November 6, 2011
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) blockers, Azathioprine and/or Mercaptopurine:
Update on Reports of Hepatosplenic T-Cell Lymphoma in Adolescents and Young Adults
www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm251443.htm
The only one of these ever used in cats is the azathioprine (Immuran) and while the chances of a cat getting the side effect being
warned about are probably minuscule, the mention of the med has brought up the bigger issue that it is extremely toxic to cats.
Plumb’s vet reference states that: Azathioprine - rarely used in cats for refractory/severe IBD, has terrible toxicity and is
generally, strongly not recommended to use it at all as it can suppress the bone marrow and cause death. "Most do not
recommend azathioprine for use in cats because of the potential for development of fatal toxicity and the difficulty in accurately
dosing."
The word "most" refers to researchers, experts, or published articles, that's where they get dosing info from since so few studies
are done on cats for FDA approval of meds. If your vet is prescribing or pushing for you to use it you should get a second opinion
from an internist before starting it or at least question your vet as to the possibility of there being something else to try such as
Leukeran. Few vets use it, but some do and for that reason I thought there should be a reminder about the toxicity, not
infrequently fatal, of azathioprine. And there has been a case of this happening on an IBD forum. (thank you to Dr. Barb for the
Plumb’s info).
Susan Thixton of the website Truth about pet foods has created a petition to make the government accountable for what’s in pet
food. Please pass this petition around to as many people as you can! Put it on your Facebook pages, everything.
We believe the Obama Administration should require
the FDA to enforce the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with pet foods.
www.change.org/petitions/we-the-pet-people
There’s some great information here on dental surgery on your pet.
Before and After Surgery and Dentistry - Preparing for Surgical and Dental Procedures
www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/howto14.html
Did you know you can put out a Pet Amber Alert for your missing pet? www.petamberalert.com/. Our member Peggy did just
that for her wonderful Linus who’s been missing for almost a month. Please check it out and if you know anyone who lives in that
area, ask them to keep their eyes out for him.
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=267317589970990&set=a.261912437178172.53377.145365152166235
&type=1&permPage=1
Tink’s mom Barb sent me this and I thought it was fascinating! (I know way too many Barbara’s, LOL).
Amazing Physics at work when cats drink
http://blogs.catster.com/kitty-news-network/2010/11/12/amazing-physics-at-work-when-cats-drink/
Just for the record, this vet is COMPLETELY against this (thank goodness)!
Can I Make My Dog or Cat a Vegetarian?
www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/jlee/2011/nov/can_cats_dogs_be_vegetarian
What a wonderful article this lady wrote on grieving the loss of a pet.
I’ve been in contact with her and she’s thrilled I’m sharing this.
Staten Island pet cemetery helps animal lovers find comfort amid grief
http://blog.silive.com/relationships/2011/11/like_losing_family.html
Because winter is coming soon and our windows are starting to remain closed, I know how stagnant and gross the air inside can
smell after awhile. Many people use those plug in air fresheners but I’ve seen way too many health problems develop with pets
because of those. This is about people but I am adamant on the same being said for pets.
Air fresheners can trigger allergies, asthma
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45181988/ns/health-allergies_and_asthma/#.TrcyPLKwVid
I have a few tricks I do to freshen the air in my place. I crack the windows open slightly for at least an hour or more every day
unless it’s like CRAZY cold! I live in the northeast so I can take it pretty cold. But I try let some fresh air in here for a short time and
get the yucky smells out. I buy a couple of those baking soda stickups that you use for the fridge and freezer and I place one
INSIDE the garbage can on the side or underneath the bag. Make sure you have a can with a lid that stays closed. I have one of
stainless steel ones you have to step on the pedal to open. NO potpourri as that’s also toxic to pets. I do burn those little
seasonal Glade candles for fresh scent but not for long, maybe 30 minutes and somewhere in an open area. And again, most of
the time when I have a window cracked. What I usually do with things like onion peelings or other veggies and food that needs to
be thrown out. If my garbage bag isn’t near full, I’ll put those scraps in a plastic bag and put it back in the refrigerator to take out
with me in the morning or put in the trash bag when it’s more full. That way that stuff isn’t sitting in the bottom of the bag smelling
up the kitchen.
Now for some FUN stuff! You’ve got to see this. I really have no idea how they swallow some of these things.
World's wackiest animal X-Rays reveal the things pets swallow
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2054734/X-ray-contest-Worlds-wackiest-animal-X-Rays-reveal-things-pets-swallow.html
So cute I can’t stand it! I need to hire this kitten, LOL
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cIliQj3icFw
I love the music they put with this and I just love the expression on this guy’s face.
My kitten is grooming my hair.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3LFzqLEz3I&feature=player_embedded
And I saved the cutest for last (I’m biased, what can I say!)
My new Finnegan and Lacey video! (my little terrors for those of you that don’t know). Enjoy these little nutballs!
http://youtu.be/ZE0-mz3esaU
November 12, 2011
One of our members recently sent me a link for a product called IntelliFlora. This is supposed to be a version of FortiFlora but
without the animal digest in it. She was super excited because she knows I don’t recommend FortiFlora for that reason. BUT!
This product is deceptive! Yes, it’s great there’s no animal digest in it. But Unfortunately the ingredients I bolded here are NOT
much better!
Dried Poultry Liver, Maltodextrin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sucrose, Silicon Dioxide, Salt, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin
A Acetate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Taurine, and
Sodium Alumino Silicate.
Sugars, salt and too much vitamin C, A, zinc and Copper and even Vitamin E in a cat’s diet can cause major issues. Even a
TINY extra bit can hurt them! I’d never recommend this. Most people have no idea what animal digest is so in looking it up, I
found this: Animal Digest is a common ingredient used in pet foods. As defined by the AAFCO, it is material which results from
chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and un-decomposed animal tissue. The animal tissues used shall be exclusive of
hair, horns, teeth, hooves and feathers, except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice and
shall be suitable for animal feed. A cooked-down broth made from specified or unspecified parts of animals (depending on the
type of digest used). If the source is unspecified (e.g. "Animal" or "Poultry", the animals used can be obtained from any source,
so there is no control over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased,
disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, miscellaneous roadkill, animals euthanized at shelters, restaurant
and supermarket refuse and so on FDA: Digests, which are materials treated with heat, enzymes and/or acids to form
concentrated natural flavors. Only a small amount of a "chicken digest" is needed to produce a "Chicken Flavored Cat Food,"
even though no actual chicken is added to the food. - (FDA) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_digest.
I know this is completely disgusting but I’m asked so often about WHY I don’t want animal digest I feel it needs to be spoken
about. Meat by products are no better but sometimes can’t be helped if the cat won’t eat any other foods. Read this carefully and
if you don’t know what something is, like Phenobarbital, google it. Pheno btw, is used to euthanize animals among other things.
hwww.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/epa-document-proves-euthanized-dogs-and-cats-are-rendered.html
This also applies to pet products in a BIG way maybe even more so than humans.
Don't Be Fooled By Health Fraud Scams
www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm278980.htm
Taking the Sting Out of Pain for Your Pet
www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-palmquist-dvm/pet-pain-_b_1064793.html
The FDA has new guidelines for disposing of all sharps such as needles:
Needles and Other Sharps (Safe Disposal Outside of Health Care Settings)
www.fda.
gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/ConsumerProducts/Sharps/ucm20025647.htm
This page is no longer being updated but is still used for reference
State Disposal Laws
www.safeneedledisposal.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=57
I know a lot of you are always looking for heated pet beds and boy are they expensive! I did find one very reasonably priced and
gets very good reviews at a company I’m now an affiliate with: Greg Roberts Pet Supplies. I like this company, they have a lot of
great products! It’s called a Thermo Kitty Heated Mat and it’s on this page of my site.
www.ibdkitties.net/Miscellaneous.html
I also want to talk about this myth that “life stage” foods are the only thing you should be feeding your cat and that kibble is a
necessity as they’re kittens! Both not true at all. When I took Finney and Lacey in both at around 5 months old, the kibble went out
the window and so did the grains. As long as they’ve been in this house, I’ve fed them only grain free wet food and hardly ever
any kibble and of course that’s grain free. The only reason I do keep kibble around is for times during the summer months when it’
s super hot and they have no interest in wet food at all, they just want to graze and even that doesn’t last long. If you notice, most
grain free foods do not have them especially made in life stages. They say right on the can for kittens and adult cats. That’s
because they contain the proper amount of protein and nutrients and that’s really all they need. Kittens need to be fed more
frequently and more calories as they’re still growing, that’s the only difference.
Busting the Most Common Myths About Pet Behavior and Care
There are a few things I disagree with on this page but not much. Please read this entire page as it has really good information
on so many things but the main part I want you to read is this section:
3. Dogs and cats should be fed a food appropriate to their life stage - puppies need puppy food, kittens need kitten food and
senior pets need senior diets.
www.onlynaturalpet.com/KnowledgeBase/knowledgebasedetail.aspx?articleid=99&Keywords=#anchor3
My favorite part is this: For kittens, kibble is not recommended to be a large portion of the diet (nor for adult cats) as it can
contribute to dehydration, urinary tract issues and less than optimal health over time. Cats are obligate carnivores - which means
they are designed by nature to eat meat and very little carbohydrates. The newer higher meat content grain-free foods may be a
good option if kibble is to be fed to kittens, but canned, freeze-dried, dehydrated and raw are better choices.
November 15, 2011
I’m very excited to announce that IBD Kitties is now working with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in their study for IBD
and small cell GI lymphoma in cats. I’ll be putting this info up on my website as well and PLEASE pass this information out to
other forums, your blogs, websites, etc. This is an important study and the results could possibly mean a much easier way to
diagnose GI lymphoma other than invasive surgery and biopsy. If your kitty has had a biopsy already and has been diagnosed
with IBD and Small cell GI lymphoma, and you’d like to participate in this study, they would need a blood sample and some other
information from your vet. If you’re interested please contact me at IBD Kitties and I’ll be happy to provide you and your vet with
the Dr’s contact information and the proper form.
The University of California at Davis (UCD) School of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Veterinary Surgical and Radiological
Sciences is conducting a study in cats with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Small Cell Gastrointestinal Lymphoma
(GILSA). This UCD study is comparing two lymphocyte populations in cats with biopsy-confirmed IBD or GILSA: those
lymphocytes circulating in the blood and those found in the tumor biopsies. The goal of the study is to determine if a blood test
can be used to predict which disease the cat has based on lymphocyte populations. Additionally, if the test is predictive of one or
the other disease, this study will also determine how specific the test is for the two diseases and how sensitive the test in
distinguishing between the two diseases. This is not an intervention or therapeutic trial. While enrolling your cat in this trial will not
help your cat specifically, your cat's involvement may help other cats with these two diseases. Results from this study may aid in
providing a non-invasive pre-surgical/endoscopy diagnostic tool in the future.
This same university is also doing a drug trial for feline breast cancer and I’ll be providing information in my next newsletter on
what we can do for that. Peggy’s Tallulah passed away from breast cancer and there are several members who has a kitty that is
in treatment for this disease or has had some removal of a tumor. I’ve got a lot to write about with this also so I’ll save this for the
next couple of days.
I want to talk about the safety of something you would not suspect. I’m sure because kitties love catnip that some of you may use
catnip SPRAY on toys, beds, etc. Guess what! Catnip spray is made from catnip OIL, an essential oil, which is in fact toxic. I’m
positive of this! I’ve spoken to a few people who are certified aromatherapist, one being Purrcy’s mom, Arlye, who is also a
registered nurse. She’s agreed to let me include her thoughts on this subject in this newsletter to get the word out:
I think I would be very cautious using catnip oil. It is an essential oil and all essential oils are concentrated - so the potential for
toxicity exists. This state’s it should not be used during pregnancy or on young children - I put cats in the same category as young
children because children's ability to metabolize is under-developed too.
Essential Oil Safety Information
www.aromaweb.com/articles/safety.asp
If you notice, this well known product From the Field - Catnip Spray Rejuvenator states right underneath it: Without A doubt, the
most potent catnip oil spray product on the market! Made from essential oil extracted from our legendary catnip buds and
distilled water.
www.organicpetboutique.com/From_the_Field_Catnip_Spray_Rejuvenator_1oz_p/ffc302.htm
The reason we began talking about this is that another member had purchased something made of honeysuckle that is
supposed to be better and safer for cats. I’ve never heard of such a thing and I have a honeysuckle bush in my yard. I’ve never in
my life seen a cat even go near it other than to hide to jump at a bird. But the place where she bought it specifies that it’s just the
essence in a distilled solution. Here is the information Arlye provided for me on this:
I'm just not sure about the essential oil being BLENDED with "pure spring water". Oil and water just don't mix. The word
"essence" quite frankly bothers me in reference to the honey suckle - I'm not sure how the "essence" actually is produced. She
maybe producing an emulsion, but many emulsions are not stable. AND they still contain the essential oil and even in a diluted
form I don't think they are safe for cats. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbal_distillate. I have never seen any cat go up to a
honeysuckle bush and start rubbing on it and acting as if it were as intoxicating as catnip seems to be too many cats.
Basically the safest and best way to refresh your cat’s toys, beds, products, etc. is to take dried, organic catnip, crumble it up
and just plain old rub it on the product! Period. It’s safer and you’ll also be saving money.
I have added a couple more months of back issues of the newsletter and I urge you to go through them. There’s some VERY
important information there and so many of you were not yet receiving the newsletter. I’m glad so many of you urged me to put the
back issues up as there is a lot of info I’d like to have available continuously.
November 19, 2011
I have some additional info on the criteria for the IBD study at UC Davis. The blood sample that’s needed for the study needs to
be taken after biopsy and diagnosis but BEFORE any therapy has begun. So before any drugs like pred and chemo have been
introduced to the kitty’s body.
I also said I’d talk about the trial UC Davis is doing for feline mammory cancer. Peggy, Tallulah’s mom and I have been trying to
find a place to make monetary donations for feline breast cancer and have not been able to find anything anywhere. After I
emailed someone at The Veterinary Cancer Society she managed to find Dr. Rodriguez at UC Davis and this is how we began
conversing on both the IBD/lymphoma and feline mammory cancer issues. The gemcitabine trial for feline breast cancer will be
running until August of 2012. Here are the details from Dr. Rodriguez.
At Davis, I am currently investigating the role of gemcitabine in feline mammary carcinoma. This drug is good in the human
breast clinic but has had a dismal track record in veterinary medicine. We believe that we have found the optimal (non-toxic but
useful) dose in the cat and have a clinical trial investigating just that: this identified dose in feline mammary cancer. With more
than 15 veterinary oncologists in the San Francisco Bay Area, there is (tragically) no shortage of these patients. We ARE still
taking patients for the gemzar trial. The kitty can have ANY measurable tumor. They come in every other week for as long as they
tolerate the drug, for as long as the owner wants, or they run out of dose levels, whichever comes first. The kitties must also be
nice. We have to draw blood frequently and the cats that require whips and chairs to get near are not amenable to this trial.
Donations would help defer the owner's costs of therapy for their kitties. There is a specific way that donations from individuals
are handled. In particular, when donations are made for a particular cause, a cover letter from the donor dictating where the
donation should be channeled and HOW the donation may be used are paramount. Donations made without these stipulations
go into the general operating budget.
I now have a copy of the form letter for donations. If anyone is ever interested in making any kind of donation to this cause,
please let me know and I’ll be happy to provide you with the letter to mail in with your donation.
FDA Continues to Caution Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products
www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm280586.htm
Speaking of Pets - Thyroid disease in cats
www.tbnweekly.com/editorial/pets/content_articles/110911_pets-01.txt
Difficulty Breathing - Dyspnea in Cats
www.petmd.com/cat/emergency/common-emergencies/e_ct_difficulty_breathing
This is important as dogs and cats can spread the flu virus between them very easily, it’s happening now! The flu can be
dangerous no matter who contracts it, humans or animals.
Does Your Dog Need a Flu Shot?
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/veterinarians-recommend-flu-shots-dogs/story?id=14958498#.TsgMG_JQCdm
Flu shot for Fido? Vets advise flu vaccine for dogs after nearby H3N8 canine flu outbreak
www.nydailynews.com/new-york/flu-shot-fido-vets-advise-flu-vaccine-dogs-nearby-h3n8-canine-flu-outbreak-article-1.977590?
localLinksEnabled=false
This is a landmark case and it’s about time! This case will now give pet owners more rights when horrible mistakes are made.
Fort Worth court says pets worth more than market value
www.star-telegram.com/2011/11/12/3521252/fort-worth-court-says-pets-worth.html
I love this article and there’s a particular part I love best.
The incredibly growing pet - Americans aren't the only ones with an obesity problem. Just look at our dogs and cats
Cats are different, she says. They become overweight not from treats, but because their diet is too high in carbohydrates. "Cats
are nature's pure carnivores," she says. "They were never meant to eat carbohydrates. Their bodies are not designed to handle
them at all. Unfortunately, a lot of the cat foods on the market are high in carbs, especially dry foods. It's easy for us to leave a
bowl out all day, but then they're snacking on carbohydrates all day." Canned or moist foods from pouches are a better choice,
she says. www.chicagotribune.com/features/tribu/sc-fam-1115-fat-pet-20111115,0,6625998,full.story
Thanks to Julie for this REALLY great buy. This is a fantastic price for this huge tower.
www.buy.com/prod/80-in-cat-tree-condo-scratching-post-pet-house-premium-quality/212445937.html?sellerid=23256318
I want to give my condolences to John. Tigger was diagnosed just a little over a week ago with cancer that had gone into his
pancreas and liver. Yesterday John came home from work to find Tigger had passed away. He’d been acting completely normal
since his diagnosis so it was a shock! Tigger was not alone when he passed, he was surrounded by all of John’s other kitties
who were there to comfort him when he crossed over.
At the same time, Peggy’s Linus was found! He’d been missing for over a month and he was discovered yesterday when they
went to visit a friend 3 miles from their home. He saw their car and literally ran over to them meowing his brains out! I’d give
anything to know what he was saying, LOL. He’s got a few cuts and scrapes, lost a few pounds but otherwise in good shape
considering. Needless to say he’s never getting outside again.
Call us corny but we feel that Tigger had something to do with Linus suddenly popping up after everyone losing hope of finding
him! RIP little Tigger.
November 26, 2011
Those chicken jerky treats for dogs that are causing problems are from China so it looks like a “here we go again” scenario. I
know many of you have dogs and also some give doggy treats to their kitties so please do not use these!
Chicken Jerky Products May Be Associated With Dog Illness
www.petmd.com/news/alerts-recalls/nws_chicken_jerky_products_may_be_associated_with_dog_illness
Chicken jerky treats linked to mystery illnesses, deaths in dogs
http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/21/8885427-chicken-jerky-treats-linked-to-mystery-illnesses-deaths-in-dogs
FDA Issues Warning on Chicken Jerky for Dogs
www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/fda-repeats-warning-on-chicken-jerky-for-dogs/
It’s really amazing what they are doing with stem cells now for humans and animals. These stem cells were taken from this pig’s
own fat and helped her arthritis. I show these stories because they bring me hope that soon we’ll be using these treatments for
our kitties and other pets. Aging animals develop debilitating arthritis everyday and anytime we can avoid using medication and
use something from the body to heal itself, is the best answer! I truly believe that!
Stem cells helping beloved Houston Zoo pig battle arthritis
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/health&id=8437721
On the same token this story broke just two weeks ago and has many doctors very excited! Again, in terms of so many pets with
heart disease, this could lead to wonderful new treatments for them as well:
Stem cells cure heart failure? What "breakthrough" study shows
www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57324259-10391704/stem-cells-cure-heart-failure-what-breakthrough-study-shows/
Diseased hearts to heal themselves in future
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-diseased-hearts-future.html
This shows how there needs to be a lot more accountability with vets!
When vets make mistakes, pets pay the price
Owners outraged over botched surgeries, medication errors, misdiagnoses
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35286379/ns/health-pet_health/t/when-vets-make-mistakes-pets-pay-price/#.TtFNK_JQCdl
The dangers of Air Transport
www.awionline.org/content/air-transport
Turns out this vet is only 30 minutes from me!
Coughing a sign of feline asthma
www.telegraphneighbors.com/localnews/940789-147/coughing-a-sign-of-feline-asthma.html?CSAuthResp=1234%3A%
3A5000%3A257%3A24%3Aapproved%3A748801ABF57441070238AEAD407A5FAA
I emailed this vet about this article and she’s so nice. She said she can’t get over the epidemic of these diseases now!
Real reason not to give begging pet those table scraps: Pancreatitis
www.kearneyhub.com/life/article_2af82982-0d0a-11e1-8265-001cc4c002e0.html
Some of you have asked me about Vitamin E and proper doses, as Vit E is a fat soluble vitamin and can be overdosed.
Vitamin E Doses for Dogs and Cats
www.vetslovepets.com/articles/319/1/Vitamin-E-Doses-for-Dogs-and-Cats/Page1.html
If you already have a PALS card at Petco, go to this link and update your account profile to get this NEW PALS card. It gives you
new rewards and savings. And if you don’t have one, I urge you to apply.
http://view.ed4.net/v/JIJ788H/PWTFM/6ABO0BR/6XIJDZ/MAILACTION=1&FORMAT=H?cm_mmc=emailpals-_-
20111113PALSRewardsAnnouncement-_-20111116RewardsAnnounceNonMembers-_-ViewAsWeb&cm_em=20124914
I have great news for those of you who cannot brush your cat’s teeth! I have been using this product for about 3 weeks now on
Finney and Lacey and it WORKS! And I checked the ingredients and they’re fine. NOTHING terrible in them. This has no dyes,
no fragrance, no sugars, no alcohol, nothing. My cats had horrible breath and I found some tartar building up on Lacey’s upper
teeth. Believe it or not I found this by accident at Petco. They breath is both much better and their teeth are looking cleaner. I don’
t put as much in their water as the directions say to. I use an eye dropper and just put in 5 tiny drops daily and that’s it!
Petkin Liquid Oral Care
www.petco.com/product/13355/Petkin-Liquid-Oral-Care.aspx?cm_mmc=bazaarvoice-_-RLP-_-13355-_-
image_link#description-tab
If you don’t have a Petco around you, you can get it off my site:
www.ibdkitties.net/Groomingoral.html
This is one of our member’s website, take a look at this page:
A Frankenprey/Whole Prey Feeding Guide
http://catcentric.org/raw-feeding/a-frankenprey-and-whole-prey-feeding-guide/
Check out her kitties on the site as well, they are GORGEOUS!
November 28, 2011
OH MY GOD! Just when you think I can’t get any more angry at pet food companies. Yesterday one of our members, Kerri,
emailed me some info about Iams having a recall on some food due to alfatoxins in both their dog and cat foods. This was on
several watchdog sights including Truth About Pet Food and the ONLY place that listed it was a store called Price Chopper.
When I went to check on this, the information on Price Chopper’s website had been removed. After emailing several people to
find out what was going on, Susan Thixton of Truth About Pet Food has gotten to the bottom of it. Ugh, I shouldn’t be surprised
since it’s manufactured by Proctor & Gamble. Basically we (the public) were never meant to know about this:
Per Iams it was a Product Pull
www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/per-iams-it-was-a-product-pull.html
THIS is how a company should be proactive when there may be even a potential problem.
Giant Eagle Canned Pumpkin Media Statement
www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm281429.htm
This is encouraging news since this is all we hear about now in our food:
New Antibiotic May Cure and Prevent E. coli O157:H7 Infection
www.emaxhealth.com/8782/new-antibiotic-may-cure-and-prevent-e-coli-o157h7-infection
If you have a dog and take it to someplace like Petsmart or Petco, be aware that this is fast becoming a spreading problem:
Canine flu outbreak at Farmingdale PetSmart
www.newsday.com/business/canine-flu-outbreak-at-farmingdale-petsmart-1.3340346
I’d like to give my condolences to Deanne for the loss of her handsome boy Topaz. He was in my Living section and unfortunately
between IBD, pancreatitis, diabetes, CRF and then several strokes, at 17 his poor little body just couldn’t take anymore. He’s
now located in my tributes section, please visit his page: www.ibdkitties.net/TopazC.html.
November 29, 2011
I have to offer condolences to another member. This has really been a rough winter for losing kitties! My wonderful and dear
friend Pat lost her Purrdie of the Cornish Crew unexpectedly today. Pat has been making beautiful wings for kitties on Catster
that pass away now for years and does it out of the goodness of her heart. I know personally because she made them for my
Alex. It changed how I saw my baby in a positive way. Before that, it was hard to look at her pictures, I still felt bitter about her
passing. And although I’ll never be over that feeling that I was robbed of my soul kitty, those 3 pictures of her in wings healed me
as I saw her for the first time as she really is…an angel sent to me and now an angel that helps so many others. So thank you
Pat, you do wonderful work and I know that doing this has helped many, many others heal a little bit faster.
Another member, Karen has graciously offered to do reiki healing on your pet while she’s working on her degree. Her business
is called Touch of Light Reiki and she will do distance sessions for those not close to her in Antioch, IL. She’s not charging at the
moment, just looking for more experience. Like any other practitioner, they need to have a certain amount of hours to get
certified. Here is her Facebook link: www.facebook.com/touchoflightreiki
Feel free to add her on Facebook if you like, just include a note saying you’re a member of IBDkitties. Her business email is:
touchoflightreiki.karenc@gmail.com
She is a certified second degree practitioner so she has plenty of experience under her belt and can provide references if you’d
would like. And she’s also an animal intuitive - which she has been doing since she was little.
I was debating whether to talk about this just yet without getting more facts about it but I did see another new post from today so I
feel I must say something. First off I want to say that this is only about dog food so far. I have seen some people having issues
with this food and their cats in the last year so I think it’s time we reassess if this food is any good or not. Any issues with the
kitties were not nearly as severe as what I’m seeing here with dogs but since so many of you have dogs I need to inform you of
what’s possibly going on with Natural Balance pet food. Yes, I know. Not another one. I am such an unhappy camper right now it’s
not funny. Pretty soon there won’t be anything left for us to feed them! Please keep in mind that right now I think there isn’t any
reason to stop feeding this food UNLESS you see that the food smells or looks funky and/or any new symptoms like diarrhea or
vomiting pop up with your kitty. Also, a few people have found a couple of pieces of latex in the canned cat food so if you see any
discoloration in the food, please contact the company asap! If anyone has had these issues you’re about to see in these
complaints or does have them please let me know so I can remove the food from my website! And thank you Lily for bringing this
to my attention:www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/natural_balance.html.
Also, if anyone can find ANYTHING on the web about spinach being bad for cats, please send me the link. I have only found a
couple of small things and the reason I ask is because Finn and Lacey have been eating Soulistic Harvest Sunrise Chicken &
Pumpkin Dinner In Gravy and I never noticed before that there are small pieces of spinach in it. I contacted the company which is
owned and operated by Weruva and basically he’s looking for something more concrete than just my word that spinach can
cause renal issues and possibly failure. I have no idea at all if cooking the spinach lessens or drops the toxicity level of spinach
but I’m concerned about someone feeding it to a kitty with CRF and we don’t yet know if it’s okay to do so. You may not want to
feed your kitty that flavor if they do have any URIs, CRF or at your choice, maybe not at all. I may remove this flavor from my site
or put a note next to it, I’m not sure yet. I’m disappointed because Finn and Lacey love this flavor!! It’s so hard to find anything
kitties will continuously eat, you all know that. So please, please if you find any info on this can you send it to me? If you are
concerned about it and want to write to the company, here’s the website: www.soulisticpet.com/, the phone number and email is
listed on this homepage at the bottom.
A kitty parent on Catster posted this and after I saw the product and great reviews I decided to add it to my site:
Our cat had patella surgery this spring and we first bought a metal cage for him because he had to be extremely limited in his
activity for six weeks. He hated the cage, we hated the cage, and then a friend who works for a cat rescue group suggested
BestPet's pet play pen. It changed our Sugar's quality of life enormously for six weeks. It's round and soft rather than rectangular
and hard; it opens for very easy access, and it's absurdly easy to clear. I can't recommend it enough. Why every vet, especially
orthopedists, don't carry them for sale is beyond me.
Scroll down to see the Teal colored play pen. It comes in all kinds of other colors as well.
www.ibdkitties.net/Helpfultools.html
Here are some new photos of my furkids and my garden if you’d like to see them:
New Finney and Lacey pics
www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=228254683213%3A516473073
New garden pictures
www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=516185683213%3A1033345286
All for now! I will keep you all posted if I hear anything else on these food issues and please do the same!
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) blockers, Azathioprine and/or Mercaptopurine:
Update on Reports of Hepatosplenic T-Cell Lymphoma in Adolescents and Young Adults
www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm251443.htm
The only one of these ever used in cats is the azathioprine (Immuran) and while the chances of a cat getting the side effect being
warned about are probably minuscule, the mention of the med has brought up the bigger issue that it is extremely toxic to cats.
Plumb’s vet reference states that: Azathioprine - rarely used in cats for refractory/severe IBD, has terrible toxicity and is
generally, strongly not recommended to use it at all as it can suppress the bone marrow and cause death. "Most do not
recommend azathioprine for use in cats because of the potential for development of fatal toxicity and the difficulty in accurately
dosing."
The word "most" refers to researchers, experts, or published articles, that's where they get dosing info from since so few studies
are done on cats for FDA approval of meds. If your vet is prescribing or pushing for you to use it you should get a second opinion
from an internist before starting it or at least question your vet as to the possibility of there being something else to try such as
Leukeran. Few vets use it, but some do and for that reason I thought there should be a reminder about the toxicity, not
infrequently fatal, of azathioprine. And there has been a case of this happening on an IBD forum. (thank you to Dr. Barb for the
Plumb’s info).
Susan Thixton of the website Truth about pet foods has created a petition to make the government accountable for what’s in pet
food. Please pass this petition around to as many people as you can! Put it on your Facebook pages, everything.
We believe the Obama Administration should require
the FDA to enforce the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with pet foods.
www.change.org/petitions/we-the-pet-people
There’s some great information here on dental surgery on your pet.
Before and After Surgery and Dentistry - Preparing for Surgical and Dental Procedures
www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/howto14.html
Did you know you can put out a Pet Amber Alert for your missing pet? www.petamberalert.com/. Our member Peggy did just
that for her wonderful Linus who’s been missing for almost a month. Please check it out and if you know anyone who lives in that
area, ask them to keep their eyes out for him.
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=267317589970990&set=a.261912437178172.53377.145365152166235
&type=1&permPage=1
Tink’s mom Barb sent me this and I thought it was fascinating! (I know way too many Barbara’s, LOL).
Amazing Physics at work when cats drink
http://blogs.catster.com/kitty-news-network/2010/11/12/amazing-physics-at-work-when-cats-drink/
Just for the record, this vet is COMPLETELY against this (thank goodness)!
Can I Make My Dog or Cat a Vegetarian?
www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/jlee/2011/nov/can_cats_dogs_be_vegetarian
What a wonderful article this lady wrote on grieving the loss of a pet.
I’ve been in contact with her and she’s thrilled I’m sharing this.
Staten Island pet cemetery helps animal lovers find comfort amid grief
http://blog.silive.com/relationships/2011/11/like_losing_family.html
Because winter is coming soon and our windows are starting to remain closed, I know how stagnant and gross the air inside can
smell after awhile. Many people use those plug in air fresheners but I’ve seen way too many health problems develop with pets
because of those. This is about people but I am adamant on the same being said for pets.
Air fresheners can trigger allergies, asthma
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45181988/ns/health-allergies_and_asthma/#.TrcyPLKwVid
I have a few tricks I do to freshen the air in my place. I crack the windows open slightly for at least an hour or more every day
unless it’s like CRAZY cold! I live in the northeast so I can take it pretty cold. But I try let some fresh air in here for a short time and
get the yucky smells out. I buy a couple of those baking soda stickups that you use for the fridge and freezer and I place one
INSIDE the garbage can on the side or underneath the bag. Make sure you have a can with a lid that stays closed. I have one of
stainless steel ones you have to step on the pedal to open. NO potpourri as that’s also toxic to pets. I do burn those little
seasonal Glade candles for fresh scent but not for long, maybe 30 minutes and somewhere in an open area. And again, most of
the time when I have a window cracked. What I usually do with things like onion peelings or other veggies and food that needs to
be thrown out. If my garbage bag isn’t near full, I’ll put those scraps in a plastic bag and put it back in the refrigerator to take out
with me in the morning or put in the trash bag when it’s more full. That way that stuff isn’t sitting in the bottom of the bag smelling
up the kitchen.
Now for some FUN stuff! You’ve got to see this. I really have no idea how they swallow some of these things.
World's wackiest animal X-Rays reveal the things pets swallow
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2054734/X-ray-contest-Worlds-wackiest-animal-X-Rays-reveal-things-pets-swallow.html
So cute I can’t stand it! I need to hire this kitten, LOL
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cIliQj3icFw
I love the music they put with this and I just love the expression on this guy’s face.
My kitten is grooming my hair.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3LFzqLEz3I&feature=player_embedded
And I saved the cutest for last (I’m biased, what can I say!)
My new Finnegan and Lacey video! (my little terrors for those of you that don’t know). Enjoy these little nutballs!
http://youtu.be/ZE0-mz3esaU
November 12, 2011
One of our members recently sent me a link for a product called IntelliFlora. This is supposed to be a version of FortiFlora but
without the animal digest in it. She was super excited because she knows I don’t recommend FortiFlora for that reason. BUT!
This product is deceptive! Yes, it’s great there’s no animal digest in it. But Unfortunately the ingredients I bolded here are NOT
much better!
Dried Poultry Liver, Maltodextrin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sucrose, Silicon Dioxide, Salt, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin
A Acetate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Taurine, and
Sodium Alumino Silicate.
Sugars, salt and too much vitamin C, A, zinc and Copper and even Vitamin E in a cat’s diet can cause major issues. Even a
TINY extra bit can hurt them! I’d never recommend this. Most people have no idea what animal digest is so in looking it up, I
found this: Animal Digest is a common ingredient used in pet foods. As defined by the AAFCO, it is material which results from
chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and un-decomposed animal tissue. The animal tissues used shall be exclusive of
hair, horns, teeth, hooves and feathers, except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice and
shall be suitable for animal feed. A cooked-down broth made from specified or unspecified parts of animals (depending on the
type of digest used). If the source is unspecified (e.g. "Animal" or "Poultry", the animals used can be obtained from any source,
so there is no control over quality or contamination. Any kind of animal can be included: "4-D animals" (dead, diseased,
disabled, or dying prior to slaughter), goats, pigs, horses, rats, miscellaneous roadkill, animals euthanized at shelters, restaurant
and supermarket refuse and so on FDA: Digests, which are materials treated with heat, enzymes and/or acids to form
concentrated natural flavors. Only a small amount of a "chicken digest" is needed to produce a "Chicken Flavored Cat Food,"
even though no actual chicken is added to the food. - (FDA) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_digest.
I know this is completely disgusting but I’m asked so often about WHY I don’t want animal digest I feel it needs to be spoken
about. Meat by products are no better but sometimes can’t be helped if the cat won’t eat any other foods. Read this carefully and
if you don’t know what something is, like Phenobarbital, google it. Pheno btw, is used to euthanize animals among other things.
hwww.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/epa-document-proves-euthanized-dogs-and-cats-are-rendered.html
This also applies to pet products in a BIG way maybe even more so than humans.
Don't Be Fooled By Health Fraud Scams
www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm278980.htm
Taking the Sting Out of Pain for Your Pet
www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-palmquist-dvm/pet-pain-_b_1064793.html
The FDA has new guidelines for disposing of all sharps such as needles:
Needles and Other Sharps (Safe Disposal Outside of Health Care Settings)
www.fda.
gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/ConsumerProducts/Sharps/ucm20025647.htm
This page is no longer being updated but is still used for reference
State Disposal Laws
www.safeneedledisposal.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=57
I know a lot of you are always looking for heated pet beds and boy are they expensive! I did find one very reasonably priced and
gets very good reviews at a company I’m now an affiliate with: Greg Roberts Pet Supplies. I like this company, they have a lot of
great products! It’s called a Thermo Kitty Heated Mat and it’s on this page of my site.
www.ibdkitties.net/Miscellaneous.html
I also want to talk about this myth that “life stage” foods are the only thing you should be feeding your cat and that kibble is a
necessity as they’re kittens! Both not true at all. When I took Finney and Lacey in both at around 5 months old, the kibble went out
the window and so did the grains. As long as they’ve been in this house, I’ve fed them only grain free wet food and hardly ever
any kibble and of course that’s grain free. The only reason I do keep kibble around is for times during the summer months when it’
s super hot and they have no interest in wet food at all, they just want to graze and even that doesn’t last long. If you notice, most
grain free foods do not have them especially made in life stages. They say right on the can for kittens and adult cats. That’s
because they contain the proper amount of protein and nutrients and that’s really all they need. Kittens need to be fed more
frequently and more calories as they’re still growing, that’s the only difference.
Busting the Most Common Myths About Pet Behavior and Care
There are a few things I disagree with on this page but not much. Please read this entire page as it has really good information
on so many things but the main part I want you to read is this section:
3. Dogs and cats should be fed a food appropriate to their life stage - puppies need puppy food, kittens need kitten food and
senior pets need senior diets.
www.onlynaturalpet.com/KnowledgeBase/knowledgebasedetail.aspx?articleid=99&Keywords=#anchor3
My favorite part is this: For kittens, kibble is not recommended to be a large portion of the diet (nor for adult cats) as it can
contribute to dehydration, urinary tract issues and less than optimal health over time. Cats are obligate carnivores - which means
they are designed by nature to eat meat and very little carbohydrates. The newer higher meat content grain-free foods may be a
good option if kibble is to be fed to kittens, but canned, freeze-dried, dehydrated and raw are better choices.
November 15, 2011
I’m very excited to announce that IBD Kitties is now working with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in their study for IBD
and small cell GI lymphoma in cats. I’ll be putting this info up on my website as well and PLEASE pass this information out to
other forums, your blogs, websites, etc. This is an important study and the results could possibly mean a much easier way to
diagnose GI lymphoma other than invasive surgery and biopsy. If your kitty has had a biopsy already and has been diagnosed
with IBD and Small cell GI lymphoma, and you’d like to participate in this study, they would need a blood sample and some other
information from your vet. If you’re interested please contact me at IBD Kitties and I’ll be happy to provide you and your vet with
the Dr’s contact information and the proper form.
The University of California at Davis (UCD) School of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Veterinary Surgical and Radiological
Sciences is conducting a study in cats with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Small Cell Gastrointestinal Lymphoma
(GILSA). This UCD study is comparing two lymphocyte populations in cats with biopsy-confirmed IBD or GILSA: those
lymphocytes circulating in the blood and those found in the tumor biopsies. The goal of the study is to determine if a blood test
can be used to predict which disease the cat has based on lymphocyte populations. Additionally, if the test is predictive of one or
the other disease, this study will also determine how specific the test is for the two diseases and how sensitive the test in
distinguishing between the two diseases. This is not an intervention or therapeutic trial. While enrolling your cat in this trial will not
help your cat specifically, your cat's involvement may help other cats with these two diseases. Results from this study may aid in
providing a non-invasive pre-surgical/endoscopy diagnostic tool in the future.
This same university is also doing a drug trial for feline breast cancer and I’ll be providing information in my next newsletter on
what we can do for that. Peggy’s Tallulah passed away from breast cancer and there are several members who has a kitty that is
in treatment for this disease or has had some removal of a tumor. I’ve got a lot to write about with this also so I’ll save this for the
next couple of days.
I want to talk about the safety of something you would not suspect. I’m sure because kitties love catnip that some of you may use
catnip SPRAY on toys, beds, etc. Guess what! Catnip spray is made from catnip OIL, an essential oil, which is in fact toxic. I’m
positive of this! I’ve spoken to a few people who are certified aromatherapist, one being Purrcy’s mom, Arlye, who is also a
registered nurse. She’s agreed to let me include her thoughts on this subject in this newsletter to get the word out:
I think I would be very cautious using catnip oil. It is an essential oil and all essential oils are concentrated - so the potential for
toxicity exists. This state’s it should not be used during pregnancy or on young children - I put cats in the same category as young
children because children's ability to metabolize is under-developed too.
Essential Oil Safety Information
www.aromaweb.com/articles/safety.asp
If you notice, this well known product From the Field - Catnip Spray Rejuvenator states right underneath it: Without A doubt, the
most potent catnip oil spray product on the market! Made from essential oil extracted from our legendary catnip buds and
distilled water.
www.organicpetboutique.com/From_the_Field_Catnip_Spray_Rejuvenator_1oz_p/ffc302.htm
The reason we began talking about this is that another member had purchased something made of honeysuckle that is
supposed to be better and safer for cats. I’ve never heard of such a thing and I have a honeysuckle bush in my yard. I’ve never in
my life seen a cat even go near it other than to hide to jump at a bird. But the place where she bought it specifies that it’s just the
essence in a distilled solution. Here is the information Arlye provided for me on this:
I'm just not sure about the essential oil being BLENDED with "pure spring water". Oil and water just don't mix. The word
"essence" quite frankly bothers me in reference to the honey suckle - I'm not sure how the "essence" actually is produced. She
maybe producing an emulsion, but many emulsions are not stable. AND they still contain the essential oil and even in a diluted
form I don't think they are safe for cats. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbal_distillate. I have never seen any cat go up to a
honeysuckle bush and start rubbing on it and acting as if it were as intoxicating as catnip seems to be too many cats.
Basically the safest and best way to refresh your cat’s toys, beds, products, etc. is to take dried, organic catnip, crumble it up
and just plain old rub it on the product! Period. It’s safer and you’ll also be saving money.
I have added a couple more months of back issues of the newsletter and I urge you to go through them. There’s some VERY
important information there and so many of you were not yet receiving the newsletter. I’m glad so many of you urged me to put the
back issues up as there is a lot of info I’d like to have available continuously.
November 19, 2011
I have some additional info on the criteria for the IBD study at UC Davis. The blood sample that’s needed for the study needs to
be taken after biopsy and diagnosis but BEFORE any therapy has begun. So before any drugs like pred and chemo have been
introduced to the kitty’s body.
I also said I’d talk about the trial UC Davis is doing for feline mammory cancer. Peggy, Tallulah’s mom and I have been trying to
find a place to make monetary donations for feline breast cancer and have not been able to find anything anywhere. After I
emailed someone at The Veterinary Cancer Society she managed to find Dr. Rodriguez at UC Davis and this is how we began
conversing on both the IBD/lymphoma and feline mammory cancer issues. The gemcitabine trial for feline breast cancer will be
running until August of 2012. Here are the details from Dr. Rodriguez.
At Davis, I am currently investigating the role of gemcitabine in feline mammary carcinoma. This drug is good in the human
breast clinic but has had a dismal track record in veterinary medicine. We believe that we have found the optimal (non-toxic but
useful) dose in the cat and have a clinical trial investigating just that: this identified dose in feline mammary cancer. With more
than 15 veterinary oncologists in the San Francisco Bay Area, there is (tragically) no shortage of these patients. We ARE still
taking patients for the gemzar trial. The kitty can have ANY measurable tumor. They come in every other week for as long as they
tolerate the drug, for as long as the owner wants, or they run out of dose levels, whichever comes first. The kitties must also be
nice. We have to draw blood frequently and the cats that require whips and chairs to get near are not amenable to this trial.
Donations would help defer the owner's costs of therapy for their kitties. There is a specific way that donations from individuals
are handled. In particular, when donations are made for a particular cause, a cover letter from the donor dictating where the
donation should be channeled and HOW the donation may be used are paramount. Donations made without these stipulations
go into the general operating budget.
I now have a copy of the form letter for donations. If anyone is ever interested in making any kind of donation to this cause,
please let me know and I’ll be happy to provide you with the letter to mail in with your donation.
FDA Continues to Caution Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products
www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm280586.htm
Speaking of Pets - Thyroid disease in cats
www.tbnweekly.com/editorial/pets/content_articles/110911_pets-01.txt
Difficulty Breathing - Dyspnea in Cats
www.petmd.com/cat/emergency/common-emergencies/e_ct_difficulty_breathing
This is important as dogs and cats can spread the flu virus between them very easily, it’s happening now! The flu can be
dangerous no matter who contracts it, humans or animals.
Does Your Dog Need a Flu Shot?
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/veterinarians-recommend-flu-shots-dogs/story?id=14958498#.TsgMG_JQCdm
Flu shot for Fido? Vets advise flu vaccine for dogs after nearby H3N8 canine flu outbreak
www.nydailynews.com/new-york/flu-shot-fido-vets-advise-flu-vaccine-dogs-nearby-h3n8-canine-flu-outbreak-article-1.977590?
localLinksEnabled=false
This is a landmark case and it’s about time! This case will now give pet owners more rights when horrible mistakes are made.
Fort Worth court says pets worth more than market value
www.star-telegram.com/2011/11/12/3521252/fort-worth-court-says-pets-worth.html
I love this article and there’s a particular part I love best.
The incredibly growing pet - Americans aren't the only ones with an obesity problem. Just look at our dogs and cats
Cats are different, she says. They become overweight not from treats, but because their diet is too high in carbohydrates. "Cats
are nature's pure carnivores," she says. "They were never meant to eat carbohydrates. Their bodies are not designed to handle
them at all. Unfortunately, a lot of the cat foods on the market are high in carbs, especially dry foods. It's easy for us to leave a
bowl out all day, but then they're snacking on carbohydrates all day." Canned or moist foods from pouches are a better choice,
she says. www.chicagotribune.com/features/tribu/sc-fam-1115-fat-pet-20111115,0,6625998,full.story
Thanks to Julie for this REALLY great buy. This is a fantastic price for this huge tower.
www.buy.com/prod/80-in-cat-tree-condo-scratching-post-pet-house-premium-quality/212445937.html?sellerid=23256318
I want to give my condolences to John. Tigger was diagnosed just a little over a week ago with cancer that had gone into his
pancreas and liver. Yesterday John came home from work to find Tigger had passed away. He’d been acting completely normal
since his diagnosis so it was a shock! Tigger was not alone when he passed, he was surrounded by all of John’s other kitties
who were there to comfort him when he crossed over.
At the same time, Peggy’s Linus was found! He’d been missing for over a month and he was discovered yesterday when they
went to visit a friend 3 miles from their home. He saw their car and literally ran over to them meowing his brains out! I’d give
anything to know what he was saying, LOL. He’s got a few cuts and scrapes, lost a few pounds but otherwise in good shape
considering. Needless to say he’s never getting outside again.
Call us corny but we feel that Tigger had something to do with Linus suddenly popping up after everyone losing hope of finding
him! RIP little Tigger.
November 26, 2011
Those chicken jerky treats for dogs that are causing problems are from China so it looks like a “here we go again” scenario. I
know many of you have dogs and also some give doggy treats to their kitties so please do not use these!
Chicken Jerky Products May Be Associated With Dog Illness
www.petmd.com/news/alerts-recalls/nws_chicken_jerky_products_may_be_associated_with_dog_illness
Chicken jerky treats linked to mystery illnesses, deaths in dogs
http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/21/8885427-chicken-jerky-treats-linked-to-mystery-illnesses-deaths-in-dogs
FDA Issues Warning on Chicken Jerky for Dogs
www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/fda-repeats-warning-on-chicken-jerky-for-dogs/
It’s really amazing what they are doing with stem cells now for humans and animals. These stem cells were taken from this pig’s
own fat and helped her arthritis. I show these stories because they bring me hope that soon we’ll be using these treatments for
our kitties and other pets. Aging animals develop debilitating arthritis everyday and anytime we can avoid using medication and
use something from the body to heal itself, is the best answer! I truly believe that!
Stem cells helping beloved Houston Zoo pig battle arthritis
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/health&id=8437721
On the same token this story broke just two weeks ago and has many doctors very excited! Again, in terms of so many pets with
heart disease, this could lead to wonderful new treatments for them as well:
Stem cells cure heart failure? What "breakthrough" study shows
www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57324259-10391704/stem-cells-cure-heart-failure-what-breakthrough-study-shows/
Diseased hearts to heal themselves in future
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-diseased-hearts-future.html
This shows how there needs to be a lot more accountability with vets!
When vets make mistakes, pets pay the price
Owners outraged over botched surgeries, medication errors, misdiagnoses
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35286379/ns/health-pet_health/t/when-vets-make-mistakes-pets-pay-price/#.TtFNK_JQCdl
The dangers of Air Transport
www.awionline.org/content/air-transport
Turns out this vet is only 30 minutes from me!
Coughing a sign of feline asthma
www.telegraphneighbors.com/localnews/940789-147/coughing-a-sign-of-feline-asthma.html?CSAuthResp=1234%3A%
3A5000%3A257%3A24%3Aapproved%3A748801ABF57441070238AEAD407A5FAA
I emailed this vet about this article and she’s so nice. She said she can’t get over the epidemic of these diseases now!
Real reason not to give begging pet those table scraps: Pancreatitis
www.kearneyhub.com/life/article_2af82982-0d0a-11e1-8265-001cc4c002e0.html
Some of you have asked me about Vitamin E and proper doses, as Vit E is a fat soluble vitamin and can be overdosed.
Vitamin E Doses for Dogs and Cats
www.vetslovepets.com/articles/319/1/Vitamin-E-Doses-for-Dogs-and-Cats/Page1.html
If you already have a PALS card at Petco, go to this link and update your account profile to get this NEW PALS card. It gives you
new rewards and savings. And if you don’t have one, I urge you to apply.
http://view.ed4.net/v/JIJ788H/PWTFM/6ABO0BR/6XIJDZ/MAILACTION=1&FORMAT=H?cm_mmc=emailpals-_-
20111113PALSRewardsAnnouncement-_-20111116RewardsAnnounceNonMembers-_-ViewAsWeb&cm_em=20124914
I have great news for those of you who cannot brush your cat’s teeth! I have been using this product for about 3 weeks now on
Finney and Lacey and it WORKS! And I checked the ingredients and they’re fine. NOTHING terrible in them. This has no dyes,
no fragrance, no sugars, no alcohol, nothing. My cats had horrible breath and I found some tartar building up on Lacey’s upper
teeth. Believe it or not I found this by accident at Petco. They breath is both much better and their teeth are looking cleaner. I don’
t put as much in their water as the directions say to. I use an eye dropper and just put in 5 tiny drops daily and that’s it!
Petkin Liquid Oral Care
www.petco.com/product/13355/Petkin-Liquid-Oral-Care.aspx?cm_mmc=bazaarvoice-_-RLP-_-13355-_-
image_link#description-tab
If you don’t have a Petco around you, you can get it off my site:
www.ibdkitties.net/Groomingoral.html
This is one of our member’s website, take a look at this page:
A Frankenprey/Whole Prey Feeding Guide
http://catcentric.org/raw-feeding/a-frankenprey-and-whole-prey-feeding-guide/
Check out her kitties on the site as well, they are GORGEOUS!
November 28, 2011
OH MY GOD! Just when you think I can’t get any more angry at pet food companies. Yesterday one of our members, Kerri,
emailed me some info about Iams having a recall on some food due to alfatoxins in both their dog and cat foods. This was on
several watchdog sights including Truth About Pet Food and the ONLY place that listed it was a store called Price Chopper.
When I went to check on this, the information on Price Chopper’s website had been removed. After emailing several people to
find out what was going on, Susan Thixton of Truth About Pet Food has gotten to the bottom of it. Ugh, I shouldn’t be surprised
since it’s manufactured by Proctor & Gamble. Basically we (the public) were never meant to know about this:
Per Iams it was a Product Pull
www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/per-iams-it-was-a-product-pull.html
THIS is how a company should be proactive when there may be even a potential problem.
Giant Eagle Canned Pumpkin Media Statement
www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm281429.htm
This is encouraging news since this is all we hear about now in our food:
New Antibiotic May Cure and Prevent E. coli O157:H7 Infection
www.emaxhealth.com/8782/new-antibiotic-may-cure-and-prevent-e-coli-o157h7-infection
If you have a dog and take it to someplace like Petsmart or Petco, be aware that this is fast becoming a spreading problem:
Canine flu outbreak at Farmingdale PetSmart
www.newsday.com/business/canine-flu-outbreak-at-farmingdale-petsmart-1.3340346
I’d like to give my condolences to Deanne for the loss of her handsome boy Topaz. He was in my Living section and unfortunately
between IBD, pancreatitis, diabetes, CRF and then several strokes, at 17 his poor little body just couldn’t take anymore. He’s
now located in my tributes section, please visit his page: www.ibdkitties.net/TopazC.html.
November 29, 2011
I have to offer condolences to another member. This has really been a rough winter for losing kitties! My wonderful and dear
friend Pat lost her Purrdie of the Cornish Crew unexpectedly today. Pat has been making beautiful wings for kitties on Catster
that pass away now for years and does it out of the goodness of her heart. I know personally because she made them for my
Alex. It changed how I saw my baby in a positive way. Before that, it was hard to look at her pictures, I still felt bitter about her
passing. And although I’ll never be over that feeling that I was robbed of my soul kitty, those 3 pictures of her in wings healed me
as I saw her for the first time as she really is…an angel sent to me and now an angel that helps so many others. So thank you
Pat, you do wonderful work and I know that doing this has helped many, many others heal a little bit faster.
Another member, Karen has graciously offered to do reiki healing on your pet while she’s working on her degree. Her business
is called Touch of Light Reiki and she will do distance sessions for those not close to her in Antioch, IL. She’s not charging at the
moment, just looking for more experience. Like any other practitioner, they need to have a certain amount of hours to get
certified. Here is her Facebook link: www.facebook.com/touchoflightreiki
Feel free to add her on Facebook if you like, just include a note saying you’re a member of IBDkitties. Her business email is:
touchoflightreiki.karenc@gmail.com
She is a certified second degree practitioner so she has plenty of experience under her belt and can provide references if you’d
would like. And she’s also an animal intuitive - which she has been doing since she was little.
I was debating whether to talk about this just yet without getting more facts about it but I did see another new post from today so I
feel I must say something. First off I want to say that this is only about dog food so far. I have seen some people having issues
with this food and their cats in the last year so I think it’s time we reassess if this food is any good or not. Any issues with the
kitties were not nearly as severe as what I’m seeing here with dogs but since so many of you have dogs I need to inform you of
what’s possibly going on with Natural Balance pet food. Yes, I know. Not another one. I am such an unhappy camper right now it’s
not funny. Pretty soon there won’t be anything left for us to feed them! Please keep in mind that right now I think there isn’t any
reason to stop feeding this food UNLESS you see that the food smells or looks funky and/or any new symptoms like diarrhea or
vomiting pop up with your kitty. Also, a few people have found a couple of pieces of latex in the canned cat food so if you see any
discoloration in the food, please contact the company asap! If anyone has had these issues you’re about to see in these
complaints or does have them please let me know so I can remove the food from my website! And thank you Lily for bringing this
to my attention:www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/natural_balance.html.
Also, if anyone can find ANYTHING on the web about spinach being bad for cats, please send me the link. I have only found a
couple of small things and the reason I ask is because Finn and Lacey have been eating Soulistic Harvest Sunrise Chicken &
Pumpkin Dinner In Gravy and I never noticed before that there are small pieces of spinach in it. I contacted the company which is
owned and operated by Weruva and basically he’s looking for something more concrete than just my word that spinach can
cause renal issues and possibly failure. I have no idea at all if cooking the spinach lessens or drops the toxicity level of spinach
but I’m concerned about someone feeding it to a kitty with CRF and we don’t yet know if it’s okay to do so. You may not want to
feed your kitty that flavor if they do have any URIs, CRF or at your choice, maybe not at all. I may remove this flavor from my site
or put a note next to it, I’m not sure yet. I’m disappointed because Finn and Lacey love this flavor!! It’s so hard to find anything
kitties will continuously eat, you all know that. So please, please if you find any info on this can you send it to me? If you are
concerned about it and want to write to the company, here’s the website: www.soulisticpet.com/, the phone number and email is
listed on this homepage at the bottom.
A kitty parent on Catster posted this and after I saw the product and great reviews I decided to add it to my site:
Our cat had patella surgery this spring and we first bought a metal cage for him because he had to be extremely limited in his
activity for six weeks. He hated the cage, we hated the cage, and then a friend who works for a cat rescue group suggested
BestPet's pet play pen. It changed our Sugar's quality of life enormously for six weeks. It's round and soft rather than rectangular
and hard; it opens for very easy access, and it's absurdly easy to clear. I can't recommend it enough. Why every vet, especially
orthopedists, don't carry them for sale is beyond me.
Scroll down to see the Teal colored play pen. It comes in all kinds of other colors as well.
www.ibdkitties.net/Helpfultools.html
Here are some new photos of my furkids and my garden if you’d like to see them:
New Finney and Lacey pics
www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=228254683213%3A516473073
New garden pictures
www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=516185683213%3A1033345286
All for now! I will keep you all posted if I hear anything else on these food issues and please do the same!
| Newsletter Archive November 2011 |
| Copyright © IBD Kitties 2008-2012, all rights reserved |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |