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Dogs

RECALL: Canned Cocolicious Dog Food Due To Potential Presence of Pentobarbital (April 24)

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Via the USDA…

On April 13, a retailer in Texas notified us that their customer had presented samples of our 13-ounce-can Cocolicious Beef & Turkey dog food (Lot #0136E15204 04, best by July 2019) and 13-ounce-can Cocolicious Chicken & Beef dog food (Lot #0134E15 237 13, best by August 2019) to a testing lab, and that the results had tested positive for pentobarbital. We have requested those results.

When we were notified, we immediately tracked the lot numbers of the food in question and determined that the food had been manufactured and distributed in 2015. We then contacted the two probable retailers that had sold the customer the food and asked them to isolate all remaining cans from these lots. If pet parents have cans with either of those lot numbers in their possession, they should return them to the place of purchase and will of course receive a full refund.

We also requested that the retailers send all of the cans from those lots to us so that we can forward them on to an accredited independent laboratory for independent testing. We expect to receive the receive the results in 7 to 10 days. We first saw the formal report from the lab at Texas A&M regarding the customer’s samples, today, April 17.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are retrieving the remainder of these two lots nationwide. We are working with our distributors and retailers to determine if any additional beef-flavored products manufactured during this 2015 production period remain on shelves and, if so, to retrieve them from shelves, immediately, as well.

Party Animal wishes to emphasize that we have submitted many recent lots of our beef flavors for testing and all have tested negative for any pentobarbital. We have also had extensive discussions with our manufacturer regarding the potential cause of the reported contamination of the 2015 lots, and we will continue with such discussions even as we await testing results for the 2015 lots. In order to ensure adherence to our commitment to the safety of pets, we are also actively re-examining our manufacturing processes.

IndyVet offers free eye exams to service dogs

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Owners and handlers of active working animals can register for free eye exams at IndyVet Emergency & Specialty Hospital, on Indy’s southeast side, from April 1-30 as part of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) 7th annual National Service Animal Eye Exam event taking place during the month of May.

Dr. Heidi Klein, DVM, DACVO, IndyVet’s chief ophthalmologist, will join more than 250 board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico in donating their time and resources to provide complimentary eye exam screenings to thousands of eligible service animals.

Since 2008, ACVO has screened more than 22,700 service animals to help detect signs of disease. “These warning signs aren’t always obvious,” Dr. Klein said. “Without regular check-ups, something serious can progress to a more advanced state without the owner’s knowledge, which then poses the risk for permanent damage or blindness.”

Dogs eligible for sight-saving screenings include the following: guide, handicapped assistance, detection, military, search and rescue, and registered therapy canines.

To qualify, animals must be certified by a formal training program or organization, or currently enrolled in a formal training program, which can be national, regional or local in nature.

During the exam, Dr. Klein will utilize specialized ophthalmic equipment to look for problems including: redness, corneal changes, retinal disease, early cataracts and other serious abnormalities.

“These animals work for a living and rely on their eyes just as much as we do,” she said. “Search and rescue dogs might have to climb ladders, or search for missing people in the dark. And then others might have to perform daily tasks like pushing buttons, taking off shoes or even fetching phones for handlers.”

“Early detection helps ensure that these working dogs can continue to work effectively,” she added.

Service animal(s) owners and handlers must register online at www.ACVOeyeexam.org before the event starts in May.

Once registered online, the owner/handler can call IndyVet at 782.4484 and use the registration number to schedule an appointment with IndyVet. Appointments will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

IndyVet is located at 5425 Victory Drive, just south and east of the I-465 & South Emerson Avenue interchange.