Comments on: Recall Update: Monday http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377 Essential news for cats, dogs and pet owners. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:37:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Turbonerd http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-21459 Turbonerd Wed, 23 May 2007 14:12:43 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-21459 My dog has eaten Beneful all her life, with no problems until recently. This past April I bought the 40 lb. bag at Wal-Mart. She finished that on Sunday 5/20. That night she started throwing up. I thought she might have been supplementing her diet with something she found in the yard, so I didn't think too much about it. Started a new 20 lb. bag (bought at Walmart) on Monday 5/21. Still throwing up - 4x on Monday, 3x yesterday, once more today (5/23). She's been drinking more and asking to go out a lot more recently, thought it was just the weather. We had house guests two weeks ago, and she's been downright despondent since they left - we thought because she missed the attention, but now I'm not so sure. Going to the vet shortly. My dog has eaten Beneful all her life, with no problems until recently. This past April I bought the 40 lb. bag at Wal-Mart. She finished that on Sunday 5/20. That night she started throwing up. I thought she might have been supplementing her diet with something she found in the yard, so I didn’t think too much about it.

Started a new 20 lb. bag (bought at Walmart) on Monday 5/21. Still throwing up - 4x on Monday, 3x yesterday, once more today (5/23).

She’s been drinking more and asking to go out a lot more recently, thought it was just the weather. We had house guests two weeks ago, and she’s been downright despondent since they left - we thought because she missed the attention, but now I’m not so sure.

Going to the vet shortly.

]]> By: ldr http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-6013 ldr Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:18:33 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-6013 Our two dogs have been on beneful for the past five and eight years. This past March we noticed both of them were losing weight, drinking more water and urinating outside more often. We switched to another brand of store bought dry dog food and they are back to normal it would apear for now. These dogs are special to us and we think these pet food producers should be more careful about what goes into their product. Our two dogs have been on beneful for the past five and eight years. This past March we noticed both of them were losing weight, drinking more water and urinating outside more often. We switched to another brand of store bought dry dog food and they are back to normal it would apear for now. These dogs are special to us and we think these pet food producers should be more careful about what goes into their product.

]]> By: TW http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-5855 TW Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:49:27 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-5855 My dog eats dry Purina Beneful. I buy the 40 lb bag at Sam's Club in New Orleans. I have never had a problem until the start of the most recent bag I bought. My dog has all the same symptoms--acute liver and kidney failure, excessive thirst, lethargy, uncontrolled and excessive peeing, and an ulcer that causes black stool. My dog does not have access to antifreeze or rat poison, and the leptospirosis test came back negative. It must be the Beneful. It seems like the burden of proof is on consumers regarding the tainted food. I think it should be the other way around. The pet food companies should have the burden of proving that their food is SAFE. Just because Beneful isn't on the official recal list yet, doesn't mean it is safe. My dog eats dry Purina Beneful. I buy the 40 lb bag at Sam’s Club in New Orleans. I have never had a problem until the start of the most recent bag I bought. My dog has all the same symptoms–acute liver and kidney failure, excessive thirst, lethargy, uncontrolled and excessive peeing, and an ulcer that causes black stool. My dog does not have access to antifreeze or rat poison, and the leptospirosis test came back negative. It must be the Beneful.

It seems like the burden of proof is on consumers regarding the tainted food. I think it should be the other way around. The pet food companies should have the burden of proving that their food is SAFE. Just because Beneful isn’t on the official recal list yet, doesn’t mean it is safe.

]]> By: Lynette http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3874 Lynette Tue, 10 Apr 2007 15:43:20 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3874 The Senators are our elected representatives. They will most certainly do nothing - IF YOU LET THEM. Write them, email them, let them know this is an issue important to you. They're not reading these blogs and they're not reading your minds, but they will (or they will have staff aides) read your letters and emails. More than 60% of US households have pets. If we stand up, united, we can implement change. www.petfoodcrusade.com The Senators are our elected representatives. They will most certainly do nothing - IF YOU LET THEM.

Write them, email them, let them know this is an issue important to you. They’re not reading these blogs and they’re not reading your minds, but they will (or they will have staff aides) read your letters and emails.

More than 60% of US households have pets. If we stand up, united, we can implement change.

www.petfoodcrusade.com

]]> By: Amy http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3824 Amy Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:48:33 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3824 Hi I was reading through your blogs and first I want to send my condolences to the pet parents who have lost their furbabies. I for one am lucky so far. We've been battling renal failure for 2 weeks now. $3100 later we still have to visit the vet every 3 days for more blood work and another $106 everytime. My babies are still alive though and I'm thankful. All of this due to Iam's dry dog food. Vets have run every test to rule out anything else. I have contacted everyone I know about this and so far no recall. My local news channel even did a story. The FDA has called and I told them too. NO RECALL. I have 2 dogs that went into failure the same time. 2 Boxers, Dexter-7 and Meeka 3. I just want to let everyone know, even though the dog food doesn't have wheat gluten, it's still killing dogs everyday!!! There is something else they are overlooking.!! Hi I was reading through your blogs and first I want to send my condolences to the pet parents who have lost their furbabies. I for one am lucky so far. We’ve been battling renal failure for 2 weeks now. $3100 later we still have to visit the vet every 3 days for more blood work and another $106 everytime. My babies are still alive though and I’m thankful. All of this due to Iam’s dry dog food. Vets have run every test to rule out anything else. I have contacted everyone I know about this and so far no recall. My local news channel even did a story. The FDA has called and I told them too. NO RECALL. I have 2 dogs that went into failure the same time. 2 Boxers, Dexter-7 and Meeka 3. I just want to let everyone know, even though the dog food doesn’t have wheat gluten, it’s still killing dogs everyday!!! There is something else they are overlooking.!!

]]> By: 5CatMom http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3797 5CatMom Tue, 10 Apr 2007 03:33:00 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3797 Here's today's STOCK MARKET report on MENU: Looks like Menu fell off a cliff! Unfortunately they seem to be recovering. Did you hear the rumor that Natura was looking for a plant? http://today.reuters.com/stocks/charts.aspx?ticker=MEW_u.TO Here’s today’s STOCK MARKET report on MENU:

Looks like Menu fell off a cliff! Unfortunately they seem to be recovering.
Did you hear the rumor that Natura was looking for a plant?

http://today.reuters.com/stock.....r=MEW_u.TO

]]> By: Mike K http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3795 Mike K Tue, 10 Apr 2007 03:17:49 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3795 Debbie is right. Congress will do nothing and hope that we all fall for their BS do-nothing congressional hearings. WE have to do this ourselves. Start with not purchasing any brand that has anything to with the recalls. Find out who the CEO of these companies are and send them a letter (not an email) telling them that you will no longer be purchasing anything from their company until they cut the cord from Menu Foods and China. The only way these companies will change is if they start losing money. The only way that happens is if we stop buying their crap. Spread the word-even if it is just telling 1-2 others what you are doing. I've thrown out the old food and bought Canidae and Felidae for our pets. They weren't recalled but I'm not going to support any companies that work with Menu Foods. Debbie is right. Congress will do nothing and hope that we all fall for their BS do-nothing congressional hearings. WE have to do this ourselves. Start with not purchasing any brand that has anything to with the recalls. Find out who the CEO of these companies are and send them a letter (not an email) telling them that you will no longer be purchasing anything from their company until they cut the cord from Menu Foods and China. The only way these companies will change is if they start losing money. The only way that happens is if we stop buying their crap. Spread the word-even if it is just telling 1-2 others what you are doing. I’ve thrown out the old food and bought Canidae and Felidae for our pets. They weren’t recalled but I’m not going to support any companies that work with Menu Foods.

]]> By: Debbie http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3792 Debbie Tue, 10 Apr 2007 02:38:21 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3792 Good people/good pet parents: Why are we even really concerned about what the FDA/govt. and Congress has to say and what they are going to do? I mean really, what is the end result going to be except for some lame apologies, very little changes, and continued fake hype with their advertising. Why should we believe that after all of these years of poisonous ingredients, that the pet food industry is REALLY going to care for animals all of a sudden when they haven't cared one iota about them all along? And as usual, what are those industries going to get, just the usual slap on the wrist. That's already quite evident since they have been operating as usual without coming to any reasonable conclusions. I highly suggest that we just stick to purchasing the pet foods that have always been pet-friendly, pet nutritious like "Natural Balance" and all the other great brands people have been mentioning lately on this board since this long overdue opening of Pandora's Box. PLEASE, good people, don't fall for any more of those pet company's fake hype...or the govt's. either. In the end, it's still all about getting YOUR MONEY! Just another note: I don't believe the govt. about the few cases of mad cow disease (Japan certainly doesn't), and about the bird flu virus. Therefore, I had been feeding my current 9 cats strictly expensive Nutro fish (dry and canned)...from which I discovered was the reason for their random vomiting when I stopped feeding it to them. Suspicious me wonders if that Nutro "fish," Made in CANADA, is the remains of the poor baby seals who are being brutally clubbed to death! Nutro gave me all the more reason to add to my boycotting of Canadian fish exports! Good people/good pet parents:

Why are we even really concerned about what the FDA/govt. and Congress has to say and what they are going to do? I mean really, what is the end result going to be except for some lame apologies, very little changes, and continued fake hype with their advertising.

Why should we believe that after all of these years of poisonous ingredients, that the pet food industry is REALLY going to care for animals all of a sudden when they haven’t cared one iota about them all along? And as usual, what are those industries going to get, just the usual slap on the wrist. That’s already quite evident since they have been operating as usual without coming to any reasonable conclusions.

I highly suggest that we just stick to purchasing the pet foods that have always been pet-friendly, pet nutritious like “Natural Balance” and all the other great brands people have been mentioning lately on this board since this long overdue opening of Pandora’s Box.

PLEASE, good people, don’t fall for any more of those pet company’s fake hype…or the govt’s. either. In the end, it’s still all about getting YOUR MONEY!

Just another note: I don’t believe the govt. about the few cases of mad cow disease (Japan certainly doesn’t), and about the bird flu virus. Therefore, I had been feeding my current 9 cats strictly expensive Nutro fish (dry and canned)…from which I discovered was the reason for their random vomiting when I stopped feeding it to them. Suspicious me wonders if that Nutro “fish,” Made in CANADA, is the remains of the poor baby seals who are being brutally clubbed to death! Nutro gave me all the more reason to add to my boycotting of Canadian fish exports!

]]> By: 5CatMom http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3784 5CatMom Tue, 10 Apr 2007 01:51:44 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3784 Mark's article is great. This may be more than just wheat gluten. Has any progress been made toward testing the food's Vitamin D? For new readers, here's the article: PETA Asks For Investigation of Vitamin D in Dry Food Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 We’ve seen plenty of reader complaints linking dry food to pet deaths. PETA is now calling for the investigation of vitamin D in dry pet food, arguing that the symptoms are consistent with those described in dry food deaths. We’ve already read about a previous vitamin D problem and that backs up PETA’s suspicions. Report your dry food-related pet sickness and deaths to us. Please also report your case to the FDA. (end of article) Mark’s article is great.

This may be more than just wheat gluten. Has any progress been made toward testing the food’s Vitamin D?

For new readers, here’s the article:

PETA Asks For Investigation of Vitamin D in Dry Food
Wednesday, April 4th, 2007
We’ve seen plenty of reader complaints linking dry food to pet deaths. PETA is now calling for the investigation of vitamin D in dry pet food, arguing that the symptoms are consistent with those described in dry food deaths. We’ve already read about a previous vitamin D problem and that backs up PETA’s suspicions.

Report your dry food-related pet sickness and deaths to us.

Please also report your case to the FDA.

(end of article)

]]> By: Steve http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3780 Steve Tue, 10 Apr 2007 01:12:38 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3780 PBS NEWSHOUR EXTRA 4.09.07 Owners, Vets Question Regulations As Pet Food Scare Continues As the list of tainted pet food recalled continues to grow, pet owners and veterinarians across the country are questioning whether new methods are needed for determining the safety of dog and cat food. The recall has exposed the fact that, although sold under many different brand names, most pet foods are created only a few manufacturers, such as Menu Foods, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. The companies that own the brand hire these "contract manufacturers" to make their particular pet food. The contract company owns the processing plant where the food is made and rent out time on their production equipment to make each particular kind of food. Officials explain it is a much cheaper way of making the food because each individual brand doesn't have to buy the expensive manufacturing equipment themselves. The manufacturing company purchases the ingredients while the brand often provides the recipe or formula for their particular brand of pet food. continued http://tinyurl.com/2rcmsp PBS NEWSHOUR EXTRA
4.09.07

Owners, Vets Question Regulations As Pet Food Scare Continues

As the list of tainted pet food recalled continues to grow, pet owners and veterinarians across the country are questioning whether new methods are needed for determining the safety of dog and cat food.

The recall has exposed the fact that, although sold under many different brand names, most pet foods are created only a few manufacturers, such as Menu Foods, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The companies that own the brand hire these “contract manufacturers” to make their particular pet food. The contract company owns the processing plant where the food is made and rent out time on their production equipment to make each particular kind of food. Officials explain it is a much cheaper way of making the food because each individual brand doesn’t have to buy the expensive manufacturing equipment themselves.

The manufacturing company purchases the ingredients while the brand often provides the recipe or formula for their particular brand of pet food.

continued
http://tinyurl.com/2rcmsp

]]> By: Mark Wheeler http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3777 Mark Wheeler Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:47:51 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3777 This NY Times article says there are an estimated 39,000 pets (the overwhelming majority cats) affected by the tainted food. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Pet-Food-Recall.html?_r=1&oref=slogin This NY Times article says there are an estimated 39,000 pets (the overwhelming majority cats) affected by the tainted food.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponlin.....ref=slogin

]]> By: 5CatMom http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3769 5CatMom Mon, 09 Apr 2007 22:51:30 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3769 To SusanUNPC, Thanks for the lab info. To SusanUNPC,

Thanks for the lab info.

]]> By: Heather http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3767 Heather Mon, 09 Apr 2007 22:09:21 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3767 Before making snap judgements about Dr. Hodgkins, please do a little research. Yes, she worked for Hills but in by no means "in their pocket" so to speak. Please check out http://petfoodcrusade.com/ and see Dr. Hodgkins proposal. By Googling Dr. Hodgkins you can also see her opinion on the pet food industry and feline diet. Dr. Hodgkins is on OUR side and will be the only one to testify that is. Before making snap judgements about Dr. Hodgkins, please do a little research. Yes, she worked for Hills but in by no means “in their pocket” so to speak. Please check out http://petfoodcrusade.com/ and see Dr. Hodgkins proposal. By Googling Dr. Hodgkins you can also see her opinion on the pet food industry and feline diet. Dr. Hodgkins is on OUR side and will be the only one to testify that is.

]]> By: Lynette http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3759 Lynette Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:05:06 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3759 Dr. Hodgkins is our only hope. Yes, she worked for Hills - and left to start her own cats-only clinic. Dr. Hodgkins' website: www.yourdiabeticcat.com (She believes many commercial cat foods CAUSE diabetes in cats.) Dr. Hodgkins' book (to be released in June): Your Cat http://www.amazon.com/Your-Cat-Simple-Secrets-Stronger/dp/0312358016/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7976062-2453616?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176152364&sr=1-1 Dr. Hodgkins is our only hope. Yes, she worked for Hills - and left to start her own cats-only clinic.

Dr. Hodgkins’ website: www.yourdiabeticcat.com
(She believes many commercial cat foods CAUSE diabetes in cats.)

Dr. Hodgkins’ book (to be released in June): Your Cat
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Cat.....amp;sr=1-1

]]> By: susanUnPC http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3755 susanUnPC Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:32:06 +0000 http://www.itchmo.com/recall-update-monday-377#comment-3755 Itchmo has a link somewhere to the Iowa veterinary school's testing labs -- they're willing to conduct tests for free, I think. You might also contact ASPCA. :::::: Re the list of witnesses for Durbin's hearing. I "Googled" Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins. She's got the right idea about cat nutrition here: http://www.catnutrition.org/diabetes.html -- I hope she's as forceful in her testimony and educates more cat owners about the problems with giving cats dry food + any food with grain content. Itchmo has a link somewhere to the Iowa veterinary school’s testing labs — they’re willing to conduct tests for free, I think. You might also contact ASPCA.

::::::

Re the list of witnesses for Durbin’s hearing. I “Googled” Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins. She’s got the right idea about cat nutrition here: http://www.catnutrition.org/diabetes.html
– I hope she’s as forceful in her testimony and educates more cat owners about the problems with giving cats dry food + any food with grain content.

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