Thinking Twice About Benadryl

Hey Everyone!

The other day Cary and I were speaking with a customer about her dog's allergies.  Like many of us, she occasionally gives her dog Children's Benadryl to treat the symptoms of her dog's allergies.  It was at that point that Cary mentioned there had been a recent recall on Children's Benadryl.  The customer and I were both unaware of this recall and I thought that many people may have missed the recall, or else not thought about it in the context of their dogs.  So I thought I would re-post the information here for anyone who gives their dog  Benadryl for allergies.  You may also view this article from its original source here.

Recall of Kids' Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, Benadryl

43 Liquid Child/Infant Products Recalled by Johnson and Johnson's McNeil Division

By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD

 
Editor's Note: On May 4, 2010, the FDA cited more than 20 manufacturing problems at the Fort Washington, Pa., plant.

May 2, 2010 -- Manufacturing defects have led to the recall of 43 child and infant liquid formulations of Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl by McNeil, a division of Johnson & Johnson.

No injuries or deaths have yet been reported. The voluntary recall follows an April 19 FDA inspection of a McNeil plant in Fort Washington, Pa. that uncovered "manufacturing deficiencies," the Washington Post reports.
The company says the chances of injury from one of the recalled products are "remote." Yet consumers are warned not to use the recalled products.
"Some of the products included in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles," a company news release states.
If children who have taken the recalled products have unusual symptoms, parents are urged to contact a health care professional.
Parents should not give children adult formulation of the medications. Alternative brands of the products, including generic medications, are available. Parents who have questions about alternative treatments should consult their child's pediatrician.
Recalled products may be returned for a refund or exchanged for a fresh product once manufacturing issues have been resolved.
McNeil did not say how many units were being recalled, but the number likely is huge. Recalled products were distributed in the U.S., Canada, Dominican Republic, Dubai (UAE), Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, and Kuwait.

List of Recalled Products

PRODUCTS	NDC Number
TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 1 OZ. GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-144-01
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. GRAPE FLAVOR*	50580-144-15
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 1 OZ. CHERRY DYE FREE	50580-167-01
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. CHERRY FLAVOR	50580-143-15
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 1 OZ. CHERRY FLAVOR	50580-143-30
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. GRAPE - HOSPITAL	50580-144-18
CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 0.25 OZ. GRAPE - SAMPLE	50580-144-40
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSIONS
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 2 OZ. CHERRY BLAST FLAVOR	50580-123-02
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 4 OZ. CHERRY BLAST FLAVOR	50580-123-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL DYE-FREE SUSPENSION 4 OZ. CHERRY FLAVOR	50580-166-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 4 OZ. GRAPE SPLASH	50580-296-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 4 OZ. BUBBLEGUM FLAVOR	50580-407-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 4 OZ. VERY BERRY STRAWBERRY FLAVOR	50580-493-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 1 OZ. CHERRY BLAST FLAVOR - SAMPLE	50580-123-01
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL SUSPENSION 4 OZ. CHERRY BLAST FLAVOR - HOSPITAL	50580-123-03
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSIONS
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COUGH & SORE THROAT CHERRY FLAVOR	50580-247-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COUGH & RUNNY NOSE CHERRY FLAVOR	50580-249-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS DYE-FREE SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COLD & STUFFY NOSE GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-253-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS DYE-FREE SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COLD & COUGH GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-254-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS DYE-FREE SUSPENSION 4 OZ. MULTI-SYMPTOM COLD GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-255-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSION 4 OZ. FLU BUBBLEGUM FLAVOR	50580-386-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COLD GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-387-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COLD & ALLERGY BUBBLEGUM FLAVOR	50580-390-04
CHILDREN'S TYLENOL PLUS SUSPENSION 4 OZ. MULTI-SYMPTOM COLD GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-391-04
MOTRIN INFANTS' DROPS
CONCENTRATED MOTRIN INFANTS' DROPS 1 OZ. BERRY DYE FREE	50580-198-01
CONCENTRATED MOTRIN INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. BERRY DYE FREE	50580-198-15
CONCENTRATED MOTRIN INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. BERRY FLAVOR*	50580-100-15
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSIONS
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. BERRY DYE FREE	50580-184-04
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 2 OZ. BERRY FLAVOR	50580-601-02
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. BERRY FLAVOR	50580-601-04
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. TROPICAL PUNCH FLAVOR	50580-215-04
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. GRAPE FLAVOR	50580-603-04
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. BUBBLEGUM FLAVOR	50580-604-04
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 1 OZ. GRAPE SAMPLE	50580-603-01
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 1 OZ. BUBBLEGUM SAMPLE	50580-604-01
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 1 OZ. BERRY SAMPLE	50580-601-01
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. BERRY HOSPITAL	50580-601-50
CHILDREN'S MOTRIN SUSPENSION 4 OZ. COLD BERRY FLAVOR	50580-902-04
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC LIQUIDS IN BOTTLES
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC 4 OZ. BUBBLEGUM SYRUP	50580-721-04
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC DYE FREE 4 OZ. GRAPE SYRUP	50580-730-04
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC SUGAR-FREE DYE-FREE 0.5 OZ. GRAPE	50580-730-15
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC SUGAR-FREE DYE-FREE 0.5 OZ. BUBBLEGUM	50580-721-15
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC SUGAR-FREE DYE-FREE 2 X 4 OZ. BUBBLEGUM LIQUID	50580-721-08
CHILDREN'S BENADRYL ALLERGY LIQUIDS IN BOTTLES
CHILDREN'S BENADRYL ALLERGY 4 OZ. BUBBLEGUM FLAVORED LIQUID	50580-535-04

*CONCENTRATED TYLENOL INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. GRAPE FLAVOR is also included in JOHNSON'S Baby Relief Kit.

*CONCENTRATED MOTRIN INFANTS' DROPS 0.5 OZ. BERRY FLAVOR is also included in JOHNSON'S Baby Relief Kit.

Win Tickets to Bark at the Ballpark!

Hey Everyone!

 

You can win two tickets to Sunday's Northwest Arkansas Naturals "Bark at the Ballpark" game by sending us your favorite picture of your dog playing ball.  

There are three easy ways to enter:

1. E-mail your photo to sales@bigwag.com  
2. Post your photo on our Facebook page  
3. Send your picture @BigwagDogBakery via Twitter.

 All photos must be received by midnight, Friday May 21st.  You may enter more than one photo, just be sure to include your name and contact information.   First prize is two ticket vouchers good for any Naturals home game.  Second prize and third prize winners will receive one pound of baseball treats.  All winners will be selected by the staff of Bigwag Dog Bakery and may be used in future Bigwag promotions.

Want another way to win?  Tonight from 5-7pm is our Take Me Out to the Ballgame Yappie Hour.  All our baseball jerseys and Planet Dog baseballs will be 20% OFF.  There will be baseball treats for every dog that comes in and peanuts and Crackerjack for people.  Plus, everyone who comes in will have a chance to win two tickets to Sunday's Naturals "Bark at the Ballpark" Game!

And even if you don't win, you can still join us Sunday!  We're meeting at the store at 12pm and we'll caravan to the ballpark.  Be part of the Bigwag crew by wearing yellow and you'll get a surprise from us.  You won't want to miss out - just check out the fun we had last year!  Want more details about Bark at the Ballpark?  You can find the information you need on our Pet Events Calendar.

Cinco de Mayo Contest Winners

Hey Everyone!

I was supposed to post the names of the winners of our Shaggy's salsa giveaway on Thursday, but I got a little behind.  I apologize to everyone for the delay.  Without further ado, the winners are:

Jamie Smith

Jack & Rita

Becky Rangel

Mary Lou Pohlman

Jessica Capps

Congratulations to our winners!  You can come by the store to pick-up your salsa or you can contact us at sales@bigwag.com or (479) 631-2WAG to make arrangements.  For those of you who didn't win, be sure to check out this great local company at www.shaggyssalsa.com or follow them on Twitter. You can also be their fan on Facebook.  Be sure to look for your chance to win Naturals tickets coming tomorrow!

Lucy's Party Pics

Hey Everyone!

Yesterday we were honored to host a "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds" drop-in for Lucy the Rescue Pug.  The drop-in was to celebrate two years since Lucy came into the lives of Pug Rescue and the home of  Jolene Turner.  Lucy was originally given only 3-6 months to live due to kidney failure and other health complications.  A few months ago, she was given only two weeks to live.  But Lucy continues to defy the odds and brighten the lives of everyone she meets.

 

Jolene and Cary prepare for the party (left)  Brandi decorates Lucy's cake (right)

People cupcakes and a special cake for Lucy!

Toni and Riley enjoy the party

Lucy and her sisters mingle

Lucy among her guests

Loving the cake!

Are you a Damsel in Distress?

So, this rainy spring weather brings back memories of long ago, when I was a kid and used to build forts in the neighborhood with my brother and JJ. One such fort was a tree house fort with a retractable rope ladder and a dumb waiter to haul up our sodas and snacks. We had carpet and a roof. We always had to top the last one you know.

This brings up a great activity to do with your dog. When was the last time you built a couch cushion fort? A LONG time right? Well, what better activity to do inside when it's rainy out then build a couch cushion fort? Here is why this is so great. You will more than likely be crawling around on the floor (if you are doing it right) and your dogs love it when you get down to their level. They should be interested in what you are doing. Once your fort is constructed, I found my dogs will play one of two roles - either they will play the attacker, and try to knock down your walls, or they will seek safety inside with you, against the invisible evil hordes trying to reach you inside. You could probably even build some additional forts around the house and see if they take to their own fort, and can serve as your outposts, or the enemy may use this fort to stage their attack.

Don't forget the important essentials when building your Couch Cushion Fort. Rations (snacks) will help your team get through those long siege periods, but make sure they are secured or the attackers will attempt to steal your supplies out from under your nose. I recommend treats that aren't iced, like our trainer chips, as the small serving size means they can have more than one and not over indulge.

My dogs thought this was big fun. It was giving them some attention, and weren't sure what exactly I was doing at first, but once I crawled inside they instantly knew what to do. Sam was my ally while Hannah staged her attack and then would pounce. They switched roles a couple of times, but had a blast. I think Sam really just wanted to get to the blanket.  

If you would like to check out the quintessential guide to constructing the perfect couch cushion fort, go here.

Too Big of a Wag

If your dog is an exuberant tail wagger, like one that I know (Jeff Smith), he will smack it against the corner of the treat table, or the wall and you can hear that it hits hard sometimes. I was reading an blog about a dog named Woody who sprained his tail from wagging too hard! WHAT!?! is there such a thing as too big of a wag?

Picture to the right: Jeff Smith, the winner two years in a row of our Annual Biggest Wag Contest.

About the Tail

Dogs wag their tail to communicate. The more excited or aggravated they are the more vigorous the wag. A damaged tail can be extremely painful. Veterinarian John A. Bukowski explains that tails are just a continuation of the spine. It is made up from 6 to 23 additional vertebrae. It has significant nerves near the base that contributes to the control of bowels.

Injury

Injuries to the tail are common. Vigorous wagging may smack the tail hard agaisnt a wall, piece of furniture, causing break, bruise, or sprain. A tail casn also be bitten by another dog, caught in doors, or even stepped on, if not careful. You can tell when your pooch's tail is injured when it droops and stops wagging. Check for swelling and tenderness.

Repair and Care

Tail injuries can be extremely painful. If a broken tail is crooked, it could heal that was if not set and splinted correctly. If you think your dog has sprained or injured his tail from too much wagging or any other reasons, you should take your dog to your local vet, immediately to avoid amputation or any other serious repair that could be avoided.

Sources:

http://www.webvet.com/main/article?id=227&med=1

http://www.vetinfo.com/treating-dog-tail-injuries.html

Being Eaten By the Big Guys

Hey Everyone!

Cary forwarded me this article last week and I'm just now getting a chance to post it.

"Procter & Gamble, the immensely huge consumer-products company that snapped up Iams/Eukanuba years ago and put the former specialty brand on grocery-store shelves for the first time, has picked up another pet-food company.

From Reuters:  The acquisition [of Natura] may surprise some industry watchers who had wondered in the past if pet food was a business P&G would exit. The business, a relatively small one for P&G, has not performed as well as other parts of the consumer product maker’s $79 billion portfolio.

Natura, based in Davis, Calif., sells products under the Innova, Evo, California Natural, Healthwise, Mother Nature and Karma brands in some specialty pet stores and through veterinarians, mainly in the United States and Canada."

I find this news unsettling, not so much because I care what P&G does or how it might affect my portfolio (although I did happen to get this news on the day the stock market took a record hit, partly due to a shocking drop in P&G stock...)  But rather because I'm concerned about what will happen to Innova, Evo, California Natural and other Natura lines.  The thing is that these are very well respected foods.  High quality foods that I trust, as do many other educated pet owners.  What I want to know is, what happens when this big company starts imposing their rules on this "small" company's product?  In my experience, large corporations, such as P&G put the bottom line above all else.  Which means that they will soon start squeezing anywhere they can.  Maybe they change to a foreign supplier.  Maybe they change to a cheaper ingredient.  Maybe the just reformulate altogether.  In the end, the result is the same.  You end up with a good name that's no longer a good food.  I hope I'm wrong.  I hope P&G keeps Innova just the way it is.  But, if I was feeding Innova, I think I'd start looking for another food.