SoulPup.com offers quick, easy ideas to help reduce the number of shelter dogs in your community. Here’s the latest SoulPup Solution.

Vets Pay it Forward for Pets with Free Eye Exams

From helping soldiers deal with post-traumatic stress to rescuing tornado victims, working animals go above and beyond the call of duty for their people. To keep them healthy, the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) joined forces with Merial (makers of Frontline) to provide free eye exams for service animals. Since 2008, the ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam event has examined 16,000 working animals — including a service donkey named Henry. That’s paying it forward for pets!

These vital vet visits allow specialists to detect issues that may prevent animals from performing lifesaving tasks such as search-and-rescue missions or offering much-needed TLC after traumatic incidents such as the mass shooting in Newtown, Mass.  It’s just one more example of companies paying it forward for pets.

To learn more about this program, visit www.ACVOeyeexam.org.

How you can pay it forward for pets

Know someone with a service animal? Share this info so they can make an appointment for free vet care during the next Dog Eye Exam event. Every little bit helps!

The FDA issues alerts to notify pet lovers about mandatory and voluntary recalls. Here’s the latest FDA info about a recall affecting consumers in multiple states. The latest involves a Salmonella risk from Natura Pet products: California Natural, Evo, Innova and Healthwise.

Type of Recall: Voluntary

FDA Recall Announcement Date: March 18, 2013

Products: Bags of dog and cat food sold under the brands California Natural, Evo, Innova and Healthwise products in the list below. No other dry food, canned food, biscuits, bars or treats are affected by this announcement.

Product code: Multiple, see list below. Product expiration dates range from 12/17/2013 – 1/2/2014. Product was distributed by Natura Pet Products between December 18, 2012 through March 15, 2013.

Reason for recall: Potential contamination of Salmonella — bacteria that can affect animals eating the products. There also is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any exposed surfaces.

Manufacture date: A two-week window in December 2012

Distribution areas: Global. Products were sold at veterinary clinics, select pet specialty retailers, and online in the United States, Canada, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Costa Rica.

What to do: Acording to the FDA site, consumers who have purchased the specific dry pet foods listed should discard them. For further information or a product replacement or refund call Natura toll-free at 800-224-6123. (Monday – Friday, 8 AM to 5:30 PM CST).

AFFECTED PRODUCTS
Here’s a full list from the FDA website:

Recall Alert: Bravo! Original Frozen Raw Chicken Blend (2-pound tubes)

The FDA issues alerts to notify pet lovers about mandatory and voluntary recalls. Here’s the latest FDA info about a recall affecting consumers in multiple states.

Type of Recall: Voluntary

FDA Recall Announcement Date: March 13, 2013

Product: Two-pound, frozen raw diet tubes (chubs) of Bravo! Original Frozen Raw Chicken Blend

Product code: 21-102 — item can be identified by the batch ID code 6 14 12 located on the white hang tag attached to the bottom of the plastic film tube.

Reason for recall: Potential contamination of Salmonella, bacteria can affect animals eating the products. There also is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any exposed surfaces.

Manufacture date: June 14, 2012

Distribution areas: Nationwide to distributors, retail stores, internet retailers and directly to consumers.

What to do: Pet owners should return unopened frozen tubes of food to the store where purchased for a full refund. Dispose of opened tubes in a safe manner (Example: a securely covered trash receptacle) and return the washed plastic batch ID tag to the store for a full refund.

Cut the drama: Try these DIY pet treat recipes!