Has Your Pet Developed Salmonella From Pet Treats?
It has been said that the pet care industry is a billion dollar industry in the United States, with treats and accessories ranking at the top of list for dollars spent.
Since many pet owners take great pains to locate products that are both safe and healthy for their pets in an effort to keep them around for as long as possible, a great deal of trust is placed in the hands of the manufacturers of these products.
When something goes wrong and this trust is breached, people feel extremely betrayed and angered; especially when their faithful companions become ill.
What is even worse is when common treats that are readily fed to pets are contaminated with substances that make their human care takers sick.
This issue is of growing concern as of late as a number of pet owners became sick with salmonella infections after handling seafood and beef flavored treats that were contaminated with bacteria.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a study on this issue and released the results on June 29, 2006.
The CDC's study looked into nine different cases of pet owners becoming ill with a specific type of infection known as Salmonella Thompson.
These infections took place in 2004 and 2005 and resulted after the pet owners handled treats made by two different pet food manufacturers.
One of the treat manufacturers was located in British Columbia, Canada, and the other was located in Washington State.
The co-author of the study conducted by the CDC, an epidemiologist at the CDC's Division of Food borne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, part of the National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases, stated that these cases were the first reported in the United States, but the third outbreak that has been reported in North America.
He also went on to say that it is not uncommon for pet treats that are derived from animals are contaminated with bacteria such as salmonella.
The report also stated that there are most likely many more cases, as people often do not consider coming into contact with pet treats as a potential danger.
The nine people who were studied in the report conducted by the CDC all suffered with diarrhea, and one was so ill that hospitalization was required.
Another person in the study experienced vomiting in addition to the diarrhea.
In all nine cases, the illnesses were officially linked back to the pet treats that were tested and confirmed contaminated with salmonella.
The entire report is documented in the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called upon the owners of pet stores, veterinarians, pet treat manufacturers, and health care providers to supply information to pet owners regarding the potential health risks associated with pet treats that are animal derived, along with tips for preventing salmonellosis.
The CDC also has asked pet treat manufacturers to use irradiation or certain types of heat treatments during the manufacturing process in order to kill various types of bacteria including salmonella.
This serious issue is due to a failure on the part of manufacturers to comply with recommended guidelines for the preparation of food and pet treats, as set forth by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This is once again an issue of manufacturers placing profits before people, and cutting corners to save a few dollars in order to improve their bottom line.
Just as is the case with products meant for human consumption, pet food manufacturers owe the public at large a particular duty of care to provide safe products that will not cause harm or illness.
When this duty of care is breached, a type of negligence has occurred and that is grounds for legal action.
If you or someone you know has been harmed because of a salmonella infection from pet treats, you should not delay in seeking legal assistance from a personal injury attorney who specializes in product liability.
These professionals are quite skilled in this area of the law, and will handle every aspect of your case from start to finish.
Pet food manufacturers have teams of legal professionals that work hard to protect their interests at all times, and you should have someone working just as hard for you.
You should risk becoming a victim twice, and you should never have to suffer needlessly because of someone else's poor choices.
Your personal injury attorney will gather all important information for your case; he or she will collect medical records, evidence, interview witnesses, and even arrange for experts if necessary.
Since these cases can be somewhat complex and hinge on many small details, it is not recommended that you attempt to file on your own without professional assistance.
Missing just one piece of criteria or filing even a day late can completely ruin your chances of a favorable outcome.
Since most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, you do not have to worry about how to fund your claim in advance.
In most cases, you do not have to pay anything until the time your case settles.
This can be a great comfort during a time that is already plenty stressful enough.
Compensation in cases such as this can be sought for past, present, and future medical expenses, a loss of income, pain and suffering, and emotional harm.
In some cases, a judge may also order punitive damage as a way to punish those who are responsible for the harm in order to prevent similar actions from happening again.
While a personal injury attorney cannot undo the harm you have suffered, he or she can help you to protect your rights and obtain the justice you deserve.
You should not hesitate to consult with a legal professional as soon as possible following your illness, as you do not want to risk becoming a victim twice.