Recently in Pet Health Category
Not only will they be healthier, but we'll save some money. The link above has some good tips on how to maintain good dental health in your dogs and cats.Brushing your pets' teeth is still recommended as the best way to keep problems at bay, but I'm guessing not a lot of pet owners do that. I'll admit I've had good intentions in the past, but have not managed to work it into a regular health schedule for my 2 dogs and 1 cat.
But I may give it another try.
All three received good checkups at the vet recently -- only one, Cowboy, needed a teeth cleaning and they were able to do that anesthesia-free.
So I suppose now would be a good time to start a new brushing regimen.
Any of our readers bush their pets' teeth? Was it hard to get them used to it? Any special tricks to make it easier?
***Meanwhile, our friends over at i Love Dogs are holding a dog "teeth photo contest" this month.
Daron Matsuura, President of Lotus Pet Foods in Torrance, in the lab where he explains the human-grade ingredients and high nutrition of his canned dog food products.
(Brad Graverson / Staff Photographer)
PetSmart is voluntarily recalling two Dentley's Beef Hoof products for potential salmonella contamination. The products were manufactured by Pet Carousel Inc. in Sanger, CA.
The recalled products include only the following types of Dentley's Beef Hooves purchased between Oct. 2, 2009, and Nov. 3, 2009:
- Dentley's Bulk Cattle Hoof UPC #73725703323
- Dentley's 10 Pack Beef Hooves UPC #73725736055
Customers who purchased the recall products should discontinue use immediately and return the product to any PetSmart store for a refund or exchange. For more information, visit www.petsmartfacts.com, www.petsmart.com, www.fda.gov -- or contact PetSmart Customer Service at 1-888-839-9638.
We've posted expansively on the new kitten adopted by our colleague, Daily Breeze reporter Sandy Mazza.
But wait! There's more. (And, yes, our readers have been clamoring, yea demanding that we post an update, already. Well, two of you, anyway.) So here it is:
1. The kitten, a former feral Sandy found outside her apartment building, now has a name: Cooper. The decision? Ain't complicated. No particular deep meaning, despite all our efforts in sending Sandy links to Irish names, cat names, kitten names, boy names. Mainly, the name was chosen because Sandy, for days in angst over what to name the critter, began calling him "Goober" for lack of anything formal. She figures Cooper is not only much more respectable but it also rhymes with Goober so perhaps he won't be too confused. My cat lady friend also tells me Cooper happens to be a popular right now, she's got "one" (meaning a cat named Cooper).
2. There was a brief flurry of panic over the weekend when Cooper suddenly slowed w-a-y down from his usual frantic, mouse-chasing self. He stopped eating and fell asleep, prompting new mom Sandy to dash him to the pet clinic. A virus & fever, apparently, and after receiving a shot Cooper bounced back to his normal self.
3. And finally, (drum roll) we've saved the best for last. The new, updated pic, showing Cooper in a rare moment of rest with one of his 4 toy mice:
All in unison now: AWWWWwwwwwww.
Previous posts (voluminous, they are!) about Sandy's kitten: Fleas; The new kitten: an update; New kitten: Gifts! Mice! Cats + lasers = Good times; It's all about Sandy's kitten.
SpcaLA is holding a low-cost vaccine and microchip clinic this Saturday in Hawthorne.
These are both vital procedures for pets. The vaccines obviously keep them healthy. And, if you're lucky, you'll never need the microchip, they help create peace of mind. Knowing that a lost animal has a way to find its way back to you is truly a wonder of modern technology.
Here's the press release I got:
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA) will hold a Low Cost Vaccine & Microchip Clinic on Saturday, February 28, 2009 from 10am to 2pm at the South Bay Pet Adoption Center (12910 Yukon Ave. Hawthorne, CA) to ensure Southern California families put their best paw forward to keep pets healthy and secure.
"By hosting low cost vaccine and microchipping clinics, spcaLA is offering a helping hand to pet owners during these difficult economic times," said spcaLA President, Madeline Bernstein. "It's important to keep your pets current on vaccinations and to have them microchipped. Preventing common illnesses can potentially save you hundreds of dollars in costly veterinary treatments."
Should the unthinkable happen and your pet goes missing, having a microchip will allow for a quicker reunion, which will save you and local shelters housing and boarding fees. In addition, getting your dog vaccinated for rabies at the clinic will fulfill your obligation under state law.
Each procedure includes a complimentary Ask the Vet session with Dr. Karen "Doc" Halligan, DVM, author of What Every Pet Owner Should Know, and judge on Animal Planet's hit show "Groomer Has It."
The clinic will offer rabies vaccinations and microchipping for cats and dogs; DHPP and Bordatella vaccinations for dogs; and FVRCP and Leukemia vaccinations for cats. The fee for microchips at the clinic is $25 for cats and dogs. Rabies vaccinations are $5 for cats and dogs. DHPP, FVRCP and Leukemia vaccinations are $15 and Bordatella vaccinations are $10.
The City of Hawthorne Animal Care Services will be on hand to administer pet licenses for pet owners in the community.
For real -- $20 veterinarian visit vouchers being offered online (click our link) by Bayer HealthCare. Available from Feb. 16-28.
Log in between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. eastern time for your chance at one, they're giving 80 vouchers per hour.
The site also features money-saving pet care tips.
 The Douglas County dog tested positive for Salmonella Typhimurium, which was linked to a box of dog biscuits in its household that also tested positive. The biscuits in this case were Happy Tails Multi-Flavor Dog Biscuits, sold from an Albertsons store in Roseburg. "The dog biscuits were on a list of products recalled several weeks ago," says Dr. Emilio DeBess Oregon State Public Health Veterinarian. "They contain peanut butter that comes from the same Georgia plant that has been linked to the human illnesses." Several other dog biscuit brands were recalled as well. To see the complete list, go to www.fda.gov. |
OK, maybe a little bit TOO healthy.
Biscuits from "Barkwheats" with SeaVeg & Chamomile.
Really. They're dog biscuits made with "organic sea vegetable (bladderwrack) powder straight from the cold ocean off the Maine coast." Wow.
$9.50 for a box of 40 biscuits. 19 calories per biscuit.
Lots of claims by the makers of these treats -- "Known for its detoxification properties and weight control abilities (due to the stimulation of the thyroid), bladderwrack has been a staple in coastal culture for centuries as both a food and a medicine. Chamomile also works to calm inflammation and as a treatment for nerves and stomach ailments."
If nothing else, "bladderwrack" is kind of fun to say. Like talking Pirate.
No endorsements here, I lean on the skeptical side of some of this stuff that's being marketed. But that's me. Figured some of you might like to know bout it. If you have extra $$$ and all that.
(But you can probably find less pricey yet healthy treats from our own local San Pedro Dogs.)
H/T: Barkability
I posted an item on Tuesday about discount pet food and supply prices at Global Pet Food Outlet in Torrance.
On a related issue, Dogster recently wrote about how to find a good, quality dog food -- citing a Consumer Reports article that pricier foods aren't necessarily better.
From the article:
The bottom line, says Consumer Reports: It's more important to look for the overall nutrient profile of a particular pet food brand than it is to shop by price or even individual ingredience. "As a pet owner, your main goal is to ensure that your animal is active and healthy," says Jaime Hirsh, associate health editor at Consumer Reports. "That suggests that the food you're buying is doing its job. But it's also important to know that you don't have to choose the most expansive food to get what's best for your pet. Look for food labeled 'complete and balanced,' which indicates it can be the pet's sole nourishment.
Hirsh advises pet owners to look for labels stating that the food's nutritional adequacy was validated by animal-feeding tests based on protocols from the American Association of Feed Control Officials, a regulatory group. That statement is a step above the other one that AAFCO allows -- that a food was formulated to meet the group's nutrient profiles. "In addition, make sure the package has contact information for the food's manufacturer, in case you have questions," Hirsh says.
Consumers should also take into consideration the age of their pet and whether he or she has special needs. For example, cats with kidney or urinary problems might benefit from the moisture in wet food, while animals with dental issues might do better with dry food.
Dogster has posted the entire article.
About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.