Kroger Co. recalls 10 varieties of pet foods sold in 19 states

December 19, 2010

The Kroger Co. has issued a recall for certain pet foods sold in their grocery stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

The food is being recalled because of the potential for contamination with aflatoxin, a toxin produced by Aspergillus molds. Illness from ingesting aflatoxin is called aflatoxicosis, and signs of illness can include lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, jaundice and severe or bloody diarrhea. Liver disease and damage can occur.

According to the statements, the company has established a Customer Recall Notification System to help customers determine if they are affected by the recall. The following products are affected:

* Pet Pride Cat Food sold in 3.5 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111088128
* Pet Pride Cat Food sold in 18 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111071357
* Pet Pride Tasty Blend Poultry & Seafood Cat Food sold in 3.5 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111088152
* Pet Pride Tasty Blend Poultry & Seafood Cat Food sold in 18 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111074580
* Pet Pride Kitten Formula Food sold in 3.5 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111071903
* Old Yeller Chunk Dog Food sold in 22 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111074566
* Old Yeller Chunk Dog Food sold in 50 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111074563
* Kroger Value Cat Food sold in 3 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111000018
* Kroger Value Chunk Dog Food sold in 15 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code: 1111071559
* Kroger Value Chunk Dog Food sold in 50 lb. packages with a sell by date of OCT 23 11 DP and OCT 24 11 DP under the following UPC code:1111000108

Affected products have an expiration date of October 23 and 24, 2011. Customers who have purchased any of the recalled products should return them to the store for a full refund. Customers with questions should contact Kroger Co. at (800) 632-6900.

North Shore Animal League America has assembled a collection of helpful springtime tips for you and your pet. We want to help you keep your pets happy, healthy, safe and in the pink.

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Make sure your pets are protected with flea, tick and heart worm treatments and are up-to-date on vaccinations. Keep a file with your pets’ medical information and keep track of necessary follow up shots and appointments.
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Keep identification on your pet at all times and make certain that the information is current and legible.
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Is your dog eating grass? Unless it’s been treated with fertilizer or pesticide, don’t worry. It could mean he has a bellyache, or it could just be his natural instinct to aid his digestion.
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Springtime means spring showers and sprinklers which can leave puddles of standing water. Try not to let your dog drink out of puddles, as standing water can be filled with bacteria leading to gastrointestinal upset or ailments.
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Recreational swimming is a great way to cool off, but can be dangerous. Never leave your pet unattended near swimming pools or lakes.
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Nothing beats a leisurely spring ride in the car. If you’re taking your pet with you, make sure he is properly contained. Don’t put him in the back of a pick-up truck where he could fall out or let him hang out of open windows where debris can get in his eyes or he could get hurt.
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Goin’ fishin’? Keep bait and tackle secured, as they can be extremely hazardous to curious pets. If your pet gets accidentally hooked, seek immediate emergency veterinary attention. DO NOT try to remove the hook yourself.
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Cool breezes feel great, but open, unscreened windows can be dangerous for your pets. Make sure they can’t get to windows where they can fall or crawl out.
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Just like us, our pets have allergies too. If you notice obvious signs of allergies like swollen eyes, frequent scratching, fur/skin conditions or sneezing, you may want to take your pet to the vet to explore those allergy symptoms.
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Grooming is not just about vanity. Keeping your pet clean and groomed prevents skin irritations, fleas and ticks and keeps his temperature regulated. Make sure his nails are trimmed but not too short.
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The outdoors is not the only thing pets get a fever for in the spring. Springtime is mating season! Make sure your pet is spayed or neutered so that they don’t contribute to overwhelming pet overpopulation problem.
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Certain common spring plants can be extremely hazardous to your pet. Many can cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested and some can even be deadly.

Please don’t leave your dog at home all day while you’re away. Have a professional pet sitter give your pooch that midday walk!

Pet Sitter and Dog Walker

Doggie Love

My dog Brooklyn is always there for me with unconditional love so I decided it was time for a new toy. I had seen the doggie bubble blower that blows bacon flavored bubbles..Yes, I said bacon flavored bubbles. What dog could resist? While watching the Animal Planet show “It’s Me or the Dog” I was amazed at how much fun the puppies were having chasing the bubbles as they sniffed away.

I set out to find the bubble blower for my dog. With help from facebook friends I found the site and immediately ordered it. Two days later it arrived. I was so excited. What fun Brooklyn and I were going to have. I opened the package as quickly as I could and began blowing bubbles in the air waiting for the fun to begin. OH no, after one sniff he looked at the bubbles as though they were aliens. He then looked at me as if to say, “What are you doing?” After a few more bubbles he got up and went outside. Mmm maybe he’ll like them if we’re outside and he can really run after them. So I followed him outside and began to blow more bubbles. Oh dear, he gave me that look again. Okay, I may not be as smart as my dog but I got the message: He HATES the bubbles.

Of course I was disappointed and I thought back to the Kong toy that he didn’t like either. All my pet sitting and dog walking clients like their Kong toys. That’s it!! I’ll use the bubble blower with my pet sitting and dog walking clients. My “other” dogs will like the bubble blower. I know my Labrododdles will love it. I’m still a little sad that Brooklyn won’t play with me but I know I’ll get to play with my other “furry friends”.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PR Log (Press Release) – Feb 10, 2010 – Debbie Floyd of The Dog Walker Ca LLC was one of nearly 200 professional pet sitters and industry supporters to attend Pet Sitters International’s 15th Quest for Excellence Convention, held February 3-6. in San Diego, California.  Considered the professional per-sitting industry’s premier educational convention, Quest welcomed association members and industry professional from across the United States and abroad to the Bahia Resort Hotel.

This year’s convention boasted the most diverse agenda ever-with four days of general sessions, hands on workshops and breakout classes led by pet-care veterans, veterinarians and industry experts.  Attendees increased their knowledge on a variety  of business and pet-care topics such as animal acupressure, holistic pet care and marketing, as well as new techniques in pet care, training and pet first aid.

“Investing in new ideas, learning new pet care techniques and networking with fellow pet-care professionals is important to my business as we strive to best serve our clients and their cherished pets’, said owner Debbie Floyd

Debbie Floyd also participated in PSI’s Quest Charity Auction, which raised money  to benefit PSI’s Early Education Program. The E.E.P. in an initiative to donate age- appropriate books to elementary schools across the country t teach children the importance of pets in our lives and the necessity of providing excellent care for those pets.

The Dog Walker Ca LLC invites anyone interested in learning more about The Dog Walker Ca or the advantages of hiring a PSI-member pet sitter to visit www.TheDogWalkerCA.com for more information. For more information on the pet sitting industry  or to learn more about becoming a pet sitter, visit www.petsit.com

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Offering pet sitting, dog walking, & overnight pet sitting among other services for your pets. Bonded and insured pet sitters available in Huntington Beach, Ca and surrounding cities. Members of the BBB, HB Chamber of commerce & Pet Sitters International. pet CPR and First Aid

Wow, doesn’t this just ring a bell? Looks like another good Samaritan is getting punished for trying to help a dog that was abused and neglected by its legal owners after the law and animal services couldn’t or didn’t help! An elderly Savannah, GA woman, Ann…
Good Samaritan Charged for Trying to Help Abused Dog – VIDEO – http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com

Woman Arrested for Helping Dog

I talk about doggy odor a lot – mostly because it’s a big problem for dog owners. Doggy odor from drool or from your dog’s wet coat can make everything smell like dog – your furniture, your bed, your pillows … even your car.

Sometimes younger dogs can get sick or have house training problems. Older dogs can become confused. Sometimes they just can’t hold their urine as well as they used to. They can have accidents or leak urine in their bedding. It happens all the time.

Once they urinate in the house, it seem like the smell never goes away. And if you’ve had problems with your dog urinating in the house, you know that this is a smell that can be especially strong.

What can you do? Here are some tips:

1. Make sure to give your dog PLENTY of opportunities to urinate. Don’t test your dog. Take him out even before you think he needs to go.

2. Wash your dog’s bedding and blankets every week. Some older dogs will have trouble with leaking urine or anal glands … and their bedding stinks. That musty “wet dog smell”, dirt, drool and other odors can also get sealed in to your dog’s bedding, so wash it weekly.

3. Wash your dog. Some dogs need to be bathed every week while others only need to be bathed every few weeks to a month. If you can smell your dog, he definitely needs a bath! Make sure to bathe your dog on a regular basis.

4. Promptly clean all odors. If your dog vomits, has diarrhea or if he has an “accident”, quickly clean up the mess. Use white paper towels and clean/dry the mess as best you can. You can also use water.

5. Neutralize odors. Yes, doggy odors can be neutralized. A product called Zero Odor works very well to do just that. This product bonds with the odor molecule and changes it so it doesn’t stink. It is the only product we’ve found that will actually take away pet odor – for good. You can spray the floor, bedding, furniture, carpets and any areas where your dog (or any dog) may have urinated in the house.

6. We make sacrifices for the dogs we love, but living with daily doggy odor can be a real challenge. When your house smells like dog, life can get pretty miserable. And who wants to expose “outsiders” to that smell? It’s enough to make you cringe every time someone comes to the door.

Thanks to Dr. Jon