Product Recall Alert: Wellness Small Breed Dry Dog Food

From Dog Food Advisor

October 30, 2012 – WellPet LLC of Tewksbury, MA has announced the withdrawal of a limited number of one of its dry kibble products due to possible moisture contamination.

This action affects Wellness Small Breed Adult Health Dry Dog Food in the 12 lbs package and bearing a “Best By” date of August 18, 2013.

No other dates, bag sizes or recipes are affected.

According to a statement made by the company on its Facebook page…

“A small batch of the product with this specific date code was found to be higher in moisture than our recipe calls for. High moisture may cause food to mold before its expiration date, but poses no health risk.”

What to Do?

As far as what to do with your affected product, the company goes on to state:

“We want you and your pet to be completely satisfied, so we are asking those who may have this limited supply of food to contact us for a replacement.”

Consumers with questions may call Wellness Customer Service at 800-225-0904.

You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Benefits of Coconut Oil and Your Dog

Did you know that coconut oil has many health benefits for us humans?  Among these benefits include, healthy & shiny hair, moisturizes all skin types and also helps in treating various skin problems (including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections), maintains cholesterol levels, weight loss, increases immunity, aids in proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney stones, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and many more...

...Now, did you know that coconut oil has health benefits for dogs too?

One of the most common and problematic ailment that any dog breed suffers from is skin conditions.  Let's face it, like us the skin is the largest organ on any animal.  For dogs with eczema, flea allergies, contact dermatitis, and just plain old itchy skin, the use of coconut oil improves any dog's skin and coat by reducing their allergic reactions, makes their coats become sleek and glossy.

Did I mention that coconut oil also has natural disinfectant properties (i.e., anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and anti-viral)?  Therefore it will also minimize your itchy dog smelling that much faster, and those of you who have an itchy dog - you know how fast they can start smelling doggy like with those skin conditions.  And because coconut oil has anti-infectant properties, using it topically on your dog's skin and coat prevents and treats yeast and fungal infections, disinfects cuts and promotes wound healing.

Another health benefit of coconut oil, like that in humans, is improved digestion and nutrient absorption when adding coconut oil to our daily diet.  So if your canine suffers from inflammatory bowel syndrome, colitis, bad breath, and yes...even coughing and hairballs, coconut oil can help prevent, reduce, and in some cases eliminate them altogether.

Although I love our veterinarian dearly, I am always on the look out for naturopathic remedies for myself and just as importantly, for my furry babies.  With all of the noted health benefits and then some, why not give coconut oil a try and introduce it to your dog?  One clause I need to note here, is that coconut oil comes in 2 varieties: RBD (Refined, Bleached, and Deodorized) and Virgin (Extra, in most cases).  The one that should be used is the virgin coconut oil.

The recommended dosage for your canine friend is 1/4 teaspoon for every 10 pounds of body weight twice a day, but like any supplement you should slowly wean it into yours and your dog's diet.  There are a ton of recipes online that can show you how to cook up something using coconut oil.  Here are a couple of recipes using coconut oil for festive Halloween doggy treats:  Olive's Howl-o-Ween Cookies, Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats.

Product Recall Alert! Boots and Barkley Pig Ears and Dog Treats

October 17, 2012 – Kasel Associated Industries of Denver, CO is voluntarily recalling its Boots and Barkley Roasted American Pig Ears and American Variety Pack Dog Treats product because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The event was reported by the FDA in a news release dated October 17, 2012.

According to the FDA bulletin:

Salmonella can sicken animals that eat these products and humans are at risk for salmonella poisoning from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the pet 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 symptoms 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 any of these signs, please contact your veterinarian.

According to the bulletin, the affected Roasted Pig Ears and Variety Pack Dog Treats were distributed nationwide through Target Stores in August 2012.

What Products Are Being Recalled?

The recalled Roasted Pig Ears product comes in a clear plastic bag containing 12 pig ears marked with UPC bar code 647263899158.

The Variety Pack Dog Treats product also comes in a clear plastic bag weighing 32oz and marked with UPC bar code 490830400086.

Kasel Industries is recalling lot number BESTBY 13SEP2014DEN for both products because this lot code tested positive for the Salmonella bacteria through analysis by the Colorado Department Of Agriculture.

No illnesses have been reported to date in animals or humans in connection with this problem.

What to Do?

Consumers are urged to return the recalled product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Those with questions may contact Kasel Associated Industries at 1-800-218-4417 Monday thru Friday from 7am to 5pm MDT.

You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Product Recall Alert! - Nature's Recipe's Oven Baked Biscuit

October 13, 2012 — Nature’s Recipe has announced a voluntary recall involving one of its dog treats products due to possible contamination with Salmonella bacteria.

The event was reported by the FDA in anews release dated October 13, 2012.

The recall includes Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken made at one of the company’s US production facilities.

Salmonella can affect both humans and non-human animals and are the result of ingesting contaminated food.

What Products Are Being Recalled?

Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken is sold in 19-ounce resealable pouches. The affected products include lot codes 2199TP and 2200TP with a “Best If Used By” date of either October 11, 2013 or October 12, 2013.

Product and product lots that do not appear on the list above are not subject to this recall.

Where Were the Recalled Products Sold?

The potentially affected lots of Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken were distributed nationally, primarily through pet specialty retailers.

What to Do?

Salmonella is serious business — for both you and your pet. So, if you can confirm your package of treats is one of the products being recalled, stop feeding or handling it immediately.

If you’ve already discarded the packaging – or you’re in any way in doubt – do not take chances. Be safe. Stop feeding the product anyway.

In its bulletin, the company suggests:

Consumers who have purchased the above lots of Nature’s Recipe Oven Baked Biscuits with Real Chicken should stop feeding the product and discard immediately.

For further information about the recall and for instructions on obtaining replacement product, consumers can use the Contact Us form at www.naturesrecipe.com or call the Consumer Hotline, 24 hours a day, at 800-237-3856.

You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Voluntary Recall Alert! Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats

October 3, 2012 - Kasel Associated Industries of Denver, CO has announced a voluntary dog treats recall involving some of its products due to possible contamination with Salmonella bacteria.

The event was reported by the FDA in a news release dated October 3, 2012.

Salmonella can affect both humans and non-human animals and are the result of ingesting contaminated food.

No illnesses have been reported to date in animals or humans in connection with this product.

The company has ceased distribution of any lots that may have possible contamination with the bacteria.

What Products Are Being Recalled?

The product comes in a clear plastic bag with the Nature’s Deli logo containing 2.5 lbs chicken jerky dog treats and marked with UPC bar code 647263800208.

The company is recalling products with a lot number of BEST BY 091913 DEN because the batch has tested positive for Salmonella through analysis by the FDA.

Where Were the Recalled Products Sold?

The affected products were distributed by 57 Sam’s Club locations in the following states:

• Colorado
• Iowa
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Oklahoma
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Wyoming

What to Do?

Salmonella is serious business — for both you and your pet. So, if you can confirm your dog’s food is one of the products being recalled, stop feeding or handling it immediately.

If you’ve discarded the packaging (something we recommend you never do) – or you’re in any way in doubt – do not take chances. Be safe. Stop feeding the product anyway.

As far as what to do with your recalled product, the company suggests:

Consumers who have purchased the 2.5 lbs packages of Chicken Jerky Dog Treats are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Kasel Associated Industries at (800) 218-4417 Monday thru Friday from 7am to 5pm MDT.

You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

How to Read a Dog Food Label

In a world of ready made, packaged, and frozen foods empower our nutrition by becoming more diligent in reading nutritional labels.  As humans, we have become more health conscious society by including exercise on a regularly basis and becoming more aware of what we consume.  By doing all of this, it enables us to lead a healthier lifestyle that in effect adds more quality years to our lives which can be shared with our loved ones, including our best furry friends.

If we already reading nutritional labels for ourselves, why aren't we doing it for our pets too?

Below are 7 key points to use when reading dog food labels to help you make a more educated decision on picking the right food for your dog:

1. When reading the ingredient listed on pet food labels, what do they mean?
• Similar to people food, pet foods must list ingredients by weight starting with the heaviest first.  However, if the first ingredient is a type of meat the key thing to remember is that meat is about 75% water - according to the FDA.  Therefore, without water weight, meats will probably fall lower on the ingredient list unless they are meat meals.  Meat meals, such as chicken meal or meat and bone meal, are considered concentrates of animal protein because most of the water and fat have already been removed.
2. What are byproducts and are they good for my pet?
• Many pet foods list among their top 5 ingredients, chicken meal (byproduct) or meat meal (byproduct), but what exactly is it?  Byproducts are the innards of the animal used to product the food.  For instance, liver is a byproduct, which is rich in nutrients such as vitamin A.  Other byproducts include blood, bone, brains, stomachs, udders, and cleaned intestines (according to the AAFCO - Association of American Feed Control Officials).
• Byproducts should not include hair, horns, teeth, and hooves, although there is an allowance exception because sometimes these items may "inadvertently" get added during processing.
• All of these byproducts are not allowed for human consumption, but by regulation they are ok for pet consumption.  Like all organic matter, once the byproducts are removed from the animal, they should be refrigerated immediately to prevent spoilage.  However, it is not uncommon for these byproducts to be laying in a pile in a hot container for a while until they are ready to be stored.  Currently there are no way to monitor and ensure the pet food processing is being done properly, which could account for all of the product recalls due to salmonella outbreaks.
3. What are all of those chemical looking names found on the ingredients list?
• When you have to try to sound out the word through saying it's syllables slowly over and over again, more than likely these are preservatives, artificial colors, and stabilizers that can be found in the pet food.  Any of these items must either be approved by the FDA or be generally recognized as safe.  
• Manufacturers must list all of the preservatives they add, but they may not necessarily list the products that are processed elsewhere.  For example, some of the ingredients processed elsewhere may have been preserved with a synthetic preservative like BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), or ethoxyquin - these preservatives stop fats from turning rancid and keep dry dog food fresh for about a year, but their safety has been questioned by some consumers and scientists.  However, according to the FDA, these preservatives are perfectly fine to be used in dog food.  Some manufacturers no longer use these synthetic preservatives due to the controversy these preservatives may cause skin allergies, reproductive problems, cancer, and organ failure in some dogs.  Instead, they have switched to using natural preservatives such as vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), vitamin C (asorbic acid), and extracts of various plans, such as rosemary.  However, these foods have a shorter shelf life period. Be sure to check the food's "best buy" date on the label before buying or feeding it to your pet.
4. How can I make sure the food meets my dog's needs?
• Look for a statement of nutritional adequacy on the label that model regulations set by the AAFCO that establish the minimum amount of nutrients needed to provide a complete and balanced diet.  Usually the statement says "formulated to meet AAFCO standards".
• Make sure you have the right life stage the food has been formulated for, such as Puppy, Adult, Senior, or all life stages.  The nutritional needs for maintenance of dogs at each stage is different.
5. What is the "guaranteed analysis"?
• All dog food labels must list the minimum amount of protein and fat in the food and the maximum percentage of fiber and moisture. At least 10% of the daily diet by weight should be protein, and 5.5% should be fat - according to the national research council.  Dog foods typically contain higher amounts because dogs may not be able to digest all the nutrients in the food.
6. What do "natural" and "holistic" labels mean?
• Foods labeled as "nautral" should contain very few, if any, synthetic ingredients.  Whereas "holistic" is a marketing term, like "premium" and "super premium" - where there are no rules that controls how they are used.  Therefore, it doesn't make the food brand any better than others so your best bet is to read the label before buying.
• Another marketing use is "Made with human grade ingredients" or "made in a USDA-inspected facility".  Beware of these marketing tricks because they are difficult to confirm these claims are actually true.
7. What is organic pet food?
• There is no official definition for it, but the USDA's National Organic Program which sets rules for using an "organic" label is currently reviewing the issue.

Product Recall: Dogsbutter Peanut Butter for Dogs

September 24, 2012 – Sunland, Inc. has announced the voluntary recall of some of its human food products has now been expanded to include a pet food product, Dogsbutter RUC with Flax PB, due to possible contamination with Salmonella.

The event was reported by the FDA in anews release dated September 24, 2012.

Based upon the FDA bulletin, the recall appears to include the 16 ounce jars of Dogsbutter RUC with Flax PB.

The recalled product has a Best-If-Used-By date of between May 1, 2013 and September 24, 2013. This information is stamped on the side of the jar’s label just below the lid.

What Caused the Recall?

According to the FDA bulletin…

The voluntary recall was initiated after learning that between June 11, 2012 and September 2, 2012, twenty-nine people reported Salmonella Bredeney PFGE matching illnesses in approximately 18 states, including Washington, California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland, according to a report issued on September 22, 2012 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What to Do?

Consumers are urged to discard the recalled product immediately. They are also invited to contact the company at 866-837-1018 for information on the recall.

In addition, a consumer services representative is available Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM MT at 575-356-6638.

You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.