Animal Health Warnings
Not all foods, toys, treats, or home remedies are safe for our pets. Individual breeds, not to mention different types of pets, can have very different nutritional needs and can digest very differently or entirely fail to metabolize common foods and remedies. For that reason, we provide this page in which to discuss Animal Health Warnings you may want to share with other Earth Clinic community pet owners.
Certain products marketed toward dogs and other pets may actually be harmful to those pets. Human analgesic and antihistamine medicines may be tempting remedies when our pets are suffering, but often they cannot process these drugs or require much smaller doses than a human would require. For these reasons and more we need to be careful what we give our cats, dogs, and other pets.
Please take a look at the user posts below to review health alerts people have shared that may concern you and your pet.
DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
Animal Care
06/14/2012: Jbarstique from Los Angeles, California: "I have seen so many "advice" ideas on here- some of them deadly for pets. A few things- please understand that seeking out medical advice on the internet for your pet is very dangerous- If you are concerned for your pet you can can call animal poison control or an emergency vet clinic and speak to a vet nurse who can advise you further with the resources you have. I have worked vet emergency for many years and have always seen many cases where the pet was given internet advice and became worse off. Don't assume that all animals react the same to all drugs, toxins or "home therapies". Many things can be affected by the animals breed, age and even species specific differences.
Please seek out medical care from people who have 8 years of training in physiology, anatomy, toxicology and pathology. I understand money is tight, but veterinary care is part of owning a pet and it's important that you take that responsibility when you first acquire a pet. I believe many illness have many treatment options, some homeopathic and some clinical- but it's important that you make the decision based on the best interest of your pet and with your family and your family veterinarian.
I have never seen anyone turned away from care unless they were beligerent or refused to pay exam fees or make minimal payments (interest free options available at almost all ER centers- just ask). So please seek out advice from a trained professional- we really do care and we have dedicated many tireless years of our lives learning things to help you and your pets!"
Replies08/03/2012: Dolly from Toronto, Ontario replies: "What about those vets who do not take responsibility when things go wrong with your pet after being administered a vaccination, drop or capsules? All they care about is the money. Our pets don't have a voice. we, pet owners, are their voice. All the BSs about these chemicals administered to our pets."
Chicken Jerky Products
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[WARNING!] 04/18/2012: Barbara from Lakehead, Ca: "Regarding your comment that waggin train chicken strips have chicken, vegetable glycerin and natural flavor? I think you should look up just exactly what "natural flavor" is. these flavorings are chemicals made up by scientists who are hired by companies to create a tasty have to have it again treat or food. Sure shocked me! one other note, what are these companies putting in our food??? Beware!!!! Barbara"
09/15/2009: Jeanie from Fort Bragg, Ca: "I just read the warning on chicken jerky products. We feed these occasionally and I'm assuming they're from China so this makes me nervous. However, I haven't seen ill effects from them. I use them in small amounts occasionally as a training treat.
One possible reason people are having trouble with them occurred to me. I know from my study of human nutrition and traditional diet (like those studied by Weston A. Price) that protein should never be consumed without ample dietary fat as that will deplete the body of fat-soluble vitamins. Also, minerals can't be absorbed properly without fat and vitamins A and D (real, pre-formed Vit. A, not beta-carotene, and natural Vit. D2--cholecalciferol-- not synthetic Vit. D2 or ergocalciferol). So I wonder whether sometimes people are feeding too much of these lean chicken strips and it is throwing off the fat/protein balance in their diets. For more information on this as researched in humans, see the Weston A. Price Foundation website (nonprofit educational site so I hope you'll publish the URL: http://www.westonaprice.org) and read about good fats and traditional diets. So adding extra fat when using the chicken strips could possibly help. It's not the fat that makes them fat, unless you're overfeeding food quantity in general, it's the carbs from grains, fruits, vegetables, which are biologically inappropriate for dogs. A little vegetable matter is ok, especially greens, but please don't feed your dogs grains or fruits."
11/04/2009: Karmala from Templeton, Ca replies: "To Jeanie from Fort _____. You write that you still feed the chicken jerky in small amounts as you think the problem might be in the feeding method. I would ask you to PLEASE reconsider. You state that you have not seen any negative reaction in your pet... that's what everyone says...until the reactions occur...sometimes it's then too late to correct it. With so many natural and organic options available for treats... why risk your pet's health/life? Shouldn't we... as responsible pet companions... do everything within our power to protect them? Would you continue to feed something to your children if you knew it would potentially harm them. I am not judging you, Jeanie... only asking you to please weigh it all out. There have been too many recalls of products from China (pet food, baby food, fish, etc.) over the past 5 years to NOT give this due diligence."
08/30/2011: Diamond from Salisbury, Usa replies: "To Jeanie from Fort _____;I agree with Karmala from Templeton, Ca.But what difference does it make where the product was made? you don't think that Corrupt America does not make mistakes? It's so sad how we teach our children about predjudice via our un-intended comments that are heard nation wide by little ears.
As Karmala stated it some times takes a long time to show results in an animals diet the severe negative's of food products, as does with humans.
Good luck...."
01/13/2012: Sandy from Henderson, Nv replies: "You have to read the label. If there are ingredients in any product you can't pronounce... Don't use it. Waggin Train chicken strips (from China) have Chicken, vegetable glycerin and natural flavor.. That's it. My small dogs do very well on these and they get one each a day."
06/09/2012: P-chic from Portland, Oregon replies: "As usual, pets began suffering and alert pet owners became suspicious long before the truth was allowed to become public news:Waggin Train has caused huge health issues for many many dogs. There are over 100 complaints currently posted at ConsumerAffairs. com, and the list is growing
[WARNING!] Kris Christine : "PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST
U.S. Government Publications are NOT Copyrighted
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/CVM_Updates/ComplaintsChicJerky.htm
Preliminary Animal Health Notification
December 19, 2008
FDA Continues To Receive Complaints about Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs and Cautions Consumers
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to caution consumers of a potential association between the development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats. FDA continues to receive complaints of dogs experiencing illness that their owners or veterinarians associate with consumption of chicken jerky products. The chicken jerky products are imported to the U.S. from China. FDA issued a cautionary warning to consumers in September 2007.
Australian news organizations report the University of Sydney is also investigating an association between illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky in Australia. At least one firm in Australia has recalled their chicken jerky product and the recall notification stated the chicken jerky product was manufactured in China.
FDA believes the continued trend of consumer complaints coupled with the information obtained from Australia warrants an additional reminder and animal health notification.
Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be
used occasionally and in small quantities. Owners of small dogs must be especially careful to limit the amount of these products.
FDA, in addition to several veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the U.S, is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs. To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. FDA has conducted extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified any contaminant.
FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs which may occur within hours to days of feeding the product: decreased appetite, although some may continue to consume the treats to the exclusion of other foods; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; and increased water consumption and/or increased urination. If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product. Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine). Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.
The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem. Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky. Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html in their state."
Replies[WARNING!] 03/07/2012: Ken from Bath, Me replies: "An FDA document leaked this week from a confidential source within the US Congress details the chronological timeline of tests that the agency has performed on chicken jerky treats since 2007 tests which many pet owners say have ignored some of the most potentially lethal substances possibly responsible for the rash of pet illnesses and deaths.
Read the report at: www.TriPomChews.net/fda-tests-jerky-treats"
Essential Oils
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[WARNING!] 04/12/2011: Diamond from Salisbury, Ma.usa: "Denise; Here are two articles based on what I found to be information based on these essential oils for pets..... http://www.thelavendercat.com
This other website states how these oils are made up & how..... http://www.suite101.com/content/do-essential-oils-kill-cats-a27992 It maybe best to do a lot more web search before we try every thing or any thing on our animals. I know I was very upset and anxious to find a cure for my kitten where she had the mange but I read and continued to read until I found many people in this forum as well as others that found this remedy of peroxide & borax to be very effective and it does work. The rest I leave up to the kitten and nature and pray for the best results.
Good luck"
Replies[WARNING!] 11/04/2012: Brad from Webster, Florida replies: "To the person using borax on kitten for mange. Its poisinous to animals, so please keep away. It they lick it, it could be deadly."
01/10/2013: Anita from Madison, Oh replies: "I agree with Brad from Webster FL. This is a case of getting bad advice off the internet. Peroxide and Borax on a kitten? I hope not. Borax is toxic to pets and people. Borax should only be handled with care. You absolutely must follow the directions on the box. No where on the Borax box does it say to mix it with peroxide and put it on an animal. It also does not say on that box that it is okay to sprinkle borax around in your house on your carpets to kill fleas for those who are still doing that."
02/19/2013: Donald from Mount Sterling, Ohio replies: "What is borax? I hear others say they use this. What is it for and what does it cure?"