Tainted Food Pet Deaths Put At Over 100

Founder Of Vets' Web Site Gathering Data Says Toll Likely Much Higher

(CBS/AP)  At least 471 cases of pet kidney failure have been reported in the 10 days since a nationwide recall of dog and cat food, and about a fifth of those pets have died, a veterinarians' information service said Tuesday.

The maker of the recalled pet food, Menu Foods, of Ontario, Canada, has confirmed the deaths of only 16 pets.

Paul Pion, founder of the Veterinary Information Network, which counts 30,000 veterinarians and veterinary students as members, said Tuesday the number of reported kidney failure cases had already grown higher than the 471, but he said he wouldn't have an updated tally for a few days.

Of the reported cases, he said, 104 animals have died. The network's survey results were earlier reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Pion, a California veterinarian, said only 10 percent to 20 percent of the people who belong to his Web site had responded to a request for information.

"If we're only getting 10 percent of the veterinarians, you can do the math," he said.

Early Show resident veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner said Wednesday, "Pretty much every vet you talk with has one or two cases."

She adds that another Web site, PetConnection.com declares nearly 2,000 pets have died from eating the recalled food.

So who is right? In short, Turner says, nobody really knows, and, "We don't know that some of the pets reported on PetConnection aren't some of the same pets reported on VIN or reported in other series."

The American Veterinary Medical Association told The Early Show, "The AVMA has not tracked the number of deaths and cannot verify reports coming from other organizations."

And Dr. Ann Hohenhaus of the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan told Turner, "I think that the worst should be past, because the recalled foods have been off the shelves since March 17. Everybody has gone through their kitchen cabinets and, I hope, taken all foods off the shelf."

Scientists at the New York State Food Laboratory last week identified the rodent poison aminopterin as the likely culprit in the scare that prompted the recall by Menu Foods of 95 brands of "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food.

Some pets that ate the recalled brands suffered kidney failure, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog. Aminopterin, a derivative of folic acid that was once used to induce abortions and is now banned as a rodent poison in the United States, can cause kidney damage in dogs and cats.

Scientists so far have offered no theories on how aminopterin got into the products of Menu Foods, which makes pet food for most of North America's top retailers.

Researchers at the New York food lab, Cornell University and other labs were still working Tuesday to pinpoint which individual ingredients were tainted with the poison, officials said. They also said there could still be undetected hazards in the food.

Sam Bornstein, a spokesman for Menu Foods, said the company has not yet updated the number of confirmed pet deaths. He said testing to determine the source of the aminopterin and how it got into the food "is continuing aggressively" but Menu did not have any new results.

The company on March 16 recalled products packaged from Dec. 3 to March 6 and advised retailers last week to remove all the products from their shelves to verify the dates they were packaged. Products not made between those dates can still be sold.

The recall covered products carrying names of major brands including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba. The food was distributed throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico by major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway.

The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation was focused on the ingredient wheat gluten.

Testing has not been easy.

Wheat gluten has "been a real difficult sample to work with," said Daniel Rice, director of the New York food lab. "It's real sticky, gummy. If you can imagine wet flour and you're trying to get that into solution and put that into an instrument."

Veterinary Information Network provides a secure site where veterinarians share clinical information and other resources such as conference schedules and continuing education courses.

[kobilove]

My dog had been eating the Iams recalled dog food and showed very mild symptoms of lethargy. "Just in case" I took him to vet last week for a blood test. His blood test did not show kidney failure but some very strange abnormalities in his liver. Has anyone heard if liver problems have been reported from this poisoned food? He is now eating prescription food and on amoxicillian and doing better but not out of the woods yet...If you have heard anything..please let me know!!! I am so worried for my 5 year old pup...Thanks

[kathylad9]

About 23-30 mins ago I was on MSNBC, Washington- recalled pet food contained a chemical used to make plastics, but government tests failed to confirm the presence of rat poison, federal officals said today. MELAMINE samples of the Menu Food Pet Food, as well in wheat gluten. Used as an ingredient in the wet style products. It's not immediatley clear that the melamine was the culprit in the deaths of all these pets.
In a news conference, FDA OFFICIALS sai that apparently MELAMINE-CONTAMINATED wheat gluten also shipped to a company that manufactures DRY PET FOOD. But they would not name the company. The FDA said it would alert the public quickly if the melamine was found in any foods other than the recalled pet food.
Over 8,000 complaints have been reported, well I THINK THERE WILL BE MORE NOW. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!!! ONE STORY AFTER ANOTHER. WHERE IN THE HELL IS QUALITY CONTROLL IN THIS INDUSRTY???

[sdhill3]

I have already had one pet die from the food and now have another sick from it now and it is from the so-called new batch. And I being a pet owner suggest to everyone to speak out about the dry food as well because that is all my pets eat and it needs to pulled as well until the problem is resolved.

[snapper-07]

Has anyone heard from the recalled pet food companies? I called iams last week & still no one has replied. I can't believe when they ask you do you have the label # what do you think....Usually when we feed our animals we throw the can away especially since we fed him in February. How can we possibly check the #'s of can food during that time frame? Most likely all those cans had toxic poisioning.....
Like everyone else has mentioned what are these companies going to do for us when it was too late to save our animal. I'm sorry for all the pet owners who've lost their beloved ones..Snapper we love you....

[dogmother11]

dog-x8 wrote:
"I have 8 rescues, 6 living in the house 2 outside. Any good recipes out there I could make for them? How can I find recipes for them? Don't know what to do--- help!"

Hi, dog-x8,

For the past 7 years, I've fed homemade diets to 16 'special needs' rescue dogs (ages 6 months to 19 years old) and can attest to the health benefits a fresh food diet can provide.

Although it can be more expensive and time-consuming to feed a home-prepared diet, it is very worthwhile. A properly balanced homemade diet can promote healthy skin/coat, little or no "doggy" odor, a lean and well-toned body, a strong immune system and abundant energy.

If you're interested in preparing homemade meals that fit the needs of your dogs, I highly recommend the following books, which include sample recipes:

%u2022 "Optimal Nutrition, Raw and Cooked Canine Diets: The Next Level" (published 2007)
By Monica Segal, AHCW, Foreword by Ana S. Hill, DVM, PhD
http://tinyurl.com/2fer77

%u2022 "K9 Kitchen Your Dog's Diet: The Truth Behind the Hype"
By Monica Segal, AHCW (published 2002)
http://tinyurl.com/yxaqrx

%u2022 "Home Prepared Dog and Cat Diets" (published 1999)
By Donald Strombeck, DVM, PhD
http://tinyurl.com/6b63t

Kind regards,
dogmother11

[db19601]

The Veterinary Information Network should set up a on-line, and in newspapers a center for people to respond and report any and all illnesses and deaths related to this food. That way we would nationally get true figures as to how extensive this really is.

[db19601]

The Veterinary Information Network should set up a on-line, and in newspapers a center for people to respond and report any and all illnesses and deaths related to this food. That way we would nationally get true figures as to how extensive this really is.

[dog-x8]

I have 8 rescues, 6 living in the house 2 outside. Any good recipes out there I could make for them? 3 have sensitive stomachs.(they live in the house,YIKES) How can I find recipes for them? They eat Iams dry now. Would love to throw it away. Don't know what to do--- help!

[danielle7777]

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS....."Menu Foods told the FDA it received the first complaints of kidney failure and deaths among cats and dogs from pet owners on Feb. 20. It began new tests on Feb. 27.

During those tests, the company fed its product to 40 to 50 dogs and cats and seven animals %u2014 the mix of species was not immediately known %u2014 died, Sundlof said. The contamination appeared more deadly to cats than to dogs, he said."

INSTEAD OF TESTING WHAT'S IN THEIR LOUSY FOOD, THEY TEST IT ON DOGS, CATS AND OTHER ANIMALS AND THEY ALL DIED!!!!! DOESN'T THAT SHOW YOU WHAT NUTS THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT! NOTHING IS WHAT!!!!!!!!

[danielle7777]

I'd like to know why they import foods from other countries like "CHINA." Don't we have the ingredients here....or is it because they could get more for less money and make a profit!!!!!!!!! Then maybe some nut who hates USA can poison our pets. Oh, yes....besides they eat dogs and cats in China.

[bkotarsk]

Wheat Gluten Got into this country with RAT POISON in it...

Make me wonder just how much Human Food is INSPECTED at the borders or will they Wait till 100 people Have died Before BEGINNING the investigation..

Could also Be a terroist act here .. Terroriist may have thought that this WHEAT GLUTIN was going into WHEAT BREAD and RYE BREAD .

[izzitmee]

This is one good example of why my dogs eat a species appropriate raw diet. I know what they are eating and not relying on money hungry dogfood manufacturers who arent in it for the animals they are in it for the money. All the food my pets eat is human grade raw meat, bones, with occassional veggies and grains. My only regret is that I didnt do this sooner as I have lost three pets who I feel could have lived a better life if only I knew then what I know now about a good diet for them. While they did lead a fairly long life I feel they could have been healthier and lived better. The dogs I have now are absolutely thriving and don't need to go to the vet for all the little issues and big issues my other pets had. No doggy odor (which exudes their skin from the dogfood) small less smelly stools, yard that never needs pooperscoopered even with 6 dogs, sparkling teeth never needing dental cleaning just basically over all glowing with health and full of muscle. Best decision I could have ever made and I will NEVER feed *** in a bag to them ever again.

izzitmee @ insightbb.com

[mushymom]

I know alot of stores in NM alone still haven't pulled the brands recalled off their shelves. Alot of people aren't even fully aware of the recall either, as attested to by a friend of mine who only found out 2 days ago and had been feeding his dog tainted foods. I think though until the AVMA can set up a true tracking with all veterinarians in the country, we'll never really know the true numbers.
Now the ASPCA says it may not solely be the rat poison ingredient that has contaminated the foods!
Go raw, make your own, your pet will be healthier and happier for it, and you'll have more peace of mind.

[chrissy36]

hello everyone and I am sorry about any lasses you may have had due to this recall. I am doing a little investigating of my own. I had a 2.6 year old sheltie (pure bred).The last week in October she became very ill . This happened suddenly one Wed. evening she threw up. this continued thursday and was lethargic. She had green coming from her mouth and nose. I rushed to the vet. they admitted her and gave IV and antibiotics (Although-no infection was detected in her blood). The DRs were confused bc her blood work was all off kidneys and other organs. She had been there a few wekks earlier and was fine. This was very sudden and very severe. By Saturday she was dead. They still cant tell me how or why she died. She was eating a food made by the recalled company. I know the recall didnt go back that far. BUt, I wish I could find someone to check back further and see if the strange deaths started before the date they gave. Does anyone have any information on who I might contact to send her blood work?

[chrissy36]

hello everyone and I am sorry about any lasses you may have had due to this recall. I am doing a little investigating of my own. I had a 2.6 year old sheltie (pure bred).The last week in October she became very ill . This happened suddenly one Wed. evening she threw up. this continued thursday and was lethargic. She had green coming from her mouth and nose. I rushed to the vet. they admitted her and gave IV and antibiotics (Although-no infection was detected in her blood). The DRs were confused bc her blood work was all off kidneys and other organs. She had been there a few wekks earlier and was fine. This was very sudden and very severe. By Saturday she was dead. They still cant tell me how or why she died. She was eating a food made by the recalled company. I know the recall didnt go back that far. BUt, I wish I could find someone to check back further and see if the strange deaths started before the date they gave. Does anyone have any information on who I might contact to send her blood work?

[sclaires]

As soon as the first of the month gets here, I am going to start making my Carolina Dog her food. All I need is some chicken and rice and that will be it. She already eats some people food but not much. In as much as her breed was raised for over 10,000 years on people food when they were with the Native Americans, she is going on it. And, hopefully, that will help rid her of the seizures she has had. After all our four-legged children are as much of the family as any two-legged children. I know that I do not believe the company that made the contaminated food about the number of pets that have died from their food. They are just trying to make the numbers low so they can keep down law suits.

[ajaxrose1]

I hope the jerks responsible for all this are put out of business. It makes me sick to think about those poor, trusting pets and their loving owners being put through this. I'm so glad my cat won't touch wet food. Don't know why. If she wanted it that's what I'd be feeding her. I think she likes the crunch or something. Whatever the reason, I'm grateful she's always refused wet food. I'm really sorry for all of you who lost your sweet pets and hope that this never happens again.

[erasmus6]

yoopermom

If you are talking about the canned tuna that we eat, I would stop feeding that to your cat. I don't know what the difference is between our tuna and the tuna in cat food but I was told years ago that OUR tuna can make a cat sick.

[mamashome1]

I lost my dog to this contaminated food. She was 11 years old and by the time I found out what was wrong she had been dead three weeks. What's next human food?? To all of you that have lost your dear pets, my heart goes out to you because I know what you are feeling, to the ones that got your pets to the vet in time, I am very glad for you. It want bring any of our babies back, but I hope and pray that the people that did this will be found and made to go though the same pain that my Lady did. She was a very loving little dog and I miss her every day. I think about the hell she went though. I wish I had had the money to take her to the vet and maybe she would still be with us.
Rita in Tuscaloosa, Al.

[yoopermom]

My heart goes out to everyone affected by this. I had a couple of cans of the recalled cat food. Luckily my cats did not get sick, but I did loose a cat a few years ago to renal and liver failure. It is he11 to watch your beloved pet suffer. We finally had to have her put down. She was only two years old. Afterwards we found out she had a genetic defect in her kidneys and liver.

We used to feed our cats only canned food until our vet told us that the dry food is better for them. Now they only get the canned stuff as a special treat. Since the recall, they have been getting tuna fish. Probably not something the vet would agree too, but they sure enjoy it and it is only 2 or 3 times a week.