Author: Heather R.

The US Food and Drug Administration is recalling a number of pig ear and beef hoof dog treats due to fear of salmonella bacteria contamination.

Manufactured under the names Doggie Delight, Pork Tasteez and Pet Carousel, and packaged under the brand names Choo Hooves, Dentley’s, Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel, the ears and hooves were distributed nationwide in both bulk and retail packaging for sale in pet food and retail chain stores.

All sizes and all lots of the pork ears purchased on or after August 16, and all beef hoof products purchased on or after September 16 are included in the recall.

Salmonella infections in pets infections may cause lethargy and diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting, decreased appetite, or abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.

Pet owners who have purchased the affected products are asked to take the treats away from their dogs and return them to the place of purchase. More information can be obtained by calling 800-231-3572.

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

USDA Recalling Dog Treats

Many years ago, virtual little hand-held “pets” called Tamagotchis hit the toy store scene, and parents and kids alike went nuts trying to get their hands on one. Around that time, I got into a conversation with an online friend about the little electronic toys, which you fed, washed and took care of via tiny little buttons on the egg-sized electronic.

What made them so cool and exciting (and different from say, a stuffed animal), was that you were getting feedback from the “pet,” and could respond accordingly. However, my friend said that she didn’t like the thought of virtual pets because she didn’t think they taught kids the right things about pet care and responsibility, that because there were no real consequences kids wouldn’t give a second thought to tossing the toy, and eventually a real pet, away when they were tired with it.

With this Christmas’s toy of choice being something similar – a furry, mechanical hamster that can run through tubes (am I the only one tired of hearing about Zhu Zhu Pets?) – I remembered my friend’s take on the toys, and it’s got me thinking about it again.

As a parent now, I can see her point, but I’ve also seen first hand that my kids do know the difference between their real pets that require feeding, grooming and care, as opposed to the virtual pet toys they’ve had (including the aforementioned Tamagotchi).

What do you think? Do you think these virtual toy pets make it too easy for kids to think real pets are just as disposable?

[image: amazon]

Post from: Blisstree

Do Virtual Pets Breed Irresponsibility?

My kids used to be easily entertained by the funny cat and dog videos we used to look up on Youtube. The videos of cats skidding across floors and dogs jumping up to catch a frisbee but missing and landing in a pool are booooring to them now, so when I go searching for something fun to surprise them with I have to be extra discerning!

This video comes from Hungary, and features an actual dog obedience school’s presentation group putting on a performance for the holidays!

These very well-trained (and cute!) dogs decorate a Christmas tree, complete with ornaments, glass balls, tinsel and even the presents before plopping down from exhaustion. That’s about how I feel after a day of decorating, too!

Unless your dogs are this well-trained, it’s probably best not to let them chomp down on the glass balls, though — ouch! Check out some other holiday pet safety tips.

Post from: Blisstree

A Doggy Christmas Surprise

Pet lovers tend to flock together. The majority of our family friends are people who have pets — whether they be cats, dogs, or just a fish — so when it comes time to put together the Christmas gift budget and figure out who’s getting what, they’re generally pretty easy to buy for! Here are a few ideas I’ve run across for this year’s shopping:

Willow Tree Angel: With Affection I adore the Willow Tree collection and own several, and this sweet angel holding a cat is on my wishlist this year.

This adorable Chester the Cat Teapot (with matching mug and salt and pepper shakers) makes me wish I drank tea!

I love calendars and for reasons I’m not even sure of, I tend to have several throughout the year. This 2010 calendar features “Bad Cats” in humorous situations.

Learn about the traditions and history of the Lucky Cat, a popular symbol of prosperity and good fortune across Asia and the world, in a hardcover book. Then check out the Lucky Cat figurines.

This Amazon seller has dozens of resin ornaments and figurines, perfect for any collector. Of course, I especially like the Chihuahua and rat terrier ornaments!

Show everyone who your best friend is with this adorable Dog Lover coffee mug.

I love these dog paw car stickers! The set of eight stickers costs less than $4 (including shipping!) and attaches cleanly to any smooth, hard surface.

Of course, we can’t forget the dogs when it comes time to look for a 2010 calendar. This one, like the cat calendar above, also features silly dogs in compromising situations!

[images: amazon.com; custom]

Post from: Blisstree

2009 Gift Guide for the Cat and Dog Lover

This week’s weekend pet links cover a lot of different and fun blog posts and articles. From contests to enter to news and freebies, check out this week’s round-up!

~ New Airline Programs for Pets at Web Vet

~ Doggone Christmas Giveaway at PetsitUSA

~ A Contest for the Kitties at PetsitUSA

~ Three Surprising Dog Accidents at The Pet Insurance Blog

~ Convenience Store Dog Gets Banned from His “Job” at Dogster Blog

~ Free Issue of Good Bird Magazine at Best in Flock

~ Greenies Coupon for Stocking Stuffers at Embrace Pet Community

~ Winter Survival for the Green Dog at Raise A Green Dog

~ Treats on the Internet at YesBiscuit!

~ Disco Christmas at Smartdog’s Weblog

~ Paws and Effect Holiday Gift Guide at Paws and Effect

~ Top Ten Pet Gadget Gifts at Petside

~ Smart Ways to Help Shelters at Romeo the Cat

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Weekend Pet Links

It was just another day of shooting on the set of The Office this week when star Jenna Fischer, who plays Pam on the show, noticed a member of the crew walking around with a cat carrier. When she asked about it, the crew member said that the five-week old kitten inside and another litter mate had been rescued from under a trailer, and they weren’t sure what to do with them.

Jenna, a longtime cat lover, took on the task of fostering the two kittens, named Dunder and Mifflin after the fictitious paper company in the sitcom, for two weeks before they were able to head to Kitten Rescue, a non-profit organization (Jenna will be hosting their 2nd Annual Fur Ball at the Skirball, an event benefiting the L.A. group this Saturday).

“Dunder is kind of like a little scoundrel,” Fischer told peoplepets.com. “I have a fireplace and a white couch, and one day I look over, and he’s walked through the soot of the fireplace and was putting perfect little kitten paw prints all across my white couch!”

Both kittens already have adoptions pending!

[image: bauer-griffin]

Post from: Blisstree

Celeb Pets: Jenna Fischer Fosters Kittens

This video of a surprised kitten has been making the rounds like crazy, and it’s easy to see why! If your day needs a little brightening, just hit play:

In the video, the little grey and white kitten is getting tickled (and trying for some finger nibbles), but when the tickler throws her hand up, the kitten, surprised, follows suit.

There’s no way I could get our resident foster kittens to follow suit on this one, they’re much more interested in remaining upright and ready to pounce, as opposed to lounging on their backs getting tickles. Oh well!

The only problem with the video is that it’s only 17 seconds long!

Post from: Blisstree

Video: Surprised Kitten

Diamond Pet Foods are recalling some of their bagged Premium Edge dry cat food after 21 cases of health problems and deaths have been reported in cats who have been fed the products.

Select batches of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball do not contain enough thiamine, which is an essential nutrient for cats. Without it, they could develop thiamine deficiency which causes gastrointestinal or neurological problems. If untreated, this disorder could result in death.

Initial symptoms of thiamine deficiency include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. Later, neurological problems could develop including, bending the neck toward the floor, wobbly walking, circling, falling and seizures.

So far, the recalled food has only been known to have been distributed in the eastern part of the U.S.

Residents in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida are urged to check the labeling on their bags for the following codes: RAF0501A22X, RAF0501A2X, RAH0501A22X, and RAH0501A2X. Affected bags can be returned to the retailer they were purchased from.

[images: premiumedgepetfood.com]

Post from: Blisstree

Diamond Pet Foods Recalls Cat Food

I’m a fan and supporter of pretty much all pets. Though there are some I don’t understand ever wanting to have (tarantulas and hissing cockroaches come to mind), I respect that other people are into them and have a passion for taking care of and loving these creatures.

Now, I’ve always liked the idea of having a lizard or snake as a pet, but I know they wouldn’t be a good fit for our family. I know that the bigger a snake gets, the bigger their meals need to get, and though I’m not squeamish about feeding them what they need (my first job at a pet store involved culling baby mice to feed to the snake population) and I don’t take offense to the circle of life and all that, I do know that it’s just not feasible for us to have to be running down to the pet store every so often for a fresh supply, and I don’t like the thought of keeping any in the freezer, either!

Feeding issues aside, there are some animals that just don’t make great pets, period, especially beginner pets for kids (experienced adults are on their own ). The video above from CBS talks about some of these pets, and how people buy them thinking they’re so cute and small, but get a big surprise within a short time!

Post from: Blisstree

Reptiles That Don’t Make Good Pets