FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Lincoln, NE, March 8, 2010 – Nature’s Variety has expanded its voluntary recall of Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diets for dogs and cats to include the “Best If Used By” dates of 10/29/10 and 11/9/10 because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves 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 become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, or vomiting. Some pets may experience only a decreased appetite, fever, or abdominal pain. If your pet has consumed any of the affected products and is experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The recall includes the following products with a “Best If Used By” date of 10/29/10 or 11/9/10:

• UPC#7 69949 60131 9 – Chicken Formula 0.75 lb trial sized medallions
• UPC#7 69949 60130 2 – Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions
• UPC#7 69949 60120 3 – Chicken Formula 6 lb patties
• UPC#7 69949 60121 0 – Chicken Formula 2 lb single chubs

In an abundance of caution, Nature’s Variety has also chosen to expand this voluntary recall to include all Chicken Formula and Organic Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diets for dogs and cats with any “Best If Used By” date on or before 2/5/11. Nature’s Variety has elected to clear the market of raw frozen chicken diets as it implements a state-of-the-art new food safety process called High Pressure Pasteurization for use on all Nature’s Variety Raw Frozen Diets.

The products included in the expanded recall are any Chicken Formula or Organic Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet with a “Best If Used By” date on or before 2/5/11, including:

• UPC#7 69949 60131 9 – Chicken Formula 0.75 lb trial sized medallions
• UPC#7 69949 60130 2 – Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions
• UPC#7 69949 60120 3 – Chicken Formula 6 lb patties
• UPC#7 69949 60121 0 – Chicken Formula 2 lb single chubs
• UPC#7 69949 50121 3 – Chicken Formula 12 lb case of chubs
• UPC#7 69949 60137 1 – Organic Chicken Formula 3 lb medallions
• UPC#7 69949 60127 2 – Organic Chicken Formula 6 lb patties

The “Best If Used By” date is located on the back of the package above the safe handling instructions. The affected product was distributed through retail stores and internet sales in the United States and Canada.

No other Raw Frozen Diets are involved in this expansion other than chicken, and no other Nature’s Variety products are involved.

Nature’s Variety now uses High Pressure Pasteurization on their Raw Frozen Diets as a unique process to kill pathogenic bacteria through high-pressure, water-based technology. Having incorporated this state-of-the-art technology on a portion of their raw product offerings in late 2009, Nature’s Variety was able to confidently implement the process universally on all Raw Frozen Diets after the 2/11/10 recall in order to enhance food safety. Nature’s Variety also utilizes a test and hold protocol to ensure that all High Pressure Pasteurized Raw Frozen Diets test negative for harmful bacteria before being released for sale.

“Nature’s Variety believes replacing all raw frozen chicken products on the market with new raw frozen chicken products that use High Pressure Pasteurization is an important and responsible step in order to reinforce consumer confidence and trust,” stated Reed Howlett, CEO of Nature’s Variety. “By recalling all raw frozen chicken products with ‘Best If Used By’ dates on or before 2/5/11, we can provide our pet parents with new raw frozen chicken products that have been processed through High Pressure Pasteurization. Adopting High Pressure Pasteurization is an important step to ensure that our products meet the strictest quality and food safety standards.”

Howlett stated, “Our commitment to consumers in the future is the same as it’s been in the past – to offer Raw Frozen Diets made from the highest quality ingredients, made in our own plant in the Midwest, by people who care deeply about pet nutrition, health, and happiness.”

If you are a consumer and have purchased one of these products, please return the unopened product to your retailer for a full refund or replacement. If your package has been opened, please dispose of the raw food in a safe manner by securing it in a covered trash receptacle. Then, bring your receipt (or the empty package in a sealed bag) to your local retailer for a full refund or replacement.

Consumers with additional questions can call the Nature’s Variety dedicated Customer Care line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-374-3142. For additional resources about High Pressure Pasteurization or other Nature’s Variety food safety protocols, visit www.naturesvariety.com.

American Heartworm Society Presents Important Changes to Earlier Heartworm Standards

WILMINGTON, DE — FEBRUARY 15, 2010 The American Heartworm Society (AHS) today releases new canine heartworm guidelines for 2010. These guidelines are considered the official veterinary industry perspective for epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of the disease and include some notable differences from previous versions.

It is estimated that currently more than 1 million dogs in the United States are infected with heartworms. This potentially fatal disease has been found in dogs native to all 50 states. Even as diagnostic methods advance, preventive therapies improve and disease awareness increases among veterinary professionals and pet owners, heartworm continues to present a serious threat to dogs’ health.

The new guidelines are based on the latest information presented at the 2007 Triennial Symposium of the AHS and were prepared and approved by the executive board of the organization. Important highlights include the following recommendations:

• Annual testing for heartworm disease in all areas of the United States
• Year-round administration of prevention drugs to increase compliance, control zoonotic parasites and prevent heartworm disease
• Use of the alternate three-treatment protocol for symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs; a departure from the recommended two-treatment protocol used previously

In addition to these updated recommendations, the new guidelines discuss potential causes of increased heartworm prevalence and recent reports of possible resistance issues with prevention products.
AHS also presents information for the veterinarian on use of the antibiotic doxycycline in the treatment of heartworm disease.
“This significant disease has cost the lives of far too many of our beloved dogs, and that’s why it is more crucial than ever for veterinary professionals to have access to the latest guidelines,” said Dr. Sheldon Rubin, president of the American Heartworm Society. “One of the most important keys to managing this preventable disease is professional knowledge.”

The 14-page guide is targeted to veterinary professionals and available as a free, downloadable PDF file at the American Heartworm Society website, www.heartwormsociety.org.

Heartworm disease affects many animals, even some humans. The worm itself is known as Dirofilario Immitus and can grow up to 14 inches in length. Because heartworms can’t spread from animal to animal, mosquitoes play the role of transmitter. It only takes one mosquito bite for your cat to contract heartworms.

Mosquitoes will bite a heartworm-infected animal and carry microscopic versions of the heartworm, microfilarie, to another animal. When the mosquito bites the second animal, the heartworm microfilaria is transferred and begins to travel through the blood stream and makes its way to the tissues of the heart. It takes between 70 and 90 for the microfilariae to make it through the animal’s body to get to the heart which is where it thrives. If both male and female worms are present, they will begin to reproduce up to six months after the initial bite.

Can cats actually get Heartworm Disease?

Everyone knows dogs can get heartworms and that it’s a pretty serious disease. While it is less common, and not as well known, cats can get Heartworm Disease and it can be just as serious for your feline friend. The good news is that this disease is highly treatable, especially with cats. According to the Heartworm Society of America, when dogs are exposed to heartworms they will develop up to 75 adult worms will develop almost 100 percent of the time. When cats are exposed to the same amount, approximately 3 to 10 adult worms will develop in almost 75 percent of the cats. Another report said that the expected rate of heartworm disease in cats is 10 percent of the rate of dogs in that same area. The chances of an inside cat being infected are three percent.

How can I prevent my cat from getting it?

One important thing to remember is that you cannot use the same medicine for your cat that you use for your dog. Products like Frontline Plus Cat are specially designed for cats. It’s important to talk with your veterinarian to decide what dosage is appropriate for your breed of cat, as it varies.

Even if your cat is an inside cat, chances are that they will sometime be exposed. If you have other pets in the house, especially dogs or other pets that go outside, you should be more inclined to take preventative measures. Mosquitoes can get into your house easier than you think. If you have windows open on a beautiful day, they can sneak in. They can even sneak in on your clothes when you’re walking into the house.

As with any medication, there are pros and cons. It’s imperative to talk to your veterinarian before beginning on any treatments. Also be sure to talk with your veterinarian about which brand will be best because there are many kinds ranging from topical to oral, like Sentinel. Oral medication with cats isn’t as easy as it sounds.

How can I tell if my cat has heartworms?

Unfortunately, there are no real tell-tale signs of heartworms. Sometimes the first and only sign is sudden death in felines. The name “heartworm disease” is a tad misleading since it’s also known to affect the lungs and not just the heart. Sometimes breathing stress signs are mistaken for feline asthma, allergic bronchitis, or other respiratory diseases. There are tests, though, to find out if your cat is infected with heartworms.

There are two main tests: the heartworm antigen test and the heartworm antibody test. The antigen test is very specific, but not as sensitive. Just because a test comes back negative, that doesn’t mean that heartworms are absent since there must be two adult female worms present. The antibody test determines if the immune system has been exposed to heartworms.

Before I adopted her, I did a lot of research on the clawing vs. declawing debate, and ultimately decided against declawing her. Now I certainly don’t condemn folks who have their cats declawed, but my decision was simply a matter of personal conviction based on my research. I’d definitely recommend you make an informed decision for you and your cat by learning more about onychectomy and discussing it with your vet.

I knew the trade off of not having her declawed would mean routine trips to either the vet or pet groomer to have her claws trimmed. I also knew, based on my friend’s experience with her own cats’ hatred of getting them trimmed, that this would be no walk in the park. One of the first times I took Jazzmine to the vet for her kitten vaccinations, I had my vet trim her claws. It took four – FOUR! – of us holding down a six-pound cat, and she had to be muzzled because she bit one of the vet’s assistants. And the screams . . . oh, the screams . . .

After this particularly harrowing and traumatic experience, I decided to look for other alternatives. I tried double-sided tape on her favorite places to scratch on my couch. She liked the double-sided tape, so that really didn’t fix the problem. I tried dousing her with water when I caught her in the act. She likes water, too. This was not going to be an easy task.

On my last trip to the groomer, I recounted the incident to her. She suggested that I try out a product called Soft Claws. These plastic nail caps are glued onto the front claws, and are designed to remain on until they grow themselves off, which the groomer told me takes about a month or so. They come in a variety of colors, or just plain clear. You can apply them yourself if you’re brave (and/or masochistic), or you can pay to have the groomer apply them for you. I went with the latter option. $45 and fifteen minutes later, my adorable kitten had ten little plastic tips attached to her claws, and was none too happy about them.

Over the next few weeks, I would catch Jazzmine cleaning her paws during her frequent baths. She thought she was so slick. What she was actually doing, of course, was chewing the little plastic caps off gradually. Before long, I was finding the used caps all over my house. They certainly didn’t last the month or so I was told they would. I was also constantly concerned for her because it seemed the little caps made it difficult for her to make the simple leaps and jumps she previously completed with ease. And she certainly had a difficult time slowing herself down after tearing across the kitchen’s linoleum floor at Mach 2, so the crash factor increased tenfold.

I suppose you could place blame on the gluer for user error, but I didn’t attempt the application myself. I paid good money for a professional to apply them. And the trouble I had wasn’t a result of my having bought the wrong size – I followed the guidelines on the back of the box, and they certainly fit her well. So why didn’t they work for me and Jazzmine, and are they working for other people?

A quick look online reveals some very mixed reviews. Some rave about how effectively they prevented their pets’ destructive scratching, while others lamented the same things I did. Some even complained that the Soft Paws caused their pets to injure themselves.

They were OK the 1st 2 times I used em on my kitty but the 3rd time when her nails started growing, they started to push in2 her skin & made her bleed & were very hard 2 get off.
DON’T BUY THESE!!!

This is a great alternative to declawing, which I am opposed to. Also, as a note, I would not recommend putting these on the back claws because the cat uses those to scratch. Imagine having an itch and not being able to scratch! It’s probably ok if you leave just the inside back toe uncovered though.
Works Great for my Cat!

Incidentally, Soft Claws and Soft Paws appear to be the same product, Soft Claws is a registered trademark of Soft Paws, Inc. and both of the websites note the same product patent numbers. Both are available for sale from those websites and also available from retail stores and online shops so I’m not sure what the difference is (if any).

In the end, I am glad I tried them, and I’m certainly glad they have worked for other people and their cats. I just know that Jazzmine and I did not like them very well.

However, I feel unable to write them off altogether.

If you are looking for a way to cut down on your cat’s scratching, I would encourage you to try Soft Claws (or Soft Paws). Jazzmine and I wish you better luck with them than we had.

Your new pet depends entirely on you to provide everything they’ll need. Here are five easy steps to help ensure that your new family member lives a long and happy and healthy life.

1. Make your home a safe environment – The same way you baby-proof a home, you also need to pet-proof your home. Because our household pets are talented at getting into things, you want to keep everything that is toxic for them out of reach. This includes cleaning supplies, medicines, foods that are bad for them (see #3), the trash and low electrical cords.
2. Make sure your pet receives regular checkups – Going to the vet can be pricey, but it’s important for your pet to make it there often.  Just like you get a yearly checkup,  your pet should have a checkup every one to  two years. While there, make sure that Fido or Mr. Whiskers has a thorough check-up to ensure that they’re on the road to a happy and healthy life. Be sure to ask your vet questions about your new pet, if you have any. And you might also want to ask them about any vaccinations and medications that you think you might need. Products like Sentinel or Frontline Plus can be an important part of keeping your pets’ hearts and bodies healthy.
3. Make sure you’re feeding your pet the right things – Different animals are allergic to different things so it’s important to research what your pet can handle. As a rule, there are many toxic foods for pets like alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, garlic, onion, grapes, raw yeast, trash, anything moldy and anything with artificial sweetener.
4. Develop an exercise plan for your pet – Pets who stay inside often balloon after they mature, especially cats. It’s important for you to keep your pet at a healthy weight. If you have a dog, you can make sure to take it on walks. If you have a cat, you can give it exercise by playing with it in the house. (Hint- laser pointer.)
5. Spay or neuter – It’s been proven that pets who have been spayed or neutered lead a healthier, longer life. If money is an issue, many local animal shelters provide free spay and neuter days. Many counties also have programs where you can get your dog or cat spayed or neutered for as low as $10. Contact your local Humane Society for more information.

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6. RT: @DogTipper Today's National Love Your Pet Day (aren't they all!) What's your fave way to show your dog how much… http://bit.ly/cszvUw #
7. Learning interesting tidbits about – 5 Great Presidential Pets – via a Guideposts article written by @peggyfrezon – http://tr.im/PjzQ #
8. http://www.cesarsway.com/news/daddy-memoriam — In Memoriam: Daddy the Pit Bull #
9. RT @thedogmeister The Dog Files: Family Dog A Hero After Sticking By Lost 3-Year-Old Girl Through Freezing Weather http://bit.ly/awO7Sj #
10. No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses. – Herman Melville #quote #
11. LA mag Pet Survey. It's fun, it's for science (sort of) U & UR pet could end up in the May issue! http://tinyurl.com/yzjvebn @LosAngelesmag #
12. "…why cats drink out of the toilet. My mother told me it's because the water is cold in there. And I'm like: How did my mother know that?" #
13. Just posted Cats/Toilet quote from Wendy Liebman, but not enough room to mention the source! #
14. #ThingsWeWantBack Time with the best dog ever – a pound puppy (mutt) I rescued a lifetime ago. #
15. Internet Brands, Inc. is looking for freelance TRAVEL writer, too – work at home – http://tr.im/PTpf #
16. "Remember, you can earn more money, but when time is spent is gone forever." Zig Ziglar #quote (via @JasonBraud) #
17. #FF @peggyfrezon (author, dog lover, and pet columnist) #

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Fill out their pet survey and you, your responses, and even a photo of you and your pet could be featured in their May issue. It’s in the interest of science—sort of.

Take the survey

Los Angeles is a regional magazine of national stature. Produced monthly since the spring of 1961, with a combination of award-winning feature writing, investigative reporting, service journalism, and design, Los Angeles is the definitive resource and indispensable guide for Angelenos. We cover the people, lifestyle, culture, entertainment, fashion, art and architecture, and news that define Southern California.

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