Pet Food Recall – UPDATE for April 3rd - Food Causing Death

[Guest guest]

Dear mary,

 

It's Dr. Jon here. I wanted to give you another update about the

recent pet food recall. I know many of you are scared. And there

is tons of information out there and some of it is confusing to

interpret. I've spent a lot of time on the phone trying to get you

the latest information and want to share an overview of the

information with you now.

 

As you know, a couple weeks ago there was a dog and cat food recall

of 60 million containers packaged under 95 brands of food. Two

additional brands - Alpo and Hills were added to the list last

week. The Hills recall was for the first dry food of the recall - a

prescription diet for cats called m/d.

 

The preliminary reports indicated that the affected foods caused

over 16 deaths and may have caused illness in hundreds of others.

Last week, the Agriculture Commissioner of New York State Patrick

Hooker released information that Aminopterin, a form of rat poison,

was found in some cat foods. Since then, it is believed that

Aminopterin did not contribute to the deaths.

 

On Friday, the FDA announced that melamine, a chemical used as a

fertilizer and in the production of plastics, was found in tested

samples of recalled pet food from Menu Foods. The substance was

also identified in urine and tissue samples taken from sickened

cats and from the kidney of one cat that had eaten the recalled

food. According to the FDA, " Melamine is primarily used in Asia as

a fertilizer but is not approved for that use in the United States.

It is used in plastic kitchenware in this country. "

 

As with the Aminopterin, it is not possible to test pets for

melamine at this time. No one seems to know as to how much or if

any other compounds were found. They also are not certain if

melamine is linked to the illness in deaths of the pets eating the

recalled foods. As you can tell, there are many unanswered

questions. Reports are continuously being updated and there is

still a lot that we don't know.

 

They do know that the compound involved is causing kidney failure

and it seems to affect cats worse than dogs. The most common signs

of kidney failure are: vomiting, not eating, drinking more,

urinating more and/or lethargy. If your pet is eating or was eating

one of the recalled foods and is experiencing any symptoms, please

call your veterinarian immediately. We recommend testing and

treating all affected pets! If caught early, kidney failure can be

treated successfully in some pets.

 

For more information read about:

 

 

Kidney Failure in Dogs:

http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?Gl7L9JMF9Q4KwR947q5HJg

 

Kidney Failure in Cats:

http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?PPJjV4z.KrdF.IuSGrLo8Q

 

 

The food recall covers several different foods - primarily those

with gravy components - with the dates of December 3rd - March 6th.

The recall does not affect all varieties of the different food -

but is now thought to affected both canned and dry formulas.

 

If you suspect your pet has been affected by the food - please read

these steps to help your veterinarian with your pet's diagnosis:

 

 

Advice to Pet Food Owner After National Recall:

http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?V2dqQO_JKtxS7TmYYbmmFA

 

 

This article gives recommendations and resources for veterinarians.

If your pet has been affected, please print both articles and take

them with you when you see your vet.

 

 

Here is also an update for veterinarians:

 

 

Pet Food Recall Updated Information for Veterinarians:

http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?1Y5JSgpAKtH7FZ4VnEFjLg

 

 

For information or an updated list, call 1-866-895-2708.

 

I sincerely hope that your pets are not affected.

 

 

Regards,

 

Dr. Jon

 

 

P.S. If you have any comments or have had problems resulting from

these foods, email me. I'd love to share your comments with other

PetPlace.com readers.

 

 

http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?Y6SI5qJd5yrERx5SEsaJ_w

 

 

 

 

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired

signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are

not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

 

http://www.sharedvoice.org/unamerican/