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.

[bethyale]

I read somewhere they believe the rat poison was located in imported wheat from China. Perhaps this is their retaliation from all the negative US coverage regarding the rabies scare/mass killings of dogs in China six months ago. Hmmm... so maybe we should start importing foods from Iraq or North Korea and see what happens.

[eeyore573]

Lost my cat last week, had store where i buy foodpull up receipts as I thought I was safe from recall. I had bought recalled food as she was nursing kittens.One kitten died 12 hrs. after mom, another 24 after mom another 4 days after mom. I phoned vet again but they said no data on nursing moms with food recall.Two kitten that were almost weaned doing well,the other 3 were nursing regularly.

[nothappyatall]

"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"

Pretty obvious, someone put it there, and the one who would have that kind of access would be an EMPLOYEE somewhere in the chain.

[zoltaric]

Dr. Debbye Turner is smokin' hot!!

[khwezzer]

Back in the 70's a friend of mine used to insulate homes for the elderly. This was a state sponsered program. Back then these people were eating cat and dog food just to survive. When will our poor old people start dying from this? By the way, they said cat food was the best......

[brian31462]

What are they going to do once, and if they discover that not only are the recalled products contaminated, but the other products manufactured at these facilities also. What is to say that there is not something in an ingredient that goes into all the lines of food they produce, whether it be canned, pouched or dry? We have quit feeding our pets anything from this company, no dry, no pouch no canned. I have a list of recipes that have been approved by a vet and a nutritionist for homemade foods that are healthy and easy to make for our dogs. So that is the way that we are going.

[deborah325]

My cat Cami passed away on March 12, one week before any of this came out. I have contacted the FDA. He had eaten Special Kitty. I know these numbers are not accurate. Does anyone know how you go about getting in on a class action?

[carhop919]

My cat, Sheba, ate the IAMS foil pouch food. I got her to the vet in time. She started getting sick on 3/16. She was hospitalized with kidney failure on 3/19 and released on the evening of 3/22. I contacted the FDA and a claim was set up for my cat. To all pet owners who have had an animal who became sick from contaminated food - go on line and find the number of the FDA in your area and call them. They are doing more extensive testing of the recalled food. Do not discard your contaminated food. Keep it as they may ask you to send some of it to them for testing not just for the Aminopterin but other chemicals. . We pet owners need to know all that is involved with this poisoning.
This has been a total nightmare.

[wolfie2z]

My heart goes out to those who have lost their friends. I have been lucky I guess though against my vets instructions I feed my gang people food. When I was growing up there were only two canned dog foods to choose from one was .10 cents a can the other .15.Which my parents wouldnt give me money for.I am 70 now had animals all my life and they lived to be 16 17 yrs old. I don't count on commercial food.Did you ever read the *** they put in it? Would you eat it? There are many, many healthy cheaper ways to feed your pet. We must band together and demand our due respect, make these people more responsible and stop trying to turn our 4 legged kids into carb junkies. Taking time to cook up some meat and rice or oatmeal on your own is a lot pore practicle than paying all those vet bills.

[adventurepa]

If this was human deaths someone would be going to jail!!!!!!!
When will someone be held responsable for this???
When is enough - Enough?

[ctrumb]

Pets cannot get their very specific nutrition from people food. Why do people insist on putting human traits on animals and other things?

[snapper-07]

My family just recently lost our beloved dog SNAPPPER on 02.22.07 due to renal failure from eating this pet food that's been recalled. Snapper was a very healthy dog who enjoyed life & his family. All of a sudden his health change. We took him to the vet they mentioned did he eat rat poison? We had no clue that the iams wet can food actually contained this product in the food. This is what's killing these poor innocent animals. How can we possibly replace them. I wish we knew earlier so we could have possibly prevented his death. We love you & miss you Snapper rest in peace....

[wolfie2z]

Ok ctrumb WHAT specific nutrition? Corn? wheat? dead not fit for human meat? What is wrong with people chicken, chop meat, pork, liver chix livers rice and oatmeal, fish. My husky loved raw fish the best food for a cat is a mouse or bird. Copy that and you have the natural diet. Commercial food is made for the convience of man and the wealth of the company thats why it contains more crapola for bulk and profits. Read the first five ingredients on each can, would you eat it? The standards Must be raised!! That pet lives in your house sleeps with your kids licks your face, I like to think it has been eating things other than hoves, beaks, other stomach contents especially if it was deceased by unknown cause. Just use common sense folks. God Bless you all for caring. It makes me feel better about people again. But lets work together to make the standards higher. Price is not the answer it's in the ingredients. Some high priced brands use the same junk as the special kitty, what does that tell you? Hold your local stores responsible, we went to petsmart, walmart, giant eagle,krogers ect. because we trusted THEIR good name. We didn't buy this stuff off the back of a truck. Make them demand more quality from their suppliers. I blame them as well as menu foods.The only reason they turn down brands now is low market value for them. Lets change the rules. WE can make a difference.

[jvman4u]

I repeat, it's the fault that our beloved pet's food is made outside the US (for their sole profit) secondly, who was in control of the content and cleanliness/purity/ingredients??? we all know huge manufacturing plants employ alot of people- and these huge plants have RODENT PROBLEMS, they kill these RODENTS with POSIN (in this case a posin banned in the USA) and it finds it's way into the product, thru negligence, dust, feces, urine, and YES even the carcasses of the RODENTS, it's on every surface, walls girder, beams, and all over the floors- that get swept up into the end product- nothing goes to waste- EXCEPT our beloved pets...

[brian31462]

QUOTE:

Pets cannot get their very specific nutrition from people food. Why do people insist on putting human traits on animals and other things?
Posted by ctrumb at 11:53 AM : Mar 28, 2007

An animals nutritional needs have been documented and verified by vets the world over. Any product that a human can eat an animal can eat and probably handle better as long as you verify that there are no bones in it than can get stuck in an animals throat. Nutritional supplements can be added and are easily available from any pet food store, health food store and most grocery stores. They require a balanced diet much as humans do with meat and vegetables, vitamins and minerals, etc. Check it out if you have doubts. Some vets tell you not to feed an animal table scraps. But if you listen to what they say, they will recommend a line of food that they carry in their office. (NOT SOMETHING THEY DON'T CARRY).

[nothappyatall]

"If this was human deaths someone would be going to jail!!!!!!!
When will someone be held responsable for this???
Posted by adventurepa "

Not necessarily, they haven't even positively identified the toxin YET, once the toxin or toxins are positively identified then how do you propose to find WHERE it was injected into the food chain?
It would be like searching for a pin in a thousand acre hay field, was it an employee of the harvesting company, the truck driver who transported some of the ingredients?, the clean up crew at night? a mislabelled container? an accident? which PLANT was it done at? how many employees work there or worked there in the last SIX months? where are the ones who are no longer there? how do you charge any specific employee with a crime if there is no way to provide PROOF of who did it even if they figured out who did it?

This is not "Marcus Welby, MD" where a diagnosis is found immediately, and this is not the TV show "F.B.I" where crimes are solved in 30 minutes, this crime will likely never be solved- far too many hundreds of employees, former employees and others involved in every step to ever be able to pinpoint to one individual unless he/she gets drunk or something and boasts or confesses to someone and they turn them in.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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.

[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

[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 .

[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.

[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!!!!!!!!

[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!

[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.

[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

[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....

[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.

[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???

[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