Menu Foods Pet Food Recall

By: Dr. Glenn Zeitz, VMD As most people have heard by now there has been a massive pet food recall. The recall involves canned and pouched foods, NOT the dry food. There are too many brands and lot numbers to list, as well the list seems to be growing weekly. The company's website is: www.menufoods.com. Menu Foods maintains and updates this list as more information becomes available. Sadly, a chemical used as rat poison in China was added to the wheat before it was shipped to the pet food company. This chemical causes severe kidney damage to dogs and cats. When the kidneys become severely damaged, they can no longer filter waste products created on a daily basis. As the wastes build up in the body, they cause the pet to become lethargic and lose their appetite. In advanced cases there is vomiting, and the animal becomes much sicker. While there is no specific test for this poison, there are accurate blood tests for kidney failure. The following is a typical history involving a young cat who lived indoors and was perfectly healthy. The cat suddenly became lethargic, stopped eating and started vomiting. Most of the tests we performed were normal except the kidney test values were markedly above the normal range. Since kidney disease is more prevalent in older cats, and this cat was young, our suspicions were raised. Once a pet has eaten the food, the damage is done. Aggressive in-hospital treatment is crucial. Preventing your pet from becoming exposed to the food is the best course of action. Check the food company's website. Some people have switched to dry pet food for now, until this situation is resolved. If your pet seems ill in any way, then you should contact us so we can perform the appropriate tests to eliminate the possibility of it being related to tainted food.

Recall Information If you have questions about the pet food recall, please visit the Menu Foods website www.menufoods.com/recall or call the recall hotline: 1-866-895-2708

Microchipping your Pet Microchipping, the process of inserting a small microchip under your pet's skin, is becoming an increasingly popular trend with pet owners. With 70 degree days working their way back into the forecast, it's not uncommon for cats to wander further from home and spend more time outside or for dogs to lounge in the yard longer. But these lengthened outdoor stays can lead to more runaways, and with breeding season looming for the strays in the neighborhood, it may be hard for those who find the strays and lost pets to differentiate between the two. Microchipping your pet is a safe and effective way to help ensure the return of your pet should he or she take a stroll in the warm weather. The microchips used are about the size of a grain of rice and each has a unique id number. The microchip is implanted under the skin between your pet's shoulder blades. It is not a surgical procedure and can be done during any appointment. If your pet should become lost, a veterinarian or shelter can scan your pet for a microchip. Most, if not all veterinary hospitals and animal shelters have a small handheld device used to scan pets to detect a microchip. If a chip is present, the veterinary office or shelter will contact the microchip company to obtain the owner information and return your pet to you. If your pet has been chipped, please be sure that you have contacted the chip company and registered your information to your pets chip number. There are two well known microchip companies, HomeAgain and AVID. Here at Hudson Veterinary Hospital we microchip using the AVID microchip company. However, our microchip scanner can pick up both AVID chips and HomeAgain chips, as most scanners can. We strongly recommend all pet owners who allow their pets outdoors consider microchipping. Collars can fall off or tags can wear and make information illegible. Microchips cannot fall out and the information never wears off. If you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment to have your pet chipped, please call our hospital at 914-762-0063. Case of the Month Atopy - Pet Allergies By: Dr. Carrie Poff Why is my dog/cat scratching so much? Skin disease is very common in domestic animals. Many diseases cause skin abnormalities, which can make diagnosing and curing difficult. It is very important that your pet see a veterinarian as soon as skin problems start to avoid more chronic, severe and painful skin disease from developing. Allergies are common in cats and dogs and just like humans, our pets can suffer greatly from the irritation allergies cause. This newsletter is to inform you of some of the signs of allergies, and some common environmental factors that cause allergic reactions in our beloved pets. What is an allergic reaction? An allergy is a hypersensitivity to an environmental or food allergen. When an animal inhales, ingests, or is exposed to an offending allergen their body abnormally recognizes certain environmental factors as being a "threat", and signals the immune system to attack the offending allergen. Antibodies are produced, and cells are signaled to try and eliminate the allergen. This leads to a mediator release, including mast cell degranulation, histamines and leukotrienes, leading to skin disease. Which animals are affected by allergies? While any breed can have allergies (atopy), there is evidence of a hereditary component. Females dogs are more likely to be affected than males. Some breeds are at increased risk for developing atopy including Terriers (Westie, Cairn, Scottish, Fox, Boston), Setters, Retrievers, Beagles, Miniature Schnauzers, Shar-Peis, Dalmations, Lhasa Apsos, Cocker Spaniels, Boxers and Bulldogs. Most dogs with atopy start to show signs between 1-3 years old. What signs to look for... Clinical signs vary from mild to severe, and usually start as seasonal itchy skin (pruritus) involving the face, feet, armpit, abdomen, and groin. Owners may notice increased licking or chewing and watery eyes. Irritated skin, crusts, hair loss, dark pigmented skin, and red or pus filled bumps may also be seen. White or cream colored dogs may have brownish colored fur on the legs, stomach and feet from chronic licking and saliva staining. Dogs and cats with allergies very commonly have secondary ear infections, which may be the only clinical sign. Common allergies include dust mites, storage mites (found in dry foods), molds, pollen, grass, and more! Cats commonly have allergies to food and flea bites. Flea allergies usually result in thinning of hair along the back at the base of the tail, with small crusts and bumps. What can be done for atopy/allergies? Fortunately, allergies can usually be managed effectively. Every pet with skin disease should be on reliable, year round flea prevention. Flea allergies are much more common in dogs with atopy, and one flea bite can cause severe irritation for up to two weeks! We recommend Frontline Plus, which is applied topically once a month. Over the counter products do not kill as many species of fleas/ticks and I have seen more cases of toxicity, even death, usually due to inappropriate dosing. The severity of the disease determines how aggressive we need to be with treatment. Often multiple products are needed to help manage disease and give comfort to your pet. Antihistamines and immunosupressive drugs work well to get inflammation down. Antibiotics or antifungal medication may be needed to treat secondary infections. Bathing with medicated shampoo helps soothe and heal skin and washes away antigens from the surface of the skin and coat. Special dietary supplements also help heal and strengthen the skin. There are also more extensive allergy tests that can be done at your regular vet or at a dermatologist that specializes in skin disorders. Words of wisdom from Dr. Poff The most important thing to remember when dealing with skin disease is there are dozens of diseases that can cause secondary skin changes and it can be frustrating when trying to diagnose and treat these conditions. The skin responds to many different diseases the same way! The history and physical exam give point us toward what tests are most important to help treat your pet. Multiple tests and vet visits are often needed in severely diseased animals before a solution is found. While we can cure many skin diseases we do not often cure allergies, but manage them and treat them when allergies are at their worst. Skin problems are challenging, but are one of my favorite diseases to treat. It is very rewarding when you see the your patient's skin, attitude and comfort improve. Dr. Poff's Quote of the Month A good vet cares for your pet; a great vet cares for your pet as their own.