Search Results for “raw protein diet”

Feeding a raw protein diet can endanger the health of both people and animals, according to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). AAHA plans to release a position statement discouraging pet owners from feeding raw protein diets later this week. The second major veterinary group to take a stand on raw protein diets in recent weeks, AAHA says it is doing so because it wants to strengthen the valued relationship between human and animal. "We value the relationships between our pets and their families – we want to strengthen the human-animal bond by keeping both pets and people as healthy as possible," said Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, executive director of AAHA. AAHA joins the likes of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), which passed a policy discouraging the feeding of raw protein diets at its yearly conference in San Diego in early August 2012. AAHA leaders say its statement on raw protein diets was actually developed and passed by its board of directors prior to the AVMA policy. According to AAHA, the statement was developed without any input or knowledge from the AVMA. The text of the AAHA statement emphasizes the danger of feeding pathogenic organisms to animals that may then shed those organisms through their stool, creating danger for both humans and animals that may come in contact with it.

A definitive cause of illness has yet to be identified after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration completed testing of chicken jerky products after it received complaints of dog illnesses associated with consumption of the treats.   FDA released an update July 18, 2012 detailing results of sample testing of chicken jerky products. Testing showed adverse findings from Waggin Train and Dingo chicken jerky products, as well as from beef jerky treats manufactured by Del Monte Pet Products. However, the FDA says it has been unable to determine a definitive cause of the illnesses, or link the illnesses to a particular company, from the samples collected. The FDA sent inspectors to Chinese plants that make the jerky treats, but have not released inspection results.

According to NBC News, Chinese government officials are refusing to allow inspectors from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect samples from four jerky manufacturing sites.

On Monday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted pet owners and veterinary professionals that at least 11 different brands of dog food are recalling their products and that people need to check before feeding any dry food to their dogs. “Testing found that samples of the dog food contained excessive, potentially toxic amounts of vitamin D,” the FDA said

Nestle Purina Petcare Co. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are facing a class action lawsuit from a pet owner who says his 9-year-old Pomeranian died from eating chicken jerky treats. Illinois resident Dennis Adkins sued over Nestle Purina’s Waggin’ Train Yam Good dog treats after his canine companion Cleopatra became ill and died of kidney failure after consuming a Nestle Purina treat from Wal-Mart each day for three days. Adkins said he did not change anything about Cleopatra’s diet other than the addition of the treat. His other 9-year-old Pomeranian, Pharaoh, was not fed the treat and did not become ill. In the lawsuit, Adkins said he incurred more than $2,300 in damages, including the value of his dog and veterinary expenses. The lawsuit claims that Cleopatra died from eating chicken jerky treats that Nestle Purina and Wal-Mart both knew posed a substantial risk of illness or death.

On Monday, the FDA approved Stelfonta to treat mast cell tumors in dogs, giving clinicians a new treatment modality.  

The FDA recently published Guidance for Industry #256: Compounding Animal Drugs from Bulk Drug Substances. It can get complicated, but here’s what you need to know.

Compounding drugs for animal patients is regulated by 50 different state boards of pharmacy and murky federal laws. Although compounded drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are allowed when approved drugs are not available or suitable for the intended use. Veterinarians should remember a few key things in order to stay safe and on the right side of the law. Potency, safety, efficacy and bioavailability are not guaranteedCompounding from bulk chemicals is in a “regulatory void”Compounds may only be distributed to the patient for which they were prescribedCompounding to make a cheaper version of an approved drug that already exists is illegal Use a PCAB-accredited compounding pharmacy when possible

Who knew eating peas could be trendy? Last July, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it was investigating a potential link between heart disease in dogs and the consumption of grain-free pet food.That announcement set off a firestorm of confusion and (often) misinformed debate among those who advocate for unconventional diets such as grain free, raw, home prepared, vegetarian, and boutique commercial pet foods.

This week: The man who created the Labradoodle rues the day, new dog treats made from swamp rodents, and the FDA warns of raw pet food that tested positive for Salmonella.