December 9, 2009 – Pet Carousel: Recall of beef hoof products and pigs ears because of Salmonella risk

December 1, 2009 – Diamond Pet Food: Recall of Premium Edge Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat food because they have potential to produce Thiamine Deficiency

November 6, 2009 – FDA issues health alert: Pigs Ears and Beef Hooves pet treats manufactured by Pet Carousel because of possible Salmonella contamination

October 14, 2009 – Wysong Corp: Limited recall of select canine dry diets due to increased moisture levels and possibility of mold

September 29, 2009 – Nutro Products: Voluntary recall of select puppy foods because small pieces of melted plastic were found in the production line of select varieties of NUTRO®  dry dog and cat food products

May 21, 2009 – Nutro Products: Recall on select varieties of NUTRO® NATURAL CHOICE® COMPLETE CARE® Dry Cat Foods and NUTRO® MAX® Cat Dry Foods with “Best If Used By Dates” between May 12, 2010 and August 22, 2010. The cat food is being voluntarily recalled in the United States and ten additional countries.  This recall is due to incorrect levels of zinc and potassium in our finished product resulting from a production error by a US-based premix supplier.

These are just the pet food recalls in the last year and they seem to be happening more and more. How do you know if the food you are feeding your cat or dog is safe? Sure the chances are probably slim that your pet will ever eat tainted food but it is these ever increasing recalls that are putting up the caution flags for pet owners.

Pet food is regulated by the FDA. They ensure that the ingredients used in pet food are safe and have an appropriate function in the food. However, there is no requirement that the pet food products have pre-market approval by the FDA. Most of the routine day to day pet food regulation is done on the state level which means there may be differences in the regulatory activity between states.

So what are we as pet owners suppose to do? There really is no easy answer. It is definitely something I plan on researching more and sharing with you. I guess the best piece of advice I can give right now if you are concerned is to research your current pet food company. See if there are any records of their pet food products being recalled. It is not enough to just read the ingredients. Ingredient names can be deceiving. (more on this in my next posting).

Visit my website, Koby’s Best Choice Pet Supplies, to find out about a pet food company that has had no recalls in the 10 years it has been in existence. All the pet nutrition products are all natural holistic and formulated by the company’s own holistic veterinarian. And come back for my next posting on ingredient labeling.

We all are going through rough times with this economy. I don’t have the patience I use to. I react to little situations that pretty much have no meaning. And I know it is affecting my pets. I can see it in their eyes when I get upset at stupid little things. All they want is to be loved. So take some time to read these 10 Commandments and really pay attention to the words. We focus on the material things in life. These 10 simple things is all our pets ask of us.

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainments. But I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, and yet I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too will grow old.
10. On the difficult journey, on the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there. Because I love you so.

1.  When you adopt an adult animal, you get to see his/her size and temperament. It helps ensure that the pet is right for you and your family.

2.  It will feel great to know you have saved an animal’s life and everyone you meet will give you kudos for that for years to come.

3.  Adopted pets are very loyal and know they have been given a new home.

4.  Adopting a pet can be an important lesson to teach your kids – both about the value of life, and also about civic responsibility and even recycling – in this case recycling a living and loving animal into a new home.

5.  Choosing a mixed breed animal can help avoid many of the genetic health problems that have developed in purebred animals due to overbreeding and inbreeding.

I can’t tell you how many testimonies I have heard from people who have adopted from shelters. They all say they would not do it any other way. Their new pets give them nothing but unconditional love. I have heard of instances where a pet owner brings a pet home and then ends up returning the animal because they could not handle them. Yes, this does happen. But in my opinion…most of the time it is because they did not do enough research on the type of dog or cat that would best suit there needs. That’s where an organization such as Adopt-a-Pet.com can be a great asset.

Want to learn more about how you can help homeless pets? It is just a click away

He is still having symptoms almost a week later. I read that many of the pet owners gave their little buddies benedryl so today I gave him one and after 7 hours of not resting…he is out cold…which is what he needs.

So please tell everyone you know that is a pet owner not to use this brand. It is that time of year again when fleas and tics become a problem. I am going to do everything I can to get the word out so other people don’t have to go through this. Along with the guilt of giving him this medication in the first place it is devastating to watch your buddy suffer like this. The look of exhaustion and pain in his eyes kills me. HELP ME GET THE WORD OUT!!!!

Here in Arizona where foreclosures are at an all time high, people are just abandoning their houses on a daily basis. One sad thing that gets left behind WAY TOO OFTEN is the family dog or cat. Shelters have been bombarded with pets that have been left in the home without food or water. And many more were not that lucky. What I don’t understand and find totally unacceptable is that these people don’t have the decency to take these pets to the shelter in the first place. Yes, I understand that these people are in a dire situation but most shelters will take these pets no questions asked. To just leave a defenseless animal behind in an empty house with no food or water is just plain cruel.

If you find yourself in this situation…PLEASE take the time to find a shelter or someone to do that for you. And if you are thinking about bringing a new pet into your life…consider a rescue pet. They really do make the best companions. SAVE A LOVING DOG OR CAT!