21 | May | 2012 | The Greenwood Veterinary Clinic

May 21, 2012
by thegreenwoodvet Leave a comment

Pet food recall..

From the recall of a single batch of its “Diamond Naturals” dry dog food on April 6 for possible salmonella contamination, Diamond Pet Foods has expanded the recall on eight separate occasions, endured a week-long inspection of one of its plants by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which criticized its practices, and most recently acknowledged that cats are also at risk.

Yet the Missouri-based maker of Diamond, Premium Edge, Kirkland Signature, and other pet food brands has not called special attention to the expansion of the recall to cat food beyond amending a statement on the company’s Internet recall site: “Diamond Pet Foods has voluntarily recalled some brands of dry dog and cat food that it manufactured in its Gaston, S.C. facility between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012 due to potential Salmonella contamination.”

Stolen dog returned to 4 year old burn victim

After 4-year-old Eric Rodriguez sustained serious burns in a fire, his family gave him a loving companion: a Yorkshire Terrier named Princess. But when someone snatched the pup from the family’s Buffalo, N.Y., yard, mom Jamie Lee Rodriguez worried that her son would never see his dog again.

Thanks to a local businessman and a good-hearted tipster who knew of the dog’s whereabouts, the Yorkie is now back home with her boy, according to WIBV-TV.

“It’s really great to see that there’s still good people out there,” Jamie Lee Rodriguez told the station. “And Princess is home because of the good deed of this woman.”

Animal Quotes..

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion”
– Unknown

May 21, 2012
by thegreenwoodvet Leave a comment

Daily did you know that?

According to the Center for Disease Control, dogs bite about 4.7 million people each year — and most of these victims are children, senior citizens and (you guessed it!) mail carriers.

To raise more awareness about the potentially fatal scenario, the U.S. Postal Service, the American Veterinary Medical Association and State Farm Insurance have teamed up to spread the word during National Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 20–26).

Here’s a look at some of national statistics around dog bites:

1. Approximately 400,000 children are bitten annually — and they are much more likely to be severely injured than adults.

2. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, almost 30,000 reconstructive procedures performed in 2011 stemmed from dog bites, and most of the patients were kids.

3. In 2011, State Farm Insurance received 3,800 dog bite claims, totaling $109 million.

4. California outpaced other states last year with 527 dog bite claims, and $20.3 million in payouts. Other states in the top 10: Illinois, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, Indiana, New York and Minnesota.

5. Dogs bite postal workers more than any other segment of the population. Last year, 5,577 mail carriers were attacked, costing the U.S Postal Service $1.2 million in medical expenses.

Don’t want to fall victim to a dog bite? To minimize the risk, the AVMA recommends being vigilant around canines whom you don’t know, as well as never leave a baby or a child unattended with a dog. And always ask permission before petting someone’s pup.

Be sure to go to the AVMA’s Dog Bite Prevention Week site to learn even more about dog behavior and keeping you and your family safe. Also, look for Vetstreet’s feature on dog bite prevention which will be published this week.