Monthly Archives: April 2013
Product Review – Richard’s Organics Deodorizing Shampoo
If you don’t take your dog to a groomer, or you are in between grooming appointments, and your dog needs to be clean, Richard’s Organics Deodorizing Shampoo may just be the answer you are looking for.
Sasha is a roller, a roller in all things that smell like death or feces. The worse it smells, the happier she is to roll in it.
Just the other day we were outside playing in a field and she stopped dead in her tracks, sniffed the air, and dropped and rolled for a good ten minutes. I usually can catch her before she does this, but this time she was just too fast.
I hadn’t had the chance to use the shampoo I bought, so I figured this was as good a time as any. The fragrance was soft and pretty, and lasts quite a long time. It lathered nicely, rinsed out well and made Sasha’s coat quite shiny. My only complaint, and it is minor, is that it wasn’t very thick, so it seemed like I needed to use more than usual.
The ingredients are fairly decent: Purified Water, Coconut Oil Based Cleaners, Glycerin, Sodium Bicarbonate, Aloe Vera, Siliconized Zinc, Rosemary Extract, Lavender Oil, DMDM-Hydantoin, Tetrasodium EDTA.
Final verdict: I would recommend purchasing this to have on hand for those times when you can’t get to your groomer, or if you groom your dog(s) on your own. The smell is great and it lasts a long time (Sasha smelled good for almost a week). It was a good emergency product to have around. It is available on wag.com for a reasonable price.
Recipe Friday – Crabby Cat Treats
Isis loved these treats. Remember to just make these every once in a while, as fish is not the best thing to feed your cat all the time. I have included a wheat free version of these treats as well:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup milk (can be any kind that you have on hand. Soy does not work well in this application though)
- 4 crab sticks (if you use crab flakes, use about 7 of them. If you are using a can of crab, you can use the whole can)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup flour (if you want to make it wheat free, use about 1/2 cup of rice flour)
Directions:
Set oven to 350F.
Grease a cookie sheet with olive oil.
Mix all ingredients together well, it should have the consistency of cookie batter, but a very moist batter, not dry. You may have to play with the amount of flour to get the right consistency.
Roll dough out on a parchment paper, cut into bite size pieces and transfer onto the greased cookie sheet.
Bake until golden brown. Depending on the size of your treats, it could take 10 minutes to cook, or up to 20 minutes or longer.
Store in an airtight container for a few days, then freeze the rest if there are leftovers.
Dog Food Recall – ANOTHER Expansion of California Natural, Innova, EVO, Healthwise and Karma Dog Foods
No product review this week. I wanted to get this information out ASAP. Please read as it has been expanded YET AGAIN:
April 19, 2013 – Natura Pet Products has announced it is voluntarily expanding its March 29, 2013 recall of dry pet foods because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The expanded recall now includes all dry pet food products and treats with expiration dates prior to and including March 24, 2014.
Products affected by the recall include:
- Innova
- EVO
- California Natural
- HealthWise
- Karma
Only the following treat products are included in this event:
- Innova Cat Treats
- Wild Cravings Turkey & Chicken Formula Cat Treats
- Wild Cravings Herring & Salmon Formula Cat Treats
- Wild Cravings Weight Management Cat Treats
No other Natura Pet canned wet food, biscuits, bars or treats are included.
About Salmonella
Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
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 be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.
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.
Sampling conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of Salmonella in additional dry pet food and a cat pet treat.
Where Were the Products Sold?
The affected products are sold through veterinary clinics and select pet specialty retailers nationwide and in Canada. They were also sold in Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Costa Rica as well as online.
What to Do?
Consumers who have purchased these foods should discard them.
For more information, consumers may visit www.naturapet.com.
For a product replacement or refund call Natura at 800-224-6123 Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM CST.
You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.
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Recipe Friday – Chicken Carrot Broccoli Dog treats (Wheat Free)
With everything going on in the country right now, it seems trivial to be writing this blog. I do hope that all who read this are well and safe and maybe reading this blog can be a small bright spot in what has been a very heavy week.
Ingredients :
- 1 Chicken breast, cooked and chopped
- 1 cup finely grated Carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped Broccoli
- 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons Butter, softened
- 1 Egg
- 2 cups Oat Flour
Directions :
- In a large bowl mix in all ingredients one at a time, stirring well after each addition
- Divide the dough into fourths and place each ball of dough on to a piece of wax paper.
- Shape the dough into rolls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and wrap each in plastic wrap or foil and allow to chill in the refrigerator for at least three hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- To bake, slice rolls about 1/4 inch and bake on prepared baking sheet for 15 to 20 minutes. Cool and refrigerate.
- The rolls can be frozen for about four weeks, if working with frozen rolls it is best to let the stand at room temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes before slicing.
Dog Treat Recall – Breeder’s Choice Recalls Active Care Healthy Joints Treats
Another recall, please read:
April 17. 2013 – Breeder’s Choice Pet Food of Irwindale, California has has issued a voluntary recall for a single batch of Active Care Biscuits-Healthy Dog Treats due to the presence of mold.
The recalled product includes the following information:
- Breeder’s Choice Active Care Healthy Joint Treats
- Product Code/SKU/ Material #: BCP-080
- UPC Code: 0130104895
- Size: 24 ounces
- Best Before Code: 19-Dec-2013
Products and product lots that do not appear in the above lists have not been affected.
According to a release from the manufacturer, the mold seems to have occurred due to varying dryer temperature settings for drying biscuits. This exposed the recalled product to excess moisture and has since been remedied.
Pet owners who fed their pets the recalled biscuits should watch for symptoms that may develop. Common symptoms associated with mold exposure include gastrointestinal issues such as loose stool.
At the time of this release, there have been no reports of human or pet illnesses associated with this recall.
What to Do?
For information, consumers are asked to call Central Customer Care line at 866-500-6286 or visit http://www.goactivedog.com
You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.
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Product Review – PetSafe Slimcat Treatholder Ball
If you want to keep your cat slim, yet give them something to do in order to get their treats, PetSafe Slimcat may be right for you.
The ball is made of durable plastic, with holes to add the treats into the ball. Then roll the ball on the floor and watch your cat chase after it to get the treats out. Your cat might grab it and roll it around on the floor, or they may get on their back and kick the treats out. Either way this will provide your cat some mental stimulation and provide you hours of fun and laughter, watching the antics your cat will get into.
Chasing after this toy will help overweight cats to slim down. For cats that are a healthy weight, having their treats in this ball will help keep them entertained and stimulated. You can choose what types of treats to put in the ball. I cooked up some chicken jerky, cutting the chicken into tiny, round pieces and then putting them in the ball when cooked. (Chicken jerky can be made by greasing a cookie sheet with olive oil, cutting up chicken into small bite size pieces, putting it in the oven at 200F, check after an hour, leave in oven until cooked, cool and then serve. You can use this recipe for cats OR dogs).
Final verdict: I would recommend this toy, especially for those with overweight cats. I recommend letting the cat sniff the ball and get interested in it, with treats already inside it, and then throwing it and letting them chase it around. If your cat is into chasing objects, this should provide them some great play time. Isis loves to chase things around, and she has loved this toy. It is one of her favorites. The chicken jerky is just an added touch that makes her even more excited for playtime. I also sit there and throw it for her, interact with her, which helps to create a bond between pet and pet parent. It is for sale for a very reasonable price on wag.com. I hope your cat enjoys it as much as mine does!
Recipe Friday – Liver BBQ Treats For Dogs (Wheat Free)
These interesting treats make dogs feel like they are eating our food!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 pound bacon
- 1 pound liver (such as calf liver, chicken liver, beef liver, etc.)
- 1 cup cooked mashed sweet potato puree (substitute carrot, pumpkin, or butternut squash)
- 1 cup rolled oats (not instant)
- 1/2 cup coarsely ground cornmeal (preferably organic/gmo-free)
- 1/2 cup flaxseeds
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (salt-free or low sodium; you can also use water)
- 2 large eggs + 1 egg, divided
- 1/4 cup bbq sauce (use a non-spicy variety, or just omit this if you do not want your dog to have BBQ sauce)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silpat and set aside. Arrange 2 baking racks in middle of oven.
- Cook the bacon on a skillet over medium heat until the fat is rendered and bacon is a bit crisp. Remove from skillet and transfer to food processor. Drain all but a thin layer of fat and add the liver pieces, cooking them in batches about 2 minutes on each side, until cooked completely through (will be stiffer and shrunken a bit). Add the cooked pieces of liver to the food processor and puree into a paste. Add the oats, flaxseeds and cornmeal and puree again into a thick dough.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl or stand-up mixer, and add the sweet potatoes, chicken broth, eggs and egg yolk (reserve the 3rd white). Mix well until a thick, sticky dough forms and gathers into a ball. If too wet, add a bit more ground cornmeal until you reach the right consistency.
- Sprinkle cornmeal over your work surface and turn out the dough. Using a cornmeal dusted rolling pin, roll out the dough until it’s about 1/2″ thick. Use 2″ round cookie cutters dusted in cornmeal to cut out circles, and transfer them to the prepared cookie sheets (they can be placed close together). Re-roll out any remaining dough and repeat until all dough is used.
- *No cookie cutter or just want a quicker way? You can also just cut the dough into 2″ squares with a knife or pizza cutter.
- Place in oven and bake until dry and crunchy–3 hours in the oven. (Check about 20 minutes before end of time to make sure they’re not burning.)
- Remove from oven and lower heat to 200 degrees.
- Whisk together the remaining egg white and the bbq sauce. Brush on the still-warm treats and then return to the oven for another 40 minutes to allow the glaze to set.
- Store completely cooled treats in an air-tight container for up to 6 weeks.
Makes about 40 2-inch treats, remember to feed in moderation.
Product Review – World’s Best Cat Litter
Not a toy this week, but rather a review on the cat litter – World’s Best Cat Litter. With a name like that, it better live up to it.
World’s Best is made from corn, a natural ingredient, so when kitty cleans herself, she is not ingesting chemicals or clay, which can cause a blockage in your cat’s intestines or stomach, and that can be fatal.
World’s best claims that a bag of their litter can last 3 months. You can flush it down your toilet, as it does not clog toilets. The litter breaks up as it hits the water and makes for easy flushing.
I use this litter and Isis seems to like it. once I started using it I tried switching from it and that was a disaster. Isis did not like using her litter box after I tried a different brand and wouldn’t clean herself after using the different cat litter. World’s best just does what it is supposed to do and I don’t smell any odor even when Isis has just used the litter. I usually buy the multicat bag, and it ends up lasting me about 5 months. It may seem expensive for litter, but if you break it down by how many months it lasts, you are probably spending more on the litter you use now, than you would buying just one bag of this. The upfront cost is worth it.
It comes in different formulas, multicat, scented and regular. The scented one is a lavender scent and I don’t care for it. It smells medicinal to me.
Final verdict: I highly recommend switching to this litter. It is just amazing and I feel better having Isis use a natural litter and knowing that there are no chemicals in the litter. If you do switch, do it gradually. Put a bit in at a time with your old litter, until World’s Best is the only litter in your cat’s litter box. Wag.com has it for sale, and you get 15% off your first order with them.
Recipe Friday – Yummy Muffins For Dogs
Yes you can make muffins for dogs! Your dog is sure to love these treats! Remember to feed in moderation. You may even try and enjoy them!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Blueberries
- 1/2 cup Raspberries
- 1/2 cup Strawberries
- 1 cup Milk
- 2 1/3 cup Whole Wheat Flour (you can try to make a wheat free version using about 2 cups of rice flour or almond flour)
- 1/3 cup Honey
- 1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 Egg
- 4 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease muffin tins.
2. In a large bowl mix milk, oil, honey then add egg.
3. In a separate bowl mix wheat flour and baking powder, once well mixed add to wet mixture. Once mixed add vanilla and fold in fruit.
4. Fill greased muffin tins about 1/3 full and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the center springs back when touched.
5. Allow to cool on a wire rack and refrigerate for several days, freeze any leftovers.
Dog Food Recall – Bravo! Recalls Three Raw Dog Food Products
Another day, another recall. This is from the Bravo! company. It is a recall due to contamination from salmonella:
April 3, 2013 — Bravo! of Manchester, Connecticut has announced it is voluntarily recalling three of its raw diet frozen foods for dogs and cats because they could potentially be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.
According to the company…
“…while these products tested negative for pathogens by an independent third party prior to distribution, they were run on the same day or an adjacent day to a product that tested positive for pathogens.
“The product that tested positive has been 100 percent contained and is not subject to this recall.”
What’s Being Recalled?
- Item #21-405 – 5 lb chub (tube) of Bravo! Chicken Balance frozen raw diet with a “best used by” date of 3-6-15 or 3-12-15 printed on the plastic casing of the package
- Item #21-102 – 2 lb. chub (tube) of Bravo! Chicken Blend frozen raw diet with a “best used by” date of 3-21-15 printed on the plastic casing of the package
- Item #51-508 – 5 lb. bag of Bravo! Beef Blend Burgers with a “best used by” date of 3-21-15 or 3-22-15 printed on the back panel of the plastic bag
No other products are affected.
About Salmonella
Salmonella can affect animals eating the products. There’s also risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products — especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
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 arte rial 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 be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.
Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. 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.
What to Do
For more information, consumers should visit the Bravo website or call 866-922-9222 Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET.
You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.
Get Critical Dog Food Recall Alerts
Delivered to You by Email
Get dog food recall alerts delivered right to your Inbox the moment we become aware of them. Subscribe to The Dog Food Advisor’s Dog Food Recall Alert email notification list now.
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