Chicken jerky treats linked to mystery illnesses, deaths in dogs

We need to be so careful on the products we choose for our beloved pets.
If you have purchased these chicken jerky treats, you might want to reconsider feeding them to your pet after reading this article.

For a healthy alternative to these treats for your dog, check out: Life's Abundance Dog Treats. Life's Abundance products are made here in the USA and are made from all natural ingredients.

Chicken jerky treats may be to blame for dozens of new reports of mysterious illnesses and some deaths in dogs, prompting a renewed warning for pet owners by the Food and Drug Administration.

At least 70 dogs have been sickened so far this year after reportedly eating chicken jerky products imported from China, FDA officials said. That’s up from 54 reports of illness in 2010. Some of the dogs have died, according to the anecdotal reports from pet owners and veterinarians.

FDA officials say they have not been able to find a cause for the illnesses. Extensive chemical and microbiological testing has failed to turn up a specific contaminant and officials did not identify a specific brand of treats. They note that the reports of illness have not conclusively been tied to chicken jerky products, also sold as chicken tenders, chicken strips or chicken treats.

The new warning follows previous FDA cautions about chicken jerky treats in 2007 and 2008. But after a high of 156 reports of illness in 2007, the number of complaints dropped. Now, it's rising again.

Dog owners and vets are reporting that animals may be stricken with a range of illnesses within days or hours of eating chicken jerky, including kidney failure and Fanconi syndrome, a condition characterized by low glucose.

Symptoms may include decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea, increased water consumption and increased urination. If dogs show any of these signs, stop feeding the animal the chicken jerky products, FDA officials said. If signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours, seek veterinary help.

Most dogs have recovered, officials said.

Illnesses can be reported to the FDA’s Pet Food Complaint site.

By JoNel Aleccia

Dogs in China 'welcome' Year of the Tiger and confidence boost

This year, the Year of the Tiger in China, has brought an interest in the dyeing trend - with tigers being the most-sought-after look. From Golden Retrievers to Pekingese, pets are not just being dyed basic colors but are being transformed to look like other animals. Dogs In China

Dogs are being decorated as turtle-dog, zebra-dog, spiderman-dog, tiger-dog and even panda-dog.

Sophie, the family dog, comforts aging father

Sophie, the golden retriever, helps a 93 year old father and husband who shows signs of dementia through tough times while his wife is recuperating from hip surgery. Sophie seems to have a duty to take care of him.

Diesel the Great Dane enjoys his car rides

Diesel, the Great Dane, loves to go for a ride in the convertible and many heads turn as they pass on by.

What is your pet eating?

Results from a recent Harris Interactive survey found that 77% of dogs and cats eat crumbs off the floor and that 23% of cats and 16% of dogs drink from the toilet. So be sure that you do not have anything harmful drop on the floor that could be ingested by your pet, including tobacco and medicines. Also be careful of what type of floor cleaners you use.

When using toilet cleaners be sure and use non-toxic ones (read the label) or keep the lid down on the toilet.

CHAMPION CHEESE & VEGGIE CHEWS

1/2 cup grated cheese at room temperature
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 teaspoons applesauce
1/2 cup vegetables -- what ever you like
1 cup whole wheat flour
Nonfat milk

Mix cheese, oil and applesauce together. Add veggies and flour.
Combine thoroughly. Add just enough milk to help form a ball.
Cover and chill for one hour.
Roll onto a floured surface and cut into shapes.
Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 15 minutes or until golden
brown. Let cool.

HOMEMADE LIVER TREATS
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 pound beef liver

Pre-heat oven to 350.
Liquefy liver in blender, add dry ingredients. Grease cookie sheet.
Drop teaspoonfuls of mixture onto cookie sheet and flatten with
bottom of glass dipped in water and cornmeal. Bake for 15-20
minutes.
You may store baked or unbaked dough in freezer.

News alert: Pet treat under investigation

The Food and Drug Administration is looking into concerns that a Missouri-produced pet treat has caused serious illness or death in dogs, according to the Associated Press.

An FDA spokesman said the government is reviewing complaints about Real Ham Bone For Dogs.

The pet treat is sold throughout the U.S. and distributed under the Dynamic Pet Products label of Frick's Quality Meats in Washington, Mo.

Pet food advice: 'Chow Hound' is a guide for loving owners

In his new book Chow Hound (Health Communications, Inc., $14.95), veterinarian Ernie Ward looks at the processed foods we give our pets. He's not trying to rush anyone into putting their dog on a fresh or raw diet (he even warns of contamination issues with these foods), but he is urging people to learn more about what they're feeding their dogs. His explanations about how commercial foods are produced, what they're made up of and how they're regulated are thorough. He tries to take readers through the gibberish on the labels and points you toward good choices.

No hungry dogs: New pantry to help people afford pets in Cincinnati

The Associated Press reports dozens of pet owners lined up over the weekend at the Cincinnati Food Pantry to receive a two weeks' supply of pet food, treats, cat litter and other items. Two local nonprofit animal-rescue groups teamed up to obtain donations to supply the first giveaway.

This is a great idea, maybe YOU can start one in your city.

Chilly Dog Safe After Long Float in Baltic

UPDATE TO ORIGINAL STORY (AND WITH A HAPPY ENDING):
Baltic, the spunky dog who floated at least 75 miles (120 kilometres) on an ice floe, has a new owner: The seaman who rescued him.

The Associated Press reports Wojciech Pelczarski of the Sea Fisheries Institute in Gdynia said the decision was made after the dog rejected six people who had claimed to be his original owner. Pelczarski, whose institute co-owns the research ship "Baltica" that rescued the dog and nicknamed him, says Baltic is sociable, affectionate and was getting his first bath since his icy ordeal because his fur was still salty.

The dog's new master is Adam Buczynski, who pulled him to safety from an ice sheet in the Baltic Sea last week.

ORIGINAL STORY:
A frightened, shivering dog was rescued after floating at least 75 miles on an ice floe down Poland's Vistula River and into the Baltic Sea. Now his saviors have to figure out who really owns him.

Four people already have claimed him, but so far rescuers say there has been no wagging tail of joy from the miracle dog they named Baltic. The dog's frozen odyssey came as Poland suffers through a winter cold snap, with temperatures dipping to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit.

The thick-furred male dog was found adrift last week 15 miles out in the Baltic Sea by the crew of a Polish ship of ocean scientists doing research.

One of the researchers said the rescue was difficult and at one point it seemed the dog had drowned. It was really a tough struggle as the dog kept slipping into the water and crawling back on top of the ice. At one point, it vanished underwater, under the ship, and thought it was the end, but it emerged again and crawled on an ice sheet.

The crew lowered a pontoon to the water and a crew member managed to grab the dog by the scruff of his neck and pull him to safety.

Endless Barking

(This was written by someone to the Editor of a local newspaper and it always breaks my heart to hear a dog barking consistently-this says it all):

In the heat of summer, we hear you barking hour after hour! I wonder-do you have shade and water?

In the cold and darkness of a winter night, we hear you barking. I wonder-do the humans you live with not hear you barking?

You live near a church, but the church cannot save you.

What should we do? We do not want you to end up in an animal shelter, but you would have food, water and shelter from the heat and the cold. Your friends would notice the silence and hope you were being cared for.

What are the humans who should be caring for you thinking? Why do they treat you this way?

We hear your bark - for help.

Fidos' Finest, SW Edition

This new edition of hotels that allow pets lists the Broadmoor, a 5 star hotel in Colorado Springs, as just one of the many facilities that is allowing guests to bring their dogs (at $35 per stay, per dog). This guide lists 365 hotels, condos and resorts that welcome (often for a fee) dogs as well as their owners. There's also a bare-essentials list of off-leash dog parks and other parks. "Fido's Finest"(south-west edition) by Bridgette Maxwell, $17.95, info@fidosfinest.com

The AKC Welcomes Mutts to their Club

Read how the American Kennel Club will open their performance events of Obedience, Rally and Agility up to mixed breeds on April 1. Mixed breeds will compete in the same classes and earn the same titles as their purebred counterparts.

Iraq GI's missing dog found in Jefferson County, Colorado

It is so heart warming to read about animals that have been reunited with their families:

Heidi, the Iraqi mutt missing since Tuesday, was found safe Saturday by Julie Flint, the mother of 25-year-old Colorado Army National Guard Spec. Shawn Flint, the dog's guardian.

Heidi was found about 8 miles from the Flint family home on South Coors Street near West Quincy Avenue and C-470, Flint said in an e-mail sent to The Denver Post.

"No words can describe my emotions right now," Flint wrote.

Officers at Jefferson County Animal Control were also elated at the good news.

Two to three officers per shift had searched since Thursday for the dog, setting out one cage that they filled with Pop-Tarts and a bowl of mocha coffee in hopes of enticing the pooch inside.

Flint had told animal officials about the dog's love for blueberry Pop-Tarts, muffins and mocha (as well as cheese).

"We talked to everybody about the dog and we're really happy she was found," Officer Sharon Wright said.

Heidi was just a stray pup roaming around the gate of Camp Ar Ramadi, about 70 miles west of Baghdad, when soldiers took her in.

Spec. Flint, a 2003 graduate of Bear Creek High School, took over the care of Heidi soon after he was deployed to the base along the Euphrates River in August. He is scheduled to come home in May, his mother said.

Operation Baghdad Pups, run by SPCA International, helped fly the dog to Denver, but just a few minutes after arriving at her new Colorado home, Heidi bolted out the door, after wiggling out of her collar and leash.

Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com Denver Post staff writer Joey Bunch contributed to this report.

Is the Lab still #1 favorite breed-cast your vote

Here's a graphic of the 10 most popular breeds in the USA, according to the American Kennel Club. We want to know which is most popular according to you, so cast your vote!

Wolf-dog rescued from head stuck in a pipe

Read about a wolf-dog hybrid recovering after being freed from a heavy, steel pipe that was stuck on her head, encasing her face down to the neck in Boulder County.

108 charges alleged in Park Co. sled dog case

Last month, the Park County Sheriff's Department will recommend that 108 counts of animal cruelty be filed against the owners of the Pawsatrak Racing Sled Dog Kennel near Hartsel, CO.

State and Park County investigators removed a total of about 100 dogs, all of whom were neglected and starving.

"The facility itself was appropriate for the type of dogs because this breed is well suited for the weather. The problem is that proper nutrition was not provided," said Anderson. "Overall, the dogs seemed to have good temperaments and are very friendly."

Read entire article

Denver Residents Torn on Dog Rules

Denver Parks and Recreation is proposing off-leash dog hours at City Park and up to two more dog park locations at Cook and Vanderbilt parks.

The draft Dog Park Master Plan was released last week in response to complaints that more enforcement is needed to keep dogs on leashes at parks, and in turn, dog owners who are being ticketed complaining there aren't enough places to let Fido run.

If you live in Denver, read the entire article to learn about possible fines and generating revenue for the City of Denver.

Cute-dog winner a champion for homeless animals

"Cutest" pooch $1 million prize will go to shelters in the Denver area. Heart warming story on how a pint-sized Chihuahua won an on-line cutest dog competition and the prize money will help the shelters to fund programs in cruelty investigations, foster care and classes, as well as assist "special case" animals who require surgeries or treatment.