There have been at least six dogs who have died recently and their guardians feel that it is due to eating Nutro pet food. The cases reported were eating Nutro's Natural Choice Small Bites Lamb and Rice, and Max Nutro for dogs and Max Nutro for cats.

There have also been a number of cases reported of dogs who became ill, but recovered once they were fed a different brand of food.

Nutro has discounted the reports, saying that they were isolated and unconfirmed. It has been reported that at least one Nutro employee resigned because she said she was sickened by the companies response.

These facts were reported in an article by Lisa Wade McCormick of ConsumerAffairs.com, dated 6/23/08.

To read the complete article by Lisa Wade McCormick, click HERE

This is a long article, but you should read all of it to understand what to look for if you are feeding this brand to your dog.

Since Lisa wrote this article on June 23, I contacted her yesterday to see if they were getting any more complaints. She told me they are continuing to get reports from pet guardians everyday. She was very happy that I was posting her report to my site and to this blog.

I contacted Nutro and I will comment on that conversation tomorrow.

This points out once again that the only way to be sure that the food that you feed your dog is SAFE, is to prepare it yourself.

There are some excellent books on the market that will help you with making your own food for your dog.

The best of health to your dog.

Sandra

I had this experience today! Thank goodness my good friend was here and was in the yard with the dogs at the time.

It has been very hot for the past several days and today it did reach 100 degrees in Charlotte.

Fortunately, my friend was looking right at my dog Digit, when Digit collapsed. She grabbed Digit and ran indoors calling for me. When I reached her, she was in the kitchen, holding Digit under the water facet in the sink. She had a towel wrapped around her to hold the water and was running cool water right onto her stomach.

Digit had quickly regained consiousness and was becoming alert to her surroundings. We continued to run the cool water over her until her eyes were clear and alert, her gums were a normal pink color and she had stopped panting.

I then wrapped her in a dry towel and held her until I was sure that she was calmed down and doing ok.

"DO You Know How To Spot Heatstroke?"

It's summer and the days and even the evenings are very hot. Your dog could suffer a heat stroke if they are outside, even in the shade, or in a car.

It is best to avoid these situations rather than to treat them. And you should NEVER leave your dog in the car, even for a few minutes. Leave him at HOME!

Even with the windows down, the car will overheat rapidly. Temperatures can rise to 120 degrees in a few minutes. Your dog's body temperature will also rise rapidly and brain damage, including death, may occur quickly.

Overheathing may also occur if you take your dog for a run in hot, humid weather. A day at the beach, or playing ball is fun, but be sure to keep an eye on your dog.

Dogs do not sweat. Their only way to cool off is by panting. Heat stroke occurs when your dog cannot maintain a normal body temperature by panting.

The Signs of Heat Stroke:

- Panting and increased pulse rate
- Weakness
- Mucous membranes and skin become deep red
- Muscle tremors
- Collapse
- Staring expression
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- Elevated body temperature

First Aid for Heat Stroke:

- Move to a cool, well-ventilated, shady area
- Apply cool water to the body (not ice or cold water)
- Follow with an electolyte solution (can mix some salt and sugar in water)

GET VETERINARY ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY!

This is an emergency situation. Brain damage can occur.

Homeopathic Remedies That Can Be Used on the Way to the Vet:

- Aconitum napellus - Use if your dog is quiet restless and
fearful. There may be hemorrahaging from the nose, and/or
congestion to the head and cause nausea.

- Belladonna - This state is more intense than the above
state in the your dog will have greater physical changes.
The ears and gums are intensely red, the pupils may be
dilated. The restlessness is more violent.

- Gelsemium - Use this remedy for weakness. Your dog will
be weak and dizzy, almost to collapse. The muscles will
tremble. He may alternate between flushes of heat and cold,
clammy skin. This is a typical sign of heat exhustion.

Give a dose of four pellets at five-to ten minute intervals on your way to the vet.

As you can see, the best protection against your dog having heat stroke, is:

- Don't leave your dog in the car!
- Keep an eye on your dog when playing, walking or running in hot, humid weather.

This is a condition that you do not want to be faced with, and the best way is to avoid any situation that could cause it to happen.

It is an Emergency Situation and you must get your dog to the vet immediately.

I did not take my dog to the vet today, because we were able to react quickly to the situation, and Digit responded quickly. Had I just found her that way, I would have followed the first aid instructions and then taken her to the vet.

Know what to do in an emergency and don't leave your dog out too long in hot weather.

Keep your dog safe this summer.

To the health of your dog,

Sandra

One of my readers sent this article to me last year. A few weeks ago, I wrote a list of foods to avoid giving to your dog. It is not only necessary to know which meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are good for your dog, but you must also know what is bad and/or dangerous for them.

One of the foods I warned you about is Raisins. This article points out the danger that can be involved if your dog should eat rasins.

BY:
Laurinda Morris, DVM
Danville Veterinary Clinic
Danville , Ohio

"This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday.

He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7AM.

I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject.

We had her bring the dog in immediately. In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me - had heard something about it, but....

Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give IV fluids at 1 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.

The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32 (normal less than 27) and creatinine over 5 (1.9 is the high end of normal). Both are monitors of kidney function in the bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and started the fluids.

Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine over 7 with no urine production after a liter of fluids.

At the point I felt the dog was in acute renal failure and sent him on to MedVet for a urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight as well as overnight care.

He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values have continued to increase daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and they still couldn't control his vomiting.

Today his urine output decreased again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his blood pressure, which had been staying around 150, skyrocketed to 220. He continued to vomit and the owners elected to euthanize.

This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins could be a toxin.

Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk.

Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's.

Any exposure should give rise to immediate concern."

Be aware of what your dog can get into, and make their area safe.

Best of health to your dog.
Sandra

I just came across this interesting article about the Settlement for the Pet Food Recall that occured last year.

By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com

May 24, 2008

"Parties involved in the litigation surrounding the largest pet food recall in U.S. history -- blamed for the deaths and illnesses of thousands of dogs and cats in North America -- have agreed to settle the case for $24 million.

The proposed settlement -- triggered by last year's recall of 60 million containers of mlamine-tainted dog and cat food -- was filed last Thursday in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.

A hearing to approve the settlement is set for May 30.

The tainted pet food debacle started last March when Menu Foods of Canada recalled millions of containers of dog and cat food.

The company -- which manufacturers dog and cat food under nearly 100 brand names -- took that action after pets across the country that ate its food suffered kidney problems and became ill or died.

"The Settlement Agreement will create a Settlement Fund of $24 million that will allow a potential recovery of up to 100% of all economic damages related to the pet food recall that were incurred by pet owners and persons who purchased recalled pet food in the United States and in Canada, subject to several limitations," Menu Foods wrote in a press release.

Under the proposed settlement, pet owners can file claims for medical expenses and reimbursement of burial or cremation costs. Pet owners who do not have documentation for these expenses can receive up to $900 each.

According to The Kansas City Star, the settlement sets aside $250,000 for reimbursement of recalled products, $400,000 for pet owners who paid to have their dogs and cats screened for health problems, and the remainder will cover all other economic damages, including those related to the death or injury of a pet.

Jeniphr Breckenridge, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys in the case, told the newspaper she is pleased with the settlement. "But at the same time, we recognize that there is no legal settlement that can compensate pet owners for losing a pet," she said.

Menu Foods initially blamed the contamination on a chemical called Aminopterin, which is used as a rat poison and to treat cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later discovered an ingredient used to make the pet food -- wheat gluten imported from China -- was tainted with the chemical melamine.

Melamine is used to make plastics.

Under the proposed settlement, pet food makers must continue testing ingredients imported from China.

In December, veterinarians blamed the dogs' and cats' deaths on the combination of two chemicals FDA officials found in the tainted pet food: melamine and cyanuric acid, which is used to chlorinate pools.

Neither chemical is approved in pet food.

Veterinarians said those two chemicals can combine and form crystals in the dogs' and cats' bodies. And those crystals can impair the animals' kidney function.

"Either one of those chemicals alone wouldn't cause these (deaths)," Dr. Barbara Powers, immediate past president of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) and director of Colorado State University's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, told ConsumerAffairs.com. "It has to be the combination of the two.

"So it's not melamine alone."

Pet owners in 19 states -- and Ontario -- filed dozens of lawsuits against Menu Foods in the weeks that followed the March 16, 2007, nationwide recall of dog and cat food.

Those cases were consolidated in a federal court in Camden, New Jersey.

The lawsuits alleged unfair and deceptive trade practices, negligence in failing to provide adequate quality control and breach of implied and express warranties.

Some consumers also claimed they suffered emotional trauma after their pets became sick or died.

Pet owners sought compensation for their veterinary bills.

Companies named in the lawsuits -- besides Menu Foods -- included Del Monte Foods Inc. of San Francisco; Nestle of Stamford, Conn.; Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati; Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd. in Pixian, China; and Suzhou Textile Import and Export Co. in Jiangsu, China.

Those defendants -- and Menu Foods' product liability insurance company -- will cover the costs of the settlement.

Menu Foods estimated the recall cost the company $53.8 million. The company said pet owners with potential claims should not contact Menu Foods regarding the proposed settlement. A third party claims administrator appointed by the court will oversee the settlement Fund, the company said. Once the settlement is approved, Menu Foods said it will post contact information for the claims administrator on its Web site."

I will comment on this subject in my next blog.

Good Healthy to your Dog!
Sandra

Yesterday I ran an article by Lisa Wade McCormick of ConsumerAffairs.com regarding a $24 Million settlement that is scheduled to be approved in a hearing on May 20.

I don't know that $24 Million is enough to pay the medical bills that everyone incurred during that time and the continuing bills that injured pets will incur.

I know of a breeder who lost two of her six dogs, and the four that survived have kidney damage. The vet bills have exdeeded $30,000 to date.

So, do the math.

Sadly, this can and will happen again. In the past 12 years, there have been 13 pet food-related recalls.

Unfortunately, we can never completely trust a product again.

The safest way to feed your dog, is to make your own food. That way you have complete control of what your dog is eating.

There are some good quality prepared foods that are on the market that were not caught in the recalls. But the safest thing to do is not feed prepared food exclusively.

Variety, variety, variety! That is the key! Feed a variety of meats, vegetables, and fruits. Feed a variety of grain free prepared foods. Blend, juice, or process your own variety of vegetables and fruits and mix with prepared foods. They don't have enough variety.

Good food is the basis of good health! It is the most important thing that you can do to assure that your dog remains healthy and lives a long time.

If you are not currently making your own food for your dog, a good way to start is to get a copy of one of the good books on the market today, that explains what to feed to your dog and why it is so important.

You can add years to your dog's life.

The best of health to your dog!

Sandra

Did you know that what you feed your dog can affect how often your companion goes to the vet?

Have you really stopped to think about what is in the food that you feed your dog?

Have you ever read the contents? Do you understand what they are saying?

Do you realize that even if it sounds OK, there are ways that the manufacturer can mask the meaning?

Just how do you know what to feed your dog? What food does your dog need? Why?

Are you tired of paying vet bills?

Do you know that there is a way to reduce or almost eliminate them?

Does this sound like you have to do a lot of research?

Well, the research has been done for you! And it is all covered in some very good books that are on the market today.

They explain what foods your dog needs and why.

But only you can answer these next two questions.

"Do I really want to feed the best quality food to my dog in order to improve her health and to increase her life expectancy?

Do I really want to learn what I can do to help my dog feel better?"

If your answers to these questions are "Yes!" then continue to read this blog and also educate yourself by getting a good book on natural dog diets.

You and your dog will be glad you did.

To the health and life of your dog…

Sandra

You want your dog to be healthy and full of energy! You
think you're doing all the right things, but there are those times that you realize that he just isn't feeling well. Or worse, he is REALLY sick!

Nature has provided your dog with a good adequate immune system and it is designed to fight disease when it comes along. That is unless something has compromised that beautifully designed system.

A strong immune system is what allows your dog to fight off the minor and major illnesses with which he comes in contact, and it is the key to healing.

The basis of good health and a strong immune system is diet.

If you are feeding a poor quality, commercial diet, your dog may develope allergies, gain weight, have digestive, heart, kidney, and liver problems. The typical commercial dog food on the market today is still of poor quality and will lead to health problems in your dog.

Two other strong contributing factors are plenty of exercise and lack of stress.

It is important for your dog to get an adequate amount of exercise. Take him for a long walk, take him to the dog park and let him run! Throw the ball, or a stick for him to fetch. Let him get the exercise that he needs.

Stress can suppress the immune system and leave your dog open to illness and disease. Exercise helps to reduce stress. Bonding with your dog and petting him or messaging him will help also. Notice anytime that he may become stressed, and eliminate whatever is causing the stressful situation.

But Diet is the number one thing that contributes to a strong immune system and good health. It is important to feed the correct diet to your dog. Not only is it important to learn what the correct diet is, but it is just as important to learn and understand why it is the best for him.

Nature designed a natural diet for your dog. Do you know what it is? Do you know why those foods are the best for your dog? Nature's diet for your dog is raw meat, raw bones, and raw vegatebles and fruits. I suggest that you get one of the good books on the market today and educate yourself about the subject.

Once you understand which foods are best and why they are the best, you will be able to pick the appropriate food for your dog, and he will be healthy, have a strong immune system, and live a long life. You have the power to increase the quality and length of his life.

Sandra

I have received this before, but this time, I
received it from a wonderful friend of mine, and
decided that there may be some of you who have
not read it.

It is such a good lesson!

"A Dog's Purpose, (from a 6-year-old)"

"Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine
a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The
dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little
boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and
they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer.
I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker,
and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for
the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements,
Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good
for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure.
They felt as though Shane might learn something
from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my
throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane
seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last
time, that I wondered if he understood what was
going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped
peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept
Belker's transition without any difficulty or
confusion.

We sat together for a while after Belker's death,
wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal
lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who
had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'
Startled, we all turned to him.

What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd
never heard a more comforting explanation. He said,
'People are born so that they can learn how to live
a good life -- like loving everybody all the time
and being nice, right?' The six-year-old continued,
'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they
don't have to stay as long.

Live simply
Love generously
Care deeply
Speak kindly

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn
things like:

* When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
* Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
* Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your
face to be pure ecstasy.
* Take naps.
* Stretch before rising.
* Run, romp, and play daily.
* Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
* Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
* On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
* On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
* When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
* Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
* Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
* Stop when you have had enough.
* Be loyal.
* Never pretend to be something you're not.
* If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
* When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close
by and nuzzle them gently.
* Always be grateful for each new day and for the
blessing you have."

"ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!"

As I said, wonderful lessons from our furry friends.

Take care of your dog while you can by feeding him a
natural diet.

Sandra

I read this entry on Craigslist-Charlotte yesterday, and felt that you would what to know about this potential threat.

"Please read my story - this may save your dog's life."

"Last Thursday, my husband and I went to pick up our daughter from daycare, get gas, and get our car washed. We were gone for maybe 30 minutes.

When we came back, we found our sweet, beloved 3 year old dog, Chilly, dead in our bedroom.

She, unfortunately, died from getting her head stuck in a family size bag of chips that I had left on our living room table. She suffocated!!!

What a horrible way to die. I have been told not to feel guilty over this but I can't stop thinking that if I had known a bag of chips could kill my 100 lb, sweet, innocent dog - I would have NEVER, EVER left that bag on the table or anywhere she could get to it, for that matter.

I have also been told that this was a "freak accident" - but it's NOT....I have looked on the internet and this has happened more than you think. This was PREVENTABLE!!!

I am sick with guilt; she depended on me to protect her and I failed.

This email if part of my healing process. If I know that I can save ONE dog's life by getting this message out, then Chilly's tragic death had meaning. She will be deeply missed.

Please pass this along through whatever source you choose - maybe if I had read a posting like this, Chilly would still be chasing squirrels.

Thank you for reading.
Amy"

I responded to Amy and let her know that I would be letting other people know of her loss, and the danger that took her beloved dog's life.

Hopefully, because we passed this story along, no other dogs or pets will be lost in this manner in the future.

Remember Amy, Chilly, and their family in your thoughts.

The best of health to your dog

Sandra

I have just watched an inspiring video and knew you would want to watch it also.

Lis' Kristoff has spent the past eight years of her life with brest cancer. On April 8, she was diagnosed with leukemia.

She was given three weeks to live.

She loves agility with her dog, Diva a Chinese Crested, and her wish was to run one last time with her.

The video is of her doing exactly that at the Dallas Agility Working Group Trials, on April 12.

This video is a wonderful reminder of what is important in life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zlhkMwppKw

We must live our lives to the fullest.

Bless you and bless your dog.

Sandra, Digit, Pip, and Squeeze
The Naturally Healthy Dog™