Pet Food & Pet Treats

If the worry and/or paranoia of pet food and pet treat recalls have you thinking perhaps you might want to try preparing your pet's food, I have several excellent general references you can purchase through my gift shop. See http://www.kindredspiritsgiftshop.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=103.

Additionally, many pet "boutique" stores where you purchase pet foods and products offer nutrition classes. Check in your area to see what may be available.

Of course, the best bet is to make a nutrition appointment with your holistic vet to discuss your pet's specific needs.

The following link of the AVMA keeps updated information on recalled items http://www.avma.org/aa/petfoodrecall/products.asp. Also, you can subscribe to the National Pet Foundation's "Recall Email Update List" to get additional recall information within the hour it is reported. See http://www.nationalpetfoundation.com/

Good luck, and may you never find your pet's food and treats on any of these recall lists!

ProHeart 6 Victims: One Guardian's Story

In the summer of 2002, my three dogs, Niki, Tasha, and Casey, had their first veterinary appointment in their new home state. Always being a diligent and conscientious guardian and having learned from living in the South, knowing it was heartworm season, my dogs were taken in for a checkup in order to be placed on their customary heartworm preventative.

At this point in my life, I felt vets were the next closest being to God. If a product was offered at a vet clinic, it must be safe. Was I ever in for an education! That day the vet pronounced my dogs healthy, and I was grateful for that. My dogs are my life, my babies. But that day, I left the clinic feeling something "evil" had just happened and that I would never return.

Unfortunately, my gut feelings proved to be correct when, two months later, Tasha collapsed on the kitchen floor. An emergency vet diagnosed immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA). After heroic attempts to make her well, Tasha died six days later. She left behind her companions Niki and Casey.

Less than two months after Tasha died, late one night Niki collapsed on the living room floor. Before dawn, Niki, too, was gone. Niki left behind his companion Casey and a devastated, angry, grief-stricken guardian, me.

At the same time, Casey's immune system was found not to be normal; but by the grace of God, Casey is alive today and appears to be healthy, although he remains on medication that he may possibly be on the rest of his life.

The common denominator of my dogs' illnesses and deaths? In this guardian's "opinion," the vet's administration of the heartworm injectable known as ProHeart 6.

Because of this most painful chapter in my life, the struggle I experience on a daily basis, I started to become educated about so many issues pertaining to the health of our pets and disturbing trends that have come to my attention. I am finding that the average layperson just has no clue. I am no expert, but the knowledge I have gained, I want to share with you.

I couldn't save my dogs' lives, but maybe I can help save the life of your pet. Hopefully you can in turn save the lives of others. The creation of this Web site is a tribute to my dogs Tasha and Niki, to Casey and now Abby, for their unconditional love, devotion, and companionship and my never-ending love and gratitude for having each of these wonderful souls in my life.

Pet Advocate 101

If you have found yourself questioning the quality and safety of health care products and services that are provided for pets then maybe Pet Advocate 101 is the place for you. Many of us have learned about the potential dangers associated with pet products, drugs and services through experience because we were not informed consumers. In an effort to raise awareness this group welcomes discussions about these matters but our primary focus is on how we can educate ourselves, raise public awareness and what we can do to create effective changes that will better protect pets.

We discuss the quality of healthcare as well as related legal issues and legislative matters. We discuss related current events and examine how we can effectively initiate and support efforts for change.

Our concern is animal welfare rather than animal rights.

We are pet advocates not animal rights activists. If you want to know what you can do to actively support efforts that will protect pets then maybe this is the group for you. We are NOT an ANIMAL RIGHTS group. This group does NOT advocate or support any attacks on or removal of pet owners' rights such as mandatory spay/castration, mandatory microchipping or breed specific legislation.

If you just want to lurk this is NOT the group for you.

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/PetAdvocate101/