Merrick Pet Care announced a similar tainted pet product recall last year.  

NOTE: Pets affected with salmonella will have one of several symptoms such as being lethargic, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, diarrhea with blood, abdominal cramping and fever.

This years contaminated (tainted pet treat) recall involves approximately 86 cases of the 10 oz., Beef Fillet Squares (for dogs). If you have the Merrick Product in question, suspected contaminated product will display the best before March 4, 2012 date – lot # 10084TL7  – on the label.

My little dog Tinker is always scratching. I check for fleas and there are none. This mostly happens immediately after they come back from the groomers. Do you have any idea as to what I should do?

Sincerely,
Concerned Mom

Answer
Dear Concerned Mom:

Here's Dink after I snagged his treat taken with my Skippy Cam!

This question is answered by Dink also known as Dinky.

When I was younger I would go through the same thing that Tinker is doing. I would scratch. Scratch. SCRATCH! Thankfully my mom took me to the vet immediately because one day (when she went to the store around the corner and didn’t take me) I scared the daylights out of her when she returned cuz I scratched my neck too many times.  (She thought I hurt my self.)  Because my mom didn’t want to go through that again, we learned a few things while we were at the vet that I am going to share with you right now. 

We’ve all heard that skin is the largest organ of the body but many pet parents do not recognize “skin” as being an organ with amazing properties. For example: Skin is both tough and pliable and it serves many functions such as regulating body temperature, helps with preventing us from dehydration, injury and disease.

Just as skin protects us dogs and cats – it also protects your human pet parents and, without skin, our loveable pet parents wouldn’t have hair, and their “insides” would be exposed, making quality snuggle session time a little on the icky side!

Believe it or not, us dogs and cats skin have many similarities as compared to human skin, but there’s significant differences. They – like us dogs and cats – have three layers of their skin, with the same nerves and blood vessels running throughout. And, even though the pigmented skin in us dogs and cats contains melanin, we don’t have the ability to tan like our pet parents do. What’s also a bit different is even though us dogs do sweat it’s not at all like how our pet parents sweat. Instead us dogs have eccrine glands that are located in our paws which secrete a watery substance like sweat, and ”secretion” typically occurs when we’re nervous and under stress. (I can only answer how dogs sweat cuz I don’t know how those cats sweat.)

Since the body’s first line of defense to environmental factors is the skin, then you’ll agree with me that it’s exposed to all sorts of insults and injuries. With my fellow cat and dog friends having to worry about fleas to ticks to parasites (like mange mites) bites – and without a doubt – they damage our skin. Skin that is under repeated assault by foreign objects, constant licking, nibbling teeth, or scratching claws can weaken and impair our skin’s protective barrier. Skin can also be affected from the inside out by infections, hormonal imbalances, food, environmental allergies and immune disorders.

Young pets – like puppies and kittens – are particularly susceptible to skin problems because their skin is more sensitive and their immune systems have not developed fully. Kittens, for example, are prone to ringworm, which is a fungal infection and puppies are susceptible to demodectic mange. If your puppy or kitten develops a rash, loses hair, has bumps or warts, consult with your veterinarian immediately to determine if treatment is necessary.

The bottom line is this: healthy skin is a vital part of our health and pet parents health, and its condition is a reflection of our overall well-being. Since cats and dogs are vulnerable to attacks on all sides, it’s very important that responsible pet parents regularly monitor their pet’s skin health. Skin – on average – does its body protecting  job well, but sometimes it needs a little help or extra boost.

Skin and coat problems are the number one reason why our pet parents take us to the vet. And, in order for our skin to function properly it needs the proper nutrients, Omega-3 Fatty acids, minerals and protein. Hair in particular needs a lot of protein to be healthy and grow with the end result being shinny. If your pets coat is dry or dull it could be a result of not getting enough nutrients i.e., suffering from a nutrient deficiency, which [nutrients] is typically obtained through the food they’re eating. Thus the saying – You are what you eat – should be kept in mind when choosing our food because not all pet foods are created equally.

Underlying conditions such as hormonal, hyper thyroid, cushing disease or intestinal parasites  can all contribute to poor skin health and coat quality too! Allergies are another frequent problem that occur in our pet parents and their companion animals.

Common signs of allergies that our pet parents will observe us doing are: chewing, scratching, licking the paws and rubbing the face. Flea allergies and food allergies are by far the most common and can make us dogs and cats miserable.  Additionally, these allergies can lead to secondary skin infections which typically means a trip to the vet.

What can our pet parents do to promote a healthy skin and coat for us dogs and cats?

One of the easiest ways of promoting healthy skin and coat is by building healthy skin from the inside out and feeding us a high quality pet food which will give our pet parents visible results. They’ll even be surprised at how much our skin and coat improves just by feeding us a higher in quality and nutritionally balanced food.

Just as our pet parents are allergic to certain foods it is not uncommon for us dogs and cats to have the same reactions. Most importantly we need to avoid foods that contain corn and wheat in them as these foods greatly contribute to food allergies. Your pet parents may also want to consider giving you a balanced supplement that will contribute to the additional nutritional support that us dogs and cats need.
 
Pet parents need to choose a supplement that is balanced in Omega-6 and 3 fatty acids in ratios 10:1 to 5:1. Properly balanced Omega fatty acids are thought to help retain moisture in the skin and ease allergic responses. Other ingredients to look for in supplements are: zinc, vitamin A, D and E.

If pet parents are aware (or they notice) that you have a flea allergy they need to know that it’s important they use a topical  agent that kills those darn fleas when it comes in contact with our fur and it’s very important to use that topical agent on every pet in the house. Many pet parents don’t realize that if we have a flea allergy all it takes is one bite to make us itchy and miserable. Other measures that our pet parents can do to protect us dogs and cats from fleas is to vacuum frequently, and treat the yard and our bedding to eliminate all fleas in the house environment.

If pet parents should notice that your dog or cat is scratching frequently it is suggested that you use a gentle – plant based – shampoo – to help calm the skin and wash away environmental allergens such as pollen, mold and dust mites. Herbal ingredients such as aloe vera or lavender calm the skin. So, you may consider getting a topical non-toxic spray (in case we lick it) to use in between shampoos.

These are some of the most common skin and allergy ailments that I’ve seen in my fellow dogs, cats and humans too! Hopefully these tips were helpful.

Making quick and abrupt turns in the opposite direction anytime your dog or puppy starts to get ahead of you will teach your dog or puppy to pay attention to where you’re going. Don’t forget to praise your dog or puppy lavishly when your dog or puppy returns to your side and even reward your dog or puppy with a small treat if your dog or puppy is “food motivated”. The point to being unpredictable is to “stop” the pulling before it even begins by catching your dog or puppy off guard. Always be calm, there’s no need to scold your dog or puppy because eventually your dog or puppy will figure it out.

You may have to turn around forty times in the first session and barely make it half way down the driveway, but don’t worry, in time it will get better. Most dogs or puppies catch on quickly to this game and start to watch their owner very closely when walking to see what they’ll do next. Besides, a dog or puppy that’s paying attention to you isn’t pulling on the leash.

Set The Ground Rules

When walking your dog or puppy set the ground rules and stick to them! Decide that you will not allow your dog or puppy to pull and tug and try to get a head of you. During this process it means you’ll have to be paying attention to your dog or puppy and watch them closely during your first few walking sessions. Allowing your dog or puppy to pull “sometimes” – but not all the time – will only confuse your dog or puppy. Observe your dog or puppy carefully and look at this exercise as a training experiences. Once your dog or puppy gets the hang of walking with you and not “against you” then you can start to plan to move beyond the driveway.

Practice, Distract, and Practice Some More

Teaching your dog or puppy good leash walking skills is an ongoing process. You need to “be unpredictable” every once in a while even after your dog or puppy understands what you expect from them. Keep your dog or puppy on their toes and keep practicing with them. Don’t be stingy with the praise, let your dog or puppy know when they’re doing the right thing and you’ll start to see more of that behavior.

Frequency of bathing actually depends on the type of breed of dog you have. If the pet is of a bushy type – similar to the cocker spaniel – then bathing should be carried out once every 6 to eight weeks. If these breeds are bathed too frequently, the skin along with coat will loose the defending characters. On the other hand, as the puppy has defecated on the skin as a result of recurrent digestive upsets resulting in diarrhea, and to avoid the unpleasant odor, the dog might be subjected to repeated bathing by their owners.

Take additional care in avoiding irritant soaps or soaps and shampoos directed to human usage. The cleaning soap and supplies used for human beings aren’t appropriate for pets. Similarly, many human shampoo products have particular ingredients that aren’t appropriate for puppies. Hence, always attempt to utilize shampoo products specifically and said mainly used for dogs or cats.

At all times have good time and patience. Keep products needed for bathing your dog or puppy in a single place preferably near the water source or bath tub. Puppies adore the sprinkling of water too! Yet when you’re using the bathtub, you may want to consider getting a rubber mat that will prevent your dog from slipping and possible injury.

Conditioner is of beneficial use that helps making the comb-out activity simpler and easier afterward. Bathing ought to be a convenient movement to both the dog in addition to the owner. Bathing and Grooming your dog or puppy shouldn’t be a burden.

We all know the benefits of roughage within our own eating plan, however is their any benefits of fiber in a dog’s food regimen? Roughage was regard as filler and bulkiness within year’s past, however in the present day, the dietary usefulness of roughage within your dog’s eating routine is at long last realized.

What exactly is roughage? It is part of carbohydrates. Fiber isn’t well digestible by the body. Your pet’s diet can benefit from roughage in correct amounts. Much like human beings, excessive fiber within a diet plan can have negative effects on the digestive structure. It is always vital so as to you monitor your pet’s food plan to maintain a in the pink level of fiber to suit your puppy’s needs. Consult your veterinarian concerning the benefits of fiber within your pet’s eating plan.

Compliance is prevalent within both humans plus your pets. Too regularly, pet’s develop into hefty pets. Fiber within your pet’s diet program is known as a wonderful method to aid by your puppy lose extra mass. Maintaining a fit weight is crucial to the long life and quality of your puppy’s life. We all know so as to fiber cannot accomplish weight reduction on its own, however it can truthfully make a difference. Roughage assists to keep your puppy feeling full along with content without large quantities of calories.

The your pets who attain the specified weight target may need a little extra roughage in the dog’s diet program to keep the desired weight. Combining roughage by firm portion control, you will be able to generate a dog diet that is fit and satisfying for your pet.

Again, just like people, bowel problems does crop up in pets. your puppy’s food regimen should contain fiber to help avert this medical condition from occurring. Since your dog ages, her or his diet should have elevated amounts of roughage. Senior pet dogs tend to deal by problems with bowel problems added often than their younger counterparts. For this reason, you’ll record higher fiber content in elder dog diet programs.

How will fiber help keep things moving? Fiber absorbs water. by the absorption of water within the fiber, the contents in the intestine contain added bulk. This really is what causes the movement along the intestinal tract. The passage time through the bowel will become extra normalized and regular.

in the pink quantities of fiber in your puppy’s diet will develop fecal regularity. you’ll be acquainted with at what time your pet is getting the proper quantity of fiber when your puppy relieves themself regularly. too much fiber in your dog’s diet program will result within loose and messy stools.

A few studies indicate so as to a slight increase within roughage can assist within the management of diabetes mellitus. The roughage assists to management blood sugar degrees by means of slowing the absorption of sugar from the intestine.

Take record so as to excessive amounts of roughage might have negative affects on your dog’s health. For this reason, it is crucial that you buy high-quality dog food from reputable companies to ensure a fit diet plan for your dog. Watch for these sources of roughage within your puppy’s diet program. Beet pulp, soybean hulls, rice bran, apple along with tomato pomace, along with peanut hulls. Grain such as oats plus rice are also examples of indigestible fiber.

Roughage does have benefits in your pet’s eating routine when used in moderation. Speak with your vet concerning the best quantity of roughage to your pet.

Always Keep an Eye on Your Dog, Puppy, Cat or Kitten

Watch your dog, puppy, cat or kitten for commons signs and symptoms of a flea infestation. Your your dog, puppy, cat or kitten could be biting and scratching excessively particularly in and around the tail and lower back areas. Be sure to check your dog, puppy, cat or kitten for raw patches of skin where they have been scratching at fleas. Another bit of evidence that you will notice on your dog, puppy, cat or kitten skin or on their coat is “flea debris,” which are tiny specks of dried blood that are black in color.

Flea Collars, Powders and Liquid Applications

If your dog, puppy, cat or kitten have exhibited some of the symptoms above and, if you have caught the problem relatively early, it could be possible to eliminate those pesky fleas by simply using flea collar and flea powders. There are several brands and types to choose from.

Flea Baths

You and your dog, puppy, cat or kitten may find it helpful to bathe your pet using a specially formulated soap or treatment. It’s also necessary to take into consideration the type of fur or coat your dog, puppy, cat or kitten pet has when bathing. This is particularly true for dogs, as some breeds have essential oils that shouldn’t be washed away with soap and water more than once or twice a year. If bathing in a flea bath isn’t an option for your dog, puppy, cat or kitten, consult your vet for other alternatives.

Monthly Flea Medication

For your dog, puppy, cat or kitten there are pills available that you will give your pet on a monthly basis that will prevent fleas from reproducing. Additionally, there are also multi-purpose medications and products available from your vet that are designed to prevent fleas from reproducing as well as controlling heartworm, hookworms, whipworms and roundworms.

Fleas unfortunately will always exist, but with careful planning and proper treatment, they need not become a problem for you or your dog, puppy, cat or kitten.

In most cases, your dog’s diet won’t need to be supplemented. Hopefully you’re feeding your pet a well balanced diet formulated by a reputable dog food manufacturing company that takes seriously, your dog’s food that is specially designed for a well balanced and healthy eating program to ensure excellent health for your pet.

Unfortunately, there are low-quality dog foods on the market today. With low-quality dog foods you will need to increase the need for extra supplementation. Most vets recommend you give your dog’s diet a little boost by adding or giving them a hard boiled egg a couple of days per week. This simple step will add extra amounts of vitamins A and D to your dog’s diet.

Just as people age – so do dogs and, with that said you may seriously want to consider giving your dog vitamins that will help maintain good bone structure and healthy eyes.

Some people decided to personalize their dog’s diet and give their dogs raw food or, cooking their meals at home for their pet. Then, there are those pet owners who want to make sure their dog’s diet is at its best, so they expand their knowledge on the benefits of other supplements – such as – fish oil.

Your dog’s diet can be supplemented with green vegetables. These items will increase your dog’s intake of vitamin B. Other ways to supplement your dog’s diet to increase the amount of vitamin B to include liver. Your dog needs vitamin B to support healthy skin and muscles.

To ward off immune system deficiencies, supplement your dog’s diet with additional vitamin E. Good sources of vitamin E can be found in wheat germ.

Vitamin K is another important nutrient that should be in your dog’s diet. Liver, fish (fish oil), and leafy greens can provide vitamin K to your dog’s diet. This vitamin will help to enhance your dog’s blood clotting abilities.

Glucosamine is a great supplement to add into your dog’s diet. Glucosamine has been proven to improve joint health not only in humans but, to ward off arthritis in your pet.

Supplementing your dog’s diet can be risky if not done correctly. Not all vegetables and fruit are good for dogs. Some dogs have been known to die from renal failure due to consuming certain fruit and vegetables. Always seek advice from your vet before supplementing or changing your dog’s diet in any way just to be on the safe side.

Another thing to be aware of is: calcium supplements can be dangerous when used excessively in your dog’s diet. Although calcium is good in moderation to form strong, healthy bones, too much calcium can create trouble. Large breed pups given too much calcium may grow large bones, but these bones lack the strength they need.

Always talk to your vet about the supplements you are considering. Your vet can advise you on the appropriate amounts of each supplement to add to your dog’s diet. Both you and your vet care for your pet and want what is best for your dog. Providing a healthy and nutritious diet is one of the easiest ways to ensure good health for your furry friend.

You want to start by having your dog sit. Once your dog is sitting have him lay down, then have him sit again and then, finally stand-up. This is considered “one complete sit-up”. Your ideal session will be to have your dog repeat this sequence of moves a total of ten times, however, at first you may only be able to get your dog to cooperate for one or two. That’s okay! As each day passes, add an additional “doggie sit-up” prior to rewarding your dog with his treat. Before you know it – he’ll be doing the full ten!

What this exercise does is: it reinforces the basic commands of sit, down and stay. If your dog has yet to learn these commands, you will have to be patient and work with them at the same time. Doing this exercise allows you to accomplish two things at once. Keep in mind, trying to learn a new command is tiring in itself – not only for you – but tiring for your dog too! Adjust the number of sit-ups accordingly or you’ll end up being frustrated as well as your dog frustrated too!

Dogs love making their owners happy. Allowing your dog to combine some of the simplest commands into your play session will make your dog feel they have accomplished this task and your dog will be all the more eager to do whatever else you have in store for him during this time.

Generalized Dogs and Cats Seizures

Generalized dog or cat seizures are the most common type of seizures. There are several variations of these dog or cat seizures which are:

1. Absence seizures (petit mal): A sudden brief loss of consciousness, rare in animals
2. Myoclonic seizures: muscle jerk of one or more muscles
3. Clonic seizures: rhythmic muscle contractions
4. Tonic seizures: increase in muscle tone in all skeletal muscles
5. Tonic Clonic seizures (grand mal): the most common form of seizure in a dog or cat

Dog or Cat Tonic Clonic Seizures

A dog or cat Tonic Clonic (grand mal) seizures account for 60% of seizures in cats, and 80% of seizures in dogs. They are usually accompanied by a loss of consciousness, and consist of a tonic phase, where the increased muscle tone causes the animal to fall on its side with its limbs extended, and a clonic phase, consisting of intense muscle jerking or paddling movements.

In order to diagnose your dog or cat that is having a true epilepsy seizure, other causes of seizures must be first ruled out. Once a tentative diagnosis of epilepsy has been made (by excluding all the other known causes of seizures), the animal can be prescribed anticonvulsant drugs. These drugs are not appropriate for animals with seizures caused by a problem outside the brain. The overall goal of anticonvulsant therapy is to eradicate all seizure activity, but this is rarely achieved. A more realistic goal is to reduce the frequency of the seizures to a level that is acceptable for the owner, without having negative side effects for the animal.

Since epilepsy is not curable, the pet owner must be prepared to give the medication for the rest of the animals life.

On the other hand, if you view a dogs dry dog food to wet canned dog food, in terms of nutrients it is often the dry dog food that contains nearly ninety per cent nutrients. Canned wet dog food items basically contain approximately a lesser per cent of nutrients.

In other words, to make up the nutritional balance in your dog’s body systems, your dog has to eat more amounts of wet canned dog food as opposed to dry dog food. Also, you need to compare the cost factor related to you and your budget. Most dry dog food products are soybean and rice based.

Additionally, some dry dog food items are based on corn – which isn’t good for your dog or puppy. Sometimes, beef based or chicken based food items come in the cans along with mineral and vitamin supplements suited for the maintenance of your dog’s health status. Larger dogs that weigh more than thirty pounds should be fed with dry dog food or, semi moist dog food.

With larger dogs, one must feed either an enriched with vitamins and supplements denser dry dog food – such as Life’s Abundance – or, a greater portion when using a poorer quality dry dog food in order to satisfy the food receptors in your dogs stomach. Feeding your dog a denser dry dog food is much better because it will satisfy the food receptors in any size dogs stomach. Additionally, it will save you money because your dog or puppy will not eat as much because they are satisfied food wise.