The Three Eggs and I
Before there was Del Monte Pet Foods in Bloomsburg there was Recipe, which was owned by the Campbell Soup Co. The nutritionist in charge of product was the renowned Cornell veterinarian Ben Sheffy. Sheffy was a bit of a rebel as nutritionists go and no one dictated his beliefs and research as they do today. For example, when all the product lines boasted about the high protein content in their brands Sheffy believed a protein content of nine or ten percent was more than adequate. During an interview he told me that a hard boiled egg was the perfect supplement for all dog foods. “Include the shell,” he smiled, “It will add calcium” I have taken his advice to the feeding dish. Generations of my Springers have received a (shell-less) hard boiled egg in their dinner and all have eaten that first! So you can see how I began to worry about the egg salmonella headlines. More worry–apparently they find salmonella not just in the eggs, but on the shells. However, a Penn State Newswire article was the calming note I needed. All eggs that are salmonella free have a logo of certification on the carton. The logo is easy to spot–it is of three eggs! Years ago (before Dr. Seuss and Green Eggs and Ham) Penn State devised a salmonella test; eggs that have been tested bear the three egg logo!
NEW BILL FOR RABIES EXEMPTIONS. Senator Stewart Greenleaf (author of the Puppy Lemon Law) has introduced a bill to amend the rabies law for a one-year exemption for dogs from rabies vaccination if a veterinarian certifies it would be counterproductive due to infirmity, a physical condition or therapy regimen. The exemption would have to be renewed each year. Many support this bill. I have heard of dogs that have a similar pass on the rabies vaccine but in the cases I am aware of the exemption was given only because of breed sensitivity! I don’t know of any studies that support this. I also have to wonder how much protection a one-year vaccine–usually a killed vaccine rather than modified live gives a dog. Can we afford this bill? Fact. The number of rabid feral cats in the Commonwealth (cats are the number one carrier of domestic rabies). Fact. The number of shelters importing dogs from other states and countries where there is rabies. It would seem wiser to amend the rabies law to include mandatory rabies vaccination for all cats–not just those that live inside and to introduce the vaccine in the form of bait geared to cats as we do wildlife.
AKC MYSTERY PLACEMENT. The AKC recognizes 160 breeds–this year added six. The half dozen will take some getting used to and may be hard to find! The Boykin Spaniel (sporting group) is the official state dog of South Carolina. The Leonberger in the working group is a great therapy dog but the Cane Corso, also in the working group, is definitely not a people dog and the AKC calls this breed also “a hunter of more DIFFICULT GAME”?? The Icelandic Sheepdog (herding group) dates back to 800 AD along with the modern-day Bluetick Coonhound, which has been placed in the herding group too–while the Redbone Coonhound is a member of the working group. I would have expected both coonhound breeds to be in the hound group!
SEPTEMBER A VERY DOGGY MONTH. Veterinarians have dubbed September NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH with the goal of encouraging Americans to work together toward emergency preparedness. The month has been marked with a Ready Campaign by FEMA. The AKC has placed RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS DAY on September 25 with MEET THE BREED EVENTS. For example, the Lancaster Kennel Club is holding an event featuring the K-9 Bomb Dog Team and Search and Rescue Bloodhounds. About 550 events are scheduled across the country. And, unfortunately dog bite statistics peak in September. The insurance companies are already alerting agents.
Sep 10, 2010 | | Uncategorized