Category: pets

pets

A Note From the Vet Regarding Extreme Heat and Your Pets

Keep Your Pet’s Safe in Extreme Heat

Different pets have different tolerances to hot and cold.  A Chihuahua can tolerate much more heat than a Newfoundland or Bulldog. A husky should not be run when it is over 55 degrees. When the temperature climbs and the sun is out, most pets can overheat quicker than you can. If a pet is continuously panting or it’s tongue is hanging out, it is too hot!

You need to have a plan for when it gets hot of where and when to house your pet.  If indoor air conditioning is available, that is the best. If not, shade and a good box fan are usually good enough. There are items such as cool coats, chilly beds, baby pools and cold hoses that can also be used to help cool dogs.
Activities should be planned for cooler times of day.  Be sure they have access to plenty of cool water. Beware some ponds heat up in the sun and a swim in them is not cooling to the pet. Pavement is too hot for pets when the back of your hand can not tolerate it for more than 5 seconds.
We should all know that a car can overheat a pet in just a few minutes. So do not leave any living thing in a closed car on a warm, sunny day. Windows left cracked open are not good enough. A fully open car or van with fans on may be. Some cars and other vehicles actually can run the AC when parked and the temp can be monitored remotely. So check that the pet is actually overheating before you try to break in to rescue it.

Dr. Corrie Dr. Sandra Corrie, Akron Animal Hospital

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pets, Recalls

Pet Supplies Plus Issues Consumer Advisory for Bulk Pig Ear Product FDA Investigating Contaminated Pig Ear Treats Connecting to Salmonella

Company Announcement

With the recent announcements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigating contaminated Pig Ear Treats connecting to Salmonella, Pet Supplies Plus is advising consumers it is recalling bulk pig ear product supplied to all locations by several different vendors due to the potential of Salmonella contamination. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is 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 surfaces exposed to these products.

Individuals infected with Salmonella should monitor for some, or all, of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Bulk pig ears were distributed to Pet Supplies Plus stores in AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI and WV. Bulk pig ears were stocked in open bins. Prepackaged branded pig ears are not included in this voluntary recall.

To date, 45 individuals in 13 states have been diagnosed with Salmonella related illness. However, none of these cases are confirmed to be a result of purchasing pig ears from Pet Supplies Plus.

Testing by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development revealed that aging bulk pig ear product in one of our stores tested positive for Salmonella. We have pulled bulk pig ear product from the shelves at all of our stores and have stopped shipping bulk pig ears from our Distribution Center. We are working with the FDA as they continue their investigation as to what caused the reported Salmonella related illnesses.

Consumers who have purchased bulk pig ears should discontinue use of the product and discard it. Consumers who have further questions are welcome to contact our Neighbor Service team at 734-793- 6564 between Monday and Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. EST (excluding holidays).

Environment, Local News, pets

An Important Spring Message From Akron Animal Hospital Vet Dr. Corrie

Dr. Corrie

Newstead Cat Lovers,

Spring is a time of year when the kittens start to arrive. Unfortunately, there are always more kittens than there are homes for them. Please get your cats neutered by 5 months of age, before they add to the population. Remember, one unspayed female cat can account for 5,000+ kittens in 5 years time. 

Cats were being shot and poisoned in this town.

For those of you that feed feral cats, I would like you to consider the consequences of feeding un-neutered cats. 10 years ago, the Town of Newstead had several areas that were overrun by feral cats.  Cats were being shot and poisoned in this town. Akron Animal Hospital and several rescues partnered with the help of Maddie’s fund to trap, neuter and release the feral cats. Over 500 cats were done, at great effort, by those involved. For the most part, we had the cat population under control.

Currently, several people are once again feeding un-neutered groups of cats. This will cause the overpopulation problem to sky rocket again.  Now there are no more funds to help and we have exhausted our resources.

If you are feeding groups of cats, please have them neutered. You may also slowly stop feeding in the spring and they will disperse to find another food source or learn to survive on their own. Ultimately, this is better for cats than allowing the cat population to get out of control.

Please consider what is best for all cats and neuter your cat before 5 months of age and do not feed feral cats.

Dr. Sandra Corrie