Always Tested, Always Held

In light of recent recalls, I wanted to give my manufacturer - Crosswind PetFoods - a huge shout out for their integrity and excellence. They began the protocol of holding my product and testing it (salmonella, e-coli, pathogens, broad spectrum bacterium - you got the picture) before it was even released to me.

Keep in mind that takes up precious space for them, having to hold on to the food for at least three days until all of the test results come back in. Add up all of the other folks that they are making product for and it adds up. This is nothing I have requested, by the way; this is just their own protocol due to their interest in making sure nothing sneaks up on them......or their customers.

In the world of pet food opinions, I know that my label have been summarily bashed for having "corn" in it, let alone the first ingredient. Sadly, many never read on and learn the whole story and realize how they have been duped by the pet food industry. Those with friends who have strongly advocated the food and many who are at their wit's end with what they were feeding - those who have fed and seen the results, they are the wise ones.

A label cannot tell you the grade of an ingredient. A label can hide many things.

Just don't be too quick to scratch a dog food off your list because you see corn as an ingredient - that could be one of the worst decisions you could make!!

Nature's Variety Recall

LINCOLN, Neb., Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Nature's Variety has initiated a voluntary recall of their Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet for dogs and cats with a "Best If Used By" date of 11/10/10 because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The only products affected are limited to chicken medallions, patties, and chubs with a "Best If Used By" date of 11/10/10. No other Nature's Variety products are affected.

The affected products are limited to the Nature's Variety Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet packaged in the following forms:

3 lb chicken medallions (UPC# 7 69949 60130 2) with a "Best If Used By" date of 11/10/10
6 lb chicken patties (UPC# 7 69949 60120 3) with a "Best If Used By" date of 11/10/10
2 lb chicken chubs (UPC# 7 69949 60121 0) with a "Best If Used By" date of 11/10/10


The "Best If Used By" date is located on the back of the package above the safe handling instructions. The affected product was distributed through retail stores and internet sales in the United States, and in limited distribution in Canada.

If you are a consumer and have purchased one of the affected products, please return the unopened product to your retailer for a full refund or replacement. If your package has been opened, please dispose of the raw food in a safe manner by securing it in a covered trash receptacle. Then, bring your receipt (or the empty package in a sealed bag) to your local retailer for a full refund or replacement.

Nature's Variety became aware of a potential problem after receiving a consumer complaint. Subsequent testing indicated that the lot code related to the consumer complaint tested negative for Salmonella. However, additional subsequent testing found the "Best If Used By" date of 11/10/10 to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Ear Infection/Dry Coat Problems

Hi Evy,

Our chocolate lab, Joe, has been on your food since around Thanksgiving of this year and it seems to have cleared up his ear infections very well! However, we do have one question for you...

Right now Joe is shedding like nothing we have ever seen! I just filled up an entire plastic grocery bag with his hair from brushing him. I'm not sure if this is a "seasonal shed" gone crazy--or what is going on, but he has been on the food for about 3 months and this just started a few weeks ago. Does this seem normal and have you heard this happening to other dogs on the food?

Thanks for any help!

Tati

Hiya Tati ~

Thanks so much for writing! I'm so glad to hear that Joe's ear infections cleared up so well.

The shedding problem that he is going through is totally normal and really great news for you!! When the hair follicle is well saturated with oil, it does not break off that easily. Many dogs go through a horrible 'coat blow' after being on the food for a couple of months - and I've heard that the first seasonal blow after being on the food is a doozy. The reason this is good news is that their former nutritional state may not have been that great - and now with Kumpi you will see a gorgeous coat fill in.

Glad you wrote and asked!!

Evy