Important Dog Alerts and Warnings

These have been found in newspapers, online and through emails and verified as much as possible. 

6-18-2017: Truxton, Inc. has announced a voluntary recall of lots of veterinary anticonvulsant, anti-seizure, and antidepressant medications containing phenobarbital and amitriptyline due to a label mix-up error. According to the FDA, inadvertent exposure to or overdose of phenobarbital could cause severe intoxication which may lead to cardiogenic shock, renal failure, coma, or death in humans and animals. Inadvertent exposure to or overdose of amitriptyline could cause uneven heartbeats, extreme drowsiness, confusion, agitation, vomiting, hallucinations, hot or cold sensations, muscle stiffness, seizures (convulsions), or fainting in humans and animals. More info here.

Dryer Sheets

How I would love to have full disclosure of ingredients in consumer products. Dryer sheets and fabric softener are not something you want around your dog (or kids!).  It's disturbing that there is so little research available for the general public about the ingredients in the products. Dry sheets and fabric softeners actually waterproof your clothes to make them feel softer!

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry-generated Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from the 1990s, the following is a list of chemicals in fabric softener products, most in untested combinations. Liquid fabric softeners additionally may contain formaldehyde.

• Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer.
• Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant.
• Ethanol: On the EPA's Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders.
• Limonene: Known carcinogen.
• A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage.
• Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list.
• Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders.
• Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic.
• Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders.
• Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled.

To hide the chemical smell, companies load dryer sheets full of chemical fragrances, which are potentially carcinogenic. Dryer sheets are designed to stay on clothing for a long period of time and slowly release their chemicals throughout the day, which leads to prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals.  They have been linked to seizures in dogs. Don't use them! A dryer ball is a safer alternative.

Implanted microchips cause cancer

CASPIAN's new report, "Microchip-Induced Tumors in Laboratory Rodents and Dogs: A Review of the Literature 1990–2006," is a definitive review of research showing a causal link between implanted radio-frequency (RFID) microchip transponders and cancer in laboratory rodents and dogs. It was written in part to correct industry misstatements and misinformation circulating about the studies.

  The report evaluates eleven articles previously published in toxicology and pathology journals. In six of the articles, between 0.8% and 10.2% of laboratory mice and rats developed malignant tumors around or adjacent to the microchips. Two additional articles reported microchip-related cancer in dogs. In almost all cases, the malignant tumors, typically sarcomas, arose at the site of the implants and grew to surround and fully encase the devices. These fast-growing, malignant tumors often led to the death of the afflicted animals. In many cases, the tumors metastasized or spread to other parts of the animals. The implants were unequivocally identified as the cause of the cancers.

The report reviews the relevant research and concludes with a series of recommendations for physicians, policy makers, pet owners, and researchers, including the following: 1) Further microchipping of humans should be immediately discontinued; (2) Implanted patients should be informed in writing of the research findings and offered a procedure for microchip removal, and (3) Policy makers should reverse all animal microchipping mandates.

MY OPINION: Until more information is out on this, I would still microchip my dog - with a malamute that lives approx. 12 years I think the risk to having the dog get lost, stolen or run away is a greater danger than the potential of cancer.  That's just my opinion.  You might reconsider for a smaller dog that lives 18-20 years and is less likely to be lost or stolen because it's SMALL and not outside in a yard as much as a malamute would tend to be (especially with Malamutes' propensity to dig under a fence or go with a stranger).  This is included so you can make your own decision - however, all O'Mal dogs WILL be microchipped until I feel their is a better alternative.

PETA is poisoning dogs now? 

There has been speculation and some very plausable information that Peta, the "animal welfare group" (wow, that's an oxymoron) known as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is turning up at dog shows to let dogs loose and poison them with anti-freeze.  There are reports that pink antifreeze appeared in several dog buckets when Peta was on the grounds of somel recent shows. If you donate to animal welfare organizations please do NOT donate to PETA - they are a bunch of wackos.  Also, the Humane Society of the United States is another group with dubious motives.  Both Peta and HSUS have an agenda that sounds great on their websites, but isn't.  Their real motives are to stop people from having pets of any kind - at all costs.  If you want your dollars to benefit animals, give them to the ASPCA or your local shelter or rescue instead.  Don't support animal terrorists.

 

Four Paws pimple ball with bell.

(Item #20227-001, UPC Code 0 4566320227 9)

 

 

 

Cocoa Mulch (Gardening product)

One weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. They loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog Calypso, decided that the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn't acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk. Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly. Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the companies web site, this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs.

Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey's, and they claim that "It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won't eat it." True information about the mulch can be found here - https://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoa.htm This site gives the following information: Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called "Theo bromine". It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Just a word of caution ? check what you are using in your gardens and be aware of what your gardeners are using in your gardens.

Theo bromine is the ingredient that is used to make all chocolate ? especially dark or baker's chocolate ? which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine. Please email the manufacturer at michellemessick@hersheys.com and request that accurate information about this product be posted on the packaging to avoid further tragedy.

The Danger of Paper Shredders

I know you've all heard it before - but be careful!  If you have a home office paper shredder - TURN IT OFF!   They are very dangerous for pets and children.  Below is a story that will break your heart.  Don't let it happen to your pet!  Also, if yours has an easily turned on switch, put it somewhere inaccessible.  This happened to a pet, but it could be a child just as easily!  

by respected hound person and veterinarian, Elizabeth A Coney, DVM of Kentucky.

She wrote:

Now - for every one of you that has a home paper shredder with an "auto on" feature, I want you to go turn it off and unplug the paper shredder right now. Because night before last I was presented with a paper shredder containing most of the tongue, ripped out by the base, and a very pretty sweet 1 1/2 year old lab cross whose owners euthanized her.

She always watched the paper go into the shredder, she thought it fascinating. The "auto on" feature means the shredder sits there waiting for something to get placed into it. Like an inquisitive tongue.

I told them, "Dogs can do fine without a tongue, they have to learn to drink and eat differently", but the owners didn't want to go there. The look in her eyes said, "I'm sorry, I guess I wasn't supposed to do that, it's all my fault". We all cried.

I cried when I read this, myself. In subsequent posts Beth says she has learned that dogs who have lost more than half their tongues *don't* do as well as she had been taught. According to the veterinary literature it is also possible for animals to be injured other places than tongues - a Basset lost an ear, a long-haired cat most of the skin on its side, a kitten a foot,  etc.

Food & Treat Manufacturer's Recalls

Nature's Variety - Nature’s Variety voluntarily recalled some Chicken Formula Raw Frozen diets in January after testing by an outside facility indicated that some of the products may be contaminated with Salmonella  3-9-2010 Pet Carousel - Conducts Nationwide Recall of Beef Hoof Products and Pig Ears Because of Salmonella Risk

ConsumerAffairs.com has received several complaints about one of the company's treats -- Real Ham Bones. Pet owners say the 8" hickory smoked pork femur bones -- sold as treats -- have splintered and caused their dogs to become violently ill or even die. “My dog ate the bone and died," said pet owner Christina N. of Collierville, Tennessee. “The company denied my claim for vet bills. They said I chose to give my dog the bone. This was a very, very painful death for Buddy. Many dogs have died from this product. I had a necropsy done and still they claim it wasn't their product." A Texas pet owner also blamed the death of her dog on the company’s chew bones: “I purchased the pet treat for my dog and it killed him," said Kriss L. of Richardson, Texas. “Words cannot express my grief."

An Indiana pet owner told us her dog had to undergo surgery after chewing one of Dynamic’s Real Ham Bones. The dog’s health problems, she said, surfaced ten minutes after it started chomping on the treat.

“I noticed it had broken apart, so I took it away from her (and) a short time later she was gravely ill, trying to vomit but couldn’t," said Patti S. “She couldn’t even drink water." Patti rushed her dog to the vet. “They took X-rays and said she had splinters of the bone in her intestines and she had to go through surgery. Thank God I have a great vet because she is the reason my dog is still alive."

Patti called Dynamic Pet Products about her dog’s experience. The company referred her case to its insurance carrier, which denied Patti’s claim. “They would not pay a dime," she said. “They (said) they were not at fault. They said I was for not monitoring my dog closely enough." A New Jersey pet owner also told us her dogs became sick after eating one of Dynamic’s chew bones: “On March 2, I bought two Real Ham Bones for my two Bulldogs," said Nadine of Woodstown, New Jersey. “That night, one Bulldog threw up 5 times."

Nadine’s vet ordered X-rays on the dog, but they did not reveal any blockage. The vet, however, blamed the chew bone for the dog’s gastric problems, she said. “This is day three (and) she has not moved her bowels yet and (we) will have to have another trip to the vet." What about Nadine’s other Bulldog? “She is moving her bowels, but they are full of bone," she said.

Another pet owner told us her dog experienced similar problems after gnawing on one Dynamic’s chew bones. “I bought a Real Ham Bone made by Dynamic and a few hours later my dog was throwing up and yelping when he had a bowel movement," said Maureen G. of Gladstone, Missouri. “I decided to Google the product and found out this has happened to a lot of pets. “This product needs to be taken off the shelf," she added. “How many dogs have to die first? Luckily, my dog will be okay. I bought it for him thinking that it would be safe and unfortunately the product isn't." ConsumerAffairs.com contacted Dynamic Pet Products today about the FDA’s investigation and the complaints we’ve received about its chew bones. The company did not return our call.

Dynamic’s Web site states the Real Ham Bones are not recommended for aggressive chewers. “As with all natural bones, we recommend supervision during eating," the Web site points out. The company’s Web site also states that it’s “proud" of its track record and reputation. Dynamic has not pulled any of its chew bones or treats off the market and pet owners are likely to still find them on store shelves. The FDA said pet owners can report any health problems their dogs experience with Dynamic Pet Products’ chew bones or treats to the agency’s Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their region. Read more: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/03/dynamic_pet_products.html#ixzz0iCf81Jsk

From the FDA

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