Judge rules against prescription dog food companies
Rewards 12.5 Million judgement
Common sense is best when considering hot weather tips for your dog. Remember that older and obese pets, dogs with heart or breathing problems, short noses, and certain breeds like boxers, bulldogs, St. Bernards and ShihTzus are more prone to heat related problems.
Dogs cool themselves by panting and also through sweat glands in the pads of their feet, but excessive exercise and hot temperatures can overcome your dog’s ability to regulate their temperature.
Heat stroke occurs when the dog’s body temperature gets over 103 degrees F. The normal internal temperature is between 99.5 and 102.5 F. A temperature of 108 can be fatal. These increased temperatures can cause damage to internal organs like swelling of the brain and kidney failure.
Caught early, we can prevent permanent damage.
Symptoms Of Early Heat Stroke:
– loud and excessive panting
– extreme thirst
– vomiting or bloody diarrhea
– bright red tongue and pale gums
– skin around the neck and muzzle that does not bounce back when gently pinched (a sign of dehydration)
– thick and sticky saliva
– increased heart rate
– decreased urination
Signs Things Are Getting Worse:
– increased trouble breathing
– weakness with muscle tremors
– disorientation with wobbly gait
– laying down on his side
– collapse or coma
If you suspect your dog is getting overheated, take his temperature with a rectal thermometer. Insert a digital pet thermometer about an inch inside the rectum. Hold onto it until it beeps. Record the temperature and if it is over 103 degrees F, call the emergency vet in your area. In the meantime, cool your dog down.
Treating Heat Stroke
1. Remove the dog from the heat and place in an air conditioned room if possible. If not, make sure your dog has shade and restrict activity.
2. Allow the dog to drink cool, not cold water. Small amounts at first are best. No human sports drinks! If there appears to be no interest in water, try some room temperature, unsalted chicken or beef broth. Do not force him to drink if he cannot do so on his own.
3. Cool the body down with water either in a bath tub or with a pressure reduced hose. Wet the dog with cool water. Do not submerge completely or the body will lose temperature too quickly. No ice water as this can cause blood vessels to constrict. Just wet down gently over the back and neck.
4. Place a cold pack or a bag of frozen vegetables on his head or neck.
5. Massaging legs will help with circulation.
6. Keep pads of feet in cool air.
7. Do not cover or confine the animal. Wipe down with cool, damp towel but do not cover or crate him.
8. Take your dog to the vet. Even if he seems fine, it is always a good idea to have a thorough check up.
Preventing Heat Stroke Is Easy!
Never leave dogs, cats or children in a hot car!
Groom long haired and thick coated dogs with a summer cut in hot weather.
Always provide shade and water.
Keep dogs inside during the heat of the day and monitor exercise.
Avoid concrete and asphalt surfaces. The sand at the beach can burn sensitive paws too!
We all love our dogs and love to take them everywhere with us. But in the summer we need to think ahead and do what’s best for our furry friends. Be strong and resist that sad face as you get ready to leave them behind in the air conditioning!
The use of Presciption dog food is one of my pet peeves and shows that the
phrase “Marketing over Mother Nature’ holds true.
If you are a dog owner, you may have heard about the class action suit
against prescription dog foods. Hills, Science Diet, Royal Canin and Purina
are some of the brands that are accused of misleading consumers and
veterinarians about the benefits and ingredients of their products. The
lawsuit claims that:
- these companies charge premium prices for prescription dog foods that are not significantly different from regular dog foods. In fact, they are made in the same facilities, using the same suppliers as low-quality grocery store brands like Alpo and Beneful.
- they do not have any scientific evidence to support their claims of treating or preventing various health conditions in dogs. They are not made in facilities that follow traditional drug manufacturing protocols.
- that these companies have violated consumer protection laws and engaged in false advertising.
The class action suit was filed in 2019 by a group of dog owners who purchased prescription dog foods from these brands for their pets. They are seeking refunds, damages and an injunction to stop the companies from selling prescription dog foods without proper authorization and
disclosure. The suit is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Prescription dog foods are supposed to be specially formulated to address specific health issues in dogs, such as kidney disease, diabetes, allergies, obesity and more. However, according to the lawsuit, these products are not
regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other agency, and they do not require a prescription from a veterinarian to be sold.
The lawsuit claims that these companies have exploited this loophole to market their products as prescription dog foods, even though they are not approved or tested by any authority.
This suit also accuses these companies of using low-quality ingredients and fillers in their prescription dog foods, such as corn, wheat, soy, by-products and artificial colors and flavors. These ingredients may not only be ineffective for treating or preventing health conditions in dogs, but they may also cause adverse reactions and allergies in some dogs. The lawsuit cites several examples of dogs that suffered from health problems after
consuming prescription dog foods from these brands, such as vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, skin infections, kidney failure and death.
The lawsuit seeks to hold these companies accountable for their deceptive and unlawful practices, and to provide compensation and relief to the dog owners who have been harmed by them. It also aims to protect the public interest and the welfare of dogs by ensuring that prescription dog foods are properly regulated and labeled, and that consumers and veterinarians are informed about their benefits and risks.
Please be aware that the FDA does not review or verify the health claims on any veterinary diet.
Take a close look at the ingredient list and ask your vet for evidence that the foods in the prescription diet are any better than most regular diets. Also please keep in mind that while your vet has the best intentions, they get little or no nutrition training and often what little training they do get comes from the very companies that are named in these lawsuits.
Ultra processed foods made with poor quality ingredients are not what your dog needs if they are suffering from an illness. Give your dog a fighting chance with fresh, quality foods for a long and healthy life.
This lawsuit was settled in July of 2021. Hills Pet Food paid $12.5 million to participants.
Is it any wonder that here at Lucky Dog Cuisine we believe wholeheartedly “Fresh is Better”
The food we send your dog is the exact same food we feed our own beloved pack.
Dogs cool themselves by panting and also through sweat glands in the pads of their feet, but excessive exercise and hot temperatures can overcome your dog’s ability to regulate their temperature.
If you suspect your dog is getting overheated, take his temperature with a rectal thermometer. Insert a digital pet thermometer about an inch inside the rectum. Hold onto it until it beeps. Record the temperature and if it is over 103 degrees F, call the emergency vet in your area. In the meantime, cool your dog down.
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