By Dr. Gary Pusillo ©2011 The sudden horror of instant flames engulfing   most of the area around my friend Blaze (yes, that is his real name) when he poured gasoline from a container onto our campfire, was a lesson well learned without much pain and suffering. I will never use gasoline to start a fire. Dogs and cats that make it through the stressors associated with the floods, wind, power outages and changes in daily activities are prime subjects for opportunistic pathogens. One that will likely show up is CP (clostridium...

After the destructive forces of tornados, hurricanes and flooding, how do I salvage my pet’s foods? The recent tornados and flooding in the US will require many pet owners to adapt their individual situation to the destruction at hand. Having survived several tornados, and massive flooding in the last 31 years in Iowa, I have both practical and scientific knowledge of salvaging foods and sanitizing a pet’s living space after the disaster. The first thing to do after a disaster is to only keep those pet foods that can be safely...

We all love to spoil our pets with tasty treats and chews but we always wonder what, if any, are the consequences of buying the ‘low end’ products on the market.  We are always told to buy products that are made in North America and that are sourced from reputable manufacturers (like Complete Natural Nutrition) and not from places such as China.  Dr. Pusillo, being an animal forensic scientist, hears first-hand about the dangers with overseas products.  Below is a ‘repeat offender’ that has Dr. Pusillo shocked and...

Me oowwouch in the litter pan. When do you need to throw out “spoiled” diets. By: Dr. Gary Pusillo My daily routine includes my favorite cheeses and appropriate wine after I arrive home from the office. Cheese does not last forever so I have a rule of thumb when I see mold. If I see mold on hard cheeses (cheddar, Parmesan, Swiss, aged gouda, Romano,) I remove the moldy portion and about1/4 inches near it and I eat it. I am more careful when eating soft cheeses because the molds have a habit of going throughout the cheese...

 By: Dr. Gary Pusillo ………And this little Piggy went wee wee  wee  all the way to your house. Open any popular pet product catalogue and you can buy your own little piece of a “little piggy” from China. Just when you thought melamine in Chinese products was enough, they are shipping piggy parts laced with clenbuterol! Currently there are reports that human consumers of pork products in China became ill and ending up hospitalized with stomach pains and heart palpitations after consuming pork laced with Clenbuterol...

Perhaps the only nutrient that we use to wash, cool, sooth, refresh, entertain, and relax in is also the most common nutrient we take for granted. There are about 39 states in America that are in a current water crisis; shortages, and increasing pollution. The typical sewage treatment facility is not designed to take out modern pollutants, such as animal and human pharmaceuticals. Fish taken from most rivers and ponds currently show a detectible level of caffeine in their flesh and organs. If most fish tested in the US contain...

Krogers having issues with corn, who is next? http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110104/BUSINESS01/101040326/Recall+investigators+find+Kroger+pet-food+grains+had+elevated+toxin+level We hope that this post in June discouraged some pet owners from feeding diets with corn.  Watch for more posts from Dr. Pusillo on possible dangers in the future for our pets. … function fbs_click() { u=location.href; t=document.title; window.open("http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u="+encodeURIComponent(u)+"&t="+encodeURIComponent(t),"sharer","toolbar=0,status=0,width=626,height=436"); return...

I wish you and your loved ones a Christmas full of authentic experiences, bountiful expressions of joy ,and an unending supply of unconditional love. I wish you freedom from oppressions, depression, aggression, and the burdens of life that prevent the quality of life you deserve. Traditional images of the first Christmas, often depicted animals and people existing  in harmony; sharing and appreciating  a time of peace and  contemplation. While our pets cannot appreciate the miracles’ of Christmas, they often share in our...

The 7 greatest concerns in 2011 for commercial pet foods, treats, and supplements Dr. Gary Pusillo As the worries of 2010 turn into a reality of 2011, what are the commercial pet food, treats, and supplements major concerns you and your professional pet health and nutrition advisor need to review and prioritize for 2011: Excessive bone fragments (and mysterious substances) in some canned and dry pet foods. Drug and heavy metals in some pet products from China, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Argentina,...

In the world of fat supplements for animals most supplement and feed companies treat your pet as if you were at a Pretzel stand. To the traditional supplement and feed companies your pet only needs the “pretzel” that they sell no matter the species, age or physical condition of your pet. If you have a Amazon parrot, “give them one of our pretzels”. If you have a poodle, “give them one of our pretzels”. If you have a tiger “give them a big one of our pretzels”. If you need something a little...