Food Poisoning and Pets, It's Not all about Listeria

Staph food poisoning and pets

Geni Wren, Bovine Veterinarian Magazine   |   Updated: July 11, 2011

Jenny Berner

Food animals are increasingly becoming the target for food-poisoning problems and zoonotic diseases. But we often forget about the role other animals play, including our own beloved pets and their closeness to us — and our food.I’ll never forget when I grew up as a child in the late 1960s and 70s when we’d pack up the family in our green station wagon (French poodle Amy along for the ride) and head to the Dairy Queen, and every one of us four kids let Amy have a lick off of our ice cream cone. And my dad is a veterinarian. I never remember any of us getting sick, but those were also different times when we spent our playtime out in the fields, the grass and the dirt with a variety of pets and/or livestock. We were exposed to a lot of natural microorganisms people today don't often see.
Recently Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc Guelph, Dipl. ACVIM, from the Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, wrote in the Worms and Germs blog about potential food Staphylococcus food poisoning from the way we intimately engage with our pets and our food, countertops, etc.
Reading Weese’s article may give people pause (paws?) for thought the next time they share their food bowl with a pet or let that cat hang around the kitchen counter and traipse across the cutting board (do you know what litterbox those cat paws have been in?). But it also shows that companion animals can be a reservoir for foodborne disease and food animals should not bear the be-all and end-all blame. Food safety takes diligence — and cleanliness — on all of our parts and cannot be targeted to a few sources as it has many avenues to find its way into our food.
Weese's article follows:
Staph food poisoning…possible pet reservoir
Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc Guelph; Dipl ACVIM, Worms & Germs blog, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
When it comes to public health concerns about staphylococcal bacteria from pets, most of the attention gets paid to methicillin-resistant strains like MRSA. That's not surprising considering how important MRSA is in human medicine. However, staph that aren't methicillin-resistant can also be a problem since they can cause the same types of infections that resistant types can (they are just easier to treat). Another aspect that often gets overlooked is staphylococcal food poisoning.
Staphylococcal food poisoning is one of the most common foodborne illnesses and results from growth of certain strains of staphylococci in poorly handled or stored foods. If staph get into food and the food is kept at improper temperatures, the bacteria can grow. If the strain of staph that's in the food is one that can produce enterotoxins, these toxins can accumulate in the food at high enough levels to cause food poisoning when eaten. In most cases, people are probably the origin of enterotoxin-producing staph that contaminate food, but pets are another possible source.
A recent study in Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases (Abdel-moein et al 2011) looked at enterotoxigenic staph in 70 dogs and 47 cats. Swabs were collected from the mouth, nose and wounds. Nasal swabs were also collected from 26 people. They isolated enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus (strains of S. aureus that possessed genes encoding for enterotoxin production) from 10% of dogs and 2.1% of cats, as well as 7.7% of people. Most of the positive samples from pets were oral samples.
This study shows that dogs and cats can be potential sources of strains of S. aureus that cause food poisoning. Since the staph are often in the animals' mouths (and therefore presumably shed in saliva), animals should be considered possible sources of enterotoxigenic staph contamination of foods.
Prevention measures are pretty basic but should be considered, including:

• Keeping pets off kitchen counters.
• Discarding foods that pets have licked.
• Washing hands after pet contact, before handling food.
• Properly storing food, so that even if it gets contaminated with staph, the bacteria don't get the opportunity to grow and produce toxins.

Scott Weese is with the Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph.

Find this article at: http://www.cattlenetwork.com/bovine-vet/industry-news/Staph-food-poisoning-and-pets-125299013.html

Photographing Your Pets - 7 Tips for Better Photos

Taking memorable photos of your pets can be a difficult task. There are many professional photographers who focus on just this market and who make quite a profit by doing so. So what chance do us amateurs have? Frequently it can seem as if taking a good photograph of your pet is entirely based upon luck. However, that is not necessarily true. Before you "throw in the towel"--or throw away the camera--take a look at a few tips that may increase your chances of getting great photos of your pet.
1. Take Lots of Photos.
Professional photographers do this. In addition to their obvious skills, they take many photos to increase their chances of getting just the right ones. In this day of digital cameras, don't be hesitant to take a large number of shots. You don't need to keep them all. In the process, you might get that one perfect photo.

2. Catch Them in Action.
If Fido loves to fetch, have someone throw a ball or Frisbee and take lots of shots of him playing catch or running after the ball. If your cat tears up the toilet paper take a quick shot off before you clean it up. Often our fondest remembrances of them are the times they misbehaved.
3. Be a Sneak.
It can be a challenge to sneak up on your pet but it often leads to some great photos. Just capturing shots of your pets being themselves can result in your best photos of them. Even taking a shot of your cat or dog sleeping, especially if they are draped over the furniture or snoozing in a funny position, will provide memories.
4. Capture Favorite Tricks.
I know you have favorite tricks you like to see your pet perform--for you and for others. While some of these tricks might require sound and/or motion to capture just imagine having a photo of Fido sitting up or caching a jump in midair.
5. Reward to Maintain Interest.
In line with the precious tip, be ready to show your pets that paying attention is in their best interest. Be equipped with lots of their favorite treats or they will probably lose interest quickly. Treats can come in handy for getting your pets attention to look the right direction and they will also serve as a nice reward.
6. Get Down to Their Level.
One of the leading mistakes many owners make when photographing their pets is not taking photos from their pets' perspective. Kneel or lay down to get the best angle on your pet. This is the best method of causing them to naturally fill out the photo frame. This angle will also more accurately represent their appearance.
7. Be Patient.
Above everything else patience is key in photographing pets. Without it, the other tips will not be helpful. Your pet isn't going to comprehend what you're attempting to do but if you remain patient your pet will detect the difference. Pets can sense your emotional condition instantly. If you get frustrated, they will, too. If you begin to feel frustration just take a break and come back later to try again.
Keep the memory of your pets fresh and alive in your mind by photographing them frequently along with the human members of your family. A little time spent today will provide fond memories tomorrow.

Jack Lambert has interest in a wide variety of subjects and enjoys writing on them all.

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Photographing Your Pets

Our furry friends are a huge part of our lives. They offer us companionship and unconditional love. However obedient they may be, though, it can be difficult to make them sit still to take a beautiful pet portrait. Thankfully, there are several different methods and tricks that you can use to take a wonderful and lasting image of your furry friend.
The first thing to consider when taking pet photos is the setting. Natural light is the best bet for animals since you will not have to rely on a flash, which can be startling. Also, the green background of grass can provide a nice contrast to your pet's fur. However, if you have an indoor animal and want to take pictures inside, try taking them by a window or in a brightly lit room to avoid using the flash.
Next, you must think about your camera settings. Pets can move around and change positions in a heartbeat, so it is a good idea to utilize a fast-action lens to help you capture the perfect pose. Increasing your shutter speed can help you with this. Also, some people like to use macro lenses so they can get up close to their pet and highlight certain features, like enhance a cat's whiskers or a dog's soft nose.
Once you have your plans for the setting and camera in place, think about your pet. A great way to capture a pet's personality is to include his or her favorite toy or perch in the picture. For example, if you dog loves his tennis ball, you might want to take a photo with the ball in his mouth. If you have a cat who always hides on the bookshelf, try taking a photo of the kitty on her perch.
If you have tried taking photos of your furry friend before, you may have noticed that the camera angle held from human level can make your pet look strange in a photo. It can be helpful to get down on your pet's level to make him or her look more lifelike. Additionally, you may even try to get down below your pet. For instance, laying down on the grass and taking a picture of your cat up above you can create a funny picture.
Lastly, part of taking a beautiful picture of your beloved pet is sharing it with everyone. Once you take your perfect picture, you should consider turning it into a canvas so that you can easily display your furry friend. For more information on this process, check out YourCanvasPhotos today.

Joseph Devine

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Puppy Training - Best Practices

The first few months of a puppy's life are extremely important. How the owner handles these few months will have a huge impact on the characteristic and behavioral development of the dog. Because our puppy is still young, it learns quickly. This is why we have to use this time to properly teach the puppy what is acceptable and what is not, how it should behave in certain situations etc. In this article I will give you some tips about the most important things that a puppy has to learn during its first few months that will determine not just the puppy's life, but its owner's as well.
The first thing a dog owner wants from a puppy is not to relieve himself inside their home. This is the first step in housebreaking a puppy. It is important for a dog owner to know how to house train a dog. Many people who lack this skill abandons their dogs eventually. This might take a while because we have to wait until the puppy is old enough to establish proper toilet habits. It's a good idea to confine the puppy to a designated area until we can start this aspect of house training. This does not mean that the puppy should be isolated. Remember that a dog is a social being and needs to be around people and other animals. There are great waterproof training pads available that we can put on the floor to minimize the mess a young puppy can make.
Once the puppy is older, we should observe its daily routine so we can predict when we will have to take the dog outside for a walk. Usually puppies will need to go outside in the morning, shortly after eating and drinking, after waking up from a nap or before night. We need to feed the puppy always the same time so we can establish their daily routine.
Never punish the puppy in case of an accident. Remember, it's not their fault. On the other hand, always praise the puppy when he uses his designated potty area.
Another important thing a young puppy must learn is not to jump on people. To prevent this, the puppy must be caught in the act. Don't punish the dog, just firmly tell him that it is not acceptable.
Socialization is another vital factor in the life of a puppy. If the dog is not well socialized during this time, it may become too shy or too aggressive later. The dog has to feel comfortable around people.
When teething, a puppy can cause a lot of damage in our home. While this is very annoying, and the owner can get angry easily, it is not the puppy's fault. We have to make sure that when we leave the puppy alone, he won't be able to get near any furniture or other objects that can be damaged with chewing. There are great toys for this purpose and we have to teach the dog to chew on them instead of furniture. Don't forget to praise the puppy when he chooses his toy to chew on.

While house training a puppy may sound overwhelming and complicated at first, it is important to master some puppy training skills because the time we devote to their training will pay off eventually. A well trained dog can become an important part of the family and will save a lot of trouble later.

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What Is the Healthiest Dog Food for Your Pet?

What is the healthiest dog food? Homemade may be the best choice of all, as long as you choose wholesome ingredients.
The idea that "people foods" are bad for dogs is based on the fact that most people do not eat right. They eat unhealthy, processed, prepared and packaged foods that contain too much salt, too much fat and too many calories, but not enough nutrients.
Just think about it. If it is bad for your dogs, it must be bad for you, too.
Human beings do like some foods and spices that may be toxic to dogs. For example, onions and garlic contain a compound that is toxic to dogs. Onions contain more of the toxic compound, but fresh cloves of garlic are nearly as bad. Luckily, most dogs will turn up their noses to onions and garlic.
Chocolate is extremely toxic to dogs. It is equivalent to humans taking amphetamines. It can easily cause a puppy to have a heart attack. Raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts and walnuts are also toxic to dogs. We just don't know why.
Sugar should be avoided, just because it adds calories and provides no nutritive value. Salt can lead to kidney problems. If your dogs are not exposed to sweets and salty foods, they won't miss having them.
You can use small amounts of liver in a homemade dog food recipe, but you should only do so occasionally. Liver contains large amounts of vitamin A, which is toxic to both dogs and humans. Of course, humans can eat more without experiencing toxicity, just because their bodies are larger.
Cheese and milk can make tasty treats, but will cause stomach problems in some dogs. Lactose intolerance is another problem shared by both humans and their four-legged friends.
Which ingredients should be included in a homemade dog food recipe? Meat is one. Most dogs can eat all kinds of meat: poultry, fish, beef, lamb, etc. Dogs that are allergic to other kinds of meats can still eat lamb.
Rice is a good ingredient. Whenever our dogs are having stomach problems like diarrhea, the vet recommends chicken and plain rice. Barley is another good grain. Corn and wheat are not so good.
Mashed vegetables or fruits (other than grapes) can safely be added to increase nutritional value. The healthiest dog food is one that completely meets your dog's nutritional requirements. It's nice if he likes the way it tastes, too.
I always give my dog a healthy homemade dog food recipe and so should you.

info@25foodrecipesfordogs.com
Charlene Appeal is a dog food recipes expert. For more information on healthiest dog food and a homemade dog food recipe, visit http://www.25foodrecipesfordogs.com

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Toxic Foods List: Avoid Giving Your Dog These Toxic Table Foods!

Feeding pets table scraps often seems like a nice way to treat your pet to something tasty. However, many people don't realize that feeding their pet table scraps is not always in their best interest and could even put the dog's health at risk. Unfortunately, many of the foods that we enjoy can actually be harmful to dogs.
Some table foods can put your pet at risk for developing food allergies. However, serious illnesses such as gastrointestinal problems, kidney failure, liver failure, seizure and death can occur if you dog consumes even small amounts of certain foods.
Check out this list of toxic foods for pets to learn what not to feed your pet.
1. Grapes: These foods are highly toxic to dogs. Even in small amounts, grapes can cause stomach upset, weakness and kidney failure for your canine friend.
2. Raisins: Just like grapes, do not feed your pet even a few raisins.
3. Onions: These seemingly harmless foods are very toxic to dogs. Even in small amounts, onions can cause a hemolytic anemia. This means that the body attacks its own red blood cells, triggering a serious anemia that can result in weakness, fainting, shortness of breath and death. Garlic and chives also contain the same toxin, but in smaller amounts.
4. Xylitol: Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is used in sugarless gums and candies. Xylitol is high toxic to dogs and just a few pieces can land your pet in the intensive care unit. Ingestion of xylitol results in low blood sugar, seizure, weakness and liver failure.
5. Uncooked Bread Dough: Surprisingly, this food can cause huge problems for your dog as it ferments in his stomach. Fermenting yeast produces alcohol as a byproduct, which can cause intoxication. Expanding dough in the stomach can cause stomach rupture.
6. Chocolate: Chocolate, especially the baking chocolates, are toxic to dogs. Chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rate, seizure or death.
7. Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs: These aren't good for you, why would you think that they are good for your dog? Do not give your pet alcohol, drugs or tobacco products. These substances can cause a wide range of problems including stomach upset, cardiac disruption, coma or death.
8. Raw Meat/Eggs: These products may be contaminated with E. coli or Salmonella.
9. Animal Bones: These products are dangerous because they can cause intestinal blockage or puncture of the GI tract. This can cause life threatening internal bleeding.
10. Salt/Baking Soda/Baking Powder: Too much of these substances can cause disruption of the electrolyte balance and complications related to high sodium levels.
11. Mushrooms: Mushrooms can be quite toxic to your pet.
12. Sugar: Too much sugar is bad news for pets because it can lead to weight gain, tooth decay and diabetes.
13. Fruit pits and avocado: Believe it or not these seemingly harmless foods contain cyanide, which obviously is toxic to your pet.
14. Macadamia Nuts: Avoid feeding your pet these types of nuts because they can cause stomach upset and joint pains.
15. Spoiled or Moldy Food: This should go without saying, but if you wouldn't eat it, neither should your pet! Spoiled food can be harmful due to overgrowth of disease causing bacteria and molds.
It is a good idea to avoid feeding any of these items to your dog, even in small quantities!

Learn more about foods for your dog and how it can result in dog allergies at k9depot.net. Or learn more about how to contain your dog using proper pet gates

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Training Your Puppy To The Collar And Leash

One of the first things you must do with a new puppy is to get him used to his collar and leash. Fortunately this is not too hard to do, but it may take a little while.
The first thing to ensure is that you get the right size of collar for the puppy. Take a tape measure and fit it around the puppy's neck. You do not want it too tight - just a nice snug fit. You now want a collar an inch large, so if the puppy's neck size is 12'' you need a 13'' collar.
Buy something fairly light and preferably soft - certainly not a great, heavy leather collar. You may want a heavier collar when the dog is full grown, but for now a soft nylon one is ideal.
Now put the collar on the puppy and let him walk around the house. You may find that the puppy paws at the collar or whines and if he does then just ignore him. He is going to have to get used to it and the sooner he gets that idea the better.
Let him out in the garden if you have one, as he will find things to distract him from worrying about the collar. You can also play a game with him with a toy, which will also serve the same function.
Once he is happy with the collar it's time for the leash. Again, get something fairly light.
Now, just attach the leash to the collar and let him walk around with it. Keep an eye on him to ensure that the leash doesn't get tangled up in some furniture or whatever, since that may scare him and cause him to become wary of the leash which is the last thing you want.
Only keep the leash on him for a few minutes. Then remove it and maybe an hour later have another go. In between times put the leash down where he can see it and smell it, next to his food and drink bowls is a good idea as he will soon begin to associate the leash with pleasure.
Once he has got used to the leash it's time for you to get on the other end of it. Put the leash on him and walk around with him for a few minutes. Go outside if you can where he can stop and smell things - again associating the leash with pleasure.
Under no circumstances pull or drag on the leash. When he wants to stop YOU stop! Do this only for a few minutes at a time, bring him back indoors and while still holding the leash give him a treat. Then remove the leash.
Gradually extend the time you are walking him on the leash and shortly you will have a well-behaved puppy who is used to both collar and leash.

Peter Wood has been a dog-lover all his life and for the last 30 years has had two Jack Russell Terriers (Shackleton, named after the explorer - not the aircraft - and Merlin now aged 13 and named after the wizard - not the aircraft engine!)
Peter believes very strongly in training dogs in a humane manner. While many trainers use "reward and punishment" systems, far better, quicker and easier results are obtained when absolutely NO punishments are used.
For more free information and tips visit his website: http://www.dogtrainingbirmingham.net

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