Comments on: Menu Foods Pet food recall - scientists narrow source of pet illnesses and death - Update

By: Bene Diction

Bene Diction — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 21:30:54 +0000

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.

By: ashley

ashley — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 17:45:05 +0000

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?

By: Lucy

Lucy — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:54:55 +0000

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 .

By: Maggie Coker

Maggie Coker — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:05:46 +0000

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.

By: Susan, Northern New Mexico

Susan, Northern New Mexico — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:38:16 +0000

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.

By: Jasmine Travis

Jasmine Travis — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 05:01:54 +0000

I’ve been following this case because my sister’s Labrador suffered from kidney failure from Menu Foods’ pet food. Apparently, pet owners may not get much out of suing the company because of how pets are only seen as personal property.

here are a few articles I found interesting:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/01/AR2007040100409.html

http://www.class-action-finder.com/consumer-products/49/

By: Diane

Diane — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 17:41:46 +0000

I know Iams is insistent that their dry food is safe, but I think something far more serious is going on. My Westie is 6 years old and has eaten Iams lamb and rice mini chunks only. This is a dry food and has caused him to vomit almost every day over the past month. He was drinking large amounts of water and urinating frequently. I took him to the vet, but again, I was told the dry food is safe. I took him off the Iam’s for good……he is now eating chicken, beef, rice and vegetables. He immediately stopped being sick once he was off the Iams and has been fine ever since. I will never use Iam’s products again. How can they be so sure the dry food is safe when they aren’t sure what is causing the deaths and illness. Maybe it is something besides the wheat or wheat gluten. Supposedly there is no wheat or wheat gluten in Iam’s dry food! Whatever the cause, I am convinced it is also in the Iam’s dry food. Beware!

By: Lucy

Lucy — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 03:30:33 +0000

My little angel, only 4 years old died inmy arms the day before Valentines Day. Her diagnosis was acute renal failure. I hear the news report only 16 pets have died. Where are they getting their numbers from? Where can I report my Angel’s death. I tried the menufoods phone number but cannot get through. Any suggestions.

By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:31:11 +0000

My beloved 9yr old healthy 140lbs Rottweiller “Hercules” died on March 13/07. He was on the dry Iams weight management. I came home in late February and found him paralyzed and lethargic in my bed. He had stopped eating his kibble apx 1 week prior. However, he would eat human food. His belly was rock hard and he seemed to be in alot of discomfort. I rushed him to the vet -who had no clue what was wrong with him. The vet gave him a shot of steroids, did some blood tests and gave me a supply of steroid pills which gave him the strength to walk with assistance for about a week. I told the vet that I had thought he had a bad batch of food and I actually returned the dry food for a refund after showing the manager my vet bill. My boy hung on to dear life until March 14 until he collapsed on my back step…dead.
His belly was 2X the regular size and still rock hard. He also had extreme thirst & urination but no vomiting or diarrhea (however he was burping and gagging quite a bit) I am so guilt ridden with the fact that my poor dog was suffering and didnt have the words to tell me. According to my vet Herc still had many years to go & his illness was not age related. PEOPLE DO NOT FEED YOUR ANIMALS ANY DRY OR WET IAMS FOOD PRODUCTS!!!!!! Also I contacted Iams to inform them that it was the dry food that killed my dog and they said to fax my vet bill to them for an immediate reimbursement. My lawyer has advised against this. Somebody is going to pay. My young children have been so traumatized that they are sleeping with me every night & keep having nightmares from seeing their beloved family member drop dead before their eyes-while I cry hysterically trying to revive him. They wont even go downstairs at night alone because they’re “scared without Herc”. BTW I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. jen@goddessfilmproductions.com

By: Bene Diction

Bene Diction — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:56:19 +0000

Bernie et al:

The FDA has not yet issued a press release. (March 30, 2007)

This is the F.D.A. report comes from The Pittsburgh Tribune Gazette:i

U.S. Food and Drug Administration testing found a chemical commonly used in plastics, but no rat poison, in the recalled pet food that has killed and sickened cats and dogs nationwide, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review learned Thursday.

Testing by the FDA and at least one lab independent of the agency found melamine, a chemical used in plastics and household textiles, in samples of the recalled pet food and in one of its ingredients — wheat gluten — said an FDA official and another source close to the investigation. Neither wanted to be identified prior to the FDA’s formal announcement this morning. more here

And more here.