Products affected:
Beef Filet Squares for Dogs, Item #60016, all lots
Texas Hold’ems pet treats, Item #60016, all lots

Merrick Pet Care, Inc. has recalled a total of 169 cases of its 10 oz. Beef Filet Squares for Dogs pet treats because of the risk that the product is contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported to date. Consumers can return the unused portions of this product for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1.800.664.7387 M-F from 8:00 to 5:00 (CST).

Products affected by this recall include:

• Beef Filet Squares for Dogs pet treats
  Item #60016, Lot # 10084TL7, with “Best by” date of March 24, 2012. 
• Beef Filet Squares for Dogs pet treats
  Item #60016, Lot # 10127, with “Best by” date of May 6, 2012.

View the statement on the Merrick Pet Care site

View the August 16 FDA press release

Below are some basic talking points to answer the questions we’ve received about this issue. More information is also available on the AVMA website at www.avma.org. 

• The apparent rise in pet food recalls due to Salmonella is likely due to several reasons:
  • The large-scale, melamine-related pet food recall of 2007 increased public and media awareness of and sensitivity to pet food safety concerns. 
  • Increased vigilance of the manufacturers and the federal government regarding Salmonella and other public health concerns, leading to increased surveillance and reporting. 
  • The recent launch of an early detection reporting system – the Reportable Food Registry – that requires and allows immediate reporting of safety problems with food and animal feed (including pet food), instead of relying on inspection to identify problems. According to a July 2010 FDA press release, the registry has been very successful in identifying at-risk foods. 
• These recalls are not an indication that pet foods are unsafe. Considering that the majority of these recalls have been precautionary and no illnesses have been reported, these recalls may indicate that they are preventing illness by catching the problems earlier. 
• Because pet foods and treats contain animal-origin products, they are at risk of contamination with Salmonella, E. coli, and other organisms. In general, these products are cooked to temperatures that will kill these organisms – however, if a contaminated additive (a flavoring, for example) is added to the food after cooking or if the food comes in contact with contaminated materials, the food will be contaminated. There are many safeguards in place to minimize the risk of contamination during the manufacturing process, but using caution when handling these foods is always recommended. 
• To protect themselves, their families and their pets from Salmonella infection, common sense measures are critical. These measures are particularly important if you feed your pet raw foods of animal origin (eg, raw beef, chicken or eggs), including raw treats such as raw hides and pig ear chews.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly after handling any pet food or treats
  • Don’t allow your children to handle the food; or, if you choose to let them handle the pet food or treats, make sure they thoroughly wash their hands (under your direct supervision) afterwards.
  • Do not allow immunocompromised, very young, or elderly people to handle pet food and treats; or, if they handle the products, they should thoroughly wash their hands immediately after handling the products.
  • Keep all pet foods and treats away from your family’s food.
  • Do not prepare pet foods in the same area or with the same equipment/utensils you use to prepare human foods.
  • Do not allow pets on countertops or other areas where human food is prepared. 
  • In the Pediatrics manuscript, feeding pets in the kitchen was identified as an important source of infection. If it is possible for you to feed your pet in an area other than your kitchen, you may wish to consider doing so. If it is not an option, or if you choose to feed your pet in the kitchen, feed your pet as far away from human food preparation areas as possible and follow the other guidelines above. 

• Beef Filet Squares for Dogs pet treats, Item #60016, Lot # 10084TL7, with “Best by” date of March 24, 2012.
• Beef Filet Squares for Dogs pet treats, Item #60016, Lot # 10127, with “Best by” date of May 6, 2012.

To view the statement on Merrick’s site, click here. To view the August 3 press release from the FDA, click here.

CINCINNATI—The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) (NYSE: PG) is voluntarily expanding its recall to include veterinary and some specialized dry pet food as a precautionary measure because it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. No salmonella-related illnesses have been reported.

The following dry pet food products are included:

Product Name            Version              "Best-By" Dates     UPC Codes
------------            -------               ---------------    ---------
Iams Veterinary Dry      All dry sizes and
Formulas                 varieties            01Jul10 - 01Dec11 All UPC Codes
                         All dry sizes and
Eukanuba Naturally Wild  varieties            01Jul10 - 01Dec11 All UPC Codes
                         All dry sizes and
Eukanuba Pure            varieties            01Jul10 - 01Dec11 All UPC Codes
    -------------           ------------------ ----------------- -------------
Eukanuba Custom Care
Sensitive Skin            All dry sizes       01Jul10 - 01Dec11 All UPC Codes
    --------------------       -------------   ----------------- ------------

The affected products are sold in veterinary clinics and specialty pet retailers throughout the United States and Canada. No canned food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement. A full listing of UPC codes can be found at www.iams.com.

These products are made in a single, specialized facility. In cooperation with FDA, P&G determined that some products made at this facility have the potential for salmonella contamination. As a precautionary measure, P&G is recalling all products made at this facility.

Consumers who have purchased the specific dry pet foods listed should discard them. People handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. 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 have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

For further information or a product replacement or refund call P&G toll-free at 877-340-8823

(Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST

• Teeth-cleaning procedure comes under scrutiny
  A controversial pet teeth-cleaning procedure known as scaling has been a topic in veterinary circles for years, and now the debate is heating up in one California community. Opponents say the practice of technicians using tools to clean pets’ teeth without anesthesia isn’t nearly thorough enough and may cause damage to the animals’ oral tissue. “Under anesthesia, an animal has to have every circumference of a tooth looked at. That’s the only way a scaling instrument can get under the gum line,” said veterinarian Robert Mansfield. The Press-Tribune (Roseville, Calif.) (7/21)

By Josh Fernandez The Press Tribune

An argument played out for years in California between veterinarians and pet businesses has recently reached a new intensity in Placer County. The argument surrounds a teeth-cleaning practice for pets where veterinary dental technicians offer the owners of pet-centric businesses a percentage of their profit if they can set up a makeshift teeth cleaning shop on the establishment’s premises. Sounds harmless, but opponents say the procedure, known as scaling, is performed by people who are untrained in veterinary dental techniques. The anesthesia-free procedure utilizes sonic and ultrasonic tools to remove buildup and tartar from an animal’s teeth. Veterinarian Robert Mansfield, who owns Granite Bay Veterinary Clinic with his wife Karen, says anesthesia is necessary for a thorough dental cleaning. “Under anesthesia, an animal has to have every circumference of a tooth looked at. That’s the only way a scaling instrument can get under the gum line,” Mansfield said. “It isn’t just a crown issue when you’re dealing with dental issues.”

A statement issued by the American Veterinary Dental College outlines many reasons why anesthesia-free dental scaling isn’t advisable – including danger to pet’s oral tissue, pain, overall ineffectiveness and the inability for the patient to receive a full examination during the procedure because anesthesia is not used.

Mansfield says the practice is unquestionably against the law. “These people need to be fined,” he said. “Or arrested.” That may sound harsh, but the practice – when performed by anyone other than a veterinarian – is technically against the law, according to the California Code of Regulations, which states that it’s unlawful for non-professionals to practice veterinary dental operations by a non-professional. “Anybody can basically use cotton swabs, gauze, dental floss, toothbrushes or anything similar to clean an animal’s teeth. Anything beyond that would need to be under the direct supervision of a veterinarian,” said Monica Ochoa of the Veterinary Medical Board’s enforcement department.

But Ochoa says the veterinary board has its hands tied. “We receive a lot of unlicensed activity complaints regarding dentistry,” she said. “However, we don’t have much to go on because they don’t have a license with us. There’s only so much we can do as far as prosecution.” Mansfield said he’s outraged that the Veterinary Medical Board hasn’t shut these operations down. His wife, Karen Mansfield, says she’s appalled by the apathy exhibited by the veterinary board. “They claim they don’t have the manpower,” she said. “These operations are nationwide and they make a lot of money doing it … It’s like they’re getting away with it.” The Mansfields are so upset they’ve taken matters into their own hands by walking into the businesses and warning them about dangers brought on by allowing non-professional scaling into their establishments. “Most of the owners throw them out,” he said. “But a lot do not.”

One business the Mansfields visited was The Doggie Bag in Granite Bay. Owner Sherrie Ammirato says the service is simply offered as a cosmetic cleaning and nothing more. “They’re not assuming the role of a vet. All they do is deal with the surface of the tooth. They don’t go below the gum line. It’s purely cosmetic,” she said. “If there’s a problem – if the dog has gingivitis or periodontal disease – then we tell them they need to go to their vet.”

The company that sets up shop in The Doggie Bag, Canine Care, is based in Redding, Calif. and has been in business since 1979. Its owner Cindy Collins maintains that what she is doing is completely legal, although she’s had some legal trouble. “I had two court cases with the vet board,” she said. “I won both of them.” The legal dispute hinges on a section of California code that isn’t clear about which tools are permitted by non-veterinarians and which aren’t. In 1988, the Superior Court of San Joaquin County ruled that scaling devices are permitted “as long as those devices are not used between the gum and tooth areas,” according to court documents. Collins, who lost a dog to anesthesia as a child, points to statistics showing that anesthesia can be harmful to pets. According to a 1999 study by the American Animal Hospital Association, one in every 233 dogs died under anesthesia and one in every eight dogs suffered complications stemming from anesthesia. “Veterinarians recommend teeth-cleaning about every six months for animals,” Collins said. “Are you going to put your dog under anesthesia 20-plus times during its lifetime?” But Mansfield insists that non-anesthesia can cause harm, too. “On their websites I think I see them using ultrasonic scalers, which can be damaging if they’re not using the right tips and they get under the gum too long it can actually burn tissues,” he says. “Plus, you’re telling people that ‘Yes, in my estimation, everything is fine.’ Well, your estimation is zip because you have no training on pathology and what oral health actually amounts to.”

Josh Fernandez can be reached at joshf@goldcountrymedia.com

Merrick Pet Care Recalls Beef Filet Squares
On July 2, Merrick Pet Care, Inc. recalled 86 cases of its 10 oz. Beef Filet Squares for Dogs pet treats because of the risk that the product is contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported to date. Consumers can return the unused portions of this product for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 800.664.7387.
 
Products affected by this recall include:
Beef Filet Squares for Dogs pet treats, Item #60016, Lot # 10084TL7, with “Best by” date of March 24, 2012

Update: the recall announced in the last edition of eNews (see below) has been expanded to include all Natural Chicken Formula Cat Food to include product that was produced and packaged on June 21 and shipped from June 21 through June 26. View the FDA press release for more information.

On July 1, Feline’s Pride has recalled all 2.5-lb bags of Feline’s Pride Natural Chicken Formula raw food that were shipped between June 10 and June 17, 2010 because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The food is produced on an as-ordered basis and shipped in uncoded plastic containers.
 
Consumers should avoid handling the food and dispose of it in a safe manner to prevent animal or human access to the discarded product. Consumers with questions should contact Shelby Gomas at 716.580.3096.

United Pet Group of Cincinnati, Ohio is voluntarily expanding its recent recall of its Pro-Pet Adult Daily Vitamin Supplement tablets for Dogs to include these additional pet nutritional supplement products.

The list of recalled products is provided can be found at on the The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.

The recalled products are sold nationally at various retailers. The products include various United Pet Group Pro-Pet and Excel branded products for dogs and cats, and certain other private label brands of the same products. All of the affected products are in tablet and powdered form. These products are being removed from retail stores and consumers should immediately stop feeding these supplements to their pets.

The affected products are those with expiration dates that include and are between “01/2013″ and “06/2013.” Products with expiration dates earlier than 01/2013 or later than 06/2013 are not included in this recall.

Signs that your pet may be infected with Salmonella include lethargy, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have a decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. People are advised to contact a veterinarian if their pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms.

People who handle these products can also become infected with Salmonella. According to the FDA, 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 should contact their healthcare providers if they show these signs after having contact with the product.

Consumers who have purchased the affected products are urged to contact United Pet Group or the place of purchase for further direction. Consumers may contact United Pet Group at 1-877-399-5226, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST.