Grecian Foxglove Alert!

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Grecian foxglove is toxic plant. It’s toxic to both humans and animals. Both the dried and fresh plant are toxic. Grecian foxglove is a MDA Prohibited Noxious Weed (Eradicate List) in Minnesota. In Minnesota it has been found primarily in Washington County in the vicinity of the St. Croix River along sunny to semi-shaded road ditches. Report Grecian foxglove by emailing “Arrest the Pestarrest.the.pest@state.mn.us or calling 651-201-6684 (metro) or 1-888-545-6684(toll-free).

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/herbaceous/grecianfoxglove.html

Ice or ice water does NOT cause bloat in dogs!

There is erroneous information being forwarded online regarding FALSE dangers associated with offering dogs ice water. Our Emergency Medicine specialists confirm that offering dogs ice water is not only healthy, but an excellent way to help keep four-legged friends comfortable and cool during the dog days of summer.
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Hills dry dog food recall 6/3/14

http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/2014/06/hills-pet-nutrition-dry-dog-food-recall/

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Dry Dog Food Recall

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. of Topeka, KS is voluntarily recalling 62 bags of Science Diet® Adult Small & Toy Breed™ dry dog food as they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The suspect product, part of a single production run, was distributed to 17 veterinary clinic and pet store customers in California, Hawaii and Nevada between April 24 and May 13, 2014. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

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.

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.

This voluntary recall is limited to 62 15.5 lb. bags of Science Diet® Adult Small & Toy Breed™ dry dog food with the Stock-Keeping Unit (SKU) code, “Best before” date and production code shown below. This product was accidentally released, as revealed during a routine inventory reconciliation. All 17 affected customers have been contacted by Hill’s and there have been no reported illnesses related to this product to date.

Product Name Bag Size SKU “Best Before” Date/ Production Code
Science Diet® Adult Small & Toy Breed 15.5 lbs. 9097 08 2015 M094

The SKU number is located on the bottom of the bag, both side panels and on the back lower right hand corner below the UPC code. As illustrated below, the “Best before” date and production code is stamped on the top, middle of each bag.

Consumers who may have purchased any of these specific 62 15.5 lb bags of Science Diet® Adult Small & Toy Breed™ dry dog food should discontinue use of the product and immediately call Hill’s Pet Nutrition at 1-800-445-5777 Monday-Friday during the hours of 7am-7pm (CT). Hill’s will arrange to collect the unused portion of the product at its own expense at a time convenient for the consumer and will provide a full refund.

This voluntary recall does not impact any Science Diet® Adult Small and Toy Breed™ products with different “best before” dates or any other Science Diet products.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition is dedicated to providing high-quality, safe products and regrets the need for this voluntary recall. For further information, please contact Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. at 1-800-445-5777 Monday-Friday during the hours of 7am-7pm (CT).

About Hill’s Pet Nutrition
Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. manufactures Hill’s® Prescription Diet® brand pet foods, therapeutic pet foods available only through veterinarians, and Science Diet® and Ideal Balance™ brand wellness pet foods sold through veterinarians and pet specialty retailers. Founded more than 70 years ago with an unparalleled commitment to pet well-being, Hill’s’ mission is to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. For more information about Hill’s, our products and our nutritional philosophy visit HillsPet.com, or visit us on Facebook, keywords “Hill’s Pet Nutrition.”

Information taken from the FDA.

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The Cat House on the Kings.com!

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My little JoJo was a Good Night Kitty on the Facebook site – The Cat house on the Kings.com! I’m so proud!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cat-House-On-The-Kingscom/131833653546347

Powassan Virus spread by ticks!

Another reason to use a good flea/tick prevention on yourself and your pets: The Powassan virus which is spread by ticks. The transfer is almost immediate (unlike Lyme disease which takes 24hrs for the tick to attach and then transmit the disease). Here is some information.

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/powassan/basics.html

Powassan (POW) Virus Basics

Powassan (POW) virus is related to some mosquito-borne viruses, including West Nile virus. The virus is named after Powassan, Ontario, where it was first discovered in 1958. Two types of Powassan virus have been found in North America.

On this page:

How do people get infected with POW virus?

POW virus is passed to people by ticks:

  • One type of POW virus is carried by Ixodes scapularis (known as the blacklegged tick or deer tick), the same tick that transmits Lyme disease, human anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. The blacklegged tick is common in many wooded areas of north central, east central, and southeast Minnesota.
  • Another type of POW virus is carried by Ixodes cookei, a related tick species that usually feeds on woodchucks or other medium-sized mammals instead of humans. I. cookei has also been found in wooded areas in Minnesota.

A tick needs to be attached to a person for a certain length of time before it can cause disease. This time interval is not known for POW virus, but it is likely much shorter than the time needed for Lyme disease (24-48 hours) or anaplasmosis (12-24 hours).

What type of illness is caused by POW virus?

  • POW virus infects the central nervous system and can cause encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and meningitis (swelling of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).
  • Signs and symptoms of disease caused by POW virus can include but are not limited to fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, speech difficulties, and memory loss.
  • About 10% of patients reported with POW virus infection die from their infection, and long-term problems may persist among those who survive. However, it is possible that some people infected with POW virus experience milder illness or do not have any symptoms.

How common is POW disease?

Physician-diagnosed POW disease is very rare. From 1958-2010, fewer than 60 cases were reported in the U.S. and Canada. From 2008-2012, 21 cases of POW disease have been reported in Minnesota alone. These cases had either lived in or visited wooded areas in north central or east central Minnesota.

It is possible that other cases of suspected viral encephalitis or meningitis during times of peak tick-borne disease transmission (May to October) are due to POW virus.

When and where are people at risk for POW virus?

POW virus is found in northern parts of North America and northeast Asia. Initial laboratory testing during 2009 found blacklegged ticks infected with POW virus in parts of north-central and east-central Minnesota, areas highly endemic for other tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease.

It is possible that people are at risk of infection with POW virus anywhere the blacklegged tick is found. The blacklegged tick is common in many wooded and brushy areas of north central, east central, and southeast Minnesota. This tick is most active from spring until mid-summer and again in the fall.

What is the risk of POW disease in Minnesota?

We believe that the risk of infection with POW virus in Minnesota is low. However, it is a very serious disease. MDH needs to gather more information on how many ticks are carrying POW virus in various parts of the state.

How can people protect themselves from POW virus and other tick-borne infections?

Repellents are important tools in preventing tick-borne illness. They are especially important in preventing POW disease because of its severity and likely shorter tick attachment time needed to transmit the virus. When spending time in wooded or brushy habitat in north central, east-central, and southeast Minnesota, people should protect themselves against tick bites by wearing repellents containing DEET or permethrin.

Other precautions include wearing long pants and light-colored clothing, staying away from the brush and woods, and doing thorough tick checks after spending time in the woods. These precautions are most important from late spring until mid-summer, and again in the fall months, when blacklegged ticks are active.

People should seek medical care if they develop fever, chills, rash, headache, body aches altered mental status, or other signs and symptoms of tick-borne illness after doing outdoor activities in these areas.

Questions/concerns?

Minnesota Department of Health
Vector-borne Disease Unit
Phone: 651-201-5414
www.health.state.mn.us

Information on Jerky Treats from China – AVOID THEM!

FDA Releases Progress Report on Jerky Pet Treat Investigation

October 22, 2013

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released today an update on its investigation into pet illnesses and deaths associated with jerky pet treats from China. The update includes a description of the extent of the agency’s testing and current findings, as well as a “Dear Veterinarian” letter and Fact Sheet for pet owners.

The “Dear Veterinarian” letter to veterinary professionals explains how they can provide valuable assistance to the agency’s investigation, requests that veterinarians report to FDA any cases of jerky pet treat-related illness that come to their attention and, when requested, that they also provide samples for diagnostic testing by the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN), a network of veterinary laboratories affiliated with FDA. The Fact Sheet for pet owners lists steps they can take to prevent or detect illness related to the treats.

As of September 24, 2013, FDA has received more than 3000 complaints of illness related to consumption of chicken, duck, or sweet potato jerky treats, nearly all of which are imported from China. The reports involve more than 3600 dogs, 10 cats and include more than 580 deaths.

FDA continues to caution pet owners that jerky pet treats are not required for a balanced diet. The agency encourages pet owners to consult with their veterinarian prior to feeding treats and if they notice symptoms in their pets.

The rate of complaints associated with jerky pet treats dropped sharply after several well-known brands were removed from the market in January 2013, when a study conducted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Marketing (NYSDAM) detected low levels of antibiotic residues in those products. FDA believes that the drop in complaints is linked to a decrease in the availability of jerky pet treats rather than the low levels of antibiotics found in January, which FDA believes are unlikely to be the cause of the illnesses. However, FDA is performing an evaluation to determine the possibility for low levels of the antibiotics to cause illness in dogs when fed over a length of time. This process involves review of the scientific literature, as well as any adverse event reports and consumer complaints sent to the FDA in connection with dogs and sulfonamide drugs, and may take many months to complete. In the meantime, our investigation continues to evaluate all potential causes for illness from the jerky pet treats.

While FDA has not yet identified a cause for the reported illnesses, the agency, together with our Vet-LIRN partners, continue to perform testing to help identify cases and examine both animal tissue and product samples associated with the cases. FDA also continues to work with the manufacturers and distributors of the treats and China’s Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine to investigate potential sources of contamination or causes of illness in pets.
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm371450.htm

Happy National Pet Week from JoJo Ramone and HouseCall Vet CARE!

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JoJo and Tubby

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JoJo and Tubby by Mike Etoll.

Easter Lilies are toxic to cats!

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Lilies are very toxic to cats – even the water that the cut flowers are kept in. They lead to acute kidney failure. If your cat contacts a lily – bring them to the vet right away! It’s best to avoid them if you have cats.

 

List of Feline Toxins!

This week is National Poison Prevention Week, which means it’s the perfect time to double check that your home is a safe place for your cat! Some of the most common household hazards include toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers, and drain cleaners. If ingested, your feline friend could suffer profuse drooling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and even chemical burns to the mouth and esophagus. Be sure to store these products in a safe and secure place to avoid accidental ingestion. For more info, visit our Feline Toxins and Poisons resource page: http://www.catvets.com/cat-owners/caring-for-cats/feline-toxins-and-poisons