One of my cookbooks, Baking with Julia, by Dorie Greenspan, recommends that when making pastry dough or biscuits, you mix until you think it's almost mixed, and stop. Here's what Dorie Greenspan says about mixing biscuit dough. "To have a good biscuit hand is to have a light touch and restraint - a biscuit dough is so soft that it invites poking and prodding, kneading and mashing, when it should be just barely worked. The golden rule with biscuits is to stop doing whatever you're doing to them two beats before you have to. So, when you're rubbing the shorteniing and flour together and there are still some chubby chunks of shortening - stop. When you're tossing the flour-and-butter mixture with the milk and the dough looks only just moistened - stop. And when you turn the dough out onto the counter and knead it just to work it into a mass, count each knead, get to ten, and - stop." When I read this, my light bulb turned on. I knew biscuits shouldn't be over mixed, but something about the way she worded it clicked with me, and my biscuits have been better ever since, whether I use her recipe or a different one. By the way, if I handled my biscuit dough as much as my kitties like to be handled, I'd way over mix it! lol Sally

Sounds like it may be mealy bugs. They get into grain based foods. I had a mealy bug attack once which came into my pantry thru some pasta. I had to completely remove everything from the pantry and throw the grain based items out. Then clean the pantry with 409 or something like that. Let it air out till the cleaner smell leaves. And then you should be ok.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 14, 2013 - The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) has voluntarily recalled specific lots of dry pet food because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. These lots were distributed in the United States and represent roughly one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) of annual production. No Salmonella-related illnesses have been reported to date in association with these product lots. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. This issue is limited to the specific dry pet food lot codes listed below. This affects roughly one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) of total annual production. The affected product was distributed to select retailers across the United States. These products were made during a 10 day window at a single manufacturing site. P&G�s routine testing determined that some products made during this timeframe have the potential for Salmonella contamination. As a precautionary measure, P&G is recalling the potentially impacted products made during this timeframe. No other dry dog food, dry cat food, dog or cat canned wet food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement. P&G is retrieving these products as a precautionary measure. Consumers who purchased a product listed below should stop using the product and discard it and contact P&G toll-free at 800-208-0172 (Monday � Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST), or via website at www.iams.com or www.eukanuba.com. Media Contact: Jason Taylor 513-622-1111. Products affected by this announcement: EUKANUBA DRY DOG FOODS Description Size Lot Code UPC Code Best-by Date Eukanuba Dog Food Base Large Breed Mature Adult 15 LB 31874177 19014270156 6Nov14 30 LB 31874177 19014270309 6Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Base Maintenance Mature Adult 30 LB 31954177 19014149308 14Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Base Maintenance Puppy 16.5 LB 31884177 19014042234 7Nov14 33 LB 31884177 19014609468 7Nov14 5 LB 31884177 19014039852 7Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Base Small Breed Adult 16 LB 31904177 19014010516 9Nov14 4 LB 31904177 19014039722 9Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Base Small Breed Puppy 16 LB 31944177 19014010509 13Nov14 4 LB 31874177 19014039678 6Nov14 40 LB 31874177 19014011070 6Nov14 31944177 19014011070 13Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Breed Specific Boxer Adult 36 LB 31944177 19014019588 13Nov14 31954177 19014019588 14Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Breed Specific Chihuahua Adult 4 LB 31884177 19014607037 7Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Breed Specific Labrador Retriever Adult 36 LB 31954177 19014019564 14Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Premium Performance 30/20 Adult 33 LB 31884177 19014609475 7Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Professional Feeding Bag Small Breed Puppy 44 LB 31874177 19014113194 6Nov14 Eukanuba Dog Food Weight Control Large Breed Adult 30 LB 31894177 19014269303 8Nov14 31924177 19014269303 11Nov14 IAMS DRY DOG FOODS Description Size Lot Code UPC Code Best-by Date Iams Dog Food Healthy Naturals Chicken Adult 13.3 LB 31884177 19014612017 7Nov14 31904177 19014612017 9Nov14 31924177 19014612017 11Nov14 31934177 19014612017 12Nov14 31944177 19014612017 13Nov14 2.9 LB 31944177 19014700165 13Nov14 25.7 LB 31884177 19014700646 7Nov14 31894177 19014700646 8Nov14 31904177 19014700646 9Nov14 31914177 19014700646 10Nov14 31934177 19014700646 12Nov14 5 LB 31904177 19014612635 9Nov14 31914177 19014612635 10Nov14 Iams Dog Food Healthy Naturals Weight Control Adult 13.3 LB 31894177 19014612024 8Nov14 Iams Dog Food Premium Protection Chicken Adult 12.1 LB 31894177 19014611362 8Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Large Breed Mature Adult 30 LB 31884177 19014611331 7Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Large Breed Senior Plus 13.3 LB 31934177 19014612000 12Nov14 26.2 LB 31934177 19014700615 12Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Large Chunks Adult 15 LB 31944177 19014610815 13Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Small Breed Adult 13.3 LB 31874177 19014610990 6Nov14 31894177 19014610990 8Nov14 31924177 19014610990 11Nov14 3.1 LB 31874177 19014700110 6Nov14 31894177 19014700110 8Nov14 5 LB 31874177 19014612055 6Nov14 31894177 19014612055 8Nov14 31924177 19014612055 11Nov14 Iams Dog Food ProActive Health Small Breed Puppy 5 LB 31904177 19014700943 9Nov14 IAMS DRY CAT FOODS Description Size Lot Code UPC Code Best-by Date Iams Cat Food Healthy Naturals Chicken Adult 16 LB 31874177 19014611881 6Nov14 31944177 19014611881 13Nov14 5 LB 31874177 19014612697 6Nov14 31944177 19014612697 13Nov14 Iams Cat Food Healthy Naturals Weight Control Adult 5 LB 31894177 19014612703 8Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Chicken Adult 10.8 LB 31864177 19014612086 5Nov14 31904177 19014612086 9Nov14 31914177 19014612086 10Nov14 31924177 19014612086 11Nov14 31944177 19014612086 13Nov14 17.4 LB 31864177 19014611836 5Nov14 31864177 19014611836 5Nov14 31914177 19014611836 10Nov14 31924177 19014611836 11Nov14 31944177 19014611836 13Nov14 3.2 LB 31904177 19014612659 9Nov14 31924177 19014612659 11Nov14 31934177 19014612659 12Nov14 31944177 19014612659 13Nov14 5.7 LB 31864177 19014612499 5Nov14 31914177 19014612499 10Nov14 31924177 19014612499 11Nov14 31944177 19014612499 13Nov14 6.3 LB 31944177 19014611621 13Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Chicken Kitten 17.4 LB 31904177 19014611867 9Nov14 3.2 LB 31904177 19014612628 9Nov14 31954177 19014612628 14Nov14 5.7 LB 31904177 19014612505 9Nov14 31904177 19014612505 9Nov14 31954177 19014612505 14Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Digestive Care Adult 16 LB 31904177 19014611904 9Nov14 31954177 19014611904 14Nov14 3 LB 31904177 19014700202 9Nov14 31954177 19014700202 14Nov14 5 LB 31904177 19014612451 9Nov14 31954177 19014612451 14Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Hairball Adult 16 LB 31874177 19014611911 6Nov14 31954177 19014611911 14Nov14 3.1 LB 31884177 19014700219 7Nov14 31914177 19014700219 10Nov14 31954177 19014700219 14Nov14 5 LB 31874177 19014612420 6Nov14 31884177 19014612420 7Nov14 31914177 19014612420 10Nov14 31934177 19014612420 12Nov14 31954177 19014612420 14Nov14 9.8 LB 31894177 19014612161 8Nov14 31914177 19014612161 10Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Hairball Mature Adult 5 LB 31954177 19014612604 14Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Weight Control & Hairball Adult 16 LB 31884177 19014612147 7Nov14 31914177 19014612147 10Nov14 31924177 19014612147 11Nov14 31934177 19014612147 12Nov14 31944177 19014612147 13Nov14 2.9 LB 31914177 19014700240 10Nov14 31924177 19014700240 11Nov14 31934177 19014700240 12Nov14 31944177 19014700240 13Nov14 31954177 19014700257 14Nov14 5 LB 31884177 19014612789 7Nov14 31914177 19014612789 10Nov14 31924177 19014612789 11Nov14 31934177 19014612789 12Nov14 31954177 19014612789 14Nov14 5.5 LB 31924177 19014611652 11Nov14 9.8 LB 31884177 19014612130 7Nov14 31914177 19014612130 10Nov14 31924177 19014612130 11Nov14 31934177 19014612130 12Nov14 31944177 19014612130 13Nov14 Iams Cat Food ProActive Health Weight Control Adult 16 LB 31874177 19014612178 6Nov14 31934177 19014612178 12Nov14 5 LB 31874177 19014612680 6Nov14 31934177 19014612680 12Nov14 9.8 LB 31874177 19014612123 6Nov14 Iams Cat Food Professional Feeding Bag Chicken Adult 33 LB 31914177 19014105458 10Nov14 31944177 19014105458 13Nov14

Animal based products are usually not the culprit for ear infections. In the diet sense it is usally grains. The most common grain irritants are those that contain gliadan gluten, such as wheat,rye, barely, soy. Corn, on the other hand has an entirely different gluten. Most dogs believe it or not can handle corn IF it is only from one quality source such as corn meal or whole corn. If you see corn in 3-5 of the ingredients than there is way too much corn and therefore can be contributing to the problem. Of course there are corn allergies but it's a different gluten than other grains. If your dog's problem is diet realted the best thing you can do is to remove all grains from the diet, including treats. There are several grainless dog foods to try. One of my favorites is Honest Kitchen's preference. It's expensive but it works wonders for yeast infections if the problem is diet related. The food is a mix that is to be added to either raw or cooked meat and amounts suggested. If this works you will have found the problem, and you could easily make your own pre mix down the road to save yourself some $$. If it doesn't work you may be dealing with atopy allergies which is from dust, grasses, molds, etc. Below is a link where you can get this, or just type in Honest kitchen dog foods and check out the Preference line. Here is a link that might be useful: honest kitchen preference dog food