| AHN June 2004 Newsletter - CLICK HERE for the Pet Manual Forum Home Page |
| Avian Health Network, Inc. for StopPDD |
Avian Health Network Volume II Issue IX
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In this issue:
--- Website Review of the Month
--- Just for Fun
--- Avian Health in the News
--- My Eclectus Featherpist
--- Ash's Favorite Bran Muffins
--- Ask the Expert
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Website Review of the Month
By Rossanna Waggle
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June's website review spotlights The Parrot Pages - Avian Link Center, with
the focus on Avian Diseases Articles.
http://www.parrotpages.com/links/av...earticles.shtml
<http://www.parrotpages.com/links/av...earticles.shtml>
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Regardless whether you are a breeder, new parrot owner or have had companion
parrots for many years the links have a wealth of information. Topics such
as PDD, Aspergillosis, the five most common aviary diseases and Psittacosis
are covered in length. Also covered is a closer look at disinfectants,
feather picking, rescues, and testing for zinc in toys, play gyms and cages.
The site provides the reader with hours of invaluable educational reading.
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Educating ourselves about avian health and diseases before we have a beloved
parrot become ill is vital to early detection. No one knows our parrots
like we do. Knowing what to look for (symptoms) could possibly mean the
difference in the outcome.
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Until next month, scritches to all and happy reading!
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Just for Fun!
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Push the Play button on the little screen when you get to:
http://www.digitalpostproduction.co...ws/enze98n3.htm
<http://www.digitalpostproduction.co...ws/enze98n3.htm>
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A Bird that Sews!
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/s...ies.animaltales
<http://www.ananova.com/news/story/s...uirkies.animalt
ales>
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Avian Health in the News: Almond Alert!
By Elaine Hutchison
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If you belong to any bird-affiliated Internet groups, you have probably seen
posts during the last month regarding the recall of certain brands of raw
almonds. For those of us who buy raw almonds for our parrots, this could be
a concern for our birds as well as our human families. Paramount Farms,
located in Lost Hills, CA, announced on May 18th they were voluntarily
recalling whole raw almonds because of possible links to several cases of
illnesses from Salmonella Enteritidis. This first recall announcement
specified three brands, stating only certain package sizes and certain dates
of these brands were affected.
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Paramount Farms expanded the recall list on May 22, including raw natural
diced almonds, extending the "best before" dates (the method of identifying
which shipments were suspect), and including all of its industrial suppliers
and ultimate retailers. Consequently the number of retail brands being
recalled has grown dramatically over the past three weeks. To access a
complete list of all brands affected by the recall, visit the FDA website at
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/almonds.html
<http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/almonds.html> .
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Products for human consumption, ranging from chocolate cake to trail mixes,
have been removed from grocery shelves because Paramount Farms raw almonds
were used as an ingredient. Although the recall of these products has
caused some alarm in the general population, it pales in comparison to the
buzz among the bird groups on the Internet. Group after group has listed a
plethora of cross-postings, citing first one brand and then another as the
"ones" to be avoided. As parrot owners, we should congratulate ourselves on
our concern over what we feed our little feathered darlings. We can avoid
the recalled brands by consulting the previously mentioned list on the FDA
site. However, we must also be careful not go off the deep end when
reacting to the threat of possible contamination of raw almonds in parrot
food mixes.
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Consider the following facts when deciding whether or not to withdraw these
mixes from your bird's diet:
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1) The FDA investigation has not yet found any almonds in the U.S.
contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, including those produced by
Paramount Farms. Because raw almonds from this source were the one food in
common eaten by several people suffering from Salmonella Enteritidis-related
illnesses, Paramount Farms voluntarily recalled their product. The firm has
"...taken this aggressive step out of an abundance of caution..." said David
Szeflin, vice president, Operations. "We're working diligently with the FDA
and state health officials to make sure that any product that has not yet
been consumed is returned."
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