to survive, or if they feel threatened or intimidated by another pet in your home, they are not free of discomfort.
  • Do you maintain your dog’s physical condition, so they do not experience discomfort? – Fifty percent of the dogs in the US are clinically obese. Just as with people, obesity often causes pain and discomfort. Many dogs with long coats require weekly grooming by us to prevent their coats from becoming tangled and matted and uncomfortable.

Next month we will examine the Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease

To read any of the articles in this series visit the Downeast Dog News website at https://downeastdognews.villagesoup.com/ or visit Don’s blog at https://www.words-woofs-meows.com

Helping Your Dog Thrive – Brambell’s Five Freedoms – Part 1, Freedom from Hunger and Thirsthttp://bit.ly/Brambell-Hunger-Thirst

Helping Your Dog Thrive – Brambell’s Five Freedoms – Part 2, Freedom from Discomforthttp://bit.ly/Brambell-Discomfort

Helping Your Dog Thrive – Brambell’s Five Freedoms – Part 3, Freedom from Pain, Injury or Diseasehttp://bit.ly/Brambell-Pain-Injury-Disease

Helping Your Dog Thrive – Brambell’s Five Freedoms – Part 4, The Freedom to Express Normal Behaviorhttp://bit.ly/Bramble-NormalBehavior

Helping Your Dog Thrive – Brambell’s Five Freedoms – Part 5, The Freedom from Fear and Distresshttp://bit.ly/Brambell-Fear-Distress

 

Recommended Resources

References

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs-Farm Animal Welfare Committee-Five Freedoms: http://www.defra.gov.uk/fawc/about/five-freedoms

Press Statement”. Farm Animal Welfare Council. 1979-12-05: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121010012428/http://www.fawc.org.uk/pdf/fivefreedoms1979.pdf

Assessing Pets’ Welfare Using Brambell’s Five Freedoms, D. Hanson, APDT Chronicle of the Dog, Fall 2014http://www.greenacreskennel.com/images/stories/pdf/Articles/assessing%20pets%20welfare%20using%20brambells%20five%20freedoms-apdt_cotd_fall2014.pdf

Articles on Don’s Blog ( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

Helping Your Dog Thrive – Brambell’s Five Freedoms – Part 1, Freedom from Hunger and Thirsthttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2018/01/03/helping-your-dog-thrive-brambells-five-freedoms-part-1/

Animal Welfare – Assessing Pets’ Welfare Using Brambell’s Five Freedomshttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2014/10/01/animal-welfare-assessing-pets-welfare-using-brambells-five-freedoms/

How Can I Tell When My Dog Is Anxious or Fearful?http://bit.ly/DogsSignsofFear

Puppy Socialization and Habituationhttp://bit.ly/SocializationPuppy

How to choose a dog trainerhttp://bit.ly/HowToChooseADogTrainer

What is Dog Training?http://bit.ly/WhatIsDogTraining

Dog Training – Reward Based Training versus Aversiveshttp://bit.ly/RewardVSAversive

Is Your Dog Your Best Friend or a Family Member?, If Yes, Then Please Join Me and Take the Pledgehttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/10/01/is-your-dog-your-best-friend-or-a-family-member/

The Unintended Consequences of Shock Collarshttp://bit.ly/ShockCollars

Canine Behavior – Understanding, Identifying and Coping with Canine Stresshttp://bit.ly/Canine-Stress

Signs of Anxiety and Fear from Dr. Marty Beckerhttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2018/01/17/signs-of-anxiety-and-fear-from-dr-marty-becker/

Preventing separation anxiety – Teaching your dog to cope with being alonehttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/03/14/dog-training-preventing-separation-anxiety-teaching-your-dog-to-cope-with-being-alone/

Crate Habituation to Reduce Anxietyhttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/01/30/dog-behavior-crate-habituation-to-reduce-anxiety/

Your Pet’s Behavioral Health Is As Important As Their Physical Well-Beinghttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2015/08/01/pet-health-and-wellness-your-pets-behavioral-health-is-as-important-as-their-physical-well-being/

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show ( http://www.woofmeowshow.com )

Pet Behavior, Vets & The AAHA Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines – Dr. Dave Cloutier – Veazie Veterinary Clinichttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/07/02/podcast-encore-pet-behavior-vets-the-aaha-canine-and-feline-behavior-management-guidelines-dr-dave-cloutier-veazie-veterinary-clinic/

Canine Behavior: Myths and Factshttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2016/03/27/podcast-canine-behavior-myths-and-facts/

Separation Anxiety with Dr. David Cloutier from Veazie Veterinary Clinichttp://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2017/05/01/podcast-separation-anxiety-with-dr-david-cloutier-from-veazie-veterinary-clinic/

________________________________________________________________________
Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop ( greenacreskennel.com ) in Bangor. He is a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP), Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Associate Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (ACCBC) and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). He produces and co- hosts a weekly radio show and podcast, The Woof Meow Show heard on The Pulse AM620 WZON and streamed at http://www.wzonradio.com/ every Saturday at 9 AM. A list of upcoming shows and podcasts of past shows can be found at www.woofmeowshow.com. Don also writes about pets at his blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com. He is committed to pet care and pet training that is free of pain, force, and fear. The opinions in this post are those of Don Hanson.

©02FEB18, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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