Doggy-Treats

Avocados
They contain a toxic component called persin, which can damage heart, lung and other tissue in many animals. This fruit is very toxic to dogs, cats and most animals.

Beer
Alcoholic beverages can cause the same damage to an animal’s liver and brain as they cause in humans. But the effects can be deadly on animals since they are much smaller than us. The smaller the animal, the more deadly the effects can be. Even a small amount of alcohol may cause vomiting and damage the liver and brain.

Nuts
Walnuts and macadamia nuts are especially toxic. Effects can be anything from vomiting to paralysis to death. Within 12 hours of eating the nuts, pets start to develop symptoms such as an inability to stand or walk, vomiting, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), weakness, and an elevated heart rate. These symptoms can be even worse if your dog eats some chocolate with the nuts. The effect can cause kidney failure, often leading to death.

Chocolate
Chocolate contains theobromine, which can kill your pet if eaten in large quantities. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolates are especially dangerous. Giving your pup a piece of chocolate cake or even letting him lick the chocolate icing on the cake could cause him to become ill. Theobromine can also cause a dog or cat’s heart to beat very rapidly or irregularly, which could result in death if the pet is exercising or overly active.

Candy
Candy or anything containing Xylitol (a common sweetener found in some diet products) can cause a sudden drop in an animal’s blood sugar, loss of coordination and seizures. If left untreated, the animal could die.

Caffeine
Coffee, tea or any product that contains caffeine stimulates an animal’s central nervous and cardiac systems. This can lead to restlessness, heart palpitations and death, depending on how much the animal consumes.

Grapes and raisins
Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill them. And the effects are cumulative, which means that even if a dog eats just one or two grapes or raisins regularly, the toxin that builds in his system will eventually kill him.

Onions
Onions are another common food that can be highly toxic to pets. They can destroy an animal’s red blood cells and lead to anemia, weakness and breathing difficulties. Their effects are also cumulative over time.

Medicine
Hide medicine from your pets just like you would from your children. The most common cause of pet poisoning is from animals ingesting a medicine or drug normally prescribed for humans.

And this is not just because furry pals are getting into their pet parent’s medicine cabinets. In many cases, pet owners give their feline and canine friends an over-the-counter medication to ease an animal’s pain. But acetaminophen and ibuprofen, the active ingredients in many common pain relievers, are extremely toxic to dogs and cats. They can cause gastric ulcers, liver damage, kidney failure and sometimes death.

Good news foods
There are a few things that you CAN give to your furry pal. However, you should always consult a veterinarian before introducing a new food item to your pet.

Although these foods are normally harmless, some animals have sensitive gastrointestinal tracts. So even these healthy treats should be avoided if they cause gastrointestinal upset for your pet. Keep in mind that these and other “extras” should not make up more than 5 to 10 percent of the pet’s daily caloric intake.

Lean meats
Any cooked lean meat should be fine for most dogs. High-fat meats, chicken skin and fat from steaks or roasts are not recommended. Ingestion may lead to gastrointestinal upset or even pancreatitis. This can be a very painful condition for dogs. In addition, most companion animals do not need extra fat in their diets. Never give your pet meat with the bone in it. Animals can choke on the bones, and they can splinter as well.

Vegetables
Carrot sticks, green beans, cucumber slices and zucchini slices are all OK.

Fruit
Apple slices, orange slices, bananas and watermelon are all OK. Make sure the seeds have been taken out; seeds are not good for your pet!

Baked potatoes
Plain baked potatoes are fine, but make sure they are cooked — no unripe potatoes or potato plants.

Bread
Plain cooked bread is fine; just make sure there are no nuts or raisins added.

Rice and pasta
Plain, cooked pasta and white rice are OK. Often veterinarians recommend plain rice with some boiled chicken when gastrointestinal upset is present.

In case of emergency
Despite all the precautions you take to keep your pet pals safe, accidents do happen. That’s why the ASPCA, Humane Society and animal advocates advise pet owners to keep the telephone numbers of their local veterinarian and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — (888) 426-4435 — in a prominent location.

Common signs of poisoning include muscle tremors or seizures; vomiting and diarrhea; drooling; redness of skin, ears and eyes; and swelling and bleeding.

If you suspect your pet has consumed, inhaled or come in contact with a toxic substance, stay calm and call for help immediately. If you see your pet consuming anything you think might be toxic, seek emergency help immediately even if she or he is not exhibiting any symptoms.

“Discount pet drugs—no prescription required” may appeal to pet owners surfing the Web, but FDA experts say it can be risky to buy drugs online from sites that tout this message and others like it.

Some of the Internet sites that sell pet drugs represent legitimate, reputable pharmacies, says Martine Hartogensis, D.V.M., deputy director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance in FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). But others are fronts for unscrupulous businesses operating against the law.

FDA has found companies that sell unapproved pet drugs and counterfeit pet products, make fraudulent claims, dispense prescription drugs without requiring a prescription, and sell expired drugs.

Pet owners who purchase drugs from these companies may think they are saving money, says Hartogensis, but in reality, they may be short-changing their pet’s health and putting its life at risk.

CVM regulates the manufacture and distribution of animal drugs, while individual state pharmacy boards regulate the dispensing of prescription veterinary products.

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Red Flags

Some foreign Internet pharmacies advertise that veterinary prescription drugs are available to U.S. citizens without a prescription. But, says Hartogensis, “There is a risk of the drugs not being FDA-approved.”

A foreign or domestic pharmacy may claim that one of its veterinarians on staff will “evaluate” the pet after looking over a form filled out by the pet owner, and then prescribe the drug. “A veterinarian should physically examine an animal prior to making a diagnosis to determine the appropriate therapy,” says Hartogensis.

CVM is especially concerned that pet owners are going online to buy two types of commonly used prescription veterinary drugs—nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and heartworm preventives.

“Both drugs can be dangerous if there is no professional involvement,” says Hartogensis. “It’s not generally a concern if the owner uses a legitimate online pharmacy and mails in a prescription from their veterinarian, who is monitoring the animal. But if there is no veterinarian–client–patient relationship, it’s a dangerous practice.”

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NSAIDS and Heartworm Preventives

Veterinarians often prescribe NSAIDs to relieve pain in dogs. NSAIDs should not be purchased on the Internet without a veterinarian’s involvement because

• • dogs should undergo blood testing and a thorough physical examination before starting NSAIDs
  • dogs should be monitored by a veterinarian while they are taking NSAIDs
  • veterinarians should discuss possible side effects of NSAIDs with the owner
  • the prescription should be accompanied by a Client Information Sheet that explains important safety information to the owner

Heartworm disease is a potentially fatal condition transmitted by the bite of a mosquito that is carrying infected larvae of the heartworm parasite. Dogs, cats, and ferrets can get heartworm. Heartworm preventives, given daily, monthly, or semiannually, depending on the product, kill the larvae before they become adult worms.

The American Heartworm Society recommends

• • using heartworm medication for dogs year-round, no matter where you live in the United States
  • getting dogs tested yearly to make sure they’re not infected with heartworm

“Testing is important even in dogs regularly treated with heartworm preventive products due to the occasional reports of product ineffectiveness,” says Hartogensis. An Internet pharmacy veterinarian cannot draw blood from the animal to perform the test. If the test isn’t done, a pet owner could be giving heartworm preventives to a dog that has heartworms, potentially leading to severe reactions.

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Tips for Buying Pet Drugs Online

• • Order from a Web site that belongs to a VIPPS-accredited pharmacy. VIPPS—the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites—is a voluntary certification program of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). NABP gives the VIPPS seal to online pharmacies that comply with stringent licensing and inspection requirements. Only pharmacies that sell human drugs are VIPPS-certified at this time, but sometimes veterinarians will prescribe human drugs to pets when there is no animal drug approved for the pet’s illness. Check with NABP at www.nabp.net to find out if a pharmacy is VIPPS-accredited.
  • Order from an outsourced prescription management service that your veterinarian uses. These state-licensed Internet pharmacy services work directly with the veterinarian, require that a prescription be written by the veterinarian, and support the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Ask your veterinary hospital if it uses an Internet pharmacy service.

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This article appears on FDA’s Consumer Health Information Web page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

Updated: February 20, 2009

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    ALPO
    Americas Choice, Preferred Pet
    Authority
    Award
    Berkley & Jenson (Salmonella)
    Best Choice
    Big Bet
    Big Red
    Bloom
    Blue Buffalo (RICE GLUTEN)
    Bruiser
    Cadillac
    Canine Caviar Pet Foods (RICE GLUTEN)
    Champion Breed Lg Biscuit
    Champion Breed Peanut Butter Biscuits
    Co-Op Gold
    Companion
    Companion’s Best Multi-Flavor Biscuit
    Compliments
    Costco/Kirkland Signature (RICE GLUTEN)
    Demoulas Market Basket
    Diamond Pet Food
    Diamond Pet Food (RICE GLUTEN)
    Doctors Foster & Smith
    Doctors Foster & Smith (RICE GLUTEN)
    Dollar General
    Eight In One Inc (Salmonella)
    Eukanuba Can Dog Chunks in Gravy
    Eukanuba Pouch Dog Bites in Gravy
    Food Lion
    Giant Companion
    Gravy Train
    Grreat Choice
    Hannaford
    Happy Tails
    Harmony Farms (RICE GLUTEN)
    Harmony Farms Treats (RICE GLUTEN)
    Health Diet Gourmet Cuisine
    Hill Country Fare
    Hy Vee
    Hy-Vee
    Iams Can Chunky Formula
    Iams Can Small Bites Formula
    Iams Dog Select Bites
    Jerky Treats Beef Flavored Dog Snacks
    La Griffe
    Laura Lynn
    Loving Meals
    Mars Petcare US Inc (Salmonella)
    Master Choice
    Meijer’s Main Choice
    Mighty Dog
    Mixables
    Mulligan Stew Pet Food (RICE GLUTEN)
    Natural Balance (RICE GLUTEN)
    Natural Life
    Natural Way
    Nu Pet
    Nutriplan
    Nutro
    Nutro - Ultra
    Nutro Max
    Nutro Natural Choice
    Nuture
    Ol’ Roy
    Ol’ Roy 4-Flavor Lg Biscuits
    Ol’ Roy Canada
    Ol’ Roy Peanut Butter Biscuits
    Ol’ Roy Puppy
    Ol’Roy (Salmonella)
    Ol’Roy US
    Ol’Roy US (Salmonella)
    Paws
    Perfect Pals Large Biscuits
    Performatrin Ultra
    Pet Essentials
    Pet Life
    Pet Pride / Good n Meaty
    Petrapport Inc. (Salmonella)
    Presidents Choice
    Price Chopper
    Priority Canada
    Priority US
    Publix
    Roche Brothers
    Royal Canin (RICE GLUTEN)
    Royal Canin Veterinary Diet (RICE GLUTEN)
    Save-A-Lot Choice Morsels
    Schnuck’s
    Schnucks
    Shep
    Shep Dog
    Shop Rite
    SmartPak (RICE GLUTEN)
    Springfield Prize
    Sprout
    Stater Brothers
    Stater Brothers Large Biscuits
    Stop & Shop Companion
    T.W. Enterpriese (Salmonella)
    Tops Companion
    Triumph
    Truly
    Weis Total Pet
    Western Family Canada
    Western Family US
    White Rose
    Winn Dixie
    Your Pet

Note: This compiled list represents all pet food recalled since March 2007. If and when new information is received, this list will be updated. The “Information Current as of” date provided above indicates when this Web page was updated; it does not indicate the date when the pet food recalls listed below were initiated. Once listed, each of the recalled pet food products remains listed, even if there are no new recalls associated with that product. Although we have taken care to make sure the information is accurate, if we learn that any information is not accurate we will revise the list as soon as possible. For initiation dates of specific recalls, click on the brand name and then product description links that appear on these pages. For recalls that occurred before September 1, 2008, a date range might appear in the initiation date field. The date range indicates the timeframe within which multiple recalls of this product were initiated. For recalls that occur September 1, 2008 and after, the actual initiation date of each recall event is provided for each product. If a new recall is initiated for a product that had previously been recalled before September 1, 2008, the food product will be listed again, with the new recall initiation date. If a new recall is initiated for a product that had previously been recalled after September, 1, 2008, the initiation date of the new recall event will be added to the previous date listed.

From: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/petfoodrecall/#Dog

On March 15, 2007, FDA learned that certain pet foods were sickening and killing cats and dogs. FDA found contaminants in vegetable proteins imported into the United States from China and used as ingredients in pet food.

A portion of the tainted pet food was used to produce farm animal feed and fish feed. FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture discovered that some animals that ate the tainted feed had been processed into human food. Government scientists have determined that there is very low risk to human health from consuming food from animals that ate tainted feed. All tainted pet food, animal and fish feed, and vegetable proteins continue to be recalled and destroyed.

As a result of FDA and USDA’s comprehensive investigation, on February 6, 2008, FDA announced that two Chinese nationals and the businesses they operate, along with a U.S. company and its president and chief executive officer, were indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a scheme to import products purported to be wheat gluten into the United States that were contaminated with melamine.

from: http://www.fda.gov

The average dog in Japan lives 1.5 years longer — the equivalent of six more years for a human — compared with four years ago, and it is largely due to changed attitudes among dog owners, a group of university researchers said.

Researchers at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology who produced the finding after a national survey of veterinary clinics, said the primary reason for the increase is the spread in vaccines which has stemmed the number of infection-related deaths.

But they said the underlying reason is that dog owners are increasingly treating their pets like family members instead of mere pets.

The researchers said that on the downside, dogs are experiencing increased rates of cancer and heart disease, typical complaints which contribute to deaths among the human population.

Masuo Ogawa, professor at the university’s Agriculture Faculty, who supervised the survey, said crossbreeds are living longer than pedigree dogs.

Ogawa said data on some 4,200 dogs in 39 prefectures collated since 1990 shows the average canine life span in 1995 was 10.1 years, with a 1.5-year increase in four years.

But a close analysis shows that the crossbreeds gained 2.2 years and purebreds gained 1.1 years in their life spans.

The group said that contributing to this is an increased tendency among dog owners to treat crossbreeds as well as any pedigree dogs, with the result that the more vigorous crossbreeds are living longer.

The Japan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals last year gave its award for the nation’s longest-living dog to a female West Highland White Terrier called “Spot” who this year turned 22 in Tokyo’s Meguro-ku.

A dog is normally treated as the equivalent of a 15-year-old human by the time it is 1 year old, and subsequent one-year increases are treated as the equivalent of five human years.

On this basis, Spot would be considerably older than Japan’s popular 103-year-old twins Kin Narita and Gin Kanie, who are from Nagoya, and make frequent appearances on talk shows and in television commercials.

Copyright 1996 Mainichi Daily News Mainichi Daily News