Diamond Plant Inspection Reveals Unsanitary Practices

Diamond Plant Inspection Reveals Unsanitary Practices

A Pet's Ten Commandments

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 entertainment, 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 could hurt you, 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 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.

~Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them.
Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God’s critters.

~Now please pass this on to other pet owners. We do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It is here on earth and has four legs!

Author Stan Rawlinson

Fergie Fund

About a month ago someone brought to my attention a young male pug that needed a home. I was concerned since he was not neutered and could be picked up by a breeder or puppy mill. I did not have the financial means at the time to rescue him, get his shots and have him neutered.

Friends at the Finger Lakes Pug Meetup offered to help out and they paid for all his needs and now he has a new home.

I would like to be able to have the Rochester Pug Meetup work with Finger Lakes Pug Meetup and payback some of the cost for Fergie.

Whatever we can do would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Triumph visits the Dog Spa

Rated PG-13

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Tara's Angels

This photo reminded me of the old Charlie's Angels posters.

Holiday Pet Safety--"Ask Zena" December 2009

To read it at Petpaooza.com  click here http://www.petpalooza.com/id66.htm

Ask Zena December 2009


Dear Zena:

We have a 7 month old Lab puppy and we are worried that the puppy will be very curious about the Christmas tree.  Our family usually puts up a real tree for the holidays, is this safe or are we better off getting a fake tree this year?  Are there any other hazards we should watch out for?

Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,

Mary
Scottsville, NY


Dear Mary:

Great question!  Puppies can be very curious but even a pet who has never bothered the tree in the past can, without warning, decide to check out something interesting hanging from the tree.

This year should be interesting for our family also.  My little sister, Phoebe, is going to be almost 8 months old this Holiday season and this will be her first experience with a Christmas tree.  We will definitely be taking some extra precautions this year.  Just remember to please use caution and common sense with any pet this Holiday season.

Here are some safety tips to help keep your pets safe:

First, let's start with some tree safety precautions.

-  Pick a good place for your tree that is not in a high-traffic area.  A corner near an outlet is ideal so that the tree is out of the way and cords won't be lying around.

-  If you decide to have a real tree, prepare the area by placing a plastic sheet or tree bag under the tree so that at the end of the season you can pull the bag or sheet over the tree minimizing the amount of needles that can fall from the tree and prevent them from being chewed or swallowed by your pet.  Make sure to sweep up needles often, ingestion of needles can cause vomiting, gastric irritation, and sometimes needles can even puncture holes in your pet's intestines.

-  Anchor your Christmas tree to the ceiling with fishing line (you won't see it) so that a rambunctious pet won't tip it over and be injured by the tree or broken ornaments.

-  Do not let your pet drink the water from the tree there may be fertilizers or bacteria in the water that will make your pet sick.  Check what preservatives are used and buy only those that are non-toxic. Also, please do NOT put aspirin in the tree water.  An option some people use is a screen to block off the area to the tree, cords and presents.

-  Buy shatterproof ornaments.  My mom bought all new shatterproof ornaments this year and we will keep the bottom branches clear of any ornaments that may tempt my sister Phoebe.  Last year we had a scare when my 2 year old human brother broke a glass ornament and it shattered all over the floor around him.  Mom feels it is just not worth it to worry about it so we will just avoid this whole entire situation.  Also, please do not use hooks on your ornaments, instead use string tied in a knot.

-  SKIP THE TINSEL!!!  There are so many other beautiful decorations out there to take the place of tinsel or even garland.  Ingestion of these materials can cause an intestinal obstruction that may require surgery.  Cats are especially attracted to the bright shiny tinsel so I say just skip it all together.

-  Hide the Cords!  Remember most puppies love to chew.  So, keep cords out of reach or purchase special cord covers that are available at most retailers.

-  Presents...Hide the presents until Christmas.  Pets do not know that they need to wait till Christmas to open the presents.  They are curious and unless you want presents opened or ruined you are better off hiding them away.  Pets can also eat the ribbon or sting on the presents, which is very dangerous.  My mom told me a very sad story about a friend of hers that placed a present from a friend under her tree not knowing that it was a box of chocolates.  Her dog found the present and ate the whole box of chocolates while she was out.  The dog did not make it.  Please do not take any chances.

-  Supervision.  This is the safest way to avoid hazards.  If at all possible do not let your pet near the tree unless supervised.

Here are some other hazards to watch out for:

-  Snow Globes.  Most are filled with anti-freeze, which is poisonous to pets.  Also, watch out for packaging such as Styrofoam, which causes a chocking hazard.  Snow spray can cause problems if inhaled or ingested.

-  Holiday Plants.  Holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lillies, if ingested, can lead to health problems.

-  Small Toy Parts.  Put away toys after children open their gifts.  Small parts could be eaten by your pet.

-  Candles.  Keep candles high and out of reach to avoid burns or being knocked over.

-  Wipe Your Pet's Paws.  Ice melts and salts, if ingested, can cause gastrointestinal inflammation.  One way to prevent this from happening is to clean your pets feet when returning from a walk.

-  Anti-Freeze.  Unfortunately, ingestion of anti-freeze is very common in the winter months.  Do not let your pet drink from puddles and clean your pet's paws when coming in from the outdoors.  Anti-freeze has a sweet taste that attracts pets, but it is very toxic and can cause permanent kidney damage.

-  Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors.  Not just for the obvious reasons but also for the fact that when the batteries start going bad these devices send out an alert or an alarm at a high frequency, which is very painful to your pet's ears.


Even after all the precautions are taken, you suspect your pet has ingested glass, broken plastic, staples or any other small, sharp object, contact your veterinarian immediately.

If you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic, you can call your veterinarian or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's 24 hour emergency hotline at 1-888-4-ANI-HELP.  Make sure you keep all emergency numbers easily accessible, the last thing you want to do in an emergency is search for a phone number.

I hope this information help you and your pets enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.

Keep the questions coming!   I wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season and a fantastic New Year!

Sincerely,

Zena

Happy Holidays!

Biscuits with Santa--Canine Holiday Party and Fundraiser

How does your dog's food rate????

http://www.petpalooza.com/id66.html

Below is a rating system for pet foods that may be helpful in showing you where your current brand lies and what are considered quality ingredients.  We are not surprised to see that the brands that we carry rated highest on this grading because we are very careful about the foods that we offer our clients to ensure optimum health and wellness for your pet. Not surprising to see Science Diet, Purina, Iams and Royal Canin at the bottom, with an F (Failed) rating. Don't be fooled by advertising that you see on T.V. Quality food companies put their money into quality ingredients for your pet, not in mass advertising. And when you see the big name brands introducing "new and improved natural formulas" don't be fooled into believing that a lack of artificial ingredients means the rest of the food is good quality. Corn is natural, but you won't ever find it in our pet foods here because it is merely a cheap source of protein many companies use instead of meat, yet can cause a host of problems in your pet, being a high sugar carb.

 

How to grade your pet's food:
Start with a grade of 100:

1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points
2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal or fat -not actual protein source stated such as chicken, lamb, turkey etc) reference, subtract 10 points
3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points for each
4) For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source, subtract 5 points
5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (I.e. "ground brown rice", "brewers rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain), subtract 5 points
6) If the meat protein sources are not in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
7) If it contains any artificial colorants or preservatives, subtract 3 points for each
8 ) If it contains corn (ground corn, corn gluten, whole grain corn etc) subtract 3points
9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
10) If the food contains any added animal fat other than fish or flaxseed oil, subtract 2 points
11) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
13) If it contains wheat or a component of wheat such as gluten, subtract 3 points
14) If it contains "digest" subtract 5 points
15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point

  

Extra Credits:
Bonus credit-If the food contains NO grains, add 10 points

1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
2) If the protein source is meal vs meat, add 5 points
3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
4) If the food contains probiotics or prebiotics, add 3 points
5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points
7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points (these may be hard to determine as many manufacturers of natural holistic food use these products without actually printing the information on the bag)
8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points
9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2points
10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one  protein source, but "chicken" and "" as 2 different sources), add 1  point
13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
14) If the vegetables are pesticide-free, add 1 point

Score:
100+ = A+   94-100=A  86-93 = B     76-85 = C     75 or lower= Failed

Some of our Dog Food scores (not in order of points):

Canidae / Score 117 A+
Foundations / Score 111 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 100 A
Innova Evo / Score 129 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 102 A+

Pro Series Holistic                    120 A+

Orijen-not yet rated-high score guaranteed

A sample of "popular" store brands scored:

Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 F
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
Purina Beneful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F

Glossary

Animal Digest: This is the dry by-product of rendered meat. During rendering, all usable animal parts (including fetal tissues and glandular wastes) are heated in vats and the liquid is separated from the dry meal. This meal is covered with charcoal and labeled "unfit for human consumption" before processing it into pet food. Digest can also include intestines, as well as the contents of those intestines, such as stool, bile, parasites and chemicals.
Animal Fat and Tallow: Animal fat is a "generic" fat source that is most often made up of rendered animal fat, rancid restaurant grease or other oils that are deemed inedible for humans. Tallow is low quality hard white fat that most animals find hard to digest, not to mention the cardiac risks resulting.
Chemical Preservatives: Chemical preservatives include BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytolulene), propyl gallate, propylene glycol (also used in automotive antifreeze and is suspected of causing red blood cell damage) and ethoxquin , are all potentially cancer causing agents that your pets are eating every day.
Chicken By-products: These are ground parts from poultry carcasses such as feet, heads, feathers, intestines, necks and undeveloped eggs and can included any rendered material.
Corn Products: Corn products including corn meal, gluten and grits are cheap, allergy causing fillers and are very difficult for animals to digest.
Food Fragments: Lower end by-products of the food manufacturing process, examples include wheat bran and brewers rice which are a waste product of the alcohol industry.
Ground Whole Grain Sorghum: The feed value of grain sorghum is similar to corn and is grown primarily as a feed grain for livestock.
Meat and Bone Meal: “Meat” and bone meal are inexpensive sources of animal protein. Note that these companies do not clarify the source of “meat”, nor are they human-grade meat. The protein in Meat meal containing a large amount of processed bone may not be digestible and fail to provide adequate nutrition.
Meat Based: A label that say "meat based" may also include blood vessels, tendons, organs and other parts of the rendered animal. Note again that these companies do not clarify the source of “meat”, nor are they human-grade meat products.
Meat By-products: Pet grade meat by-products consist of organs and parts not desired or not fit for human consumption. This can include organs, bones, blood and fatty tissue. It can also include brains, feet, heads, intestines and any other internal parts. Unbelievably, by-products can also contain cancerous or diseased tissue containing parasites, euthanized animals, .

Choosing dog food is a very personal decision, and no one formula is ideal for any breed. High protein, meat-based diets are not simply for pets with kidney/urinary issues or high metabolism pets, they are ideal for many because of the fact that dogs and cats are carnivores, not meant to eat grains or fillers. Grains are fillers, and metabolize into sugar, causing a gammit of problems including allergies, behavior issues and also poor muscle building. Food companies add corn/wheat etc to keep the price down and an important factor to keep in mind is that when you feed a higher quality food, you don't end up paying more in the long run because your pet needs to eat less in order to receive optimal nutrition from the food, not to mention the money saved on vet bills resulting from problems caused by poor quality nutrition. Foods full of fillers equal "garbage in/garbage out", meaning more food is required in order to receive the necessary nutrition, more stool is output to rid the body of grains and fillers that are unnecessary and undigestible (such as corn). We believe you should spend your money on your pet, not your vet.

The most important thing for anyone considering a new food is to read read read the label. First ingredient should be a human grade meat-meat meal is ideal because it means the water has been removed prior to weighing. Corn, Wheat, Glutens, BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin, By-products, Animal Digest and chemicals/preservatives are all ingredients you want to avoid! I can't begin to tell you how many clients come in with the label of their current pet food and are appalled to see what is actually in the food they are feeding, because they didn't read the label, or most commonly, simply did not understand what the ingredients were.

Most independent pet stores offer frequent buyer benefits, and the smaller independent retailers are more likely to be knowledgeable regarding nutrition. It is not as important where you shop as it is to be informed about what your pet requires for ultimate health, and to be informed about the toxic effects of many ingredients that are in grocery store/big box/mass produced brands.