Pet food recall: Vet poison control center suspects other toxins involved

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Some news - and a caution - from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, which has seen a huge increase in call volume since the Menu pet food recall was announced. The ASPCA’s veterinary toxicologists "have been carefully analyzing data from these calls," and are drawing some troubling conclusions:

Today the ASPCA reports that, based on these data, clinical signs reported in cats affected by the contaminated foods are not fully consistent with the ingestion of rat poison containing aminopterin that, according to Menu Foods, is at the “root” of the contamination issue.

“We’ve seen reports coming in from all around the country that animals that were eating the contaminated foods are definitely suffering from renal failure,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, veterinary toxicologist and senior vice president with the ASPCA, who manages the ASPCA’s Midwest Office, including the APCC. “But the data that we’ve been collecting do not conclusively prove this connection, which is why we strongly recommend that those involved in the investigation continue to search for additional contaminants.”

The full release is here.
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Comments

[Steve]

Without a doubt. This thing is out of control.

[jm]

Thank you to the ASPCA for speaking out and for making sense. Finally.

[Linda]

Now what are we to do. On the animaltalknaturally site, and someone else posted it here, they spoke of this article "Tip of the Iceberg" from March 22, and the author and vet mentioned that it could be a combination of things, including genetically altered wheat, and gluten intolerance and the rat poison and others?????



Why is it so difficult to discover the problem - ummm......

[Steve]

Despite the “brand” or any past reputation of a premium product/ company, do you know “who” is really making it now?



http://baltimorechronicle.com/2007/032707Cederholm.shtml

[GordonH]

I've said it once and I'll say it again, this is some sort of bioterrorism attack.

[Kim]

I'm not surprised. I expected this. We had this information last Friday, and it was posted here somewhere. (No clue where I posted it though.)



But. How can they not have ANY more information than this to give us?



I'm with Linda - WHY is it so difficult to discover the problem? People all over North America are working on this - where are the results?

[Kim]

You know Gordon, that's about the only thing that would explain why the lid was clamped down so tightly on this.

[Steve]

Quite a feeling when every fuse in your nervous system is blowing wondering if ANY pet food in the United States is safe for your companion right now isn't it?

[Kim]

"Every fuse in your nervous system blowing".



That is exactly how I'm feeling. I've had a horrible migraine since last night, and when my cat got out of my yard earlier the whole neighborhood heard me screaming her name at the top of my lungs. Total panic.



Just waaaaay too much anxiety. And Hatred.



That's the one downside of what we're doing here. We know more, so we know just how scared we should be. And we also know what we don't know, and the more they hide the more scary it is.

[MikeKeen]

Do not reccomend DRY FOOD. Please don't do it! Dr. Becker, you have good intensions but your 180º out of whack. You see, I believe that the dry food problems have been with us for years, they are being magnified now because of the newer wet food problems...in a big way. In the past your dog got sick and you didn't go on the net to see who elses dog or cat died, no, you just buried them. Now we have the resources to compile and assimilate a great deal more information in a short time. With these tools we have the world and all of it's good and bad at our fingertips. I have been in touch with people in all over this great country and Great Britan, Mexico, Newfoundland and South Africa all since the death of my dear Abby Gayle. I have found that pets are in serious trouble every where and no one wants to admit it. The news papers give us the back page, the syndicated columnist under state the crisis, the vets are getting wealthy. Hell, they sell to us what is killing our pets and then charge enormous sums for treatment. The pet food manufactures make their quick bags of change and the pet owners foot the bill.

This is just the opinion of a person who has lost something very dear and knows it will be impossible to replace. Any money we recieve should be used as Mary stated earlier, get your pet at the S.P.C.A. or Animal Shelter, maybe then, if we all did this, it could put animals in our homes instead of in our pets food.

They killed our Dog! Our Dear Abby Gayle Died last night at 10:05 pm with my wife, sons and daughter at her side. Almost 4 years old, purbred Airedale Terrier, picture perfect health record, She died of acute kidney failure due to eating tainted, contamiated, IAMS Dry, Green Bag, purchased from Walmart. Dead before we could do anything because we were notified to late and as for the dry food no notification at all. Please people, listen, do not feed your dog any products from these recalled manufactures, wet or dry. Do you trust them, they have been hiding this for months possibly years. They have had this problem for 2 years and have still not trully fiqured out why. Please don't feed your pets poison DRY FOOD! It may have anti freeze components in it. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Jan06/dogs.dying.ssl.html



I know I'm going to ruffle some feathers, bring it on.



keen for Abby Gayle (keen@mac.com)

[Steve]

and the more they hide the more scary it is.

Comment by Kim



And what concerns me more is if people don't keep the pressure on them they will just go right back to business as usual and the FDA will just turn their attention to the next crisis whatever that may be as one crisis after another just piles up as unfinished business.



This government is in serious need of an overhaul. And media consolidation hasn't helped any.

[Lil Bear's Momma]

I agree Keen, our cat died two weeks ago and he was eating 9 lives canned food. He died after suffering the exact same symptoms only it took a month and a half to kill him. He was healthy then got sick, and sicker and sicker. I changed his food to people food and he got better for a couple weeks then stupid me, I gave him the canned food again....well he died. In my arms after a massive seizure....

I have posted this all over the net hoping to find anyone else who's cat got sick on 9 lives food but I think that they may not make the connections yet.

Oh, I am still waiting for the FDA to call back after being told on Friday they would call back that same day...Yeah sure they will!

I am just as mad as everyone who lost a dear furkid. Mine was only 7 yrs old. I can only pray they dig deeper than Menu foods canned and foil packed foods. I will never feed commercial pet food again. Our dog is eating a species appropriate diet now. Raw Meaty bones and organ meats....and doing just fine on them. I heartily suggest that others do the same. You can read up on how to do it at www.rawmeatybones.com...they have to full length books online that you can download and read for free.

My sympathies for all those suffering.

[Bonnie]

I just made 2 phone calls. One to Petsmart to get my purchase records and one to Menu Income Group.



Petsmart was very considerate and helpful. In fact the guy who took my call had his own cat fall ill to this tainted food. Kudos to Petsmart on stepping up to the plate during this awful time.



The menu food one couldn't be more different. I got the number from their website for information regarding the recall. Someone answered right away and put me on hold. I was treated to an instrumental version of "Stand By Me" Then the most disinterested "Menu foods may I help you?"

"Yes, I'm calling about the food recall" Long pause. "Hello?" then nothing but a click and a busy signal. Just surreal.



In loving memory: K.C. April 1989- Feb 11, 2007

[Gary]

A horrifying thought. Just how secure is the nations water and food supplies? If the grain supply is so open to contamination and those involved don't even run one test to see if it's OK before using it, what is to prevent the whole human supply from, I'll say it...terrorism? I'm sure the terrorists have noticed what's happening already.



A larger attack on the human food supply and this country will be in a mess that will make 911 look like a kid's prank.



This is aimed at DHS. This is a national security issue, where is Chertoff and his crew? looking in old ladies purses at the airport? sorry, I'm really angered at the failings of this bunch that's using up trillions of dollars into nowhere except their own pockets.

[Cathy]

Part of the problem:



http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/03/27/ap3556629.html

Pion, a California veterinarian, said only 10 percent to 20 percent of the people who belong to his Web site (VIN) had responded to a request for information.



"If we're only getting 10 percent of the veterinarians, you can do the math," he said.



The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation was focused on the ingredient wheat gluten.

Testing has not been easy.

Wheat gluten has "been a real difficult sample to work with," said Daniel Rice, director of the New York food lab. "It's real sticky, gummy. If you can imagine wet flour and you're trying to get that into solution and put that into an instrument."



The other part of the problem:

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/196573

“If people can demonstrate that the food that was recalled led to a sick pet or the loss of a pet and they incurred expenses, Menu will take responsibility,” Bornstein said.



“They need to call our 1-800 number and they will be able to make arrangements to send the information they gathered.”



Many of the pet owners logging on to the websites expressed frustration with the toll-free number, saying they had given their information several times but heard nothing.



Bornstein pleaded for patience and insisted they would be contacted. He said information gathered through the toll-free number is how the company plans to discover more possible confirmed deaths and illnesses.



On Friday, Menu Foods CEO Paul Henderson said the number had logged 200,000 calls since the recall began.



Menu Foods Income Trust units closed down 20 cents Tuesday at $4.10 on the Toronto Stock Exchange, a decline of 4.65 per cent.

[Mal]

The recent news releases of the Menu Foods pet food recall have provided many emotion filled storied from pet owners all over North America. As a pet owner my heart strings have been twisted as well. However this is much more to the story.





This whole story with Menu Foods is merely blowing the cover off the multi billion dollar pet food industry. I was well aware previously of the cruel animal testing done by several BIG name pet food companies through Menu Foods and independant labs..but that is another story.



The rendering of dead, diseased, downed and euthanized animals of all types, including cats and dogs, to be used in pet food and animal feed is VERY SCARY. Not only are our pets being exposed to biological and chemical poisoning, so are we. The animal feed is made of the same type of rendering that pert food is. And this is fed to cattle, pigs and chicken...that we end up eating. There are many articles written on the question of Mad Cow Disease being spread through contaminated animal feed product which come from the various rendering plants.



I really don't want to become a vegetarian..I enjoy my steaks far too much, but after doing much reading on the implications of the whole issue I must admit I am scared. The information out there gives rooom for thought whether the increases in cancer, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease etc. may have a basis in something as simple as our foods..and not necessarily the "bad" foods. I think it is time for people to open their eyes and demand proper monitoring of all types of food products...from pet food to animal feed to "human consumption" food. This is the time to demand that health needs be made more important than chasing the $$$ sign.



Here are a few links to articles on rendering:



http://www.menufoodssuck.com/



http://www.madcowboy.com/01_FactsMC.Render.html



http://www.purehealthsystems.com/render.html



There are many, many more. All you have to do is Google "rendering"

[Dee]

Washington State University

College of Veterinary Medicine



From ADVICE TO VETERINARIANS:



Veterinarians should be cautious and exercise due diligence with patients that arrive with their owners during this incident.



Some owners may indeed have animals that are legitimately affected



Some owners may have concerns that are not substantiated by clinical examination alone, but precautionary medicine and client advisement are essential.



Incidents like this often bring out clients with patients that had pre-existing illness or coincidental newly developed illness that was unrecognized before awareness of similar signs and symptoms were broadcast as part of the recall.



Veterinarians should also be cautious of individuals who may see this as an opportunity to capitalize on what may become class action litigation. There have been instances in which individuals faked symptoms or may have intentionally fed an animal substances that could mimic or duplicate the signs and symptoms of legitimately affected animals. This is unlikely but has occurred in both humans and animals with recalled substances. A complete and accurate diagnosis, treatment that meets or exceeds accepted standards of care, and proficient record-keeping as most of you already practice, are essential.



Finally, consider spending a moment and educating concerned clients about the realities of product recalls alleged to be contaminated and the difficulties of establishing cause and effect. Currently, there is an extremely large number of pet rations for dogs and cats being voluntarily recalled. A cause for the illnesses seen may—or may not—be determined now or in the future as it relates to these rations. One must also consider the possibility that the illnesses seen, without additional diagnostic evidence, may have occurred in a population of that size normally, and independent of any alleged ration contamination. This is in no way meant to minimize legitimate animal health concerns or to diminish the severity of a problem that is not fully developed yet.



http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/announcements/foodRecallMar07.aspx

[Ruth]

Sorry for you loss of pet. And not be able to really know why they died. My pet dog 6yrs old died on March 11,2007 before I even knew of the recall. She ate only IAM's dry food and IAM's bone dogs. She died so sudden and went downhill so fast. She also had kidney and liver failure. So at this point I don't trust what any one says. The bottom line is that my beloved pet is gone.

[Matt]

There is so much more to this story then what is being reported by Menu Foods. They should just step up and tell the truth.

[anna]

my GOD SOMETHING very bad going on,yes i agree DHS needs to check into this. i throught of the same thing as gordon h.

[Ginger]

My parents are still feeding their pug Iams dry. I've been trying to get them to change, but the news says there's nothing wrong with the dry food. I don't know what the problem is... I've told them various times to switch. I'm even in the process of switching my 2 dogs from Innova Evo to Solid Gold. I just hope nothing happens to Rosie. Maybe I'll bring them a bag of SG tomorrow.

[Ann Jackson]

Hi, all. My husband and I just got finished shooting a segment for Fox News 4 in Dallas about our dog, Freedom, who nearly died from the poison Menu Foods calls pet food. My vet, Dr. Mitchell, was also there to back us up. I gave Jason Overstreet, the reporter, a timeline for Freedom's illness and stapled a pet connection quote of the 2000 deaths along with the website address to the back of it!:) Both he and his camera man are huge dog lovers and made the whole thing easy. It's going to air tomorrow night at nine but he said he'd call if there were any changes. I'll let you know if it airs. To all those whose pets are still suffering or have died...This one's for you!

[Melinda]

Regarding animal rendering - there were so many cows dying from the heat in California last summer, that the rendering plants had to stop taking them. Think of all the bacteria-laden dead carcasses rotting away in the heat waiting to be made into pet food.....who is in charge of monitoring if it is fit for consumption?

[Angela Flynn]

I have suspected that there may be a link to ge wheat with this contamination. Suspicion is now on Archer Daniels Midland as the supplier of the wheat gluten. This is because the other two major suppliers have openly denied a connection while ADM has refused to comment.



The following is quite disturbing and shows a pattern of ADM purposely poisoning animal feed.



www.populist.com/01.4.krebs.html



"Whitacre advised that ADM has illegally disposed of genetic organisms by adding the organisms to corn glutten (sic) feed. The organisms are in liquid form and are sprayed on the corn glutten feed rather than disposed of as required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The liquid spray also added weight to the feed. Whitacre advised that Jerry Weigel and Jim Randall oversee this activity." Weigel was ADM's head nutritionist at ADM Biochem and Randall was the corporate president and overseer of plant process and operations.



"The creed of greed of the Andreas crime family," Hoech charged, "found it more economical to export the poisonous waste rather than build a treatment facility."



In a subsequent lawsuit, filed by a Missouri farmer Rodger Moberly and several other Missouri cattlemen, the focus was on a substance known as free gossypol, which is derived from crushing cottonseed and used in ADM's animal feed known as 39% Protein Quanah Special. As Nicholas E. Hollis, president of the Agribusiness Council (ABC) explains, "free gossypol can be toxic to calves and even larger cattle if ingested in sufficient qualities. Often gossypol sickens an animal, slowing down its ability to gain weight."



The plaintiffs' claims were enhanced by an affidavit from Whitacre, ADM's former head of its BioProducts Division, who stated that ADM knew about free gossypol's effects and intentionally sold it to enhance profits. The affidavit also repeated the charge concerning ADM's spraying biomass residues on its corn gluten feed.



Oklahoma State University toxicologist Dr. Sandra Morgan has noted concern for gossypol as a potential sterility agent in an article which also states "there is concern for the effects of gossypol on humans because gossypol is a biologically active compound and because gossypol in the food chain may ultimately lead to its consumption by humans."



"If we are to regain confidence in the overwhelming majority of our food companies and their honest suppliers," Hollis adds, "isn't it time we stop ignoring the lessons of Moberly v. ADM and get the truth out about the Supermarkup to the World?"



A.V. Krebs operates the Corporate Agribusiness Research Project, P.O. Box 2201, Everett, WA 98203-0201, email avkrebs@earthlink.net; www.ea1.com/CARP.

[link to www.populist.com]

[MILLI]

PLEASE EVEYONE WHO LOST A PET OR HAS A SICK PET PLEASE STATE WHAT FOOD YOUR PET WAS ON.IF DRY FOOD IS ALSO BAD WHAT THE HELL DO WE FEED OUR PETS?????

[Cindy]

I believe this problem has gone on alot longer than the recent pet food recall. Our family lost our first cat Lil'Bit in November of 2006. He first had symptoms of frequent thirst, frequent urination, no energy, vomiting, and loss of appetite in July of 2006. We took him to the vet and he was diagnosed with acute renal failure. Since he was a stray that we took in as a kitten and did not know his genetic history, we felt this was just how it was meant to be. He was five years old in November when he died. Up until that point, he had no health problems and was up to date on all his shots and vet visits. We fed him Special Kitty and Iams foil pouch packets purchased from WalMart and the H.E.B. grocery chain. March 21, 2007, we had to put down our second cat, Lego. She was only 1 1/2 years old and the absolute love on my boys' lives. She began exhibiting the same symptoms as Lil'Bit on Monday, March 5, 2007 and I switched her food from Iams to Special Kitty foil pouch packets thinking she was just being picky. Her health went so fast and the vet said that her renal tests showed 130 when a normal count is 30. We had no choice but to put her down - due to acute renal failure. Again, she was up to date on her shots and vet visits. I cannot express in words how guilty I feel for feeding both our cats meals manufactured by Menu Foods. I promised my boys' that Menu Foods will know that they were responsible for killing not one but two of our familiy members. My vet is sending Lego and samples of her food to Iowa State University for testing and documentation. Hopefully, information learned from Lego will help nail this company for what they have allowed to happen to not only our pets but everybody elses as well.

[Sandi Schreiber]

Ann, I'm in Dallas too- can't wait to hear you!! Thanks!! I've lost 1 cat and have another still under vet care!!!

[Steve]

The Waiting Game

[Sarah]

I recommend ABADY brand food, out of New York. Made for carnivores, no fillers, no artificial preservatives, etc. You can have it shipped directly to your house by UPS.

[Andrea]

NUTRO DRY DOG FOOD RECALL



My dad sent this to me from a friend of his after I e-mailed him about what happened to my cat (I strongly suspect my cat died of renal failure from eating dry Nutro Natural Choice cat food). This isn't "official" (yet?), but if what his friend says is for real, those of us who suspect dry food aren't going to be surprised. Ginger - tell your folks to get that pug off dry Iams! :)



E-mail as follows:

"Please forward -- I don't have everyone else's addresses at home -- I called Nutro after the emails I got b/c my dogs are vomiting yellow bile too - they confirmed they are about to do an official recall on dry food. They said to quit feeding it to them immediately and go buy something not distributed by Nutro or Menu Foods. Nutro's # is 800-833-5330."

[steve a]

The simple fact is that there is no such thing as a tri-corder, you don't put goo into one end of a computer and get chemical names out the other in seconds, and DNA profiles come back in 20 minutes on TV because it is in the script.



Some tests take days to complete, some hours, some weeks. Now understand that nobody knows exactly what they are looking for. Since nobody knows what the molecule looks like they have to figure that out from virtually nothing. Some tests, particularly the faster ones, tend to give you vast groups of possible substances, and you have to conduct enough tests to get a clear answer. You don't want to treat the wrong thing because that may do more harm.



Also consider that if there is more than one contaminating substance, and there almost never is (at least not in toxic quantities), then you will undoubtedly find the most abundant one first. If there is more than one you may get test results that conflict and confuse.



It is important to get the garbage off the shelves, then it is important to figure out what the poisen is, then where it came from, and everyone involved knows there is a clock running where the longer you get past the event the less likely you are to figure it out. We need to get the correct answers so we hang the right people.



I am in week 9 treating one of my cats. At this point the damage is done and the issue is recovery. The toxin found so far does its damage within hours of ingestion, after that there is only treatment, not cure. No guarantee of recovery because nobody knows the source or the dosage. In a few weeks we re-test and will know better how to go forward, but she is getting tired of the sub-cu ringers every few days, and really tired of the amphogel twice a day.



No doubt this comes down to a handful of people who are responsible. I hesitate to describe what I would like to see happen to them on CNN - let's just say it's more likely to air on Aljazera. If I were Catholic I would need to do penance for just being able to think of it, but I'll consider some alternatives from the Hussein family...



We will find the contamination, its source, and those responsible, but it will take time. I really hope there is a treatment for whatever they find that works after symptoms show up. Failing that I hope that there will be a recovery for the survivors. No matter what there is little to console for the losses. My jaw is sore for being clenched and my eyes welled with tears when I consider the growing scope of this each night.

[TC]

Okay, I just posted the same concern re Nutro dry foods on another thread here.



Basically, that is what my dogs had been doing for awhile - on/off vomiting frothy or yellow liquidy stuff. They had been eating Nutro dry kibble for a few years, but recently weren't as interested in eating it, and then started doing this upset stomach/light vomit thing. When one had a seizure a few weeks ago (first time, but this does run in the family, so don't want to state that it is food related. Don't think so, but still...), combined with hearing of the wet food recall, I quit feeding Nutro dry to be on the safe side of things (and did homecooked food).



And instantly, no more vomiting. Just wanted to add this here, in case it helps anyone make a decision to feed or not feed the Nutro dry kibble. I don't know what is going on, but I too suspect something in the Nutro dry kibble.

[DeeAnn]

To Gary from several posts above. You are absolutely right, how safe is our food and water supply. Our local news did a story just a few months back about cancer drugs as well as other drugs and stuff in the water supply. All the meds that people take wind up in the toilet, all the cleaning chemicals wash down the drain etc and some of that can wind up in a municiple water supply that has more added chemicals (How can that be? The water treatment plants can not remove it, they don't clean water per se--they treat water. I give my furbabies steam distilled water and drink that myself. We have to stay on top of this animals being made sick and dying story. My heart goes out to those who are dealing with this.

[PJ]

I rescued 10 kittens last March/April and was doing TNR on a colony of about 35 in my neighborhood. It was expensive at best to feed all them so I could trap them so I bought Special Kitty and Sophisticat. FIVE of my babies died last December just before Christmas and I thought it was distemper since the colony was wiped out also-well, I've seen 5.

Three months, three thousand dollars and much grief later I hear this. I have been trying to find out if this poison would cause a decrease in the white blood cells and affect the motor responses in the legs. Now I read that the ASPCA is saying that other toxins are probably involved because they should be seeing a decrease in the white blood cell count. Well, I am here to say there is and a definite loss of motor response in the rear legs of two of my survivors.

[TC]

Maybe the reason for holding off on any recall of dry food is to prevent panic. It is one thing to tell us to quit feeding wet, but go ahead and use dry food.



It will be quite a large deal if we are told to quit using all commerical foods, wet or dry, immediately.



It may be a momentary thing, but I too have been rethinking the whole "how safe is any of our food" issue. And realizing that no matter how careful I want to be, I can only do so much to protect myself, and the rest is way out of my control.

[Pam]

Mal,



While I'm totally against rendering any kind of meat for any kind of food, I don't believe the information you gave is completely factual.



First of all, The United States banned feeding rendered meats to cows awhile ago but it seems it can be fed to other livestock as far as I know. If that's true, the risk is that there is a small chance of cross feeding (cow eating the chicken food). If you get your meat from a place like Whole Foods, preferably grass fed, you should be ok.



Generally euthanized cats and dogs don't make it into pet food, though some small incidents have been in the news about it...a few tons here and there.



I was looking for a reliable study that would prove that there was feline and canine meat in the meat byproducts and there were barely any studies at all but I did run across this: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/Jan-Feb04Vet.htm (scroll down to find the article titled "CVM Scientists Develop PCR Test to Determine Source of Animal Products in Feed, Pet Food")



They tested 31 brands of petfood and didn't find any dogs or cats in it, although they did find euthanizing chemicals in small quantities.



My main problem with the rendered meats is that eating an animal that has died and not been slaughtered for the purpose of food is a very unhealthy idea, even if it gets heated to high temperatures and processed thoroughly. Humans don't do this and we should not be feeding this way to anyone. It's still an invitation to sickness, there are no shortcuts.



I am very nervous about all pet food but for the time being I've been giving my kitty Pet Promise and Dick Van Patten's brand. I think they're a little too starchy but they're made from respectable cuts of meat (and my kitty eats them pretty well). My boyfriend bought a whole bunch of Merrik (which seemed way, way too starchy to me) and his cats are insane for it. Previously he'd been feeding Fancy Feast. Originally I was using Pet Promise and PetGuard along with occasional commercial foods that didn't have meat by proucts or beef in the ingredients but really, they were crap with plenty of Wheat Gluten. Before that, in the last few years up til a year ago I was using Wellness and Iams but I think the Wellness caused my cat a reaction that made him lose hair on his ears. He had every test done (all normal) and only when I took him off the Wellness did it clear up. Maybe someone else here has had a similar experience.



I'm going to figure out the raw food thing and try to do that a few days a week at least.



My sincere condolences to everyone who's suffering firsthand with this. I'm scared to death and it's got to be hell on earth for you.

[Janice]

Andrea,



Did Nutro say when they plan to issue the recall? Their web site still says the recall only applies to wet food. We fed our border collies Nutro, but on Sat. we switched to Natural Balance and they love it. We have them completely off Nutro. Our cat died in Jan. after beginning a new bag of Hills' Prescription c/d. The FDA is supposed to pick it up to test it. Someone from there called yesterday but we were not at home. Keep us informed about Nutro. I think all pet foods except organic (and I hope they are not) are contaminated.

[Lil Bear's Momma]

Alternatives to Commercial pet foods.



http://www.rawlearning.com

http://www.rawmeatybones.com

http://www.rawfed.com/myths/

http://www.rawfeddogs.net/

http://www.ukrmb.co.uk/



If they keep recalling food, even the dry foods this is what you should do anyway. Dogs and cats are carnivores and need meat. Not grains and veggies and fruit and fillers or meat meal from rendered animals..

Your pets need meat. The results will astound you and it is not difficult to do. Please read about how to do it on the sites above and follow the links on those sites to other information. There are already thousands of pet owners who feed species appropriate food and their pets are fine. They shop for their pet food in the meat section of the supermarket or go to farms that have organic meats. It is not expensive and when you figure that you will not have the vet bills because your pet is sick all the time, well it is cheaper.

Time to make a decision for your pets.

[Eileen]

Please consider getting a copy of Dr. Pitcairn's book on Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. It's available at Amazon for about ten or twelve dollars. I had a copy shipped special delivery for an additonal ten dollars and received it yesterday. There are many recipies for "make it yourself" meals for both dogs and cats, also for treats and biscuits that are home made. It might take a little of owner's time to do, but in the end, it's a lot better than going through all of the angst with this sickening situation with the "sold" foods. There is never going to be anything that animals OR people eat that will be "100%", due to all of the chemicals, hormone's, etc. that is used now on crops and on animal feeds.....but at least you'll have SOME control over what goes into the pets. And now, with the genetic altering of crops and dallying around with DNA in animals, who knows what will pop up next? One of my family's BIGGEST OBJECTIONS to stem-cell research is the door it opens to this insane altering of the natural order of things. Nobody who has tried to testify or contradict the "brave new world" crowd gets much coverage by the media, and when they do, it's mostly to make them out as right-winged kooks. Even my son and I, who both have disabilities that might be helped by such research have vowed to NEVER use or consent to ANYthing that comes via stem cells. And nobody wants to admit to the gigantic negatives on this. Where was the public outcry when it came out that there was genetically altered corn in some store products? How many media outlets screamed and yelled when some genetically altered agricultural products in seeds went awry and "took over" other crops that were natural? It always takes something like this, some horrid thing, to shake the public up into DOING something! People have got to wake up....and not shrug their shoulders or be led like lemmings by media and political poppy-cock. They can sell people anything....and shut up the opposition quite easily with the willing cooperation of the media and the "new" experts out in Movie/TV Land. I take an immuno-surpressing drug for my illness, and the "cause" of all this that Menu Foods is pushing do NOT "match up" with any of the side-effects or possible negative reactions of the drug/chemical (or the two I took before the current one). You make it your business to find out a lot when you're taking one of these things.....and none of this made one iota of sense to me when Menu came out with this "cause". Baloney! There is something else involved here.....now as to whether WE will every know the whole story....if I were a betting woman, I'd hang onto my wallet! - Eileen who is mad as hell!

PS - to anyone who has lost a pet or has one who is/was ill....my daughter lost her Maine Coon cat....to IAMS....only nine years old! She's getting married this weekend, and all she can think about is that IAMS killed her Kayte. It makes me just sick....and to read all of these pet owners stories breaks my heart. Just remember, as I told my daughter...YOU didn't do anything "wrong"....it was greed, coldness, profits, and the lack of human decency on the part of those involved that did this. And truth always gets stomped on by those same things!

[Julie]

It has been 4 weeks since our Allie died. My daughter started crying last night just before bed saying how she missed Allie. It just breaks my heart for everyone going thru this. I went yesterday and bought Innova for our new puppy and our cat. I still feel it was the dry Iams that killer our papillon. The new puppy is doing well but we are nervous wrecks about him.



Does anyone know the timeline you can still get viable tissue samples from a deceased pet?

[Sandi Schreiber]

To the above posts regarding Nutro Natural Choice ( dry) - I too took my dry food back due to the fact my 2 cats have suffered from the Nutro Natural Choice wet pouches. Symptoms the same and I did notice that they were turning their heads away from the dry - something is not right with the Nutro product and I WAS a faithful customer of theirs for 20 years

[judy]

i just called my vet,petsmart,fda, nutro dry food is not being recalled !!!!!!lets stop putting false infromation on these blogs, ok

[Nancy Nielsen]

My remaining dog is on poached organic chicken breast at the moment. This isn't going to keep him going but it's a point in the process of finding something he can eat. I'd like to learn more about the symptoms that other animals are experiencing - I lost my little Skeeter yesterday to a massive seizure/heart attack. Both dogs have eaten Purina One lamb and rice their whole lives until a few weeks ago when they began to refuse it, try to bury it, tip the bowl over and spill it. Because of the cold, this winter they each had some Mighty Dog, both cans and pouches (you know how delicious they make it sound, yumm, gravy, to sell it to the poor naive pet owner). So, one dog dead, one dog rushed to emergency, IV, drugs, home but not the same doggie. What am I to think? Two healthy dogs suddenly "happened" to get a problem? No one has mentioned seizure, and until now dry food was considered safe. I'm suffering, grieving and confused. And angry.

[Sandi Schreiber]

Nancy, I am sooo sorry and saddened and I know EXACTLY the feelings and motions you are going through. I had to put my 1 cat to sleep on 03-22, he had massive seizures after going through 10 days of hell at the hospital, he just couldn't handle it ( 9 months old) the 2nd one is at home after spending the same amount of time in the hospital and we do not know his prognosis - it's just a day to day thing, we have his blood work checked again on Friday. I wish I could wake up one morning and be out of this nightmare. Officially, no one has recalled dry food on any of the foods that Menu processed but I feel in my heart that there is something wrong. Both of my cats were on Nutro dry and wet and of course we know about the pouches but I still question the dry and that's why I returned mine to Petsmart just to be on the safe side. Hugs to you - I fully understand, but one thing to remember, be strong because you have another little guy to take care of.

[Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski]

I have made multiple posts in different placed around the internet including other discussions here at petconnection.com In order to avoid duplication here are a couple of the more relavant ones made as events unfolded...



http://catmanager.wordpress.com/2007/03/22/thoughts-on-the-pet-connection-data/#comment-139



http://www.benedictionblogson.com/?p=3012



I read with interest the articles indicating only 10% reporting by vets as well as the Washington State University advisory to vets.



While I do not dissagree with what the advisory said it also needs to be said that small animal vets appear to have an astoundingly poor track record in reporting or even investigating this and other such events. Note my postings in the above links on how after discovering the recall my vet shouted me into silence when I suggested that some investigation was clearly warranted.



I fully accept the possibility that Brandy (my freind and companion of 14 years) may well have been sick for reasons other than food poisoning. But the obvious corelation of symptoms and the timing if the onset with a change to one of the affected brands was (in my opinion) more than sufficient probably cause to at least report her death to the FDA for further investigation.



I am not surprised with the meager response of small animal vets. I am an X dairy farmer who is used to dealing with large animal practitioners who have much stornger ties with the FDA and in fact must report unexplained illnesses not only to the FDA but now Homeland Security as well. In fact farmers must now submit animal ID data to the government both for tracking potential problems like "mad cow" as well as potential bio-terrorism attacks.



Small animal practices are at along arm's length to these requirements and are in my opinion too busy overcharging for routine procedures like vaccinations and nuetering to be bothered with reporting much less investigating large scale public health events like this.



If in fact there are hysterical people out there who are making wild assumptions about their pet's deaths or illnesses or trying to make a buck from a tradgedy then it is at least in part the fault of the small animal DVM community who have washed their hands in self interest while the flames of fear and suspicion burned.



Meanwhile, I have the remaining cans of Sprout Beef Cuts & Gravy available to any responsible lab for testing. Calls to the FDA have not been returned and except for the Pet Connection's database her death has not been reported anywhere.



Is there a doctor in the house?

[Linda]

I spoke with a friend of mine last night and her golden ate a 3 oz can of poisoned cat food and is in renal failure - this is three days after. A 3 oz can does not leave much room for error here - how can such a small amount be so bad that a large healthy dog of 7 years is not going to die?

[ann gates]

My 5 yr old greyhound has thrown up twice in the last week. This is not like her at all. I used stopand shop companion dog food, she very rarely ate the kind that they recalled, she liked the whole dog food type, like turkey and bacon. I am very curious about the gv brands also. We gave her this food for many months and about two months ago they didn'stock it at stop and shop anymore. I figured they just discontinued the brand but i'm thinking that there was a problem and they pulled it from the shelves without letting consumers know.I would love to get to the bottom of this as everyone else would.I hope the people responsible lose their livelyhood and are shut down. Someone knows exactly what the problem is.This country has become a nightmare for animals and humans since Bush took over!!!! God Bless the owners and their beloved pets. Anna G

[Kelley Ashley]

Nancy Nielsen, please call me. My dog (Yellow Lab) was also on Purina One Lamb & Rice for 7 years. He is also on boiled chicken and rice at the moment. We almost lost him until we took him off the DRY food. the vet will not hear of the dry food problem, after spending over 400$ the past week. We are in touch with Purina, who is sending us a "test kit" so we can send back some of the food. They called us 3 times already. Something isn't right. 361-552-5517( my number ) Gary, I agree with you! We feel left out here all alone and I have a cat and a Hedgehog that eats dry cat food. What am I supposed to do now? I believe this is a wake up call for people everywhere!! WHAT IS IN OUR FOOD???

[Sandy]

Our four year old dog died Feb 22 very suddenly. He had an upset tummy for a couple of days, gassy but not vomiting. I went out for two hours, left him at home he seemed fine and went back two hours later and he was already dead in the back yard.

He has always eaten Natural Choice (a Nutro brand) DRY dog food. He has always had regulare checkups and has never been unhealthy in his whole young life. This was just before the recall, I did not have an autopsy done. I do have the food and am sending it to be tested. I have heard other reports about dry food. Not to cause unneccessary alarm, but it does seem strange that my otherwise healthy young dog suddenly died so quickly.

[Linda]

My post at 8:55 had a typo. Pet is NOW going to die, error was I typed not. Sorry.