Nylabone Dog Chew Toy

(Note Bene: The product in the article below was, I believe, about the plastic Nylabone. Even so, I do not recommend the rubber chews which have the little rubber "nubs" on them. The nubs can be chewed off and swallowed. Rubber is not digestible. Rubber chew toys should be solid, hard rubber with no easily gnawed off parts, and should be replaced about every 6 months or so - depending on how much they are chewed. It is unwise to let an animal play with or chew ANY product without supervising the activity. D.B.

Special Report on Nylabone aired by KHOU TV Houston, Texas, November 15, 2001

This product is apparently killing hundreds of dogs every year.

We all love to pamper our pets, but could your present be a killer? Some pet owners say yes and it's something your dog could be chewing on right now.

It's that time again, time to take the puppies for a walk. And Denise Allen doesn't mind, Alaska is like her child and so is Timber. Allen said, "He was the one I wanted. He chose me. He sat in my lap looked at me and said I'm going home with you." For five years Timber was a show dog, a therapy dog and the perfect companion. That is he was until a massive intestinal infection forced his owners to euthanize him. "I told him it was time to go night night," Allen remembered, "It was kinda one of those things where the dog told me it was time, it was ok. It was time. I just petted him and he died." The surgery that tried to save Timber instead found what made him sick, a piece of synthetic dog bone an inch thick lodged inside him, it slowly tore him apart.

Denise Allen said it was a piece of a Plaque Attacker made by Nylabone, there are several versions. It's one of the biggest selling pet products in the world specifically marketed to clean dogs' teeth. It is also marketed to be safe. The product even carries the ASPCA seal of approval and millions have sold since 1996. Dr. Craig Felton treated Timber and in a letter he said, "The spikes on the dental exerciser fragment definitely contributed to the object wedging and probably were responsible for lacerating the intestinal lining in several locations." It led to massive internal infection and death. Initially, Nylabone told Allen the product that likely killed Timber wasn't theirs. There's only one problem with that, Allen said, "Bless him, if he was going to eat a piece of this bone. It actually has the "o" and the "n" and the "e" and the little registered mark that is on the products."

Allen sued Nylabone because she said no where on the package does the company suggest there is any risk. Allen's Attorney, Debra Corcoran said, "Everything is geared to assure the pet owner that the product is safe, reliable. And because you are using a Nylabone product you don't have to worry about your dog suffering from death or near death." The company settled the day the case was set for trial. Still Denise Allen keeps Timber's ashes on her mantle, five years later. Allen said, "I'd didn't know there were other dogs. I didn't know there was a problem."

Shirley and Harvey Hannah know all about the problem. Shirley remembered, "There was blood down in the corner where he had tried to go hide because when a dog is sick they will generally find a dark place to go." Four years later and miles away in Seminole, Texas, the Hannah's lost their poodle, Rambo. "What really got me was when the vet told me that he had screamed and then died," Harvey said. Their vet found two pieces of what appeared to be Nylabone stuck in Rambo's stomach and intestine. Veterinarian, Dr. Ivan Muennink explained: "When it hung up the intestine keeps moving and so it kind of knotted up over it like and accordion."

The process severely damaged Rambo's intestinal tissue after being undetected for six months. Veterinarians say that's big part of the problem, the symptoms mimic any number of non-fatal intestinal problems and the product does not appear on x-rays. Timber had the same problem; the piece of the rubber bone inside of him did not show up on x-rays.

But what angers these dog owners is it appears Nylabone made a decision to make the products so they would not appear on x-rays. In a court deposition the company's own customer service supervisor said, "Any kind of additive that would make it radio-opaque would be far more detrimental if a dog ingests a piece." Veterinarians disagree, besides it would also lead to detection of pieces in sick dogs.

Harvey Hannah knows what he wants: "Take it off the market, or at least change your packaging and put on warning labels." The company claims that Nylabone is safe, it also says it has no form letter to handle complaints. But a letter to a Virginia woman in 1994 said, "It is most unusual for a Nylabone to break off in such large pieces."

Another letter from the company in 1998 called a dogs illness: "[A]....Tragic, isolated, incident," and added, "It is very unusual for a dog to bite off large pieces of this product." From a letter to a Wisconsin woman in 2000: "What Bach experienced was very unusual and we thank you for bringing this to our attention." And other letters blame the animals themselves: "He is too aggressive a chewer," and "Sophia was too aggressive a chewer." Most of the communications from the company end the same way: "While we do not feel Nylabone Products was negligent in any way, in the spirit of cooperation we are...."

In fact there are so many complaints that the company has an internal form it uses to keep track of all of them. 11 News found cases all over the country, 33 in all in 17 states, from Florida to Michigan to Texas, plus Canada and even in Germany. Dogs from tiny to huge, old to young.

Attorney Debbie Corcoran said she has at least a 120 more, more than 150 cases since 1994 in nearly all 50 states. Corcoran wonders how many more there are. Cases where dogs mysteriously died and the owners could not afford or chose not to have surgery that might have found something. Corcoran said, "It's coldhearted or evidently they aren't animal lovers. I don't know. They're selling animal products but they are not protecting the animals." There are millions of Nylabone products; Plaque attackers sold every year.

Denise Allen said, "If it's millions does that mean that ten thousand dogs dying is acceptable? 20 thousand. I don't know." For the Hannah's Rambo was enough, for Denise Allen Timber was enough. One too many. Debra Corcoran is preparing to file a class action lawsuit against the company right here in Texas. That should happen in the next few weeks.

Neither Nylabone nor its parent company T.F.H. Publications would appear on camera for this story. The company did send 11 News a written statement that said: "Dog chews should be chosen with the same care as children's toys. Owners must take responsibility to examine their dogs chew toys on a regular basis to monitor the product's suitability. Nylabone products have been and continue to be manufactured to high standards."

ADDENDUM: I have since heard from several people who have had problems with this product. The first is an excerpt from one of the emails which was a CC to me but the original was emailed to the Nylabone manufacturer: D.B.

From Julie: I have been compelled to write you as I found out the brother to our dachshund died.  This dachshund obtained his Championship and was the breeders pride and .
Just recently Champion Mr. Harley died after chewing off a piece of the Nylabone and swallowed it and it lacerated his intestines. 
My heart is broken for this man as he had given to us our precious WaPony as a compassionate gift. I believe it would be in your (Nylabone) best interest to contact him with some condolences.  You have no idea how much it costs to put the dog through showing and breeding to obtain a Champion and then lose him for something that could have been prevented.

From Jessica, Jan, 2005: My dog has been throwing up little pieces of nylabone for a couple of days and she is now walking odd too.  I do not know if these two problems are related to each other, so I wanted to check if these have been seen together in other dogs. 

Petcurean Dog Food Recall

Numerous dogs have died that were eating this dog food.  They are
developing severe liver disease.  The symptoms described in the
recall are wrong - but at least people should be warned about this recall.

Recall - letter from the company
Contact:
Peter Kojalo
510 704-7777 ext. 12
peter@t...

VOLUNTARY RECALL OF Petcurean GO! NATURAL Pet Food
From Pet Food Express Stores
Consumers Asked To Return Product To Store

Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada - October 22, 2003 - Canadian
dog-and-cat food marketer Petcurean Pet Nutrition, Inc. today
announced an immediate voluntary recall of all Go! Natural pet food
manufactured in Texas, which is sold in the Bay Area at Pet Food
Express stores.

Recalled product comes in four, eight, 12 and 30-pound bags, with the
recall in effect for all lot codes. Removal of recalled product from
store shelves has been completed today. Pet Food Express anticipates
on-shelf availability of replacement Go! Natural product manufactured
in Canada by Monday, October 27.

Petcurean voluntarily initiated the recall after investigating the
possibility that product manufactured in Texas could be related to
the illness of dogs and cats in approximately 13 reported cases, of
which six animals passed away. Symptoms to look for, although not
conclusively identified with recalled product, include rashes,
vomiting and liver dysfunction. Following reports to date, it appears
that only a fraction of a percent of animals ingesting recalled
product is impacted.

Petcurean initiated extensive independent testing of ingredients and
production operations for Texas-manufactured product this month,
after receiving reports of symptoms. No evidence has resulted to date
and testing will continue.

Consumers, veterinarians, pet agencies and breeders who have
questions concerning recalled product are asked to call Michele Dixon
at Petcurean toll free, 866-864-6112, extension 104, or to contact
the company at petcurean.com.

Petcurean asks consumers to return recalled product to any Pet Food
Express Store for reimbursement or product replacement and coupons
for free new product. The company regrets any inconvenience and hopes
to act as a resource and assist consumers during the recall.

Recalled product results from limited production in Texas that
occurred between June and September of this year. Petcurean is
exploring the possibility that one batch of production is responsible
for the recall. This batch is the equivalent of approximately 53 30-
pound bags of pet food. Production of Go! Natural at the Texas
facility was suspended. Future production will be handled in Canada,
with all other Petcurean products.

No Petcurean product manufactured in Canada is impacted by the
recall.

Based in Abbotsford, British Columbia in Canada, Petcurean was
founded in 1999 and is privately owned. The company distributes
product in greater San Diego, Sacramento and the Bay Area, as well as
metropolitan Seattle and Denver.
 

Teflon Can Be Dangerous

Bird Owners Beware
One consumer warning DuPont  issues about Teflon fumes involves birds. The fumes from overheated Teflon pans can be lethal to them.

Shelby Greenman told 20/20 that her pet cockatoo keeled over in its cage down the hall from the kitchen after all the water boiled out of a Teflon pan.

"I didn't smell anything, I didn't see any smoke," she said. "As soon as they inhale it, it's over. There's nothing they can do to help them."

Bird owner groups say thousands of birds have been killed by Teflon fumes. DuPont says this occurs because birds have small and sensitive lungs.

This information was part of an ABC 20/20 report on 11/14/03.

Warning: Any sensitive individual - human or animal - should stay out of poorly ventilated rooms when Teflon is being used. NEVER overheat Teflon. Cook at moderate or low heat when using Teflon.

Counterfeit Products Could Harm Your Pet

March 12, 2004  
By Joe Furia

SEATTLE - Look out for bootleg pesticides that could threaten the health of your pet.

The EPA says consumers can check Advantage or Frontline packaging to make sure they're getting the "real deal." If there are any foreign words or markings on the package - there's a good chance it may be a bootleg and should not be used on any family pets.

Swiffer Wet Jet Potentially Deadly

Elsewhere on this website, I recommend the Swiffer Duster as a very efficient cleaning tool. However, there is another product by the same manufacturer called Swiffer Wet Jet. The manufacturer of Swiffer Wet Jet denies there is any danger from this product. I am aware of and have visited the Urban Legends sites which have posted the manufacturers' claims and thus labeled reports on adverse reactions as hoaxes. The main reason, apparently, that these reports have been posted as hoaxes, is due to denials from the manufacturer. One must remember, however, that the manufacturer claims are self-serving. I personally prefer to err on the side of caution and therefore I recommend AGAINST using the Wet Jet at all. Here is a link to a material safety data sheet on the ingredient in question.

According to reports I have seen, this product is for cleaning floors and comes pre-filled with a cleaning agent which is potentially deadly to animals. One of the ingredients in the cleaning fluid is chemically very similar to antifreeze - a known poison. When the Wet Jet is used, animals walk on the floor and then clean their feet by licking them, thus ingesting the chemical. Fatal liver failure can result from this. Also, the fumes can be toxic to the point of being deadly to birds and other small creatures. Perhaps not all animals would be affected in the short term but I wouldn't want to gamble with my own pets' health.

The following is a personal account emailed to me which shows just how deadly this product might be. The email was signed with a name on it but I have chosen not to include it here. I do not know of a certainty if the report is completely accurate but I believe it is worth reading and considering if one is concerned about the safety of animals.

Below is an email I received from someone warning me of her tragic experience with this product in August, 2004. I do not have any other information on this particular product but there are many excellent articles on the web about proper rabbit diets. They all emphasize the importance of plenty of fiber. Three website where you can learn more are:
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/feeding.html
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-3/fiber.html
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/rabbits/a/rabbitsfeeding.htm
If anyone else has had an experience they would like to share, please email me.
Meanwhile an IMPORTANT NOTE: No matter what your rabbit eats in the way of pellet food, it still needs roughage and fiber. Regardless of what the label says. Good hay is the best source and it is critical to a rabbit's health and survival. Hay is safe, reliable, and inexpensive. You can buy small bundles of hay at produce stores, tractor supply stores, and many pet stores. Please provide your rabbit with plenty of fresh hay and fresh water at all times. DB

"I am writing you to WARN YOU of Hartz Wholesome Select Pet Rabbit Diet Food. It killed my precious two month old rabbit Mandi Belle. My bunny breeder warned me of a certain Hartz food that did not have any salt in it so when I looked on the ingredients label and found the Wholesome Select Pet Rabbit Diet had salt, I bought it.
    What killed my precious bouncing bun was not a lack of salt, it was a lack of fiber. I had intrusted my sweet little bunny's life to Hartz because it stated clearly on the front of the container, " Complete Nutrition, 100%, Alimentation Complete." Also on the feeding instructions it stated, "Feed your pet rabbit as much of this formula as it will eat daily. No supplemental vitamins, minerals, or protein is needed with this product. For variety, you may wish to offer your rabbit Hartz treats and treat sticks. It is important that fresh drinking water be available at all times."
    The day before she died she was being her usual playful self. I left around noon and went to PetsMart to get her a few things and then I went to my Nanny's house to visit for a while.I returned home around 11pm. Usually when I approach her cage she is bouncing and happy to see me, but last night was a different story. I walked over to Mandi Belle's cage and kneeled down to see her and she just laid there. This was very unusual for her. I thought she must be real sleepy and waited a few moments for her to wake up. She still didn't wake up so I went to pick her up and hold her. When I picked her up she had a dirty diarrhea bottom. I have read that if this happens to your bunny it is very serious and dangerous.
   As soon as I saw that I put her back down and called the Animal Emergency Center. I asked them what I should do considering I did not have enough money to bring her to the emergency center ( I am a broke college student) . They told me to take up her food, give her plenty of water and take her to the vet in the morning, this sounded like a lack of fiber in her diet and can be very serious. I tried to console my buddy by talking to her and telling her I would take her to the vet in the morning.
   I woke up at 7:12 am and went to check on Mandi. I found her laying on her side with her eyes open. I opened her cage to pet her and to my absolute horror she was stiff. My precious bunny died!!!!! I called my bunny breeder to ask what happened and she told me it was a lack of fiber, just as the emergency vet said. Please, please warn everyone about Hartz. They have already claimed too many sweet animals lives, stop them before they claim another!"

Update: Below are excerpts of emails from other readers, which I have received. In my opinion they add to the evidence that this product might be hazardous. D.B.

January, 2005 "I read your article about the bunny Mandi. I've been depressed for days trying to figure out what happened to my rabbit. My rabbit was a healthy 5 year old using Hartz food. I heard a commotion in the cage went over to find my rabbit rolling around and having seizures and then died out of no where." Michelle

May, 2010 "I read your story online and wanted to share mine.  My mother had a dwarf rabbit that she had for many years.  It was very old and sick and passed away after what seemed like respiratory problems.  Since my mom had a full bag of Hartz leftover, she gave me the bag.  I usually gave my rabbit some off brand of rabbit food. I also had a dwarf.  He was very healthy and happy and did not have any problems.  It was a warm spring day and upon coming home from errands, I decided I would move my rabbit cage outside so he could enjoy the sunshine.  When I went to the cage, he was dead.  He had been eating that food for about two weeks, and that is about the length of time that my mom's rabbit had been eating it too.  I'm very sad to read that other rabbits had died from this food.  I loved my bunny very much and I'm really sad that he's gone." Misty

Grapes and Raisins Poisoning
The following is not about a brand name product, but I wanted to share this information as a warning against feeding your dog grapes or raisins. The ASPCA has an animal poison hotline you can call 24hrs. a day at (888) 426-4435. There is a consultation fee. D.B.
 

The Wrath of Grapes by Charlotte Means, D.V.M.
Magoo was a big, playful Labrador retriever who often got himself into
some sticky situations. Usually, his escapades were harmless. But one day,
he managed to snag a box of raisins from the pantry and ended up eating an
entire pound of the sweet treats. Other than being exasperated by Magoo's
behavior, his guardians didn't think much about it. They knew that lots of
people shared grapes with their dogs and often used raisins as training
rewards. So it hardly seemed the kind of emergency that required a call to
the veterinarian. In fact, if Magoo's parents had called the ASPCA's Animal
Poison Control Center (APCC) just a few years ago, they would have been
told not to worry about it.
Through the Grapevine
Enter the APCC AnToxTM database, a computerized system that contains
nearly 500,000 animal-related medical conditions and that enables veterinarians to quickly identify toxicsubstance
exposures, recognize clinical signs and administer proper treatment. By tracking cases in this
registry, similarities in animal medical conditions nationwide can be logged and syndromes can be
identified.
Around 1989, the APCC began noticing a trend in dogs who had eaten grapes or raisins: Nearly all
developed acute renal (kidney) failure. As more cases were reported, enough data was generated in the
database to help veterinarians identify and treat dogs at risk. In all of the cases, the ingredients for
potential acute renal failure were the same. Whether the ingested grapes were purchased fresh from
grocery stores or grown in private yards didn't seem to matter, nor did the brand eaten. And the ingested
amounts varied considerably, from over a pound of grapes to as little as a single serving of raisins. The
cases weren't from any specific region, but instead came from across the United States.
The database showed that dogs who ate the grapes and raisins typically vomited within a few hours of
ingestion. Most of the time, partially digested grapes and raisins could be seen in the vomit, fecal
material, or both. At this point, some dogs would stop eating (anorexia), and develop diarrhea. The dogs
often became quiet and lethargic, and showed signs of abdominal pain. These clinical signs lasted for
several days -- sometimes even weeks.
When medical care was sought, blood chemistry panels showed consistent patterns. Hypercalcemia
(elevated blood calcium levels) was frequently present, as well as elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen,
creatinine and phosphorous (substances that reflect kidney function). These chemistries began to increase
anywhere from 24 hours to several days after the dogs ate the fruit. As the kidney damage developed, the
dogs would produce little urine. When they could no longer produce urine, death occurred. In some
cases, dogs who received timely veterinary care still had to be euthanized.
Why did the fruit cause the dogs to become ill? No one knows. Suspect grapes and raisins have been
screened for various pesticides, heavy metals (such as zinc or lead), and mycotoxins (fungal
contaminants) and so far, all results have come back negative. In the cases where the grapes were grown
in private yards, owners confirmed that no insecticides, fertilizers or antifungals had been used on the
fruit.
"Raisin" the Success Rate
Even though the exact cause of the renal failure is unknown, dogs who ingest grapes and raisins can be
treated successfully to prevent its development. The first line of defense is decontamination. Inducing
vomiting in recent ingestions and administering activated charcoal helps prevent absorption of potential
toxins. Dogs should be hospitalized and placed on intravenous fluids for a minimum of 48 hours. A
veterinarian should monitor blood chemistry daily for at least three days following the ingestion. If all
blood work is normal after three days, it's unlikely that kidney failure will occur. If a dog shows evidence
of renal failure, fluids must be continued, and other medications should be used to stimulate urine
production. Some dogs may need peritoneal dialysis, a process where the peritoneum (the membranes
surrounding the abdominal organs) is used to filter waste products that are normally filtered by the
kidney.
Thanks in part to the AnTox database, grape or raisin ingestion can be easily identified and treated.
Today, a dog can make a complete recovery from this potentially fatal condition.
Dr. Means is a veterinary toxicologist at the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, Illinois.
Reprinted from ASPCA Animal Watch, Summer 2002, Volume 22, Number 2, with permission from The American Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 424 East 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128-6804.
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is the only animal poison control
center in North America. Established in 1978, at the University of Illinois College of
Veterinary Medicine. The Center is the only facility of its kind. Located in Urbana,
Illinois, the specially trained staff provides assistance to pet owners and specific diagnostic and treatment recommendations to veterinarians. In 2001, the Center handled over 65,000 cases.