Pet-food recall: Source of poison found

By Gina Spadafori

March 23, 2007

ABC News has been in the lead on this story from the beginning, and they’re right there again, reporting that the problem has been found. From the story:

ABC News has learned that investigators have determined that a rodent-killing chemical is the toxin in the tainted pet food that has killed several animals.

A source close to the investigation tells ABC News that the rodenticide, which the source says is illegal to use in the United States, was on wheat that was imported from China and used by Menu Foods in nearly 100 brands of dog and cat food.

A news conference is scheduled for this afternoon by experts in Albany, N.Y., where scientists at the state’s food laboratory made the discovery a week after a massive recall of 60 million cans and pouches was issued.

The chemical is aminopterin.

What investigators can’t say so far is whether this is the only contaminant in all of the recalled food.

There is some good news according to the source. Knowing the chemical should aid veterinarians who are treating animals that have been sickened by the pet food.

The chemical is used in the United States in, of all things, a cancer drug, according to the source.

More on aminopterin from our friends at vetcetera.

Update: The latest numbers from our PetConnection.com database: 1103 deceased pets (654 cats/449 dogs). You can still enter your pet here. We also encourage you to report to the FDA, although good luck with that, according to the S.F. Chronicle:

The FDA  is not asking vets to report cases of sick pets, so no one knows exactly how many animals have been sickened or died after eating bad food.

Emphasis mine, of course. Not quite sure what to make of that, since the AVMA told Dr. Becker yesterday that pet-lovers should report to their veterinarians so veterinarians can report to to the state veterinarians who can then report to the FDA. (I’d guess this is addition to calling the FDA, which is what the FDA is still recommending.) As for reporting to Menu Foods, well, I haven’t been able to get through, and that seems to be the norm.

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Filed under: 2007 food recall, animals: pets, medical, news — Gina Spadafori @ 8:58 am

155 Comments »

  1. Rat poison killed out cats! This is so sad that our cats have been killed by rat poison. :(

    Comment by Kathy Davis — March 23, 2007 @ 9:04 am

  2. My kitties were poisoned by RAT POISON!!??? Yes, I am going to let my vet know right away. It’s too late for my cat that I had to put down, and it may be too late for my sick kitty. BUT, it may not be too late for others. Thank you for the update.

    Comment by Sharon Gilbert — March 23, 2007 @ 9:05 am

  3. I think this is good news, but what about the various reports I’ve seen by vets who did autopsies and/or their own tests? Their results don’t seem to match this… or am I wrong? I guess we’ll know more later. I’m afraid this isn’t all of it, as there are still lots of reports of DRY food causing deaths. Unless this wheat went to other companies, which might be the case.

    Comment by Kim — March 23, 2007 @ 9:05 am

  4. Wait - these results were found by experts in Albany, N.Y., where scientists at the state’s food laboratory made the discovery a week after a massive recall of 60 million cans and pouches was issued.

    HOW could Menu Foods not have found this after testing for over a MONTH?

    Comment by Kim — March 23, 2007 @ 9:08 am

  5. Apparently they are not testing feed ingredients that come from countries KNOWN to use chemicals indiscriminately.

    Look how many people have been sickened over the years from produce from Mexico due to their unregulated agricultural practices there?

    And China is very well known for using agrichemicals in high amounts that we don’t allow here. We need to boycott food imports from them until they straighten up their act.

    Comment by Cathy — March 23, 2007 @ 9:11 am

  6. It must be a part of a plot to overthrow the United States. First, eliminate those in charge: cats.

    Comment by Jeff Stiegltiz — March 23, 2007 @ 9:16 am

  7. I’m so angry at this government and system that let a poison into our food supply, all from these insane, no regulation trade practices. Now, the questions, how much, how long and where is all the poisoned wheat? how much are we humans eating?

    Comment by Gary — March 23, 2007 @ 9:20 am

  8. Question… if the poison was in the actual wheat, is it possible that the wheat, not just wheat glutin, was used in even more products?

    Comment by Pat Lamb — March 23, 2007 @ 9:32 am

  9. Exactly Pat, how far has this poison gotten into our society? and what other grains come from a country that uses poisons indescriminately? and what product is going to tainted next?

    Gary

    Comment by Gary — March 23, 2007 @ 9:37 am

  10. Is it any surprise that China is the source of the poisoning that caused so much death and tragedy for so many dogs and cats in this country & Canada? Combine this with China’s dog meat trade, pet fur trade and the brutal slaugher of tens of thousands of healthy, unaffected dogs as a “solution” to China’s rabies outbreak.

    How in the world can the FDA approve any U.S. food production, be it for pets or humans, when some of the ingredients are coming from nations such as China, where poisons like aminopterin are allowed, yet are illegal in this country? Something is terribly, terribly wrong with this.

    I am so ANGRY now I could just scream. Why would Menu Foods buy their wheat ingredients from China? Only one answer to that question: it was probably the CHEAPEST source they could find. So much for their statements regarding commitment to quality. Yeah, right.

    http://www.howl911.com

    Comment by Nikki — March 23, 2007 @ 9:38 am

  11. I find it funny that The lab that found the source started doing so, accroding to a news article I read, a few days ago. But Menu foods who’ve known about this since “Feb 20th” couldn’t indentify the cause.

    Am I worng here and thinking they had to have known?

    Comment by Rafael — March 23, 2007 @ 9:48 am

  12. They definitely had to have known! I am so outraged right now I can’t see straight. It says right here on the package a committment to quality and lah blah blah… so you buy from CHINA????? A place where eating cats and dogs is perfectly acceptable, a place where any means of food production is justified by the end? I don’t think so! You cheap Bast^&&&. I will never buy another can, bag, pouch, anything of pet food again!

    Comment by Phoebe — March 23, 2007 @ 9:54 am

  13. I am beyond livid right now. Unbelievable. Never in a million years did I imagine something like this. Yes, we literally poisoned our beloved pets. It’s sickening. OMG, I don’t even trust any of the foods out there now whether it is dry food or the wet foods. I don’t believe any of the food is safe. My poor babies.

    Comment by Adrienne Stephenson — March 23, 2007 @ 9:57 am

  14. I want this government to put big time pressure on China and demand monetary compensation and a rewrite of trade practices. And start fining and jailing those who are supposed to watch for stuff like this.

    Comment by Gary — March 23, 2007 @ 9:59 am

  15. I just got off the phone with the Northern California FDA office. Due to the number of calls from pet owners they have branched out into several smaller geographic regions.

    Sacramento Area 916-930-3674

    Stockton Area 209-946-6306

    There are areas for Fresno, Reno, Vegas, San Jose and I think a few others. If you need to get a hold of them, or haven’t heard back call
    510-337-6741 to get a number for you locally. The woman I just spoke with here in Stockton was very helpful and concerned.

    My prayers are with you all.

    Comment by Amy Boda — March 23, 2007 @ 10:00 am

  16. I want to join in on the BOYCOTT of products made by Menu foods. Tell me what I can do to help DESTROY this company?

    RAT POISON from China!! I am speechless right now.

    It’s been 1 week since my cats ate the tainted food. I returned the remaining pouches to Pet Smart on Monday. TODAY, I got an email from Pet Smart informing me that I had bought the tainted food..a little late, don’t you think?

    Thanks to all the helpful info I read here, I am taking my cat(s) to the vet this afternoon for testing.

    Do you THINK that since none of my 13 cats are showing any signs of feeling bad, that my prayers have been answered? Guess I’ll find out today.

    My heart goes out to all of you and your pets who are victims of this horrible mass poisoning.

    Comment by Libby — March 23, 2007 @ 10:01 am

  17. Is there an antidote?

    Comment by Cynthia — March 23, 2007 @ 10:07 am

  18. I think the best plan as another poster said is to BOYCOTT Menufoods and anyone who uses them. I sent emails to both Iams and Science Diet yesterday telling them I will never use their products again so long as they outsource to a huge, unfeeling conglomerate like Menufoods.

    I also think it’s totally plausible that Menufoods has known about the rat poison for at least a month, they are just circling their lawyers to figure out how to deal with it. Hopefully they will go out of business. The best way to hurt bad rich people is to turn them into poor people.

    John

    Comment by John Pierce — March 23, 2007 @ 10:09 am

  19. Ill go one step further, im NEVER using any products from the brands in question. They get no second chance from me and ill be damned if ill give them my $$ ever again. I was a big time eukauba dry fan and now im switching. One strike and you are out with me. Im going to fee my dog some rice and chicken until i find a brand i can trust.

    Comment by tess — March 23, 2007 @ 10:13 am

  20. HOW DO WE KNOW DRY FOOD IS SAFE? MAYBE IT’S ABOUT TIME WE BANNED ALL PET FOOD DRY AND WET. AT 1PM EASTERN TIME THERE WILL BE A PRESS CONFERANCE ON MSNBC. I HOPE THEY SHUT MENU FOOD DOWN.

    Comment by CINDY — March 23, 2007 @ 10:14 am

  21. JOHN,WE NEED TO STOP BUYING WET AND DRY FOOD FROM ANY CO THAT USED MENU FOOD.MY GOD THIS SUCKS BIG TIME

    Comment by CINDY — March 23, 2007 @ 10:16 am

  22. Cindy, I’ve been asking that for the last week, what makes dry food safe? how can poison turn from wet/deadly to dry/safe?

    Comment by Gary — March 23, 2007 @ 10:18 am

  23. My wife and i lost one of our dogs in late December, right before Christmas. He ate Iams dry dog food mixed with a little Iams wet food. We found out on February 26 that another one of our babies (also a dog) is dying from the same kidney failure. We asked our vet if she knew of any recall, since I suspected the food after last year’s recall for the same problem of another generic dog food. We now have a 16 month old dog who may be showing signs of problems as well. Some of the kidney values were high. The dying dog has to have subcutaneous fluids every 3-4 days now and it is a matter of time before she is dead! We are outraged. We trusted Iams for 10 years now and are paid back with this. We have spent over $3500 to date and they still cannot bring our babies back!

    The boycott should not just include menufoods or Iams, but the owner of Iams…Proctor and Gamble. I suggest we let the stockholders of P&G know how we feel about their products.

    Jim Schultze

    Comment by Jim Schultze — March 23, 2007 @ 10:21 am

  24. My cat just got home from the vet last night after being on an IV since Monday. I was relieved when his follow up blood tests came back normal yesterday, but now I’m wondering if he will he need additional treatment now that they know it was rat poison that caused the problem? Also, he’s on antibiotics now, any tricks to get him to eat the pill?

    Comment by Marie — March 23, 2007 @ 10:22 am

  25. I firmly belive it is not just wet food products that were contaminated. My dog only ate dry Ol’ Roy kibbles chunks and chews and Ol’ Roy bacon strip dog treats, from Wal-Mart, and DIED!! I want a list of EVERYTHING Menu Foods manufactures, not just what was recalled. How can I find this??

    Comment by Tammy — March 23, 2007 @ 10:23 am

  26. I suggest everyone feed their dogs/cats human food until we know. anyone have a link for dog food recipies?

    Comment by tess — March 23, 2007 @ 10:24 am

  27. I’d be interested in homemade cat food recipes as well.

    Comment by Marie — March 23, 2007 @ 10:26 am

  28. I believe the poisoning has been going on much longer! I have switched to hamburg and brown rice.

    Comment by Connie — March 23, 2007 @ 10:26 am

  29. The timing of today’s breaking news is very reminiscent of Menu Foods timing of the recall: Another Friday news dump. Hey, Menu Foods, are you hoping that by Monday, the public will have forgotten all about this scandal too? Don’t bet on it. We will never forget.

    This is maddening.

    Comment by Nikki — March 23, 2007 @ 10:29 am

  30. Question…I was just reading the ingredient list (for about the 100th time) of my dry cat food. Made by Purina, not on the recall list. I knew there was no wheat gluten, but by God there is wheat. Now what? How are we to know which wheat is ok, which is poison? I am with everyone else, I will never give another penny of my money to anyone affiliated with Menu Foods. However, the question still remains, even without a connection to Menu…are the “safe” foods even safe. I will be feeding baby food, and our “dinner” to my boy for the time being. I don’t think anything can be trusted right now.

    Comment by Amy Boda — March 23, 2007 @ 10:31 am

  31. It is good news they have found the toxin. Regardless of what we end up feeding our own pets (my wife has now created a virtual pet food factory in our kitchen), we need to push for tighter controls on quality and monitoring of all pet foods.

    I am also surprised at the cause. The first 2 things our vet asked about when our pug was sick was Anti-Freeze and Rat Poison. Both common toxins you may find around the house.

    I also agree with the folks who ask: “Why didn’t Menu Foods discover rat poison in the food after testing began?” Perhaps someone who has experience here can share some information. Is this toxin hard to detect?

    Finally, I am worried this problem/incident will not be taken seriously by the Chinese. When you are trying to feed a billion people, pets seem to be an abstraction. We need to make sure that is not the case. What’s to say next week we don’t import tainted wheat for human consumption?

    Comment by Dave Finlay — March 23, 2007 @ 10:35 am

  32. I think the main difference here from last Friday is that alledgely there will be a press conference today where real questions can be asked, and hopefully, answered by professionals.

    Hey, one can hope, at least.

    Comment by Elderta — March 23, 2007 @ 10:37 am

  33. So any Vets on this page can tell me if My Cat will need any other meds now that the cause has been found? He’s had a weeks works of IV Fluids, Antibiotics and is now on a probiotic. Anything else?

    Comment by Rafael — March 23, 2007 @ 10:37 am

  34. Someone else beat me to the observation that this is breaking on a Friday again. When will Menu Foods realize that they can’t push this under the rug?

    I, too, want a list of ALL food manufactured by Menu. I know that our cat who died in February ate some of the Menu Food. It may have hastened his end, though his heart problems were already advanced by then, so I can’t blame them entirely. I don’t want to feed my other cats anything manufactured by Menu, and I worry that maybe the dry food they are eating now is Menu-produced and we just haven’t been told yet.

    Comment by CatLady — March 23, 2007 @ 10:41 am

  35. Does anyone know the exact time frames when the deaths or illnesses began? Such as products purchased before December are okay. Any idea when this tragic affair began?

    Comment by Linda — March 23, 2007 @ 10:43 am

  36. also another difference is that it’s being carried as breaking, urgent news on all the major stations, which didn’t happen last week.

    The scientists are supposedly from the food administration in the state of New York.

    Comment by Elderta — March 23, 2007 @ 10:46 am

  37. Until the final destination(s) of the wheat shipment has been confirmed, ANY food with wheat in it is suspect. ANY food produced at a plant where the contaminated food was produced is suspect unless substantial proof can be offered that their cleaning processes were adequate to eliminate the residue of the rat poison. How can that proof be verified in this country where the chemical is illegal? The scope of this is staggering.

    Comment by Lois Kimball — March 23, 2007 @ 10:47 am

  38. BOYCOTT BOYCOTT BOYCOTT…EVERY PRODUCT EVERY COMPANY THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS!!!!
    NOW!!!!!
    Cheri

    Comment by Cheri — March 23, 2007 @ 10:47 am

  39. I am so sorry for all of you who have lost pets or had pets so seriously sickened by this latest fiasco. There’s so much fear running rampant right now among those who aren’t sure if their foods are safe or not, and my heart aches for all of you. Being a raw feeder myself, I haven’t been impacted directly by this nightmare, thank God, but I have been supporting many friends and acquaintances who fear for their little ones. It’s a very ugly situation and all of you are in my prayers.

    Comment by Dawn Turner — March 23, 2007 @ 10:48 am

  40. I wonder too, about how long this ‘poisoning’ has been going on. My always before healthy, 14yr old indoor cat became very ill, the end of Sept. Blood tests showed nothing wrong. She was treated for dehydration a few times and then stabalized. However, she’s not been truly healthy since. She was eating Iams canned foods when she became ill and afterwards. Switched to Fancy Feast in Jan, still with frequent vomiting and small, occasional seizures.

    Comment by Pat Lamb — March 23, 2007 @ 10:49 am

  41. Why are we getting wheat from CHINA???CHEAPER?

    Comment by Cheri — March 23, 2007 @ 10:51 am

  42. Here is my plan….we ALL need to flood the companies who use Menu foods with letter to the CEO’s, not just the customer service reps. We need to state that we will not purchase ANY products made by any companies that deal with Menu Foods. SO that will include Innova, etc. I plan to start writing my letters this weekend.

    I am also going to use the list for one of the sites of all the companies and which ones use Menu foods, etc. I am going to email this list starting with all the animal rescue groups (because we know they are always deeply concerned, asking them to boycott all the companies, and to pass the list onto all of their volunteers, members etc.

    Does anyone have any other ideas? What about newpapers etc? Could we take out ads? Of course, who would pay for it…we all have vet bills out the whazoo

    Comment by Joyce — March 23, 2007 @ 10:53 am

  43. If this is the cause of the Massive 60 Million Can/pouch Pet Food Recall, this appears to be an alleged “Intentional” criminal case of AGROTERRORISM. The Definition of Agroterrorism is the deliberate introduction of a chemical or a disease agent, either against livestock/crops or into the food.

    People need to DEMAND an Official Criminal Investigation as this most likely would have occurred thru access by a “planted” individual(s) by group(s) that have “agenda” of people exterminating terrified animals or similar in nature of that “agenda.”

    In my opinion, DO NOT FEED THIS STYLE OF PET FOOD, until this alleged agroterrorism is investigated officially and properly, if ever……..

    Dean A. Ayers, Director, Animals C.L.U.B.- Freedom

    http://animalsclubfreedom.us/

    Comment by Dean A. Ayers — March 23, 2007 @ 10:53 am

  44. I’m very worried about this. Science Diet and Trader Joes pulled some products and I was using some wet dog food from Trader Joes and fed some to a new puppy I have just a few weeks ago. It’s a big worry. And where did they use this poisoned wheat - what else have they done that we don’t know about?

    Comment by Linda — March 23, 2007 @ 10:54 am

  45. Big companies lie. China lies. And our pets are dying. I hate it all.

    Comment by Linda — March 23, 2007 @ 10:56 am

  46. Will someone please post some good news about this??? Like how many pets actually survive after eating the poisoned food, if the IV treatment works, will the vets be able to help our pets? CNN will air the press conference at 10 PST. My poor Coco is at the vet on IV. I’m dying here at home.

    Comment by Richard — March 23, 2007 @ 10:56 am

  47. Joyce,
    Does Menu Foods make anything other than animal food?

    Comment by Cheri — March 23, 2007 @ 10:57 am

  48. I too, am one of many who has lost a pet, my cat Jasmine (last Sunday she left this earth to be with her brother and sister)to this outrageous tragedy that could have been easily avoided if the food manufacturer had put a USA quality product grown first into the pet food instead of going with the cheapest buyer. Cheaper is not always better! I work for a US agricultural commodity and we fight constantly on imports that try to skirt the import regulations and sneak in food product that isn’t fit for a human and animal to eat. US Agriculture is the most highly regulated industry in the world. No other country has such high standards for growing food product than we do. You want to fight for stricker import regulations of agriculture product coming into the US, contact your US Representative and Senator demanding better import regulations and food safety checks before the product gets to the food manufacturer. Not when its too late.

    Comment by Lorrie — March 23, 2007 @ 10:57 am

  49. May be of some use to someone -

    Reversal of aminopterin toxicity by water-soluble cupridihydroporphyrins (chloresium).
    Am J Dig Dis. 1954 Jun;21(6):163-9. No abstract available.
    PMID: 13158317 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

    Chloresium=Chlorophyllin Copper Complex

    Comment by GingerTom — March 23, 2007 @ 10:58 am

  50. My vet is just a small country mostly large animal doctor, but he said there is something else going on. He was so right.
    If I can get a list of everything menu foods makes and the companys that use them I will do whatever I can.

    Comment by Cheri — March 23, 2007 @ 10:58 am

  51. I am very, very sad - and more than a little angry - the our beloved cat died for absolutely no logical reason.

    Comment by Joan — March 23, 2007 @ 10:59 am

  52. WHY CHINA, CLOSE MENU FOOD DOWN ASAP

    Comment by CINDY — March 23, 2007 @ 10:59 am

  53. Menu bought the poisoned wheat from China. China probably knew it was poisoned - they’ve done this before with other products around the world - Intentionally sold mislabeled goods and people used and died. They probably just wanted to make a fast buck and sold it to Menu - they don’t respect and value pets in China.

    Comment by Linda — March 23, 2007 @ 11:02 am

  54. REPORTS OF DRY FOOD CAUSING ILLNESS/DEATH:

    http://www.itchmo.com/read/sev.....s_20070323

    Mostly reports from Iams dry, but we’ve had at least one report involving Trader Joe’s dry as well. Could be TJ’s uses the same manufacturer for their dry as Iams.

    Comment by Nikki — March 23, 2007 @ 11:04 am

  55. Just so you guys know, Menu only manufactures canned/pouch “wet” food - none of the dry foods are manufactured by them. Even so, I do not want to buy dry foods or anything from the brands who contract their can and pouch production to Menu. :( This whole situation combined, with recent human food recalls and contaminations, is horrible and has shaken my faith in the safety of all processed food items, intended for humans and animals alike.

    Comment by Cat — March 23, 2007 @ 11:08 am

  56. Richard

    You asked for good news about the IV treatment… my cat was on the IV treatment all week and he came home last night after his second set of blood tests showed his kidney function was normal again! He’ll go back in a month for another test, but I’ve got my fingers crossed we caught it early enough.

    Comment by Marie — March 23, 2007 @ 11:11 am

  57. Please accept my deepest condolences on the losses you all have suffered. I have three dogs and am so fortunate that this tragedy has not touched us. I see several posts asking what dog food to trust. I switched my dogs to Pet Promise dog food about 6 months ago. There website is http://www.petpromiseinc.com/. I have absolutely no affiliation with them at all, just wanted to point you all to what I believe to be a safe source of dog and cat food.
    I aggree also with the boycott comments. We are the consumers. We have the power if we will just band together and use it.

    Comment by Lynne — March 23, 2007 @ 11:13 am

  58. So Menu Foods sent the stuff for testing last tuesday but didn’t tell them about a potential Recall. Cornell got it but since there was no notice of a recall they didn’t prioritize it until Monday. By Tuesday they found Aminopterin but didn’t confrim it until yesterday. they’re lookign at 40 parts per million so far but are still testing

    Comment by Rafael — March 23, 2007 @ 11:14 am

  59. The Guys at Cornell say that based on what they’ve seen in the last few days of testing 16 deaths seems low. but sicne they have no access to reports form consumers they can’t confirm that. It’s uop to the FDA to release their info.

    Comment by Rafael — March 23, 2007 @ 11:16 am

  60. I just wanted to thank you all at Petconnection.com for keeping up on this story. Keep barking, long and loud!

    My heart aches for all those with sick or deceased pets because of this horrible incident.

    Thankfully, our four cats are generally “dry food snobs” and the only wet things they get are leftover cereal milk, or water from tuna cans (two of them think it’s the best thing ever!).

    Comment by Kristen — March 23, 2007 @ 11:16 am

  61. All 3 of my cats are going to have blood and urine tests done today as all of them were eating the recalled packs of food. I will NEVER buy nutro products again, nor will I ever suggest anyone buy ANY of the recalled brands or any other product made by Menu. I WILL BOYCOTT ALL their products too! We have wheat in THIS country. We make wheat gluten in THIS country! Why can’t we use our OWN products?!?

    I want to add, since I called every company who’s pet food I have purchased and currently use, that Halo Spot’s Stew is made in the US, in a USDA approved facility. They use human grade ingredients that are fit for human consumption. My 3 cats also eat their food, and will continue to do so until I start making cat food myself.

    You have to wonder, since this should most likely put Menu Foods out of business, if they are thinking that perhaps saving some MONEY was really worth it in the long run? If they didn’t even have enough decent quality control to test the imported cheap products BEFORE, and were too cheap to use BETTER products, was it worth it? Apparently no one cared enough to find out.

    I know there are some people who don’t put the value of a pet’s life on the same scale as a human life so they may find this comment to be over the top, but MY PETS ARE MY children! I worry more about what I feed them than what I eat. All my pet loving friends feel this way. It kills me to think that I have fed this food to my furry children.

    To buy food from countries with so little regard for PET OR HUMAN life is insane.

    I will be telling everyone I know to BOYCOTT Menu Foods, IAMS, etc. Plus is there a place that lists ALL products made by Menu?

    Comment by Lisa Clay — March 23, 2007 @ 11:17 am

  62. Marie,
    Good thoughts to you and your baby.

    Comment by Cheri — March 23, 2007 @ 11:18 am

  63. I think it’s breaking news this week because it’s “rat poison.” Last week, the only “firm” news was that food was being recalled for unknown reasons. But just the words “rat poison” scare people. Maybe this is finally getting the attention it deserves. For the sake of the people who still don’t know, I hope so!

    Joyce, your post said “I am also going to use the list for one of the sites of all the companies and which ones use Menu foods, etc”. Where did you find this list? Are you talking about the one on the Pet Food Express site?

    Comment by CatLady — March 23, 2007 @ 11:19 am

  64. I reported a possible food problem to Nutro from one of the their canned foods in January. Our cat died in march after months of vomiting, stomach problems, neurological symptoms, excess ater drinking, etc. This food is not on the recall list. I am worried that those of us that have had potential pet deaths from food NOT on the recall list are going to be forgotten, does anyone know if food is still being looked at thats not on the list? Our food did have wheat gluten in it.

    Comment by Sandi — March 23, 2007 @ 11:19 am

  65. The press conference is live online now at msnbc.com

    Comment by Marie — March 23, 2007 @ 11:20 am

  66. RE: DRY FOODS and MENU FOODS

    Yes, it is absolutely correct that Menu Foods only manufactures wet and moist pet foods; however, as the source of the contamination—wheat from China—was secured by Menu Foods by a third-party supplier, it is entirely possible that other manufacturers, including including makers of dry pet food, used the same wheat supplier or some other supplier who also imported from China. I would caution everyone to check their pet food’s list of ingredients for ANY wheat product (whole wheat, wheat flour, wheat bran, wheat gluten, etc.). At this point, there is no way of knowing just HOW MANY DIFFERENT manufacturing end-users purchased the tainted wheat from China.

    http://www.howl911.com

    Comment by Nikki — March 23, 2007 @ 11:21 am

  67. i tried to find it at msnbc.com… can’t!

    Comment by Elderta — March 23, 2007 @ 11:28 am

  68. Marie,

    Thank you so very much! I’ll keep my fingers crossed as well.

    Comment by Richard — March 23, 2007 @ 11:28 am

  69. I have a 21 year old kitty now that tested perfecty fine, bun about 25 in January and a month later, the test showed a bun of 135 and was put on CRF treatments. I asked the vet HOW? could one blood test be fine and a month later, shows CRF..

    I wonder?..very suspicious to me.

    Gary

    Comment by Gary — March 23, 2007 @ 11:30 am

  70. Richard:

    Another success story: My cat Maggie, 17, was on IV fluids for six days, came home on day 7, is continuing to get fluids at home but is doing great. My prayers are with you and Coco for a similar happy outcome.

    Comment by Bernadette — March 23, 2007 @ 11:32 am

  71. anybody have the url to the press conference? please??

    Comment by Elderta — March 23, 2007 @ 11:32 am

  72. Does anyone think that Sweat scoop litter, could also be affected? It is digested when they clean their paws. Not in large quantities, but what could the damage be over time?? If the wheat used to process foods is no good & poison. What do you think about the litter????

    Comment by Teresa — March 23, 2007 @ 11:33 am

  73. Also, he’s on antibiotics now, any tricks to get him to eat the pill?
    Comment by Marie — March 23, 2007 @ 10:22 am

    Get a product called Pill Pockets for Cats.
    http://www.pillpockets.com/index_fs.htm
    (not affected by recall)

    Take the pill and wrap just enough around the pill to hide it. “Less is More”. If he or she gets picky after a few times purchase some chunk light LOW SODIUM tuna in WATER. Wrap the pill pocket with a little bit of tuna. This should do it. (Refrigerate the tuna and toss out after three days)

    Tuna is the not healthy for a cats urinary system in the long run and should be avoided on any long term basis in large quantities. But if you have to medicate your cat with pills this works pretty good if they are finicky. Or if for some reason you can not administer a pill by hand or are squeamish. Wait till he is hungry, give him the “treat” and then a regular meal. Don’t be attached to a strict time. Just get him or her to take the medicine. Cats can develop an addiction to tuna if you are not careful. Most forget about it quickly when the “treat” stops. With this method if you should use no more then half a teaspoon of tuna per week. (You might be eating a lot of tuna yourself though so you don’t go tossing our full cans).

    The most important thing is to get your cats to take those medicines. Make sure you create this treat so your cat can easily swallow it. Follow your vets instructions.

    Comment by Steve — March 23, 2007 @ 11:34 am

  74. We don’t know if Menu is the only company that buys wheat from that source in China. So, theoretically, other companies who make dry foods could also have used it. There’s wheat in dry food also.
    No matter what your feeling is on abortion, a country that still performs forced 3rd trimester saline abortions on their own citizens, is not going to have a lot of concern re: animals, or even people from other countries. Life is cheap to them.

    Comment by Joyce — March 23, 2007 @ 11:36 am

  75. Cat Lady
    yes, I will use the Pet Express List (thanks for telling me the name, I couldn’t remember, and was going to have to search the blog)

    Comment by Joyce — March 23, 2007 @ 11:38 am

  76. We reported our deceased dog to the FDA. They were very interested in the case and very helpful. I trust they are working diligently to investigate. It’s just so much larger than what they are able to handle.

    Comment by Janie — March 23, 2007 @ 11:38 am

  77. Teresa, Excellent question. Call them to see if they can identify their source.

    Comment by Lois Kimball — March 23, 2007 @ 11:38 am

  78. Can someone recommend a dry cat food made by a company that definitely did not use Menu Foods? I use Science Diet now, want to switch as they used the Menu Foods plant. I want to support a company that has no association with the pet killers.

    Comment by JudyR — March 23, 2007 @ 11:38 am

  79. PILL POCKETS contain WHEAT GLUTEN.

    I would avoid any pet foods, treats, etc. for now that contain any wheat product.

    Comment by Nikki — March 23, 2007 @ 11:39 am

  80. What I found out about aminopterin. Used in chemotherapy, known for its reaction in the kidneys, formerly an abortifacient, and also causes serious birth defects. Also, some lines of dog kidney cells are resistant, which might explain why more cats than dogs succumbed.

    The important part is the last sentence of this snippet. Hydration alone is not thought to be enough.

    The wikipedia entry for this chemical has already been updated by someone to include this.

    I’m just a dataminer, but I also have four dogs, and care very much about this issue.

    ____________________________________

    http://molpharm.aspetjournals......l/67/2/453

    The pharmacology of aminopterin raises questions about decreased solubility and precipitation as a cause of antifolate nephrotoxicity. Aminopterin is more soluble than methotrexate in urine at 37°C and 10-fold more potent than methotrexate in inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase. On the basis of the precipitation theory of antifolate nephrotoxicity, aminopterin should be less toxic than methotrexate. Although Glode et al. (1979Go) predicted that aminopterin would be more efficacious and less nephrotoxic than methotrexate, they found that 50% of patients who received aminopterin without hydration developed dose-limiting nephrotoxicity. Two patients who died from renal failure lacked aminopterin precipitates in the kidney at autopsy, and these authors suggested that antifolates may cause nephrotoxicity independent of renal precipitation. In contrast, our theory of renal antifolate elimination predicts that aminopterin would be more nephrotoxic than methotrexate. Renal FRs had higher affinities for aminopterin than for methotrexate at every pH tested. Although hydration and alkalinization decreased aminopterin toxicity (Glode et al., 1979Go), the efficacy of hydration alone in decreasing nephrotoxicity was not tested.

    Comment by Rebekah — March 23, 2007 @ 11:40 am

  81. Info on aminopterin.

    http://tinyurl.com/33hbs6

    http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/...../137/2/167

    The above journal article indicates folate injections before ingestion of aminopterin can protect the animal. Don’t know if folate injections afterwards would help or not.

    As for what works, seems if caught early the IV flushing for days works. What I’d like to know, though, is whether or not injections of Bs plus IV therapy would do any good for cats who seemed ill for a couple of days, then recovered on their own, or is their kidney function now comprised. I guess to answer that question one would have to know how long this poison stays in the system and how it’s broken down. If it goes through the liver at all, I would think extra taurine would help.

    As for those wanting to make their own food good online sources are Holisticat and K9Nutrtion (Yahoo group). There are others also. One good book with recipes is Richard Pitcairn’s Natural Health of Dogs and Cats. There are also other books out there and the above lists can help you with picking reasonable ones.

    Cathy

    Comment by Cathy — March 23, 2007 @ 11:41 am

  82. I suspect (because I’m getting very cynical in my old age) that the reason it took so long for Menu to issue the recall is so that consumers would use up the tainted batches and dispose of the packaging. Without the packaging, it’s pretty hard to say whether your animal is sick from tainted food or something else.

    Comment by luthorienne — March 23, 2007 @ 11:41 am

  83. I think it’s also outrageous that no real apology has come forth from the originator of all this misery—-Menu Foods. No statement on their website, no mea culpa, just a cold list of the affected items. Obviously they are only interested in protecting their own interests and don’t give a *bleep* about the thousands of animal family members whose lives they’ve jeopardized.

    Comment by LA CatDad — March 23, 2007 @ 11:42 am

  84. The petsitusa blog also has information about which Brands use Menu Foods for some of their manufacturing. I’m using the information from both them and petfoodexpress.
    http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=210

    Comment by Kim — March 23, 2007 @ 11:42 am

  85. Joyce, I agree, the wheat is probably incredibly widespread into human foods too. The whole bakery industry to name just one.

    Comment by Gary — March 23, 2007 @ 11:42 am

  86. I know every one keeps saying that menu foods only makes wet food, what I can’t find is information about the moist dog treats in the pouch. Wal-mart brand Ol’ Roy bark’n bac’n strips was my 7 year old cockapoo Daisi’s favorite and I had just bought a new pouch the weekend before she became sick and subsequently died on March 15. Can anyone tell me who makes the Ol’Roy dog treats? The package only says Wal-mart distributing? If menu foods also makes the Ol’Roy pouch food that was recalled, I’m making the assumption they may make the moist treats? Does anyone know?

    Comment by Tammy — March 23, 2007 @ 11:47 am

  87. PILL POCKETS contain WHEAT GLUTEN.

    I would avoid any pet foods, treats, etc. for now that contain any wheat product.

    Comment by Nikki

    It is going to be nearly impossible to find pet foods that do not contain some kind of wheat product.

    My products are not in the recall. Yes, I understand that pill pockets have glutton.

    I am going to trust this company as my cat is being treated for gingivitis and it is the only way she takes her pills. She is in very good health and responding great to the treatments.

    I understand this is a terrible situation. Make your own decisions. Head the advise of professionals, stay cool and try not to freak out.

    Comment by Steve — March 23, 2007 @ 11:47 am

  88. Did anyone see the news conference held by the New York State Agriculture Commissioner? They got right on the ball, after the recall was announced, whatever. But what they did say was that the small amount of food that they were given by Menu to test (was cat) did contain this Aminaptrin. or Rat Poison, which has been illegal to use in the US for years. They said that with “Absolute Certainty” that this is what has so far been found. Only time will tell how it got into the food. This well help, hopefully some of our sick friends get well. It won’t bring my Zippy back, and I don’t know yet if it’s too late for Oscar, but I put a call into my vet right away to help anyone else she may have on treatment. Watch for an FDA announcement this afternoon, and possibly Menu foods too.

    Comment by Sharon Gilbert — March 23, 2007 @ 11:50 am

  89. Can someone recommend a dry cat food made by a company that definitely did not use Menu Foods? I use Science Diet now, want to switch as they used the Menu Foods plant. I want to support a company that has no association with the pet killers.

    Comment by JudyR — March 23, 2007 @

    Try Pet Promise at http://www.petpromiseinc.com/. I just looked through the list of ingredients on several of the dog and cat foods and found no wheat at all. My dogs have done very well on it.

    Comment by Lynne — March 23, 2007 @ 11:55 am

  90. My two cats, brothers, 12 years of age have been on Science Diet Diabetic Dry; Iams kitten select bites in pouch and cans and Sophisticate Kitten in pouch for two years. In December I opened Sophisticate kitten food, turkey and liver in gravy and noticed that the normal two color meats were now only one color. I was concerned that this was a “bad” pouch. So I opened another, and another, and another. Every pouch was “bad”. I threw out each one, didn’t give my cats any and decided not to buy this brand; just stay with the Iams. Both Brands were part of the recall. I am wondering if these “off color” Sophisticate pouches were an indication that they might have been part of what is making our cats ill. So far my cats seem fine, although in November each had a bout with diarrhea-but antibotics took care of that. I am praying to God, like everyone else, my “babies” will be okay. They are being checked on the 27th, the soonest I can get in. Everyone is getting their animals tested. I have now switched to Gerber jar baby food for “moist” treat and continue with Science Diet for Diabetic cats for the dry. I am hoping the dry will be okay. If not-I need help on what I am going to feed my “little guys”. Praying for everyone with a beloved pet.

    Comment by dee — March 23, 2007 @ 11:57 am

  91. First of all, why do corporations need to import wheat from China to make pet food? Can’t the wheat be just as easily grown locally? Secondly, wheat is a filler and not essential at all to your pet’s well being. The natural diet of a dog or cat is meat with a small amount of vegetation. I think a massive boycott of all the corporations on that list is in order. We have to let them know that this is unacceptable. The only way to make them understand loss is to drive them out of business, and, hopefully, it will teach those manufacturers not on the list to take care in the ingredients they put in our pets’ food, and situations like this one will not repeat.

    Comment by Ginger — March 23, 2007 @ 11:59 am

  92. Richard,
    My thoughts are with you today as you wait for your precious pet to get better. Yes there is good news for some of us. Our 10 yr old Bene cat was started on Sub-Coetanious IV fluids almost 2 weeks ago and we have been doing this every other day faithfully. We will have his kidneys tested again on Monday but are optimistic because he seems to be coming back to his old normal self. Bene ran around the house at full speed this morning like he used to and I haven’t seen that behavior in 3 weeks. He is starting to enjoy life again. He had eaten 7 cans of Eukanuba tainted food before we switched it because he wouldn’t eat it anymore. That was 4 days before the official recall and after we had been in and out of the vets office 5 times in 6 days. We are hoping that this does not create long term damage as he was beautiful and healthy before all this happened. But yes, we are hopeful and I think there is good news…at least for some of us. My heart goes out to all of you who are dealing with this nightmare and who have lost your babies. We just lost our other Abyssinian of 13 years last July (not related to the pet poisoning) but to have to go through another potential loss was unbearable. We plan to join the class action suit in Seattle to get our vet bills reimbursed.
    Good luck and I hope your Coco comes back to you better than ever!

    Comment by Teri — March 23, 2007 @ 11:59 am

  93. Oh,my. That pesticide ‘aminopterin” is also a teratogenic. Wonder if any pregnant pets had kittens/puppies with severe birth defects.In my household of 16 cats , I occasionally bought Special Kitty pouches but mixed it with Special kitty canned food(made by Del Monte I believe) not on recall list. I did take a small cat to Vet. but on December 2 . Vomitting, not eating, showing signs of dehydration. Cat is fine now after two nights at Vets. All my cats are fine at the moment. They only ate very small amounts of the Special Kitty in pouches. Still wonder, since so much of the food was top of the line, if any births were effected by the poison.

    Comment by Serijna Halterman — March 23, 2007 @ 12:03 pm

  94. Richard

    Good news about the IV treatment: cat on IV for 6 days, 10 days of antibiotics at home, looks fabulous now. But will have blood checked again next week.

    For him it wasn’t just kidney failure. Add to it pancreatitis and liver/gall bladder trouble. He ate three of the affected brands. Vet suspected poisoning too. Even for an elderly cat, she thought his case was ‘inexplicable’ at the beginning of March.

    Comment by Natalie — March 23, 2007 @ 12:03 pm

  95. I have contacted Swheat Scoop & spoke with Monica & all their wheat is all grown in South Dakota & Minnesota. So I would say it is safe. As the chemical aminopterin is used in the United States in, of all things, a cancer drug, according to the source. It’s very disturbing that the US source of wheat use for litter is not imported & the source for food is?? What is wrong with this picture. I sure hope there is some protection form the USFDA that tests the source of import wheat for people to consume. Especially the way the food industry has been pushing WHOLE GRAIN Wheat! Is this because they are purchasing it so cheap from China???

    Comment by Teresa — March 23, 2007 @ 12:15 pm

  96. There are a number of pet foods that do not contain wheat products; in fact, many of the natural brands, as well as those formulated to non-allergenic, do not contain wheat. Many brands will state on their packaging: contains no wheat, corn or soy. Blue Buffalo and by Nature are two, there are many others.

    Comment by Nikki — March 23, 2007 @ 12:15 pm

  97. I’ve been reading the blogs and now it’s gotten me worried. I only feed my kids dry but that’s even questionable knowing the poison and source. I’d like to avoid Menu but how can we look up who REALLY manufactures what? Does anyone know? I tried looking at the packaging and all it says is the source of distribution, not the original maker. My kids currently eat IAMS, Eukanuba and Science Diet. I’ve trusted all, now I’ve got doubts.

    Comment by Susan — March 23, 2007 @ 12:44 pm

  98. The breaking news today is shocking to say the least but really not surprising…we knew it was going to come down to something like this when Menu Foods continued to claim they didn’t know the cause of the contamination. They knew…they knew enough to spend time calculating the amount of money this recall will cost them. I hope those calculations are WRONG…very wrong as I hope they never sell another can or pouch of dog food! I just can’t get over this!

    We too hope to be able to report a success story and while we’re excited we’re cautiously optimistic at this point. Our 7 yr. old Toy Fox Terrier (Pedro) has been on IVs since March 15th…day before the recall news broke. He has made steady improvement and we’re hoping to have him home in a couple of days. With the news of the rat poison we are trying to find out what else can be done to help treat him for this?

    We will be throwing away his water bowls, food bowls, and anything associated with the last eating experience he had at home and…anything that could have touched the rat poison!

    When Pedro comes home he will no longer find dog food in his bowl…he will be served something MUCH better!

    As for Menu Foods and all of the people that are working to hide as much possible…I hope you are experiencing lots of pain and suffering just like the pet owners have been doing! I hope you have sleepless nights! Most of all…I hope that eventually Menu Foods will be shut down (or put out of business) and you will be without a job!

    Thoughts are with all of the pet owners who have either lost a pet or are dealing with the pain and suffering of a sick one!

    Comment by Donna — March 23, 2007 @ 12:46 pm

  99. Here’s something that crossed my mind…

    What if this was a test run by terrorists to see if they could get poison into the food chain by first trying the pet food supply?

    Comment by GordonH — March 23, 2007 @ 12:47 pm

  100. Catmanager reports that Menu Foods will be holding a press conferece at 4PM.

    Comment by Elderta — March 23, 2007 @ 12:49 pm

  101. Teri,

    Thank you! My thoughts are with every pet owner as well. Here’s an update on Coco. The Vet called me. They did an ultrasound on Coco and it showed some signs of change in the kidney. Her kidney blood test readings are getting better but they will keep her on the IV. They tell me her signs are not as bad as some of the other pets. I think it’s because I brought her in even though she didn’t have symptoms. She had about 6 half pouches of the recalled Ol’Roy cuts and gravy (I mix with dry). Hopefully she will continue to recover.

    Comment by Richard — March 23, 2007 @ 12:53 pm

  102. The trust is gone. I’ve just switched my four dog kids from kibble that has wheat to kibble with no wheat, by Innova.

    Comment by Rebekah — March 23, 2007 @ 12:54 pm

  103. Some of what I found out about aminopterin. Used in chemotherapy, known for its reaction in the kidneys, formerly an abortifacient, and also causes serious birth defects. Also, some lines of dog kidney cells are resistant, which might explain why more cats than dogs succumbed.

    The important part is the last sentence of this snippet. Hydration alone is not thought to be enough.

    The wikipedia entry for this chemical has already been updated by someone to include this event.

    I’m just a dataminer, but I also have four dogs, and care very much about this issue.

    ____________________________________

    http://molpharm.aspetjournals......l/67/2/453

    The pharmacology of aminopterin raises questions about decreased solubility and precipitation as a cause of antifolate nephrotoxicity. Aminopterin is more soluble than methotrexate in urine at 37°C and 10-fold more potent than methotrexate in inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase. On the basis of the precipitation theory of antifolate nephrotoxicity, aminopterin should be less toxic than methotrexate. Although Glode et al. (1979Go) predicted that aminopterin would be more efficacious and less nephrotoxic than methotrexate, they found that 50% of patients who received aminopterin without hydration developed dose-limiting nephrotoxicity. Two patients who died from renal failure lacked aminopterin precipitates in the kidney at autopsy, and these authors suggested that antifolates may cause nephrotoxicity independent of renal precipitation. In contrast, our theory of renal antifolate elimination predicts that aminopterin would be more nephrotoxic than methotrexate. Renal FRs had higher affinities for aminopterin than for methotrexate at every pH tested. Although hydration and alkalinization decreased aminopterin toxicity (Glode et al., 1979Go), the efficacy of hydration alone in decreasing nephrotoxicity was not tested.

    Comment by Rebekah — March 23, 2007 @ 12:56 pm

  104. Pet Food Express (a California pet supply store) has a list of pet food companies that use Menu Foods to manufacture some of their products. See http://www.petfoodexpress.com/.....tion=About

    Comment by Patti Skorupa — March 23, 2007 @ 12:56 pm

  105. Our dear family member, Cheech, a chihuahua/dachsund died on Feb.25, after suffering four days with horrible kidney failure. The vet was out that weekend and he went down fast. We bought Iams cuts and gravy during the week of the 18th at Safeway in Hilo, Hi. The food was on super sale so we bought some as a treat because it is usually more expensive. Here is the Question: did the company instruct grocers to mark down the tainted food so as to get the product moved knowing that they would soon have to pull it and that would cost millions? Also, why, when so many pets have been affected going back we don’t know how many months of mysterious pet deaths in every state, is it still being under reported using the Menu foods estimate of 16 deaths most of them in the test group?

    Comment by corky phillips — March 23, 2007 @ 1:07 pm

  106. My condolences to all heartbroken people and their companions. My Thanks to Petconnection for the wonderful resource which you have been to us all. I lost 1 dogs earler this year due to renal failure and have been researching dry food companies who manufacture inhouse and use NO GLUTEN. ( I have concerns about gluten ). My pooch was on Nutro dry and wet. NEVER AGAIN. I have written NUTRO and Menu foods. I just switched my pooch to Natural Balance which has no gluten and is not manufactured in a manufacturing environment but a specialized Natural Balance owned and run plant. I test this product more based upon my research than I do anything else, so far. Very bio-available as well . I hope to God that we as a body of Pet lovers and advocates for their well being can bring this company to its KNEEs. This is reprehensible - completely- no matter which aspect of this nightmare you examine.
    Martha

    Comment by Martha — March 23, 2007 @ 1:18 pm

  107. If hydration alone is not enough with the aminopterin, is there any other treatment to be used with it? Or are we just looking at permanent kidney damage/failure. And in the dogs who are getting antibiotics, is the combination of that and a nephrotoxic drug going to increase the renal damage?

    Comment by Joyce — March 23, 2007 @ 1:28 pm

  108. Corky,

    I just emailed cnn because they were taking questions and they ignored my question. I asked why they still report only 16 deaths and they never replied on the air like they said they would. I even gave this website for evidence that there have been more deaths and illness.

    Comment by Richard — March 23, 2007 @ 1:31 pm

  109. I may be wrong but isn’t WHEAT GLUTEN made from wheat flour? so…shouldn’t all wheat whatsoever be banned and recalled? and how about CORN GLUTEN? did that come from China too?

    Gary

    Comment by Gary — March 23, 2007 @ 1:38 pm

  110. Just wanted to remind everyone reading this far that (in terms of US agricultural/legal discussion) Menu Foods is technically a Canadian company, though most of their plants and their market are in the US.

    Comment by RM — March 23, 2007 @ 1:48 pm

  111. PETA has been reporting on Menu Foods for years, asking people not to buy IAMS and other foods which are taste tested at Menu foods. A PETA investigator went undercover at a contract testing laboratory in Missouri for Menu Foods and Iams and what they uncovered there was shocking; some dogs had huge chunks of muscle removed from their legs and were left to suffer for days during cruel experiments. Regarding this recent issue, it’s been reported that Menu Foods learned of animal deaths as early as February 20 but didn’t issue a recall for almost a month before recalling contaminated food and even intentionally fed it to healthy dogs and cats in laboratories, killing several of them. Corporate interests, whether it be a large pet food manufacturer or drug manufacturers who issue recalls only after many deaths have occured though they had prior knowledge of danger, have never put the interests of animals or people ahead of profits. I hope this is a HUGE wakeup call for pet owners to stop trusting big industries claims via multi-million dollar advertizing campaigns which claim that their products are 100% complete and of only the best ingredients. Pet owners need to become more educated. Pet owners who truly care about the health of their pets will use this as an opportunity to learn about the pet food industry and will look for alternatives. The industry is not highly regulated and is only required to follow “guidelines”. Many would be absolutely disgusted by the ingredients that actually go into some of the most well known brands and virtually all of the grocery store brands.Even those that are uncontaminated are enough to make animals sick, and they do. Kidney damage is rampant among pet cats who often begin to show signs at around 12 years of age. Kidney damage does not show up on blood tests until the kidneys have already been severely affected. To learn more about the pet food industry and what you can do I recommend a called See Spot Live Longer http://www.mercola.com/forms/s.....longer.htm. Also visit PETA’s website with a list of pet food manufacturers who are not connected with Menu Foods and who don’t conduct cruel taste tests on animals either by going here http://www.iamscruelty.com/notTested.asp
    If you suspect your pet has been affected, it’s very important for your pet to avoid contact with chemicals in it’s environment via food, water or even lawn or household chemicals which will tax the animal’s system even more. This means NO tap water which contains highly toxic chlorine! No foods which have chemical preservatives and colorings. Avoid dryer sheets, febreeze and anything else that the pet can inhale or that would come in contact with it’s skin. Vaccinations would also not be recommended nor would chemical flea products. Look for natural ways of dealing with fleas. There is a lot of good information on how to do that, online. Love your pet? Then use this as a wakeup call and vow to LEARN the truth and reality behind many of the industries that cater to pets, and start catering to your pet by providing food which is fresh and healthy, not simply that which comes out of a can, a box or a bag! My dogs love baby carrots, fresh broccoli, banana, yogurt. Don’t believe the lie that manufucturers have “manufactured” saying don’t feed people food! Why should animals only be fed processed food? Processed food only would lead to illness for humans, and it does the same to pets. Time for everyone to wake up!

    Comment by Heather Ireland — March 23, 2007 @ 1:54 pm

  112. Uh, that is likely not to be well-received. Rescues and shelters depend on whatever food they can get—individual and corporate just to be able to save these animals in the first place.

    Comment by Traci — March 23, 2007 @ 1:54 pm

  113. hmmm, didn’t like my brackets so let’s try quotes:

    “I am also going to use the list for one of the sites of all the companies and which ones use Menu foods, etc. I am going to email this list starting with all the animal rescue groups (because we know they are always deeply concerned, asking them to boycott all the companies, and to pass the list onto all of their volunteers, members etc.”

    Uh, that is likely not to be well-received. Rescues and shelters depend on whatever food they can get–individual and corporate just to be able to save these animals in the first place.

    Comment by Traci — March 23, 2007 @ 1:55 pm

  114. If it is truly China as the source, be scared, very scared. In the American public’s quest for cheap pharmaceuticals, food and everything else, some drug firms are, and have been rushing to China and India (and Mexico)for raw materials, actives and excipients. Those of us who keep close confidence of the experts who gain access to these “companies” have quietly been predicting this type of event. You will undoubtably see more of this type of incident, if this is not a deliberate act. It is very expensive to protect the QUALITY of life we enjoy, but most people don’t understand that. What is also not understood is that routine testing (say of wheat) could not possibly detect every foreign substance that could make it’s way into the product. Maybe it is more important to push companies to disclose the source of their ingredients and understand the high quality of life and protections we (US)take for granted ?

    Comment by Kerri — March 23, 2007 @ 1:58 pm

  115. Therese, who runs the petsitusa.com website is maintaining a list of pet food brands NOT on the recall list and which ones use Menu Foods for any or all of their wet foods.

    http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=210

    Comment by Nikki — March 23, 2007 @ 2:00 pm

  116. It’s been 5 days since I fed my two dogs recalled Nutro Natural in the pouch. So far my dogs are their normal selves but does anyone know how soon it takes before symptoms show if they are affected? Is it safe to say that my dogs are pretty much out of the danger zone? Many people have said that the symptoms showed at about 1-3 days after consuming the food.

    Thanks in advance,
    -Joanne-

    Comment by Joanne — March 23, 2007 @ 2:09 pm

  117. People this is not just Menu Foods. I had to put Belgian Shepard to sleep March 5th. She first had kidney failure 7 days before and with treatment, IV fluids, and antibiotics her blood test kidney levels had improved. I continued feeding her Alpo Chicken Slices w/gravy thru treatment and after. Her improved blood tests were taken March 3rd and her severe relapse was March 5th. The Vet could not believe how quickly she had a relapse it was as though she was poisined. I called Purina about this and they instanlty denied it and would not record my info. Obviously they are more concerned about being mentioned with Menu Foods and want to keep their name in good standing. Well I and my family knows the truth especially now that the toxin has been found. Im curiuos where did and does Purina obtain their wheat from? I will never again loose another pet to something this irresponsable. Considering the way Purina showed no interest in my story and automatically denied any involvement of my dead dog I will feed my other dog only baby food and Home Made dog foods from here on out and check ingrediants to make sure wheat is not one of them. Wake up people Menu Foods is the name these Brand Name Pet Food mfg’s want to be blamed so you will continue to trust the names IAMS, Purina, Fancy Feast, etc… These mfg’s outsourced the mfg of dog and cat foods to other unknown companies who are not monitored by anything other than theirselves. Till the FDA restricts these MFG’s and the MFG’s they outsource to no pet is safe period.

    Comment by Mark Gold — March 23, 2007 @ 2:10 pm

  118. The links below provide the following.

    http://www.lbah.com/feline/kidney.htm links to a comprehensive report including photo’s. Everything you need to know about kidney failure is here.

    http://www.felinecrf.org/what_is_crf.htm Another good one is here.

    http://www.thepetcheckup.com This link provides a useful kit that can be ordered to monitor your pet’s vital functions at home.

    http://www.mercola.com/2005/aug/27/meat_first.htm This one goes to an excellent website explaining pet food ingredients. Here you will find an offer to purchase an enexpesive book called “See Spot Live Longer”.

    http://www.wysong.net/faqpets.shtml This one goes to Wysong a pet food manufacturing company that truly delivers what they preach which is caring for the health of your pet. Lots of answers on their website.

    http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/nv.html
    Here you will find excellent information regarding your pet’s blood test values.

    http://www.iamscruelty.com/notTested.asp Here you will find PETA’s list of pet food manufacturers who do not process through Menu foods. It also gives the bigger picture about Menu foods. This is a MUST VISIT site.

    My heart goes out to all of the pets affected by this horrible situation and to the people who have lost a beloved pet or who are struggling with their pet’s medical issues, or who are simply confused now not knowing what to do. I hope this information helps.

    Comment by Heather Ireland — March 23, 2007 @ 2:14 pm

  119. I agree with Mark’s post, people need to keep in mind the pets that have died while eating food NOT on the recall list, I am finding Im getting basically ignored by FDA, Menu Food, Nutro, etc when I try to explain that we think our cat died from eating food not on that list (it did contain wheat glutin and is from Nutro). Her symptoms were exactly the same as others on the recall list. It is very frustrating. We have cans of food left as I never did trust it for some reason but no one seems to care.

    Comment by Sandi — March 23, 2007 @ 2:35 pm

  120. I am so deeply sorry for everyone who has lost a pet or has one suffering now because of this tainted food. I used to feed many of those same foods until I adopted a dog with compromised immune system and actually had to research what was and wasn’t good for her.

    I ended up going with Flint River foods, primarily because they also make a dry food that is designed to be served wet…with warm water, as I also had a 16 year old dog that needed soft food and I wanted them all on the same food.

    So, for those who are seeking both a quality dry kibble and a solution for wet food, try Flint River. I have an email from their President that they have not and do not import their wheat or any other product other than New Zealand lamb, nor do they outsource their production and have never used Menu Foods.

    They make cat food too, all my animals thrive on it and our 16 year old just recently passed away at 17.5 years old from old age, nothing else. There’s alot to be said for a small, family owned company who values their customers, the pets! Check out Flint River, http://www.frrco.com and I don’t think you’ll regret it. Oh, and they deliver too!

    Comment by Becky — March 23, 2007 @ 2:36 pm

  121. Joanne, I am in the same situation as you. It’s been 6 days since I fed my 13 cats the Nutro Natural in a pouch. None of them are showing any signs. I am taking my oldest cat, Eddie to the vet this afternoon to get him tested, as Eddie ate this food every day for the past 3 - 4 weeks. The other cats only ate it once. I will post my results of the testing once I find out. I hope it is a good sign that non of my cats aren’t sick after a week.

    Comment by Libby — March 23, 2007 @ 2:39 pm

  122. Folks, there are two things to understand here: One, the FDA (thus the Federal Government) and AFFCO allow food companies to put misleading health statements on their pet foods, and this needs to be STOPPED. The FDA also needs to get serious in it’s regulation of the pet food industry - the “controls” currently in place are a joke! If you would like to join the campaign to get the Feds to listen to us, please see the info here: http://www.mousabilities.com/n.....paign.html

    Secondly, the only way ANY changes will be made to protect our fur babies is if we bring pressure to bear on our elected officials. It is the squeaky wheel that gets greased first. If you are truly upset about this, and truly want to see some changes make, then go to the above site, download the info, and join our fight to have the pet food industry regulated just like the human food industry is. This is not the first recall of pet food that has hurt our animals, nor will it be the last. As long as big money companies are allowed to go unchecked, we can count on more of this. Act NOW - and let’s fix this at the top of the chain, rather than worrying about one plant. Let’s get regulations in place so this never happens again!

    Comment by Barbara — March 23, 2007 @ 2:41 pm

  123. One very good meal for dogs
    You need:
    2lb chicken(legs or quarters),
    2 big carrots, 2cups of dry oatmeal.

    You do not need:
    solt,onion,any kind of spices

    1.Boil chicken and carrot in water(3qt) for 1h.
    2.remove chicken and carrot,add more water, if
    needed, add outmeal.let cook for another 20min
    3.meanwile remove bones from the chicken and
    discard them,cat chicken and carrot and add back
    to the pot.
    4.cool this soup/stew

    My first dog ate this all his life.leaved to 16

    I’ll neve feed my 2 jack russels ‘pet food’

    Comment by Marina — March 23, 2007 @ 2:51 pm

  124. FYI for anyone in the San Diego area, I just did a news spot regarding the recall on Channel 8. They took pictures of Rupert, and interviewed me. I asked pet owners to avoid purchasing any products that Menu foods produced, or whose manufacturers were involved in Menu foods. I should have asked people to write their representatives for more government regulations, but honestly I only had about 30 minutes to prepare.. I urged people to check the recall list again, since it has changed so much. I talked about how many animals have really died, and about this website…I hope it turned out ok.

    Comment by Joyce — March 23, 2007 @ 3:04 pm

  125. I don’t by their “findings” (or should I say reportings!)…rat poison doesn’t cause renal failure it causes bleeding! Our Vet and other Vets have said the same thing. I truly think there is a LOT more to share…Menu Foods needs to come clean about the real cause!

    Comment by Donna — March 23, 2007 @ 3:19 pm

  126. That was my thought - where’s the bleeding?

    Comment by Linda — March 23, 2007 @ 3:21 pm

  127. It’s a different chemical than the hardware store rat poisons

    http://www.marvistavet.com/htm.....oison.html

    Comment by Traci — March 23, 2007 @ 3:27 pm

  128. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aminopterin

    Comment by Traci — March 23, 2007 @ 3:29 pm

  129. I, too, am concerned that people, authorities, and companies do not seem to worry about other pet foods and brands causing our pets’ deaths. Our beloved border collie died March 15. He ate canned Pedigree (beef), dry Pedrigree, and MilkBone dog biscuits every day. Are other people having trouble reaching FDA officials to report concerns? Their voicemail mailboxes are full when I telephone. I just hope all pet food will be tested and ingredient origins checked by someone with the authority and concern.

    Comment by Karen — March 23, 2007 @ 3:35 pm

  130. Karen - did your Border Collie die from kidney failure and how old was your Collie? I’ve been trying to let people on other animal blogs know that perhaps the recall should be wider and am experiencing resistance - being called an alarmist.

    Comment by Linda — March 23, 2007 @ 3:38 pm

  131. I found an interesting article where one individual basically says point blank…this poisoning was deliberate.

    Check it out here.

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....ood_recall

    Comment by Amy Boda — March 23, 2007 @ 3:43 pm

  132. Linda - Our Border Collie was older - 13 - but the timing is suspicious to us. We do not know if the cause of death was kidney failure, but the symptoms fit. He was unable or unwilling to rise at the last and not eating his regular dog food. But would eat deli meat on his last day with us. He was such a healthy, active dog until recently. I just think it’s important that people shouldn’t assume everything is known yet. It took it TOO long for news to get out to the general public. Almost every one I have personally talked with has a pet who has been turning up its nose at its food or feeling ill or vomiting. They were also unaware of any pet food recall at all, as recently as the day before yesterday. One couple had been traveling by RV with their dog when they had to stop in town to visit a vet.

    Comment by Karen — March 23, 2007 @ 4:19 pm

  133. I am so sorry Karen for your loss. It is so painful to hear. I’ve always loved Border Collies - such wonderful dogs. Thank you for answering my questions. I have been referring people to this blog in hopes that they might read the stories and it will save a few more pets. Again Thank you.

    Comment by Linda — March 23, 2007 @ 4:22 pm

  134. I don’t know much about the food making process, but isn’t it odd that the poison was ONLY found in the Kansas plant? That would lead me to believe that the contamination ORIGINATED at the Kansas plant and not necessarily in China…………

    Comment by Lori Lee — March 23, 2007 @ 4:57 pm

  135. The recall was first issued March 16 and the last cans of dog food I purchased from Safeway were on the morning of March 16. At that point, the shelves still had all the recalled brands. But get this - all the brands of dog food that were to be recalled later were ON SALE.
    It’s as if Safeway had been given advance information before it went public, and they were trying to get rid of stock by putting them on sale instead of simply pulling them off the shelves and destroying them.
    It could have been a coincidence, but I think real life is more like an Oliver Stone movie than a Walt Disney movie.

    Comment by Harry — March 23, 2007 @ 5:08 pm

  136. There’s a live (or rather raw feed) of the Menu Foods press conference at this link…and he says the food affected came from BOTH U.S. plants - so that means ingredients, not plant.

    But then he says they first learned about it during early march…lies.

    Comment by Becky — March 23, 2007 @ 5:08 pm

  137. I think it’s VERY important for those of you who lost your pets or had a pet sick as a result of this tragic situation to tell us what the Timeframe was from consumption to symptoms, typically, I have been researching between 1-48 hours depending on the amount of ingested affected food. What are your experiences, please share them with us. I am not a vet, however I would have to guess that with RAT POISON in an animals body, you are going to see symptoms within at least 1-3 days. It’s not going to sit there and just pop up a week later for no reason. Now, how long have we been feeding our pets poison? That’s another question, however for those with non-sympton pets, and who have had our pets off this crap for 5 plus days with no signs of problems, I would have to say we are fortunate enough to not worry too much, I still got a blood test done Monday to be sure, since he consumed affected product, and ate from Iams wet for 5 months. Again, please share with us, those of you who either lost or nearly lost a pet, from your best guesswork, what was the timeframe from consumption to symptom start up. It’s Urgent that people know. My prayers are with all of us parents for our children who were innocently victimized by these @#@#’s.

    Comment by Joe S — March 23, 2007 @ 5:09 pm

  138. It’s time to boycott Menu Foods. The CEO does not seem to care about our little ones. However, he does care about our money…Here’s another thought: let’s feed the contaminated food to him—and his family…

    Comment by Dia H. Nicolatos — March 23, 2007 @ 5:09 pm

  139. Oops….link forgotten.

    http://www.9wsyr.com/mediacent.....oid=193689

    Comment by Becky — March 23, 2007 @ 5:12 pm

  140. Our family has lost our beautiful cat to all madness … we are devestated … something has to be done to prevent this from ever happening again … if you have a sick or your pet has died please contact the FDA and report it … in the state of florida contact …
    Dan Dill Direct Line 407-475-4746
    or FDA 1-866-337-6272
    Menu foods is only report 16 deaths … my vet has at least 6 and many more sick …

    Comment by Donna — March 23, 2007 @ 5:16 pm

  141. My 13 yr. old russian blue cat is very ill, she won’t eat, she drinks filtered water and is on meds for an upset stomach. The vet currently hasn’t heard the latest news about the poison. So she is concerned about getting food into her right now. Her kidney function was ok at first exam, but she has all the symtoms of kidney failure right down to the bad breath. I’m afraid my vet won’t treat her properly because my husband and I are sick and on SS and we have no money. Her usual vet wouldn’t even see her. Dr. Sally said I could pay her at the 1st of mo. but we already have a $95 bill and she just did an exam, drew blood, gave her a shot to calm her tummy, and sent me home w/ some pills.
    And your right, if this is products from abroad China or elsewhere, we should be very scared. I think this country has been being hit by terrorist in any way they can, since 9/11 and the cells have been here for years, while our President is flaunting around in the Persian Gulf and Iraq trying his damnedest to go to war with Iran, falling right into their plot by getting more Americans killed. Sorry, about getting off on my soapbox, but things have to change and I don’t see it happen w/a Bush in office.
    My prayers and condolences go out to all of you who’ve lost your beloved pets, and for all you struggling daily with worry like me, wondering, is my baby going to make it. Please keep me posted on any class action law-suits and the like. And of couse, any new remedies first and foremost. Thank-you for listening and understanding- Laurie

    Comment by Laurie LaJeunesse-West — March 23, 2007 @ 5:30 pm

  142. Everyone PLEASE write to your representatives demanding more regulations of the pet food industry. Write to all the pet food companies, stating that you will no longer use any food associated with Menu Foods. Talking is fine, but actions speak louder than words. Use the consumer power that we all have, the power of the dollar.

    Comment by Joyce — March 23, 2007 @ 5:53 pm

  143. I feel so sorry for those affected by the menu foods recall of pet food for dog and cats. Why couldn’t they test beforehand any pet food before it was manufactured and given to thousands of pets or more? There should be strict regulations reguarding pet food and human food as well. I have three dogs and five cats an luckily what I get for them was not affected by the recall. I think there should be a large class action lawsuit by the people who were affected to pay for pets that have died and vet bills that were paid as well as future bills assome tested clear for everything but who knows what damage has already been done and more in the future. I think menu foods should be put out of business because of this and what other products do they sell, any and all products should be taken off the market made or sold by them. No more pets should suffer as well as any humans suffering the loss of any more pets. I think people should boycott any and all dog and cat food companies so this will never happen again, let the consumer be heard the pet food companies will listen if it affect their pockets. Pet food should contain only human grade ingredients like they would only give their pets. I think an investigation should go into any and all brands of dog and cat food ingredients and people find out what each thing is that is listed as animal digest (what it is) etc. If everyone joins together both affected people and non affected people we all can make the pet food manufacturers make better and safer food for all of our pets.

    Comment by Dianne — March 23, 2007 @ 6:16 pm

  144. I lost my beloved dog Katie in August. It was rather sudden and unexpected. My vet kept insisting that she had injested rat poison. She was by my side 24/7 and I don’t use poisons. She had eaten food of the same type as the recall list, but the time frame rules out that being the cause of her death. or does it?? At any rate, I feel so badly for all who are going through this with their beloved dogs and cats. Rat poison on imported wheat??? Isn’t wheat imported by the tons for human consumption? As tragic as this is for us all right now, has anyone considered that our beloved pets may be the “canaries in the mines” This may just get much much worse. Again, my sympathy to all who are agonizing over sick and deceased pets. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

    Comment by Peggy — March 23, 2007 @ 6:25 pm

  145. I cannot begin to think of the pain (both physical and mental) that this has caused the pets and their owners. As I type this note my little guy is safe and sound in front of me sleeping and the other is staring out the window contently. We live in a fly in community in Northwest Territories and do not have the ability to just get into a car of truck and drive our pets to the vet.
    My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones, I can’t help but feel water welling in my eyes thinking of mine and the hole in my heart that would have been created. Think of the good times that you had with your buddies, remember them, cherish them, Don’t let your agner distroy you, use it to fight back. Lets make sure that this doesn’t happen again. God bless and I feel for your losses.

    Comment by Dan Knox — March 23, 2007 @ 6:36 pm

  146. “I think people should boycott any and all dog and cat food companies so this will never happen again, let the consumer be heard the pet food companies will listen if it affect their pockets.”

    Not all pet food manufacturers are irresponsible and inhumane. To name a few not linked at all to Menu Foods are Merrick and Raw Advantage.

    Comment by Traci — March 23, 2007 @ 6:59 pm

  147. Excerpt from the International Herald Tribune Business Newspaper:
    “On Tuesday, CIBC World Markets downgraded Menu to a “sector underperform” rating and set a 12- to 18- month unit price target of 3.50 dollars. At the time of the initial offering, the units were priced at 10 dollars.

    But at least one analyst, Aleem Israel of Sprott Securities in Toronto, is confident that the company’s market dominance will be its salvation and has upgraded the fund to “buy.”

    “We do not expect major fallout from customer defections,” Israel wrote in a note to investors Wednesday. “Menu remains the largest wet pet-food manufacturer in North America, and its track record of safety and quality assurance has been strong.”

    Comment by Harry — March 23, 2007 @ 7:54 pm

  148. I received my tracking purchases from Petsmart yesterday and to think I have poisoned my babies since November. It shows that since November I have purchased 300 pouches of Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care and I received this the same day I had to send my beloved Razz to kitty heaven!!!!! I literally vomited!!! I went to my vet again today and the 1st time I took Raz in was 12-25-06 for horrible diarrhea - who in the hell would have thought food poisoning??? On 03-13-07 both were put in the hospital, vet thought they got into anti-freeze???? This is absolutely inexcusable. How did everyone like seeing the CEO of Menu Foods on TV tonight?? Couldn’t he even start out with an apology????????? Makes me sick!!!!!!!!!!!

    Comment by Sandi Schreiber — March 23, 2007 @ 9:02 pm

  149. If you research Aminopterin throughly, you will find renal failure is not the only thing you should be looking for. As with any poison, there are a multitude of organs that can be affected. From what I have come up with so far with Aminopterin — heart, liver, lungs (can mimic severe pneumonia), neurological (onset of seizures that increase in frequency), and there is more.

    This year, my three dogs died, 1 of my cats, and another cat is in renal failure now and on sub fluids. All were feed the canned and pouched Nutro. Out of no where one of the dogs developed seizures that worsened in frequency over a period of a few months — cause of seizures could not be found. Then he started having breathing problems no cause could be found. On Thanksgiving of this last year, after feeding him a double portion of his gravy ladened Nutro for a Thanksgiving dinner, breathing problems worsened dramatically. Rushed to emergency room. Again hesitant diagnosis of pneumonia made, but didn’t test out as typical pneumonia. They considered inhalation of food into the lungs. Transferred him to top specialists in Houston. They could come to no confirmed conclusion for the cause either. By Sunday my little buddy (5 pounds) was so bad off (stardard treatments had no affect at all) I had to force myself to release him from his torture, for his sake. Since the recall, the answers could lie in the poison I inadvertly was feeding him (Nutro), since the research I have pulled up falls right into place with what was happening with him.

    It can affect more than just the kidneys. Reasearch it for yourself.

    Comment by DD — March 24, 2007 @ 10:45 am

  150. My dogs symptons are the same exact as everything that I have researched over the past week. My dog was euthanized on Wednesday morning, I could not stand to see her in pain anymore. She died within a few weeks of being diagnosed. She started off with many seizures, vomiting, drinking a lot of fluid (and then not), anorexia, bathroom trouble (diarrhea) and no control over herself. She basically turned into a newborn baby within a couple of weeks of being diagnosed. She was healthy and perky just before that. What I was shocked about, was that after her being diagnosed, I was shocked to not see her food on the list. I believe that as a safety precaution everything or every company needs to be researched since they are unsure. The doctor, before knowing about the recall, said that it looks like she got into something poisonous. She was 8 years old and very healthy and within a couple of weeks dead. The food she ate was Iams dry food and Pedigree Beef Chunks and Gravy. She also eats bones, but that’s it. She is an indoor dog so i can’t think of anything.

    Comment by Stephanie — March 24, 2007 @ 11:19 am

  151. while this whole situation is deplorable, I think most people are missing the point!
    it’s not just Menu Foods that needs to be investigated, it’s the entire pet food industry!!!
    at the present time there is NO regulation of the pet food industry, no matter what the FDA/AAFCO says.
    our much beloved cats & dogs are CARNIVORES, particularly cats, so why is the pet food industry able to get away with manufacturing & marketing products that are full of carbohydrates, grains, vegetables, fruits, by-products, etc & labeling them as “total nutrition for the life & health of your pet”!! I’m para-phrasing here.
    DRY cat food is well known to cause feline diabetes & renal failure, so why is it still manufactured??????
    pet food companies spend vast sums of money sponsoring Vet schools, so it’s no wonder that young Vets are taught nothing about the proper nutrition of your pets, & are not encouraged to do so!
    the entire pet food industry needs to be investigated. I urge you to write to your state senators to start a federal investigation, otherwise nothing will change, & this debacle has the potential of happening again in the future.
    in reference please read
    http://leda.law.harvard.edu/le.....ick06.html

    the pet food industry MUST be regulated so that our animals stay safe & healthy, & the only way that will happen is if WE ALL act & get it done.
    your state senators can be found at

    http://www.senate.gov

    Comment by Stephanie — March 24, 2007 @ 12:30 pm

  152. Whether or not China is conclusively found at fault, is it a big stretch to use common sense and think we shouldn’t purchase our pet food ingredients from a country that still EATS dogs and cats? No ingredient(animal or human) should come from a country that we,our FDA cannot legally or politically inspect. I would be interested in knowing if we have any rights to inspect foreign plants and whether or not Menu Foods has even been there.

    We have to insist on the right to know where our food comes from(animal and human)and to end disguised marketing. I was astounded at how many products Menu Foods produced when you think these are all individual companies. We have to send the message that we hold ALL of these companies responsible. They are all equally responsible for the outcome of their product. Personally, like others, I will NEVER buy another product from any of these companies. The question is…Will I be able to find out who makes what? I switched to Innova and now I hear(???) they outsource to Menu Foods as well.

    I have scheduled bloodwork for my dog who ate IAMS part of this time. Like many others, I had medical issues(vomiting and diarrhea - both short term)that now I wonder about. Like all, I pray for good results.

    Comment by Stephanie — March 24, 2007 @ 1:41 pm

  153. Our cat “Pup” was 18 when we put her to sleep due to an illness we could not define. She had most of the symptoms;lethargy,severe dehydration (the vet hand squeezed IV fluids into her she was so ill),drinking ALOT! Peeing ALOT!,complete loss of appetite(we had to give her appetite stimulants)slept all the time,loss of motor skills,blindness in one eye. We thought she may have had a stroke but now, upon reading the symptoms I think otherwise only because this illness occured so suddenly. I think our vet has a blood sample saved which might be able to be tested. We miss her terribly. We have raised her since she was 8 weeks old. It breaks my heart to think that we may have poisioned her and made her suffer.

    Comment by Tony — March 25, 2007 @ 9:57 am

  154. I had to put my kitty down on Friday. He was so sick and in high stages of renal failure. The tried using an IV with fluids to save him but it was too late. Jax (my kitty) was the best cat I’ve ever known. A huge lover, loved to be with people, and enjoyed his life so much. Even as sick as he was I could tell he wanted to feel better. I’m not ok and I don’t think I will be. Having to know that I was feeding him posion is something I will never get over. I’m so sorry for all the others out there going through the same thing.

    Comment by Jill Olsen — March 26, 2007 @ 8:56 am

  155. Marie, since your 3/23/07 message about your cat having been hospitalized until blood work came back normal, is it still OK? This is beginning of the 2nd week after my 14-year old came out of hospital, and BUN/Creatinine were back in normal ranges when he was released (had been skewed way out of line). I am going in two weeks for another blood tests. During meantime, I purchased Scientific Cat Litter (changes color when urine hits it to detect kidney problems). This is fourth day, and so far, not even pink.

    I haven’t seen any messages since it was determined melamine is the real culprit. Any antidotes for that?

    My cat won’t eat the prescription low protein/low phosphous diet the vet sold me. He lost a pound while in hospital, and I’m afraid he has lost more since. I’m so worried. He eats a teeny bit and then drinks water and drinks water and drinks water.

    Re how to get your cat to take the antibiotic: I assume it is a pill (mine is). Wrap a towel around his two front legs to “bind” them down so he can’t kick you off. Then, hold his lower body between your legs (catching the end of the towel between your legs also). With your left hand, place your middle finger and thumb around his neck so that finger/thumb catches right under his jaw. Then, pull up to force his mouth wide open. Then, with right hand, place pill (held between index finger and thumb) as far down his throat as possible — get it into the back of it - and then sort of “flick” his head up and back with your left hand. This sounds complicated, but it is so easy .. and works every time. It takes me only a second or so to get it down (but, then, I’ve had cats for over 40 years; so, practice makes perfect). P.S. These actions don’t hurt them at all.

    I didn’t realize you could get a print-out of purchases from PetSmart. Thanks for the info. But, then, I know what I bought, and 75% of the wet food was on the recall list (and I do have receipts for what I returned). I’d like to think maybe they’ll refund some of the vet bills (am I just dreaming? Probably).

    My 16-year old cat was unaffected, but she always preferred the dry food. I take my dog back Saturday for more tests. He had some of the recalled food right up until the news broke (and out of 11 cans I returned to PetSmart - Nutro — only one was not on the recall list). The dog’s kidneys were OK, but his liver tests were skewed. Has any one heard of the liver being affected (he jut turned 7; so, it is not like he’s geriatric or anything)>

    Comment by Gaye Merton — April 4, 2007 @ 6:07 pm

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