Petside Items: Puppy Mills thriving; FDA approves antibiotic

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| Print | By | July 1, 2008 7:21 AM

Every time I pass a pet store I cringe. Now that the horrors of stocking them have come more to light, it's incredible that people are getting away with puppy mills. This week the award of shame goes to Tennessee, where more than 130 dogs rescued from a puppy mill. The abused pups have been transported to the Humane Society of Broward County, and some will soon be available for adoption.

The dogs were kept in cages stacked one atop the other, and according to officials the adults served one purpose — to breed puppies for sale to pet stores and over the Internet.

Many of the cages had wire floors, so the waste from the dogs on top dripped onto the dogs in the cages below.

puppymill.tennessee.jpg

The result: hundreds of dogs in need of everything from emergency medical care to basic grooming.

Broward Humane Society foster care coordinator Lacey Freeman said four employees traveled from South Florida to help care for the dogs this weekend. The animals will now be cleaned and vaccinated.

In health news, the FDA has approved a single-dose antibiotic from Pfizer Inc. for cats and dogs, shortening treatment from two weeks to one day.

Convenia, an antibiotic injection administered at a veterinarian's office, treats common skin infections in companion animals.

The drug was developed in Kalamazoo and will be produced in a new $35-million facility in Portage.

Clinical trials showed that Convenia was as effective as a 14-day course of its oral equivalent. The cost and dosage of the injection varies depending on the weight of the pet and the extent of the infection.

Elsewhere, in the United States, things are gearing up for Independence Day. As you make plans to celebrate on July 4, check out our feature on pet safety and keep your pet away from fireworks!

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