Recalls 1/5/2017

Recalls 1/5/2017

There have been a few recalls over the past week that I noticed on the FDA's recall page for animals.

I need to check it more often, but you should as well.  My updates here about recalls are not always timely!  The link is in the resources section at the bottom of this post.

Blue Ridge Beef announced a recall nearly a month ago on 12/8/2016:
Blue Ridge Beef is voluntarily recalling two (2) of its frozen products due to their potential to be contaminated with Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes. Salmonella and Listeria can affect animals eating the product. There is a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surface exposed to these products.  More Info

Though we focus on dogs here at The Dog Dame, we also love kitties, too!  9 Lives, EverPet, and Special Kitty canned cat foods have been recalled as of January 3, 2017.

Orrville, OH - The J.M. Smucker Company today announced a limited voluntary recall on certain lots of 9LivesTM, EverPetTM, and Special KittyTM canned cat food due to possible low levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1).

The issue was discovered by the Quality Assurance team during review of production records at the manufacturing facility. No illnesses related to this issue have been reported to date and the product is being recalled out of an abundance of caution.

Cats fed diets low in thiamine for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is essential for cats. Symptoms of deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting, and weight loss. In advanced cases, neurological signs can develop, which include ventroflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, circling, falling, and seizures. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat is displaying any of these symptoms. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible. More Info

Resources:
FDA Recalls & Withdrawals

Five OTC Medications That You Can Give Your Dogs

You should always consult your vet for the specific dosage for your dog.  This post is meant as a guide or reference only and should not be considered medical advice.  Always consult your vet before giving any OTC medication to your dog.

With any of these medications, make sure you are giving a single ingredient formula, and that the medication you are giving does NOT contain a decongestant, tylenol (acetaminophen) or advil (ibuprofen).  These are toxic to dogs.  Just one Advil (ibuprofen) pill may kill your dog.

Benadryl, also known as diphenhydramine, is an anti-histamine that is often suggested by vets to treat allergic reactions just like in people.  It can be used to treat itching, rashes, and even nasal congestion.  It can also work to help prevent motion sickness, but only if it makes your dog drowsy.

• Dosage: 1.5- 1mg/per lb every 8 hrs with food.  Just like with people, Benadryl can cause excitability in dogs, or it can cause drowsiness.  Do not give more than 2mg per pound unless directed by a vet.
• Side effects include: dry mouth, sedation, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea
• Signs of Overdose include: powerful sedation, seizures, clumsiness, and respiratory issues.

Dramamine is often prescribed to treat motion-sickness.  I've used both Dramamine and Benedryl (NOT together!) before a long car trip to help prevent my basset, Remy, from suffering from motion sickness.  The backseat of my car suffered several messes until I learned that she could take this. Do not give to a pregnant dog.  

• Dosage: 2-4mg per pound of body weight, given 30-60 minutes before travel.
• Side Effects include: dry mouth, sedation, difficulty urinating, dehydration, appetite loss, excessive thirst.
• Signs of Overdose include: vomiting, seizures, lethargy, respiratory problems

Zyrtec is the brand name for Cetrizine, and though not forulated for dogs, is commonly prescribed by vets for skin issues or allergies.  It seems to be hit or miss - it works miraculously well for some dogs and not at all for others.  Make sure to only give your dog regular Zyrtec or it's generic equivelent, and never Zyrtec-D.  The "D" stands for decongestant and can very well kill your pooch. 

• Dosage: 0.5 mg per pound of body weight, taken either once or twice daily depending on allergy severity. 
• Side Effects include: vomiting, salivation (drooling), urine retention, constipation
• Signs of Overdose include: vomiting, lethargy/heavy sedation, excessive drooling.

Robitussin DM is also known by it's generic name dextromethorphan and guaifenesin and like all of the medications, can be given to your dog after you check with your vet.  Like with people, it's used to treat a hacking cough. It should only be used with your vet's prior approval, and only for very short periods.  If your dog requires more than 2-3 doses, you need to take your dog in to see your vet.  This medication will not cure the cause of the cough, but will suppress the cough. The liquid may contain alcohol, which can be dangerous for dogs, so check the label every time and always consult with your vet.   Also, double check to make sure that the formulation you have does not contain acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) as those are toxic and can be fatal to dogs. 

• Dosage: 0.5 mg per pound of body weight, once every 8 hours.
• Side Effects can include sedation, lack of coordination, weakness, nausea and heightened thirst.
• Signs of Overdose include: heavy sedation, listlessness, restlessness, confusion, tremor, irregular heartbeat, seizures, and difficulty urinating.

Pedialyte can be given to a dog that has experienced vomiting or diarrhea and who may be mildly dehydrated as a result.   Pedialyte contains chloride, sodium, and potassium and drinking it will help your dog restore balanced levels of electrolytes.  Generally speaking, you should try the unflavored pedialyte and avoid the flavored varieties, though the flavored pedialyte probably won't case any harm.  You can mix it with water, but don't mix it with any other fluids.

• Dosage: Since it wasn't formulated for dogs, there is some disagreement over the dose.  I prefer to err on the side of caution and start with a smaller dose and increase if necessary.  A good starting point is around 1/4 cup every hour for a few hours, but you may need to dilute or mix it to get your dog to drink it.
• Side Effects: you may notice your dog has to urinate more often, but for a dog that has been even mildly dehydrated, this is a good thing!
• Signs of Overdose: I couldn't find any clearly documented, but I would advise that if your dog appears to dehydrated even after a couple of cups of Pedialyte, you need to get your dog to the vet for them to assess.  I personally would not give my dogs more than a cup or two of Pedialyte and not see a vet.

SOURCES:

VetStreet

Doginton Post

Can I Give My Dog
VeterinaryPlace
VetInfo

RECALL ALERT: RX EYE DROPS FOR DOGS

Kinetic Technologies and Kinetic Vet located in Lexington, KY has voluntarily recalled Hy-Optic – lot # 10092015, OptiVet – lot # 12032015 and Optimend – lot # 01122015. This voluntary recall is the result of deficiencies in sterility, which may lead to deteriorating eye conditions, irritation and/or infection.

• Hy-Optic Eye Irrigating Solution – NDC # 51031-011-15,  Lot # 10092015,  Exp. Date 10/2017
• OptiVet Eye Irrigating Solution –-  NDC # 51031-011-15,  Lot # 12032015, Exp. Date 07/2017
• Optimend Corneal Repair Drops –  NDC # 51031-013-10,  Lot # 01122015,  Exp. Date 10/2017

Each product is packaged in a branded box with the lot number and expiration date printed on the box. Hy-Optic Eye Irrigating Solution and OptiVet Eye Irrigating Solution are packaged in 15 mL oval eye drop containers and labeled prior to packaging. No animal species are listed on the label for use in non-specified animals. Optimend Corneal Repair Drops is packaged in a 10 mL circular eye drop container and labeled prior to packaging for use in dogs, cats and horses for the treatment of corneal ulcers.

 

FOR MORE INFO, Check the FDA site:  http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm519174.htm

Canine Vaccines: The Diseases That They Prevent

You know that you get your dog vaccinated, but do you know what the vaccines are for?

Vaccines work by introducing the virus or bacteria to the body in a very small amount, so that the body's natural immune system will develop antibodies to the virus.  Once your dog's body does this, if the actual virus or bacteria is contracted, your dog's body will recognize it as a threat and will respond with an immune response to eradicate it.

There are two main kinds of vaccines:  Core (usually legally required) and Non-Core (optional)

Core vaccines include Distemper, Parvo, Canine Hepatitis, and Rabies.
Non-Core vaccines include vaccines against bacteria such as Bordetella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi and Leptospirosis.


Core Vaccines:


Distemper is a virus with no known cure.  It's similar to the measles virus in humans.  Early symptoms of an infection are fever (103.5+), red eyes, watery discharge from nose and eyes, lethargy, and anorexia.  persistent coughing, vomiting, or diarrhea are also common symptoms.
Parvovirus (parvo) is highly contagious and is dangerous, particularly to puppies and very old dogs.  Poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea (with or without blood) are common symptoms.  Parvo can attack the heart muscle and bone marrow function as well, and is often lethal. Many shelters will euthanize dogs with Parvo instead of trying to treat it due to the high mortality rate and because it is highly contagious.
Canine Hepatitis can be fatal. It starts by causing an upper respiratory infection, and then attacks the liver, eyes, kidneys, and then the bloodstream.  It's a nasty virus.

DAPPv is also known as the canine distemper combination. It is a four-way vaccine that protects against distemper, andenovirus (Canine Hepatitis), parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Vaccination should begin at 8 weeks of age. Boosters are given every 3-4 weeks until the puppy has reached 16 weeks of age or older. After the initial series the vaccine is boosted in one year, and every three years after that.

Rabies is often fatal, and is very serious.  It affects the dog's central nervous system and gray matter of their brain.  There are two kinds of rabies, furious and paralytic.  Furious rabies includes the type of rabies you hear about or see on movies and features increased and overt aggression, biting Paralytic rabies is also sometimes called dumb rabies, and features loss of coordination and weakness.  Furious rabies usually lasts a few days, followed by paralytic rabies.  The virus moves quickly and early treatment is necessary for recovery. Rabies can be transmitted to humans and is very dangerous.

The Rabies vaccine can be administered to puppies as young as 3 months of age.  It's usually recommended for a puppy to get a one year vaccine, followed by another one year vaccine, then a three year vaccine.

Non-Core Vaccines

Bordetella is also called kennel cough. Your dog will need this vaccine if she or he is going to be boarded at a canine daycare or boarding facility, or otherwise around other dogs.  It's a highly contagious respiratory infection, with the most common symptom being a persistent cough.  A dog with kennel cough may also have watery nasal discharge, and in cases that have been left untreated, symptoms can progress to pneumonia, fever, lack of appetite, lethargy, and death.  Dogs often show symptoms 3-4 days after exposure.

The Bordetella vaccine for dogs is administered either as an injection under the skin or via nose drops every 6-12 months.  A vaccinated dog may still contract Bordetella, but the case is often less severe.  Most dogs can be vaccinated every 12 months, but your vet may recommend more often if your dog is frequently exposed to other dogs (such as those in dog daycare).

Borellia burgdorferi is also known as Lyme Disease and is spread by ticks, especially black legged ticks. Some Flea prevention products also work against ticks, as I talked about in this post about Flea & Tick prevention, but there is also a vaccine available.  Lyme Disease causes joint pain (this may be lifelong!), tiredness, fever, and loss of appetite. There can also be less common symptoms like sudden onset lameness.  My dog Otis had Lyme Disease when I adopted him, which is part of why flea and tick prevention is so important to me.

The Lyme Disease, or Borellia burgdorferi, vaccine is usually given in two doses the first time, with each dose two to four weeks apart and annual re-vaccination. Puppies must be at least 9 weeks old to receive the vaccine.  

Leptospirosis is something I had not heard of before until a friend of mine from Brazil told me how her dog had died from this, so I looked it up and found out that this bacteria causes infections across the world, particularly in warm and rainy areas, and is very serious.  Common risk factors for leptospirosis in dogs residing in the United States include exposure to or drinking from rivers, lakes or streams, dogs that are around other dogs.  Some infected dogs do not show any signs of illness or infections, some have a mild and transient illness and recover spontaneously on their own, while others develop severe illness and death. 

Signs of leptospirosis may include fever, shivering, muscle tenderness, reluctance to move, increased thirst, changes in the frequency or amount of urination, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes), or painful inflammation within the eyes. The disease can cause kidney failure with or without liver failure. Dogs may occasionally develop severe lung disease and have difficulty breathing. Leptospirosis can cause bleeding disorders, which can lead to blood-tinged vomit, urine, stool or saliva; nosebleeds; and pinpoint red spots (which may be visible on the gums and other mucous membranes or on light-colored skin). Affected dogs can also develop swollen legs (from fluid accumulation) or accumulate excess fluid in their chest or abdomen. Soon after this bacteria infects your dog, fever and bacterial infection of the blood develops. The bacteria reproduces in the liver, kidneys, central nervous system, eyes, and/or reproductive system.  While a healthy dog's immune system may be able to clear out most of the infection, often some bacteria is left in the kidneys which then infect the urine.  This bacteria can be passed between dogs and animals.  Dogs can become infected and develop leptospirosis if their mucous membranes (or skin with any wound, such as a cut or scrape) come into contact with infected urine, urine-contaminated soil, water, food or bedding; through a bite from an infected animal; by eating infected tissues or carcasses; and rarely, through breeding. It can also be passed through the placenta from the mother dog to the puppies.

There is a Leptospirosis vaccine available, and it is adminstered annually.  You may have to ask your vet for this vaccine, as they may not offer it to all dogs.  If your dog is frequently around other dogs, or has access to woods or water (lakes, ponds, streams) you may want to seriously consider this vaccine.

Remember:  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Source:
ASPCA
PetMD
PetsWebMD
VetStreet
AMVA

Household & Environmental Dangers

 As a dog owner, you are probably familiar with some of the things commonly found in homes that are toxic to dogs, like chocolate. Unfortunately, there are a lot of household or lawn products that are toxic to dogs, and you may be surprised by some of them!



Anti-Freeze that contains ethylene glycol is toxic to dogs, and worse, it has a sweet taste that is attractive to animals!  Ethylene glycol is also found in snow globes and in some de-icing formulations.

De-icing salts used to melt snow and ice can be damaging to a dog's paws, and can make them sick if they lick it off.  Use a paw-safe product like Safe Paw, and wipe off your dog's paws after he has come into contact with any de-icing chemical or product, even those considered safe.  I keep a towel by the door in snowy weather for this purpose.


Human medicines including acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin), cold medicines (Sudafed, Dayquil, Robitussin, etc), and vitamins are toxic to dogs.  They should be kept in an area that the dogs can not reach or climb to, and  also keep tubes of ointments (anti-itch cream, neosporin, etc) out of the reach of your dogs, too.  Some dogs will chew through the tubes and be poisoned by the contents.  Other medications like anti-depressants, those for cardiovascular disease, ADHD, and insomnia are also harmful to dogs.



Lawn fertilizer, plant food, and pest control products are generally toxic to dogs.  Most products recommend keeping your dog away from them, and you will need to make sure that the chemicals are stored in a place that an unsupervised dog can't get into.  I like to use Eco-Smart pest and weed killer products in my yard, because they are safer for my dogs (and kids, too!).  Even with safer products, I still do not let my dogs in the area until the product has completely dried.

Household indoor and outdoor plants,  like lillies, azealas, poinsetteas, apple seeds, and many others are toxic to dogs.  The Humane Society provides a great list of poisonous plants here.

Human Food such as leftover chicken bones are dangerous to feed your dog, because the bones can splinter and cause an internal injury.  Coffee grounds& beans, alcohol, yeast dough, salt, onions, and grapes are also toxic to dogs.

Hand Sanitizer  is great for quickly disinfecting your hands when you don't have access to soap and water, but they contain alcohol which is harmful for dogs.

Coins, especially pennies, are very toxic due to the zinc they contain. Zinc poisoning can lead to destruction of red blood cells, liver damage, kidney failure and heart failure, so it's very serious. Signs of zinc poisoning include weakness, pale gums (anemia), vomiting, increased breathing, increased heart rate, discolored urine, jaundiced gums, lack of appetite, and collapse/unconsciuosness.  A penny that is not removed will kill a dog.  Diaper rash cream containing Zinc Oxide, zippers, and staples are examples of other items that contain zinc and are dangerous for Fido.

Tinsel, like the kind people adorn Christmas trees with, is dangerous, though not toxic.  If your pet swallows it, tinsel or other stringy items like rubber bands, cassette tape ribbon (you'd be surprised what a dog can find and chew!), hair and craft ribbons,or any kind of string can get caught in your dog's throat and choke them.

Vaporub, which contains camphor, is toxic to dogs and causes skin irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures.  It's quickly absorbed into the skin and should never be applied to an animal. Other products like IcyHot and Carmex lip balm also contain camphor.

Brown Recluse

Spiders, Snakes, and other creatures are also dangerous (to both humans and dogs!).
The Brown Recluse and Black Widow spiders are to be avoided.
Brown Recluse spiders are various shades of brown and feature a violin shape near it's head.  They are common in the southern midwest area of the US and can also be found in the southwest.  Vomiting, fever, lethargy, and open skin wounds are signs to watch for.  There isn't an antivenom, so treatment is usually supportive care (fluids, antibiotics, pain relief, etc.) Black Widows are found all over the United States and are black with a red or orange hourglass shape on their underside.  Immature female black widows are brown and their hourglass shapes darkens with age.  Males are brown and do not have the hourglass, but are not considered toxic.  Signs of a black widow bite are cramping, walking as if drunk, drooling, tremors, lameness (from pain) and the bite is treated with antivenom, IV fluids anti-seizure medications, etc.  Seek veterinary care immediately is you suspect either of these spiders has bitten your dog.


Even more serious is the bite of a coral snake, which is extremely dangerous to dogs and are found in the southeastern United States. Bites can be fatal without immediate first aid and vet care.  Signs of a coral snake bite include acute paralysis, respiratory difficulty and failure, and collapse.  Immediate emergency veterinary care is required - a coral snake bite is life threatening.

coral snake - wide red and black sections bordered by yellow.

Rattlesnakes are found across the US, and some examples are the Eastern diamondback, Mojave, and Timber rattlesnake.  Dogs are usually bitten in the face or front legs and feet.  Signs of a rattlesnake bite are skin injury, difficulty breathing, blood not clotting, and even cardiovascular shock.

Timber Rattlesnake

Eastern Diamondback rattler

Toys, especially those with small movable parts,  can be dangerous if your dog is a chewer.  Not only might the coloring or paint contain chemicals hazardous to dogs, but your dog could chew a piece off and choke on it.  The part that comes off might be metal or contain zinc and be poisonous to Rover.

Sources:
The Humane Society
VetStreet
Pet Poison Helpline