Comments on: Hey, FDA — is our pets’ food safe yet?

By: Pat in Raleigh

Pat in Raleigh — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:15:51 +0000

I’m seeking information about PetAg’s KMR Step Two product for kittens being weaned off KMR Kitten Milk Replacement formula. I’ve got three 8 week old bottle feeders whose mom was a semiferal spayed 4 weeks after they were born and her milk supply dried up so I’ve been supplementing it with regular KMR formula until about 4 days ago. They did beautifully on the KMR and were perfectly healthy at 7 weeks of age when I took them to our rescue group for their Intranasal/Intraocular FVRCP vaccination. A couple of days later they developed stuffy noses (assuming that was due to the local inflammatory immune response to the vaccine challenge), but got over that quickly and were just fine until today. Three days ago I switched them from plain KMR to the KMR Second Step (produces a thick gruel) product at the advice of our group’s president. They have received that plain and also mixed with high quality kitten canned foods (the same foods that did not upset their stomachs when mixed with regular KMR). Today they developed musturd colored diarrhea that within hours turned to WHITE diarrhea that smells just like the KMR Second Step product! I’ve removed that from their bowls and replaced it with what I was formerly feeding. However they are now lethargic and also suddenly sneezing again.

Has anyone had adverse effects in kittens when feeding KMR Second Step? Have there been any problems reported for this product?

Thanks for any information you ahve available.

- Pat

By: Carol V

Carol V — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:04:36 +0000

http://www.consumeraffairs.com.....oia04.html

Consumeraffairs is appealing the denial…

By: Gina Spadafori

Gina Spadafori — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:48:28 +0000

I also wanted to add a thank you to Christie, Gina and Pet Connection for still staying on these stories.

Comment by Sandi K — May 16, 2009

Hey, what can I say? We LOVE PETS. Of course we’re following this. :)

By: Susan Fox

Susan Fox — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:48:18 +0000

Thanks, Other Pat! I appreciate having that information.

By: Sandi K

Sandi K — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:34:14 +0000

I also wanted to add a thank you to Christie, Gina and Pet Connection for still staying on these stories. Consumer Affairs and Pet Connection are among only a handful of places left that we have left fighting for our pets.

Also just a thought, but dont PFC’s keep complaint records? Cant FDA or someone ask to look at those Nutro records to see if the number of complaints have increased or are similar, etc? Oh geesh what am I thinking, I expect records a company would hand over would be so cleaned out, they would be worthless. Sigh….never mind.

By: Anne T

Anne T — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:16:34 +0000

Funny how this works. The more popular and bigger a company becomes whether it’s foods, clothes, cars or what have you, the more it’s product integrity goes down hill.

By: Sandi K

Sandi K — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:41:18 +0000

I still think that if the PFC’s really wanted change, they would and could do it but instead they have Pet Food Institute to help fight against changes that might mean increased trust. If they truly felt FDA was hurting them as an industry, they could do more to change that on their own, they dont need FDA changing the rules to step up to the plate and do the right thing. I think they like that FDA is non-effective, they can use them as an excuse and also hide behind the rules that protect them and not have to be responsible to the consumer. As an industry there is sooooo much they could be doing IF they wanted to…..I think they are perfectly happy with the way things are, the more their secrets are hidden the better for them.

By: The OTHER Pat

The OTHER Pat — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:16:37 +0000

That’s right! Although - in the section of the website that simply lists information about the foods by name, the Chicken Soup entry tells you to “see Diamond”.

I know Therese (the site owner) posts here from time to time. Perhaps if she sees this she can comment and clarify.

By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 16 May 2009 21:53:46 +0000

That can’t be a complete Diamond list… Diamond also makes Chicken Soup.

Natural Balance too!? Sheesh… I had no idea. The Solid Gold is also news, although not a surprise. It’s always had that Perfume De Playdough.

I’m seriously considering moving to northern Saskatchewan and just farming everything I need in my own backyard. Scarier and scarier… :O(

By: The OTHER Pat

The OTHER Pat — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:18:51 +0000

RE: Canidae being made by Diamond:

Remember http://www.thepetfoodlist.com has a manufacturers page. Upon looking through it I found the following:

DIAMOND
Manufactures dry foods

Diamond Pet Foods
PO Box 156
Meta, MO 65058
800-442-0402
Locations: Gaston, SC; Latrop, CA; Lubbock, TX; Meta, MO; Palm Coast, FL

Foods manufactured:
Artemis
Canidae
Kirkland Signature Brand Pet Food
Natural Balance
Solid Gold Health Food for Pets

And this:

EVANGERS
Manufactures canned foods

Evangers Dog and Cat Food Company, Inc.
221 Wheeling Road
Wheeling, IL
847-537-0102

Foods manufactured:
Artemis - Holistic Pet Food
Blackwood Pet Food
Canidae
Life4K9

And this:

SIMMONS PET FOOD
Manufactures canned foods

Simmons brands include:
Twin Pet
Strongheart
kitty
Fit & Active
Healthy by Design

Foods manufactured:
Canidae