Comments on: Kidney Problems Reported From Natural Balance Foods

By: food waste disposer

food waste disposer — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 09:19:53 +0000

food waste disposer

[…]Itchmo: News For Dogs & Cats » Blog Archive » Kidney Problems Reported From Natural Balance Foods[…]

By: e wem

e wem — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 14:11:11 +0000

I was rather surprised that NB used the strange term kidney ‘problems’. My father had what I guess NB would call kidney ‘problems’. If he hadn’t died of a massive heart attack, he likely would have died from kidney ‘problems’ like both his parents.

The problem with ‘problem’ kidneys is what kidneys do. They remove poisons and waste products from the system. The only way kidneys have ‘problems’ is if they are not removing enough poisons and waste products to keep you from becoming posioned.

Even if kidneys have just a small ‘problem’ removing waste from the blood, that waste will accumulate. You can call that a ‘problem’. I would call it a failure of the kidneys to remove waste sufficiently.

A reasonable person would say the kidneys are failing to remove waste properly, hence the term kidney ‘failure’.

I am kind of touchy about kidney ‘problems’. My brother who is a surgeons says in our family we are all likely to die from kidney ‘problems’. Dad was pretty unhealthy before he died. Tired. Bad color. Thin. He died before they had dialysis.

Calling bad kidney function detected by blood and urine studies a ‘problem’ is like calling a dead cat ‘problematic’.

By: Vicki

Vicki — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 07:03:23 +0000

I just received this e-mail from my dear friend, Chrissy, a few minutes ago ( 2am 4-14-07):
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my 3 dogs are ALL at the emergency vet tonight on IV’s for kidney failure. The food I use Natural Balance (Cat & Dog venison) is now on the recall list (wasn’t last time I bought it a week ago). Please spread the warning. I have to get to sleep as i have to wake at 6am to pick them up and bring them to “day vet.” Possible 3-4 days of this if this even helps. They are in bad shape - you saw em…a bit lethargic but fine looking otherwise…they still looked that way today but vet did blood tests that show acute kidney failure….
—-
If you want to verify this I can get you in touch with an Austin, Texas vet who might help. I can be reached at castlechickatmsndotcom. Thanks, itchmo, for your forum.

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:45:15 +0000

Itchmo, I’m very disappointed in you BTW. Natural Balance says that owners are informing them of vomiting and kidney problems, and your headline amazingly upgrades that to “Natural Balance withdraws venison formulas related to kidney failure”. No kidney failure has been mentioned. No vets have verified anything. You made that up. Please stick to being the useful and informative source you have been in the past few weeks and stop sensationalizing. We love you, but the *last* thing pet owners need now is *more* panic.

ITCHMO ADMIN: We’ll investigate reader reports of kidney failure (not just problems). We did consult with a doctor and those two terms can be used interchangeably. We strive to be perfectly accurate, so we’ll use the precise term Natural Balance is using now, until we have verified reports of reduced kidney function. Thanks.

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:40:56 +0000

Countdown to people declaring that Natural Balance is the worst evil company ever, hates furbabies, steps on puppies, steals candy from children, and supports terrorists… In 3, 2, 1…