“Many people’s pets are like part of the family,” she noted.
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.
Menu Foods said it has beefed up the testing of all raw materials and finished goods.
The timing of the complaints coincided with the use of an ingredient from a new supplier, Menu Foods said. The company said it remains unclear whether the wheat gluten ingredient was responsible for the illnesses, but it has discontinued its use.
The FDA has not confirmed the identity of the company that supplied the wheat gluten, but its website suggests it supplies only animal feed manufacturers, said Sundlof.
Because wheat gluten itself wouldn’t cause kidney failure, FDA investigators are examining other ingredients as possible sources of contamination. Those include heavy metals like cadmium and lead or fungal toxins. Aflatoxin, a corn fungus, sparked a 2005 dog food recall.
A list of recalled cat and dog food is at CTV, as well as the signs of kidney poisoning to look for in your dog and cat if they have been fed these products.
Â
Update: Menu Foods have updated their recall page with a complete list of cat and dog food as well as adding another phone number for concerned pet owners.Â
The American Veterinary Medical Association – update
FDA – update
Class Action Suit – notice of intent Canada
Class Action Suit – USA Progessive Law Group
In response to those who have been wondering about symptoms other than kidney failure, my dear 13 year old dog began developing skin allergies while on Nutro Natural Choice Senior Chicken and Rice Chunks. He was treated with prednisone and antibiotics, but after a sudden decline that began the first week of October, he died on October 14th, 2006. I know that is outside of the time frame issued by Menu Foods, but his symptoms match those of dogs and cats affected by the recalled food. The last week, he had gastroenteritis, stopped walking and eating, had diarrhea and was vomiting, and a large sore appeared on his side. He was totally lethargic towards the end. The 2 vets I brought him to could not identify the cause, but the vet who saw him the day before he died said his body seemed to be trying to get rid of some kind of toxin. Blood work done a week before he died showed elevated liver enzymes, after being normal just a few months before, when he was found to be in good overall health despite a non-metastatic cancer on his elbow that kept coming back, and weakness in his back from abuse suffered early in life. Ultrasounds the day before his death showed nothing wrong internally. Neither the blood work a week before his death, nor the necropsy done afterwards could identify the cause of death – no infection, no cancer, no stroke, no heart failure, but while alive his elevated liver enzymes showed something was amiss, and an x-ray showed inflammation in his GI tract. I might submit his preserved tissues for further analysis, if further, more thorough tests on samples from his organs will help me understand what happened to him. Maybe Iowa State has ways of detecting melamine, aminopterine, or whatever comes next, in his kidney and other tissues. I was devastated by losing my precious friend so suddenly, and for the last 5 months have not been able to get the mysterious circumstances or the shock of his sudden death out of my mind. I felt so helpless, and no one could answer my questions. Since the pet food recall, I checked the list, realized his food was on it, and wondered if it was toxic back in October. I have read at least one other account of a dog that experienced the onset of similar devastating “allergies†back in October, and that dog was also eating the recalled food. My departed dog was extra sensitive to toxins, including flea and tick shampoos, so I tried to keep any kind of chemical product away from him. He was a larger dog – over 50 lbs – but he was like a canary in a coal mine where toxins are concerned, so might have been more adversely affected by smaller amounts, before public awareness led to the recall. It never occurred to me that his food might have toxins or deadly chemicals in it, but contaminated food gives me an explanation where up to now there has been none. I hope his story helps you, Maggie and Elizabeth. I also do not know what H/G is.
To everyone that has been affected by this recall, my heart goes out to you. I am deeply saddened to tell you that my Riley died on April 2, 2007 at 7:30 pm. He is now my Guardian Angel. The vets told us that we may never know what caused him to fall ill. I’ve kept telling them that prior to eating the recalled food, he was in excellent health. Susan, H/G (as explained to me by Elizabeth) is Hemorrhagic Gastritis. This sounds very similar to what you had mentioned in your post. I appreciate the information and will share this with our vet. Again, my prayers to you all.
Contaminated Wheat Gluten has been named the killer ingredient in the recalled wet and now Hills Science Prescription Diet M/D Dry Food.
Has anyone heard anything about “corn gluten”?
My other cat Blue (a large siamese/himilyian male) who has been my roomate for over 14 years now, has been eating Hills Science Diet Hairball Control food for years which does not list wheat gluten in its ingredients but does list corn gluten. The word “gluten” scares me so I’ve been cooking him chicken and feeding him the cheaper brands of food. If anyone has any info on corn gluten, please let me know. And if you’re using a hairball control food that your cat is pleased with, please pass that info on. I could not bear it if my big bear Blue was to get sick also. Thanks much and blessings to you all .
hi, my name is Ashley. My grandma posion cat Mikey has not being felling well. He have not ate or drink in 2 or 3 days. i am worried that the food what we gave him as rat food posion in it. we always give him Whiskas like chicken and turkey. but my grandma gave him someting new we gave hm the beef in gravy. well mikey have just throw up one day and had dierew. he sleeps most of the day. he can walk. but my grandma tod my sister heather to my dad cats b.c my grandma cat mikey was not u know what. so my sis gave it to my dads cats but they r fine. i dont get it! please tell me my grandma cat dont have rat posion pls dont i dont want to lose him. i really dont. but te vent is going to my grandma house on tuesday for shoots. but do my grandma cat have rat food posion? is there a way to currow it?
Ashley:
It depends. Keep the cans with the labels, check the recall page so the vet has the information.
Check the receipt from the store, a lot depends on when the food was purchased.
The American Veternairy Association Page has information on how they treat animals that ate recalled food and there is good information for you at PetConnection. Only the vet can diagnose Mickey, and those are some things you can do to help.