Pet Food Recall - ONLY if you're interested

[Clancey]

Since I know we are all hugely pet loving Pernese writers here, I thought I would post a little information (if you need it) on the pet food recall.  Its quite likely you all know as much as I do if not more, but I thought I'd offer just the same

As some of you know, I work part time as a Vet Tech and we've been fielding phone calls for weeks on this.

www.fda.gov has the latest recall information - it has expanded beyond Menu Foods.

Alot of companies are VOLUNTARILY recalling their food.  That doesn't mean its contaminated, they just want to make certain.  

Its mostly wet food, but some dry has been found, particularly a prescription diet - Hills m/d.  

If your cat or dog starts exhibiting signs of kidney disease  - vomiting, urination problems, lethargy - please take them in to your vet immediately.

The best and ONLY way we can be certain your pets are not affected is to run blood work and a urinalysis on them, and at most veterinarians, this is around $200 - $250.   This includes Blood Cell Count, Internal Organ Function, Electrolytes, and a full Urinalysis at my vet, although I'm not sure what other vets are doing (so bring urine haha).  

Please be prepared to spend the money because bloodwork and a urinalysis will tell us so much about kidney function and if you're all like me - love love love your pets - you'll want to know.  When you go to the vet, pull the UPC number and SKU number off your bags/cans, as this will tell us exactly if your food is alright or not.  Your vet will have the latest information, so don't be afraid to just call and ask!  

Kidney disease can be treated if caught early enough.  Not cured, but treated.  

Royal Canin brand foods are not affected and this is what I feed my cats.   Purina ProPlan wet food is also not affected.  

In addition, some of the companies will help pay your vet bills, so ask and find out.

[PastMember]

Luckily the food we give to our cats and dogs was not on the re-call list. It is still a very scary thought though!

[Avery]

The food we give my cats isn't affected, but the dog's food WAS, so we've switched him to boiled chicken and rice/cottage cheese until we find a substitute.

This is pretty terrible news though. I hope all our pets are safe!

[Vix]

Though I don't feed my cat any of the currently affected brands, I shop for his food at two of the stores noted, and it wouldn't be beyond the realm of imagination to occasionally buy some of their foods.

My son's cat is fed almost exclusively on one of the brands mentioned, so Frodo has been tested. Fortunately, he's alright and now on safer foods.

[PastMember]

We weren't feeding the boys anything on the Menu Foods list, but ALPO's recent recall came too close for comfort -- right date codes, but the plant is 1159 and our cans had 1157. Still, we've returned the remain cans and have gone with the only brand remaining in the store -- plus some home cooked foods.

Very scary stuff.

[PastMember]

It is intersting to note the law suits that are starting. In all states it used to be that dogs/cats/pets were considered nothing more than property, so you could only recieve compensation for their actual price (which, think about animals from shelters, who in some cases are nearly free). Several states have passed new laws though, that will make it possible for people to get settlements for their animal, their vet bills, as well as aditional money for emotional hardship.

As far as I am concerned I hope all the people who had animals that were affected by this sue the conpanies for all they are worth. There is no amount of money that could possibly make up for killing someone's pet. Especially because it has come to light that the company  knew that the food was tainted and delayed taking it off the market. I really hope they go bankrupt!