By: Tanya S.


Last month I wrote a blog called “Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?!.
It’s a mystical phenomenon that many of us do not understand . This month is a follow up . I will give you solutions to help deter this gross habit that the fur baby we are in love with has. I decided to post this because I’ve had many clients, as of late as well as professional pet sitters asking me for solutions. I will share some of my homemade solutions as well as solutions from professionals in the pet care industry .



HOMEMADE DETERRENTS

The more common sense approach to deterring your dog from eating poop is to make it taste bad. Lets see what’s in our house that will help us with this solution .

1) Where as lemon juice and hot sauce are great health benefits to us( master cleanse diet) coating these ingredients in stool is a very bad taste.

2). How many of us love pumpkin pie, pumpkin cake or just fresh pumpkin? Mm Mmm delicious . Yet coating two tablespoons into feces, yuck yuck yuck to the palate.

3) For all you meat lovers , share that meat tenderizer in your dog’s food. By the time it comes out as excrement , it leaves a very bad taste to make your dog think twice.

FROM A VETERINARIAN‘S POINT OF VIEW

1) When a dog begins to eat poop, that’s a big red flag that they are are not getting the nutrients needed from their diet. Switch to a healthier diet for your pet’s sake. You can cook or buy quality food that is formulated for the dog’s age, breed and any medical issues. Check out our food by Flint River Ranch.

2) Coprophagia is also a sign he’s not eating enough. Increase the amount of nutritious food your dog is eating . Flint River Ranch had good quality that you can feed with out the worry of weight gain.

3) Take your fur baby to your veterinarian for an examination for underlying medical and health problems, parasites and other problems that may be compelling him to eat feces.

4) Stop the access to poop. There are many reasons we encourage pet owners to havedoggy bags or a pooper scooper while walking. It not only keeps our neighborhoods clean but it stops the access of feces.

5) Walk your dog more and give him better exercise regimen . During the walks you can train him and control his proximity to other feces on the ground. Don’t have the time for those walking routines and know it’s necessary? Call us, Happy Walk Happy Dog for daily mid-day walks and daily twice a day walks/run.

6) As soon as your
dog starts approaching excrement, tell her ‘nah-ah-ahhh’ or ‘leave it!’, and distract her with praise supported with a treat, clicker click, playtime or other action or activity that is appealing to the dog. This will convey the idea that it is more rewarding to attend to you than to attend to poop. As soon as she turns her attention to her, praise her (‘Good dog!’) and reward her. A wise practice is to always carry appealing tidbit treats, a favorite toy, clicker – something you can always use to effectively gain your dog’s attention and reinforce desired behaviors. Once you get her attention, give her something positive to do. For example, tell her to ‘Sit’, reward her for listening, then proceed to an enjoyable activity such as playing or walking together. Distract her from undesired things like feces, and substitute a good, desired behavior such as sitting and attending to you. A dog who is interacting with her owner can’t be investigating poop at the same time.

7) If your baby is pooping in the house, it’s another reason to call Happy Walk Happy Dogto get them on a regular schedule and decrease the loneliness.

I hope these tips help all of you to deal with the issue of Coprophagia and resolve it.

Til Next Time….

Every time I turn on the computer or get a notification from my smartphone, there is another recall on pet foods and treats. I'm sure many pet parents like me are concerned about the food they are giving their furry baby. What is going on? Is there a brand of pet food we can trust?

Katie Burns wrote an article in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association on February 15, 2013 . She states that pet food recalls are virtually unchanged. She states what has changed is the media attention on this issue.

Well lets look at the pet foods that have been recalled lately.

<strong>Pet Foods Recalled</strong>

Solid Gold has issued a recall for two of their dog foods with specific batch codes as a precautionary measure. To date according to Solid Gold, no cases of salmonella have been linked to these foods.

Apex Dog Food has issued a voluntary recall for all of their dry dog foods manufactured on January 24, 2012. The recalled foods were distributed only in South Carolina. To date, Apex Dog Food claims there have been no cases of salmonella linked to these foods.

Canidae has issued a voluntary recall of four of their dog foods, at this time the recall covers only dry dog foods with production codes with both a number “3” in the 9th digit and an “X” in the 10th or 11th digit – and a best before dates of December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013. These products were distributed in the following states: Florida, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Wellness Dog Food has issued a voluntary recall on one of their dog foods with specific best by dates. According to Wellness, they no longer conduct business with Diamond Pet Foods and none of their other dog foods were affected by the salmonella outbreak.

Natural Balance has issued a voluntary recall on some of their dry dog food options. To date, Natural Balance claims that no cases of canine salmonella poisoning have been linked with their foods and none of the recalled foods have tested positive for contamination.


Kirkland Dog Food has issued a voluntary dog food recall on a number of their dry dog food products.

Nature’s Variety has announced a voluntary recall of one batch of Instinct® Raw Organic Chicken Formula with a “Best if Used By” date of 10/04/13.

Kasel Associated Industries is recalling all products manufactured at its Denver, Colorado, facility from April 20, 2012, thru September 19, 2012.
The products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Honest Kitchen had voluntarily recalled five lots of its Verve, Zeal and Thrive dog foods because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.



The following brands are also affected by the recall. No specifics have been provided as to the recall.

4Health.
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul.
Country Value.
Diamond.
Diamond Naturals.
Premium Edge.
Professional.
Taste of the Wild.

<strong>Why Are These Pet Foods Recalled</strong>

The Diamond Dog Food plant located in Gaston, South Carolina tested positive for the presence of salmonella. As a result of this, all pet food companies that conducted business with this plant within a specific time period are recalling their pet food products.

These recalls have just as much to do with human safety as pet safety. Dan McChesney PhD, Director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance at the Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine says the pet food recall involves Salmonella contamination. He believes pet foods are safe.

Salmonella poses a much higher risk for pet owners than to the pets themselves. There have been no confirmed cases of Salmonellosis in pets from pet food recalls, though human illnesses have been reported. In most cases Salmonellosis in pets is associated with raw home made diets.
Dr. Kate KuKanich Assistant Professor of small animal internal medicine at Kansas State University came to this conclusion in her research.

Matter of fact the ratings of the pet food industry are still very high when it comes to safety. And efforts are continuously made to place stronger emphasis on pet food safety. So yes the awareness of pet food recalls continued to rise. But pet parents , what that means is that pet food safety, which is already good will get better. So Relax.

<strong>What To Do If Your Pet Food is Recalled</strong>

If you have a bag of dog food that is covered under the recall at this time

1) Stop feeding the product even if your dog shows no signs of salmonella poisoning .
2) It is also important that any time you handle this food; you wash your hands thoroughly to avoid contracting salmonella poisoning.
3) Check your pet food's company website to find out the procedure of compensation for the return.

<strong>Signs of Poisoning in Dogs</strong>

While most dogs are hardy and can bounce back from a salmonella infection once the offending source has been removed, this is not always true. In some dogs such as those taking antibiotics, the elderly, the newborn and those with pre-existing medical conditions, salmonella can have a devastating effect. Some of the common signs of salmonella poisoning in a dog include the following:

Fever
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Dehydration
Mucus in Stool
Anorexia
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion
Weight loss
Rapid heart rate
Blood in the stool
Low white blood cell count
Low platelet levels
Low albumin
Non-regenerative anemia
Electrolyte imbalances

If your dog displays any of these symptoms it is important to take them to your veterinarian immediately in order to prevent more serious symptoms. One of the most commonly seen symptoms to develop in cases of salmonella is dehydration resulting from chronic diarrhea. Dehydration can be prevented by your vet by the administration of IV fluids. Your vet may also recommend performing a number of tests to ensure that your dog is suffering from salmonella poisoning. In a case where a dog is suffering from a severe case of salmonella poisoning the vet may recommend an antimicrobial. It is also advised to put a dog on a 48 hour food restricted diet if possible in order to help to eliminate the cause of the infection.

<strong>Switching Your Dog To A New Food</strong>

Switching your dog to a new food is always recommended after a recall. Most dogs, when undergoing a sudden diet change may experience some gastrointestinal discomfort. <a href="http://www.frrco.com/123513">Happy Walk Happy Dog</a> is a distributor of <a href="http://www.frrco.com/123513">Flint River Ranch</a>. <a href="http://www.frrco.com/123513">Flint River Ranch</a> dog food formula is <strong>oven-baked</strong> and comes in an easy-to-eat size kibble. It's ingredients contain Rice and Wheat which is easily digestible for dogs. There is no corn or by products of meat. It has 23% protein and is concentrated so your dog becomes full on less food. That helps in controlling your dog's weight. Please contact me or visit my website for more info and to order at <a href="http://www.frrco.com/123514">Flint River Ranch</a>

The Honest Kitchen has today announced it is voluntarily recalling five lots of its Verve, Zeal and Thrive dog foods because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

The items were produced between August and November 2012 and sold nationwide in the US and Canada via retail stores, mail order and online after August 2012.
No other Honest Kitchen production dates, batches, or products are affected.
About Salmonella
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
Abdominal cramping
Fever
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.
Animals with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some animals will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.
Infected but otherwise healthy animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.
If your animals have consumed the recalled product and display these symptoms, you are advised to contact your veterinarian.
About the Recall
The Company is taking this action after learning that one of its raw ingredients suppliers has recalled a batch of human‐grade parsley that may contain Salmonella .
The batch of parsley was shipped to the Company in 2012 and used in the production of five lots of Honest Kitchen products.
The Honest Kitchen claims to regularly test for Salmonella and other pathogens as part of its quality control process — and has not received to date received any reports of illness associated with these product lots.
The Company is proceeding with this action to ensure the safety and quality of its products.
According to Lucy Postins, company founder and CEO…
“While our quality control tests did not find evidence of Salmonella in any of our finished products, we are accountable for everything we make, and are taking precautionary action to ensure the safety and integrity of our products.”


What to Do?
Consumers who purchased the above lots of Honest Kitchen Verve, Zeal or Thrive products should stop feeding the products to their pets, remove the UPC (bar code) and lot code from the packaging, and discard the contents in a covered trash receptacle.
Lot codes are located on the top of product boxes either adjacent to or opposite the UPC.
For questions, consumers are invited to call the company at (866) 437-9729. Or send an email to [email protected].
Customer service representatives will be available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm PST.
You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

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What’s Being Recalled?
The lots being recalled are:

Kasel Associated Industries is recalling all products manufactured at its Denver, Colorado, facility from April 20, 2012, thru September 19, 2012.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella, which can sicken animals that eat them. Humans may also be at risk, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the pet products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

The recalled dog treat products were distributed nationwide through various retailers from April 20th to September 19th.

Kasel Industries is recalling Boots & Barkley, BIXBI, Nature’s Deli, Colorado Naturals, Petco, and Best Bully Stick items. Lot numbers as shown in 1 Year Best By Date Table and 2 Year Best By Date Table, which are attached.

The company has not received any reports of illnesses to date in connection with these products.

No other products made by Kasel Industries are included in the recall.

Consumers who have purchased any listed products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Anyone with questions may contact Kasel Associated Industries at (800) 218-4417 Monday thru Friday from 7am to 5pm MDT.

2 Year Best By Date
UPC Lot/Best By Date
085239043165 Boots&Barkley American Beef Bully Stick 12″ 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
085239403495 Boots&Barkley American Smoked Beef Femur Bone 3″ 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
085239043103 Boots&Barkley American Flossie 6-8″ 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
085239403440 Boots&Barkley American Pig Ear Strips 8oz 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
085239043202 Boots&Barkley American Chicken Stuffed Beef Femur Bone 6″ 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
085239043110 Boots&Barkley American Braided Bully Stick 5″ 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
085239043325 Boots&Barkley American Chicken Jerky 16oz 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
085239043400 Boots&Barkley American Chicken Jerky 8oz 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
490830400086 Boots&Barkley American Variety Pack 32oz 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
647263899196 Boots&Barkley American Beef Ribs 2ct 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
647263899172 Boots&Barkley American Beef Knuckle 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
647263899158 Boots&Barkley American Pig Ears 12ct 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
647263899189 Boots&Barkley American Beef Bully Sticks 6ct 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
647263899165 Boots&Barkley American Pork Femur 20APR2014 DEN-03OCT2014 DEN
681131857246 Roasted Pig Ear Dog Treats 28oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
800443092903 25 PK Natural Pig Ears 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
800443092910 12 PK Natural Pig Ears 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
800443092927 12 PK Smoked Pig Ears 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
800443092934 7 PK Natural Pig Ears 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
800443092941 7 PK Smoked Pig Ears 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
647263800291 16oz Chicken Chips 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
647263900151 16oz Salmon Jerky 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
647263800178 4oz Chicken Jerky 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
647263510176 4oz Lamb Jerky 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
647263900175 4 oz Salmon Jerky 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
647263801175 4oz Beef Jerky 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
647263800291 16oz Chicken Jerky 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
647263700157 16oz Pork Jerky 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
091037018021 BIXBI Skin & Coat Beef Liver Jerky 5oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
091037018045 BIXBI Skin & Coat Lamb Jerky 5oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
091037018007 BIXBI Skin & Coat Chicken Breast Jerky Treats 5oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
091037018069 BIXBI Skin & Coat Pork Jerky 5oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
091037018144 BIXBI Hip And Joint Pork Jerky 5oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
091037018120 BIXBI Hip And Joint Lamb Jerky 5oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
091037018083 BIXBI Hip And Joint Chicken Breast Jerky 5oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
091037018106 BIXBI Hip And Joint Beef Liver Jerky 5oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
Bulk TDBBS, Inc Buffalo Hearts Sliced 3 lbs 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
Bulk TDBBS, Inc Knee Caps 25 Ct 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
Unknown TDBBS, Inc Pork Jerky Strips 16oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
Unknown TDBBS, Inc Chicken Jerky 16oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
Unknown TDBBS, Inc Turkey Cubes 4.5oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
Bulk TDBBS, Inc Pig Snouts 25ct 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
Bulk TDBBS, Inc Beef Lobster Tails 1ct 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
Unknown TDBBS, Inc Turkey Jerky Sticks 6ct 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
Unknown TDBBS, Inc Hearts of Lamb 4oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN
Unknown TDBBS, Inc Lamb Jerky 4oz 04202014 DEN-10032014 DEN

1 Year Best By Date
UPC Lot/Best By Date
647263800215 Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky 3lbs 04202013 DEN-10032013 DEN
647263800208 Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky 2.5lbs 04202013 DEN-10032013 DEN

OF INSTINCT® RAW ORGANIC CHICKEN FORMULA FOR DOGS & CATS
DUE TO POSSIBLE HEALTH RISK


Nature’s Variety has announced a voluntary recall of one batch of Instinct® Raw Organic Chicken Formula with a “Best if Used By” date of 10/04/13. This action is being taken because pieces of clear plastic may be found in some bags and could cause a potential choking risk to pets. The source of plastic has been identified and the issue has been resolved.

The affected product is strictly limited to a single batch of Organic Chicken Formula with the “Best if Used By” date of 10/04/13. This includes:
UPC# 7 69949 60137 1 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions, 3 lbs. bag
UPC# 7 69949 70137 8 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions, 27 lbs. case
UPC# 7 69949 60127 2 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties, 6 lbs. bag
UPC# 7 69949 70127 9 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties, 36 lbs. case

The “Best if Used By” date is located on the back of the package below the “Contact Us” section. The affected product was distributed through retail stores and internet sales in the United States and Canada. No other products were impacted.

Nature’s Variety became aware of a potential issue after receiving a consumer complaint. The source of the issue was identified and resolved. To date, there have been no reports of harm to dogs or cats.

Reed Howlett, CEO of Nature’s Variety, stated, “At Nature’s Variety we take quality and safety very seriously. We believe that under all circumstances, the health and safety of pets comes first.”

Consumers feeding the affected product should discontinue use and monitor their pet’s health, and contact their veterinarian if they have concerns. Consumers who have purchased one of the above products can obtain a full refund or exchange by either returning the product in its original packaging or bringing a proof of purchase back to their retailer.

Consumers with additional questions can call the Nature’s Variety Consumer Relations team at 1.888.519.7387 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST. Or, questions can be emailed directly to [email protected].

Evidence of Pet Food Made From Stray Dogs FoundWritten on 02/01/2013 by Brandy Arnold

While chatter of major pet food manufacturers using the rendered fat and meat from stray dogs and diseased animals has been circulating among concerned pet parents for many years, police in Spain have just stumbled upon proof that this practice actually exists.

Police in Galician town of As Neves in Spain uncovered a warehouse filled with over 15 tons of dead stray dogs which, they claim, were to be processed into animal feed. Similar discoveries have been made elsewhere in the North of Spain, too.

Spanish newspaper, El Mundo, reported that an investigation has been underway since March, 2012, after an industry insider alerted police to the use of dead stray dogs in animal feed and pet food. The discovery affects the entire food chain, not just the animals given the food, which tend to be mostly cattle and other human and pet food sources.

In a separate report by another Spanish newspaper, La Voz de Galicia, it is revealed that many of the businesses purchasing the illegal animal feed products “have international presence and some are among the most prominent of the animal feed industry,” meaning that the foods we humans ourselves are eating and the foods we’re feeding our pets originated from these same sources.

Skeptics have shrugged off the idea that dead dogs are commonly used in animal feed, saying that it’s illegal and unethical and therefor unbelievable. Susan Thixton and Truth About Pet Food explain,

Yes, actually it is illegal per U.S. federal law for any food – animal or human – to be sourced from or contain any part of an animal that was not slaughtered.  Section 402 (a)(5).

However, the FDA has provided the animal food and pet food industries loopholes to avoid federal law.  These loopholes are known as Compliance Policies.  Compliance Policy Guide (CPG) 675.400 says it all (however there are many more):  “POLICY:  No regulatory action will be considered for animal feed ingredients resulting from the ordinary rendering process of industry, including those using animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, provided they are not otherwise in violation of the law.”

The names of the businesses (specifically, pet food manufacturers and farmers using the animal feed produced in Spain) have yet to be revealed to the public. Our fingers (and paws!) are tightly crossed in hopes that dog food brands currently lining store shelves in America are not on the list.

In 2008, former president of AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) admitted in the video below that American’s pet food could very likely contain the rendered product of cats and dogs.



You simply can’t trust the colorful marketing and fancy advertising of every dog food brand sold in your local stores. As dog owners, it is our responsibility to research and find foods that are safe and healthy for the pets who’s life and vitality rest squarely in the decisions we make. Find manufacturers with complete and total transparency regarding the sourcing of their ingredients and choose those that hold the health and safety of our pets in the highest regard.

For more details including links to FDA documents supporting these facts, please visitTruthAboutPetFood.com.