Pet food recall: Our database
By Gina Spadafori
March 20, 2007
We will release numbers from our database in the morning, and will update those when we can. From what I’ve seen scanning the file: these self-reported incidents have been wide-spread, and more cats than dogs have been affected.
More as we get it.
Remember, if you posted your pet’s illness or loss as a comment, or e-mailed it us, we have no ability to count them. Please, enter the information into the database.
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Pet Food Recall:
I have lost 2 dogs since 3-8-07 and one 3-19-07 and have 2 sick.
We are heart broken and at a loss we have 2 voids and may have 2 more 4 dogs in 1 month I don’t knwo how much more our family can take someone is going to pay I am mad and I can’t get answers I call menu and am told someone wil call me back noone does and they also told me to call the company thats name is on the food you guessed it the company lable tells you to call menu what a run around.
Comment by Susan Bryant — March 20, 2007 @ 9:15 pm
what can i feed my puppy. any puppy recipes to cook at home?
Comment by kat — March 20, 2007 @ 10:12 pm
There are several books available and some websites. Do a search online. If you can’t find anything, I will ask my friend who makes her own food. Also there is a web site http://www.happydogfood.com they sell mixes for making your food. It comes highly recommended by the Orange County Pug rescue group.
I am feeding my dog a low protein/low phosphorus home made diet from recipes I found online. I am still experimenting.
Comment by joyce — March 20, 2007 @ 11:43 pm
My cat has been in & out of the hospital since March 12. She had kidney failure & they need to treat her aggressively.
She came home for a few days, but now is back in the hospital. She wont eat anything… and is slowly starving to death. She has never been a fan of dry food… so, I have to give wet. The vet keeps pushing the Science Diet k/d food, but I am trying to stay away from that brand. They said I will end up starving her to death if I continue to be so picky.
What should I do? She needs to eat, but I dont want her exposed to that “toxic” again. Especially, since they dont know “which ingredient” is doing this! Help!
Comment by Kimmy Cat — March 21, 2007 @ 9:59 am
In the past when my dog was sick, the vet had us feed her chicken and rice. They love it and it’s the easiest to digest. Try poultry and rice. You can even make large batches and store them in the fridge.
Best wishes,
Suzanne
Comment by suzanne — March 21, 2007 @ 10:22 am
Other foods question! My dog is ill from what I believe is Canned Mighty Dog! Not on the recall list!
Comment by April — March 21, 2007 @ 10:34 am
Another website that can help with homemade pet food recipes is http://www.balanceit.com. They are used by veterinarians that need to prescribe homemade foods for diet-restricted pets and by anyone wanting to cook for their pets (see their pet lovers’ site). It says that the company was started by a veterinary nutritionist. You can use your own ingredients then add their supplements to make sure the food is balanced for your pet. We’ve been using it for our Boston, and she seems to really like eating a variety of things.
Comment by Nans — March 21, 2007 @ 10:34 am
Kimmy Cat- as far as I know, there haven’t been any reports of illness associated with prescription foods. I have three cats on prescription diets (two from Purina, one from IVD.. which I believe is manufactured by Royal Canin), and all three are presently thriving.
Admittedly, I don’t know where the KD canned food is produced, but it’s a ‘loaf’ style food, so there shouldn’t be any association with Menu- or, at this time, with the recall.
Also, if you look here, (http://www.mindspring.com/~kerspin/CannedFoodFrameset.htm#Hillscanned), you’ll find a listing of the ingredients in the cans. This product does not contain any wheat gluten, which, although it hasn’t been positively identified as the source of the problem, seems to be the focus of the investigation.
Might she be willing to eat the KD dry if it were softened using water or broth? (Consult w/ vet before trying the broth.) If not, could she be willing to eat the K/D dry if it were mixed with something more palatable? If you’re really concerned about feeding wet food, (and wholly opposed to it), you might want to ask your vet about the possibility of trying dry food mixed with something human-grade, (people food having been unaffected at this point), like meat-based baby food, for the time being, until this blows over. **HOWEVER** (disclaimer alert!) that said, I am not a vet, and I’m not familiar with her condition- it may or may not be in her best interest to be eating something other than a prescription renal diet at the moment. I would not make any dietary changes at this point without consulting your vet first.
I have not seen any reports of tainted KD at this point, though.
Comment by Gwen — March 21, 2007 @ 10:55 am
BTW, for healthy animals, anyone can use the promo code HOMEMADE to get a free recipe from http://www.balanceit.com.
Comment by Nans — March 21, 2007 @ 11:00 am
I have had 3 cats who died of renal failure in the past. None of them would eat the canned k/d diet. Find something the cat will eat—A/D or meat babyfood (no garlic or onions) & make sure the cat eats as much as he or she can. I repeat—-the cat will not eat the k/d anyway— give her anything she’ll eat.
Comment by sweeney — March 21, 2007 @ 11:51 am
Sorry to those going through.
Our cat loves chicken. Really LOVES deli sliced plain chicken, not the pre-packaged chicken though.
Comment by linda — March 21, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
My beloved cat had to be put to sleep March 8, 2007 due to kidney failure. After seeing the cat food recall I checked the list and the food I had been feeding her was on the recall list. My children are grown and my kitty was my baby. Thanks to this tainted food I feel like a murderer. How can anyone compensate the loss of a family member?
Comment by Elizabeth Warner — March 21, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
This is a frustrating website.. where is the list of foods that are affected by this recall? how come it’s not easy to find????
I’m so frustrated!!!!!!!!
Comment by Denise Wilson — March 21, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
For anyone out there looking for a safe and nutritious food to feed you pets go to one or both of these websites
http://www.naturapet.com
http://www.artemispetfood.com
I work for a feed store and didn’t carry any of the affected pet foods. Education is the answer. If you don’t know or recognize an ingredient on your pets food label then don’t feed ot to your pet.
Comment by Lynn Maciel — March 21, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
I’ve never known of an animal that would willingly eat KD. I hate to say this, but it’s full of byproducts, which is why is so digestible. My vet told me I could add a little extra protein, if it would get my dog to eat it. He said it was more important for him to eat, and that low protein diets were contraversial. I gave up, and am making my own. Look online for feline kidney diets. It really isn’t that hard, but it takes some time and planning. My advise is to always use filtered water, don’t use tap water, because of all the chemicals, etc. Make sure there is filtered water in all the water dishes. Use organic everything, because the last thing your pet’s kidneys need right now is to have to work harder on additives, hormones, etc. (I don’t even use organic for the family)
To save money and time, find out if you can give subcutaneous fluids at home. That way you are with your animal, and they’re not being stressed out at the vets.
I am happy to say that Rupert’s renal values were completely normal today. 2 weeks ago his BUN was 59, today it was 10. His creatinine was 6.0, today it was 1.0. He gets to stop the sub cutaneous fluids. Be assertive with your vets office. Read everything you can, don’t just believe what you’re told. Ask lots of questions. I know that cat’s kidneys are more sensitive than dog’s, (Rupert is a pug) but what do you have to lose, really?
Comment by Joyce — March 21, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
When I said what do you have to lose, really? I meant that our pets ae sick and dying. If we don’t take charge of their care, and this problem, they will keep dying. Sorry if it sounded cold.
Comment by Joyce — March 21, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
My 6 month old Maine Coon kitten is still in the vet hospital for vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. When I was waiting with her at the office she started vomiting blood. I’ve had every kind of test run on her including kidney and liver function and barium xrays of her intestines but everything checks out so far. Last week she ate Iams tuna flakes in sauce which is one of the kinds that is supposed to be tainted but the can did not have the bad lot numbers on it…It had entirely different codes.
I’m trying to do a search to see if others were similarly effected but so far no luck.
I intend to keep pursuing the matter and also to report my situation to the FDA if the tests they run tomorrow are negative. I might even pursue it with a lawyer as I’ve retained the empty can…. This whole thing is a real outrage. Imagine if this happened with human food or do they use a different standard of quality control for animal foods? The same standards should be used all across the board and maybe it took this to change the pet food industry.
Comment by Anne — March 21, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
I was wondering if anyone knew if this “poison” in the food could be passed from mother to newborn puppies through her milk. We had 4 new puppies on Feb. 27th, all born healthy. They all received a clean bill of health from their vet, had their dwe claws removed and tails docked. The mother was eating Iams in pouches and also a Natural foods purchased at the pet store. One puppy passed away very suddenly, with very loud crying. We rushed her to the emergency 24 hour vet and they kept her but she died within 2 hours, without any explanation. 2 Days later, my most lively puppy suddenly went from thriving and eating to passing away within 24 hours.
The mother also started acting sick, was not eating, etc. I took her to the vet, they did blood tests and told me her kidney labs came back elevated. They gave her medicine, shots, and pills to bring home. She feels much better now but I am wondering since this recall came out……could she have passed this on to the puppies through her milk? They are very small, and a breed from Europe, and were born at 1.9 ounces and 2.4 ounces (the two that passed away).
How can I find out if it was possible for the mother to make it through eating this food and be okay, but such small puppies being affected through mothers milk.
Regards and my prayers are with all of you and your animals.
Tracy
Comment by Tracy — March 22, 2007 @ 12:57 am
My cat died, she was # 11. I am a professional photographer, my cat died 3 weeks ago, not only was she my friend she was a model You see I shoot animals as stock photography . My images are with Getty.
I get paid for photos of my animals. My dogs would be dead also except that one of them got fat, so I switched to a lite loaf, instead of the cuts & gravy style food. THANK GOD.
I’m working with some lawyers here to change the classification of household pets from property to something else. If any good can come from the death of my cat- Emmy- It should be this.
The law in Texas is from 1860- it prevents anyone from being responsible for things like this happening. I have all the proof I need to show how my cat died, photos, receipts, emergency room documents, witnesses to her pain!!!!! The Vets were baffled.
This is more than a whoo is me story- I changed a law about pets before, I can do it again. Please forward to anyone who may be interested.
Pam
Lawyers I’ve talked to John O’Quinn and Race Horse Haynes. Both friends and from Houston.
How can I join Dawn in the class action law suit?
Pam
Comment by Pam Francis — March 22, 2007 @ 1:20 am
To Momma dog who lost her pups..
I had a litter of kittens born, Feb. Each day I lost one just as you said. Screaming cry before death. Mom ate special kitty pouch food. Mom started with this weird rash all over her skin also on this food. {She is a bald cat}.
I feel sorry for your loss. I do beleive it is passed thru the milk. Just like a 2 legged mom, if she drinks the baby gets drunk.. Anything the mother intakes the babies do too.
Good luck and I’ll pray for your pets health getting thru this.
Comment by cat lover — March 22, 2007 @ 7:39 am
Both my cats are well fed with all Purina poducts, they are supplemented with chicken etc. from my meals. Fancy Feast, Feline Favorites, Indoor Cat and Fancy Feast Dry. The Fancy Feast was all sliced. Am I in peril? On an ABC or AOL website I saw that Purina was recalled, but it was not on menu foods website. What is the real story- has anyone heard of animals getting sick from Fancy Feast wet or dry?
Comment by Jody — March 22, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
For the woman looking for the list of recalled foods here it is.
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_cat.html
that is for the cat foods. The dog food link is the same except for replace the word cat with dog. I agree the link is way to hard to find on this site.
Comment by Rachel Hicks — March 23, 2007 @ 12:45 am
I just want people to know my cat has renal failure and I will find out tomorrow if he will make it or not. The food he ate was from the same plant and the same food that is on the recall, Iams, but the date is just before the recall. I feed my cats only dry food and just this time I got Iams wet food because I though they would like a little different treat. Now I might have killed my cat because of the treat! My cats are only in doors and the trash is under the sink were they can’t get to it. I love my cats. I hope people read this and not feed they’r cats or dogs any of menufoods because they still don’t know what is causing this and if my cat is having renal failure and the date was before the Weat gluton then its not the Weat gluton. May all your Pets be safe and pray for Pepe my little furry son.
Comment by Scott Sontag — March 23, 2007 @ 1:14 am
My sympathies to those who have sick or dead pets because of this fiasco. I believe that every pet owner should research to find the best diet for their charges. Believe it or not, vets are the worst people to be able to give dietary advice because the only diet education that most of them get is provided by processed pet food companies! Yahoo Groups has many groups where you can learn about feeding your pets a natural diet.
Comment by Shirley — March 23, 2007 @ 2:35 am
We lost 1 dag and almost another 2 months later. Not even sure about the brand, and it was dry, (that’s all I feed them, cause of the runs that another dog gets), I’ve never had this happen to me before, and we are all quite tore up about this. I have checked several web sites and am fairly certain that it was the food. I just wish I could of afforded a vet.
Comment by Cynthia Sann — March 23, 2007 @ 7:21 am
I had a 8yr old Newfoundland in good health. We lost her mate in September of cancer. Since that time as a treat I would give her Iams in the foil pouch wet food. The first of the ear we noticed her slowing down, eating less and only eating the snow. Around the 15th of January I called the vet because I thought she had a bladder infection. When I got her there he said it was a uterus infection, gave me some antibotics and scheduled surgery in two days. He thought she would bounce back the next day after medicine but still scheduled the surgery. Through the night she became very sick throwing up several times, lethargic and just laying in the snow eating it. She was taken to clinic next morning and put on intervenious injections. Through the day she never urinated and then passed away early the next morning. The cause was renal failure. I did not have any autopsy done as I thought it was a side affect of the uterus infection. She was creamated. This was our baby! I always had the best of care for her. How any pet food company could let this go on. I wonder how long has the food been on the shelves? Has anyone heard? I am also sure the stores know if they carried the recalled brands.
Comment by Cindy Schwarz — March 23, 2007 @ 7:35 am