Diamond Pet Foods issued its third dog food recall in the past month due to salmonella contamination in a product manufactured at the company’s Gaston, S.C., facility, which recently ceased production.

The latest recall includes the following sizes of the Meta, Mo.-based company’s Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food:

The recalled food was distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, and may have been distributed to other states through pet food channels.

Earlier this month, Diamond recalled several lots of its Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice dry dog food and halted production at the Gaston plant two days later.

Last week, Diamond issued another recall for a Gaston-manufactured product, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food.

Diamond Pet Foods of Meta, Mo., voluntarily recalled certain bags of its Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice dog food on suspicion of salmonella contamination, the company reported today.

The food was distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia. No illnesses have been reported with respect to the recalled product.

The recalled products are:

Consumers who purchased bags of the recalled food should discontinue feeding the product and discard it, the company said. Consumers can obtain a refund by contacting Diamond Pet.

Pets with salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain, the company said. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. Owners of pets that have consumed the product should contact a veterinarian, the company said.

Owners handling the food can also become infected, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to the affected product. Healthy people infected with salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever, the company said. Salmonella can also result in more serious ailments, such as arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these symptoms after having contact with the recalled product should contact a healthcare provider, the company said.

Diamond Pet Foods of Meta, Mo., recalled more dog food produced at its Gaston, S.C., plant after another bag of food tested positive for salmonella.

The latest recall involves one production run and four production codes of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food, as follows:

The food was distributed in Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, where the food may have been further distributed to other states through pet food channels. Diamond said it is working directly with distributors and retailers that carry the recalled food to remove it from the supply chain.

The company advised consumers who purchased the recalled food to discard it immediately.

Pets infected with salmonella may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. The company advised owners whose pets that have consumed the recalled food and have any of the preceding symptoms to contact their veterinarian.

People handling dry pet food can also become infected with salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to the product, according to Diamond.

Solid Gold Pet Food, which has some of their food manufactured by Diamond, has issued a recall of two dry dog foods.

May 7, 2012

Just a few hours ago, Solid Gold received information that two batches of our foods were made at the Diamond Gaston plant around the same time period as some of the previously recalled foods of other brands. Though we have had zero complaints about these particular batches, we have decided to recall them as a precautionary measure. Due to the time difference between us and the appropriate FDA office, there was not enough time in the day to further discuss this voluntary recall with the FDA. We are announcing this now because we know our customers are concerned and didn’t want an entire night to go by without this information being available to the public. Tomorrow morning (May 8th), after speaking with the FDA, Solid Gold will officially institute a voluntary recall of two batches of food made at the Diamond Gaston facility.

The following products will be part of this voluntary precautionary recall. Only the two foods with this particular best before date and batch code will be part of the recall.

Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Food
All sizes
Best before December 30, 2012
Batch code starting with SGL1201

Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food
All Sizes
Best before December 30, 2012
Batch code starting with SGB1201

We greatly apologize for any concern and inconvenience this may cause and greatly thank you for your patience. Further information will be available in the official recall tomorrow morning. As always, please contact us at 800-364-4863 or dane@solidgoldhealth.com with any questions and we will respond as quickly as possible.

You’ll find more information on the Solid Gold website. They don’t have a link on the front page to the recall. Instead, you need to click on the tiny “News” link at the bottom of the page. Then you’ll see the recall listed on the News page. It sure would be nice if they didn’t try to hide it! As of this writing, the Solid Gold recall is not listed on the Diamond Pet Food Recall website.

Nothing is scarier than having a dog who is apt to resource guarding. Resource guarding occurs when a dog guards a certain possession - whether it is a toy or his food bowl. This can be particularly dangerous if you have small children in the home, because they do not recognize warning signs and are likely to suffer the brunt of the attack if the dog snaps. However, there is good news. Resource guarding can be taken care of with a bit of training. Most often, it is seen in foster dogs who have been bounced around or dogs that have been bullied by other dogs.

My sister's cocker spaniel is a perfect example of resource guarding. He is okay with people approaching his food bowl, but he will not tolerate anyone approaching him when he has his favorite toy. Before my sister took him home to live with her, he lived with my parents and their two dogs who bullied him to no end. They stole his toys, shoved him away from the food dish when he was eating, and so on. As a result, he developed aggressive tendencies in order to protect what he views as rightfully his. WIth a bit of training, however, he is starting to come out of his shell and accept that nobody - there are only two adults in the home he lives in now - is going to take away his food or toys. Slowly, but surely, he is coming around and he is truly a sweet dog.

The key to getting dogs to break the habit of resource guarding is patience and training. Training is especially important, because it essentially retrains the dog in terms of possession and helps to rid the aggression. The sooner you get the training, the better it is for you and your dog. You can check with your local veterinarian or pet supply store to get the name of a reputable trainer. You owe it to yourself, and more importantly, to your pooch.

So you've decided to get a dog for your home, but how do you know which dog is the right type? There are several factors that will go into your ultimate decision, which should be taken very seriously. Many dogs end up being dropped off at a shelter or being euthanized, simply because there is no room. So before you go out and pick your first dog, take the following aspects into consideration:

• Family Size - The dog you ultimately choose is dependent on your family size. Do you have a lot of people to help take care of the dog or is it simply you? The more people that are able to help in the rearing of the dog can certainly benefit. However, many people who live alone are able to take care of a dog. It ultimately boils down to how often you are home, and how much interaction the dog will have.
• Children - if you have children, especially small children, you want to be careful about selecting a breed. This is not meant to single out any breeds - pit bulls, german shepherds and rottweilers are all fantastic family dogs. You want to consider the size of the breed. Homes with small children would do well not to adopt a toy breed whose bones are very fragile. Since children do not always know how to be gentle, there could be serious injuries to the dog. 
• Training - All dogs need training, whether they are puppies or fully grown. You have to be willing to train a dog no matter stage of their lives you adopt them in. If you do not have the time to train a puppy, consider adopting a dog who is already grown - they are the least likely to get adopted in the long run. 

If you have kept all of these considerations in mind, you should be able to pick out the perfect dog for your family. Remember that there will be an adjustment period, but as long as you provide the necessities, it should take no time at all to bond with your new family member.

Medical insurance is a must for us, as we require medical care on a regular basis. Since doctor fees are so expensive without insurance, it is only natural that we rely upon it. What about our pets? Do they need insurance?

There is no straightforward answer, but it is recommended to purchase the insurance, if you can afford to. While it doesn't work in the traditional sense like our insurance does, if your pet gets sick, it can certainly help relieve the burden. Vet fees are not cheap, as anyone who has ever had a sick pet knows. If your pet requires surgery or extended treatment, it can become very costly, very quickly.

How Does it Work?

Unlike our insurance where we pay a co-pay each time we use our insurance at the doctor's office, you will be responsible for the full vet bill upon picking up your best friend. Once you have paid the bill, keep the receipt - you will need it to file a claim with your pet insurance carrier. Submit the veterinary bill - keep a copy for yourself! - with the claim once it is complete. The insurance company will then reimburse you for a partial amount of the entire bill. The percentage that they reimburse really depends upon your particular carrier and the coverages that you have. Some plans allow for more coverage which means you will get more money back once you have met your deductible for the year.

How Do I Find a Reputable Pet Insurance Company?

There are some reputable companies you can find online such as VPI Pet Insurance, but if you do not know where to start, your best bet is to ask your veterinarian. They are skilled in handling your pet's care and will have the inside scoop on which insurance companies are worth your investment.

Pet care is expensive, but pet insurance is not. With an investment of $20-30 per month, you can guarantee that you will have some relief from the bills should your pet become ill. If your pet never gets sick, you can consider yourself very fortunate, and your pet insurance will simply provide you with peace of mind.

Learning about the recent food recalls can be alarming, especially considering the one that happened just a few years ago where many pets died as a result of negligence. The problem with the pet food industry is that it is not highly regulated like our own food industry is. Why is this? Are pets not as important as people? Whatever the reason for the lack of regulation and compliance issues, the fact is that our animals are suffering because of these poor decisions. There are, however, a few different ways that you can protect your pets and ensure they live a long, healthy life. 

• Do your research - check out your pet's food online by typing in the brand followed by the word recalls. This should bring up any recent indications that the pet food has been recalled or is soon to be recalled. You can also check various websites such as http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/newpetfoodrecalls/ and www.aspca.org. If you are considering switching foods it is better to find out about the potential issues prior to actually making the switch.

• Feed your animals a raw diet if you can - many people find that switching their dogs to a raw diet - one that is completely made in your home - does not cost much more than buying bulk bags of food. The benefits, however, are the main reason why you should consider making the switch to a raw diet. Many owners report seeing silkier, shiny fur and increased health and energy levels. You can buy a book or search for raw recipes online. If you are worried about the food spoiling, simply bag it up in serving size portions and freeze it.

Our pets rely on us to take care of them from the moment we adopt them as our own. By being proactive and diligent you can improve the quality of your pet's life without leaving anything up to chance. 

The dog in every house loves to spoiled. The perfect way we think is to lavish them with pretty sparkley items that serve a dual purpose. Our Swarovski Crystal ID tags are perfect for the small Chihuahua or the large dog such as Labrador. They are stunning and you won't find them in any pet store. There are a 100 colors of crystals to choose from and four beautiful designs of ID tag to choose from; heart, cross, bone, and star. You might think the price would be so expensive you couldn't afford it-take a look. I promise you'll be pleasantly surprised.

https://www.facebook.com/JusticeAlleyAngels

http://www.change.org/petitions/demand-prosecution-of-person-responsible-for-florida-house-fire-that-killed-4-beloved-dogs

Why This Is Important

WE, the undersigned, or by our attached signatures via email copy, are requesting that the State Attorney’s Office of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Brevard and Seminole Counties prosecute the individual responsible for the house fire which occurred at 163 Haines Rd. Palm Bay, Florida on November 5, 2011. It is our understanding that the Fire Investigators have ruled this a deliberately set fire. We know that the fire resulted in the deaths of four beloved dogs and the destruction of the residence, and we demand that the responsible individual face justice for this heinous act, a criminal act. Failure to prosecute this crime is a failure to protect society from the responsible individual, who will go unpunished for his crime. We demand justice in this matter.