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Pigs Ears - Warning
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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has warned consumers not to
purchase or use certain dog treats because they may pose a threat to human
health. In a September 24, 1999, release, CFIA warned consumers not to
purchase Farm Meats Canada, Ltd. pig ear dog treats because they have been
linked to recent cases of human illness caused by Salmonella bacteria.
The dog treats are made by Farm Meats Canada, Ltd., Alberta, and were distributed
across Canada.
In another release dated September 25, 1999, CFIA warned consumers that
Euro-Can pig ears, pig skins, pork lungs, and beef and pork bone dog treats
might contain Salmonella bacteria. These dog treats are made by Euro-Can
Pet Products, Ontario, and were distributed across Canada.
The Canadian warnings advise pet owners to dispose of these products
in a safe manner. People may risk bacterial infection by handling the treats
directly or by contact with pets that have used the treats. Elderly people,
young children, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly
at risk from exposure. These people should completely avoid handling the pet
treats. Anyone who may have handled the treats should wash their hands with
warm water and soap.
Both Farm Meats Canada and Euro-Can are voluntarily recalling the products
from the market in Canada. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials
believe that these pet treats have been imported into the U.S. and are
taking appropriate action to protect the public health.
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HHS NEWS
U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services
P99-21
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Print Media: 301-827-6242
October 1, 1999
Broadcast Media: 301-827-3434
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
FDA ISSUES NATIONWIDE PUBLIC
HEALTH ADVISORY ABOUT CONTAMINATED PET CHEWS
The Food and Drug Administration
today issued a nationwide public health warning alerting consumers about
a number of recent cases in Canada of human illnesses apparently related
to contact with dog chew products made from pork or beef-derived materials
(e.g., pigs ears, beef jerky treats, smoked hooves, pigs skins, etc.).
These products may pose a risk of bacterial infection such as Salmonella
infantis which can cause flu-like symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal
pain and diarrhoea) in normally healthy people, but may cause far more
serious - even life-threatening injury in immune-compromised patients.
FDA is urging pet owners who have these products to handle them carefully.
Anyone who comes in contact with these treats should wash their hands with
hot water and soap. Elderly people, young children, and people with weakened
immune systems are particularly at risk from exposure and should avoid
any contact with these chews.
Initial reports of illnesses came from Canada and involved Canadian products,
but subsequent examination of similar products produced in the U.S. indicate
that all pet chew products of this type may pose a risk.
FDA is working with other U.S. and Canadian health authorities on this
issue and has issued an import bulletin on products that have been directly
linked to illnesses. The import bulletin focuses FDA’s attention on imported
pig ears at ports of entry for possible sampling and analysis.
FDA is also examining the manufacturing processes for products containing
pig ears to determine how this product, and similar products, can be made
safely.
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Rawhide is probably the most popular type of chewing device that dogs
enjoy. Go to any pet supply store or any store that sells pet supplies and
you will find an abundance of rawhide chews in every size, shape and colour.
Unfortunately, some types of rawhide could be dangerous for your pet. Learn
about rawhide dangers and how you can prevent any unnecessary harm to your
dog.
Any dog owner knows how much puppies and adult dogs chew. They chew on
slippers, carpet, furniture, walls, etc. To prevent the ultimate destruction
of their homes, they run out and buy gobs of chew toys for their dogs. A
large percentage of what they buy will be rawhide.
WHAT IS RAWHIDE?
Rawhide is literally the outside of a cow – the skin. It provides dogs
with a satisfying chewing experience and it’s cheap and easy to find. So
how can it be dangerous?
HIDDEN DANGERS
Dr. John Wedeking, an Iowa veterinarian, remembers hearing about rawhide
in the news.
“Reports of arsenic contamination popped up in papers once,” he says, but
adds that it came from another country.
Since rawhide is not regulated in any way, it could happen again. These
foreign hides may also contain other detrimental things such as antibiotics,
lead, or insecticides that could adversely affect the health of your dog.
Wedeking adds that dogs can easily choke on it when the original large
rawhide object is chewed down to a smaller piece.
“Choking is a hazard, and rawhide can cause gastric irritation when dogs
chew on it often,” he says. Wedeking adds that gastric irritation can also
cause vomiting and extreme discomfort in dogs.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If you’re going to give your dog rawhide, then offer it in limited quantity,
and throw away the small chewed-down pieces. Consider the pressed rawhide
that is made up of tiny pieces of rawhide and “glued” together with a gelatin
base. Always watch your dog carefully for any adverse reactions.
Choose rawhide made in the United States to make sure your dog isn’t getting
anything potentially dangerous. The better brands cost a little more but
worth every penny if you consider the cost of veterinarian bills and a sick
pet. Choose rawhide bones and other shapes in proportion to the size of your
dog to prevent choking.
There are also wonderful alternatives to rawhide. Pet supply stores are
everywhere, and carry many diverse alternatives including vegetable and meat-flavoured
bones made from potato starch, bones made from extremely strong rubber infused
with flavourings, and corn-starch based bones also infused with flavour.
All of these but the rubber ones break apart into tiny pieces while being
chewed. Once they are chewed down to a small piece that your dog could swallow,
discard it. All of these bones except for the rubber-based ones are easily
digestible.
Offer your dog a variety of chewing alternatives and choose them responsibly.
Your pet may thank you by forgetting about your furniture and your slippers…and
your favourite chair…and the toilet paper roll...
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Dental Chews for Dogs
Chew toys to Pig Ears ~ The Good
the Bad and the Ugly
CET chews, rawhide chews,
chew treats, chew toys, dog biscuits, bones, chicken necks, and pig ears
Chew Toys
In theory, chew toys like Nylabones and Nylafloss are excellent choices.
For dogs that accept them, they provide hours of entertainment. They are durable,
low cost and entirely safe. If chewed on sufficiently, they do a fine job
of cleaning the teeth. Their only shortcoming is that after puppyhood, most
dogs aren't interested in chew toys.
Rawhide chews
Rawhide chews are useful, especially CET rawhide chews that have been treated
with antibacterials and enzymes to retard plaque formation. Dogs like rawhide.
Rawhide rarely causes any problem and if your dog will chew on one for a while
before choking the thing down, it will do some good. Unfortunately, most
dogs eat them like treats and that's basically what most rawhide chews are
- greasy treats that make your dog fat without any real benefit.
Pig ears
I don't even want to think about pig ears. See above but worse.
Dog biscuits
Dog Biscuits aren't necessarily bad. If you choose a biscuit large enough
that your dog has to chew at it with the sides of his mouth, it will provide
useful cleaning action. If you also realize that these big biscuits supply
a lot of calories and reduce other foods accordingly, dog biscuits can be
a good thing. Hardly anybody does this. Dog biscuits are sweet - think of
them as dog candy. Owners feed small biscuits as a treat in addition to an
already adequate diet. This makes dogs fat while providing no benefit for
the teeth.
Bones
I'm going to cautiously disagree with prevailing veterinary wisdom: Bones
are not necessarily a bad thing.
Concerns and precautions:
If your dogs eats a lot of bone compared to his size, particularly cooked
bone and especially if he is an old dog, he can develop a horrible case of
constipation. Bones that splinter or bones that can be swallowed whole
sometimes don't make it all the way through the dog. They may jam in the teeth,
punch holes in the intestine, or simply go in and not come out. Chewing on
big old dry bones causes fractured teeth. Spoiled or contaminated bones cause
food poisoning in dogs the same as they would for people.
After those caveats and accepting no responsibility for any unfortunate
outcome, I will say that I've seen owners maintain beautiful dental health
by adding raw chicken necks or chicken backs to their dog's diet. I'd be
cautious about feeding them to little dogs, but medium sized dogs do fine
with chicken necks; big dogs with chicken backs (just the rear part, not
the rib area). These are the only parts of the chicken I'm suggesting.
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The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not
to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis
of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of
any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.