This video is intended to raise the awareness of grain haulers to the kind of feed they are hauling and the need to clean their truck after hauling feed that has been rendered or may contain prohibitive materials.

This video explains what BSE is, how it affects cattle and other ruminant animals, the measures that need to be taken when hauling different types of feed materials in grain haulers, and steps that grain haulers can take to keep BSE pathogens from cross contaminating other feed grains.

1. Can pet food contain residues of pentobarbital?

No. FDA considers pet food containing pentobarbital residues to be adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and will act to remove it from the market. Pentobarbital residues are not affected by rendering or canning temperatures and pressures (such as heat treatments capable of killing pathogenic organisms), and therefore we do not allow the use of animals euthanized with a chemical substance such as pentobarbital in the manufacture of pet foods. There is currently no set tolerance for pentobarbital in pet food and detection of its presence renders the product adulterated.

Below are links to examples of actions and recalls due to pentobarbital contamination:

2/16/18: FDA Alerts Pet Owners About Potential Pentobarbital Contamination in Canned Dog Food Manufactured by The J.M. Smucker Company, Including Certain Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits, Ol’ Roy, and Skippy Products

• 6/29/17: Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co – Warning Letter
• 4/24/17: Party Animal Recalls Dog Food Due To Potential Presence of Pentobarbital
• 3/3/17: Evanger’s Pet Food and Against the Grain Voluntarily Recalls Additional Products Out of Abundance of Caution due to Potential Adulteration with Pentobarbital
• 2/14/17: Against The Grain Pet Food Voluntarily Recalls One Lot of Pulled Beef Due to Potential Adulteration with Pentobarbital
• 2/3/17: Evanger’s Voluntarily Recalls Hunk of Beef Because Of Pentobarbital Exposure in one Batch of Food
  
  

FDA initially published this Consumer Update in 2015, and has had information on this topic on its website since 2010. The agency regularly updates the number of reports around this time of year as a reminder to pet owners about the potential problems associated with giving bone treats or turkey/chicken bones during the holidays.

Many dog owners know not to toss a turkey or chicken bone to their dog; those bones are just too brittle. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the risk goes beyond that, especially when it comes to the “bone treats” you may see at the store.

What’s a Bone Treat?

FDA has received about 68 reports of pet illnesses related to "bone treats,” which differ from uncooked butcher-type bones because they are processed and packaged for sale as dog treats. The reports were received between November 1, 2010 and September 12, 2017. A variety of commercially-available bone treats for dogs—including treats described as “Ham Bones,” “Pork Femur Bones,” “Rib Bones,” and “Smokey Knuckle Bones”—were listed in the reports. The products may be dried through a smoking process or by baking, and may contain other ingredients such as preservatives, seasonings, and smoke flavorings.

So if you’re planning to give your dog a stocking full of bone treats this holiday season, you may want to reconsider. According to Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at the FDA, “Giving your dog a bone treat might lead to an unexpected trip to your veterinarian, a possible emergency surgery, or even death for your pet.”

The two remaining pet stores in the city of Miami will have to change their ways or close up shop, commissioners decided on Thursday as they made Miami the latest U.S. city to crack down on the retail sale of household pets.

The Miami City Commission voted to ban the sale of dogs and cats from “substandard breeding facilities” like mass breeders and puppy mills. Dogs and cats from shelters, rescues and county-regulated breeders can still be sold.

The contentious ordinance passed 4-1 after a mix of nearly 65 animal rights advocates and pet shop supporters spoke before commissioners. Some wore “choice” T-shirts and shared sensitive stories of the hardships of running a family business. Others screened clips of screeching, matted animals in tiny cages at puppy mills.

Current pet shop owners have one year under the new law to either rethink their store’s sourcing or close the business. Other South Florida cities, including North Miami Beach, have already banned the commercial sale of puppies. Over 50 cities in Florida and 200 across the country have made similar moves.

Keep your feline friends and canine companions healthy and happy by following these 10 pet care tips the pros want you to know.

1. Regular Exams are Vital

Just like you, your pet can get heart problems, develop arthritis, or have a toothache. The best way to prevent such problems or catch them early is to see your veterinarian every year.

Regular exams are "the single most important way to keep pets healthy," says Kara M. Burns, MS, Med, LVT, president of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians.

Annual vet visits should touch on nutrition and weight control, says Oregon veterinarian Marla J. McGeorge, DVM, as well as cover recommended vaccinations, parasite control, dental exam, and health screenings.

2. Spay and Neuter Your Pets

Eight million to 10 million pets end up in U.S. shelters every year. Some are lost, some have been abandoned, and some are homeless.

Here's an easy way to avoid adding to that number -- spay and neuter your cats and dogs. It's a procedure that can be performed as early as six to eight weeks of age.

Spaying and neutering doesn't just cut down on the number of unwanted pets; it has other substantial benefits for your pet. Studies show it also lowers the risk of certain cancers, Burns tells WebMD, and reduces a pet's risk of getting lost by decreasing the tendency to roam.

Rabies

Of all animal diseases, rabies is probably the most feared. The rabies virus attacks the brain and is always fatal. Most pets are exposed to rabies

by bites from wild animals, particularly skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes. The disease can be transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch of

an infected pet. Vaccination of all dogs and cats is the most effective means of control.

Canine Distemper

This highly contagious viral disease is found wherever dogs are found. It affects the respiratory and nervous system and is often fatal. Primary

vaccination should begin at 6-12 weeks of age since dogs often contract the disease at an early age.

Canine Parvovirus (CPV)

This contagious viral disease usually causes severe diarrhea and vomiting in dogs of all ages, but is especially deadly in puppies.

Canine Coronavirus (CCV)

Coronavirus is highly contagious and can weaken dogs by causing severe diarrhea and vomiting. The disease is sometimes confused with

parvovirus. The two diseases may occur simultaneously, in which case symptoms are more severe.

Canine Parainfluenza

This viral respiratory disease is often partly responsible for "kennel cough" in dogs. Infection can be severe in young puppies. Parainfluenza

protection is often included in distemper-parvo vaccines.