| Happy New Year from Epi-Pet |
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 First off, Happy New Year! We hope that your holidays were fun, safe and all your wishes and dreams came true.
With the new year here, it's time to hit the ground running. We have seminars beginning the second weekend of January and they won't stop until Thanksgiving of 2009. (Yay for us.) We also have a few other projects brewing this year as well. We are actively working with the FDA and watch out for G.I.P.C.E. -- Grooming Institute for Pet Cosmetology & Esthetics, Skin & Hair Coat Health Education for Grooming Professionals. |
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| Contact Us |
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3102 Cortez Road West
Bradenton, Florida 34207
866.204.0002 | |
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U.K. Pet Owners Subject to Codes of Practice
 The United Kingdom's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has unveiled codes of practice for the welfare of canines, felines and equines.
The codes, published in leaflets and on the DEFRA website, www.defra.gov.uk, will help pet owners understand their duties under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said.
"The act has been the most important piece of animal legislation in nearly a century," Benn said. "Animals are now afforded greater protection than ever before. These three new codes of practice will outline the responsibilities of owners under the act and give practical advice on how to fulfill them. This means no one will be able to claim ignorance as an excuse for mistreating any animal."
The codes will detail:
- How to create a suitable environment for a pet.
- How to provide a healthy diet.
- How to spot signs of stress.
- How to protect a pet from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
Anyone who fails to comply with a code of practice will not be liable to proceedings, but failure to comply with several provisions may be used to support prosecution for animal cruelty.
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Raw Meat Diets
 Going back a couple of years ago, melamine tainted pet foods originated in some of China's pet food manufactures resulting in severe illnesses and deaths to many pets who consumed the tainted food. Some pet owners decided to prepare their own pet's food. A number of pet owners still prepare their pet's food today rather than purchase commercial pet foods. Those concerned pet owners joined many groups of individuals including some breeders, pet show handlers, holistic food enthusiasts, groomers and veterinarians who favor home prepared foods rather than commercially prepared pet foods.
One practice of food preparation includes the use of "Raw Meat" as the entire diet or at least part of the pet's diet. An article in the most recent journal of Veterinary Practice News emphasized the dangers of feeding raw meat to pets. Although no opinion was given in favor of or opposed to the practice of feeding raw meats to pets, the article shares the grave concerns of the association of eating raw meat and the high incidence of Salmonella bacteria presence in the raw meat and the associated illnesses and/or deaths resulting from eating the raw meat.
The article, quoted by Dr. Sally Perea DVM ACVN, states that the concern for Salmonella infection after eating "Raw Meat" diets comes either with the preparation of the diet or after the pet eats the raw meat. Both the pet and/or the human can be infected. Either direct contact with the raw meat by the human in food preparation or the Salmonella bacteria shedding from the pet after digesting the raw meat is the source of human Salmonella infection. Humans that are most susceptible for infection after Salmonella exposure are children under 5 years of age, older people and those individuals immunecompromised. In other words, if you're that type of individual that catches everything that comes along, you probably have a greater chance of becoming infected by Salmonella tainted raw meat.
There are so many excellent commercial pet foods available in the market place today. Because of the melamine tainted pet food fiasco, the Agricultural and the FDA departments have stepped up their monitoring of pet foods. So, you can feel confident that the commercial diets are safe. I see no need for feeding raw meats to your pet and, because of the concern for Salmonella infection for the pet and the human, I strongly encourage you to consider changing all dietary practices of feeding raw meat and switch to conventional pet foods
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Upcoming Seminars
January 11th, 2009
Austin, Texas
9:30am - 1:30pm
January 18th, 2009
Dallas, Texas
10:00am - 2:00pm
January 25th, 2009
Houston, Texas
9:30am - 2:00pm
February 8th, 2009
Gulfport, Mississippi
9:30am - 2:00pm
February 15th, 2009
Miami, Florida
10:00am - 2:00pm
February 22nd, 2009
Phoenix, Arizona
9:30am - 1:30pm
If you or someone you know would like to pre-register for one of the seminars, please call toll free 866.204.0002 to pre-register for the low fee of $35.00, otherwise it will be $50.00 to register the day of the seminar. |
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NEW YEAR SPECIAL TO HELP RING IN THE NEW YEAR, EPI-PET IS OFFERING TWO OF THE 16OZ. SKIN ENRICHMENT SPRAYS FOR $20.09
(IN ANY COMBINATION OF LAVENDER, CEDAR OR UNSCENTED)
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| Offer Expires: January 31st, 2009 shipping not included in pricing |
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