U.S. Government News

Updated SAMHSA Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs Now Available

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:44:54 PST

A new, updated guide to finding local substance abuse treatment programs is now available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs 2008 provides information on thousands of alcohol and drug treatment programs located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and five

U.S.

territories.

Underage Drinkers: Quantity and Frequency of Alcohol Use among Underage Drinkers

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:56:51 PST

Based on combined data from SAMHSA's 2005 to 2006 National Surveys on Drug Use & Health, an annual average of 28.3% of underage drinkers (10.8 million persons aged 12 to 20) drank alcohol in the past month.

Insurance Coverage Available For Pets

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:20:39 PST

There are over a 150 million pets in the U.S., many of them considered a valued member of the family, and the cost of pet ownership is increasing—Americans spent $40 billion dollars on their pets in 2005 alone. But pet owners can now choose from a variety of insurance options in order to provide coverage for their beloved animals, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.)

Pet Insurance: Insurance Coverage Available for Pets

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:23:13 PST

NEW YORK, November 8, 2007 — There are over a 150 million pets in the U.S., many of them considered a valued member of the family, and the cost of pet ownership is increasing—Americans spent $40 billion dollars on their pets in 2005 alone. But pet owners can now choose from a variety of insurance options in order to provide coverage for their beloved animals, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.)

Pet Insurance: Insurance Coverage Available for Pets

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:23:13 PST

Treating Pain In Your Dog

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:39:13 PST

Controlling your dog’s pain is essential to his overall well-being. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are a class of drugs commonly used to control pain and inflammation in dogs. NSAIDs help many dogs lead more comfortable lives.

Resurgence of West Nile Virus in California Poses Risk to Horses

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:14:39 PST

SACRAMENTO, August 8, 2007 -- The return of West Nile virus to California this year is renewing calls for horse owners to make sure their animals are vaccinated. So far in 2007, five horses have been diagnosed with the disease – all have been either unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated.

FDA Offers Tips for Preventing Foodborne Illness Associated with Pet Food and Pet Treats

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:24:32 PST

FDA is informing consumers of steps they can take to help prevent foodborne illness, including Salmonella-related illness, when handling pet foods and treats. Pet food and treats, like many other types of foods, can be susceptible to harmful bacterial contamination. During calendar year 2007, 15 pet products have been recalled due to Salmonella contamination; however, to date none of these products have been directly linked to human illness.

Update: Dry Dog Food Recall - product contains tainted Chinese vegetable protein

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 07:18:08 PST

Doane Pet Care is announcing today a voluntary recall on a specific single lot of 55 pound bonus bags of Ol' Roy Complete Nutrition dry dog food. This product was produced at one facility in Manassas, VA and was distributed exclusively by some Wal-Mart Stores. Please note that no other Ol' Roy products are affected, and that this recall is not related to the Menu Foods recall (and other recent recalls) of pet food due to tainted Chinese vegetable proteins.

National Zoo’s Three New Cheetahs Make Public Debut

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:03:37 PST

The three new male cheetahs at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are on public exhibit beginning today, June 1.

Recalled Pet Foods: FDA Warns Consumers That Retailers May Still Have Recalled Pet Food on Shelves

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 07:41:17 PST

To verify the effectiveness of the recall, FDA has conducted approximately 400 checks of retail stores across the country. Based on the checks, FDA believes most companies have removed the recalled product; however, some have not. FDA will continue to monitor retailers’ efforts to remove these items from the shelves.

Information for Dog Owners: Approved Drugs and Related Information

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:41:05 PST

Within FDA, the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is responsible for the review and approval of drugs for animals, including companion animals such as dogs. In order to receive FDA/CVM approval, manufacturers must be able to demonstrate that the drugs are safe and effective when used according to label directions.

Overweight Dogs: FDA Approves the First Drug for Obese Dogs

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 11:19:13 PST

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today is announcing the approval of Slentrol (dirlotapide), a prescription drug for the management of obesity in dogs. Slentrol reduces appetite and fat absorption to produce weight loss. A veterinarian will determine whether the dog should be treated, based on the dog's weight and general health.

Equine Herpes Virus-1 Alert

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 10:45:32 PST

A recent disease outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1) has been traced to a shipment of horses from Europe and has resulted to date in the death of one horse in California and numerous other exposed horses around the country, including two horses in California that have developed mild clinical illness. Additionally, this outbreak and more EHV-1 related deaths have caused the shutdown of a major horse show in Florida. Outbreaks of EHV-1 have also significantly impacted major raceways and other equine operations in recent months. The cause of the disease outbreaks and deaths has been diagnosed as a neurological strain of EHV-1.

FDA Warns Horse Owners and Veterinarians About Deaths Due to Unapproved Clenbuterol

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 08:16:13 PST

FDA has become aware of the deaths of several horses in the State of Louisiana associated with the use of a product labeled as �Clenbuterol HCL.� Horse owners and veterinarians should be aware that there are no generic clenbuterol-containing products approved for animals.

Horse Owners Alerted to State�s First West Nile Virus Case of 2006

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 16:01:00 PST

SACRAMENTO �California�s horse owners are being urged to make sure their animals are vaccinated following the confirmation of this year�s first equine case of West Nile virus. The three-year-old quarter horse stallion from Tulare County died on July 4, and had not been vaccinated.

Recall of Pride Mature Horse Feed

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:48:00 PST

Western Stockmen's, Caldwell, ID a business unit of J.R. Simplot Company, is recalling all Pride Mature Horse feed, Lot number 7701-050306, because it may contain monensin sodium (Rumensin), a drug compound approved for use in some livestock species which can be fatal if fed to horses.

New Animal Drug Safety Page Posted On The CVM Website

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:56:00 PST

FDA�s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has posted a new Animal Drug Safety page on the CVM website.CVM established the page to help interested individuals more easily locate safety information on drug products regulated by CVM.

I gave my dog a drug and he got sick. How do I report this adverse reaction?

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 16:46:00 PST

Veterinarians and animal owners are encouraged to report adverse experiences and product failures to the government Agency that regulates the product in question.

Getting Your Pet Ready for Hurricane Evacuation

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 14:26:00 PST

The family pet can be overlooked until the final frantic moments before Mississippi residents evacuate ahead of a hurricane, but a little planning can ensure pet safety and care during an evacuation.