Says Products May Be Contaminated by Salmonella
VALLEY STREAM, NY — Central Veterinary Associates is alerting pet owners that Diamond Pet Foods, based in Meta, Missouri, has recalled certain bags of its Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice dog food. The company suspects the dog food may be contaminated with salmonella, which may cause dogs to become very ill.
The product has been distributed in New York State and eleven other states. The company has recalled the following products:
• Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice sold in 6-lb. packages with a “sell by” date of 04 Jan 13 and under the following UPC code: DLR0101D3XALW
•Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice sold in 20-lb. packages with a “sell by” date of 03 Jan 13 and under the following UPC code: DLR0101C31XAG
•Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice sold in 40-lb. packages with a “sell by” date of 03 Jan 13 and under the following UPC code: DLR0101C31XMF
•Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice sold in 40-lb. packages with a “sell by” date of 03 Jan 13 and under the following UPC code: DLR0101C31XAG
•Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice sold in 40-lb. packages with a “sell by” date of 04 Jan 13 and under the following UPC code: DLR0101D32XMS
Pets that are infected with salmonella may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If the infection goes untreated, the pet may experience diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected pets can be carriers and pass it on to their owners or other pets.
“If your pet shows signs of any of these symptoms, please bring in your pet immediately,” said Dr. Steven Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Central Veterinary Associates, P.C. “Our Valley Stream facility has a hospital that is open around the clock, 365 days a year, with a veterinarian always on duty in our emergency room. We also urge any pet owners who have bought any of these recalled products to return them to the store.”
Central Veterinary Associates is alerting pet owners that Virbac Animal Health of Fort Worth, Texas is recalling its Iverhart Max Chewable Tablets and Kaytee, a Central Garden & Pet brand based in Chilton, Wisconsin, is recalling its Kaytee exact® Hand Feeding Formula Baby Birds and Kaytee exact® Hand Feeding Formula Baby Macaw.
Virbac has voluntarily recalled its canine heartworm and internal parasite preventive Iverhart Max Chewable Tablets (ivermectin, pyrantel, pamoate, praziquantel) because the ivermectin failed to meet the company’s stability specifications, meaning some of the dogs dosed with the affected tablets may not be protected against heartworm disease. The affected medication has the lot number 110482 and is given to large dogs between 50.1 and 100 pounds.
The Kaytee exact® Hand Feeding Formula Baby Birds and Hand Feeding Formula Baby Macaw have been recalled due to high levels of Vitamin D. Consuming too much Vitamin D can cause illness associated with kidney damage, including weakness, inactivity, lack of appetite, vomiting, increased thirst and watery droppings as the result of increased urination. The following products are being recalled:
• Kaytee exact® Hand Feeding Formula Baby Bird 6/7.5 oz. (SKU #100032326, UPC Code 07185947510) with a “Best Before Code” of 21 Mar 2013 and 20 Apr 2013
• Kaytee exact® Hand Feeding Formula Baby Bird 6/18 oz. (SKU #100032328, UPC Code 07185947511) with a “Best Before Code” of 9 Mar 2013 and 19 Apr 2013
• Kaytee exact® Hand Feeding Formula Baby Bird 4/5 lb. (SKU #100032330, UPC Code 07185947512) with a “Best Before Code” of 14 Mar 2013, 30 Mar 2013 and 16 May 2013
• Kaytee exact® Hand Feeding Formula Baby Bird 4/5 lb. (Petco store product) (SKU #100032432, UPC Code 07185947512) with a “Best Before Code” of 30 Mar 2013
• Kaytee exact® Hand Feeding Formula Baby Bird 1/22 lb. (SKU #100032336, UPC Code #07185947518) with a “Best Before Code” of 21 Mar 2013, 13 Apr 2013 and 16 May 2013
• Kaytee exact® Hand Feeding Formula Baby Macaw 4/5 lb. (SKU #100032337, UPC Code #07185947515) with a “Best Before Code” of 1 Mar 2013, 14 Mar 2013 and 19 Apr 2013
“We urge all dog owners to request another heartworm preventative for their pets while the company continues to recall their products. If your dog is infected with heartworms while taking the product, your veterinarian may administer the treatment and the company will cover the treatment under its product satisfaction guarantee,” said Dr. Steven Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer, Central Veterinary Associates. “If your pet bird shows signs of any of the symptoms as the result of ingesting the formula, please bring them to a veterinarian immediately. Our Valley Stream facility has a hospital that is open around the clock, 365 days a year, with a veterinarian always on duty in our emergency room. We also urge any pet owners who have bought any of these recalled products to return them to the store.”
Warmer Winter Season and Above-Average Temperatures Bring Out Insects Earlier
With heartworm being diagnosed in all 50 states and The Companion Animal Parasite Council’s spring 2012 forecast calls for elevated levels of heartworm disease this year, with “high” levels in the Northeastern United States — including New York State — Central Veterinary Associates is warning pet owners that, with mosquitoes coming out earlier as the result of a warm winter, there will be a greater prevalence of heartworm during the spring season.
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries inside the animal’s lungs and, on occasion, in the right side of the animal’s heart. The adult female heartworms release their young, called microfilarie, into an animal’s bloodstream. While taking blood meal from an infected animal, the mosquito carries the micofilarie, which, in turn, matures to the infective larval stage within the mosquito over a 10- to 14-day period. After that, the mosquito deposits the microfilarie through the animal bite and the infected larvae develop into an adult worm within six months. In dogs, the worms may live for up to seven years.
CVA urges all pet owners to test their pets for heartworm disease and begin a regimen of heartworm preventatives if they have not done so already. The warmer weather provides a great opportunity for their pets to go outside for a walk or to run around, but it also means that they will be exposed to mosquitoes. It will be much easier and healthier to prevent these infections from occurring in animals than having to treat them.
Warmer Winter Season and Above-Average Temperatures Bring Out Insects Earlier
With a winter season that produced above-average temperatures and a negligible amount of snowfall, Central Veterinary Associates is urging pet owners to protect their pets from fleas and ticks as these insects are coming out earlier this year because of the warmer weather.
Fleas usually feed off your pet’s bloodstream around the head, neck and tail. After they are bitten, pets will usually scratch or bite themselves around those areas, which become red and inflamed as a result. As your pet chews at the area affected by fleas, they may swallow them. This may allow your pet to also get tapeworms, an intestinal parasite. Pets that are allergic to flea saliva will have more pronounced symptoms. Because of the compulsive scratching and biting, pets may lose hair, get bald spots, exhibit “hot spots” due to extreme skin irritation and develop infections that result in odors emanating from the skin. In more extreme cases, pets may also suffer from anemia. Lastly, fleas can transmit a bacteria called Bartonella, which is a common disease in cats.
Like fleas, ticks can feed off an animal’s bloodstream and also deliver diseases through their mouths when biting through the animal’s skin. Pets that are bitten by ticks may exhibit changes in behavior or appetite. Tick bites may be hard to detect in pets, especially because the ticks usually start small and are not noticeable until a full blood meal has been taken. Long Island is one of the top areas for ticks in the United States.
Central Veterinary Associates urges all pet owners to keep their pets safe from fleas and ticks year round and especially during the spring season. The warmer weather provides a great opportunity for your pets to go outside for a walk or to run around, but it also means that they will be exposed to these insects. It will be much easier and healthier for your pet to prevent these infestations from occurring than having to treat them.
February is National Pet Dental Health Month and so it is important that all animal owners should have their pet’s teeth and gums cleaned on a regular basis.
National Pet Dental Health Month teaches pet owners that proper dental hygiene is equally as important for their pets as it is for humans. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), by the time a pet reaches two years of age, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of periodontal disease. Periodontal infections have been linked to diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and other life-threatening illnesses.
Cats over the age of four may develop tooth resorption, in which the tooth enamel begins to erode either at or below the gum line. Lesions will develop and, depending on the extent of the resorption, the tooth may lose its structure and need to be extracted, although the roots are present.
While 80% of people brush their teeth at least once a day, many people do not do the same for their pets, the AVMA states. Central Veterinary Associates offers dental services, which include teeth cleaning and polishing, dental X-rays, tooth extractions and oral surgery.
It is imperative that pet owners pay attention to their pet’s dental health. Periodontal disease is very serious in animals and may result in significant health problems. Central Veterinary Associates offers comprehensive dental services to help keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy. CVA can also schedule checkups for your pets and, in the event of a dental emergency, its Valley Stream facility has a hospital that is open around the clock, 365 days a year, with a veterinarian always on duty in its emergency room.
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