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Pet food recall: A veterinarian speaks
By Christie Keith
May 7, 2007
- If you have a sick pet or a question on your pet’s health, call your veterinarian.
- If you’re new to the site, please check out our general information page (includes information on recalled foods).
- If you want to report a sick or deceased pet, click here.
Dr. Louise Murray, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, the Director of Medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City, wrote recently to our own Dr. Marty Becker, and gave us permission to share her thoughts and experiences with treating animals affected by the pet food recall.
“We have seen a number of cases, varying from unaffected or mildly affected to severely ill and death,” she wrote. “In terms of the latter 2 categories, we have treated one very ill Cocker who died, euthanized one Husky who was deathly ill with a creatinine of 15, and treated about 6 cats who were severely affected, 2 of whom died (euthanized when treatment failed), one of whom went home with normal kidney values and is doing great, and 3 of whom are alive with severe chronic renal failure.”
She added, “Of course, I’m sure we saw more cases Dec.-March before the food was recalled, that we didn’t realize.”
Dr. Murray took the loss of one cat particularly hard:
“He was 6 months old, a beautiful big purry healthy guy. When the recall began, his mom went over the lists with a fine-toothed comb and continued to do so throughout the recall. He became acutely ill April 10, well into the recall. She was positive she was not feeding recalled food. He was so acutely ill that when he first presented his creatinine was just above normal but it skyrocketed over the next few days, on aggressive fluid therapy. On ultrasound a few days into it, he had moderate-severe hydronephrosis with bilateral ureteral obstruction…but I couldn’t see stones which seemed odd. As he was worsening rapidly, we took him to surgery to see if the obstructions could be relieved. The surgeons were mystified because his proximal ureters were dilated but they couldn’t see why.
What happened to him?
“On necropsy, the pathologist found that his ureters were stuffed with the melamine-type crystals. We were horrified because he wasn’t eating recalled food. I went through all the foods he was eating with his mom over and over, and narrowed it down to 2 foods I felt were the most likely culprits (other flavors of the same line of foods had been recalled, etc.). I notified the 2 companies, one of whom took 2 days to call me back despite repeated attempts. I also notified the FDA. That was April 23. One of those 2 foods was just recalled; it was one of the ones recalled due to “cross-contamination at the Menu plant. It did not contain wheat gluten. Supposedly. What a tragic little story.
“I hope people realize that this ‘cross-contamination’ isn’t just some hypothetical possibility.”
One of the most heartbreaking consequences of the poisoned pet food is something rarely mentioned in the media, or even on the blogs: the longterm health damage done to pets who recovered from their initial acute kidney failure. “I am watching young cats die or end up with 17-year-old kidneys in a 3-year-old body,” she said.
Update: From Elizabeth Weise at USA Today, an article quoting both Dr. Murray AND Gina, here.
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There needs to be a criminal investigation into this cover up and these PF Industry people put on the stand under oath and facing perjury charges.
Comment by Steve — May 7, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
So sad… for everyone. How to not be completely bitter? Anyone know? Survival skills to share would be welcome. I have one kitty friend with toxic food related crf. I know I’m not alone in this and in being alarmed at what’s going on. The crf support groups are a blessing… but the bitterness and anger I have are hard to manage.
Thanks.
Comment by Rose L — May 7, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
“Scooby was 6 months old, a beautiful big purry healthy guy.”
I think it’s time for me to take a real long walk with my dogs.
Only 6 months? He was only beginning to live….
Comment by Ally — May 7, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
Deanna,
I just posted the info on the morning blog so you can go back to some letters for ideas.
Wish I would have just jotted down comments from folks that were good and to the point, there has been so much good info on here
Comment by Elaine — May 7, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
And my fear exactly. Three cats all very healthy. Two big guys, a third with pancreatitis and IBD. But all doing really well - NOW. The fear of poisoning them is with me every day.
Comment by Jenny — May 7, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
“The pet-food crisis has claimed many victims. Just 16 animals have had their deaths directly attributed to the tainted food.”
Newsweek Business
Updated: 4:16 p.m. CT May 7, 2007
Capitalizing on Pet-Food Panic
A year ago, FreshPet was a tiny upstart in the mass dog-chow market. But the tainted pet-food scare changed all that. How one maker of all-natural, refrigerated dog food emerged from the crisis with, um, a leg up.
http://tinyurl.com/2hr824
Okay here we go with the bullsh*t.
Comment by Steve — May 7, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
I’m so afraid of something happening to my cats. Even now that I’m home-cooking I worry about melamine-contaminated poultry, or a stray bone getting into their food, or something. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t worry about whether or not my home-cooking was perfectly balanced, too.
They’re rolling with it, though. In fact, they seem to be thriving. Cats know when you’re trying to do right by them.
Comment by Katherine — May 7, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
Rose L - I think knowing that von Eschenbach (FDA Admin.), Acheson (“food czar”), and Mark Wiens (Menu Foods CFO, sold shares when he found out about epidemic), will all suffer much more horrible fates than we are suffering right now. They, among others, will either die lonely old bitter alcoholics, or possibly in prison, or from the next food poisoning epidemic (which we are all hopefully savvy enough to live through). This may be some small consolation, but it doesn’t restore our pets’ health or lives.
Comment by Palomino82 — May 7, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
I’m having trouble locating that invoice from ChemNutra. (too many files on this computer).
Anybody have it handy?
Comment by Kathi — May 7, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
Why is there no criminal investigation going regarding the sale of stocks due to insider trading???!!!
Comment by Mary Smith — May 7, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
Mary, just because we don’t hear about it doesn’t mean it’s not happening. A lot of this stuff is started behind the scenes and no one is privy to it.
Comment by Carole — May 7, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
China: Pig Deaths Spark Concerns
http://afludiary.blogspot.com/.....cerns.html
Comment by Mike — May 7, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
http://online.wsj.com/article/....._news_asia
Kathi, here is a link the WSJ article re the invoice.
Comment by Carole — May 7, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
RE Comment by Carole May 7, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Do you know something that has not been made public? Info please.
Comment by Mary Smith — May 7, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
http://www.itchmo.com/read/chi.....e_20070503
If you can’t get into the WSJ, here is Itchmo’s story.
Comment by Carole — May 7, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
What was the other food “Scooby” (cat in story) was eating that has not been recalled?
It doesn’t make sense. “Cross-contamination” killed that cat but it’s ok for men, women and children to eat mela-chicken??????????
Comment by slt — May 7, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
Mary, I have no knowledge of anything going on with Mark Wien. I was just pointing out that just because we haven’t heard anything we shouldn’t assume nothing is being looked into. I think we get so used to hearing about everything in the media that we sometimes forget that not everything is necessarily made public. Especially if they are trying to conduct an investigation. I find it hard to believe that the OSC is ignoring this.
Comment by Carole — May 7, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
Kathi, there is a link to the purchase orders for Chem Nutra on this page. It’s partway down the page in the story Chem Nutra posts invoice for contaminated wheat gluten.
http://www.ift.org/news_bin/news/newsBody.shtml
Comment by Margaret Bridge — May 7, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
“Ontario Securities Commission spokeswoman Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington said the OSC routinely reviews insider trading reports and instances of unusual trading, but does not comment on individual cases.”
This goes to what I was saying - the OSC doesn’t comment on their doings.
Comment by Carole — May 7, 2007 @ 8:10 pm
An update from Purina…
Updated FAQs – Cyanuric Acid FAQs – May 7, 2007
What is cyanuric acid?
Cyanuric acid is a weak acid that is most commonly used in the U.S. as part of a swimming pool disinfection program to reduce the loss of chlorine in pool water. It is structurally similar to melamine, and the FDA calls it a “melamine-related compound.”
What is its relationship to the recalled pet foods?
In a press conference on April 26, the FDA stated that cyanuric acid had been detected in the contaminated rice protein concentrate. The FDA also re-tested some of the melamine-contaminated wheat gluten samples and found cyanuric acid in some of those samples as well.
Why would cyanuric acid be in pet food?
Cyanuric acid is not an approved ingredient for food, and should not be found in pet food.
What is the importance of this finding?
According to the FDA, scientific research indicates that melamine alone, at the levels detected in the contaminated wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate, is not a human health concern.
In a press conference on April 26, the FDA stated it is investigating whether cyanuric acid might increase the toxicity of melamine, and indicated there is some evidence that the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid could result in the formation of crystals in the kidneys that could lead to kidney failure.
Are you testing your products for cyanuric acid?
Yes. Nestlé Purina has implemented a new process to test for cyanuric acid in every load of wheat gluten. We also test every load of wheat gluten for melamine.
Comment by Carole — May 7, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
I find it hard to believe that the OSC is ignoring this.
Comment by Carole — May 7, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
Carole, do you really believe something is being done about the shares trading? Why would they not be ignoring that when FDA, PFI, USDA & everyone else is trying to ignore the pet food poisoning…..no one wants to do a darn thing about any of it other than have us all go away either voluntarily or by eating cyanuric souffle……
Comment by Sandi K — May 7, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
Kathi,
You can also go to ChemNutra’s website - on the homepage click on “ChemNutra Launches News and Information Blog” (top center column).
Then scroll down to the 5th entry, dated 5/3/07 - Media Clarifications. At the end of the paragraph there is a link to see the invoice, purchase order and cert. of analysis. I think this is the same.
Comment by Donna — May 7, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
Hello everyone and thanks to ALL the work and comments here, at petfood tracker, petfoodlist, and a few others—truly herculean.
I am *horrified* that the FDA/USDA have apparently ‘cleared’ the chickens and hogs fed tainted feed to enter the food chain—how long will it be until these animal are funneled into pet food manufacturers … and assuming that no humans will be affected by eating these chickens and pigs (a big assumption as far as I’m concerned since there are virtually no toxicology studies on malamine). Well, my 2 cents for the moment.
By sheer luck alone my cats are okay so far—one cat that passed away about a year ago loved a couple of the recalled foods. My current kitties never cared for the taste, otherwise they’d likely be gone.
Thanks,
Sandy
Comment by Sandy — May 7, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
I just discovered something really cool on my computer.
With Windows XP, you can make your Word documents into faxes and send them directly from the computer. God help the poor Ag committee folks now. I’m having a field day here :)
I know, everyone probably knows how to do this and I’m behind the times. But if anyone wants help setting themselves up, let me know.
I just can’t, CAN’T handle reading the article posted on the blog. We brought Cleo home today after 5 days on an IV. She’s a shadow of her former self.
Comment by Sharon — May 7, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
Comment by Mary Smith 7:51pm
Mary if I recall correctly, when my local chan 4 did the undercover story about MenuFoods, Kevin Dietz the reporter, did state that the stock sale was being investigated.
Comment by VJ — May 7, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
I’m convinced the term “cross-contamination” is being used as a synonym for “commingling”. Of course, “commingling” would imply FAR more adulteration, and we wouldn’t want to imply anything like THAT now, would we . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 7, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
I know I took some heat last night for mentioning wearing the chocolate brown ribbon in honor of the pets that have suffered and died due to the recall. It is something very small, but I don’t believe insignificant. I made over 50 and passed them out at a recent Earth Day function. I had a display of a photo collage of just a few faces I found on Howl.911. It certainly caught people’s attention. We are a rescue, so I also had a jar with 800 jelly beans inside that represented the 800 animals that are euthanized in shelters every hour in the U.S. People are visual and sometimes little things can strike them in a very profound way. I see on the Pets Need Voices Too website, http://www.pnv2.com where they are asking people to participate in a Nationwide Pet Food Crisis Awareness Day on May 19th. I will be at another function that day and I will have my ribbons and I will show my photos. Of course, the numbers have increased significantly since a few weeks ago. I hope you will join me. Distributing information on every level is at least a place to start. Some of us write letters, some of us make phone calls, some of us make little pawprint ribbons. I think the idea is that we can all play a part in making a difference.
Amara
Comment by Amara — May 7, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
Sharon, please give Cleo a very gentle hug from me.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 7, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
Pat, thank you. The kindnesses shown here every day are absolutely invaluable to me.
I can’t let her go, not without trying, ya know? I wrote a $1000 check today for her care, we are hitting our mutual funds to pay for this—my husband is an absolute saint of a man.
I need to go to bed. Love and hugs to all of you and your critters.
Comment by Sharon — May 7, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
USA Today - 36 minutes ago
Although the first pet-food recalls started March 16, animals are still falling ill and dying because of tainted food.
http://tinyurl.com/yvta4h
Comment by Steve — May 7, 2007 @ 8:44 pm
JUST LOOK AT THE CHEMICAL COCKTAIL:
SUBCHAPTER E—ANIMAL DRUGS, FEEDS, AND RELATED PRODUCTS PART 573 FOOD ADDITIVES PERMITTED IN FEED AND DRINKING WATER OF ANIMALS
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/.....FRPart=573
Comment by mal — May 7, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
May 8, 2007
Food safety concerns grow as imports to US surge
But some in the US say that government regulation and even voluntary guidelines would be burdensome overkill – and wouldn’t solve the problems.
“No amount of regulation would have found the melamine,” says Duane Ekedahl, president of the Pet Food Institute. Instead, he says, the Chinese government should step up to help certify its food products – or otherwise be stung by consuming nations that shift their trade to more careful trading partners.
“The US system is not broken; that’s an oversimplification,” says Mr. Ekedahl. “We shouldn’t have to inspect it here. [Foreign governments] should inspect it all there.”
http://tinyurl.com/2csmm6
Comment by Steve — May 7, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
Ekedahl is no friend of 120 Million pet parents and their pets.
That should be obvious by now.
Comment by Steve — May 7, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
ugh. i should have finished working before reading the vets letter. very hard to line up drop shadows through tears . . . :(
“I notified the 2 companies, one of whom took 2 days to call me back despite repeated attempts. I also notified the FDA. That was April 23. (His necropsy unfortunately took 10 days to come back). I didn’t really get any sense that the 2 companies were going to do anything about the info, especially as he was eating several foods. One of those 2 foods was just recalled; it was one of the ones recalled due to “cross-contamination at the Menu plant. It did not contain wheat gluten. Supposedly. What a tragic little story.”
it’s beyond criminal the way they drag this out before recalling!! obviously they are lacking souls. i can’t even comprehend their actions . . .
Comment by straybaby — May 7, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
Carole, Margaret, Donna
Thanks for invoice. Now it’s in a folder where I can get to it.
Comment by Kathi — May 7, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
The compassion in the vets story hit me like a ton of melamine. My vet was as heartbroken about my dog, as was his whole staff. My dog is the only one he has lost, so far and the worst. I know that our story will be one he has on his mind throughout his career and tells often with his heart on his sleeve everytime. As in the above story. Thank you Christie for posting this tonight.
As for this story growing daily, I am convienced we haven’t heard it all, yet. Some will never be known. What we will know will be enough to change history.
This is still our America, united we stand. We are the people. China tea party, anyone?
Well, we can’t throw it overboard, we’de kill all the local marine life.
Comment by Maudigan — May 7, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
Sandi K, I tend to believe that yes, this stock issue will be investigated, if it’s not already, by the OSC. The stock and the pet food are two completely different issues, with different consequences, being handled by a different agency in a different country.
The stock situation is much more black and white than the pet food.
Comment by Carole — May 7, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
Its unknown what melamine can do to humans, unless they can test on humans, and that’s out, obviously. (Although, we may be the test subjects right now.)
They don’t want to do testing on effect of melamine on animals to see what it could possibly due to humans because its not humane. I agree with that.
So, if you don’t know, FDA, don’t be putting that crap out there for us to buy! What ever happened to ‘err on the side of caution’? You’re making me feel like a human guniea pig, especially if you DO release those chickens. Just think about what you are doing. Get off your fat wallet from all the pay-offs and get some conscience and compassion.
S
Comment by Deanna — May 7, 2007 @ 9:38 pm
Comment by Elaine — May 7, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Thank you, Elaine, I appreciate the reminder. I can remember reading things, but finding them again, forget it, especially so much for so long.
Comment by Deanna — May 7, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
“His poor mom is totally broke now and we are paying for his care.”
And those lousy murderers only want to cough up $500 to reimburse for medical care and that only after they make the pet owners jump thru hoops proving their claim! I hope she sues their a**es off. Let them go broke and be forced to eat their poisoned food. At this point in time I truly understand how a lynch mob happens. After reading this story - if I came across one of those greedy buggers - you’d have to pry my fingers away from their neck with a crowbar and my dog wasn’t affected - I can only imagine what the affected owners are feeling.
Comment by cheryl — May 7, 2007 @ 10:06 pm
Has anyone noticed that not one of the ceo’s or other management of any of these companies has stated that they lost a pet to the poison? They preach about being pet lovers and owners - but none of them has been in tears saying their cat or dog was affected. Makes you wonder what they feed their pets? hmmmm
Comment by cheryl — May 7, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
http://free.financialmail.co.z...../dfeat.htm
Excerpts from an article on tainted pet food from South Africa
Local pet food manufacturers insist there is no longer any danger of consumers buying contaminated food, after stocks of Royal Canin and Vets Choice dog food were removed from shelves. Royal Canin MD Gregory Watine confirmed that food made locally between March 8 and April 11 used Chinese corn gluten contaminated with the chemical melamine.
This is not the first poison scare to hit the pet food industry.
In recent months, rat poison and antifreeze have also been found in dog food. The discovery of melamine-tainted gluten in SA came a full month after US pet food companies withdrew similarly poisoned food.
Hundley says that after SA dogs started falling ill in early April, manufacturers did not immediately associate the problem with the US issue and assumed it was a previously experienced poison.
However, a report this week in The New York Times shows that in China - now a major international supplier of corn gluten, wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate - the addition of nitrogen-rich melamine is commonplace. It reports that factories boil coal to produce melamine for use in plastics and fertiliser.
Hundley says this is not the first time Chinese agricultural products have been heavily contaminated. Peasant farmers who supply large co-operatives regularly use huge doses of rat poison and other chemicals to protect crops
According to The New York Times, the melamine issue is the latest in a series of Chinese food scandals. These include making soy sauce and baby-milk formula from human hair, and feeding contraceptive pills to eels to make them long and slim.
Anyone buying a dog food marked “pure beef” would assume the beef content to be close to 100%. They would be wrong. To qualify as “pure”, the food needs to contain only 65% beef. The rest is fat, starch and additives. A food promising “beef flavour” has less than 4% beef, “with beef” at least 4%, “high in beef” means 14%, and “beef dinner” is 26%.
“They may seem low percentages but these are globalised definitions,” says Hundley. “The SA industry is following standards set in the rest of the world.”
Comment by DeeAnn — May 7, 2007 @ 10:13 pm
Sharon,
I’m glad Cleo is home, give her a big hug for me.
RE: Vets
This has to be hard on them too. Sometimes we forget they are on the front line fighting for those who can’t speak.
My dog: we had a tough night, thought it was starting all over again - she goes in for a cysto on Fri. and will take it from there.
PFI: I can’t believe there are people so heartless
As for the big White House dinner, I see they had Dover sole and Rack of Lamb….
Now I’m going to curl up with my dog and give her lots of hugs! hope you all do the same with your furry kids.
I’m afraid this is going to go on for a long time -
Katie
Comment by Katie — May 7, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
A problem with uploading to the website again?
Comment by Lynn — May 8, 2007 @ 12:03 am
As for testing (animal, human or otherwise), the only study I ever saw mentioned on melamine was one on dogs done in the 1940s or 1950s, long before there apparently was a social conscience or ethic about animal testing. HOWEVER, this agent/chemical remains prohibited from being used in/added to (however one wants to phrase it) feed, human food, etc. Just wondering what the basis for that decision was and why it’s now “okay” to slip on that prohibition. Makes me sick.
Comment by Sandy — May 8, 2007 @ 12:37 am
Sharon, I’m so glad you could bring Cleo home. Many cats do much better once they get home. I see that all the time in our clinic. While being hospitalized may be part of necessary care for awhile, so many cats just aren’t comfortable being away from their familiar surroundings. We always try to send them home as soon as possible because they eat and sleep so much better at home. So, here’s my best wishes for a full recovery for Cleo.
Comment by Marilyn — May 8, 2007 @ 1:50 am
Why does the mainstream media continue to refer to the Poison Chinese Food Epidemic of 2007 as a “pet food scare”? A “scare” is something that goes away after a few minutes, hours or days: like a horror movie or good ghost story or Halloween. This is something which has obviously made it into the human food supply and is probably killing people globally as we speak. Is there any other country out there which received gluten shipments from China over the course of the last year? Is the FDA attempting to communicate with health authorities in those nations, to see if melamine made it into the human food supply there? How long before David Acheson’s head explodes, too?
Comment by Palomino — May 8, 2007 @ 2:22 am
Carole - Yes, and next week it will be another ersatz protein impersonator with deadly health implications. I like to get these updates, because it shows Nestle-Purina has no intention of correcting their bad behavior at all! They will continue to get ingredients from the cheapest source possible, China, India, Indonesia or whatever; and pets, eventually people too will keep dying.
BOYCOTT: Nestle-Purina (home of the “silent recall”), Del Monte, Proctor & Gamble. But most of all BOYCOTT PEKING! (Used to be called Beijing, BPP - Before Pet Poisoning). It’s 2007, do you know what YOUR pet’s eating?
Comment by Palomino — May 8, 2007 @ 2:30 am
“No amount of regulation would have found the melamine,” says Duane Ekedahl, president of the Pet Food Institute. Instead, he says, the Chinese government should step up to help certify its food products – or otherwise be stung by consuming nations that shift their trade to more careful trading partners.
How about starting with - oh - maybe - US!!!!!!!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 8, 2007 @ 4:10 am
It’s very understandable that you haven’t had time to report these cases, you are busy trying to keep pets alive and healthy.
My thoughts will be with you.
Comment by Alasandra — May 8, 2007 @ 4:32 am
As the decision to send the 20 million chickens off to market is being made, the uneasy feeling that something has been missed is evident.Past scientific studies do indicate that melamine, ingested by dogs,should not have the toxic effect that led to the death of so very many beloved pets. The “ureters stuffed with melamine type crystals” reminds me of the crystal gardens that we made from coal when I was a child. Anyone else here old enough to remember those? Ammonia (urine has ammonia in it), laundry bluing( a whitening agent), and I believe salt, was added to coal(melamine is a by product of coal), and overnight crystals would grow all over the coal.
Comment by Laura Gould — May 8, 2007 @ 4:53 am
“No amount of regulation would have found the melamine,” says Duane Ekedahl, president of the Pet Food Institute.
and therefore, ‘no amount of regulation’ is necessary?
I remember D.E.’s testimony during the Senate hearing. He basically said the pet food industry is unregulated and therefore that goes to show that no regulation is needed.
Riiiiiiight.
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 5:14 am
I haven’t even thought of growing crystals on coal for years!! But now that you mention it, I would imagine it was close to the same process that creates the melamine crystals.
Comment by Sandy C — May 8, 2007 @ 5:17 am
I was Googling “crystallization of melamine” and came across the following rather depressing discussion (look at the dates):
http://groups.google.com/group.....d?lnk=raot
Astonishing how strenuously some folks continue clinging to their denial.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 8, 2007 @ 5:46 am
Sharon,
I’m glad Cleo is home, too. Poor baby. Give her a gentle skritch for me.
Comment by Katherine — May 8, 2007 @ 6:00 am
Re: Sharon — May 7, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
“at With Windows XP, you can make your Word documents into faxes and send them directly from the computer.”
Do tell, how do you do it??
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 6:04 am
Katie and Marilyn, thanks for your well wishes. She’s not so wobbly this morning (EST)—she had to be drugged to remove the IV cause she’s such a psycho. She ate breakfast and had herself a sit and pet on my lap for awhile. Bless her heart, she slept last night right on a pillow next to the baby. She didn’t move until around 5:30. The baby reached out to her in her sleep and petted her a few times :)
This has been so hard on my girls. They know the cats are sick but my youngest just wails when we leave the cats at the vet. We had to leave Dude there yesterday so they could draw blood and so he could fill up his bladder a little for a urine test. She just freaked when we left him there. My older child is just oldest enough to experience the anger and outrage at the people who have done this.
Their heartache is so difficult to see. It’s worse because ALL OF THIS was avoidable :(
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 6:05 am
A year ago, FreshPet was a tiny upstart in the mass dog-chow market. But the tainted pet-food scare changed all that. How one maker of all-natural, refrigerated dog food emerged from the crisis with, um, a leg up.
http://tinyurl.com/2hr824
Okay here we go with the bullsh*t.
Comment by Steve — May 7, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
Talk about coincidence, last night my husband brought home a sample of this food. He received it from one of his customers who said she drove 1 1/2 hours to pick up this ‘safe food’. I had never heard of it and was just about to start the research when I read Steve’s post.
Comment by Lorraine T — May 8, 2007 @ 6:06 am
Peggy, I’m assuming you’ve got XP on your computer.
Go into control panel and choose add/remove new programs.
Then choose Add/Remove Windows Components
It’ll think for awhile and then will pop up with a list.
Make sure the “Fax” item has a check mark next to it then click install.
It’ll make some noise and then it’s installed :)
Turns out it is a regular part of the Windows XP program that many people keep uninstalled because they never use it.
So then, type up your document in Word, and then when you want to send you fax. Go to “Send to” in the pull down file menu and choose “Fax” It walks you through the rest of the process.
Make sure your phone line is plugged in because I have figured out if you can send them through broadband or cable yet.
Cheers.
And Katherine, thanks for the well wishes.
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 6:10 am
I have cable, I’ll play with it. Thanks!
How is Cleo this morning?
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 6:11 am
Sorry if this has already been posted:
China says fatal drug outside scope of regulators:
BEIJING, May 8 (Reuters) - Chinese companies accused of making and selling a fake drug ingredient that killed dozens of people in Panama did not fall under the nation’s medicine inspectors, Beijing said, leaving unclear what agency bore responsibility….
Rest of Article…http://www.alertnet.org/thenew.....244938.htm
100 people have died in Panama from the “cheap, toxic substitute”…
Why in the world would we let anything at all that could be ingested by pets or humans come into this country from China?
I know, I know…cheap…
Comment by Amara — May 8, 2007 @ 6:11 am
I see your other post now; Cleo sounds pretty good. Your poor kids.
I’ve been wondering about the kids; I know all of them love their pets. This is the first I’ve seen anyone mention them. I know I loved my doggies when I was little. I have thought and wondered about the children, their pains and trials at a young age. Not a good way to find out how much certain adults and our government sucks.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 6:20 am
Comment by Lorraine T — May 8, 2007 @ 6:06 am
I read the article and I think the founder used to work for Meow Mix or something. He increased sales for them by some wopping figure then went out on his own.
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 6:21 am
GOOD ARTICLE:
Thought for Food
The Contamination of the American Food Supply
By Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer , 5/7/2007 8:30:34 PM
A crisis is currently unfolding. Don’t expect to get the full story from the media, or the government. A panic could easily ensue. It is up to intelligent people, who want to save themselves from being poisoned, to read between the lines, and to start growing their own food.
http://www.hawaiireporter.com:.....04dfe1ac74
Comment by mal — May 8, 2007 @ 6:30 am
Believe me Peggy, when I write these letters I’m including their viewpoints and have from the beginning. In fact, my older child wrote her own letters to our senators and local reps describing exactly how she felt when we took Maui to the vet the first time, right after the recall. Maui was by far the worst affected from this and the other 2 are pretty bad.
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 6:33 am
Yesterday evening, after hand-feeding the cat (still - after more than 7 weeks…), I watched TV.
Iams had an ad running.
Let me tell you, it became quite noisy in our house, even when I know that a TV does not do human language.
And, just in case you all are wondering: 5 weeks after I called them and they told me that their vets are going to speak with my vets there still hasn’t been any movement from Iams, let alone money for vet bills.
If I would run my business as lousy as they do ….
Comment by MaKo — May 8, 2007 @ 6:49 am
That’s good; that’s real good. Thank you. My best to them and everyone else, too.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 6:52 am
On the nothing to see here front:
http://www.emergencyemail.org/.....4&z=1
Comment by GingerTom — May 8, 2007 @ 6:53 am
Comment by MaKo — May 8, 2007 @ 6:49 am
Which Iams food(s) made your cat sick?
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 6:54 am
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal.....5/0129.xml
“A safety/risk assessment is a scientific approach to estimating the risk to human health from exposure to specified compounds. It is based on available data and certain scientific assumptions IN THE ABSENCE OF DATA.” (capitalized emphasis mine)
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 8, 2007 @ 7:02 am
Let’s try that again with TinyURL:
http://tinyurl.com/39hh95
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 8, 2007 @ 7:03 am
Reminder?
Dear Food Manufacturers:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking this opportunity to remind food manufacturers of their legal responsibility to ensure that all ingredients used in their products are safe for human consumption.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/protltr.html
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 7:06 am
That USDA page just totally P*S*ed me off!!!
Fools haven’t had enough time to test “squat” having to do with those stinking chickens…
Argh!
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 7:06 am
Quote:
Which Iams food(s) made your cat sick?
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 6:54 am
End Quote
Selected Bites - those little pouches, in Variety packs.
Have been feeding Iams for years and years (after our at-that-time-vet recommended it because one of the cats has a nervous stomach). Recommended Iams to everyone.
Not any longer, D’OH! One cat almost died, and the other one scratched by. But we all know that they will be compromised for the (shortened) rest of their lives.
And whenever I see “Iams for Life” it looks like the promulgation of a jail sentence to me, and is acknowledged by sarcastic remarks like: “Sick for Life” you mean! (followed by a lengthy paragraph with extremely juicy and descriptive language).
Comment by MaKo — May 8, 2007 @ 7:07 am
last night i had to buy a bag of innova adult dry food for my cats because our pet store was out of evo dry food which is the only dry cat food i felt was safe now this morning i couldnot find one of my cats for two hours he usually runs right down to eat he looks very droopy he will not eat or drink and is only lying down we are going to the vet in a little while! he is usually a very active happy cat with a very good appetite this is not like him !
Comment by linda k — May 8, 2007 @ 7:07 am
Steve, Mom thinks that is a heads up that more is to come.
Amazing that the FDA has to remind companies not to poison consumers *slams head against wall*
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 7:11 am
Now, THIS is a relief! 1/2500 melamine in our chickens — coming soon to a market near YOU!
“Even if a person were to eat the chickens for breakfast, lunch and dinner, scientists concluded, the amount of melamine consumed in one day would be 1/2,500 of the minimum dose thought capable of posing a health risk.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....01685.html
Comment by Kat — May 8, 2007 @ 7:11 am
linda, sounds like that kitty needs an immediate trip to the vet!!
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 7:12 am
Comment by MaKo — May 8, 2007 @ 7:07 am
I’m sorry for your pets’ (and everyone’s pets’) suffering. Have you recontacted Iams and demanded they follow up with you? I don’t know why after all these weeks they haven’t.
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 7:14 am
Let the buyer beware it’s a jungle out there.
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 7:14 am
Comment by linda k — May 8, 2007 @ 7:07 am
Oh, my Linda K! That is terrible!!! Poor kitty!!! Let us how it goes. Did the kitty eat the Innova last night?
Comment by Kat — May 8, 2007 @ 7:15 am
Our FDA, USDA, etc. have shown the Chinese and other importers that they will do NOTHING about unsafe foods except to remind them not to do it.
So guess what? It will be BUSINESS AS USUAL for them!!
Scarey thought:The terrorists have also had a good lesson in how vulnerable our food supply really is, how criminally inept our agencies are, and how much asleep much of the American public is!
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 7:16 am
Pump it up in Beelzebub
http://finance.google.com/fina.....lient=news
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 7:17 am
My Mom made an interesting discovery at the pet food store last week. She was feeding Avoderm to her cats, went to buy more and looked at the ingredients. On the back of the can it said “Made in China.” So, no more Avoderm.
Innova and avoderm are, as far as I know, produced by the same company.
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 7:17 am
kat yes billy ate the innova lastnight thankyou all for your concern has anyone else had a problem? we will let you know what happens at the vet
Comment by linda k — May 8, 2007 @ 7:27 am
Quote:
I’m sorry for your pets’ (and everyone’s pets’) suffering. Have you recontacted Iams and demanded they follow up with you? I don’t know why after all these weeks they haven’t.
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 7:14 am
————End Quote
slt,
the best thing is that the cats survived, and at one point it didn’t look like they would. I take every day as a gift :)
I know I should call Iams again, but I have to carefully chose the time and mood when I do that, otherwise I will let off my anger and frustration towards a person that really is not responsible and probably doing the best s/he can do.
I want to bite the ones high up, the ones responsible for that Schweinerei, not someone who is probably as much a victim as anyone else.
Therefore, I concluded, I have to have a generous helping of chocolate (good-mood-maker), plus probably some adult beverage, before even starting to think about calling them…
Comment by MaKo — May 8, 2007 @ 7:30 am
Linda K.,
I am so sorry your kitty is not himself this morning. Do you think maybe it could just be the quick switch from a no-grain to grain-added food? I looked on the Innova site and all I found in cat food was Barley or Brown Rice. There was no gluten of any kind or RPC listed. (Yeah, I know, that doesn’t mean that it’s not in there.) :( My thoughts are with you and your kitty today.
Take care,
Amara
Comment by Amara — May 8, 2007 @ 7:35 am
What’s wrong with this chicken?
http://tinyurl.com/2vun24
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 7:44 am
is it chicken or mela-chicken? looks fine for mela-chicken, but gross for regular chicken
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 7:50 am
I’ve been feeding Innova evo for almost 2months
my cats eaten the dry and is doing fine.
other dry foods that are grain free>Wellness core, Natures variety raw instincts.
Dry with some grain >i can also
say that Timber Wolf organics serengeti is well liked by the cat. im also going to try Felidae
dry, (grainless)>Wysong Nurture with pheasent dry ..
i’ve had sucess with(wet foods), Tiki , Natures
variety prairie , solid gold ..
all these seem to be safe.
Comment by johnypaycut — May 8, 2007 @ 7:57 am
What’s wrong with this chicken?
Comment by Steve -
******************
FDA - “Those pesky petlovers are a pain in the butt. Wish they’d just eat the crap and shut up!”
Comment by Kathi — May 8, 2007 @ 7:59 am
Too bad the caterers for the White House dinner last night didn’t change the meal to melachicken a la carte with crystalized pork cutlets. Maybe they drank some of the rocket fuel water.
Comment by Tammy — May 8, 2007 @ 8:05 am
“Even if a person were to eat the chickens for breakfast, lunch and dinner, scientists concluded, the amount of melamine consumed in one day would be 1/2,500 of the minimum dose thought capable of posing a health risk.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01685.html
Comment by Kat — May 8, 2007 @ 7:11 am
And they know this HOW???
And they also KNOW how melamine reacts with the OTHER toxins in our systems which we ingest from OTHER food items? The water we drink? The air we breath? Add your own…..
That’s sure a relief to ME!!!
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — May 8, 2007 @ 8:10 am
Meant to say breathe…
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — May 8, 2007 @ 8:13 am
Steve - re: Pump it up, Beelzebub
I wonder if someone used his “options to buy” back low around the end of March?
http://tinyurl.com/29expa
Hmmmm…
I’d say by the volume of sales and the price going up, someone had a good day.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall.
Comment by Kathi — May 8, 2007 @ 8:23 am
I know little about Avoderm but I have been researching Natura (Innova, Evo) big time.
They make their own dry & their canned is made by MF. They are looking to pull out of MF to either build their own canning operation or buy one. Their canned products are not made in China.
If you go to their website & read the letter from the President of Natura, you will feel a little better about using their products. They are one of the few to step up to the plate & tell us what they plan to do to be sure their foods are safe for our animals.
No, I don’t work for them…..& I certainly don’t trust many PF companies right now. But Natura products are on my tiny list of safe foods right now.
Comment by JanC — May 8, 2007 @ 8:39 am
FERN - Food Emergency Response Network
http://tinyurl.com/3dbblp
Comment by Kathi — May 8, 2007 @ 8:42 am
Re: Wet petfood in pouches.
Somewhere I thought I read that Menu foods is the only manufacturer in the USA that makes these type of pouches. I used to feed my cats as a treat sometimes Special Kitty or Whiskas pouches(yes, one got sick but better now). Just found some Whiskas pouches in my cupboard. No Whiskas pouches on recall list though. Wonder if these were made by Menu Foods. I am pitching them, donot trust them.
Comment by Serijna — May 8, 2007 @ 9:07 am
Part A, B, C and D. when mixed…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....01034.html
How Two Innocuous Compounds Combined to Kill Pets
By David Brown
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 7, 2007; Page A08
What do a dead cat in Ontario and a motel swimming pool in Phoenix have in common?
In certain circumstances, they both contain melamine-cyanuric acid crystals.
Scientists seeking the chemical culprits in the widening pet food scare have come across some unusual chemistry that may help them understand how two largely nontoxic compounds ended up killing an unknown number of cats and dogs.
At the end of March, investigators detected a man-made compound called melamine in wheat gluten produced in China and sold to U.S. manufacturers as a pet food thickener. The contaminated samples contained various amounts — from 0.2 percent to 8 percent — of the chemical.
Melamine has been used for decades in manufacturing. In its chainlike “polymerized” form, it is used to make dishes, flame-retardant fibers and industrial coatings.
Also found in the gluten in smaller concentrations was cyanuric acid. The man-made chemical is used to stabilize chlorine in outdoor swimming pools, especially in regions such as the American Southwest where the sun’s rays are quick to dissipate that disinfectant. Two other compounds, ammeline and ammelide, were present in even smaller amounts.
The four compounds have similar chemical structures. One can easily be made into another with the right chemical reaction. All contain relatively large amounts of the element nitrogen. Of the 15 atoms in a molecule of melamine, six are nitrogen. It also has three atoms of carbon and six of hydrogen. Ammeline has five nitrogen atoms, ammelide has four, and cyanuric acid has three.
All living things need nitrogen. The element is an essential ingredient of proteins, which make up most of the human body that isn’t bone or water. It is an essential ingredient of DNA as well.
Organisms can survive for short periods on carbon, oxygen and hydrogen — sugar. But if they want to grow or reproduce, they need nitrogen. Plants can get nitrogen out of the soil or the air, but animals have a harder time. They must take in protein already made by plants or other animals. That’s what the female mosquito is seeking when she’s out for blood — a source of abundant nitrogen with which to make the protein and DNA in her eggs.
If you add melamine to almost anything, the amount of nitrogen in the final mixture will rise simply because, gram for gram, melamine contains so much of the element. Since the food industry generally measures total “nitrogen content” and equates it with “protein content,” a few shovelfuls of melamine can appear to turn a low-protein meal into a high-protein one.
And what’s wrong with that? Can’t the body use the nitrogen in melamine?
Actually, it can’t.
Comment by keen — May 8, 2007 @ 9:38 am
I, for one am fed up with Purina and its massive ad and coupon campaign!!
Just a bit of info that I found out yesterday and I am very loopy from banging my head on the wall, so please bear with me.
I met up with a neighbor who owns a 4 year old Ragdoll cat. I asked her how she was managing with the pet food recall. She told me it was over??!!?? After I calmly expained that it was not over, she proceeded to tell me about a small problem she had with her cat.
Early am on 3/17/07, she found her cat all stretched out on the floor foaming at the mouth with bloody urine leaking out. She waited til her husband woke up at 11am, called the vet at 1pm and made the appointment for 3pm. Kitty was loaded with IV fluids for a week, and lost 7 pounds in the process!! The vet said she thought it might be the food. Note the date 3/17. The owner chose not to leave kitty in the hospital any longer than a week because she was going on her 4th cruise since January.
The owner determined that her kitty was just “suffering from dehydration” and has not had any bloodwork or urinalysis done on her cat. He is home and only weighs 10lbs. He should be at least 15lbs. She told me she didn’t want to hear anymore about the recall and she continues to feed her kitty Fancy Feast (he only eats wet food…because he obstructed once when she first got him!!). The FF she uses must have a gravy (for her convenience) and now she adds some water so “he won’t dehydrate again”…..but he doesn’t really eat much and she has to force him to eat the FF!!
I am tempted to ask her to give me her beautiful, but emaciated cat so I can help him.
Still banging head against the wall.
Comment by Peg — May 8, 2007 @ 9:42 am
Copy and Paste instructions to follow!!!
Comment by keen — May 8, 2007 @ 9:47 am
Peg,
that woman should be reported to the SPCA for animal abuse. I’ll take the cat off her hands. Stupid woman sounds like a real piece of work.
Comment by Linda — May 8, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Peg - get that cat out of there! OMG!!!
Sharon - Avoderm is made by Breeders Choice:
http://breeders-choice.com/
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 8, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 8, 2007 @ 5:46 am
I understand where James is coming from there, it is not denial, it is ignorance.
I had the same thoughts as he did when this began to come to light. He is also correct, Melamine is far more expensive than Wheat Gluten, nobody would use Melamine to cut Wheat Gluten for profit.
What We have learned, and James had failed to account for is to use a fairly small amount of Melamine to raise the apparent protein content and, therefore, the price the Gluten shipment can command. This is, well was, profitable.
It is not denial, it is just ignorance. Nothing wrong with ignorance, it simply requires the application of perspective.
Comment by steve a — May 8, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Comment by Peg — May 8, 2007 @ 9:42 am
OKAY, I take it back, there is something wring with Ignorance, not with accidental ignorance because someone does not have the knowledge yet, but there is with willful ignorance.
Willful Ignornace is denial. That cat does not deserve such a callous and careless ape as an owner. There is a responsibility of stewardship in pet ownership, one that is lost on far too many.
Comment by steve a — May 8, 2007 @ 10:04 am
Peg,
can you tell her you think that you can help her kitty - maybe she’ll let you take the cat - for the cat’s own good. It sounds as if she is not “smart” enough to figure it all out.
Comment by Linda — May 8, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Comment by Peg — May 8, 2007 @ 9:42 am
I suppose, in the cruising apes universe, that since the recall is over now, she can take the formerly recalled food back off her shelf and feed it to her pet safely now…
OH GOD THIS MAKES ME SO DAMN ANGRY… I can’t get any work done today, I can’t get the stories of kittens killed even in the last couple weeks out of my mind…
If 4000 dead animals and 12000 sickened, some with long-term health effects, is nothing more than a ‘SCARE’ then what on FREAKING EARTH WOULD CONSTITUTE AN EFFING EMERGENCY?
Sorry to yell, but that feels a little better…
Comment by steve a — May 8, 2007 @ 10:29 am
This story of the cat being abused through ignorance and maybe just laziness is very upsetting.
I found a young pup in the middle of a very busy road on Friday, healing from being recently neutered, so someone must have cared - the pup was frantic in the traffic on a rural road where cars speed with little concern. The owners still haven’t listed their pet as lost, not in the paper or anyplace that I could find -no signs out either. The sweet pup had no collar, no micro chip, nothing, and when he had an accident in the house, he cowered thinking I was going to hurt him. He is the sweetest dog. So not much makes sense to me right now.
Not in the big world of politics and pet food safety and not in my micro world of abandoned pets either.
Comment by Linda — May 8, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Sharon - Why do you think Innova and Avoderm are the same company? The research I’ve done indicates they are not. Innova labels all of their products as “Made in USA”.
Comment by Palomino82 — May 8, 2007 @ 11:11 am
I gave this woman a bunch of the cans of Evangers that I am feeding my cats. Mine look beautiful since the change over. She gave me back the cans because she said, ” I only like the small cans. I don’t like to feed my kitty 1/2 and then put the other 1/2 in the fridge.” I volunteered to feed the cat for her. I gave her the cans….I didn’t ask her for any money.
Everyone, I have all I can do to keep from puching her out.
Anyway, I was just outside with the idiot. Her vet suggested she change her cat’s food since he is not gaining weight, so she came to me. I opened up cans of MY food for her cat, split them in half and put the halves in zip lock bags for her. She said she’ll try this and see if it is convenient for her.
I asked her for the cat. Told her she just sounds too busy to give the kitty proper care. She said that her hubby really loves the cat and would miss him too much. I did it….could NOT contain myself….. I said that her hubby would miss the cat when it’s DEAD too!!! She told me I was being melodramatic.
I have tons of chicken in my freezer. Really tempted to cook it all up and give it to her and her hubby for their consumption………
Comment by Peg — May 8, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Melodramtic? What a piece of work she is. I can hardly believe that she can’t be bothered with saving 1/2 can in the frig. And then she burdens you with her melodrama and makes you ache for her kitty. This self-cenetered woman shouldn’t own an animal and probably not a husband either.
Comment by Linda — May 8, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
Peg,
You could offer to caretake kitty when kitty doesn’t improve - this woman, who can’t be bothered, would probably just let her kitty die on a pillow, fade quietly into the night, while she cleans her frig or something.
Comment by Linda — May 8, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
we went to the vet said my cat has a systemic infection very high fever he said it is very unusual he said a cat can get a infection from food or it could be something else he said the question is where did he get this from? heis running blood work and checking his kidneys he gave him a antibiotic we have to call him tomorrow morning my cat has not gone to the bathroom spoke to veronica at natura they want me to send them a cup of the food to get tested the rest of the bag went back to the pet store and then to natura hopefully it has nothing to do with the food please say a prayer for my cat he is very sick!
Comment by linda k — May 8, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
Linda K,
I’m so sorry your kitty is sick. I will say a prayer for your kitty.
Comment by Linda — May 8, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
linda K -
Am sending lots of positive thoughts your way. I do hope your kitty gets better. Please hang in there & keep us posted?
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
Linda K,
So sorry about your kitty. We will pray for both of you.
Comment by VJ — May 8, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
Comment by Peg — May 8, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Try talking to the hubby, there is a chance he is not as dimwitted as the woman. Maybe direct some of his websurfing to ‘investigate’ the problem to here, itchmo, or vin…
Comment by steve a — May 8, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
Once again…nobody gets it….we have been poisoned for years ….slowly quietly and secretly……..all imports of processed food from China and its trading partners needs to stop now! Stop all imports of processed foods. Why is everyone making this so difficult…just end it! There is no secoond chance when it comes to food safety…one more time…no second chance….end all these imports now! I guess no one else sees that every other commenrical on TV is about you getting ready for your Chemo Therapy! There is no way I would trust anyone in Shanghai to check my food and then even want I would eat it …based on his checking…what are you thinking? You are all being played for fools and I hear only fools words when you try to justify some type of responsiblity out of this country. Heres the deal… If I can’t reach the criminal with my bare hands……I don’t want to see his garbage in my country….its real simple! You have no power outside your own borders….period!
Obewan
Comment by Lew Orban — May 8, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Linda K…
Big prayers coming to your kitty and to you too!!
Please keep us posted
steve a….spoke to the hubby. He’s an even bigger moron than the wife is. I tried to direct them to the accurate site pc, itchmo, avma. They can’t be bothered.
stopping to mop up bloody brow from head banging…..
Comment by Peg — May 8, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Comment by Peg — May 8, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Of all the things, this is the sort of thing that makes me so angry. It’s not the money, it’s not the Chinese, it’s not the industry, it’s not the executives, it’s not the politics, the evasion, or the blundering.
It is people who should be stewards and guardians that cannot be bothered. It is people like those who help me to understand why half the planet hates us, and the other half is confused by us.
It is people who make me realize that I value an animal more than I do them. The animal has no say in this, and the people have no excuse.
Why to these people bother to have a pet? This is just plain evil. Disregard for life, dismissal of concern. I’ll bet they think they are good people, too.
Someone said you can judge a society by how it treats its animals. I pray these people are not in the random sample selected for inspection…
Comment by steve a — May 8, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
Peg, you need to steal that poor cat!
Comment by Kathy Thompson — May 8, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
Peg, any way you could talk to her husband? Either she’s lying about his attachment (which you could quickly suss out) or she’s telling the truth, in which case he might be more amenable to your advice.
I’m with you. It’s just so difficult to get the point across sometimes. Sure hope the ditz has no kids.
Comment by Laura — May 8, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
Peg - Crap, sorry, just saw your post re hubby. I don’t know what else you can do, aside from saying a prayer if you’re inclined. It sucks, and I’m sorry.
Comment by Laura — May 8, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
FDA, (Fools are Drunk Again), and the USDA, (Usually Sober but Drunk Again), are sleeping at the wheel. This thing has been going on for years, we all are exposed to part “A”. The FDA and the USDA say part “A” is melamine and some related compounds. Still don’t know for sure what part “B” is. Under investigation at this time with NO inspectors in China at this time. This is going to become a forensic investigation before these drunks get a clue. Please people, you have done such a great job, keep pounding these idiots. I’m having a harder than ever time with understanding this. Is it just me, am I crazy or are we under attack yet? Can’t we send these poisons back to the point of origin where they can dispose of it in their landfills or rivers or whatever they do. We are in serious trouble here and only a few are really listening. I have lost a pet, like many of you, and still cannot come to terms with what has transpired. I keep thinking that these drunks are going to let them make us all sick. It’s being investigated.
keen
Comment by keen — May 8, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
Yeah. China, in its typical obfuscating way, is not allowing the inspectors in.
Comment by Taylor — May 8, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
Of course China is not going to let inspectors in….what did you think a communist country would do? Open its doors for you to inspect their country…you must be in LA LA land. Have any of your heard of the Communist Manifesto…it might be a good time to research this and give it a good read over….and then get back to Obewan. See the shit has hit the fan and you are all sitting in the shade…this is not about a few pets. I have all kinds of animals and they do die……..but not form poison. Its your children that you must protect…..its your family you must protect and yes that includes your animals. You must demand that the FDA which is being paid off on this deal stop all processed food imports immediately. See what the Chinese are doing is burying the evidence…covering up the evidence and basically covering their ass……….while you fools talk about your pets….this is much bigger than a few pets……tons of files are being burned right now! Do not be naive about this situation and do not ever trust another food producer with your health or a drug company with your drugs. Did you see that the Chinese killed thousands around the world with poison in childrens cough syrup…..that was in 1995…what moron allowed imports for the past 12 years? Most of you can not see the forest because of the trees standing in the way. Get a hold of your congressman and demand all imports of processed foods and drugs be banned from China and its trading partners now……or you will be very sorry in the future…which will certainly will have a few bouts of Chemo for you and your kids and you know your friends and family!
Obewan
Comment by Lew Orban — May 8, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
Still no ads us or fliers or interest on the puppy I found darting zig zag across a busy rual street. What can people be thinking? I thought maybe someone stole the young dog, about five months old and recently neutered and dropped him off, since it is a hound, something like a fox hound or Walker Hound, and has a good sized “howl”, but after five days still nothing?
What are people thinking who no longer have their dog - Oh well, it’s just a puppy?
Comment by Linda — May 9, 2007 @ 5:41 am
I had to post this since it was brought up earlier…
10 Planks of the Communist Manifesto
1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
3. Abolition of all right of inheritance.
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly.
6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.
7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.
8. Equal liability of all to labour. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.
9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equable distribution of the population over the country.
10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children’s factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, &c., &c..[3]
keen
Comment by keen — May 9, 2007 @ 8:17 am
Comment by Lew Orban — May 8, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
Ironically, Lew, I think the people posting here are among the ones that ACTUALLY DO GET IT…
Problem is that imports are here to stay, but inspection needs to be done at our borders, not at our check-out line… Or in the ER, vet or otherwise…
Of course this is a more vet/pet related thread, and there are more appropriate threads, even at Pet Connection, to continue the more political discussions.
It certainly is a hell of a lot more than a few pets, if you have paid as much attention as it seems. But bear in mind the people who are directly affected, many of whom are grieving for lost pets or, like us, living with the high cost of ongoing vet bills for the lucky survivors.
We haven’t lost sight of the big picture, but are still sensitive to the individual stories and the many related issues including protecting the whole food supply, corporate insensitivity (or ineptness), attpemts to hide what is going on continue. Not to mention the war(s), poverty, strife, calamity, etc…
This place is about the pets and the vets - that is what it is for.
Comment by steve a — May 9, 2007 @ 8:24 am
Steve,
Yes I do agree the people on this thread do get it….but they need to do more…much more. Imports are here to stay and yes we can choose our import of processed food companies. We can say no to certain countries…other countries have? The communist manifesto above in not the one that was discussed in the white house….. I believe in 1963. There has been a plan in the works now for over 40 years and yes… the plan is working. When you want to change the world and you can not take your opponent head on…. you take the long road and plan many… many… years into the future. China now owns 50% of our debt…which increases daily. Walmart comprises 8% of the total retail sales in this country. 80% of all goods sold at Walmart come from communist countries. Walmart pays very little in taxes and is draining our economy as the we are put out of jobs because we do not manufacture anymore and small buisness can not compete. China is now the biggest polluter in the world and they do not care. The jet stream just brings it all over here….for you and I to breath and now it is in your foods etc. They are a cheap labor pool and everyday they get stronger and we sadly get weaker. Here is the copy of the manifesto discussed in 1963 at the white house….was anyone paying attention?
http://www.rense.com/general32/americ.htm
Obewan
Comment by Lew Orban — May 9, 2007 @ 9:31 am
I lost 4 Pugs in Nov. at the time I was told it was deffinitely poison. I was confused and hurt to think someone would do such a thing. I lost 3 in early Nov and on Thanksgiving my baby was doing great. The Vet said it would be OK to start her back on dog food instead of the boiled hamburger and rice I was feeding her I lost her on Nov. 30th. I miss my babies greatly. If only I had known.
Comment by Peg — May 9, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Hi Linda K, any news on your sick kitty who ate the Innova dry food? I had previously fed my cat Innova and he seemed to like it; however, I just bought a new bag and he is not at all interested in it this time. I am worried that Innova (who I thought would be a “safe” company to buy from) is no better than the rest.
Comment by Susan — May 9, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
susan we went to the vet yesterday vet says my cat has a serious systemic infection he was running a high fever he said it was very unusual put him on antiobiotic said it could be from food or it could be something else he ran bloodwork which we got back today his kidneys are fine thank Godbut there is a bacterial infection going through his body my cat is finally eating alittle bit today alittle can and homemade chicken broth and he drank alittle and finally urinated this afternoon he is still pretty sick spoke to natura they took down all our info and said we are to send them 1cup of the food for them to test we still have not gotten the email form from them to send the food the rest of the bag went back to the store i saved alittle bit of it final word from vet was again it could have been the food but he really cannot say where cat got it from! we have to call vet again tomorrow this was the red bag innova dry cat food
Comment by linda k — May 9, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
linda k, susan, and others concerned about Innova,
I just started my cat on Innova/EVO when all this started (along with cooked meat). He’s done fine and likes it. But my small pet food store told me the other day that Innova will soon be changing its packaging. Does that mean they are also changing their ingredients? Has anyone talked to the company and have they said anything to that effect? Might be changes in sourcing or something that won’t necessarily show up on the label. Frightening.
Comment by Maureen — May 9, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
maureen iheard something about this i think 1or maybe 2 ingredients are changing and the order that their ingredients are listed is changing i will call them tomorrow i have to find out why they have not emailed the form for us to return the food!
Comment by linda k — May 9, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
linda k,
I remember reading a posting some time ago where the writer said that this is going to come down to the rendering process and what that produces (this was before melamine & other chemicals, but that doesn’t mean that rendered stuff isn’t very bad, too). I worry about that rendered “chicken meal” in so many products, including your red bag Natura Innova and my cat’s Natura Innova/Evo. I hope they’re fine as I haven’t found anything cooked that my cat will eat enough of, though he likes a small amt. of cooked organic meat each meal. I was going to switch to a Canadian kibble, but with the adulterated fish feed, I’m not so sure about that either.
Comment by Maureen — May 9, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
I agree with all of you on this horrible tragedy. I have my girls (Scotties) on a safe??? (I pray) dry food. I also put some home cooking along with it. When I switched them, I thought they were all poisoned. They all got diarrhea, some vomiting, one had a bladder infection, I was so scared. Took them all in for testing and thank God they are fine. The drastic change in food does affect the animals. So I am sure some people are thinking their fur kids have gotten the poison, but in a lot of the cases, it is just a change of diet. These pet food manufacturers sure have caused ALL of our nerves to be shot! Pets are NOT property, they are FAMILY.
Comment by Lisa — May 10, 2007 @ 2:01 am
My story is similar to the story of the cat above. Fwiw, it looks like the blog has been edited because when I first read it, it said “what happened to Scooby?”.
My 16 1/2 year old beautiful orange tabby was given Royal Canin feline HYPOALLERGENIC HP 23 for inflammatory bowel disease back in early February before there was any news about contaminated foods. That food was recalled on April 19. The food which was supposed to help him actually killed him. At first I was mixing it with his other dry food to gradually transition him and within a couple of weeks he was totally on the HP 23. He stopped eating, stopped drinking and then almost stopped urinating. It was strange because he never acted like he had to urinate, but when I got him to the vet his bladder was so full, it ruptured right after the vet examined him. They took him to emergency surgery and repaired his bladder. He had a urinary catheter for a while, but the catheter got obstructed even. They took him back to surgery and found over 20 stones in his urinary tract!! The stones had not been visible on the first surgery. They removed the stones, except for one that was deeply embedded in the tissue. It looked at first like he was going to recover, but 2 days later he died in his sleep, on February 24. At the time we had no idea why he had all those stones. The vets said they had never seen anything like it. They also noted his lab values for kidney function were not improving as they expected. When I read the AVMA press release about melamine and cyanuric acid, I had a feeling I knew what happened to my precious cat. Then I found out the Royal Canin HP 23 had been recalled on April 19. I called my vet and they confirmed that he was prescribed that food. They think, like I do, that he died from that food. I had thrown the food away weeks ago, but there is really no doubt in my mind that it killed him.
Comment by Suzi — May 10, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
We did edit, to remove identifying information on the owners, per Dr. Murrary’s request.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 10, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
WOO HOO!!!
Well, I don’t want to get my hopes too high, but our Maine Coon Mix just weighed in at 6#15, almost back to 7 pounds, and the most meat on her bones since January…
Still 2 weeks to the next blood test, and I don’t want to jinx it, but I feel really happy to see her break the 6#14 barrier…
Comment by steve a — May 12, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
Comment by steve a - May 12, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
That’s good news. I hope all news is good from now on for you.
Comment by Kathi — May 12, 2007 @ 12:16 pm