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Dog Wash $5.00 for Paws for a Cause

Far Country Animal Hospital is holding an outdoor dog wash for a $5.00
donation to our team Paws for a Cause which benefits the Relay for
life. Water will be heated, nail trims available to dogs who do not
need to be muzzled!

Far Country Animal Hospital
Across from Colony High School in Palmer
2701 N Liahona Drive
Palmer AK
May 3rd
Noon-4pm
$5.00 donation
746-7297 (PAWS)

SAFETY ALERT - PRESENCE OF SALMONELLA BACTERIA IN ROLL OVER PORK TENDERS PREMIUM DOG TREAT

Link: SAFETY ALERT - PRESENCE OF SALMONELLA BACTERIA IN ROLL OVER PORK TENDERS PREMIUM DOG TREAT.

SAFETY ALERT PRESENCE OF SALMONELLA BACTERIA IN ROLL OVER PORK TENDERS PREMIUM DOG TREAT

OTTAWA, March 13, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Rollover Premium Pet Food Ltd. are warning consumers not to purchase or use the Roll Over Pork Tenders Premium Dog Treat described below. This product may be contaminated with the bacteria responsible for salmonellosis in humans.

The affected Roll Over Pork Tenders Premium Dog Treat was sold in 50 g packages bearing

UPC 0 60766 88138 1. All lots up to and including 07 MAR 10 are affected by this alert.

Roll Over Pork Tenders Premium Dog Treat was distributed nationally.

There has been one illness reported associated with this product.

People may risk bacterial infection by handling the treats directly or by contact with pets who have used the treats. Anyone who may have handled the treats should wash their hands with warm water and soap. Consumers should dispose of these treats in the trash.

Common symptoms of Salmonella infection are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, although more serious consequences are possible, especially in young children, the elderly, and in people with weakened immune systems.

Rollover Premium Pet Food Ltd., High River, Alberta, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

Rollover Premium Pet Food Ltd.
403-652-4300 or 1-800-616-9267
info@rolloverpetfood.com

CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on Salmonella, visit the Food Facts web page at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/causee.shtml.

For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

- 30 -

Media enquiries:

Rollover Premium Pet Food Ltd.
403-652-4300 or 1-800-616-9267
info@rolloverpetfood.com
Shashi Kulkarni (English)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-368-1622
Linda LeBlanc (French)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-760-4112

Are Vaccinations Safe?

SCIENCE OF VACCINE DAMAGE
by Catherine O'Driscoll
Submitted by Brigitte Copeland

A team at Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine conducted several
studies (endnotes 1 & 2) to determine if vaccines can cause changes in the
immune system of dogs that might lead to life-threatening immune-mediated
diseases. They obviously conducted this research because concern already
existed. It was sponsored by the Haywood Foundation which itself was looking
for evidence that such changes in the human immune system might also be
vaccine induced. It found the evidence.

The vaccinated, but not the non-vaccinated, dogs in the Purdue studies
developed autoantibodies to many of their own biochemicals, including
fibronectin, laminin, DNA, albumin, cytochrome C, cardiolipin and collagen.

This means that the vaccinated dogs - "but not the non-vaccinated dogs"-
were attacking their own fibronectin, which is involved in tissue repair,
cell multiplication and growth, and differentiation between tissues and
organs in a living organism.

The vaccinated Purdue dogs also developed autoantibodies to laminin, which
is involved in many cellular activities including the adhesion, spreading,
differentiation, proliferation and movement of cells. Vaccines thus appear
to be capable of removing the natural intelligence of cells.

Autoantibodies to cardiolipin are frequently found in patients with the
serious disease systemic lupus erythematosus and also in individuals with
other autoimmune diseases. The presence of elevated anti-cardiolipin
antibodies is significantly associated with clots within the heart or blood
vessels, in poor blood clotting, haemorrhage, bleeding into the skin, foetal
loss and neurological conditions.

The Purdue studies also found that vaccinated dogs were developing
autoantibodies to their own collagen. About one quarter of all the protein
in the body is collagen. Collagen provides structure to our bodies,
protecting and supporting the softer tissues and connecting them with the
skeleton. It is no wonder that Canine Health Concern's (Great Britain) 1997
study of 4,000 dogs showed a high number of dogs developing mobility
problems shortly after they were vaccinated (noted in my 1997 book, What
Vets Don't Tell You About Vaccines).

Perhaps most worryingly, the Purdue studies found that the vaccinated dogs
had developed autoantibodies to their own DNA. Did the alarm bells sound?
Did the scientific community call a halt to the vaccination program? No.
Instead, they stuck their fingers in the air, saying more research is needed
to ascertain whether vaccines can cause genetic damage. Meanwhile, the study
dogs were found good homes, but no long-term follow-up has been conducted.

At around the same time, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force initiated several studies to
find out why 160,000 cats each year in the USA develop terminal cancer at
their vaccine injection sites.(3) The fact that cats can get vaccine-induced
cancer has been acknowledged by veterinary bodies around the world, and even
the British Government acknowledged it through its Working Group charged
with the task of looking into canine and feline vaccines(4) following
pressure from Canine Health Concern. What do you imagine was the advice of
the AVMA Task Force, veterinary bodies and governments? "Carry on
vaccinating until we find out why vaccines are killing cats, and which cats
are most likely to die."

In America, in an attempt to mitigate the problem, they're vaccinating cats
in the tail or leg so they can amputate when cancer appears. Great advice if
it's not your cat amongst the hundreds of thousands on the "oops" list.

But other species are okay, right? Wrong. In August 2003, the Journal of
Veterinary Medicine carried an Italian study which showed that dogs also
develop vaccine-induced cancers at their injection sites.(5) We already know
that vaccine-site cancer is a possible sequel to human vaccines, too, since
the Salk polio vaccine was said to carry a monkey retrovirus (from
cultivating the vaccine on monkey organs) that produces inheritable cancer.
The monkey retrovirus SV40 keeps turning up in human cancer sites.

It is also widely acknowledged that vaccines can cause a fast-acting,
usually fatal, disease called autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA). Without
treatment, and frequently with treatment, individuals can die in agony
within a matter of days. Merck, itself a multinational vaccine manufacturer,
states in The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy that autoimmune
haemolytic anaemia may be caused by modified live-virus vaccines, as do
Tizard's Veterinary Immunology (4th edition) and the Journal of Veterinary
Internal Medicine.(6) The British Government's Working Group, despite being
staffed by vaccine-industry consultants who say they are independent, also
acknowledged this fact. However, no one warns the pet owners before their
animals are subjected to an unnecessary booster, and very few owners are
told why after their pets die of AIHA.

A Wide Range of Vaccine-induced Diseases
We also found some worrying correlations between vaccine events and the
onset of arthritis in our 1997 survey. Our concerns were compounded by
research in the human field.

The New England Journal of Medicine, for example, reported that it is
possible to isolate the rubella virus from affected joints in children
vaccinated against rubella. It also told of the isolation of viruses from
the peripheral blood of women with prolonged arthritis following
vaccination.vac

Then, in 2000, CHC's findings were confirmed by research which showed that
polyarthritis and other diseases like amyloidosis, which affects organs in
dogs, were linked to the combined vaccine given to dogs.(8) There is a huge
body of research, despite the paucity of funding from the vaccine industry,
to confirm that vaccines can cause a wide range of brain and central nervous
system damage. Merck itself states in its Manual that vaccines (i.e., its
own products) can cause encephalitis: brain inflammation/own products) c
cases, encephalitis involves lesions in the brain and throughout the central
nervous system. Merck states that "examples are the encephalitides following
measles, chickenpox, rubella, smallpox vaccination, vaccinia, and many other
less well defined viral infections".

When the dog owners who took part in the CHC survey reported that their dogs
developed short attention spans, 73.1% of the dogs did so within three
months of a vaccine event. The same percentage of dogs was diagnosed with
epilepsy within three months of a shot (but usually within days). We also
found that 72.5% of dogs that were considered by their owners to be nervous
and of a worrying disposition, first exhibited these traits within the
three-month post-vaccination period.

I would like to add for the sake of Oliver, my friend who suffered from
paralysed rear legs and death shortly after a vaccine shot, that "paresis"
is listed in Merck's Manual as a symptom of encephalitis. This is defined as
muscular weakness of a neural (brain) origin which involves partial or
incomplete paralysis, resulting from lesions at any level of the descending
pathway from the brain. Hind limb paralysis is one of the potential
consequences. Encephalitis, incidentally, is a disease that can manifest
across the scale from mild to severe and can also cause sudden death.

Organ failure must also be suspected when it occurs shortly after a vaccine
event. Dr. Larry Glickman, who spearheaded the Purdue research into
post-vaccination biochemical changes in dogs, wrote in a letter to Cavalier
Spaniel breeder Bet Hargreaves:

"Our ongoing studies of dogs show that following routine vaccination, there
is a significant rise in the level of antibodies dogs produce against their
own tissues. Some of these antibodies have been shown to target the thyroid
gland, connective tissue such as that found in the valves of the heart, red
blood cells, DNA, etc. I do believe that the heart conditions in Cavalier
King Charles Spaniels could be the end result of repeated immunisations by
vaccines containing tissue culture contaminants that cause a progressive
immune response directed at connective tissue in the heart valves. The
clinical manifestations would be more pronounced in dogs that have a genetic
predisposition [although] the findings should be generally applicable to all
dogs regardless of their breed."

I must mention here that Dr. Glickman believes that vaccines are a necessary
evil, but that safer vaccines need to be developed.

Meanwhile, please join the queue to place your dog, cat, horse and child on
the Russian roulette wheel because a scientist says you should.

Vaccines Stimulate an Inflammatory Response
The word "allergy" is synonymous with "sensitivity" and "inflammation.The
should, by rights, also be synonymous with the word "vaccination.should, b
what vaccines do: they sensitize (render allergic) an individual in the
process of forcing them to develop antibodies to fight a disease threat. In
other words, as is acknowledged and accepted, as part of the vaccine process
the body will respond with inflammation. This may be apparently temporary or
it may be longstanding.

Holistic doctors and veterinarians have known this for at least 100 years.
They talk about a wide range of inflammatory or "-itis" diseases which arise
shortly after a vaccine event. Vaccines, in fact, plunge many individuals
into an allergic state. Again, this is a disorder that ranges from mild all
the way through to the suddenly fatal. Anaphylactic shock is the
culmination: it's where an individual has a massive allergic reaction to a
vaccine and will die within minutes if adrenaline or its equivalent is not
administered.

There are some individuals who are genetically not well placed to withstand
the vaccine challenge. These are the people (and animals are "people," too)
who have inherited faulty B and T cell function. B and T cells are
components within the immune system which identify foreign invaders and
destroy them, and hold the invader in memory so that they cannot cause
future harm. However, where inflammatory responses are concerned, the immune
system overreacts and causes unwanted effects such as allergies and other
inflammatory conditions.

Merck warns in its Manual that patients with, or from families with, B
and/or T cell immunodeficiencies should not receive live-virus vaccines due
to the risk of severe or fatal infection. Elsewhere, it lists features of B
and T cell immunodeficiencies as food allergies, inhalant allergies, eczema,
dermatitis, neurological deterioration and heart disease. To translate,
people with these conditions can die if they receive live-virus vaccines.
Their immune systems are simply not competent enough to guarantee a healthy
reaction to the viral assault from modified live-virus vaccines.

Modified live-virus (MLV) vaccines replicate in the patient until an immune
response is provoked. If a defence isn't stimulated, then the vaccine
continues to replicate until it gives the patient the very disease it was
intending to prevent.

Alternatively, a deranged immune response will lead to inflammatory
conditions such as arthritis, pancreatitis, colitis, encephalitis and any
number of autoimmune diseases such as cancer and leukaemia, where the body
attacks its own cells.

A new theory, stumbled upon by Open University student Gary Smith, explains
what holistic practitioners have been saying for a very long time. Here is
what a few of the holistic vets have said in relation to their patients:

Dr. Jean Dodds: "Many veterinarians trace the present problems with allergic
and immunologic diseases to the introduction of MLV vaccines..." (9)
Christina Chambreau, DVM: "Routine vaccinations are probably the worst thing
that we do for our animals. They cause all types of illnesses, but not
directly to where we would relate them definitely to be caused by the
vaccine." (10)

Martin Goldstein, DVM: "I think that vaccines...are leading killers of dogs
and cats in America today."
Dr Charles E. Loops, DVM: "Homoeopathic veterinarians and other holistic
practitioners have maintained for some time that vaccinations do more harm
than they provide benefits." (12)

Mike Kohn, DVM: "In response to this [vaccine] violation, there have been
increased autoimmune diseases (allergies being one component), epilepsy,
neoplasia [tumours], as well as behavioural problems in small animals." (13)

A Theory on Inflammation
Gary Smith explains what observant healthcare practitioners have been saying
for a very long time, but perhaps they've not understood why their
observations led them to say it. His theory, incidentally, is causing a huge
stir within the inner scientific sanctum. Some believe that his theory could
lead to a cure for many diseases including cancer. For me, it explains why
the vaccine process is inherently questionable.

Gary was learning about inflammation as part of his studies when he struck
upon a theory so extraordinary that it could have implications for the
treatment of almost every inflammatory disease - including Alzheimer's,
Parkinson's, rheumatoid arthritis and even HIV and AIDS.

Gary's theory questions the received wisdom that when a person gets ill, the
inflammation that occurs around the infected area helps it to heal. He
claims that, in reality, inflammation prevents the body from recognising a
foreign substance and therefore serves as a hiding place for invaders. The
inflammation occurs when at-risk cells produce receptors called All (known
as angiotensin II type I receptors). He says that while At1 has a balancing
receptor, At2, which is supposed to switch off the inflammation, in most
diseases this does not happen.

"Cancer has been described as the wound that never heals," he says. "All
successful cancers are surrounded by inflammation. Commonly this is thought
to be the body's reaction to try to fight the cancer, but this is not the
case.

"The inflammation is not the body trying to fight the infection. It is
actually the virus or bacteria deliberately causing inflammation in order to
hide from the immune system." (14)

If Gary is right, then the inflammatory process so commonly stimulated by
vaccines is not, as hitherto assumed, a necessarily acceptable sign.
Instead, it could be a sign that the viral or bacterial component, or the
adjuvant (which, containing foreign protein, is seen as an invader by the
immune system), in the vaccine is winning by stealth.

If Gary is correct in believing that the inflammatory response is not
protective but a sign that invasion is taking place under cover of darkness,
vaccines are certainly not the friends we thought they were. They are
undercover assassins working on behalf of the enemy, and vets and medical
doctors are unwittingly acting as collaborators. Worse, we animal guardians
and parents are actually paying doctors and vets to unwittingly betray our
loved ones.

Potentially, vaccines are the stealth bomb of the medical world. They are
used to catapult invaders inside the castle walls where they can wreak
havoc, with none of us any the wiser. So rather than experiencing frank
viral diseases such as the 'flu, measles, mumps and rubella (and, in the
case of dogs, parvovirus and distemper), we are allowing the viruses to win
anyway - but with cancer, leukaemia and other inflammatory or autoimmune
(self-attacking) diseases taking their place.

The Final Insult
All 27 veterinary schools in North America have changed their protocols for
vaccinating dogs and cats along the following lines; (15) however, vets in
practice are reluctant to listen to these changed protocols and official
veterinary bodies in the UK and other countries are ignoring the following
facts.
Dogs' and cats' immune systems mature fully at six months. If modified
live-virus vaccine is given after six months of age, it produces immunity,
which is good for the life of the pet. If another MLV vaccine is given a
year later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralise the antigens of
the second vaccine and there is little or no effect. The titre is not
"boosted," nor are more memory cells induced.

Not only are annual boosters unnecessary, but they subject the pet to
potential risks such as allergic reactions and immune-mediated haemolytic
anaemia.

In plain language, veterinary schools in America, plus the American
Veterinary Medical Association, have looked at studies to show how long
vaccines last and they have concluded and announced that annual vaccination
is unnecessary.is unne

Further, they have acknowledged that vaccines are not without harm. Dr. Ron
Schultz, head of pathobiology at Wisconsin University and a leading light in
this field, has been saying this politely to his veterinary colleagues since
the 1980s. I've been saying it for the past 12 years. But change is so long
in coming and, in the meantime, hundreds of thousands of animals are dying
every year - unnecessarily.

The good news is that thousands of animal lovers (but not enough) have heard
what we've been saying. Canine Health Concern members around the world use
real food as Nature's supreme disease preventative, eschewing processed pet
food, and minimise the vaccine risk. Some of us, myself included, have
chosen not to vaccinate our pets at all. Our reward is healthy and
long-lived dogs.
It has taken but one paragraph to tell you the good and simple news. The
gratitude I feel each day, when I embrace my healthy dogs, stretches from
the centre of the Earth to the Universe and beyond.

About the Author:
Catherine O'Driscoll runs Canine Health Concern which campaigns and also
delivers an educational program, the Foundation in Canine Healthcare. She is
author of Shock to the System (2005), the best-selling book What Vets Don't
Tell You About Vaccines (1997, 1998), and Who Killed the Darling Buds of
May? (1997; reviewed in NEXUS 4/04). She lives in Scotland with her partner,
Rob Ellis, and three Golden Retrievers, and she lectures on canine health
around the world. For more information, contact Catherine O'Driscoll at
Canine Health Concern, PO Box 7533, Perth PH2 1AD, Scotland, UK
(http://www.canine-health-concern.org.uk./)

Shock to the System is available in the UK from CHC, and worldwide from
Dogwise at _http://www.dogwise.http_ (http://www.dogwise.com./)

Aussie Missing near Fbx for 6 weeks is FOUND in 30 below cold

Pooch on the lam rescued in 30 below cold

Fairbanks man saves  frost-bitten dog on loose for 6 months.  Wasilla Turnagain Aussie's Malissa Cole is breathing a huge sigh of relief tonight after she learned that one of the Australian Shepherd Puppies from her kennel reported missing 6 weeks ago has been found and is safe and sound.  Malissa says Pauly will live in the lap of luxury for the rest of his life after surviving such an ordeal.  The road to recovery is long; but Pauly has already proven his mettle. 

Pauly owes his life to Jay Andrews, who pulled him out of a roadside ditch after spotting the frozen fugitive alongside Chena Ridge Road in Fairbanks. 

Andrews was bitten three or four times through his gloves as he removed the dog from a hole and deposited him in the bed of his pickup, cushioning him on absorbent oil spill pads.

   

Pauly ran away in August, just three days after being adopted by a Fairbanks family from Turnagain Aussies in Wasilla.

   

Andrews said he stopped Tuesday because he knew there was no way a dog could live out there in minus 30 degrees.

Alaska's Top Junior Handlers - AKC

                1     Dowling, Lindsey     196            
                2     Parker, Paige     173            
                3     Davis, Cassandra     159            
                4     Rosling, Taylor     76            
                5     Smith, Scout     75            
                6     Pabst, Lindsey     73            
                7     Smith, Joel     70            
                8     Posey, Rae     65            
                9     Kriger, Brandi     49            
                10     Brown, Sarah     48            
                11     Eussen, Christa     45            
                12     Kiester, Rebekah     44            
                13     Lee, Bridget     42            
                14     Stewart, Jennifer     34            
                14     Williams, Victoria     34            
                16     Hobbs, Dylan     30            
                17     Cox, Monica     28            
                17     Conrad, Kayla     28            
                19     Marsh, Victoria     27            
                20     Weter, Shaylene     23            
                21     Grandorff, Carlee     20            
                21     Aikens, Elizabeth     20            
                23     Smith, Tia     19            
                24     Welch, Katelyn     16            
                25     Hutson, Richard     15            
                25     Hutson, Byron     15            
                27     Thurmond, Briar     13            
                27     Severance, Sophie     13            
                29     Clayton, Reese     12            
                30     Holen, Taylor     10            
                31     Miller, Secoro     9            
                32     Miller, Jill     8            
                32     Chester, Krystin     8            
                34     Butler, Sara     7            
                35     Gross, Sarah     6            
                36     Schwab, Justine     5            
                37     Smith, Mitchell     4            
                38     Ivie, Hannah     3            
                38     Aikens, Katherine     3            
                38     Taylor, Nathaniel     3            
                38     Hauge, Reesa     3            
                42     Fanning, Hailey     2            
                42     Zorea, Estee     2            
                42     Ruzicka, Rebekah     2            
                42     Moon, Katie     2            
                42     Hansen, Domonique     2            
                42     Blodgett, Kari     2            
                42     Knapp, Ken     2            
                42     Zagula, Tiffany     2            
                50     Mabrey, Tyler     1            
                50     Blankenship, Jessica     1            
                50     Dykstra, Shelby     1

Alaska Junior makes top 20 in AKC junior showmanship 2007

HERDING

Statistics current fron Janaury 2007-April 2007

RANK NAME # DEFEATED

1 Norris, Tanner 271
2 Diaz, Anna 179
3 Rauschmeier, Kelly 178
4 Whitmore, Ashlie 161
5 Grinels, Lindsey 128
6 Degner, Chelsea 114
7 Mellen, Christopher 103
8 Calkins, Anna 99
9 Armstrong, Megan 94
10 Caldwell, Allyson 90
11 Dede, William 88
12 Scott, Katelyn 81
13 Miceli, Samantha 77
14 Kennedy, Mike 72
15 Weber, Alyssa 70
16 Escalada, Erica 61
17 Rummerfield, Allie 60
18 Ardizzone, Bree Ann 57
19 Dowling, Lindsey 56
20 Wyckoff, Kory 55

Welcome to BestJunior.com©.

Stop California AB1634 - Send a Biscuit!

Starting on June 11th, K9's Naturally will package and send dog biscuits with the message "Vote NO on AB1634" to the legislators of California our attempt to get them to understand just how many lives this bill could affect, and how far-reaching the outcry is to VOTE NO NOW!

What else can I do?

Stop California AB1634.

Vote: Should states require pets to be sterilized?

Do you think states should require pets to be spayed and neutered? * 11500 responses

Vote: Should states require pets to be sterilized? - Pet Health - MSNBC.com.

Go vote – “NO WAY!” 

There is much more to the mandatory spay/neuter laws that meets the eye.  It implies perpetuation of kill shelters for one thing.  Protect your righs and arm yourself with knowledge. 

Texas lab finds pain medicine in pet food

New Contaminant Found In More Pet Food

ASPCA Sheds Light on Toxicity of Acetaminophen—Reminds Pet Parents to Stay Alert


NEW YORK—With reports that acetaminophen has been found in brands of cat and dog food not included on the Menu Foods recall list, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today reminded pet parents that vigilance is the key to keeping their pets safe and healthy—coupled with a strong dose of common sense.


“Though reports of dogs and cats poisoned from the Menu Foods recall seem to have abated, this news is extremely worrying,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, a board-certified toxicologist and senior vice president with the ASPCA, who manages the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), located in its Midwest Office in Urbana, Ill.



“Our data show that if an average-sized cat ingests as little as one extra-strength acetaminophen pain-reliever caplet and is not treated in time, it can suffer fatal consequences,” continued Dr. Hansen. “Depending on the amount ingested, clinical effects can include a condition called ‘methemoglobinemia,’ which affects the ability of blood cells to deliver oxygen to vital organs, or even liver damage.”



“At this point, we have very little information as to the actual level and concentration of this reported contamination, so it’s extremely important to be able to recognize any potential warning signs of this kind of poisoning.” However, early information on this contamination suggests that concentration levels are not high enough to have an adverse effect on most dogs; cats are more at-risk.



Dr. Louise Murray, director of medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital (BMAH) in New York City, and a board-certified internist, elaborates further. “Cats are especially sensitive to acetaminophen toxicity for two reasons. First, they don’t have enough of a specific enzyme that enables the body to metabolize the drug well. Second, cats are typically more susceptible to red blood cell damage than certain other species of animals. Put these together with a high dose of acetaminophen, and you have a potentially deadly combination.”


The most common effects of acetaminophen poisoning in cats include swelling of the face and paws; depression; weakness; and difficulty in breathing. “We also see a condition called ‘cyanosis,’” said Dr. Hansen, “which is literally when their gums and tongue start turning a muddy color due to the lack of oxygen.”

In 2006, the APCC received more than 78,000 calls to its hotline involving common human drugs such as painkillers, cold medications, antidepressants and dietary supplements—a 69 percent increase over 2005.

Until more information is provided by the U. S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the ASPCA urges pet parents to keep an eye out for any signs of illness in their pets, and also report any changes in dietary consumption or behavior to their veterinarian immediately. Those considering a home-cooked diet for their pets should do so in consultation with their veterinarian, or visit the ASPCA’s Web site for more information.

“It is important to remember to never give any medication to your pet without first talking to your veterinarian, and always store potentially poisonous substances in a secure cabinet above the countertop and out of the reach of pets,” said Dr. Hansen. “If you think your pet has ingested a poisonous substance, you should take her to your veterinarian immediately.”


The ASPCA continues to monitor the pet food recall situation, and is providing regular updates and advice for pet parents, at its Pet Food Recall Resource Center at www.aspca.org/recall .

Texas lab finds pain medicine in pet food - Tribune-Review.

Those Amazing Alaskan Sled Dogs ý What Makes Them Go?

Those Amazing Alaskan Sled Dogs – What Makes Them Go?

It’s official – the race results are in, and Lance Mackey has continued his family's tradition by being first to the finish line in Nome, Alaska. But what makes it a truly extraordinary event is the tenacity and persistence of the sled dogs who get the mushers there. To study the dogs and their incredible stamina, assistant professor Erica McKenzie from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University has collected blood protein levels of sled dogs participating in the annual Iditarod Trail Race in Alaska. Professor McKenzie is testing 100 dogs that have completed the 1,150-mile race. The research, funded by the American Kennel Club's Canine Health Foundation, focuses on measuring blood globulin levels in sled dogs participating in the Iditarod.

"There are several reasons why these dogs may have low blood globulin levels," said McKenzie, who works in the College of Veterinary Medicine. "One possibility is that globulins are being used to help meet the energy demands of exercise, which would be a somewhat novel finding from the perspective of traditional exercise physiology."

The Iditarod race started March 4, 2007. McKenzie traveled to the finish line in Nome, AK, for the on-the-spot data retrieval. By taking blood samples from 100 dogs, McKenzie will determine the prevalence of low blood globulin levels in dogs participating in the race. The new project stems from a previous 2004 research endeavor which featured running dogs in a simulated 500-mile race. One notable finding of the study was a significant decrease in the dog's blood globulin levels during the event. "The phenomenon was noted," McKenzie said of her project, "but it was never further studied."

McKenzie has worked with sled dogs for the last four years, including during the last Iditarod race where she was involved in studying antibodies to specific vaccines. In addition to McKenzie, Manoj Pastey, an assistant professor in veterinary medicine, is helping with the research project. Pastey says his job will involve taking the samples McKenzie collects and measuring the globulins in the blood.

Globulin, produced by the body, contains antibodies that protect against bacterial and viral infectious diseases. McKenzie expects this preliminary study will help define the prevalence of low blood globulin levels in racing sled dogs. Pastey says if the study produces some interesting findings, they will apply for a bigger grant for more extensive research. "It's important to know what's going on." Pastey said. "How do the dogs endure training? How do they run for so long? Why don't humans do that? It's a mystery, but right now we're waiting for those answers and conclusions."

The AKC Canine Health Foundation, founded in 1995 by the American Kennel Club, is the largest nonprofit worldwide to fund health research exclusively for canines. Their goal is to help dogs live longer, healthier lives. The AKC Canine Health Foundation is proud to be the leader in non-invasive genetic health research, stem cell research, and biotherapeutics benefiting both canines and humans. They’re proud to announce they have allocated more than $18 million in canine health research through 74 schools and research institutions worldwide.

For more information on the efforts of the Canine Health Foundation or how to donate, please visit www.akcchf.org or e-mail donate@akcchf.org.

-Reprinted with permission from Katie Thorn, Reporter for "The Daily Barometer," Oregon State University-

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