PET FOOD RECALL
(Updated 4/17/07)

During the manufacturing process, there was contamination of one or more of the ingredients used to make many different pet foods. All of the affected foods appear to contain wheat gluten supplied a Chinese company. A chemical called MELAMINE (non-protein nitrogen source used as a fertilizer) has been identified in the food, but the FDA has not officially announced if this is the contaminant that is making pets sick.

The contaminant causes kidney damage, and, in some cases, death. Symptoms of kidney failure include increased thirst and urination, decreased appetite, lethargy and vomiting. If your pet has any of these symptoms, make an appointment to bring your pet in immediately. In cases where the toxicity is caught early and treated aggressively, pets have recovered.

The vast majority of foods involved are: 'cuts and gravy' style canned and foil pouch dog and cat foods. However, some dry foods and treats have also been involved in the recall. A summary of the products affected, along with appropriate links to manufacturers websites, can be found at www.menufoods.com and www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html. As the list of brands involved has changed over the last few weeks, we recommend checking these websites periodically until the FDA has discovered what specifically is making pets sick.

If you can confirm that you have fed a product whose serial or lot number or UPC is on the list:

  • Do not continue to feed these foods. Save all unopened cans or pouches and find any empty cans or pouches that may still be in your garbage and save them in plastic bags
  • Make an immediate appointment to have our pet examined and kidney function evaluated via laboratory testing.

If you have been feeding one of the listed foods but have different serial or lot numbers or UPCs:

  • Do not continue to feed these foods since the recall list may be expanded to include batches of food not originally recalled.
  • Save these foods case they added to the recall, so that they may be submitted for analysis if indicated.
  • If your pet is showing any signs of renal failure (increased thirst and urination, decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting), make an appointment to have your pet examined and kidney function evaluated via laboratory testing.

If your pet has been eating one of the types of foods on the recall list, but you don’t know if they have ever eaten one of the known affected batches:

  • Do not continue to feed these foods.
  • We recommend that you make an appointment to have your pet examined and kidney function evaluated via laboratory testing. This appointment should be immediate if there are any signs of kidney problems, even if you cannot confirm lot or serial numbers as being in the current recall.

Even if not on the list, we recommend not feeding any 'cuts and gravy' style canned and foil pouch dog and cat foods until the source of the contamination has been documented.

Many clients, distraught by the recall, are tempted to avoid ANY commercial pet foods by preparing home cooked diets for their pets. Although this may be tempting, home cooked diets are often poorly balanced and can lead to serious health problems. As just one example, cats that don’t receive enough of the amino acid taurine in their diet can develop a serious heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy. The veterinarians and staff and Horizon Veterinary Clinic continue to feed their pets Science Diet non-prescription dry foods, which have not been affected by the recall at this time.

At this time we do not know what, if any, costs of diagnostic testing or treatment will be reimbursed by the manufacturer. We recommend that all receipts and product packaging be saved and associated costs documented in anticipation that the pet food companies will attempt to reimburse owners for medical expenses related to this recall. Clients should contact the food company directly in order to arrange reimbursement.