Scoop

If your pet has health issues that warrant special formulas, take note as the latest, voluntary recall affects cat and dog kibble distributed to veterinary clinics and specialty pet retailers. Although the first alert came last week for only the Iams Feline Renal Veterinary Dry Formula, it has expanded to that entire line and a few more from Eukanuba, too.

The specialized foods on this list are:

• Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas for Cats and Dogs
• Eukanuba Dog Dry Naturally Wild
• Eukanuba Dog Pure
• Eukanuba Dog Custom Care Sensitive Skin

Some products made at this facility with "Best-By" dates between July 1, 2010, and Dec. 1, 2011 have the potential for Salmonella contamination so discard the food and contact P&G for product refund information, remember how to report a problem to the FDA, and brush up on your Salmonella facts, too!

Although this warning doesn't affect wet food or treats, get the full list of kibble UPC codes here.

Yo ho, Bo — the first dog is at it again! The cute presidential pooch trots along the South Lawn this morning on a walk before President Obama took off for Atlanta to address the Disabled American Veterans convention.

The Portuguese Water Dog sniffs and scampers along seemingly oblivious to the cameras as he perhaps hunts for one of his favorite toys. He's only wearing a simple tan collar today (instead of this family pride one or a leash befitting a superstar) but with his selection inside the White House, I'm not surprised to spot something new. Peep more pics of this pooch in the gallery below!

Well, it's nothing new in theory — and a main reason my pooch always rides in the cabin with me — but the proof is in the stats. According to data released Friday by the Department of Transportation, 122 dog deaths have been reported since the DOT required airlines to make that information public (beginning in May 2005). Of those numbers, the highest single number of the 108 purebred deaths belongs to English Bulldogs at 25 followed by Pugs at 11.

While many airlines refuse to transport any brachycephalic breeds (aka smooshies) below the plane during temperature extremes, it's the pups' short snouts that attribute to extra difficulty breathing and extra wheezing.

Dan Bandy, chairman of the Bulldog Club of America's health committee, explains this particular risk in being transported in the cargo holds of airliners:

The way all dogs cool themselves is basically through respiration, either just panting or the action of breathing in or out, is a method of heat exchange for them. A dog that has a long snout or a long muzzle has more surface area within its nasal cavity for that heat exchange to take place. So breeds like labradors or collies or those types of dogs with the long muzzles have a more efficient cooling system.

Adding in the Frenchies (six), American Staffordshire Terriers (four), Boxers (two), Pekingese (two), and other short snouts, that means that the smooshies make up nearly half of the total number — scary stuff!

It's been so long since we've seen a generous dog nursing baby animals (other than puppies), and this mama is doubly sweet taking care of lions and tigers . . . oh my! A wild animal park in China had one tiger and three lion cubs that were abandoned by their respective parents, so this lactating pooch serves as a substitute mother.

I'd say she's doing quite a good job by the looks of it as the lil ones can't stop their snuggling while she just looks on, a bit sleepily. Parenting is hard work! Check out the rest of the shots in the gallery below!

Although we offered a similar advisory back in January, Merrick is now recalling 10 oz. bags of Beef Filet Squares from Lot no. 10084TL7 for a possible Salmonella contamination.

If you still have the resealable package, check for a "Best By 3/24/12" date — those batches may be tainted so return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. To be on the safe side, if you're not sure when you bought the snacks and they look like this, discard and treat your pooch to something else instead.

Luckily no illnesses have been reported yet — the bacteria was caught in a routine FDA surveillance sampling — but be careful when handling the treats (to discard them), remove anything else they could have contaminated, and thoroughly clean any containers, too.

Now usually when pets have accidents that injure their back legs, they're attached to a wheelchair-type rolling device so that they can still move around. That's not the case with Oscar, who lost both hind paws to an accident back in October. A talented surgeon created metal peg legs and embedded them straight into the bone for this feline. Coated with a substance to help bone cells develop directly over them, now both bone and skin have grown over the connecting areas, allowing this kitty to move almost normally once again. Look at him go in the video below!

Another day, another recall, this time it's for dry dog food. California-based Natural Balance pulled the 5-pound and 28-pound bags of Sweet Potato & Chicken dry dog food for a possible salmonella contamination.

This company has an in-house lab that found different results than the FDA, but it still went through with this voluntary recall anyway. If you spot the bags with "Best By" dates of Jun 17, 2011, in your home, discard them to be on the safe side! To find out which states could carry affected products, read more