WebCanine.com

Dog Power Dry Dog Food Recall

mom — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:16:19 +0000

Updated News Release With Corrected Lot Numbers

Advanced Animal Nutrition Recalls Dog Power Dry Dog Food

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 13, 2011 -Advanced Animal Nutrition today announced a voluntary recall of its dry Dog Power Dog Food- due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit. The affected products were manufactured between Jan. 4, 2011, and Nov. 18, 2011. No illnesses have been reported in association with these products to date, and no other Advanced Animal Nutrition pet food products are involved in this recall. Affected products are:

** DOG POWER ADULT MAINTENANCE FORMULA 21-12 Dog Food, 50 pound bags

** DOG POWER HUNTERS FORMULA 27-14 Dog Food, 50 pound bags

** DOG POWER HI-PRO PERFORMANCE FORMULA 26-18 Dog Food, 50 pound bags

The recall only applies to the above products with the following Packaging Date Codes (lot numbers): K0004 through K1322. (UPDATED LOT NUMBERS ARE 4K1004 THRU 4K1322)

The affected dry dog food products were distributed in the following states – Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Retailers have already been instructed to remove the affected brands and products from store shelves.

While no adverse health effects related to these products have been reported, Advanced Animal Nutrition is implementing this recall as a precautionary measure. Consumers are urged to return affected products – whether in opened or unopened packages – to their place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, contact 866-648-7646.

Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mold by-product. Pets that have consumed any of the above recalled products and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian.

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm290117.htm?source=govdelivery

Contact: Consumers: 866-648-7646

Marines need feedback : deployment with IDD’s

mom — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:16:52 +0000

For Immediate Release: Jan. 19, 2012

By Katherine H. Crawford, Office of Naval Research

Specialty canines were on a mission to sniff out trouble and display their explosive-detecting abilities Jan. 18 as part of an Office of Naval Research (ONR)-hosted “Top Dog Demo 2012.”

“These dogs have kept Marines alive by helping them move through the battle space,” said Lisa Albuquerque, program manager for ONR’s Naval Expeditionary Dog Program, part of ONR’s Expeditionary Warfare and Combating Terrorism Department. “Marines can focus on their mission because they’ve got these four-legged sensors helping to keep them safe.”

ONR and its partners have been working to improve the canines in three primary areas: nutrition and physiology; stress and cognition; and olfaction, or sense of smell. The Top Dog technical demonstration at Southern Pines, N.C., was an opportunity for senior Navy leadership overseeing the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Detector Dog (IDD) 2.0 Project to see the canines in action.

IDD 2.0 is funded by the Joint IED Defeat Organization, with ONR and the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory teaming to execute the work for the Marine Corps. The technical demo included project researchers from North Carolina State University, Oklahoma State University and the Naval Research Laboratory.

Currently, there are 280 IDDs deployed at forward operating bases in Afghanistan, supporting counter-IED missions.

Throughout the workday, the dogs are unleashed and on the go. They move in a circular pattern, hunting 50 to 100 meters out in front of the Marines. An IDD will respond to commands from this distance and can be redirected at a moment’s notice without having to return to the Marine. It can detect smells even while running at full speed, and when it finds something suspicious, it alerts the unit.

“This is the only dog like this in the world,” said Albuquerque. “It’s extremely good in terms of answering the warfighter’s requirements and an incredible force multiplier.”

The IDDs are all hunting bloodline Labrador Retrievers, selected for their hunting abilities, endurance and sturdiness, so they’re inherently “ruggedized” for their mission. These unique dogs are 100 percent mission-focused, having been custom-developed based on Marine requirements. For example, the dog has to be able to keep pace with a Marine on foot and to keep moving for long periods of time each day.

The IDD program places dogs at the squad level without any additional resources—financial or manpower—primarily because there is no need for special dog handlers. A Marine is selected from the unit, trained to work with the dog and returns to the squad as a member of a fire team operating with a live sensor—the IDD. When the Marine completes a tour, the dog returns stateside and is retrained and recertified by the government prior to being redeployed with another Marine.

The program originated in 2006 in response to a Universal Urgent Needs Statement for an off-leash explosive detector dog that could work in harsh infantry environments and provide remote IED protection with limited user training and no increase in personnel or infrastructure.

The Marine Corps is currently seeking feedback from Marines who have been deployed with or supported during deployment by IDDs. Go to the online survey at http://mcpd.us/survey/283/ and enter survey ID code “IDD2011.”

For Immediate Release: Jan. 19, 2012By Katherine H. Crawford, Office of Naval Research http://www.onr.navy.mil/
Specialty canines were on a mission to sniff out trouble and display their explosive-detecting abilities Jan. 18 as part of an Office of Naval Research (ONR)-hosted “Top Dog Demo 2012.”
“These dogs have kept Marines alive by helping them move through the battle space,” said Lisa Albuquerque, program manager for ONR’s Naval Expeditionary Dog Program, part of ONR’s Expeditionary Warfare and Combating Terrorism Department. “Marines can focus on their mission because they’ve got these four-legged sensors helping to keep them safe.”
ONR and its partners have been working to improve the canines in three primary areas: nutrition and physiology; stress and cognition; and olfaction, or sense of smell. The Top Dog technical demonstration at Southern Pines, N.C., was an opportunity for senior Navy leadership overseeing the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Detector Dog (IDD) 2.0 Project to see the canines in action.
IDD 2.0 is funded by the Joint IED Defeat Organization, with ONR and the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory teaming to execute the work for the Marine Corps. The technical demo included project researchers from North Carolina State University, Oklahoma State University and the Naval Research Laboratory.
Currently, there are 280 IDDs deployed at forward operating bases in Afghanistan, supporting counter-IED missions.
Throughout the workday, the dogs are unleashed and on the go. They move in a circular pattern, hunting 50 to 100 meters out in front of the Marines. An IDD will respond to commands from this distance and can be redirected at a moment’s notice without having to return to the Marine. It can detect smells even while running at full speed, and when it finds something suspicious, it alerts the unit.
“This is the only dog like this in the world,” said Albuquerque. “It’s extremely good in terms of answering the warfighter’s requirements and an incredible force multiplier.”
The IDDs are all hunting bloodline Labrador Retrievers, selected for their hunting abilities, endurance and sturdiness, so they’re inherently “ruggedized” for their mission. These unique dogs are 100 percent mission-focused, having been custom-developed based on Marine requirements. For example, the dog has to be able to keep pace with a Marine on foot and to keep moving for long periods of time each day.
The IDD program places dogs at the squad level without any additional resources—financial or manpower—primarily because there is no need for special dog handlers. A Marine is selected from the unit, trained to work with the dog and returns to the squad as a member of a fire team operating with a live sensor—the IDD. When the Marine completes a tour, the dog returns stateside and is retrained and recertified by the government prior to being redeployed with another Marine.
The program originated in 2006 in response to a Universal Urgent Needs Statement for an off-leash explosive detector dog that could work in harsh infantry environments and provide remote IED protection with limited user training and no increase in personnel or infrastructure.
The Marine Corps is currently seeking feedback from Marines who have been deployed with or supported during deployment by IDDs. Go to the online survey at http://mcpd.us/survey/283/ and enter survey ID code “IDD2011.”

Progressive blindness (XLRP) treatment

mom — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:05:27 +0000

Gene defects in dogs and people cause a progressive, inherited blindness called Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP). Gene therapy treatment developed at the University of Pennsylvania was able to treat this disease in dogs.

“While the exact disease mechanism of the RPGR form of XLRP is still unknown, the researchers were able to successfully treat dogs with two different RPGR mutations. The mutations disrupt photoreceptors in different ways, but both ultimately cause them to become useless for vision. While this form of blindness is rare in dogs, it is common in humans. Patients with XLRP usually begin to lose night vision as children and become almost totally blind by middle age. “

This is the first proof that this condition is treatable in an animal model; a single subretinal injection administered to the diseased dogs led to functional and structural recovery. The disease is much more common in people than in dogs.Treatment was able to repair the diseased part of the eye.

Researchers hope that in a few years this may be a viable treatment to prevent patients from losing their site due to this disease.

Abstract:

Gene therapy rescues photoreceptor blindness in dogs and paves the way for treating human X-linked retinitis pigmentosa

Hereditary retinal blindness is caused by mutations in genes expressed in photoreceptors or retinal pigment epithelium. Gene therapy in mouse and dog models of a primary retinal pigment epithelium disease has already been translated to human clinical trials with encouraging results. Treatment for common primary photoreceptor blindness, however, has not yet moved from proof of concept to the clinic. We evaluated gene augmentation therapy in two blinding canine photoreceptor diseases that model the common X-linked form of retinitis pigmentosa caused by mutations in the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene, which encodes a photoreceptor ciliary protein, and provide evidence that the therapy is effective. After subretinal injections of adeno-associated virus-2/5–vectored human RPGR with human IRBP or GRK1 promoters, in vivo imaging showed preserved photoreceptor nuclei and inner/outer segments that were limited to treated areas. Both rod and cone photoreceptor function were greater in treated (three of four) than in control eyes. Histopathology indicated normal photoreceptor structure and reversal of opsin mislocalization in treated areas expressing human RPGR protein in rods and cones. Postreceptoral remodeling was also corrected: there was reversal of bipolar cell dendrite retraction evident with bipolar cell markers and preservation of outer plexiform layer thickness. Efficacy of gene therapy in these large animal models of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa provides a path for translation to human treatment.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) 2012 ; published ahead of print January 23, 2012, doi:10.1073/pnas.1118847109

Increase in Lyme disease in U.K.

mom — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:38:05 +0000

Abstract

The reported number of cases of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, is thought to have increased in the UK over the past decade, but consistent surveillance data are lacking. Here the prevalence of B. burgdorferi in ticks attached to pet dogs was examined – using them as sentinels for human disease risk. Dogs give a good indication of the exposure of their human owners to infected ticks, since they largely share the same environment and visit the same outdoor areas.

Lyme disease in humans begins with a red rash spreading from the tice bite then flu type symptoms. If not treated, it can become chronic and lead to problems that include nerve damage, blindness and death. Dogs do not have symptoms that are so obvious.

In this study about 481 infected ticks per 100,000 dogs were found. Treatment is a course of appropriate antibiotics. Lyme disease and testing and treatment can be found at the CDC website.

PCR was used to test 739 tick samples collected from 3534 dogs selected at random as they visited veterinary practices over a period of six months. Overall, the prevalence of infected ticks on all dogs was 0.5% giving an estimated 481 infected ticks per 100,000 dogs. The data suggest that the prevalence of Borrelia in the UK tick population is considerably higher than most recent estimates indicate.

Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 16 January 2012
Faith D. Smith, Rachel Ballantyne, Eric R. Morgan, Richard Wall

Arrow Brand Dry Dog Food Recall

mom — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:26:41 +0000

O’Neal’s Feeders Supply, Inc. Recalls Arrow Brand Dry Dog Food

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 13, 2011 – DeRidder, Louisiana – O’Neal’s Feeders Supply, Inc. today announced a voluntary recall of its dry Arrow Brand DOG FOOD – because it contains corn which was detected to have higher than the acceptable levels of aflatoxin. The affected products were manufactured between Dec. 1, 2010, and Dec. 1, 2011. No illnesses have been reported in association with these products to date.

Affected products are:

ARROWBRAND 21% Dog Chunks SKU #807 40 lb. bag

ARROWBRAND Super Proeaux Dog Food SKU #812 40 lb. bag

ARROWBRAND Professional Formula Dog Food SKU #814 50 lb. bag

The recall only applies to the above products with the following Packaging Date Codes Lot numbers 4K0341 through 4K0365 and 04K1001 through 4K1325.

The affected dry dog food products were distributed in the state of Louisiana and Texas. Retailers have already been instructed to remove the affected brands and products from store shelves.

While no adverse health effects related to these products have been reported, O’Neal’s Feeders Supply, Inc. is implementing this recall as a precautionary measure. Consumers are urged to return affected products – whether in opened or unopened packages – to their place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, contact 800-256-2769 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.

Contact,Consumer: 800-256-2769

Media:,Ed O’Neal 337-463-8665

Petrus Feed & Seed Stores, Recalls Its 21% Dog Food

mom — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:51:34 +0000

Updated New Release With Corrected Lot Numbers

Petrus Feed And Seed Stores, Inc. Recalls Its 21% Dog Food

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 14, 2011 – Petrus Feed and Seed Stores, Inc. today announced a voluntary recall of its dry dog food – 21% Protein Dog Food in 40 lb Petrus Feed bags. The product is being recalled because the product was manufactured with corn which tested above acceptable levels for Aflatoxin. The affected products were manufactured at Cargill’s manufacturing facility located in LeCompte, Louisiana between December 1, 2010 and December 1, 2011.

The recall only applies 21% Dog Food, packaged in 40 lb Petrus Feed bags with the following packaging Date codes (lot numbers) 4K1011 through 4K1307. Updated lot numbers are 4K1011 through 4K1335.

The affected dry dog food was distributed in Petrus Feed and Seed in Alexandria, Louisiana.

While no adverse health effects related to these products have been reported, Petrus Feed and Seed Store, Inc. is implementing this recall as a precautionary measure. Consumers are urged to return affected products – whether in opened or unopened packages – to their place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, contact 318-443-2259, Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM and Saturday, 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM.

Updated New Release With Corrected Lot NumbersPetrus Feed And Seed Stores, Inc. Recalls Its 21% Dog Food
Contact:Consumer/Media 318-443-2259

Advanced Animal Nutrition Recalls Dog Power Dry Dog Food

mom — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:50:26 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 8, 2011 – Advanced Animal Nutrition today announced a voluntary recall of its dry Dog Power Dog Food- due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit. The affected products were manufactured between Jan. 4, 2011, and Nov. 18, 2011. No illnesses have been reported in association with these products to date, and no other Advanced Animal Nutrition pet food products are involved in this recall. Affected products are:

DOG POWER ADULT MAINTENANCE FORMULA 21-12 Dog Food, 50 pound bags
DOG POWER HUNTERS FORMULA 27-14 Dog Food, 50 pound bags
DOG POWER HI-PRO PERFORMANCE FORMULA 26-18 Dog Food, 50 pound bags
The recall only applies to the above products with the following Packaging Date Codes (lot numbers): K0004 through K1322.

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm283362.htm

River Run and Marksman Dry Dog Food Recall

mom — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:51:28 +0000

Cargill Animal Nutrition Recalls River Run and Marksman Dry Dog Food

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 6, 2011 – Cargill Animal Nutrition today announced a voluntary recall of two regional brands of its dry dog food – River Run and Marksman – due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit. The affected products were manufactured at Cargill’s Lecompte, Louisiana, facility between Dec. 1, 2010, and Dec. 1, 2011. No illnesses have been reported in association with these products to date, and no other Cargill Animal Nutrition pet food products are involved in this recall. Affected products are:

PROFESSIONAL FORMULA RIVER RUN HI-NRG 24-20 Dog Food, 50 pound bags

RIVER RUN PROFESSIONAL FORMULA 27-18 Dog Food, 50 pound bags

RIVER RUN 21% Protein Dog Food, 40 and 50 pound bags

RIVER RUN Hi-Pro No-Soy Dog Food, 40 and 50 pound bags

MARKSMAN DOG FOOD 24% Protein 20% Fat, 40 pound bags

MARKSMAN DOG FOOD 20% Protein 10% Fat, 40 and 50 pound bags

MARKSMAN DOG FOOD 28% Protein 18% Fat, 40 pound bags

The recall only applies to the above products with the following Packaging Date Codes (lot numbers): 4K0335 through 4K0365, LL0335 through LL0365, 4K1001 through 4K1335 and LL1001 through LL1335.

The affected dry dog food products were distributed in the following 15 states/territories – Kansas, Missouri, Northeast Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, Southern Illinois, Hawaii, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and limited areas of Florida and California. Retailers have already been instructed to remove the affected brands and products from store shelves.

While no adverse health effects related to these products have been reported, Cargill is implementing this recall as a precautionary measure. Consumers are urged to return affected products – whether in opened or unopened packages — to their place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, including photos of products involved, consumers can go to www.cargill.com/feed/dog-food-recall or call toll free 855-460-1532.

About Cargill

Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 138,000 people in 63 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For more information, visit Cargill.com and its news center.

Cargill Animal Nutrition Recalls River Run and Marksman Dry Dog Food
Contact:Consumer:855-460-1532
Media:Tim Loesch952-742-6910
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 6, 2011 – Cargill Animal Nutrition today announced a voluntary recall of two regional brands of its dry dog food – River Run and Marksman – due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit. The affected products were manufactured at Cargill’s Lecompte, Louisiana, facility between Dec. 1, 2010, and Dec. 1, 2011. No illnesses have been reported in association with these products to date, and no other Cargill Animal Nutrition pet food products are involved in this recall. Affected products are:
PROFESSIONAL FORMULA RIVER RUN HI-NRG 24-20 Dog Food, 50 pound bagsRIVER RUN PROFESSIONAL FORMULA 27-18 Dog Food, 50 pound bagsRIVER RUN 21% Protein Dog Food, 40 and 50 pound bagsRIVER RUN Hi-Pro No-Soy Dog Food, 40 and 50 pound bagsMARKSMAN DOG FOOD 24% Protein 20% Fat, 40 pound bagsMARKSMAN DOG FOOD 20% Protein 10% Fat, 40 and 50 pound bagsMARKSMAN DOG FOOD 28% Protein 18% Fat, 40 pound bagsThe recall only applies to the above products with the following Packaging Date Codes (lot numbers): 4K0335 through 4K0365, LL0335 through LL0365, 4K1001 through 4K1335 and LL1001 through LL1335.
The affected dry dog food products were distributed in the following 15 states/territories – Kansas, Missouri, Northeast Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, Southern Illinois, Hawaii, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and limited areas of Florida and California. Retailers have already been instructed to remove the affected brands and products from store shelves.
While no adverse health effects related to these products have been reported, Cargill is implementing this recall as a precautionary measure. Consumers are urged to return affected products – whether in opened or unopened packages — to their place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, including photos of products involved, consumers can go to www.cargill.com/feed/dog-food-recall or call toll free 855-460-1532.
Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mold by-product. Pets that have consumed any of the above recalled products and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian.
About Cargill
Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 138,000 people in 63 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For more information, visit Cargill.com and its news center.

Contact:

Consumer: 855-460-1532

Media:.

Tim Loesch 952-742-6910

Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food recall

mom — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:25:14 +0000

P&G Voluntarily Recalls One Production Lot of Dry Dog Food

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 6, 2011 – – The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) has voluntarily retrieved a single production lot of dry dog food due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit. This product has already been retrieved from store shelves. No illnesses have been reported in association with this production lot to date, and no other Iams pet food products are involved.

Product affected by this announcement:

Product Name	Version	Code Date	UPC Code
Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food with Use By or Expiration Dates of February 5 or February 6, 2013	7.0 lb bag	12784177I6	1901402305
	8.0 lb bag	12794177D2 12794177D3	1901410208
	17.5 lb bag	12794177K1 12794177K2	1901401848

The affected product lot was distributed to a limited number of retailers located in the eastern United States (AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, ME, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, SC, VA). These retailers have already removed this product from store shelves. No other dry dog food, dry cat food, dog or cat canned food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement.

While no health effects related to this product have been reported, P&G retrieved this product as a precautionary measure. Consumers who purchased the product listed should stop using the product and discard it and contact Iams at the number below for a replacement voucher. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring by-product from the growth of Aspergillus flavus and can be harmful to pets if consumed in significant quantities. Pets which have consumed this product and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian.

For further information or a product replacement or refund contact P&G toll-free at 866-908-1569
(Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST) or www.iams.com.

About Procter & Gamble
Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 135,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

Contact:
Consumer:
866-908-1569

Media:
Jason Taylor
513-622-3205

Canine flu outbreak at Farmingdale PetSmart

mom — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 02:42:30 +0000

Updated: Nov 22, 2011 03:31 PM

By ELLEN YAN

from Newsday

A canine flu outbreak has been confirmed at PetSmart’s Farmingdale dog day-camp and boarding, the pet supplies chain said Monday.

Eight dogs have been diagnosed with the latest strain of the highly contagious disease, and they are recovering, with PetSmart paying for treatment, said corporate spokeswoman Michelle Friedman.

In the past month or two, veterinarians have reported outbreaks in the New York metro area, including a Rockland County kennel and an animal shelter in Teterboro, N.J.

The flu, spread by contact and cough, is usually not fatal but can be serious for dogs with breathing and respiratory issues. The symptoms are similar to the human flu — cough, runny nose, fever and lethargy — but experts said life threatening symptoms can develop, including pneumonia. Dogs more likely to catch the virus are those exposed to other canines gathered in close quarters, such as dog parks and boarding facilities.

PetSmart’s Farmingdale dog camp has been closed since Nov. 14 and the PetsHotel shut down Friday as workers disinfected the area, Friedman said. They are to reopen Wednesday, she said, but dogs who have been there recently won’t be allowed back until two weeks after their last visits.

“The safety and well-being of all pets that have been under our care is our priority,” Friedman said. “We haven’t seen any new incidents beyond these eight cases.

Canine flu outbreak at Farmingdale PetSmartUpdated: Nov 22, 2011 03:31 PM By ELLEN YANMultiple Page ViewA canine flu outbreak has been confirmed at PetSmart’s Farmingdale dog day-camp and boarding, the pet supplies chain said Monday.
Eight dogs have been diagnosed with the latest strain of the highly contagious disease, and they are recovering, with PetSmart paying for treatment, said corporate spokeswoman Michelle Friedman.
In the past month or two, veterinarians have reported outbreaks in the New York metro area, including a Rockland County kennel and an animal shelter in Teterboro, N.J.
The flu, spread by contact and cough, is usually not fatal but can be serious for dogs with breathing and respiratory issues. The symptoms are similar to the human flu — cough, runny nose, fever and lethargy — but experts said life threatening symptoms can develop, including pneumonia. Dogs more likely to catch the virus are those exposed to other canines gathered in close quarters, such as dog parks and boarding facilities.
PetSmart’s Farmingdale dog camp has been closed since Nov. 14 and the PetsHotel shut down Friday as workers disinfected the area, Friedman said. They are to reopen Wednesday, she said, but dogs who have been there recently won’t be allowed back until two weeks after their last visits.
“The safety and well-being of all pets that have been under our care is our priority,” Friedman said. “We haven’t seen any new incidents beyond these eight cases.