In order to avoid parasites and spoilage to enter your pet’s food which can cause illness and/or disease to you and your pets, the FDA has some suggestions about keeping food safe. With all the recalls of pet foods due to the presence of salmonella or other problems, it’s a good idea to follow these […]
Pet Health
DANGER! – Foxtail Plants
The name Foxtail is descriptive of several species of grasses which resemble a fox’s tail. While the foxtail plant itself appears innocuous, it can cause serious injury to cats and dogs and can even be life-threatening. The danger is in the awns of the plant. Awns are small parts that are barbed and attach themselves […]
Mycotoxins in Pet Foods
Mycotoxins are substances produced by fungi and mold. Aflatoxin is a common type of mold. Corn, rice, wheat, nuts, legumes are often contaminated with aflatoxin. Aflatoxins appear when growth is problematic or the products are stored too long and/or under poor conditions. According to the South China Morning Post, aflatoxins, which are potent carcinogens are […]
Vaccinating an Exotic Pet
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tells us that the rabies virus can be transmitted to all mammals, humans too. Some mammals are carriers of the rabies virus and are referred to as reservoirs. Commonly, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, skunks and some species of bats are reservoirs but can also be infected by the […]
E Cigarettes and Pets
While DDT sprayed on our growing food may be a thing of the past, we humans seem to have a knack for creating other toxins that harm our environment, our pets and other animals and ourselves. Unfortunately, many of these bad guys don’t rear their toxic properties until much damage is done. There is a […]
Valley Fever in Pets
Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) is caused by a fungus – Coccidioses – that lives in the soil of mainly dry areas. It is commonly found in the Southwest United States and parts of Mexico, Central America and South America. Inhalation of the airborne fungal spores usually begins the infection in the lungs. Symptoms are similar to […]
FDA Approval of Insulin Pen
FDA Approves First Insulin Product for Use with Automatic Injection Pen in Cats and Dogs Approval provides consumers with additional option for insulin delivery March 19, 2014 Media Inquiries: Megan Bensette, 240-506-6818 Consumer Inquiries: 240-276-9300, [email protected] The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the first approval of an insulin for use in cats and […]
New Tools for Titering
With over-vaccination in the news and guidelines for vaccination seeming to change constantly, what is a pet parent to do. We have been using titer testing to determine the amount of protection our pets have from vaccinable diseases. But they have proved to be very expensive, particularly if you have multiple pets. Enter VacciCheck Antibody […]
Give Your Pet a Once-Over
Early detection of disease such as cancer, flea and/or tick infestations, lumps and bumps, wounds, infections, can mean the difference in saving your pet (and you) a lot of pain and heartache and keeping your pet healthy. You can begin by getting your pet used to your touch, all over the body, when the pet […]
FDA-Avoiding Drug Errors in Pets
When your pet is ailing and your veterinarian prescribes a drug to treat him/her, it’s important to know as much as you can about the drug since you will be administering it. Following are some questions to consider asking your vet. What is the name of the drug? Could it interact with other drugs my […]