ASPCA issues alert on acetaminophen in pet food
By Gina Spadafori
June 6, 2007
The ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center has just issued a warning following the reports of acetaminophen in pet food:
With reports that acetaminophen has been found in brands of cat and dog food not included on the Menu Foods recall list, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today reminded pet parents that vigilance is the key to keeping their pets safe and healthy—coupled with a strong dose of common sense.
“Though reports of dogs and cats poisoned from the Menu Foods recall seem to have abated, this news is extremely worrying,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, a board-certified toxicologist and senior vice president with the ASPCA, who manages the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), located in its Midwest Office in Urbana, Ill.
“Our data show that if an average-sized cat ingests as little as one extra-strength acetaminophen pain-reliever caplet and is not treated in time, it can suffer fatal consequences,” continued Dr. Hansen. “Depending on the amount ingested, clinical effects can include a condition called ‘methemoglobinemia,’ which affects the ability of blood cells to deliver oxygen to vital organs, or even liver damage.”
“At this point, we have very little information as to the actual level and concentration of this reported contamination, so it’s extremely important to be able to recognize any potential warning signs of this kind of poisoning.” However, early information on this contamination suggests that concentration levels are not high enough to have an adverse effect on most dogs; cats are more at-risk.
Dr. Louise Murray, director of medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital (BMAH) in New York City, and a board-certified internist, elaborates further. “Cats are especially sensitive to acetaminophen toxicity for two reasons. First, they don’t have enough of a specific enzyme that enables the body to metabolize the drug well. Second, cats are typically more susceptible to red blood cell damage than certain other species of animals. Put these together with a high dose of acetaminophen, and you have a potentially deadly combination.”
The most common effects of acetaminophen poisoning in cats include swelling of the face and paws; depression; weakness; and difficulty in breathing. “We also see a condition called ‘cyanosis,’” said Dr. Hansen, “which is literally when their gums and tongue start turning a muddy color due to the lack of oxygen.”
In 2006, the APCC received more than 78,000 calls to its hotline involving common human drugs such as painkillers, cold medications, antidepressants and dietary supplements—a 69 percent increase over 2005.
Until more information is provided by the U. S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the ASPCA urges pet parents to keep an eye out for any signs of illness in their pets, and also report any changes in dietary consumption or behavior to their veterinarian immediately. Those considering a home-cooked diet for their pets should do so in consultation with their veterinarian, or visit the ASPCA’s Web site for more information.
“It is important to remember to never give any medication to your pet without first talking to your veterinarian, and always store potentially poisonous substances in a secure cabinet above the countertop and out of the reach of pets,” said Dr. Hansen. “If you think your pet has ingested a poisonous substance, you should take her to your veterinarian immediately.”
The ASPCA continues to monitor the pet food recall situation, and is providing regular updates and advice for pet parents, at its Pet Food Recall Resource Center at www.aspca.org/recall .
The release is not yet up on the A’s Web site. Will link when it is.
“At this point, we have very little information as to the actual level and concentration of this reported contamination, so it’s extremely important to be able to recognize any potential warning signs of this kind of poisoning.”
well gee, if they (not ASPCA unless they know) would tell us what freakin’ brands to watch out for we wouldn’t have to watch for signs of poisoning in our pets!!!
this is INSANE!
and in NY, i believe we have felony animal cruelty laws. if anyone in a state with these laws pet(s) suffer from this, i say file a criminal complaint. you can bet your behind the ASPCA’s Humane Officers would be at my door if I was intentionally poisoning my pets . . .
Comment by straybaby — June 6, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
And what “quality” additive may have included this pray tell? Ok, that was sarcastic. I am just tired of all this, I’m tired of having to question everything I feed or eat. I’m sick of the companies who sit on the info, the companies who don’t test ingredients, the government agencies who I don’t think could find their own butts with both hands, let alone anyone elses butt and just the whole system in general.
Comment by Sandy — June 6, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
straybaby
Apparently we don’t make enough money to do whatever the heck we want with no repercussions.
Comment by Sandy — June 6, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
When do criminal investigations begin?
Comment by Steve — June 6, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
Why can’t we know the company that is testing “positive” and some idea how it is getting into the pet food - and are we dealing with just one company or more than one.
Now, what pet food can we trust? Evidently not many if all are suspect.
Comment by Linda — June 6, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
“Until more information is provided by the U. S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA),”
Do I detect snark?
Comment by Kim — June 6, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
I must say though, thank you ASPCA for issuing an alert. We already knew it was coming I guess. Just hard to see it. And angry that we are in the position we are in. It’s like trying to fight a ghost. You can’t see where it’s coming from. Where the FDA failed you picked up the ball. Thanks for getting the word out and warning folks.
Comment by Sandy — June 6, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
My cat died in December from autoimmune hemolytic anemia. I was told that one of the ways a pet happens to get this, is from ingesting acetaminophen. I know that he did not ingest this in my house (and he was an inside cat).
He died a horrible death after many blood transfusions and surgery. I was and I’m still devastated by his death.
Please let me know any news linked to this.
Thanks
Virginia Lovette
Comment by virginia lovette — June 6, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
“However, a 20-pound dog would have to eat more than 6.5 pounds of food in 24 hours to be poisoned, unless it ate the same contaminated food daily, Rumbeiha said.”
Well, so my 90 lb dog that eats 3 cups a day - what will that do for him over a months time?
Comment by Linda — June 6, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
Don wrote a note that he’s too swamped answering e-mail on his site about testing results to post this, but he spoke to a ‘reliable source’ who said CNN did a raw interview with the TX lab people who found the acetaminophen and it’s supposed to be on in the 9:00 hour tonight. (I don’t know if there are different shows in different time zones on CNN at 9. At 9 we in the east have Larry King…don’t know about midwest and west. Anyway, look out for it if it runs…)
Here’s Don’s site again for those who want info about having their food tested: http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/
Comment by Maureen — June 6, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
Who did this and WHY? On the news this morning they talked about Acetaminophen being in the dog and cat food. When will this ever end?
Comment by Jill — June 6, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
So like what are they doing now making Tylenol in between Pet Food runs now or something?
Or is this another case of purchasing ingredients via the internet from a bucket shop overseas?
Comment by Steve — June 6, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
What manufacturer makes Hill’s Science Diet dry food?
What manufacturer makes Pet Pride canned?
I couldn’t find info on thepetfoodlist.com
Comment by petlover — June 6, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
I think they should start CRIMINAL charges no matter what. Everytime I hear more about this I start to tear up because all those cats and dogs that got sick or died over this. I am very angry over this.
Comment by Jill — June 6, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
What channels will it air on?
Comment by Jill — June 6, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
Good to see the ASPCA finally coming through for pet owners. /sarcasm.
Where were they on the melamine issue? Why did they take SO long to weigh in, when their leadership might have prompted the FDA to come clean sooner about the real numbers? They should have been the ones emailing CNN, not us.
And don’t even get me started about American Humane! Not that I don’t care about clubbing seals - hey, I do! - but could they PLEASE pay attention to the animals dying here at home for a change?
What we need is an animal protection group that has enough balls to speak up, but isn’t so fringe (i.e. Peta) that they alienate people who want to support them.
Comment by Laura — June 6, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
I agree. CRIMINAL CHARGES MUST BE FILED!
Comment by petlover — June 6, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
I’ve always wondered, what is the quality or character of the people working in these petfood manufacturing companies? the ones that do the actual mixing etc. are they screening these workers if at all before hiring them? I say this because I seem to remember hearing about workers kicking chickens around and stuff like that in chicken plants.
Comment by Gary — June 6, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
“Local lab finds pet food contaminated with painkiller”
“The doctor who runs the lab believes the problems with pet food are far from over.”
“The highest level of acetaminophen contamination came from a sample sent in by a manufacturer. It tested at 2 milligrams of the painkiller per gram of dog food.”
“Due to a confidentiality agreement, the lab can not reveal which pet food samples tested positive for the drugs. At least one sample was Pet Pride cat food. All test results were reported to the pet food makers, which should have been reported to the FDA.
It may be up to owners to police pet food because, according to the lab manager, no one from the FDA has investigated their positive findings. In fact, to date not a single government inspector has asked to look at one of the tainted pet food samples tested in this laboratory. “
Whole article is here:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/st.....id=5366430
Comment by Aunt Granny — June 6, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
what time zone is he in? that may explain the 9pm. it could 360 which is 10 here (east) if he’s in the Central time zone.
Comment by straybaby — June 6, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
What channel will the news be on?
Comment by Jill — June 6, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
“In fact, to date not a single government inspector has asked to look at one of the tainted pet food samples tested in this laboratory. ”
real nice . . . our tax dollars are really working for us, eh . . . ?
at least the lab manager seems to be in our reality, instead of the “nothing to see here” one.
Comment by straybaby — June 6, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
If Anderson Cooper is going to do the news on this then it is on channel 37 down around the LA area and he is on at 7pm.
Comment by Jill — June 6, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
Menu Foods makes Pet Pride canned foods, some varieties were on the initial recall list.
Pet Pride is a Kroger brand, and Kroger on March 23rd pulled ALL Pet Pride products made by Menu Foods.
That information (in case you need to find it again later) is at the end of this post (from last night on my blog):
http://petfoodtracker.blogspot.....ast-6.html
Comment by Kim — June 6, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
Has anyone seen the sensitive Tylenol ad that just began airing today on National Television? “We stand by our product’s safety, etc.” I didn’t stop to think they they must also have their corporate undies in a bundle over this, since where did it originate?!!
Comment by Kristi — June 6, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
As for Hill’s Science Diet Dry foods, they’re made by Hill’s Pet Nutrition at their own manufacturing plants.
Comment by Kim — June 6, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Comment by Kristi — June 6, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
it’s been on in the NYC metro area for a bit now. i noticed it only because of the original rolling recall. heard the audio while working and looked up because of what they were saying . . .
there’s another commercial that makes me look up for a similar reason because i think it sounds like a pf company trying to buy trust. can’t remember who it is though . . .
Comment by straybaby — June 6, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
ah, just remembered, it’s a mayo commercial talking about natural ingredients and not needing all that other stuff.
funny what catches our attention these days!!
Comment by straybaby — June 6, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
I heard that there is going to be a boycott on all dog food and cat food on June 17th and to June 23 and people are not going to feed their pets store bought food during that time.
Comment by Jill — June 6, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
Kim, what is your email address again? I need to ask you something? thanks, Trudy
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 6, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
Comment by Jill — June 6, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
how odd, i was just thinking that would be a good protest. and if folks had go diet info available ahead of time, it might be really effective over a longer period. more than one pet owner has seen what home prepared can do for their pets and that it’s not as big a hassle as it’s made out to be. ;) it would also give them some safety and peace of mind until the food situation gets sorted.
Comment by straybaby — June 6, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
The site referred to above has a lab results page that I just found posted in my CRF group:
http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/lab.html
Their lab reports say the other brand that tested positive, two different kinds of it, was Science Diet.
No surprise here.
Comment by Sharon G — June 6, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
I do not understand why we are not told what company or companies have the poisonous (to pets) painkiller and we have to—until further notice—poison our cats and dogs.
If we see symptons, it may be too late for some pets.
Wonder if it is in human food, also, to keep the population passive.
Hard to believe what is happening—shocked, I am!
Comment by Evelyn — June 6, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
Sharon 6:13 pm : Was it Dry Science Diet for dogs or cats or both?
And is the other IAMS? They are buying ingredients from the same supplier who is selling tainted product and maybe even tainted on purpose if it is from China -
We need to know the truth. A Hills rep I spoke with in a store told me that their products are tested and came out “pure” so to speak.
Comment by Linda — June 6, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
“A Hills rep I spoke with in a store told me that their products are tested and came out “pure” so to speak.”
this begs the question . . . “pure” what?!
Comment by straybaby — June 6, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
And while they’re all sitting on their asses , we have pets out here dying. What in the world is going on?
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 6, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
Linda,
I’m going to guess cat as there is a well know cat CRF site, which i was going to send to mom who may have been feeding the adulty lite?! (keep forgeting which of the Hills/Euk/Iams she was feeding cat/dog). HopefullySharon will confirm.
Comment by straybaby — June 6, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
I did a quick search on Alibaba to see who is selling Tylenol - manufacturer of acetaminophen - and a trading company name popped up from San Francisco and I can’t find anything on the company listed elsewhere but I was trying to see if any of these companies also sell any of the “Glutens or RP” etc. This company was “Gold Coast”.
Comment by Linda — June 6, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
Pure being not toxic or tainted - but it does sound odd to blog it here.
Comment by Linda — June 6, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
Trudy - pft @ playingbig.com
You can always just click on my name, which will take you to my blog. Then on my blog there’s an ‘email me’ link on the right side of the page.
Comment by Kim — June 6, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
Comment by Linda — June 6, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
it was interesting to read ;)
Comment by straybaby — June 6, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
Is Anderson Cooper going to have this on the news because it is at 10:00pm eastern time?
Comment by Jill — June 6, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
Bet there is a big Pow Wow going on tonight somewhere. I think there would have to be some quick thinking going on to explain this one.
Comment by Sandy — June 6, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
Well, the food being bad wasn’t just here in the south east. Read this-
http://www.wtov9.com/news/13456296/detail/html
Hope it works
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 6, 2007 @ 6:55 pm
It seems what these manufactures do is have one source - like bone - and who knows where the bone is from and they make many products from this one main source:
http://tinyurl.com/2dx3n9
You can see the various grades of Gelatin - so I wonder what they make Tylenol from - the raw ingredients???? maybe a company is using leftover raw products as a filler again.
Comment by Linda — June 6, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
Poor kitties - always seem to suffer a worse fate from these things. This is so awful. And why hasn’t the pet food company that had their product tested issue a recall?
Comment by Jennyg — June 6, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
Comment by Linda — June 6, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
it sounds like anything that may resemble something, that is scrap, is being used as ‘other’ ingredients.
and i *really* hope that’s just my anger and disgust talking . . .
Comment by straybaby — June 6, 2007 @ 7:07 pm
Anything “poison”.
Comment by Linda — June 6, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
Iams has an ad on tv which finishes by declaring their pet food is 100% guaranteed.
Is that showing in the U.S. ,too,or do they just think that we’re especially dumb North of the border?!
Of course,they don’t elaborate on WHAT the guarantee covers.
Guaranteed to fill in the blank your pet.
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — June 6, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
Comment by Linda — June 6, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
“Why can’t we know the company that is testing “positive” “
Why, because it would be bad for business.
Comment by MFEMFEM — June 6, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
I had to stop giving one of my cats Hill’s Dry Cat Food because he would have an outbreak on his skin of little pimples. Never gave him any more and he cleared up fast.
Wonder if it was Hill’s Dry Cat Food that tested positive for the generic of Tylenol?
Went to http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/lab.html
Found something to back up my suspicions—sight is also mentioned way above mine.
Comment by Evelyn — June 6, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
Additional comment:
Lorna, we are not dumb, just powerless—outraged, but still powerless. This blog site is helping to empower us.
Comment by Evelyn — June 6, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
the russian roulette continues…
I can start a website. I could have a collection of pet food recipes and tips. That would make it easier for folks to boycott pet foods. What does everyone think?? We really need to quit paying these companies to poison our pets…
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 6, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
I wonder, is Don going to get the “strongarm” tactic used on him like they did on itchmo?
Telling the truth is a real dangerous thing to do, it seems.
Comment by E. Hamilton — June 6, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
There is going to be a boycott june 17th to June 23
Comment by Jill — June 6, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
Pet Owners Blog on Pet Food Recall Issues
As soon as Menu Foods began their massive recall of contaminated pet food on March 16, a popular website for animal lovers - http://www.petconnection.com - began providing information to alert people as to what was going on and providing them with information they would need.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 56% of U.S. households are pet owners. I believe it is safe to say, people feel that they have been betrayed, and rightly so. It is clear that information was not disclosed immediately to the unsuspecting public. It was also abudently clear early on that reports on pet food recall issues were lacking at best. People were insulted by claims that fewer than 20 animal deaths had been reported. So, an online data base was created. Pet owners began to list their pets, symptoms and the like. From that source of information alone more believable numbers started to emerge such as 2,527 cats and 2,365 dogs dead to date. With all the heartbreak that is occurring due to tainted pet food, it renews ones faith in mankind to see how much these folks care.
http://tinyurl.com/2v5szu
Comment by Steve — June 6, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
Take a look at this:
http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/5/ora_oasis_i_60.html
The uncached version (search for acetaminophen - you won’t find it):
And now look through the cached version of the same page:
http://google2.fda.gov/search?.....ISO-8859-1
Lo and behold, the cached version contains the following listings - (why were they redacted from the other listing?):
China (Mainland) 739-6115545-1 1 1
Wenzhou Pharmaceutical Factory
Wenzzhou , CN NYK-DO
60LAS01 15000kg of DC90 Coarse & 5000kgs DC90 Fine Acetaminophen
23-MAY-2006 NOT LISTED
Guatemala XXX-0133844-2 2 4
Glaxo Smithkline
Guatamala , GT ATL-DO
60LBA01 Acetaminophen
30-MAY-2006 NOT LISTED
NO ENGLISH
El Salvador XXX-0133844-2 2 6
laboratorios farmaceuticos polyfarma
santo tomas SV-SS, SV 503 ATL-DO
60LBB01 pseudoephedra Acetaminophen
30-MAY-2006 NOT LISTED
NO ENGLISH
El Salvador XXX-0133844-2 2 8
Laboratorios Vidos
Unknown , SV ATL-DO
60LBB01 Acetaminophen
30-MAY-2006 NOT LISTED
NO ENGLISH
Guatemala XXX-0133844-2 2 9
Laboratorio Donovan Werke A.G.S.A. International
Villa Nueva , GT ATL-DO
60LBE01 Acetaminophen
30-MAY-2006 NOT LISTED
NO ENGLISH
China (Mainland) AD3-0225817-4 12 1
Anqiu Lu’An Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
Anqiu City , CN CHI-DO
60LCR01 ACETAMINOPHEN
09-MAY-2006 DIRECTIONS
UNAPPROVED
France XXX-0147060-9 1 1
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN , FR NYK-DO
60LCY01 Acetaminophen 500mg
23-MAY-2006 UNAPPROVED
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 6, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
Where has PETA been during this recall/poisoned food mess? Perhaps they receive a lot of funding by the PFI. Come on PETA, join in.
Comment by elliott — June 6, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
I just wish they would all come clean and quit telling lies and hiding behind closed doors.
The vets don’t know what to do. First it’s melamine. Than cyanuric acid. Now it’s acetominophen. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
And, than there’s the human food…
Susy Owen is right - we all care very much. But, the general public still thinks we’re hysterical.
I’m glad the ASPCA has finally come out.. but they should have made a statement sooner. Where is the all caring Humane Society. And, how about AKC??? and why hasn’t the vet. community raised a ruckess??? their all hiding like the PFI.
Katie
Comment by Katie — June 6, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
Evelyn - Are you feeding food in plastic bowls? This will cause “acne”. The petrolium in the plastic dishes over time will do this. Also, transferring food to plastic containers will add to the petrolium to the food. Better to feed in pyrex or stainless steel bowls. A lot of pet food dishes, like the cute ones with cute sayings, etc., contain lead - which is not supposed to be in human dishes - and are MADE IN CHINA.
Comment by elliott — June 6, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
Anyone else having trouble connecting to Itchmo!
Comment by elliott — June 6, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
Re: Comment by Linda — June 6, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Sorry, I needed to stay in the CRF group for a while; my kitty needs some help.
No, the other food listed on that lab page link is “Pet Pride “Turkey and Giblets Dinner” lot number APR 24 09, and Pet Pride “Mixed Grill” lot number SEP07 09.” Didn’t say if it’s dog or cat.
The Science Diet is cat food: “This sample is believed to have come from a bag of Hill’s Science Diet dry cat food. The test results show acetaminophen, the generic version of Tylanol, was found in the food.” and “This sample is believed to have come from a bag of Hill’s Science Diet Light Adult. The test results show both acetaminophen and cyanuric acid was found in the food.”
Comment by Sharon G — June 6, 2007 @ 9:34 pm
Elliott,
I just got immediate connection to Itchmo.
Comment by Aunt Granny — June 6, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
The lab was asked to test foods for cyanuric acid and melamine……
Test came back positive for cyanuric acid and acetaminophen…..
Is there a way to find out if cyanuric acid plus acetaminophen equals aminopterin?????
Comment by PegH — June 6, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Again, the link to the lab report is:
http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/lab.html
The link was all that was posted in the yahoo Feline CRF Support group.
Comment by Sharon G — June 6, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
Thanks Granny - must just be me. Still having probs, though.
Comment by elliott — June 6, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
The Pet Pride is canned cat food.
Comment by Kim — June 6, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
You’re welcome Elliott - Had me scared there for a minute, thought the “grimlins” might have gotten them…
Comment by Aunt Granny — June 6, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
Again I have to ask: Why is it okay that the only people who know exactly what poison “not” to feed their pets (and other family members for that matter) are the laboratories, pet food manufacturers and the fda…. amongst others! Thank you I just had to vent with others who understand….
Comment by Kathleen — June 6, 2007 @ 10:06 pm
OK this is the name:
homecookingpetfoodrecipes.com
It takes 24-48 hours to get set up (to propagate the domain name throughout the system)
When I get the email I’ll post it here and at Itchmo and elsewhere.
I’ll need lots of recipes, of course. And everyones tips, too.
I don’t need any money; it’s only costing $10 per month. And my time but whatever…It’ll be a labor of love for folks and pets alike.
They been teaching me all this web stuff at school anyway, it’s about time I did something with it; and my better half gave his blessing and said go for it. So I am.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 6, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
Peggy - That’s a great idea! Thanks so much for taking it on, too - it’s badly needed.
Comment by Laura — June 6, 2007 @ 10:22 pm
Regarding independent food testing - Call me suspicious, but, several weeks ago, I took four different food samples in for testing. I was offered a melamine/cyanuric acid combo test. I asked if the lab could also check for other chemicals. Benzoguanamine was one. They said they had never heard of it and had no way to test for it. The other chemicals I asked for testing were amiloride and amilorine. I was told they were not able to test for these. The food samples taken in were labeled by me with the name of the pet food. This lab did testing for one of the pet food companies. The “new” samples to be tested are not going have the name of the brand disclosed to the lab and will also be tested for acetaminophen. The previous 4 samples tested negative for melamine/cyanuric acid. One thought I would like to convey is this, when testing, it may be a good idea to not convey the name of the food to the testing lab.
Comment by elliott — June 6, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
Elliott, would you, could you divulge the names of the foods you had tested?
Comment by DMS — June 6, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
Still having probs connecting to itchmo. Am using Firefox. Anyone else, or just me?
Comment by elliott — June 6, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
They went down right after I posted this article about a link between accused B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton and an animal rendering plant. Probably just a conindidence.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/briti.....plant.html
Comment by Klondike — June 6, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
coincidence
Comment by Klondike — June 6, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
Whoops - make that a coincidence.
Comment by Klondike — June 6, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
DMS - foods being tested are: Nature’s Variety dry dog and cat. Hills Science Diet W/D canned dog. Hills Science Diet A/D canned cat.
Comment by elliott — June 6, 2007 @ 11:09 pm
DMS - sorry the foods we HAD previously tested were the 2 Nature’s Variety mentioned. Hills Science Diet K/D canned cat and the W/D canned dog. We no longer feed the K/D, as I have a bad feeling with it. We occasionally feed the A/D to a diabetic cat when we need to be sure he has eaten before his insulin.
Comment by elliott — June 6, 2007 @ 11:15 pm
I had a problem a little while ago in Itchmo.com. I just tried now and could not get in. However, I was able to get in by going into the forums and working backwards. http://itchmoforums.com/
Comment by Lynn — June 7, 2007 @ 12:16 am
I love Wintogreen Lifesavers and I just opened a new bag. I have eaten a few that have a hint of peppermint in them. Now is this considered cross contamination? :/
Comment by Tammy — June 7, 2007 @ 1:06 am
PETLOVER & KIM,
PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY MENU FOODS FOR HILLS..
http://www.hillspet.com/menu_f....._en_US.htm
Comment by Cynthia — June 7, 2007 @ 3:22 am
Seems to me this is all through the food chain now, human and animal. I am not convinced it is the only problem, but…
http://www.toledoblade.com/app.....7706030332
Article published Sunday, June 3, 2007
Toledo plant in recall not licensed, state says
Tembec used suspect substance to bind granules in feed
Comment by Mary — June 7, 2007 @ 3:57 am
Comment by elliott — June 6, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
“Regarding independent food testing… I asked if the lab could also check for other chemicals. Benzoguanamine was one.”
I posted the FDA’s protocol that they sent to their field personnel for testing. Benzoguanamine appears on there along with melamine, cyanuric acid, and the 2 related “a” chemicals. However, I believe that the document makes it clear that they are not looking to find benzoguanamine, but the testers are adding it to their test as a standard.
Here’s what Wikipedia says about a standard used in chemical analysis: Sometimes an internal standard is added at a known concentration directly to an analytical sample to aid in quantitation. The amount of analyte present is then determined relative to the internal standard as a calibrant.
Comment by Maureen — June 7, 2007 @ 4:18 am
With the latest addition to chemicals in pet food, acetaminophen (Tylenol). I did a google on it and came up with this. China makes most of the Tylenol and also the caplets and tablets. They use melamine as a binder for the pills.Melamine and acetaminophen not a good combination. Now here is my thought. Does anyone remember the old Tylenol scare about 10 or 15 Years ago? They thought the Tylenol was tainted by someone and they pulled it all off the store shelves.Remember no one was ever found or charged with the tainting and the whole story just disappeared. I don’t know if I stumbled across something or not but could it have been simply?… naaa?… well maybe?… hmmm …anybody else out there Thinking what I’m thinking? If I’m correct than they have been pulling the fur over our eyes for a whole lot of years!
Comment by Jan — June 7, 2007 @ 5:15 am
Where does Hills get their corn ingredients? Is it coming from China? Can’t help but wonder if that’s where the unscrupulous Chinese companies hid the acetaminophen.
Comment by BengalMom — June 7, 2007 @ 5:15 am
BTW, just a thought here…I think people need to be careful to say “Acetaminophen” rather than “Tylenol”. Tylenol is just one “brand” (albeit the most well known) of the drug. They might get really upset with people throwing their brand name around in association with this.
Comment by BengalMom — June 7, 2007 @ 5:20 am
Elliot—thanks, but I do not feed my cats in plastic bowls but I am glad you brought that up. My cats eat from Corelle that I get from a recycle clothes shop.
My vet explained plastic will give some pets rashes.
I am curious why Don thought his Pet Pride had tylenol generic in it. Why did he have it tested? If anyone knows, please let me know.
Comment by Evelyn — June 7, 2007 @ 5:27 am
Sorry, Bengal Mother—-I meant acetaminophen—I could not spell the name but now I will use the correct one—acetaminophen. You are right that we do not want to criticize the wrong company who has not harmed us.
Comment by Evelyn — June 7, 2007 @ 5:30 am
To THE OTHER PAT:
In the FDA “refusal” list link you gave first, I did find “paracetamol,” which is another name for acetaminophen. This shipment was from Hong Kong. Here is the listing:
Hong Kong M21-0735536-6 1 1
Research Pharmaceutical Limited
Causeway Bay , HK FLA-DO
60LCA01 PARACETAMOL “FOR EXPORT ONLY” PLEASE REFUSE THE MERCHANDISE.
15-MAY-2007 UNAPPROVED
Comment by petlover — June 7, 2007 @ 5:33 am
Evelyn -
I wasn’t singling you out, I just thought it was important for everyone to think about that. :)
For some reason, I have a really hard time spelling it too - have to keep “cut & pasting” it! :)
Comment by BengalMom — June 7, 2007 @ 5:52 am
Comment by Evelyn — June 7, 2007 @ 5:27 am
“I am curious why Don thought his Pet Pride had tylenol generic in it. Why did he have it tested? If anyone knows, please let me know.”
Evelyn,
Go to his website and read Chuckle’s story http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/
His 6 year old cat, who he dearly loved, died.
I e-mailed him with a question similar to yours and he answered that the lab ran a test panel that tests for many known toxins to cats and dogs. It surprisingly came back positive for acetaminophen and cyanuric acid, but not melamine. He hadn’t requested a specific test for acetaminopen as no one had heard of it as a contaminant in pet food before then.
He’s also posted 2 other lab results from other pet owners who had their pets’ food tested independently, which both came back for acetaminopen.
We owe them a debt of gratitude. The lab will only give the results to the client who commissioned the test. Without them, would we ever have found out about this very toxic thing that can be in our pets’ food?
Comment by Maureen — June 7, 2007 @ 6:15 am
I have a suggestion regarding this problem. This has gone too far, too wide, and too long to continue to allow the FDA and pet food people to remain complacent and act as though all is well.
My suggestion is to begin to refer to this as what it is: the MASS POISONING of the food supply. “Adulteration,” “contamination,” “dilution” are oh so very “tech-speak” and rarely imply actual causation or action. It resists the implication that A HUMAN AGENT DID IT. A HUMAN BEING —- MANY HUMAN BEINGS— TOOK MANY STEPS TO POISON OUR FOOD.
Not one, not once. Not accident, not inadvertent. DELIBERATE, PURPOSEFUL, MANIPULATIVE, DECEITFUL and very, very, much a lucrative scheme to make money.
No need to be polite, you’ve already insulted me many times over. So, I’ll call it what it is: MASS POISONING.
Comment by No Longer Asleep at the Wheel — June 7, 2007 @ 6:46 am
To the manufacturers of the acetaminophen-contaminated product: Every hour of every day, someone is feeding their beloved pet, so every hour you delay in pulling your product is putting those lives in jeopardy.
Please, PLEASE come forward. Have a heart. Do the right thing. TELL US THE TRUTH.
To the manufacturers of products that have tested clean: Tell us who you are and where your product was tested. We desperately need someone we can trust, and we’ll flock to you if you can prove that’s you. Without a commercial product we can believe in, however, we will all, for the lives of our beloved furkids, abandon you completely.
Comment by A.C. — June 7, 2007 @ 6:46 am
A.C.:
The dog food that had the highest level of acet. was tested & reported back to the company a month ago. If they were going to do the right thing & go public, they would’ve done it by now. Can you imagine how many dogs have been poisoned in that month because they didn’t have the b***s to recall it? You can see how heartless these people are…..they are looking at the money they made in the last month, not how many dogs are dead because of it. These are not human beings because they have no heart. I hope they enjoy their big homes, seven cars & all their money because the day will come when they meet their Maker & will have to answer for this.
I agree with you 100%: they need to do the right thing & recall their product. All the companies whose product tested positive for any of these contaminants need to go public & pull their product. What you jerks don’t understand is that if you DID THE RIGHT THING & recalled your food immediately, people would have a lot more respect for you & somewhere down the road might buy your products again. However, when we find out who you are, we will NEVER NEVER NEVER trust you again or use any of your products.
I can’t imagine any company doing this but then again I have a heart & would never bring harm to any living thing. This is something lacking in the pet food company executives. I know that’s mean-spirited & I’m sorry to have to say it but it just happens to be true.
Comment by JanC — June 7, 2007 @ 7:06 am
What date does the pet food boycott week start?
Comment by petlover — June 7, 2007 @ 7:18 am
Cynthia and Petlover - sorry, meant to say that Hills Pet Nutrition makes all their own DRY foods. That’s the question I was responding to in my head - that of who made the Hills Science Diet products that tested positive for acetaminohphen.
Sorry I wasn’t more clear!
Comment by Kim — June 7, 2007 @ 7:19 am
Evelyn —
one of my cats got little bumps on his ears from eating hill’s “nature’s best” food. i changed his food and it went away. i thought it was very odd.
Comment by raven's mom — June 7, 2007 @ 7:20 am
One of the problems our kitty was having before she died in March was non-regenerative red blood cells resulting in anemia. She died before the recall so we never did have a urine test done. Is this the same as what they are talking about with symptoms from the acetaminophen being found in food? I wonder how many other kitties out there were having the same problem?
Comment by Sandi K — June 7, 2007 @ 7:21 am
Oh, Sandi that is sad.
Please, does anyone know if it would cause cyclic neutrophenia? (rare in cats)
Comment by Ann H — June 7, 2007 @ 7:26 am
I am glad you said it, JanC.
I think psychopathic is a good term in that some of them might not be able to identify with people and their pets—no matter how much suffering they have caused or are causing now.
When is the FDA going to release the name of the company that has acetaminophen in its cat and dog products? Probably Friday afternoon, maybe?
Bengalmom—didn’t feel singled out but acknowledge laziness on my part.
Comment by Evelyn — June 7, 2007 @ 7:26 am
I don’t know about this anymore - the character and ethics of pfi.
What happened to the salvaged pet food from the company who knew their product had tested positive for acetaminophen (if they pulled it silently?
Is it back in the animal feed or what, heaven forbid they left it on the market?
Comment by Ann H — June 7, 2007 @ 7:30 am
Could someone give Me Dons’ blog? I have a report I want to send Him. thanks,
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 7, 2007 @ 7:33 am
I just had a thought for all you financial mavens who are so good at hounding out business connections (Steve comes to mind for example.)
Over on Itchmo, it was mentioned that BASF makes nutritional premixes for pet food. And as I read that, my mind suddenly went “Aha! Nutritional premix = white powder, and we’ve already seen the potential for damage done by anonymous untested white powders being dumped into the food.
Did a search for BASF nutritional premixes for pet food, and found this saying that they operate in several countries (including China) and that in February 2007 they sold their pet food premix operations to a company called Nutreco:
http://www.nutreco.com/index.p.....;Itemid=33
Where I’m stalling out a bit here is in how to find out whether Nutreco - in turn - has any ties to the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. In particular, of course, whether they’re connected in any way, shape or form with anyone who makes acetaminophen.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 7, 2007 @ 7:35 am
Comment by Sandi K — June 7, 2007 @ 7:21 am
“symptoms from the acetaminophen”
Sandi K, I would encourage you to talk to your vet and advise him of the new findings of acetaminophen. Ask him to look at your kitty’s file and see if he can determine any connection between her symptoms and acetaminophen poisoning.
I asked my vet about the symptoms and he was very specific with how it reacts in the bloodstream (especially with cats). I hope this helps.
Comment by Donna — June 7, 2007 @ 7:39 am
Of course, BASF - who was making most of the nutritional premixes going into pet foods before the February 2007 sale - DOES have a pharmaceuticals business as well:
http://www.pharma-solutions.basf.com/
Next question - were any of the plants co-located in China (or elsewhere?)
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 7, 2007 @ 7:40 am
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 7, 2007 @ 7:33 am
Don’s website is
petfoodrecallfacts.com
Comment by JohnT — June 7, 2007 @ 7:40 am
The boycott starts june 17th to June 23
Comment by Jill — June 7, 2007 @ 7:42 am
Benzoguanamine is a form of formaldihyde(sp)
Comment by Jill — June 7, 2007 @ 7:45 am
Thank you JohnT
How are We going to boycott? By not buying any pet food?
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 7, 2007 @ 7:46 am
Jill, MY boycott started over a month ago. I’m homecooking!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 7, 2007 @ 7:46 am
What the boycott is that people are not going to buy cat and dog food from the stores.It will last a full week. It starts June 17 to June 23.
Comment by Jill — June 7, 2007 @ 7:55 am
People will be making food that week during the boycott.
Comment by Jill — June 7, 2007 @ 7:56 am
The mass poisonings from China are gaining some traction! World Net Daily has 6 articles about this as their top headlines.
They had done an article a few weeks ago after I sent a tip in to them, but then did very little until about a week ago.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/
Comment by Elaine — June 7, 2007 @ 7:56 am
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 7, 2007 @ 7:46 am
I’m with you - I’m already on BOYCOTT!
Home Cooking in our household.
It’s really funny - if my pups hear me in the kitchen they come running, sit promptly and start drooling. (But don’t tell Gary Bauer how rewarding it is for me!)
Comment by Donna — June 7, 2007 @ 8:02 am
On the stove are simmering potatoes, green beans, and carrots. My pups already have cooked pot roast and cooked chicken breasts. I’m just adding the carbs, veggies, and meat 1/3 each, not exactly right and no pet vitamins at this time, but dogs from years ago lived to ripe old ages eating table scraps given in no particular ratio.
Comment by petlover — June 7, 2007 @ 8:03 am
Count Me in for the boycott. And everyone else I can talk into it.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 7, 2007 @ 8:07 am
Donna, I love the way my guy gets all excited when he sees me getting his meal ready. But for me, the biggest “perk” by far is the *relief* from the gut-wrenching fear I was feeling every time I set down a bowl of kibble and wondered “Am I poisoning my dog today?”
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 7, 2007 @ 8:07 am
My puppies had pot roast mixed with a little kibble this morning and washed their bowls all the way around the room! I’m just giving them a little kibble for vitamins. As soon as I say the word “meat,” their cute little butts hit the floor in the “sit” position, and they sit up nice and tall! Sorry, this post was not about the news, but my pups are so cute. I know… I’m biased. I’ll stop now.
Comment by petlover — June 7, 2007 @ 8:20 am
I just e:mailed 60 Minutes begging them to investigate this in depth, I gave them Pet Connection and Itchmo for further info if they are so inclined.
Comment by Sandi K — June 7, 2007 @ 8:21 am
RE Comment by Tammy — June 6, 2007 @ 11:57 pm “Where are the whistleblowing Veterinarians??????? How come no one has come forward to speak for the pets and their families.”
I keep telling myself they’re so busy treating the after effects of patients…but somehow I sense they’re crouching in corners, not knowing what to do at this point. Perhaps content to leave it in the hands of the big DVM orgs some belong to.
Hey, DVM’s, nothing’s happening Where’s your early warning system? How’s it working? Feel like you’re really on top of things now?
I read that survey – you know, the one sent to a number of vets. Most of you were not at all pleased about finding out all the bad news from your clients instead of the news or other professional resources. Please don’t think you’ve seen the last of this kind of occurrence. Do something now to prepare for the possibility of another onslaught. We’re counting on YOU!
Comment by Lynn — June 7, 2007 @ 12:06 am
Makes you wonder if they are afraid for some reason. But why would it be so different for the Vet Med community vs the M.D.s for humans. There seem to be alot of M.D.’s and scientist that yell when something is harming humans, i.e. pharmaceuticals. But then the FDA releases all these animals that were fed tainted food into the human food supply claiming it is perfectly safe. Now where are the human doctors and scientist that say, “Hell no it ain’t and I’m gonna tell you why.” NO ONE has come forward! And I wanna know why. Something stinks to high Heaven!
Comment by Tammy — June 7, 2007 @ 8:26 am
I changed my cat from Fancy Feast to other so called safe foods at the time of the recall. She was healthy before and is now dying of regenerative anemia. I feel like I killed her.
Comment by Sharon — June 7, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Comment by Tammy — June 7, 2007 @ 8:26 am
I am with you.
A vet in *any* community could have gotten the news on the symptoms of what to look for published in the newspapers for people who do not use the internet.
At the very least.
I am not going to make excuses for *anyone* who has let us down in this, they can make up their own lies, we have had plenty of that, if ‘somehow” not plenty of action.
If a vet was *that* busy caring for poisoned pets you would expect them to want to get the word out, I expected it.
I no longer need to buy pet supplies because I am putting down my last pet, and that is the *last* vet visit I will make because I am not going to get any more pets.
I had a full house of pampered pets just a short few months ago, what I have now is one limp sad boy that fought hard and is tired of suffering and I will not give a penny to the industry that killed them.
Comment by E. Hamilton — June 7, 2007 @ 8:50 am
Oh, Sharon. What happened? What were you feeding her. Is it the acetaminophen, that cause this? This is terrible. What does your Vet say? You didn’t kill her; we know you feel that way but you didn’t. You know you were trying to do what was best.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 7, 2007 @ 8:51 am
Update on Beef E-Coli: 445,000 pounds is being recalled includes Safeway:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19092079/
Comment by Linda — June 7, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Sharon, this is terrible and I’m so sorry to hear this! What foods do you have her on? We all really need to know!
Comment by Nabiya — June 7, 2007 @ 8:57 am
My gang got their breakfast out of the crockpot this moring. Turkey, Sweet Potatos, and rice. A sprinkle of crushed one a day vitamine on top… A bit of calcium…
Life is good.
Comment by schnauzer — June 7, 2007 @ 8:59 am
Question: Would the blood work of these pets that have been killed show links to which was from the acetaminophen and which was from the other 5?
I spoke to one of the testing companies that will test for the public. Her information gathering started with asking me to read her my dogs blood work results. All the extreme highs and lows was what she wanted to know and she was comparing these numbers I gave her to whatever information she had avilable to her.
This is why the FDA at the very least needs to have mandatory recall authority, effective now.
As a private citizen we should not have to prove this pet food was poisoned for ourselves. We should not have to hunt for labs that will test our suspected poisoned pet food. We should not have to hunt for a unopened bag if the opened bag we have open and fed to our sickened/dead pets tests positive for any toxins. We should not have to join class actions suits because there is proof in numbers of suspected effected clients on certain brands and formulas of pet foods that have tested positive for suspected poisons by the owners having suspected food tested.
I should not have to use the word suspected when all the evidence points to what killed my dog also sickened/killed many other dogs across the country. I should not have to wonder daily what suspected toxin was guilty, if it was in his food, if I opened a bag and feed him suspected toxins right from that bag.
If my dog died of nature causes I would like to know this just as much as suspecting it’s the dog food that caused his death. Actually I would much prefer discovering his death was of natural causes. Removing suspection and on-going heart break that I fed him something that killed him. That I mixed in cottage cheese (I was also consuming the cottage cheese) to tempt my finicking eater to eat this suspected toxic food. A normal practice I had to use for all the five years I had my hero dog. Perhaps he knew his food just never was something good, wholesome and healthy for him, such as render meats(horror that this is), meat by-products and cheap grains from foreign countries that can’t honestly water their crops with water that isn’t grossly polluted. I read the package, he had a dog’s nose. I had this nice little seal on the bag saying satifaction garenteed. I had this safe feeling of my own ethics and morals guiding me to the naivity, no pet FOOD company would allow a unsafe product to remain on the store shelves. I again used this naive outlook when I called the company twice, after the first two times he vomitted it up. “It’s safe.” Guess I should have been more jaded and thought, “Yeah it’s safe long as I leave it in the bag.” Locked up in the unused dishwasher so no living creature could get access to it, until someone comes forward with the safe way to dispose of it or I don’t need it as worthless evidence because I opened it to feed my dog.
Mandatory recall authority would elimate the drastic measures “we the people” are having to take to go CSI on the PFI. Mandatory recall authority would give the power to the agency that safe guards/approves our food supply to police companies that have no interest to police their company and product. In fact they stand to remove their interests and stand to lose millions. Unless they trade off their shares in stock prior to notifying the FDA of their voluntary recalling product they suspect has toxins in it.
Without mandatory recall it’s every man, woman, child and pet for themselves, right here in America. Where we only have the resources to inspect 1% of all imported products, that go into product “Made in America” sourced from ___________ .(add the mystery country of orgin of your choice here)
At this point I would rather have to walk, than seriously evaluate every product for it’s ingredients and orgins of those ingredients. I purchase with the intent to eat it.
No funds for Homeland securities that were preposed in 2005 after 9/11, so the terrorists wouldn’t follow us home. Never mind about looking in the Trojan Horses being shipped into our country by the cargo boat load. Even though there are obviously foriegn companies taking advantage of this HUGE gap in America’s Homaland Security.
No one was curious enough to wonder why a few dozen men from foreign countries were taking flying lessons with no interest in learning how to land either.
The term “red flags”
Comment by Maudigan — June 7, 2007 @ 9:14 am
Comment by E. Hamilton — June 7, 2007 @ 8:50 am
Our thoughts, prayers and love are extended to you. Your pets have paid the ultimate price, having their lives sacrificed while the industry sought cheap ingredients with no concerns of quality and no remorse for the devastation they have caused. You have paid a tremendous price, too. We are with you in this cause to bring change for those who have died, those still ill and all the rest.
Comment by Donna — June 7, 2007 @ 9:20 am
E. Hamilton
Would you please email me privately at
mnbxr112 (at) mindspring.com
Thanks.
Comment by Donna — June 7, 2007 @ 9:20 am
Maudigan, I was wondering if you could let me know the highs and lows on your dogs bloodwork? You can e:mail me at srshaw@gci.net if you wouldnt mind, I really want to compare. I understand if you dont want to also as I know its upsetting. Thank you.
Comment by Sandi K — June 7, 2007 @ 9:22 am
Sandy K. comparing them to what? Sorry so jaded, understandably.
Comment by Maudigan — June 7, 2007 @ 9:31 am
I’m also wondering if the acetaminophen could be detected in a hair analysis on a pet’s hair. I know that the hair usually holds toxins and drugs in humans longer. It’s just a thought.
Comment by Ann Jackson — June 7, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Maudigan, I was just wanting to see if I could see any resemblances to our kitties labs before she died. I guess now that I think about it, its a weird thing to ask of anyone, Im sorry. Its OK if you dont want to, I really didnt mean to upset you, I guess Im jaded also.
Comment by Sandi K — June 7, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Consumer Reports has an article that states the hated “16” deaths as fact.
They also have a place to comment.
http://tinyurl.com/2whzev
I suggest you comment.
You know, Consumer Reports is either impartial and cannot be bought off or they are *out* of business.
That might be a situation where our efforts could bear some fruit, what do you think?
Comment by E. Hamilton — June 7, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Comment by Ann Jackson — June 7, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Ann, we kept a lock of our kitties hair when she died but it was in March. Do you know if that would be too old for any testing if something like that is possible?
Comment by Sandi K — June 7, 2007 @ 9:46 am
Couldn’t get on itchmo last night; IE7 ended up crashing DOA. This morning IE7 worked fine, and I am also now on Itchmo.
And have stayed up long enough to download Firefox to try:)
Comment by TC — June 7, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Ann Jackson, Sandi -
did your cats get really cold, almost in a coma and having small seizures, could only take a couple of steps?
I hate asking but I’m struggling with Geneva since Jan17th. The closest I can say is that it’s like cyclic neutropenia but symptoms not same. Temp 98-99, weak, limp, won’t eat, dehydrates rapidly - lasted 36hrs and repeats every 10-17 days and I had given her corn syrup and it helped revive her so she wasn’t in a stupor, so hypoglycemia was considered. I have to give her electrolytes with water, assist feed her with Nutrical & Clinicare to keep her alive thru the “event”.
Comment by Ann H — June 7, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Maudigan — June 7, 2007 @ 9:14 am
Excellent comment.
Remember how Oprah got sued by the Beef industry by making a disparaging remark about hamburgers?
That is one reason everyone is so careful about saying anything negative. Yes, the truth is a good defense, but companies will look to “protect their brand” first. That will include intimidating “off the chart” bloggers and telling testing labs to pull results from blogs.
ABC/Disney sent me a cease and desist letter threatening to sue me for posting audio of some horrible things said by the radio host of KSFO. They had my entire blog shut down. I got treats on my blog from station management that they would sue me “for everything I’ve got”. They then proceeded to call me a liar, thief and a coward on a special three hour broadcast over the public airwaves.
What did I do? Simple play back the horrible things these hosts said and then alert the advertisers of them. They acted because I cost them money. It was easier to shut me up than to tell the hosts to knock off the violent rhetoric. (There was serious talk of burning people alive and blowing people’s brains out)
That is how one major corporation acted when confronted with the truth. That is how they protected their brand.
So the holding back of names and making people find unopened bags and ship them with chain of evidence methods is not surprising to me.
I wasn’t able to be in the USA Today story because I write under a pseudonym and if I used my real name the right wing hosts would attack me just like they attack anyone they want.
This is what some corporations do when their money is threatened, attack the messenger and not correct the problem at the source.
Comment by spocko — June 7, 2007 @ 10:13 am
This is an email I received re: GMO seeds. I know GMO is a concern to most of us.
Three cheers for the Terminator Seed Ban Act and some welcomed political leadership.
A commentary for the National Farmers Union-Ontario
By Grant Robertson
Often we criticize politicians when they fail to act in the public interest. That is how it should be. But it is also important to remember that when a politician does the right thing we should applaud their action. Such is the case with a federal politician from BC who has introduced a Private Members Bill that would ban the use of Terminator technology.
Terminator technology is a process that makes seeds sterile through genetic engineering. Without the purchase of an enabling agent, usually a chemical, the seeds will not sprout and grow in subsequent years. It is a foolishly unnecessary technology that would only have one true benefit –assuming you are a trans-national agri-business conglomerate that is. If farmers around the world can not save and re-grow their own seed, and you hold the patent, own the chemical companies, control the distribution system and so on you stand to make one huge whack of cash. It is not hard to tell why you might think this is a good idea if you are a trans-national agri-business corporation. Equally it is not hard to figure out why many farmers and their organizations around the world are opposed. It is much harder to understand why the Canadian government would be quietly pushing behind the scenes to overturn a United Nations moratorium that protects the rights of farmers around the world, including in Canada.
Variety Genetic Use Restriction Technologies or (V-GURTs) are all about protecting corporate profits at the expense of farmers and to ensure those corporations can suck every last penny out of their products and farmers. Even the companies promoting suicide seeds make no claims that there is any agricultural benefit for farmers from these products. If you control most of the points of contact between the field and the marketplace, both in terms of inputs like fertilizer, seed sales and the purchase of the farmers produce, you have an enormous amount of power. Power that can force farmers to use your seed, otherwise you will not buy a farmer’s harvest, or pay less it if it is the ‘wrong’ type. Once the seed is purchased you can charge a potentially enormous fee for the chemical that will make the seeds grow.
The National Farmers Union has been at the forefront of the fight here in Canada and has been working with other international farm organizations to halt this unnecessary and potentially dangerous technology. Colleen Ross, NFU Woman’s President has been an important force standing up for the rights of farmers. Recently she said- “Terminator threatens the right of Canadian farmers to save seed and offers farmers no benefits. Creating sterile seeds is blatantly anti-farmer and raises dangerous scenarios for intensified corporate control over farming in Canada.”
So three cheers for Alex Atamanenko, MP for British Columbia- Southern Interior and NDP Agriculture Critic. Atamanenko states that the goal of his Terminator Seed Ban Act is so “that Canada [can] join the ranks of countries…whose governments have already legislated bans on this technology in order to protect their farmers.”
The NFU has worked with numerous groups to try and stop this suicide technology including helping to deliver thousands of cards from Canadians to government declaring their opposition to Canada supporting this technology. Government to date has chosen to side with agri-business, not farmers, or the wishes of Canadians. It is time for that to change. In this minority parliament there is the opportunity for other MPs, from all parties, to show the leadership of Alex Atamanenko, rather than be backbench trained seals. Now wouldn’t that be the kind of change we could all get behind?
Grant Robertson is a senior official with the National Farmers Union-Ontario and a National Board Member of the NFU. Grant and his family farm near Paisley, Ontario. The author can be contacted at grant@bmts.com
If you have been forwarded this commentary and would like to be added to the distribution list please send an email to grant@bmts.com with “subscribe” in the subject line.
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Comment by Elaine — June 7, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Comment by Ann H — June 7, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Ann, our girl actually ran a fever for a short while in the very beginning but towards the end her body temp was running very low. She did have seizures in the end and what we now see when we looked back on it is that she was having very tiny seizures for a couple of months probably, these real strange head movements that even her Dr couldnt figure out, ever so slight head movements to the side and she wasnt quite alert. That along with the daily vomiting and what we now know to be kidney problems where she was only urinating maybe once a day (whereas normally she would go 3 to 4 times a day, medium clumps), a very tiny amount at the end, probably kidney failure. Her labs among other things showed anemia and non-regeneration of her red cells. This all from a kitty who was tearing all over the house and feeling her oats only a week before feeding her the food and her labs had been totally normal prior to this.
Comment by Sandi K — June 7, 2007 @ 10:18 am
Fits in with Spocko’s post. Scarey!
http://www.democracynow.org/ar...../05/149254
Comment by Elaine — June 7, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Sandy K. let’s trade info, okay. I too would be intersted in actually seeing ties to others having the same linger, unanswered questions about the blood work being similar in the suspected mass poisoning of our pets in our own homes, under great care, supervision and safe enviorments we provided for them.
Comment by Maudigan — June 7, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Comment by Maudigan — June 7, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Maudigan, that would be great. Im just curious if there are similarities. I suppose there may or may not be depending on age of the pet, pre-existing conditions, type of food, etc but it would be interesting. I will keep all your info confidential and if you want, you only to have to give the values of the labs seemed strange. Just whatever you are comfortable with.
Comment by Sandi K — June 7, 2007 @ 11:03 am
Comment by Sandi K
Ann, we kept a lock of our kitties hair when she died but it was in March. Do you know if that would be too old for any testing if something like that is possible?
Sandi,
I’m not sure but I saw a case on Court TV last night where they took a lock of hair from a young girl after she died and tested it for lead poisoning. I thought of those who don’t have any other proof of why their pets died and wondered if this might be a way to prove it. I’ll look into it further and let you know what I find out. I’m so sorry you lost your pet.:(
Comment by Ann Jackson — June 7, 2007 @ 11:20 am
SandiK, Maudigan, and E Hamilton—Could you please get in touch with Me by Email? If you don’t have time, just send Me Your address for now and i’ll write to you later. Thanks, Trudy
magesticats@net-change.com
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 7, 2007 @ 11:30 am
Comment by Ann H
Ann Jackson, Sandi –
did your cats get really cold, almost in a coma and having small seizures, could only take a couple of steps.
Ann H.,
I have a Cocker Spaniel who was poisoned in Feb. 2007 and not a cat but my vet told me she was exhibiting symptoms similar to anti-freeze poisoning. This was before we found out about the toxic food. My dog wouldn’t touch food…not even her favorite treats. She shivered constantly…to the point that her teeth chattered…and was extremely cold to the touch. She was listless and moaned now and then. And she had trouble controlling her back legs. She is still not doing well. I’m sure she’ll never be the same. It sounds like you are doing everything right. I know the vet told me one of the most important things is to keep giving them fluids to flush out the toxins. We gave Freedom fluids for quite a while. I think it helped save her. (Her BUN was 151 in the beginning and her CRE was 7.8. My vet said it was one of the highest readings he’d ever seen.) I know the feeling of having your baby look up at you begging you to make it all stop. That alone is enough for me to keep fighting to make sure this doesn’t happen again. I’ll keep both you and Geneva in my prayers.
Comment by Ann Jackson — June 7, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Mandatory recall authority would elimate the drastic measures “we the people” are having to take to go CSI on the PFI. Mandatory recall authority would give the power to the agency that safe guards/approves our food supply to police companies that have no interest to police their company and product.
Comment by Maudigan — June 7, 2007 @ 9:14 am
If the FDA would be acting in consumer interests, they would *go public with their information*. For that, you don’t need mandatory recall authority, but it protects the consumer.
(Slightly un/related) I found this gem:
http://www.reuters.com/article.....3020070531
Quote: “Menu’s been in business and at various sizes and at different scales for 35 years and the intent will be that we will continue to be around”
Not if I can help it
Comment by MaKo — June 7, 2007 @ 11:42 am
Sandi, Ann J… thank you both.
It’s hard not to cry.. she is such a sweet pita. I had to have her put in the incubator at the vet office and have subq’s on 4/20. Now, I heat towels and let her lay on them inside the dryer (I know the warnings, but sometimes I have to do the best I can)especially in the middle of the night. She has lots of good days, but the crashes are bad.. it worries me that some food still has contaminants in it… She turned 1yr old on March 6th. Enticing her to eat is a major problem. sigh. what have they done to us…
Comment by Ann H — June 7, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
We know about the Ol’Roy Dry dog food recall right?
Comment by Linda — June 7, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
http://www.doanepetcare.com/
Comment by Linda — June 7, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 6, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
Guatemala XXX-0133844-2 2 4
Glaxo Smithkline
Guatamala , GT ATL-DO
60LBA01 Acetaminophen
30-MAY-2006 NOT LISTED
NO ENGLISH
Now, if my memory serves me right (sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t) Glaxo Smithkline also makes toothpaste and when asked by one news source where their ingredients come from they would not comment.
AND they also were the makers of the AVANDIA drug.
http://sciam.com/article.cfm?a.....rc=reuters
Comment by Sandy — June 7, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
Gads do I need glasses or what, my comment at 1:40 - we have a thread on it -
Vitamin D cuts cancer risk in older women: just on today at MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19098606/
Comment by Linda — June 7, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
And what a blessing, Linda, sun-exposure is all that is needed for the body to make Vit. D. No pesky chemical contaminations need figure in to contradict the health benefits.
Comment by DMS — June 7, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
Comment by MaKo — June 7, 2007 @ 11:42 am
“If the FDA would be acting in consumer interests, they would go public with their information. For that, you don’t need mandatory recall authority, but it protects the consumer.”
The only interests the politically infested FDA cares about are those of big business, including the pharmaceutical companies. Time is running out on the FDA’s political appointees. Only a little over a year left to ensure corporate profits continue to skyrocket. Those political hacks are counting on securing high six-figure jobs as their rewards when regime change time rolls around.
Comment by MaKo — June 7, 2007 @ 11:42 am
Comment by MFEMFEM — June 7, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
Then let us make sure the *next* bunch belongs to us or that there *is* no FDA, which would be my choice.
We don’t need to be paying people who don’t work for the citizens, we do not need to be paying a LOT of folks who are not too clear on the concept of *Public Service*.
Fewer, smaller , better.
Comment by E. Hamilton — June 7, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
Ann H. I am so very sorry. I know it’s so hard. do you have a heating pad you could use at times./ I put a blanket on mine and lay the kittie down on it.
I don’t like Hills either, but Hills A/D has saved a lot of My cats when they wouldn’t eat. You can syring it so easy and it has everything they need in it.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 7, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
I think we need to “name names” here for our own pet’s protection. Ann Jackson and Maudigan, what pet food were you feeding? Or do others know something I don’t know about actually saying what food it was in this blog?
Comment by Kristi — June 7, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
As the author of “Food Pets Die For:” and “Protect Your Pet:”, I have researched/investigated the pet food industry for over 17 years and I can honestly say these recalls are not unexpected. It just happened that they finally got caught but unfortunately so many pets had to die because of their careless attitude. Pentobarbital, a drug, has also been found in dry commercial dog food. THIS IS NOT ALLOWED IN ANY AMOUNT. When I contacted Dr. Sundlof, FDA/CVM and asked what steps they intended to take to remove this from pet food his reply was, “This drug is not approved for use in pet food; so it should not be present in these foods. That being said, CVM is not planning to undertake any special enforcement efforts to detect pentobarbital in pet food.” There reasoning is that it was found in small amounts and therefore should not cause any problems. They did not bother testing cat food. NO research has been undertaken as to the long-term affect of this drug on dogs and cats. They originally tested the foods because veterinarians had reported dogs were building up a resistance to pentobarbital. If there was no problem with pets ingesting foods containing the drug than why on earth did they test it in the first place?
I have cooked for my pets for many years and all are very healthy.
This industry has to clean up their act before more pets die. Consumers have to put an end to these unethical practices and not purchase these food. If any of you have read my books you will know what they can and do use in pet foods, it is totally disgusting yet perfectly legal.
Comment by Ann Martin — June 8, 2007 @ 6:17 am
ELAINE said: Terminator technology is a process that makes seeds sterile through genetic engineering. Without the purchase of an enabling agent, usually a chemical, the seeds will not sprout and grow in subsequent years.
******************
Once again, you’ve opened my eyes even wider! What happened to just putting a seed in the earth, letting it sprout with sunshine and water, harvesting the food, and saving the seeds?
Thank you, Elaine and others, for your many contributions!
Comment by petlover — June 8, 2007 @ 6:18 am
In relation to my post about GMO seeds and the transnational corporations control:
We have a friend that has gone to Paraguay quite a few times in the last few years and he has gone out into the country and visits the farmers.
ADM loans these poor farmers the money for their seed each year and charges them 50% interest on the loan!
I am pretty sure, it being ADM, that these are GMO seeds. If not, a poor farmer in an undeveloped country would save back seeds for his crop to make a bigger profit.
Comment by Elaine — June 8, 2007 @ 6:47 am
My little dog has been on CAnned Hill’s K/D for 2 1/2 years. Last month I took a sample can back which had black “mold” on the inside of the can. I was given another 6-pack free, that was fine. Then this morning (which is why I googled and got this site) - more mold.
There also appear to be 2 “types” of the K/D - one sort of oatmeal-looking (historically this type) and a new “brown mud” looking texture. Cans within a “6-pack” may containt both types. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to what’s actually in the can, which is why I’m researching what exactly IS SUPPOSED to be in the can - and looking for an alternative.
“Millie” was prescribed with renal weakness/failure problems 2 years ago, and was on subcutaneous and the K/D. I stopped the subcutaneous a year ago, put chicken brother in her water and she’s never been better - drinks like a fish, is healthy, and a brand new dog - gained weight, happy, stools fine, no vomiting, no othre signs. Just GREAT. So now I’m wondering if I was “fed a line” on the food, too - is there a “generic” KD anyone could recommend? Thanks and I’ve read ALL the above comments and learned a lot. Cheers/ Paul
Comment by Paul — November 2, 2007 @ 9:09 am