News & Observer | newsobserver.com | Illnesses point to tainted pet food

Published: Apr 01, 2007 12:00 AM
Modified: Apr 01, 2007 02:44 AM

Illnesses point to tainted pet food

Dog survives, but cat didn't make it

 

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WHO IS AFFECTED?

No one has an official tally, but several organizations, including the N.C. Veterinary Medical Association, are taking numbers for affiliated animal hospitals.

PET FOODS THAT ARE SAFE

While most of its products are on the recall list, Menu Foods said Friday that its "cuts and gravy" style pet food manufactured outside the recall period is safe. Pet owners should not fear giving their pets food that was not on the recall list, Raleigh veterinarian Dr. Nannette Goodwin said.

Most of these foods have been appropriately put through the screening process," she said.

SEEING SYMPTOMS?

Symptoms of acute kidney failure include vomiting, refusal to eat, lethargy and increased drinking or urination. If your pet is displaying signs of kidney failure or you fed recalled products to your pet, take it immediately to an animal hospital for blood tests.

U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, MENU FOODS INC., BOWMAN ANIMAL HOSPITAL, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, THE WASHINGTON POST

WHAT'S CONTAMINATED?

Hill's Pet Nutrition announced Friday they were recalling their Prescription Diet m/d dry cat food. To find a list of Menu Foods products recalled, go to www.menufoods.com. Menu Foods President and CEO Paul Henderson said Friday his company would reimburse owners for medical costs if they can prove the foods caused their pet's illness.

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RALEIGH - Dr. Nannette Goodwin said a woman brought her dog into the Bowman Animal Hospital reporting he was drinking more water than usual. Most of the dog's symptoms were vague. Before he left the hospital at 8308 Creedmoor Road, Goodwin had diagnosed the dog with kidney failure.

A week later, Menu Foods recalled more than 60 million cans and pouches sold under 53 dog-food brand names and 42 cat brands, saying they were contaminated. Most of the affected pets had kidney problems.

"We lined [the symptoms] up with the fact that he had been consuming that [food]," Goodwin said, "and it was like what other pets had been experiencing."

A cat was brought to the hospital with similar symptoms. It had to be euthanized. The dog is responding to treatment and recovering. The tainted food has been removed from his diet.

FDA officials said Friday that melamine, a chemical used to make plastic kitchen products, was found in wheat gluten, an ingredient in the food. FDA officials said the wheat gluten had been imported from China. Also, Hill's Pet Nutrition is recalling 4- and 10-pound bags of its Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry cat food -- the first time dry food has been recalled. No other Hill's dry products were affected.

According to The Associated Press, anecdotal reports suggest hundreds if not thousands of pets have died. The FDA has received more than 8,000 complaints, the company more than 300,000.

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