Merry Christmas from Gunner

Kroger Pet Food Recalled for Aflatoxin Poisoning, Health Risks

Kroger Pet Food Recalled for Aflatoxin Poisoning, Health Risks
Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben
38 mins ago

.Kroger announced on Tuesday that it is voluntarily recalling many of its Kroger, Old Yeller and Pet Pride dry dog and cat food varieties because they could contain aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring chemical by-product that is toxic. Aflatoxin grows from the fungus Aspergillus Flavus found in corn and other crop foods used in pet food production.

Kroger stores are located in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Other stores within the Kroger food network that are affected by the pet food recall include: Dillons and Gerbes stores (Kansas and Missouri): Baker's stores (Nebraska); Food 4 Less stores (Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana and the Chicago area); and Jay C, Hilander, Owen's, Pay Less and Scott's stores located in Illinois and Indiana. Kroger affiliate stores not affected by the pet food recall include: Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Fry's, Smith's, QFC, City Market, Foods Co., Ralph's and Food 4 Less stores in California and Nevada.

Pet foods have a sell by date of Oct. 23-24, 2011. Visit the FDA website for specific UPC code details. Pet foods included in the Kroger recall are:

Pet Pride Cat Food - 3.5 # package
Pet Pride Cat Food - 18 # package
Pet Pride Tasty Blend Poultry and Seafood Cat Food - 3.5 # package
Pet Pride Tasty Blend Poultry and Seafood Cat Food - 18 # package
Pet Pride Kitten Formula - 3.5 # package
Old Yeller Chunk Dog Food - 22# and 50# packages
Kroger Value Cat Food - 3 # package
Kroger Value Chunk Dog Food - 15# and 50# packages

If you have purchased any of the Kroger pet foods included in the recall, or store brand pet food from any of the stores listed, stop feeding it to your pets. Remove and discard uneaten portions. You should contact Kroger immediately, either by phone at (800) 632-6900 or on the Kroger Pet Food recall assistance website here: http://www.kroger.com/recalls. You will need your sales receipt. You can also return unused portions of pet food to Kroger stores where you purchased the product for full refund.

Parents and children are urged to keep a close eye on pets. Look for these symptoms, especially a combination of these symptoms: lethargy, sluggishness, refusing food, yellowish color in gums or eyes and severe diarrhea, especially diarrhea with blood, this can indicate poisoning from aflatoxin. Yellow eyes and gums are a sign of liver or kidney problems. Cornell University offers information and data on Aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a potent carcinogen for humans and animals. Just as with human illnesses, the very young, very old and pregnant animals typically suffer the worst. Pets with already compromised health will be more susceptible, too. Make your pet as comfortable as possible. Contact your veterinarian immediately. Here are some helpful articles for treating a cat or dog who has been poisoned with Aflatoxin.

Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben, a 10-year veteran homeschooler, has nearly three decades of experience as a special needs and general education teacher. She has created hundreds of themed units and lesson plans on everything from ancient Greece to biodiversity to personal finance to poetry. She holds a BS in psychology and a degree as Dr. Mom from the university of life. She writes about parenting for the Yahoo! Contributor Network.

Web page is up

Our web page is up and running. The basic information is on the web page. More will be coming but our advertisers are listed and linked to their web pages if they have them. Check it out. www.purplepages4pets.com

Animals of youtube sing Deck the Halls

Animals of youtube sing Deck the Halls - This is so clever and cute. Merry Christmas from Purple Pages 4 Pets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-0WVfj76bo

Raisin Toxicity in Dogs

If you have a dog ... PLEASE read

this and send it on. If you don't

have a dog, please pass along

to friends who do.

Written by:
Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville , OH

This week I had the first case in history of raisin

toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was

a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix

that ate half a canister of raisins sometime

between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He

started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking

about 1 AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't

call my emergency service until 7 AM.

I had heard somewhere about raisins AND

grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn't

seen any formal paper on the subject. We

had her bring the dog in immediately. In the

meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet,

and the doctor there was like me - had heard

something about it, but... Anyway, we

contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison

Control Center and they said to give IV fluids

at 1 & 1/2 times maintenance and watch the

kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.

The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was

already at 32 (normal less than 27) and

creatinine over 5 (1.9 is the high end of normal).

Both are monitors of kidney function in the

bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and

started the fluids. Rechecked the renal values

at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine

over 7 with no urine production after a liter of

fluids. At that point I felt the dog was in acute

renal failure and sent him on to MedVet for a

urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight

as well as overnight care.

He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet

and his renal values continued to increase

daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a

diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting

medications and they still couldn't control his

vomiting. Today his urine output decreased

again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was

at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his

blood pressure, which had been staying around

150, skyrocketed to 220 ... He continued to vomit

and the owners elected to Euthanize.

This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners

who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please

alert everyone you know who has a dog of this

very serious risk.

Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could

be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes

or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's. Any

exposure should give rise to immediate concern.

Onions, chocolate, cocoa, avocadoes and macadamia nuts can

be fatal, too.


Even if you don't have a dog, you might have friends

who do. This is worth passing on to them.

Confirmation from Snopes about the above ....

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp

The moral of this story is the best part!!!

Finnegan The Squirrel;


Debby Cantlon, who plans to release Finnegan, the young squirrel, back into the wild, bottle-fed the infant squirrel after it was brought to her house ...



When Cantlon took in the tiny creature and began caring for him, she found herself with an unlikely nurse's aide: her pregnant Papillion, Mademoiselle Giselle.



Finnegan was resting in a nest in a cage just days before Giselle was due to deliver her puppies.



Cantlon and her husband watched as the dog dragged the squirrel's cage twice to her
own bedside before she gave birth.



Cantlon was concerned, yet ultimately decided to allow the squirrel out and the inter-species bonding began.



Finnegan rides a puppy mosh pit of sorts, burrowing in for warmth after feeding, eventually working his way beneath his new litter mates.



Two days after giving birth, mama dog Giselle allowed Finnegan to nurse; family photos and a videotape show her encouraging him to suckle alongside her litter of five pups..

Now, Finnegan mostly uses a bottle, but still snuggles with his 'siblings' in a moshpit of puppies,
Rolling atop their bodies, and sinking in deeply for a nap.



Finnegan and his new litter mates, five Papillion puppies, get along together as if they were meant to.



Finnegan naps after feeding.



Finnegan makes himself at home with his new litter mates, nuzzling nose-to-nose for a nap after feeding.

Send this along to brighten someone's day!
Wouldn't it be nice if we could all get along like Finnegan and the gang?

MORAL OF THE STORY: Keep loving everyone, even the squirrelly ones ...

Purple Pages 4 Pets Issue 1 is being distributed

Our first issue of the Purple Pages 4 Pets directory has been printed and is being distributed in Marion County and surrounding area. We are very excited with this venture and can't wait to put out an issue in a neighboring community.

Our advertisers in this issue are:

Animal Care Center Veterinary Clinic 503-371-1988
Bowsers Grooming 503-363-5410
Claws and Paws Grooming 503-749-2400
Companion Pet Clinic 503-588-1603
dogsRealdogs@aol.com
Friends of Felines 503-362-5611
Gail's Grooming 503-585-4208
Happy Tails Grooming 503-371-4500
Life Source Natural Foods 503-361-7973
Marion County Dog Shelter 503-566-6966
Mutt Hut Grooming 503-581-5657
Natures Pet Supplies 503-362-4555
Peaceful Paws Dog Massage 503-581-3375
Santiam Equine 503-763-0983
The Pet Nana Pet Sitter 503-409-8211
Whole Pet Veterinary Clinic 503-363-6465
Willamette Humane Society 503-585-5900
Your Best Friend's Best Friend pet sitter 503-580-4017

Copies of the directory are being distributed by the Willamette Humane Society, Marion County Dog Shelter, Friends of Felines, various Realtors, rental agencies, senior housing complexes, and anywhere else we can get them into the hands of pet lovers.

Our web page www.purplepages4pets.com is under construction and will soon have these and other advertisers linked on the page.

Any pet services who did not get into the directory can put an ad on the web page for six months for a one time fee of $50.

The above listed advertisers will be in the directory for one year. However, if there is enough interest by other advertisers, we may do a second printing (six month version) where those of you who missed out can advertise along side the current advertisers.

If you are interested in having a copy of the directory mailed to you, please write to us at purplepages4pets@gmail.com

Thank you and congratulations to all the advertisers.

Sylvester and Tweety

World's longest cat — Stewie — measures 4 feet

– Wed Oct 20, 3:27 pm ET
RENO, Nev. –
The world's longest cat measures more than 4 feet, stealing the record from another Maine Coon. The Reno Gazette-Journal reported that 5-year-old Stewie was certified as the new Guinness World Record holder after measuring 48 1/2 inches from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail bone. That's a little more than 4 feet long.

The record was previously held by another Maine Coon that measured 48 inches.

Stewie's owners, Robin Hendrickson and Erik Brandsness, say they decided to try for the record after hearing countless people say they were amazed by Stewie's length.

Hendrickson said Maine Coons are known as "the gentle giants" of the cat world.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101020/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_world_s_longest_cat

Treats NOT Tricks - Pet Safety on Halloween

North Shore Animal League

http://www.animalleague.org/pet-tips/treats-not-tricks-pet-safety-halloween.html


For many of us, Halloween can be a ghostly good time. Candy, costumes and frights in the night can be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, our pets don't necessarily agree. For them it can be a stressful night that causes anxiety.

North Shore Animal League America would like to offer some tips and advice for treats NOT tricks on Halloween. Keeping your pets safe and secure will ensure that they don't need to go running to their mummies.

Click the link for some valuable information

What it is like to have a Great Dane

If you are thinking of a Great Dane - check this out! They are so funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv1I_cqkjOM

Mapping of the Cat Brain

Slider Turtles become excellent pets but keeping them in healthy states requires commitment, ample time and recurring expenses.

By: http://www.petsdo.com/pets/slider-turtle

Slider Turtles are medium sized reptiles, found in Southern USA centered between Illinois to Gulf of Mexico and between the East Coast to Western Texas. They can grow up to 12 inches in length and are known to be aquatic and strong swimmers. They live in marshes, ponds and slow moving water bodies where there is lot of vegetation. In the wild, they are commonly found basking on rocks, logs or other surfaces above water. As they are cold blooded reptiles, they rely on external heat for warmth. They bask in the sunlight during the summer months and burrow into the earth and hibernate during winter.

Slider Turtles are of various species. Some of their shells are green colored with bright yellow stripes. But most commonly ones kept as pets are the Red Slider Turtles. A patch of red behind each eye gives them the Red Eyed Slider name, but all turtles do not have this feature. Some have red patch on their head. Shells of baby turtles may be of green, white, yellow or red. As the turtle ages, the patches disappear and shells become uniformly dark olive green or greenish brown. They have webbed feet and strong claws. The life span of turtles range between 50 to 70 years.

Slider Turtles are carnivores when young but with age become omnivorous. Generally meat and plant based diet is their best source of food. Most of them have fixed tongue and prefer eating their food in water. These turtles were at the heart of the “Salmonella scare” back in the 70s when children contacted the disease by holding them. If these are to be kept as pets, one has to take severe precaution against such infections.

Today, owing to pet trading, these species are commonly found in various parts of the world. As pets, they may be kept in glass aquariums where water capacity is around 55 gallons. This is specially for the adult turtles. The aquarium substrate consists of gravel which helps to form smooth slopes. These containers need to be covered with tight fitting screen and smooth rocks may be placed strategically for use as basking sites.

The aquarium requires temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If the room temperature is cooler, then infrared bulb or room heater may be placed. The aquarium must be cleaned at regular intervals and water replaced. Fresh water should be de-chlorinated. The pets must be fed regularly in the open before moving them back to the container. To keep them in good health, they need warmth, clean water and proper diet. They need to be handled gently as they tend to scratch if disturbed. From the wild to being pets, they acclimatize to the new environment by hiding in their shells for the first seven days or so.

Some pet insurance companies out there - check them out

Purinacare® Pet Insurance
Pet Health Insurance From A Brand You Trust. Get Your Quote Today.
PurinaCare.com

VPI Pet Insurance
Official site of VPI, America's Trusted Choice for Pet Insurance.
PetInsurance.com

Pet Insurance in Oregon
Top Rated Pet Insurance. 1st Choice of Veterinarians Across the World.
www.GoPetplan.com

Aspca Pet Insurance
Pet Insurance in just 3 Easy Steps. Easy to Enroll, File Claims & Save
ASPCApetinsurance.com

Compare Top 5 Companies
Compare Rates & Policies of Top U.S. Pet Insurance Companies.
www.TrupanionPetInsurance.com



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Purple Pages for Pets October edition filling up fast

Advertisers for the October edition of Purple Pages for Pets are being sought now! Be sure to get into the ONLY Pet owner targeted directory in Marion and Polk Counties.

We know that adverstising is expensive but must be done especially for specialties such as pets stores, groomers, sitters, photographers, veterinarians, pet hospitals, kennels, boarding facilities, pet bakeries, crematoriums, cemetaries, pet friendly apartments, Pet friendly hotels, Dog washing services, dog trainers, pet clubs, horse boarding, aquarium dealers, avian medical care, bird and bird supply, and the list goes on.

This directory is free to the public. Advertisers will pay a one time fee for their display ad in the directory, which will be out in the public for six months. If you are an advertiser who wants to place an ad or a pet owner who would like a copy of the directory when in comes out, please email purplepages4pets@gmail.com and get on the list.

A representative will be visiting pet businesses soon.

Pet owners - please refer your favorite businesses to us.

Thanks to all of you who love animals and treat them with kindness and respect. Life would be so dull without them.

Purple Pages gets off the ground in Salem, OR

The Salem/Keizer area pet service companies will soon be visted by a representative from Purple Pages For Pets.

This service directory is the best way to reach your tarket market - those with pets :-) - including adoptive pet parents and newcomers to the area.

More information will be forthcoming - watch for Purple Pages!