The Pony Dog Blog

We are very happy to report that Miss Seidye has completed her journey from Ohio to Florida and is resting comfortably after a very tiring day full of delay after delay in the wake of the FAA fiasco yesterday. We were unlucky enough to get caught up in it and instead of being able to enjoy the day with Seidye's breeder, they had to drive to the airport to bring her to me after I was stranded in Atlanta for 6 hours. We had enough time for a quick visit and then we were back inside, going through Security and getting ready to wait again. Flight delayed. Flight delayed again. And again. Eventually we made it back to Florida early this am and we are catching up on our sleep. Many MANY thanks to Gracey Burger of Couture Chinese Cresteds as well as Deb Lacy of Debonair Yorkshire Terriers and Chinese Cresteds. More to come...

Miss Seidye Jayne prepares for her first plane flight by getting used to being in the carry bag. She is doing very well and doesn't mind it at all, according to her breeder Gracey. :-)

We are very proud to announce the latest member of the Monkeypups family, Couture's Our Elaborate Plans (Royal Flush N'Co X Stardust From N'CO), call name Seidye (pronounced "Say-dee"). After searching for over a year for just the right puff gal with which to step back into the ring, we found Seidye. Infinite thanks to her breeders, Deb Lacy (Debonair Yorkshire Terriers and Chinese Cresteds) and Gracey Burger (Couture Chinese Cresteds), for entrusting me with this lovely girl.

Many thanks to everyone who assisted me in my search and provided me with information, advice and leads while on the lookout for the perfect puff for me. Special thanks to Chelsey Combs (Klearly Chinese Cresteds), who was of invaluable help to me and answered all my many questions, taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer email after email, assuring and reassuring me despite my concerns about getting back into Conformation after a 13-year absence. Chelsey's good people!

Seidye will be coming home in a few days, and will begin her show career in the fall.

Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Limited Bags of PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites at Albertsons in Southern California and Las Vegas due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- FRANKLIN, Tenn. – August 08, 2008 – Mars Petcare US today announced a voluntary recall of limited bags of PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold in Albertsons stores in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella. There have been no complaints or reports of injury resulting from consumption or handling of the recalled product.

The product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners should dispose of product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle) and return the empty bag to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination caused by handling of the pet food, in people as well, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems. Healthy people potentially infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. On rare occasions, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Recalled Pet Food
Product: PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites
Size: 20-pound bags
UPC Code: 23100 14719
Lot Code: 830BFCAT02
Best Buy Date: 07/2009
Best Buy Date Location: Back of bag
Affected Stores: Albertsons locations in Southern California and Las Vegas.

In an effort to prevent the transmission of Salmonella from pets to family members and care givers, the FDA recommends that everyone follow appropriate pet food handling guidelines when feeding their pets. A list of safe pet food handling tips can be found at: www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html

Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or visit www.petcare.mars.com.
_________________
From www.fda.gov

[I posted this on a forum I belong to, and it was requested that I post it here as well. ;-)]

Well, as many of you know, we are moving. Oh so much fun, right? Yeah, I hear ya. A resounding "No!" Especially when the animals get all freaked at the sight of boxes swallowing up all their familiar surroundings. I can predict how it's going to go, much to the hubby's chagrin, especially when my prohecies come true and I am moping while cleaning rivers of pee and bathing dogs constantly, all the while listening to a chorus of YIP YIP YOOOOOOWWWWWWLLLL YIP YIP SQUUUUEEEEEEEAAAAAAAK SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK YOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLLL.

So the dogs are crated as we begin packing and moving things, for their own safety and ours. It began as I figured it would, with a resounding ((insert falling water sound here)). Wolfie lifted his leg (something he has only done 3 times in his whole life) onto the wall behind his crate, while he was in it. So I clean it up, then its back to packing boxes. Then I turn around and Isy has peed in her crate. She has developed quite the dislike for her new crate and for any type of training in general. Her favorite thing to do is her impression of a toddler--she just digs in her feet and refuses to move. If she doesn't want to budge, nothing will move her. No silly voices, no treats, no toys, nothing. Can you say "Diva?"

So we clean up her crate, and of course we now need to get in the tub. After she is squeaky clean and doing her best pitiful face and trying to snuggle into my neck ("Oh Mommy, don't put little cold, shivering me back into that cold, hard, terrible crate! I shall surely die!"), we pass by Wolfie, who is looking up at me quite defiantly, from among a puddle of pee. I SWEAR he looked defiant. So, muttering expletives under my breath, I put Miss Isy back into her crate. Mommy doesn't fall for the pitiful look. Wolfie HATES baths with the hose, so that's precisely where I take him, figuring it might deter him from doing it again. We clean the crate again, come inside, and I SWEAR to everything that is holy Isy was standing in pee. @#$%!&! ("Oh my goodness, I seem to have soiled myself, Mommy! Help me! Help!") Um yeah I think perhaps we need to deal with the unpleasantness of soiling our crate for just a few minutes longer. This displeases Her Royal Highness. She begins barking.

"Hey! Hey! HELLOOOOO! I'm in pee here! Hey!"

Long story short this has been going on since day 1 of the move. Isy and Wolfie are tag-teaming with the pee, and Isy decided she would throw in some poop for good measure. So I grab a newborn Pampers, cut a hole for her tail, and slap one on Little Miss Pottys-A-Lot's little naked heiney, put on some jammies, and shoot her the "Ah ha!" look in triumph. I go off to pack some more boxes. My victory was short-lived. On my next pass her diapers were hanging out from beneath her jammies. @#$%&!

I fix them, put her in some tighter-fitting clothes, and get back to business. Mommy is SO going to win. Of course those diapers are bone dry the next time I check. And the next time, and the next time. Oh and did I mention, Wolfie pees in the crate 2 more times that day and Isy decided to get mouthy while I put her diaper back on her prior to putting her to bed for the night? When a loud "AH!" came out of my mouth she gave me a backward glance as if to say, "But Mommy, I was just kiddding..." Uh-huh. Mommy doesn't play! Little turd!

I will be SO glad when we are done moving and everyone settles down.

((sigh))

Gotta love moving!

Phinn & Veda recently had the honor of being included in a poster from which proceeds will benefit the family of their friend Tessie, whose home was destroyed in the recent flooding in Iowa.

This beautiful poster (designed by thirty-nine design) features members of Chinese Crested Crush , an online community of Chinese Crested lovers from around the world and is suitable for framing. The price for the posters is $23.00 (shipping included!). Please read the entire story here and get your poster today!

Monkeypups just keeps crankin' 'em out! We now have Peanut Butter Mini Bones! Great for the tiny dog set or as training treats for the larger dogs, these adorable little biscuits pack a lot of flavor in a tiny package. Our most popular-selling flavor, peanut butter is a favorite of dogs and the smell when you open the package is the smell of organic peanutty goodness and a lot of love!

Stay tuned for more flavor options to be added in the future!

Monkeypups is at it again, this time capturing the age-old benefits of organic kelp in a delicious new biscuit! Check it out!

Kelp Krunchies

Veda and her Agility training partner Annie are moving right along with their lessons. They are making great progress, this past weekend successfully navigating a partial course! Woo hoo! Great going, kids!

Monkeypups is proud to announce Sweet Potato Mini Bones organic vegetable chews! These cute little vegetable chews are made of organic sweet potatoes and shaped like little bones! So cute! Perfectly sized for little dogs or for use as a training treat for big dogs. Crunchy and sweet and a healthy alternative to rawhide chews, your dog will love this whimsical version of our popular-selling Organic Sweet Potato Chews.

Company Denies a Link to Scores of Sudden Illnesses


By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com
June 23, 2008

A series of mysterious illness and death dogs Nutro pet food. Scores of pet owners report their animals became ill while eating Nutro products, then recovered when they were switched to another brand. At least six dogs have died in the past two months, according to an analysis of complaints to ConsumerAffairs.com. The company discounts the reports, saying they are isolated and unconfirmed; at least one Nutro employee, sickened by the company's response, told us she resigned.In related developments, ConsumerAffairs.com has learned:

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently investigated the April deaths of two dogs in Indiana. The FDA tested samples of the Nutro food those dogs ate, but did not find any toxins. No one, however, has tested the Nutro food the other dogs ate before they died;

• A pet nutrition specialist for Nutro confirmed she's heard complaints about the company's food making dogs and cats sick. She reported those concerns to her supervisor, but said they were ignored. She recently resigned;

• There is a shortage of some varieties of Nutro dog food. The company says this is a supply problem – not a safety or quality issue;

• Some consumers have sent their pets' food to Nutro for testing. They have not received any results. Other pet owners plan to hire private labs to test their food and report their concerns to the FDA and the Animal Poison Control Center run by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

The six dogs that recently died include two Italian Greyhounds in Indiana, a Beagle/Whippet mix in Pennsylvania, two German Shepherd puppies in North Carolina, and a Doberman Pinscher in Texas. The dogs' owners all say their pets were in good health and they're convinced that Nutro's food is somehow connected to their animals' deaths. Those concerns are echoed by pet owners whose dogs and cats have recently become sick after eating the company's food. Nutro, however, defends its products and says the food is 100 percent safe. But scores of pet owners across the country -- including longtime Nutro customers -- no longer feel safe feeding this brand of food to their dogs and cats.

Max and Sophia

They're consumers like Theresa C. of Indianapolis. Her two healthy Greyhounds -- Max and Sophia -- died within days after eating Nutro's Natural Choice Small Bites Lamb and Rice food. "We bought Nutro for the first time in April," Theresa said. "And within four or five days, both of our dogs were dead. These were healthy dogs that have never been sick. They were extremely housetrained, but before they died, they both were urinating everywhere…we were constantly refilling their water bowl."
Sophia, their four-year-old Italian Greyhound, showed the first signs of illness.
"On Sunday, April 27, she was vomiting, acting dizzy, and she became skittish," Theresa said. "Italian Greyhounds also don't smell, but I noticed Sophia had an unusual smell before she died. It was almost a sickening smell; I've never smelled anything like it before." Sophia's condition quickly deteriorated. "She continued to vomit up liquid and bile into the early hours of Monday, April 28," Theresa said. "And she became dizzy and almost appeared to be drunk." Theresa rushed Sophia to the emergency animal hospital. "By the time I got her there she was comatose and in kidney failure. She had to be euthanized." Max, her three-year-old Italian Greyhound, had started to experience the same problems. "He began vomiting at 2:30 am, but was not as ill as Sophia had been," Theresa said. "When I got him to the vet she found elevated creatinine and BUN (blood urea nitrogen) levels. She administered an IV and retested later in the evening on the 28th. The levels were still rising but, she said he may pull through." Max's condition, however, did not improve. "By the morning of the 29th he had blood in the whites of his eyes, was vomiting again, and showing signs of distress," Theresa said. "We again had his blood checked and the levels were through the roof." Max's kidneys were failing. "Our vet told us there is no hope because he was in renal failure…we decide to euthanize to limit his suffering." Losing both dogs -- in such a short period time -- was heart-wrenching for Theresa, her husband, and their six children. "I don't know who cried more – me, my husband, or my 20-year-old son. I was a mess for a week." Despite her grief, Theresa vowed to find the cause of Max and Sophia's sudden deaths. Her vet suspected antifreeze poisoning. "But we don't have antifreeze around our home," Theresa said. "These dogs were never alone. And we have the same neighbors we've had since Max was a puppy. I didn't see how it could be antifreeze poisoning." Theresa had autopsies done on her dogs at Purdue University. She sent samples of their kidney tissues to Michigan State University for testing. She and her family also contacted the FDA and Nutro. "Our 20-year-old son called Nutro after Sophia died and he asked if there was something wrong with the food. He said we've already had one dog die and another one is sick. "The girl at Nutro said we've had complaints, but nothing that is a known issue right now."

FDA tests
The FDA immediately investigated the dogs' deaths. "An investigator came over to my home before we had the autopsy results back," Theresa said. "He took samples of the food and had me file a complaint." ConsumerAffairs.com confirmed that on May 7, 2008, an FDA investigator took samples of Theresa's Nutro food and had it tested for several contaminants, including melamine, aflatoxins, and ethylene glycol. That's a chemical in antifreeze. Those tests did not find any toxins in the food. "Findings were negative for melamine and its analog, aflatoxins, ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, and for salmonella," the lab report stated. "No significant filth or foreign material was found."

Antifreeze
Theresa is baffled by the FDA's findings. "I wonder if there's something in the food they're not testing for," she said after reviewing the FDA's report. Theresa is also puzzled by the autopsy results on her dogs – and the tests run on their kidney tissues. Those examinations revealed Max and Sophia had high levels of ethylene glycol in their systems, which indicated the dogs' deaths were consistent with antifreeze poisoning. With Theresa's permission, ConsumerAffairs.com sent copies of her dogs' medical records to veterinary toxicologist, Dr. Steven Hansen. He's the senior vice-president of the ASPCA's Midwest Office, which houses the organization's Animal Poison Control Center. After reviewing the reports with a pathologist in his office, Dr. Hansen said: "The kidney lesions do not fit with melamine but are consistent with ethylene glycol. Since ethylene glycol was confirmed in high concentrations in the kidneys and not in the diet the diagnosis in this case is clear. Unfortunately, the dogs did die of antifreeze poisoning." Theresa, however, still has her doubts. "I know these dogs didn't get near antifreeze…especially in these extreme amounts," said Theresa, who may hire a private lab to test her Nutro food. "Like I said, I wonder if there's something in the food that no one is testing for."

Blue death

Two states away, another grieving pet owner shares Theresa's concerns about Nutro's food. Susi B. of Pittsburgh, Pa., said her healthy ten-year-old Beagle/Whippet mix died on May 30th. She suspects Nutro's Lamb and Rice food is the culprit behind the sudden death of her beloved dog, Blue. "I bought that bag at the end of March, and when I opened it up, it looked like it had little white bugs all over it," said Susi, a longtime Nutro customer. "When I picked up the food, it was like a granular substance. But I didn't think much about it because the food wasn't part of the recall." Blue, she said, gradually started to become sick. "I'd come home and see where he'd thrown up. But I didn't think about the food." When she returned from work on April 18, Susi found Blue collapsed on the floor. "Normally, he'd run to the door and greet me, but when I walked in that day I couldn't find him right away. He was on the floor and breathing heavy." Susi immediately took Blue to the vet. "But the vet couldn't find anything except an elevated white count, a low red blood count (he was anemic), and he had a temperature," Susi said. "They gave him an antibiotic and vitamins." Susi also took Blue off his Nutro food and fed him hamburger and rice. "And he got better. So over the next couple of weeks, I slowly reintroduced the Nutro dog food to him." Blue's condition worsened again. "He got to the point that when I put Nutro in front of him, he refused to eat it," she said. "And he was a dog who would eat everything. He didn't want to eat anything except melted ice cream. His weight went from 26 pounds to 18 pounds. He was skin and bones. He was lethargic. He became so weak he could no longer walk outside to use the bathroom or stand to drink water." That's when Susi launched her own investigation. "I went online and Googled Nutro and found out (on ConsumerAffairs.com) about all these other dogs that had symptoms like mine."

Bare shelves
She also discovered that some of Nutro's pet foods -- including the variety she'd fed Blue -- were no longer on the shelves at her local pet store. "There was a note in the store that said the shortage was due to some manufacturing issues." Susi immediately called Nutro to get some answers. "I was told the reason the food was not on the shelves was because the company that made the bags had a machine break, and the company ran out of chicken. But I was feeding lamb and rice." What about the complaints regarding Nutro's food? "They said they were aware of your Web site and considered it nothing but a blog," Theresa said. "They said when one person posted (a complaint) it caused a panic, and none of those dogs' owner have contacted us." At Nutro's request, Susi sent the company four cups of Blue's food for testing.
That was several weeks ago, but she has not received any results. "I'm trying to find an independent lab to test the food, but some say it would be a conflict of interest to test the food and others say they don't know what to test for."
Susi said she'll keep digging for answers until she finds out what caused Blue to suddenly die in his sleep on May 30th. "I'm convinced Blue's death is tied to that food and I won't stop until I prove it," she said, adding the last test done on her dogs indicated he had a blood tumor. "If I had listened to my dog, he might be alive today." The guilt and pain surrounding Blue's death, she said, is almost unbearable. "It's devastating. He was my best friend for more than ten years. He followed me all over the house. And in a matter of six to eight weeks after we opened that last bag of food, he'd gotten to the point that I had to carry him outside and hold him up to go to the bathroom. I am 100 percent convinced there is something in that food that is affecting these animals," she added. "It's not a coincidence that all these dogs are getting sick."

Dead puppies
A grieving pet owner in North Carolina echoes those suspicions about Nutro's food.
Birgit H. of Franklinville said two of her puppies -- from the same litter of seven -- suddenly died on June 3rd. The healthy six-week-old German Shepherds -- Anna and Anja -- had similar symptoms as the other dogs that died after eating Nutro's food.

Anna and Anja

"They were vomiting, had diarrhea, and were lethargic," Birgit said. What's so alarming to Birgit is the speed at which the puppies' health deteriorated. "We started feeding them Nutro puppy food on June 2 and they died on June 3," she said. "I worked in a vet's office for ten years and I've never seen anything like this before. I've never seen dogs going down so fast, then get back up, then eat again, and crash. They got so weak and died so fast." The veterinarians who treated the puppies couldn't explain their sudden deaths. "They were puzzled because the puppies did fine in the morning, but that afternoon, they just died," Birgit said. "One died at home and one died at the vet's office. Everyone is puzzled by this. The first thing you think of with puppies is Parvo (a viral illness). But there weren't symptoms of Parvo. And if one dog has Parvo, they all have it. There's no way that happened. These puppies were healthy before we put them on Nutro."
The other five puppies in the litter -- and the mother dog -- also showed signs of illness. "All the other puppies had started throwing up," Birgit said. "Then I received a phone call from another breeder and he asked me if I had recently switched to Nutro food. He told me about all the other dogs that had gotten sick on the food. "That night, my husband and I put the dogs back on their old food and everyone is fine again." Her friend's call, she said, saved her dogs' lives.
"I would have killed all my dogs because I would have kept feeding them that food."

Nutro not alarmed
Birgit contacted Nutro, but said the company didn't seem alarmed by the loss of her dogs. "I've been on the phone with Nutro three times and they're blowing me off. I told them they need to take the food off the shelf and test it. But the person I talked to said the company won't do that; they said they have quality food."
In another call to Nutro – in which she waited for an hour to talk to someone -- the company "finally took a report." "But they didn't ask me for a lot number on the bag or the date of purchase," Birgit said. "All they gave me was a customer number. That's it. They really disappointed me." Nutro also wanted the rest of Birgit's puppy food. "I told them 'no. I'm not sending you all my food.' They didn't like that. I'm thinking of getting it tested somewhere else." She also plans to contact the FDA and the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center about her puppies' deaths.
Nutro, however, did offer Birgit an explanation for the sudden deaths of her puppies – and the recent illnesses in pets nationwide that have eaten the company's food. "They said it was a coincidence." Birgit doesn't buy that explanation.
"Maybe one or two cases could be a coincidence. But it can't be a coincidence with so many cases. And it can't be a coincidence that once you take the dogs off the food they're fine. I'm not one to point fingers, but as soon as I took the puppies off the Nutro food, we didn't have any more vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy. They are now all doing great. So is their mom. Nutro needs to take this food off the shelves and test it." Until that happens, this professional dog breeder will not recommend Nutro to her clients. "I always thought it was a good food, but now, I wouldn't feed Nutro to my worst enemy."

McGee
Neither will a grieving pet owner in Texas. Peter B. of Houston said his nine-year-old Doberman Pinscher, McGee, suddenly died in April. McGee ate Nutro, too. And his symptoms mirror those of the other dogs that have recently died after eating Nutro's food. "He was a healthy Doberman…he was fine before," Peter said. That all changed on April 27. "I came home around 6pm and was outside watering my lawn," Peter said. "I noticed McGee was on the ground and had thrown up. He was also shaking." As the night progressed, McGee's condition took a turn for the worse. He threw up again. And it looked like more food that I'd given him," Peter said. "He was also thirsty. He just wasn't himself." Later that evening, Peter noticed McGee had started breathing heavily. "And he kept getting water. He then started shaking again…he just wasn't right. McGee went back outside at 2 am," Peter continued. "When he came back in, he got some water and then he was sitting in the hallway." A short time later, McGee came back into Peter's bedroom. "He flopped down and he was breathing heavily, he was shaking, and crying." Peter rushed to get McGee immediate medical attention. "We tried to get him in our SUV and all of the sudden, he collapsed. I put him in the back and probably did 100 mph going to the vet." But McGee died on the way. "He was gone when we got there. They tried CPR, but he was gone." The veterinarian wasn't sure what caused McGee's sudden death. "He was pretty generic," Peter said. "But he said it might have been some type of heart arrhythmia. "In hindsight, I wish I would have gotten an autopsy, but it was such a shocker." Peter, however, started researching possible causes for McGee's sudden death. "I put in some of the symptoms he had and Googled them," he said. "And Nutro kept showing up. I thought that was scary because that's what I've always fed him. But I noticed that these problems seemed to be a lot more recent…they were new problems." Peter contacted Nutro about McGee's death. "I've sent them three e-mails, but they haven't responded. I tried the 800-number, but it kept ringing and ringing."

No Nutro
Peter also stopped by the local pet store where he bought McGee's food. "The shelves that contained Nutro Natural Choice were almost bare. That never has happened." He asked a Nutro representative -- who was working in the same aisle -- about the shortage. "He stated that no recall was in effect, and Nutro just happened to shut down a few plants producing what he termed 'not as tasty food,' and the 'quality' was not up to par." That explanation didn't make sense to Peter.
"Seeing that a dog can't talk, I asked him how the company would know if the food was not 'tasty.' It seemed far more plausible that a company whose main product is dog food would not shut down a plant -- and have no product -- unless some very extreme situations were coming to light." Peter then told the Nutro representative about McGee's sudden death. The representative called it a "coincidence."
But Peter is certain something is wrong with Nutro's food. He plans to hire a private lab to test the food and prove his theory. "I'm doing this because something has truly happened. I don't have any evidence now, but based on my dog's symptoms and all the complaints I've read, the logical deduction is the food probably got some dogs sick, and in my case, caused my dog's death." He added, "I will not let this be swept under the rug and hopefully will get the confirmation I am looking for by testing the pet food I still have."

Scores sickened
During our investigation, we found that scores of pets -- primarily dogs -- continue to become seriously ill after eating Nutro's food. Consider what happened to a healthy, three-year-old Chocolate Lab named Choco. His owner, Sharon A., of Cheektowaga, New York, has fed him Nutro Max for the past five months.
He never had any problems eating the food until April. "That's when he suddenly got sick," she said. "He started vomiting, had loose bowel movements (diarrhea) and was very lethargic. It really worried me so I took him to the vet. He even threw up at the vet's office." The veterinarian diagnosed Choco with pancreatitis (an inflammation of the pancreas). "They put him on IV's, gave him some antibiotics and Pepcid, and kept him hospitalized for three days," Sharon said. "When I brought him home, he was much better – almost back to normal." The vet also switched Choco to a prescription dog food. "They told me when he was done with that food he could go back to Nutro. But when I put him back on Nutro, he got sick again – with the same symptoms." Her vet ran additional tests on Choco. "This time, they said he did not have pancreatitis, but they gave him antibiotics anyway." Choco's condition, however, did not improve. "He got sick again and I took him to the vet for a third time," Sharon said. "They said his levels were elevated again for pancreatitis. They put him on IV's and other medications." Like other pet owners, Sharon started to investigate her dog's symptoms. Her search led her to ConsumerAffairs.com.
"I couldn't believe all those people on your Web site whose dogs had the same symptoms as mine," Sharon said. "After I read all those, I stopped feeding Choco the Nutro food. And he's now gotten better." Does she think it's a coincidence that so many pets have become sick after eating Nutro's food? No way. "They get sick when they're eating Nutro – they have vomiting, diarrhea, and they're lethargic," said Sharon. "And they get better when they stop eating the food. I don't think that's a coincidence."

Overseas complaints
Our investigation also found that some dogs overseas are now experiencing similar health problems after eating Nutro's food. We learned that two healthy Italian Greyhounds, who live on a U.S. military base in Italy, recently became sick.
Their owner, Michelle M., purchased their Nutro food at the base's commissary.
"I thought the yard started to smell funny after they had been on Nutro for a couple of weeks," she said. "I noticed that they threw up regularly, particularly the nine-month old." His condition worsened last week. "He woke up and started to whine for no reason," she said. "He was clearly in pain, if he stood up his back legs shook, then he would go lie down. He has been lethargic all day and has passed four bloody/mucus-filled stools." Michelle desperately searched for answers.
She ran an online search of Nutro and was shocked to learn that scores of other dogs -- eating the same brand of food -- had experienced similar problems.
"I am detached from all of the press stateside and am very upset that no effort has been made to alert military families overseas of a possible problem (with the food.)"
Michelle stopped feeding her dogs Nutro and is now cooking chicken and rice for them.
"I'm hoping there will not be any long-term health consequences for my boys. They are both members of my family and my children and I love them immensely."
She added: "I'm glad we caught this in time, unlike some of the others who have reported very serious illnesses or even death associated with this brand of dog food. If the FDA is examining Nutro, they need to move quickly -- it is hard to tell how many people at overseas military bases are feeding this (food) to their dogs and possibly killing them."

Ex-Nutro employee
Michelle's complaint -- and the scores of others we received about Nutro food -- don't surprise a former pet nutrition specialist for the company. "I would say that about 20 people in the last six months came up to me and said their pets were having similar problems with Nutro's food," the former employee told us. "They said their dogs and cats were vomiting, they were lethargic, had diarrhea, and were drinking lots of water." The former employee, who asked not to be identified, reported those complaints to her boss. But her concerns, she said, fell on deaf ears.
"Every time I brought it up the chain, my concerns were brushed off. All I kept hearing about was the wonderful quality controls Nutro has."
Frustrated by the company's lack of response – and worried about the safety of pets nationwide -- the employee left Nutro and agreed to share her concerns with us.
"I do not feel comfortable promoting a product that is currently showing a very strong correlation with causing pet illness or death," said the employee, who is also a certified veterinary technician. "For 82 years Nutro had stood on its own as a leader in pet specialty. This past year, Nutro has lost consumer confidence and shaken my confidence as well. Something is wrong."

News of the recent deaths possibly linked to Nutro's food is especially troubling to this former employee. "On my last day, one of the managers of a store I worked with came to me and reported a very recent death of a young dog. The dog's owner and its vet highly suspect it was caused by Nutro Lamb and Rice (small bites).
"I sure hope that it wasn't the Nutro food, but due to some of these sudden death incidents it makes me fearful that it is," the former employee said.
She wondered if these health problems could be related to the way Nutro's food is stored and transported on trucks. "Are there pesticides on those trucks?" she asked. "The bags are not covered in plastics when they arrive at the stores. They're in paper bags. Could something be leaching into the bags? Is something happening during the transport? It's just a theory. "I think that further testing needs to be done with the food."

'Hearsay'
We contacted Nutro about the complaints we've received regarding its food. A company spokesperson, who resigned last week, directed us to Nutro's Web site.
The company posted new information after we started asking questions about Nutro's food and its possible connection to the illnesses and deaths of pets nationwide.
"All NUTRO products are 100 percent safe and conform to the standards set by the FDA, USDA, and AAFCO," the Web site states. "NUTRO pet foods undergo rigorous quality assurance testing, beginning with raw ingredients and ending with testing all finished products. This includes testing to confirm that no melamine, mold toxins, or pathogenic bacteria are detected in any NUTRO pet foods."
The company said the complaints we've received are "isolated reports of inaccurate information posted online. Many blogs and Internet sites can be a repository for misinformation and hearsay regarding many topics," the company wrote.
Nutro said the recent shortages of some of its foods are supply issues – and have nothing to do with any safety concerns. Over the past several months, suppliers of key ingredients used in select products have been unable to meet Nutro's volume needs," the company stated. "We have secured additional high quality supply sources and while availability will vary by marketplace, we can now say that supply issues are being resolved." The company said its Natural Choice Venison Meal and Brown Rice, and Natural Choice Herring Meal, Rice and Potato foods should arrive in stores later this month. Nutro denied reports that any of its plants are closing.

Formulas changed
The company also confirmed that it recently changed some of its formulas. "MAX Dog and MAX Cat foods have been improved with the addition of more chicken and/or salmon," the company stated. "MAX Large Breed Puppy and MAX Large Breed Adult are now being made with chicken meal rather than beef meal because preference testing has shown that dogs prefer the taste of the chicken product."
The company said it rarely receives complaints about its products, but takes all concerns seriously. Customers can contact Nutro's Consumer Service line at 1-800-833-5330. "In the rare instance when a consumer does have a concern with any of our products, an in-depth review of the consumer-provided samples is performed to determine if an issue does exist," the company stated. We asked Nutro if it had recently tested its foods for possible toxins. The company did not respond to that question. Meanwhile, some loyal Nutro customers warn pet owners not to jump to conclusions based on what they call unsubstantiated claims posted on the Internet.
Veterinarians also told us it's not uncommon for pets to have sudden bouts of vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems. They said a number of factors -- pet food, stress, or a viral infection-- could be the culprit.
But Dr. Hansen with the ASPCA agreed that additional testing and research should be done in these cases. He encouraged pet owners to report any problems with Nutro to the FDA, his organization's Poison Control Center, the pet food maker, and their veterinarians.

Still a mystery
For now, the recent illnesses and deaths in many pets that have eaten Nutro remains a mystery. Even to pet owners like Theresa, who still believes that Nutro played a role in the deaths of her Italian Greyhounds. "I have a gut feeling something in that food is making dogs sick and killing others. And I truly believe it is what killed both my dogs…I just wish we could prove it."

More news on Tessie's family! We received this news from her today via the Chinese Crested Crush forum:


Joined: 27 Dec 2005
Posts: 4886
Location: Iowa
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:18 am Post subject: Checking In
I just wanted to check in with everyone and first of all THANK YOU!!! Thank you all so much. Nothing has changed here. My house placard is still red, meaning we cannot enter our house. The basement still can't be shored up because there are no permits allowed. We still don't know if the city is going to let us fix our house or if they are going to tear it down. Just knowing that you guys are here has helped me more than I can explain. Right now I feel very alone in all of this. No one in this city seems interested in helping us or giving us answers that we so desperately need and want. The focus is on the 100 year flood plain and those of us in the 500 year flood plain are just left hanging. I have limited internet access so it isn't that I don't appreciate what you are all doing, I am just not able to log on for very long. It is incredible to me that you are all here and all supporting us.


In addition to the benefit raffle (mentioned in an earlier post), there has been an effort to bring Tessie's Family to the attention of ABC's Extreme Home Makeover. We urge everyone to please join us in this effort to bring The Webster Family to the attention of Ty Pennington and his amazing crew. To nominate this family for the show, please visit

http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/index?pn=apply

Up until July 4th, the form letter at the head of this article is available to those who request it. So far we have over 50 nomination letters from all over the world, from people who have only "met" virtually to share a love for the Chinese Crested Dog and along the way developed lasting friendships. Crush is a family, and as Crush members, we at The Pony Dog Blog are trying to lift up one of our own. Won't you help us?

FDA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2008
Media Inquiries:
Kimberly Rawlings, 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA


Today, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Marshals seized various animal food products stored under unsanitary conditions at the PETCO Animal Supplies Distribution Center located in Joliet, Ill., pursuant to a warrant issued by the United States District Court in Chicago.

U.S. Marshals seized all FDA-regulated animal food susceptible to rodent and pest contamination. The seized products violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because it was alleged in a case filed by the United States Attorney that they were being held under unsanitary conditions. (The Act uses the term "insanitary" to describe such conditions).

During an FDA inspection of a PETCO distribution center in April, widespread and active rodent and bird infestation was found. The FDA inspected the facility again in May and found continuing and widespread infestation.

"We simply will not allow a company to store foods under filthy and unsanitary conditions that occur as a direct result of the company's failure to adequately control and prevent pests in its facility," said Margaret O'K. Glavin, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "Consumers expect that such safeguards will be in place not only for human food, but for pet food as well."

The distribution center in Joliet, Ill., provides pet food products and supplies to PETCO retail stores in 16 states including Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

FDA has no reports of pet illness or death associated with consumption of animal food distributed by PETCO, and does not have evidence that the food is unsafe for animals. However, the seized products were in permeable packages and held under conditions that could affect the food's integrity and quality.

As a precaution, consumers who have handled products originating from the PETCO distribution center should thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap. Any surfaces that came in contact with the packages should be washed as well. Consumers are further advised as a precaution to thoroughly wash products sold in cans and glass containers from PETCO in the 16 affected states.

If a pet has become ill after eating these food products, pet owners should contact their veterinarian and report illnesses to FDA state consumer complaint coordinators.

This is from an editorial from 6/17/2008 USA Today

ProHeart 6 -- a controversial heartworm drug for dogs -- came back on the market last week, almost four years after it was pulled when hundreds of dogs died and thousands more suffered adverse reactions. Ordinarily, this might be of interest mainly to pet owners and veterinarians. But this is much more than a dog story.

During the process that took ProHeart 6 off the market, the drug's maker investigated and denounced a Food and Drug Administration scientist who gathered the damning data. And instead of protecting its scientist, the FDA booted her off the case and tried to have her criminally prosecuted.

It's a disturbing tale for anyone who relies on pharmaceutical companies and the FDA to ensure that medicines for animals and humans are safe, one that raises questions about the conduct of a major corporation and its federal regulator.

The story begins in 2001, when ProHeart 6 came on the U.S. market. It was regarded as a breakthrough. Veterinarians could inject it once every six months, replacing the once-a-month pill people gave -- or often forgot to give -- their dogs to ward off potentially deadly heartworms. Though many dogs did fine on ProHeart 6, others had dangerous complications. Eventually, the FDA says, 500 to 600 dogs died and there were "adverse" reactions, including seizures and uncontrolled bleeding, in 5,500 to 6,000.

In 2004, the FDA pushed ProHeart 6 manufacturer Fort Dodge Animal Health, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Wyeth, to remove the drug from the market. Wyeth argued that the drug was safe but agreed to remove it. Then it fought back.

The company targeted Victoria Hampshire, a veterinarian and FDA safety officer who collected and analyzed the adverse drug reports on ProHeart 6. Wyeth hired investigators who dug up information on Hampshire's home, her tax records and a veterinary website where a handful of her friends and veterinary clients could buy drugs and pet supplies. (It's not uncommon for FDA's vets to practice medicine part-time in their off hours.) Wyeth executives then alleged that Hampshire had a conflict of interest.

Without telling Hampshire what was going on, the FDA took her off the ProHeart 6 case and began an internal investigation that culminated when FDA investigators asked the U.S. attorney in Maryland to criminally prosecute her. It took one day for the U.S. attorney to sort through the flimsy referral and refuse to press charges. The FDA eventually exonerated Hampshire, and she now works at the agency in a different job.

ProHeart 6, meanwhile, is back on the market. The manufacturer and the FDA say the drug is safe, free of the solvent residue thought to have caused the earlier problems. But the drug is being administered under a strict "risk minimization" plan that applies to only a small number of FDA-approved drugs for animals and humans.

We know much of this story not because Wyeth or the FDA disclosed it voluntarily, but because a persistent investigation by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, dragged it out of them. The probe revealed that Wyeth officials had easy, undocumented access to the FDA to lobby for ProHeart 6 and attack Hampshire. FDA managers seemed more interested in placating Wyeth than in dealing fairly with one of its scientists.

The most troubling aspect of this is the effect it will inevitably have on other FDA safety officers. After seeing what can happen when someone gathers evidence that a drug is unsafe, what safety officers wouldn't think twice about risking their careers by antagonizing powerful companies?

That's a terribly dangerous way to run a drug safety process that can ultimately mean life or death to animals and humans alike.

Tessie is a sweet little Chinese Crested whose family has lost everything in the terrible flooding in Iowa. Tessie's family has 5 rescued dogs and 3 cats. They foster and take in older dogs and dogs with behavioral or other issues that nobody else wants, that would perhaps otherwise be euthanized.

Tessie's mom Kristie is a self-proclaimed "doggie nurse" and helps on a daily basis to comfort dogs in need. One of Phinn & Veda's online friends for some time, we are all very saddened to hear of her family's unfortunate loss. We thought it would be nice to set up an online raffle to help Tessie's family, as they have helped so many others. We will have so many cool things to auction off, including Gift Certificates, treats, dog clothes, dog carriers and more! Please stay tuned as we are working to get the raffle items organized and work on the formatting of the e-tickets. Please check out the site that's been put together for them and keep checking back for raffle information.

Help Tessie's Family Benefit Website

Well, as if Phinn & Veda weren't busy enough testing all the yummy treats coming out of the Monkeypups kitchen, they are now adding Product Testers to their resume!
Sometimes it can be a bit daunting finding a particular product that is geared toward hairless dogs. Ever try to find a harness that doesn't rub red marks onto skin? A training collar that doesn't do the same? How about skin care products? Comfortable yet functional clothing?

Do YOU have a product or service that is geared toward our beloved naked canine friends? If you do, and would like Phinn and Veda to review that product or service, then send us an email to busy_baking@monkeypups.com detailing the product or service and Phinn & Veda may review it on The Pony Dog Blog!

While perusing the plethera of online doggie boutiques for some cold weather wear for my dogs, I came across Lola's Boutique. The first thing that came to my mind was WOW. These aren't your run-of-the-mill, one-size-fits-all dog clothes or your kid's old onesie, or yes, as I have done, a sock (yes, that's right, I said it--a sock) with holes cut into it for doggie legs(I can hear the collective gasps now). I know, I know, the shame. No, this my friends, is canine couture.

The first thing that caught my eye (other than the simply fabulous style and fit of these garments) was the fact that their models are Xolos. Xolos are difficult enough to come across, but dog apparel of this caliber is--in my opinion--even harder. Lola, Charo and Consuelo all live in Montreal with their human Ralf, who was kind enough to consent to this interview.

How/when did you learn about Xolos?

When studying Veterinary Medicine, over 20 years ago, I went to a dog breed exhibition to learn more about breeds. They had a couple of standard Xolos. Their eyes spoke to me. I did about as much research as I could back then but there was very little info to be found and even less Xolos! I never really pursued it further, accepting them almost as a myth more than a reality. I had mentioned how cool I thought they were to an exchange student from Mexico and left it at that. Many years later he tracked me down because he had found Lola, who was in need of a home. The rest is history...

Tell us a little about each of your Xolos.

Lola is the matriarch, extremely intelligent and extremely loving, which makes her a worry wort. Always concerned about where every one is, always alert. She is from authentic old Mexican stock and very cobby...looks exactly like the colima pottery dogs. Charo is my litle goofball, all she wants to do is play, then play and maybe play some more. She is goofy, clumsy, a gluton and a thief. She is also cuddly, gentle, attentive and the worlds best hugger. She even sleeps hugging her toys. Consuelo is, I must admit, Daddy's spoiled little girl. She is very protective of me, jealous, very regal, snobby, a ham in front of a camera, very girly and a velcro dog. If she was human she would be Linda Evangelista or Naomi Campbell!

When did you open Lola’s Boutique?

2002. Necessity became a business idea. Because of Lola's nakedness and odd shape, I could not find anything stylish or even that would fit properly. The stuff you find in stores is more often than not ill fitting, made in cheap, yucky feeling fabrics and embarrassing or uncomfortable for the dog. Most pet clothes are more to amuse the owner than to fill the dogs needs. Mine are not. I vowed when I started Lola's that I would never make something for a pooch that I would not put on my child. I will not make a dress for a Lab or a Tutu for a Jack Russell just as I will not make a coat for a Saint Bernard or put hats on dogs. They just hate it with a passion!

What was your vision for the boutique when you began? Would you say you’ve achieved it?

I wanted to provide a service for people whose pets are truly a family member; that would make available what I could not find out there. I also wanted to create fun, beautiful garments that were for the pet more than for the owner, and that served a true purpose. Warmth for little or hairless dogs, comfortable style for "purse dogs", fitting clothes for barrel-chested Pugs, skinny deep chested sight hounds, short-legged long-bodied Bassets, special garments for dogs with special needs such as alopecia, handicaps, amputations, etc. I'm very proud of my work.

Do you have a storefront or are you online only?

My boutique at the moment is strictly virtual. Several boutiques carried my stuff in Toronto but that was not something I enjoyed. I prefer the custom approach. I will have a boutique/no kill shelter/daycare at some point. It's the plan...

Are your designs available anywhere else?

No.

*Where are you located?

Montreal.

Are all the outfits from Lola’s made-to-order?

Absolutely, I custom design and make to measure each outfit for the individual doggie.

Do you take requests/special orders?

If it is respectful and comfortable for the pooch, imagination is the limit. As most artists, I work better and have better results when I'm am allowed to be creative.

What is your most popular outfit/accessory?

The Roll-up bodysuit. I got a patent for it.

Are your designs conceived by you or do you have a design team?

Just me for now. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and control freak. In the very busy seasons I might have to consider getting help to sew.

What is the most unusual or challenging request you’ve ever received with regard to canine couture?

I would not say it was challenging but I once went above and beyond what the client had requested for my personal pleasure! A young bride-to-be from Vancouver, BC sent me swatches of the fabrics her Bride's Maid dress were going to be made in and a picture of the dress, a pink princess gown. She had requested some kind of an ornament to put around her Shih-Tzu's neck, because she wanted the dog present at the wedding. Much to her surprise, I actually made the same dress for her doggie. I was glad it would be a treasured memory of that day and she will cherish it even more once the doggie passes.

What sets Lola’s Boutique apart from the crowd?

It's a project of love more than a business. A service provided by a true dog lover for other true dog lovers.

Consuelo (main photo top center), Charo (yellow), Lola (brown)

Photos copyright Lola's Boutique & Used With Permission

The May 2008 Yappy Hour was loads of fun and rather crowded! Thanks to everyone who showed up to support Coastal Poodle Rescue!

Veda meets her new friend and Agility training partner Annie:

Monkeypups is proud to announce the latest addition to their line of organic biscuit flavors!

((drum roll))

Barkarific Blueberry!!!

Packed with plump, delicious organic blueberries, these treats are not only good, they're good for your dog in that blueberries are packed with antioxidants that battle against dangerous cancer-causing "free radicals" in the body. They're yummy, too!

The Monkeypups will be out tonight at the May 2008 Yappy Hour to benefit Coastal Poodle Rescue in beautiful downtown Cocoa Village, Florida. This month's host is Ryan's Pizza, a local family-owned dog-friendly restaurant and one of Phinn & Veda's favorite hangouts.

The festivities begin at 5:30 and will continue on until 8:00 pm. This month's theme is "Patriotic Pooches!" Bring your camouflage-clad or red-white-and-blue wrapped pup on down and join in on the fun! There will be contests, a fun auction, a 50/50 raffle and LIVE entertainment! Woo hoo! Or as Veda would say, "Woo wooooooooooo!"

The Monkeypups are always on the lookout for cool new duds. It's all about the style, baby. These are brand spankin' new, and Phinn thinks they're totally cool. Sister Veda thinks she would look awesome in them, too. You know, the whole pink and black thing...