January 2009 Newsletter

Lone Mountain Animal Hospital
January 2009 Newsletter

Peanut Butter Recall Hits Pet Products
Most people are aware of the nationwide peanut butter paste recall due to the salmonella contamination. Over five hundred people have fallen ill and eight have died as a result of contracting salmonella from the products. Now this recall has hit the pet food market and led to the recall of some common pet treats. Most of the pet treats recalled involve peanut butter flavored biscuits or rawhides. The brands affected to date include: Carolina Prime, Carolina Prime Pet, Grreat Choice, Happy Tails, Healthy-hide Deli-wrap, Salix, and Shoppers Value. For further information on the products affected visit the FDA website at: www.fda.gov (a new window will open).

Fortunately this appears to be a voluntary recall and no pets have reportedly fallen ill due to these products. However pet owners should always be vigilant and see their veterinarian if vomiting, diarrhea, or other unexplained illness arises in their pets.

Dental Month Package Saves Money
If your pet has visible tartar or bad breath that makes you run the other way….then take steps now to address his/her dental needs! This month we are celebrating Pet Dental Care Month by offering a pet dental cleaning special. Your pet wins with a healthy mouth and you win with big savings. Also clients participating in the dental special will be entered into a drawing for a pet care basket with grooming coupons and pet care supplies. Click Here to see the full dental package details.

Pet of the Month
Congrats to this month's Pet of the Month…."Gulliver" is a loveable Labrador that has an affinity for getting into his share of medical misfortunes. Click Here to see his photo and story.

Cloned Dog Bought for $155,000
The economy may have many Americans watching their expenses, but a Florida couple spent a whopping $155,000 to clone their former dog. The couple's former Labrador Retriever, "Lancelot" aka "Lancy", died last year at the age of 11. The couple felt "Lancy" was so special that they happily paid top dollar to have their old friend cloned. They enlisted the services of the California biotech firm Bioarts who worked with South Korean scientists to create the dog clone. Their new pup named "Sir Lancelot Encore" was cloned from DNA that the couple banked five years ago. They claim their pup is the first single-birth puppy that was commercially cloned in the United States.

Cloning of pets raises some big opponents who express concern that having a pet cloned does not guarantee the new will behave exactly like a former one. Additionally cloning pets may seem unethical in a time when pet overpopulation leads to the euthanasia of 3-4 million pets annually. As for "Lancy's" family, they make no apologies for their actions and love their new pet investment.