Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Oh! Say it ain’t so! More Treat Recalls!



Talk about déjà vu! It seems like I just posted about this recently on another company! Oh yeah, that’s right, I did! Just 2 short weeks ago! Keep your eyes open folks as there are sure to be more recalls! Just toss those treats now and save yourself the aggravation!



Pig ear treats in my opinon, continue to be recalled way too often for a Salmonella health hazard. Salmonella on treats not only affects dogs but also their human counterparts who touch the treats.



Being an adult (well in my mind anyway!), 99% of the time I remember to wash my hands after giving Fido a new treat, but on occasion I might be too busy or engaged in something else and forget to wash. I’ll admit, working with very young children on a daily basis has made me a bit paranoid to germs and more conscientious of hand washing, but I can say with 100% certainty that 90 % of young children have to be reminded to wash their hands after using the toilet or before eating a meal and 98 % of children need to be reminded to keep their fingers out of their nose and mouth. This non prudence of hand washing by young people puts them further in jeopardy of getting salmonella poisoning. Let’s face it, when was the last time your 5 year old gave the dog a treat and stated, “Mama, I think I should wash my hands now!”


Having been stricken with salmonella poisoning twice in adulthood from eating human food, I can tell you it is not a pleasant illness to go through! It knocks even the healthiest of adults to their knees.



I do admire companies who quickly recall hazardous products. To me it is not only an admittance that something went terribly wrong in quality control, but that they are taking responsibility for it. However, I get sick to death of seeing the same thing being recalled over and over again by many different companies. Who’s paying the doctor or hospital bill of that young child who needs treatment for salmonella poisoning? Not only are children especially vulnerable but so are senior citizens. Anyone with a poor immune system will get the worst of any disease or poisoning.



Companies have to realize that it is not only the ‘compulsive~ hand washing~ germ~ a ~phobes’ like me that handles the family dog’s treats but in the majority of households all people in the family are handling these contaminated treats!





When a human product affects the health of humans over an over again something is done. Regulations are put in place or become stricter and companies are more scrutinized by the media which in turn alerts the public. The media coverage alone on such pet products could put thousands of people on notice and prevent serious illness. Certainly they can reach more people than my little blog ever will. It makes me wonder about our priorities when we hear nothing about a pet product recall that has the potential to cause great illness to many humans, but over the last couple of days we have heard plenty about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s infidelities!



So here I go again!

Seek care from a professional if you notice any of the below symptoms in human or dog.



Symptoms in dogs: (for those of you that missed my last few posts on salmonella poisoning) lethargy, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Keep in mind that infected but healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or people in the home.



Symptoms in people: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Salmonella can cause more serious problems as well such as arterial infection, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract infections.


My advice when this happens time and time again? Well it’s time to stop buying such products!


Companies recalling these treats are:



Boss Pet Products Inc.
Maple Heights Ohio
Contact.: 800- 445-6347
Website: http://www.bosspet.com/

More information here on lot numbers and where they were sold http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm255726.htm



Blackman Industries
Kanasas City KS
913-342-5010

This company is recalling two products, PrimeTime brand 2 and 5 ct. Premium Pig Ears and all KC Beefhide brand 20 count.


Product distribution dates between Jan 4, 2011 and April 29, 2011

Codes and information here http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm255709.htm

Oy Vey, just proof reading this makes me want to wash my hands again!