Pet Food Recall
Undoubtedly the recall of Menufoods, Iams, Eukanuba, Hill's Science Diet, etc. is not news to anyone.
Furthermore, I'm sure everyone has been made aware that 'rat poison' is the culprit, most likely as a contaminant in wheat imported from China. The compound, aminopterin, is not used in the US. It has been used as a rodenticide and chemotherapy drug as well.
I was hoping to be able to avoid making some kind of pronouncement, mainly because I don't want to generate a flamewar on my journal, nor do I want to encourage rumoring, etc. However, after reading and (perhaps foolishly) involving myself in a few other discussions, I need to at least speak up a little. The public uproar over this recall has far exceeded the aflatoxin contamination of Diamond pet foods from December 2005. What makes me most upset about this is that a great deal of what I hear/read seems to speculate or insinuate that this was a deliberate action. It's far too early to tell, and I wish that folks would just take a step back and look at the information.
In addition to news sources (which may or may not be accurate) please utilize the following sources for information:
menufoods.com
iams.com
eukanuba.com
FDA: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01590.html
Lastly, I want to make a few brief cautionary statements:
If you have been feeding your pet affected foods, please contact your veterinarian immediately for an appointment to screen for kidney damage. This may include a urinalysis and bloodwork. Also contact the company who manufactured the food and the store at which you purchased the food.
Do not make sudden drastic additions to your pet's diet in order to compensate for a change in food. Adding raw foods (meats), high-fat foods, greasy/fried foods, or in some cases ANY unusual foods can greatly upset your pet's digestive system, including pancreas, stomach, and intestinal tract. In general, it is fairly safe to feed a 50/50 mix of cooked white rice and boiled hamburger (to get the grease/fat out) or chicken. While this diet is not balanced for many nutrients, it is fine to feed for a few days. Contact your veterinarian for recommendations on foods unaffected by the recall or provided as a prescription diet for the interim.
Changing to a new food in a sudden manner (as in, the next meal is 100% new food) may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or disinterest in eating (particular the latter with cats), so monitor closely if you have had to stop feeding affected/recalled food in favor of another brand.
-Otterdoc
Furthermore, I'm sure everyone has been made aware that 'rat poison' is the culprit, most likely as a contaminant in wheat imported from China. The compound, aminopterin, is not used in the US. It has been used as a rodenticide and chemotherapy drug as well.
I was hoping to be able to avoid making some kind of pronouncement, mainly because I don't want to generate a flamewar on my journal, nor do I want to encourage rumoring, etc. However, after reading and (perhaps foolishly) involving myself in a few other discussions, I need to at least speak up a little. The public uproar over this recall has far exceeded the aflatoxin contamination of Diamond pet foods from December 2005. What makes me most upset about this is that a great deal of what I hear/read seems to speculate or insinuate that this was a deliberate action. It's far too early to tell, and I wish that folks would just take a step back and look at the information.
In addition to news sources (which may or may not be accurate) please utilize the following sources for information:
menufoods.com
iams.com
eukanuba.com
FDA: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01590.html
Lastly, I want to make a few brief cautionary statements:
If you have been feeding your pet affected foods, please contact your veterinarian immediately for an appointment to screen for kidney damage. This may include a urinalysis and bloodwork. Also contact the company who manufactured the food and the store at which you purchased the food.
Do not make sudden drastic additions to your pet's diet in order to compensate for a change in food. Adding raw foods (meats), high-fat foods, greasy/fried foods, or in some cases ANY unusual foods can greatly upset your pet's digestive system, including pancreas, stomach, and intestinal tract. In general, it is fairly safe to feed a 50/50 mix of cooked white rice and boiled hamburger (to get the grease/fat out) or chicken. While this diet is not balanced for many nutrients, it is fine to feed for a few days. Contact your veterinarian for recommendations on foods unaffected by the recall or provided as a prescription diet for the interim.
Changing to a new food in a sudden manner (as in, the next meal is 100% new food) may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or disinterest in eating (particular the latter with cats), so monitor closely if you have had to stop feeding affected/recalled food in favor of another brand.
-Otterdoc