Filed under Pet Food | Comments (2)

Chickens have been contaminated with melamine after being fed the same contaminated feed from China that caused the deaths of so many animals in the pet food recall. These chickens have already made it into the human food supply. Though the amount isn't enough to cause illness according to officials, it does raise alarm bells over the safety of our food supply and whether or not we should be relying upon China for ingredients.

Hundreds of other producers may have similarly sold an unknown amount of contaminated poultry in recent months, they added, painting a picture of much broader consumption of contaminated feed and food than had previously been acknowledged in the widening pet food scandal.

This is causing growing concern about the overall food supply for both humans and pets. The main worry is the quality of ingredients imported from China.

With the new knowledge that the Chinese deliberately put melamine in pet food to boost protein levels, I would prefer not to eat anything that comes from China nor feed it to my pets. Perhaps we as consumers should start demanding to know exactly where the ingredients in our foods come from.

Millions Of Chickens Fed Tainted Pet Food
In China, melamine use not seen as risky

Filed under Polar Bears | Comments (1)

Knut, the adorable little polar bear who has stolen the hearts of the world, is reportedly not feeling well and has been temporarily taken off display. He will undergo a treatment of antibiotics and be given lots of rest.

“At the moment he is resting on his blanket and sleeping,” Schuele said, adding that despite his lethargy Knut did eat his regular meal in the morning.

While I am not a fan of zoos, I do think the "animal rights activists" who say Newt should have been euthanized rather than be raised in a zoo are completely out of their minds. I don't believe those types of activists really care about the welfare of animals. They see things in a black and white way and don't look at each individual case.

I consider myself to be an "animal rights" person as well as a "human rights" person. All creatures should be treated fairly and humanely. We wouldn't put a perfectly healthy human being "to sleep" because it couldn't live in its natural habitat.

Do any of us live in our natural habitats, anyway? Knut may not have an ideal life for a polar bear, but he has a right to live and no person who truly cared about animals would think otherwise.

Get well soon, Knut!

Berlin's lovable polar bear Knut taken off public display because of teething pain

Filed under Pet Food | Comments (0)

Menu Foods CFO Mark Wiens says the fact that he sold half his shares in the company two weeks before the pet food recall had nothing to do with the recall. Indeed! Even though the company knew that animals were getting sick from the food before he sold his shares, the company says Mark Wiens was not aware of the fact. They say it was a "horrible coincidence."

Wiens called it a "horrible coincidence" in Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper. He did not immediately return phone calls yesterday and Bornstein said Wiens didn't want to talk about his shares any more.

Doesn't want to talk about his shares anymore? That's too bad, because a lot of pet owners are going to want to talk to him about those shares and the timing of their sale. Good luck with that, Mr. Wiens.

Menu Foods CFO sold shares 3 weeks before recall

Filed under Pet Food | Comments (4)

The pet food recall that has caused at least 16 deaths of cats and dogs is worsening by the day. These are the reported deaths, but I believe the number is much higher.

On message boards across the internet, people are reporting that their animals have died of mysterious kidney failure over the past few months. These animals were all eating foods on the recall list.

The sinister part of all this? Menu Foods knew the food was deadly as early as February but did nothing to recall the products.

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Filed under Dolphins | Comments (2)

Fuji, a dolphin in the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan, has made the news today because of her artificial fin. (That's Fuji with her artificial fin in the photo to the left.)

Fuji is a bottlenose dolphin who lost 75% of her flukes to a mystery disease in 2002.

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Filed under Dog Health | Comments (3)

Jo Bighouse answers a reader's question on how to cure a dog's cough naturally:

Herbs such as Echinacea, coltsfoot and licorice may be helpful. Echinacea is a natural immune booster ... Antibiotics upset the natural balance of bacteria in the intestines. After your dog has completed the antibiotic treatment, you should reestablish the natural intestinal micro flora by adding either plain yogurt or a digestive enzyme to his diet.

Natural Pets: Healing a dog's cough

Filed under Cat Health, Dog Health | Comments (6)

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Dental health for your cat or dog is just as important as it is for you. Take some time this month to make sure your furry friend's oral health is in order.

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Filed under Pet Food | Comments (2)

In perhaps the most offensive article of the year, consumers who feed their pets healthy food are called "spoilers" and "pet zealots." Del Monte, the makers of Meow Mix, have exposed themselves as idiots.

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Filed under Dog Health | Comments (2)

Weasel, a border terrier crossbreed, was born without ears and abandoned at five weeks of age. Though his ears are covered with skin, veterinarians believe he has fully functional ears underneath.

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Filed under Fish | Comments (1)

It's hard to know what to say about this news that tattooed fish are becoming a trend. I'm sure this was painful for the poor fish and it's just plain silly. Are we really so bored as a culture that we have to start tattooing fish for our own entertainment?

Pet Stores Offer Tattooed Fish

Tags: fish, tattoo, tattoos, animal rights, animal cruelty

Filed under Dog Health | Comments (0)

In an article in the Sun Herald, veterinarian Jacob Churchtalks about prostate cancer in dogs. He says that the disease is more common in un-neutered dogs and how neutering can prevent the disease.

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Filed under Cat Health | Comments (5)

There is concern in China after it was discovered that a large number of cats have been infected with avian flu. Though there have been isolated reports of infected cats in other countries, this is the largest known outbreak so far.

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Filed under Cat Health | Comments (0)

Pet owners of late have been turning to pharmaceuticals to control their animals' behavior. Cats that are spraying too much, dogs that become anxious when left home alone, cats scratching furniture - these are things that are being treated with Prozac.

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