There was an update to a recent dog food recall.  While this food was marketed in Louisiana and not in Virginia, my concern is for any families that may have recently traveled there for the holidays.

Please contact us with any concerns.
Updated New Release With Corrected Lot Numbers
Petrus Feed And Seed Stores, Inc. Recalls Its 21% Dog FoodContact:
Consumer/Media 
318-443-2259

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 14, 2011 - Petrus Feed and Seed Stores, Inc. today announced a voluntary recall of its dry dog food – 21% Protein Dog Food in 40 lb Petrus Feed bags. The product is being recalled because the product was manufactured with corn which tested above acceptable levels for Aflatoxin. The affected products were manufactured at Cargill’s manufacturing facility located in LeCompte, Louisiana between December 1, 2010 and December 1, 2011.

The recall only applies 21% Dog Food, packaged in 40 lb Petrus Feed bags with the following packaging Date codes (lot numbers) 4K1011 through 4K1307. Updated lot numbers are 4K1011 through 4K1335.

The affected dry dog food was distributed in Petrus Feed and Seed in Alexandria, Louisiana.

While no adverse health effects related to these products have been reported, Petrus Feed and Seed Store, Inc. 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, contact 318-443-2259, Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM and Saturday, 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM.

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.

If you are planning on taking a trip with your pet for the holidays (or any other time), we can be of assistance.

If your pet is anxious in the car, barks, meows, throws up, or is otherwise uncomfortable, we can help you.

Should your trip be taking you out of the state or the country, we can complete the necessary Health Certificates.  Remember, when traveling by air, you must book your pet's travel arrangements in advance with the airline.  At the airport be prepared to have to take your pet out of their carrier for security checks.  It is a good idea to bring a small bowl for water and a Ziploc bag of food in case of an unexpected delay.

When traveling we also recommend having your pet microchipped.  In the event your pet would ever get lost, this microchip is a permanent form of identification.  All shelters and vet clinics have microchip scanners, and we've united several lost pets who were microchipped.  

Contact us if you have any questions.

Happy Holidays from Dr. Silverstone and the Staff of Animal Care Clinic.

I'd like to share with you some holiday travel tips from the ASPCA.
 For some pet parents, a trip's no fun if the four-legged members of the family can't come. But traveling can be highly stressful, both for you and your animal companions. With thoughtful preparation, you can ensure a safe and comfortable trip for everyone.

Planning a road trip? Traveling with a pet involves more than just loading the animal in the back seat and motoring off—especially if you will be driving long distances or plan to be away for a long time. The ASPCA offers the following tips to help you prepare for a safe and smooth car trip:

1. Keep your pets safe and secure in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. There are a variety of wire mesh, hard plastic and soft-sided carriers available. Whatever you choose, make sure it's large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in. And P.S., it's smart to get your pet used to the carrier in the comfort of your home before your trip. 
   
   
2. Get your pet geared up for a long trip by taking him on a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening time spent in the car. And please be sure to always secure the crate so it won't slide or shift in the event of a quick stop. 
   
   
3. Your pet's travel-feeding schedule should start with a light meal three to four hours prior to departure. Don't feed your furry friend in a moving vehicle—even if it is a long drive. 
   
   
4. Never leave your animal alone in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, even with the windows open, a parked automobile can become a furnace in no time, and heatstroke can develop. In cold weather, a car can act as a refrigerator, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death. 
   
   
5. What in your pet's traveling kit? In addition to travel papers, food, bowl, leash, a waste scoop, plastic bags, grooming supplies, medication and a pet first-aid kit, pack a favorite toy or pillow to give your pet a sense of familiarity. 
   
   
6. Make sure your pet has a microchip for identification and wears a collar with a tag imprinted with your home address, as well as a temporary travel tag with your cell phone, destination phone number and any other relevant contact information. Canines should wear flat (never choke!) collars, please. 
   
   
7. Don't allow your pet to ride with his head outside the window. He could be injured by flying objects. And please keep him in the back seat in his crate or with a harness attached to a seat buckle. 
   
   
8. Traveling across state lines? Bring along your pet's rabies vaccination record, as some states requires this proof at certain interstate crossings. While this generally isn't a problem, it's always smart to be on the safe side. 
   
   
9. When it comes to H2O, we say BYO. Opt for bottled water or tap water stored in plastic jugs. Drinking water from an area he's not used to could result in tummy upset for your pet. 
   
   
10. If you travel frequently with your pet, you may want to invest in rubberized floor liners and waterproof seat covers, available at auto product retailers.

Air Travel Tips

Please review this urgent recall regarding Iams dog food.  If you have any questions or are concerned 

|MoreRECALLSRecall: Iams dry dog food—unacceptable levels of the toxin AflatoxinDec 6, 2011 2:30 PMOne lot of P&G's Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food is being recalled due to high levels of a naturally-occurring toxin that can sicken pets, Proctor & Gamble and the U.S. Food and Drug administration announced today.

According to the FDA, the recalled dog food was distributed to specific retailers in the following states: AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, ME, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, SC, VA. The specific retailers are not named in the recall notice, but the FDA does say that it is a limited number. It is also unclear how many bags of Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dog food is included in one lot.

The FDA reports, however, that retailers have removed the affected dog food from store shelves, and that no health effects related to this recall have been reported. No other dry or canned dog and cat food (or dog and cat biscuits, treats or supplements), are affected by this recall.

The recalled dog food has a use by or expiration date of either February 5 or February 6, 2013, and includes the following specific products:

SizeCode DateUPC Code

7.0 lb bag12784177I619014023058.0 lb bag12794177D2
12794177D3190141020817.5 lb bag12794177K1
12794177K21901401848The toxin, Aflatoxin, is a naturally occurring by-product from the growth of Aspergillus flavus and can be harmful to pets if consumed in significant quantities. Pets which have consumed this product 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.

Consumers who purchased the recalled Iams dry dog food should stop using it and throw it away. Consumers can also contact Iams at the number below for a voucher toward a replacement bag of dog food. For more information, or a product replacement or refund call P&G at 866-908-1569, or visit www.iams.com.

P&G Voluntarily Recalls One Production Lot of Dry Dog Food [US FDA]

—Maggie Shader

We will be featuring cases of common pet ailments on our blog.  Rest assured, we’ve asked our client’s permission prior to featuring their case and we will protect their identity. 

Princess is a 12 year old cat that came to us for vomiting.  After going over with her owner what had been happening we performed a thorough examination.  We first ruled out any intestinal parasites (worms) as the cause of her throwing up.  Since she was an older cat, we decided to perform a quick blood screen on her.  With a few drops of blood we were able to obtain a complete picture of how well her liver, kidneys, and thyroid gland were working.

In her case we discovered that Princess had a common condition of making to much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroid).  We then discussed treatment options for Princess.  Recently a new prescription diet was introduced for treating feline hyperthyroid.  We elected to start Princess on this diet, call Y/D by Hills Science Diet.  So far Princess has been doing great.  She will still need regular blood tests to make sure the diet is treating her condition adequately, but she will not need any other daily medications.

I’m now going to take a step back and discuss the diagnosis and treatment options of hyperthyroid in cats.  The thyroid gland drives our body’s metabolism.  In other words, it revs our engine.  Cats are prone to producing too much thyroid as they get older.  The condition can go undetected for many years.  Most recently we’ve started recommending a quick blood screen for all cats over the age of five year.  We can do this test in a matter of minutes in our hospital.

Cats with hyperthyroid will often begin to shed excessively.  They will start to eat more and more voraciously, and often throw up.  They will drink more water and urinate more often.  They may seem agitated and behave differently.  When we examine any cat we look for other changes that might give us clues to this condition.  We listen for an elevated heart rate.  We palpate along the bottom of the neck (Adam’s apple) to feel for swelling.  We also check the eyes for signs of hypertension and if needed we can do blood pressure checking.  While there are other conditions that can cause these same signs, we look at the patient as a whole and decide if we need to blood test.

Once we’ve diagnosed the condition with a blood test, we have three treatment options.  Daily medication, surgery, a special treatment with Iodine, and now we have the Y/D diet.  All the treatments have their pros and cons and have various costs.  Fortunately the cost of the diet is very similar to that of the daily medication and regular diet.  Many cats are not easy to medicate, so the diet also brings the convenience of just being able to treat your cat with food alone.  Regardless which treatment has been chosen, there is still close monitoring of your cats blood chemistry values and urinalysis that is required.

For cats that are already being treated for hyperthyroid, they can be transitioned for daily medication to the diet.  For families with more than one cat there are special considerations as well, but under the right circumstances the diet can be fed in a multi-cat household.

If you have a cat with hyperthyroid or if you just have an older cat that you’d like us to check out, please let us know.  Keep in mind, this diet is considered to be a prescription.  Your cat has to be a patient with us for us to dispense it.

Please contact us by phone 757-340-6996 to make an appointment if you wish to discuss any of your pet's medical concerns.

Dr. Silverstone