Foo - Are everyone's cats & dogs ok?

Have you made sure their food is not on the recall list (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/)? I knew it before, but I had forgotten how vulnerable their little kidneys are. :( From the NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Pet-Food-Recall.html):



UNION, N.J. (AP) -- Silviene Grzybowski became worried when her local pet store pulled the food she normally feeds her cat and posted an announcement saying it, and many other popular pet foods, had been recalled. Her cat, Smokey, hadn't been eating for days.

''The vet told us to buy her her favorite food, but I'm going to call the vet right now,'' Grzybowski said.

Menu Foods, the Ontario, Canada-based company that produced the pet food, said Saturday it was recalling dog food sold throughout North America under 48 brands and cat food sold under 40 brands including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba. The food was distributed by major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway.

An unknown number of cats and dogs had suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, the company said.

Two other companies -- Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. -- said Saturday that as a precaution they were voluntarily recalling some products made by Menu Foods.

Many stores that sold the affected brands frantically pulled packages off shelves.

Ron Finegold of Boynton Beach, Fla., said he noticed about a week or so ago that his family's 3-year-old cat -- who was regularly fed a variety of Iams cat food -- had stopped eating and did not appear well. He quickly took the animal to the veterinarian, who determined she was in renal failure.

He said he heard about the recall on the radio Friday night. He checked his trash, and found out he had given the cat some of the affected food.

''That's when I realized (the illness) had to be related,'' Finegold said. ''She won't be eating that stuff anymore.''

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was available from the Menu Foods Web site, http://www.menufoods.com/recall. The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information -- (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708 -- but callers kept the lines busy for much of Saturday.

Menu Foods' chief executive and president Paul Henderson told the Associated Press on Friday that the company was still trying to figure out what happened.

He said that the company had received an undisclosed number of owner complaints that dogs and cats were vomiting and suffering kidney failure after eating its products. He estimated that the recall would cost the company, which is mostly owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, an estimated $26 million to $34 million.

Sarah Tuite, a company spokeswoman, has said the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, which has since been dropped for another source. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.

Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Julie Zawisza said it is still too early to determine what could have affected the food. Zawisza added that even if wheat gluten is the source ''it doesn't necessarily mean the wheat gluten per se. It could be another substance associated with the wheat gluten.''

The recall covers the company's ''cuts and gravy'' style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches from Dec. 3 to March 6.

In Omaha, Neb., Susan Balvanz said she sometimes feeds her five cats packets of sliced meat and gravy sold by Nutro Products, one of the brands affected.

''I've done so much research on pet food. It didn't surprise me but it scared me all the same,'' said Balvanz.

She said her 9-year-old cat, Boots, was especially fond of the food but seemed to have lost its appetite in the last few days.

At the Missouri Valley Veterinary Clinic in Bismarck, N.D., veterinarian Jacob Carlson has been referring worried pet owners to the Menu Foods web site.

''We've had a lot of calls,'' Carlson said, although none of his patients were sick.

The company said it makes pet food for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.

Ours are fine, thanks for asking.

Their food isn't on the recall list, and I have evidence their urinary tracts work just fine.

Yep, They're all as ornery as usual.

Ours are okay, thank you for asking.

My dog's food is not on the recall list, but she is still nuts, just like the rest of the family.

Just checked the list. I'm happy to say, my dogs, and cats are safe. I didn't hear about this recall, so Thanks for posting it.

Denny

whew. not on the list. thanks for letting us. know.

Thanks for posting that article - my dogs (Blade & Zoe, the GSD wonders) are fine, Fortunately, the product codes listed for IAMS don't match anything I have for them. Thanks again!

Thanks for the heads-up. Our dog is on a diet of 1/2 dry dog food and 1/2 canned food. While both companies were on the list the actual products were not. However I'll be re-purchasing new food tomorrow. I'm sure that if there was a problem with the food symptoms would have appeared by now, however I don't want to take chances. Thanks again!

Thank god, I've actually been giving the little guys Fancy Feast dry and the occaisional wet food; not on the list.

Ours are fine, thanks for asking.

Their food isn't on the recall list, and I have evidence their urinary tracts work just fine.


+1

Our dogs are on IAMS but its dry dog food and I can't find where their food was recalled?? Both seem to be normal. :)

i cant taste any difference

Our dogs are on IAMS but its dry dog food and I can't find where their food was recalled?? Both seem to be normal. :)
http://us.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=PCA&articleID=300003

This story was just on one of our national TV news programs in Canada (CTV). One pet owner spent $5000 trying to save her cat only to get the news that her 6 year old cat has up to 10 months left to live. Very unfortunate.

On a side note, I have a feeling we'll be seeing some large class action suits against these dog food companies.

Donnamb.... My doggies send many thank you licks for posting the info.... they are happy their daddy does not buy fancy food for them...... they are ok and happy.....

CAT THREAD!

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/3192/11666609671165546901306vc9.jpg

http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/4414/1162399707hugcatsfinenosy7.jpg

About 4 years ago Thor almost died from renal failure. The vet said he had all the symptoms of drinking anti-freeze, but we knew that there was simply no way that was the case. We never did determine what the actual cause was, but we did change his food based on a recommendation from the vet to compensate for the damage to his kidneys. I'm wondering if perhaps this has been a problem for much longer, but on a smaller, undetectable scale?

About 4 years ago Thor almost died from renal failure. The vet said he had all the symptoms of drinking anti-freeze, but we knew that there was simply no way that was the case. We never did determine what the actual cause was, but we did change his food based on a recommendation from the vet to compensate for the damage to his kidneys. I'm wondering if perhaps this has been a problem for much longer, but on a smaller, undetectable scale?

I just read about something like this happening before. Could be. Is he 100% OK now?


http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/1715/hpim7695thanksdonnambec4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thank you Donna. My pet family members only eat the dry food.

all my critters are ok. The manager of the local Raleys grocery store even called me back personally to let me know that the affected products had not passed through his store.

Neither has moved in weeks, but that is just from the general laziness of old dogs and cats of any age.
They live off of dry food and leftover steak, so no worries this go around.
http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/Atticus-and-Four2.jpg

Thanks Donna! I didn't see our cat's food on the list, so I think they are going to be ok!

Thank you for the warning. My mother's cats are safe and healthy.

One of cats threw up for 5 days. She was eating some of the food on the list. Ok now.

i told my dog about a friend's dog on dialysis. he's a little sad. get well soon suzi!!!

http://www.cyclingrocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/get%20well.jpg

I just read about something like this happening before. Could be. Is he 100% OK now?


He's been fine since, but he's been worrying me the last few weeks not wanting to eat. But when I bribe him by mixing in a chocolate chip cookie, he eats it all down. He's been eating Pedigree pouches, which are not on the list, and until recently Mighty Dog pouches and cans - the pouches are on the list. Been on Purina One dry food since I saw the list...not sure I trust anything in a can or a pouch anymore.

I thought chocolate was bad for dogs.

Article:

Chocolate contains methylxanthine alkaloids in the form of theobromine and caffeine, that cause constriction of arteries, increased heart rate, and central nervous system stimulation. These effects can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and increased urinations. More advanced symptoms of toxicity include excitability, increased respirations and heartbeat, stiffness, seizures and exaggerated reflexes.
Certain types of chocolate contain higher amounts of methylxanthines, baking chocolate containing the highest and white chocolate containing the least. Dogs freely ingest toxic amounts of chocolate if it is left accessible. A potentially lethal dose in a 16 pound. dog is only one pound of milk chocolate. People stop eating chocolate before ingesting toxic levels.

Cardiac failure, seizures, coma, and death can result if the chocolate ingestion is not found within four to six hours and treated appropriately. The length of action of the methylxanthines is usually 12 to 36 hours. In dogs that chocolate ingestion is detected early, the prognosis is good.

http://www.salmonbrookvets.com/showpracf...

I thought chocolate was bad for dogs.

In excess, yes, but a chocolate chip cookie the size of a half dollar every now and then isn't gonna hurt them. A even Thor, Pugle Wonder, has to have his vices. ;)

He's been fine since, but he's been worrying me the last few weeks not wanting to eat. But when I bribe him by mixing in a chocolate chip cookie, he eats it all down. He's been eating Pedigree pouches, which are not on the list, and until recently Mighty Dog pouches and cans - the pouches are on the list. Been on Purina One dry food since I saw the list...not sure I trust anything in a can or a pouch anymore.

It sounds like he may get a better appetite from the Purina after a while. Good luck.

I fed raw, so we are good! I won't feed my dogs food with wheat and certainly not my cats, if I had any!

Checked the site for recall and I did not see Science Diet by Hills listed. I feed my dog dry food and I believe the recall is for mainly if not all wet and moist foods.

I feel much better now that I know its not dry dog food. :) We have two dogs and I would be devasted if something happened to them!

I feel much better now that I know its not dry dog food. :) We have two dogs and I would be devasted if something happened to them!

Yeah me too. I can't understand why such things are going on with dog foods and human foods lately. Seems like a few years ago and espeically many years ago you never saw or heard of such massive recalls on any foods like we have in recent months. I think terrorist are poisoning us and our pets!:mad:

"Checked the site for recall and I did not see Science Diet by Hills listed. I feed my dog dry food and I believe the recall is for mainly if not all wet and moist foods."

Today in NBC nightly news they talked about Science Diet... pls ck again....

This was a closer call than I first thought.

I first posted in here that I was "ok" because I use Purina one and Purina was not on the list. That is true.

Then I heard it was wet food only and felt doubly safe as I use dry food.

But.....I glanced over this evening and saw my wet food which I "occasionally" mix with the dry food for a "treat". I use IAMS cans....and I looked them up. Sure enough they are on the recall list. Lucky I had no problems as 2 of the cans were gone.

Wheew....close one.

My cat attacks me at night. I don't know for how much longer he'll be ok. :rolleyes:

My cat "Big Head" started getting sick a few weeks ago. We took him to the vet a bunch of times. He stopped eating and drinking, he started to smell, he just stayed under a table and didn't want to move. The vet finally found the problem was his kidneys. He said his kidneys were failing. We were feeding him "Special Kitty" food. A brand that's on the list.
We have to give him an IV everyday now. The IV is a 5cc solution that gets injected under his skin to help him get rid of toxins in his body. We ofcourse changed his food, he's eating and drinking and starting to act like his old self now. Hopefully when we take him to the vet next week, they'll tell us we no longer need to give him daily IV's.

Oh, efrobert, I'm so sorry to hear about Big Head. :(

My cat attacks me at night. I don't know for how much longer he'll be ok. :rolleyes:

When the dog first came to live here, I fell asleep on the couch with the cat in my lap. About 3:00 am the dog hopped up in my lap and landed on the cat.

pet fod maker to pay vet bills
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070323/NEWS05/703230403

rat poison to blame
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17754681/

I thought chocolate was bad for dogs.

Article:

Chocolate contains methylxanthine alkaloids in the form of theobromine and caffeine, that cause constriction of arteries, increased heart rate, and central nervous system stimulation. These effects can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and increased urinations. More advanced symptoms of toxicity include excitability, increased respirations and heartbeat, stiffness, seizures and exaggerated reflexes.
Certain types of chocolate contain higher amounts of methylxanthines, baking chocolate containing the highest and white chocolate containing the least. Dogs freely ingest toxic amounts of chocolate if it is left accessible. A potentially lethal dose in a 16 pound. dog is only one pound of milk chocolate. People stop eating chocolate before ingesting toxic levels.

Cardiac failure, seizures, coma, and death can result if the chocolate ingestion is not found within four to six hours and treated appropriately. The length of action of the methylxanthines is usually 12 to 36 hours. In dogs that chocolate ingestion is detected early, the prognosis is good.

http://www.salmonbrookvets.com/showpracf...

The problem is just that small dogs are stupid and megapigs. Mine are over 100lbs each. OK they are also pigs and a bit stupid in the same way. But I'd have to leave out 6 pounds of chocolate and one dog would have to score it all!

Mine love chocolate icecream. But I'd expect problems from the butterfat content (no store crap for the boys) before the potentially toxic amounts.

I thought chocolate was bad for dogs.

Article:

Chocolate contains methylxanthine alkaloids in the form of theobromine and caffeine, that cause constriction of arteries, increased heart rate, and central nervous system stimulation. These effects can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and increased urinations. More advanced symptoms of toxicity include excitability, increased respirations and heartbeat, stiffness, seizures and exaggerated reflexes.
Certain types of chocolate contain higher amounts of methylxanthines, baking chocolate containing the highest and white chocolate containing the least. Dogs freely ingest toxic amounts of chocolate if it is left accessible. A potentially lethal dose in a 16 pound. dog is only one pound of milk chocolate. People stop eating chocolate before ingesting toxic levels.

Cardiac failure, seizures, coma, and death can result if the chocolate ingestion is not found within four to six hours and treated appropriately. The length of action of the methylxanthines is usually 12 to 36 hours. In dogs that chocolate ingestion is detected early, the prognosis is good.

http://www.salmonbrookvets.com/showpracf...

about 5 months after we got our new puppy he ate about 6 bags of halloween candy when we left him alone these were those big bags full of milky ways and such. As i was always told chocolate was bad for dogs i was very scared and flew to the animal hospital thet vet told me i quote "Dont Worry he would have to eat alot of candy to kill him" ALOT OF CANDY? he ate six bags for goodness sake. Though he wasnt a very happy puppy for a few days and spent alot of time in the back yard letting nature take its course he was fine.

Check it out (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/23/us/23cnd-petfood.html?em&ex=1174881600&en=ec5842d4613e8f14&ei=5087%0A):


A toxic chemical used in some countries as a rat poison has been found in tainted pet food that has been linked to the deaths of at least 14 pets, the New York State Departmention Agriculture announced today.

The chemical, identified in samples of pet food tested at Cornell University, is aminopterin, a derivative of folic acid, the department said. The substance is not approved for use in the United States.

“We are pleased that the expertise of the New York State Food Laboratory was able to contribute the identifying agent that caused numerous illnesses and deaths in dogs and cats across the nation,” the state agriculture commissioner, Patrick Hooker, said in a statement.

Spokeswomen for the department and the university would not comment on how aminopterin may have gotten into the pet food.

The discovery comes nearly a week after Menu Foods, a pet food manufacturer based in Streetsville, Ontario, recalled more than 60 million cans and pouches of wet pet food sold under a host of brand names because of reports that the food had made animals ill.

The reports from pet owners began to reach the company Feb. 20, and the company started testing animals Feb. 27, according to the Food and Drug Administration, which has been investigating the tainted food for the past week.

The agency said it was focusing on wheat gluten, a filler ingredient that gives the “cuts and gravy” style of wet dog food, the kind that was recalled, its consistency. Menu Foods has said that the reports of pet illnesses started after its plants in Kansas and New Jersey began using gluten from a new supplier.

Most of the contaminated lots originated at the Emporia plant.

Aminopterin, which has also been studied as a chemotherapy drug for treating leukemia and other cancers, is not used as a rodenticide in the United States because exposure to it is associated with serious birth defects. It is known to cause kidney failure in dogs and cats.

While fewer than 20 cases related to the recalled food have so far been confirmed, thousands of people around the country say their pets were stricken with kidney failure, fatally in many cases, after eating the food.

Menu Foods manufactures products for brands like Eukanuba, Iams, Science Diet and Nutro Natural Choice, as well as some store brands including those of the Wal-Mart, Winn-Dixie and Hannaford chains. A complete list can be found at www.menufoods.com/recall.

Check it out (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/23/us/23cnd-petfood.html?em&ex=1174881600&en=ec5842d4613e8f14&ei=5087%0A):

Thanks for posting that.


http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/2245/goodideabaileyub0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Anything for Bailey. :D

Last Thursday I found four cans of iams cat food dated three days prior to the recall in the stash. Turfed them to be on the safe side.

Anything for Bailey. :D


:) :) :)

woof.....doggie kisses from Bailey. :)

It's not nice to have to post more... :(


Major pet food recall expands to dry food Sat Mar 31, 5:50 PM ET

A major recall of pet food in North America has expanded to two more companies and now includes dry food for the first time, U.S. federal health authorities and the companies said.

The Food and Drug Administration said late on Friday it notified Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. that tests had detected byproducts of a suspect chemical in the wheat gluten it used to make Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food.

The FDA concluded earlier on Friday that melamine, a chemical used in fertilizers in Asia and forbidden in pet food, had been found in some wheat gluten used by a Canadian company at the center of the recall two weeks ago.

Ontario-based Menu Foods makes pet food sold under several popular labels. The FDA and Menu said the suspect wheat gluten came from a Chinese supplier, which was not identified.

Menu recalled certain batches of wet pet food in mid-March after the products were blamed for the deaths of at least 14 animals -- mostly cats.

The FDA, which is continuing its investigation, found that wheat gluten from the same company that supplied Menu Foods was used to make the Hill's product, the first time a dry food had been implicated.

Hill's, a unit of Colgate-Palmolive Co. based in Topeka, Kansas, has voluntarily recalled the product sold through veterinarians. The company confirmed the recall in a statement.

Separately, Nestle Purina PetCare Co. announced in a statement it was voluntarily recalling all sizes and varieties of its ALPO Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog food with specific date codes.

Nestle Purina, based in St. Louis, said it learned on Friday that "some quantity" of wheat gluten from the same supply company linked to Menu and Hill's was used on a limited basis at one of its facilities.

No Purina brand dry pet foods were affected by the recall.

Pet Food Recall Expands to Include Biscuits
From ABC News
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3014675

As the Recall Grows, the FDA Asserts Some Food Is Still Safe
April 6, 2007 — - Three weeks after the pet food recall began, there's no end in sight.

Pet food processor Menu Foods has expanded its recall to include more varieties of food, while another manufacturer Sunshine Mills is recalling more than 20 dog biscuit brands