Prep for 4th of July + FDA Report

July 2nd, 2019

Preparing for the 4th of July

4th of July parties are all fun and games until someone gets... scared? Or more like Terrified!!

Did you know that more pets get lost on July 4th than any other day of the year??

The loud noises of fireworks can be very frightening for a lot of dogs. While we stare at the sky in awe at the beautiful and bright neon display of exploding fireworks, many of our animals are panicking and unable to calm themselves down. Can you blame them?

Fireworks aren't exactly entertainment to our pooches. Those big scary BOOMS can make even the largest dogs want to run for the hills. However, there are many things you can do to stay prepared so that you, your family and friends can still have a good time!

STEP ONE is to make sure your d og is wearing an ID tag with important information like your address and/or phone number on the back! If there are fireworks right in your neighborhood, your dog could go into flight mode and try to escape your yard and "run away to safety."

ID tags considerably increase chances that your dog is returned to you if they are lost. Urban Pooch has a "do-it-yourself" tag engraving machine and over 100 different tags to choose from! Each tag only takes a couple of minutes to ma ke!

STEP TWO is to exercise your dog early in the day before the festivities begin. Maybe bring them to the park and play fetch with a fun squeaky ball or a frisbee. Tug-o-war is a great interactive game to play with them too! The idea is to relieve any excess energy they have so that they are calmer and tired in the evening.

Urban Pooch carries the most FUN and DURABLE toys to help your pooch get their "zoomies" out! Come see our m agnificent toy wall!

STEP THREE is to offer your dog some natural calming aids. We carry a variety of CBD oils and treats that have been known to ease anxiety in dogs and cats in a safe, non-toxic and effective way.

We also carry Progility calming treats and ZEN Licks treats that both have natural calming ingredients!

Lastly, Thundershirts have had a good success rate for calming dogs down naturally! Thundershirts apply gentle pressure around your dog's body to make them feel coddled and safe.

Urban Pooch is here to help! Ask one of our trained retail associates what the best solution is for your dog!

Recent FDA Report - Our Thoughts

Fellow pooch parents, we wanted to share some of our thoughts around the recent FDA Report https://t.co/0ZlqfoPGPf related to the possible link of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)heart disease in dogs and "grain-free" dog food. DCM is a condition that effects a dog's heart and results in an enlarged muscle. Dogs with DCM tire easily, cough, and have difficulty breathing.

While DCM impacts less than one percent of U.S. dogs, with .000007% being supposedly related to diet, we recognize that these studies are of critical importance to those families whose beloved dogs have been afflicted by this heart disease.

As you review the FDA's most recent report, it's important to understand the following:

The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that there are 77 million pet dogs in the United States. Tens of Millions of dogs in the U.S. have been eating pet food without developing DCM. This study involved only 560 dogs.

The FDA continues to believe that the potential association between diet and DCM in dogs is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors and that the actual cause has still yet to be determined.

Among all the cases from all brands that were reported to the FDA, 1/4 of the 560 impacted dogs belonged to breeds genetically predisposed to DCM, a disease that was first discovered in the 1980's well before the grain-free diets were available for pets.

". . . the FDA is committed to continuing our collaborative scientific investigation into the possible link between DCM and certain pet foods," said Dr. Steven M. Solomon, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine."It's important to note that Dr. Solomon says the FDA has not determined the nature of the potential link. but it encouraged dog owners to work closely with their veterinarians.

Over 95% of all dog cases reported were fed only dry kibble.

This study is ongoing and there is NO answer from the FDA, no recalls, no results or link stated by the FDA.

We will continue to offer these grain-free products as this study is still on-going and there was no proof of causality between the food and DCM. We also offer a variety of delicious and nutritious foods, such as frozen and freeze-dried raw. Dogs have been eating some of the foods listed in the reports for more than a decade. And the potential issue is not widespread, according to their current details.

We ask you to review the report yourself, come in and speak to one of our educated retail staff and do a nutrition consult to discuss options. If you notice any changes in your pooch's health, always consult with your veterinarian. Our goal is to help you in any way we can and to be a trusted resource in your nutrition decisions. When considering a new food, read the ingredient statement.

At Urban Pooch, we can help you navigate this sometimes-confusing realm. Your pet's health, happiness and well-being are our top priorities. We hope our notes help.

The Update FDA Report is located here:

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy