Avma

  • Report offers tips to protect pets from salmonella—raw food, bulk-bin treats discouraged

    Posted: June 22nd, 2011 - 6:30am by Doug Powell

    Food safety Frank was walking around the vet college with me yesterday and we ran into my research pal, Dr. Kate Stenske KuKanich.

    It took about 10 seconds and they were into a full discussion of pet food safety, the role of pets as carriers of salmonella, and how infections cycle throughout the home.

    Wal-Mart is asking more of its pet food suppliers; that’s good.

    Dr. Kate wrote a report for the June 1, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA), laying out recommendations for pet owners on how to avoid Salmonella infection in pets; that’s good too.

    From the AVMA press release that went out last night:

    The report, written by Kate S. KuKanich, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, details the circumstances under which Salmonella organisms are most often ingested and includes a history of Salmonella outbreaks associated with pet food and treats. In addition, it offers recommendations on how pet owners can minimize the risk of Salmonella infection for both their pets and families.

    Recommendations include:
    Avoiding raw food diets for pets.
    Purchasing individually packaged pig ears, rather than buying them from bulk bins.
    Checking the packaging of pet food products to ensure that they are in good condition prior to purchase; returning products to the store if they appear tainted, discolored, or malodorous.
    Storing pet foods, treats, and nutritional products in accordance with label instructions, preferably in a cool, dry environment.
    Saving the original pet food packaging material, including the date code and product code of all food products, for product identification in case of food contamination.
    Discouraging children, the elderly, and immunosuppressed people from handling pet food and treats.
    Washing hands with soap and water before and after handling pet food, treats, and nutritional products.
    Using a clean scoop to dispense pet food into bowls.
    Washing water and food bowls used by pets, as well as feeding scoops, routinely with hot soapy water in a sink other than in the kitchen or bathroom.
    Avoiding feeding pets in the kitchen.

    I like working with smart people.
     

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    Food Safety Policy  |  0 Comments
    Avma, food safety, kate kukunich, Pet Food, salmonella
  • AVMA's new veal welfare policy

    Posted: July 25th, 2008 - 8:40pm by Michelle Mazur

    The American Veterinary Medical Association announced last week that they had passed a groundbreaking policy on veal calf housing that promotes both animal health and welfare. The resolution passed by a landslide 88.7 percent vote.

    The new policy states "that the AVMA supports a change in veal husbandry practices that severely restrict movement, to housing systems that allow for greater freedom of movement without compromising health or welfare."

    The former policy consisted of only a few points on living conditions, including that the area the calves are kept in permits them to stretch, stand, and lie down comfortably.

    "This is encouraging on two levels," explains Dr. Ron DeHaven, AVMA chief executive officer. "First, we are proactively seeking to improve the welfare of veal calves, and second, the resolution still affords the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee the opportunity to do a comprehensive analysis of the science and to consider all relevant perspectives of veal calf production."

    The confinement of veal calves and other farm animals is one of many issues that animal activists are passionate about.  Currently the Human Society of the United States is leading a campaign in California to pass legislation know as Proposition 2.  Prop 2 is aimed mostly towards egg-laying hens, pregnant sows, and calves raised for veal in order to improve their living conditions.  Perhaps the steps taken by the AVMA with new veal calf policies will help to continue their campaign.

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    Animal Welfare  |  0 Comments
    Animal Health, Avma, Calves, Veal Calf