NEW RECALL: Royal Canin USA Recalls Sensible Choice and Kasco Dry Foods
Royal Canin USA is recalling eight Sensible Choice dry dog food products and seven Kasco dry dog and cat food products. Royal Canin states small traces of melamine-related compound were found in the rice protein concentrate provided by Cereal Byproducts — through cross-contamination. This supplier received food marked as rice protein concentrate from the same source as Wilbur-Ellis.
This confirms today is Friday.
The full press release after the jump.
UPDATE: Since issuing the release, RC updated the date codes involved. The new info is: “products with Best By date codes between July 28, 2007 to April 30, 2008 are being voluntarily recalled.”
(Thanks Mike and Carol)
ST. CHARLES, Mo., May 11 /PRNewswire/ — Royal Canin USA is announcing
today the voluntary nationwide recall of eight Sensible Choice dry dog food
products and seven Kasco dry dog and cat food products.
This announcement is based on the company’s ongoing extensive review of
its manufacturing and quality assurance testing procedures, which
identified trace amounts of a melamine derivative from tainted Chinese rice
protein concentrate provided to the company by domestic ingredient supplier
Cereal Byproducts, headquartered in Illinois.
“We deeply regret the concern and anxiety this announcement today will
cause our loyal customers and the entire pet community,” Olivier Amice,
President and CEO of Royal Canin USA, said. “While a very limited number of
Sensible Choice and Kasco products in this recall tested positive for trace
levels of a melamine derivative, Royal Canin USA is voluntarily withdrawing
these products out of an abundance of caution and because we are fully
committed to the welfare of our customers’ pets.”
Royal Canin USA has no confirmed cases of melamine related illness in
pets eating Sensible Choice and Kasco products affected by this recall.
Last month, Royal Canin USA announced it will no longer use any Chinese
vegetable protein suppliers.
The following eight Sensible Choice dry dog food products and seven
Kasco dry dog and cat food products with date codes between July 28, 2006
to April 30, 2007 are being voluntarily recalled:
SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) (available in pet specialty stores nationwide)
– SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) Chicken and Rice Adult (Dry Dog Food)
– SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) Chicken and Rice Reduced (Dry Dog Food)
– SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) Lamb and Rice Reduced (Dry Dog Food)
– SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) Chicken and Rice Puppy (Dry Dog Food)
– SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) Chicken and Rice Large Breed Puppy (Dry Dog Food)
– SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) NATURAL BLEND Adult (Dry Dog Food)
– SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) NATURAL BLEND Senior (Dry Dog Food)
– SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) NATURAL BLEND Puppy (Dry Dog Food)
KASCO(R) (available in pet specialty stores nationwide)
– KASCO(R) Chunks (Dry Dog Food)
– KASCO(R) Hi Energy (Dry Dog Food)
– KASCO(R) Maintenance (Dry Dog Food)
– KASCO(R) Mealettes (Dry Dog Food)
– KASCO(R) Mini Chunks (Dry Dog Food)
– KASCO(R) Puppy (Dry Dog Food)
– KASCO(R) Cat (Dry Cat Food)
Based on today’s announcement, pet owners should stop feeding their
pets the eight Sensible Choice dry dog food products, seven Kasco dry dog
and dry cat food products listed. Pet owners should consult with a
veterinarian if they are concerned about the health of their pet.
The safety and nutritional quality of Royal Canin USA pet food is our
company’s top priority because we understand that the health of pets comes
first. Pet owners who have questions about the voluntary recall of Sensible
Choice and Kasco dry pet food products and other Royal Canin USA products
should call 1-800-513-0041 or visit our web site at
http://www.royalcanin.us.
All Sensible Choice and Kasco products have a satisfaction guarantee
and the company will refund or replace the diets that are part of this
recall announcement.
May 12th, 2007 at 9:54 am
lainie, I have to agree with you about the Halo Dream Coat. It is one of the best products I’ve found in all my years of having pets. I have also used their Spot Stew for my cat & dogs tho it is hard to find here. I’ve been trying to switch my cat from FF to the Spot Stew but she’s fighting the switch. She’s never been a dry food eater and I refuse to use Purina products any longer so we’re having quite a battle of wills.
May 12th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Innova dry is made by Naturapet(their company) in their own plant. They are currently contracted with menu foods to made their canned food. Their canned food is made in the plant not involved in any of the recalls. If you go to www.naturapet.com their is a video and several statements from the CEO explaining this. Also, they are looking into other option for canning.
May 12th, 2007 at 9:56 am
I have been feeding my cats wet Merrick and Felidae and they are doing fine. Merrick has their own plant and manufactures their own food, and I believe Felidae is made by Evangers. Evangers also seems safe, but it wasn’t available at the feed store here and I didn’t want to order an entire case. I am still feeding Blue Buffalo dry because my cats have done so well on it. I have talked to them and they assure me it is safe, but I am a little uncomfortable because they have had some recalls. If I decide to switch dry food, I will buy Felidae.
May 12th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Anonymous Says:
May 12th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Vry Konfuzd Now Karen Joy Whr Did U Hear Innova Is Made By Menu
I’m not Karen, but Innova’s WET food is made by menu foods–their dry kibble is made independently.
You can check this @ http://www.thepetfoodlist.com/
May 12th, 2007 at 9:58 am
My reply to anonymous seems to be in cyberspace…
May 12th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Mandy,
I did not read all the previous messages. I am getting the picture here.
I have been feeding and raising carnivores all of my adult life, and that is over 40 years now. I have also been educating people on feeding their pets for just as long.
Here we go…
Read my previous messages first off.
Dogs and cats are carnivores. This means they need meat to stay healthy.
Ingredients listed on the bag or can are in descending order.
If “corn” is the first ingredient, that means the product is mostly corn.
Dry foods are an artificial diet. In order to be able to manufacture it, the product needs some form of starch to hold it together. So they must put some grain in there. The idea is to get as little grain as possible.
When they add gluten, rice concentrate, soy protein isolate, which are very extremely high protein grain isolates, they add insult to injury! You must not buy foods with these forms of protein to begin with. The meat in these foods is almost non-existant. And this holds true, even if melamine were not involved!
I realize you have a problem getting around and shopping for food, so you probably must buy your food at the grocery store.
The very best grocery store food is Iams. It is also safe. It is not manufactured at any of the plants where the other foods came from.
It is 10x better than the next grocery store food on the shelf. You can buy the dry or the canned in most grocery stores. The canned Iams was not manufactured at any of the plants where the recalls took place as far as I know. The Iams company had very few foods on the recall, and these involved the pouch only type foods.
It was the Iams company who threatened to blow the whistle on MenuFood if they didn’t do it themselves. I read the dialogue between the two Heads. So this shows that they really do have our pets’ interest at heart.
If they hadn’t forced MenuFood’s hand, the recall, and all that followed probably would have gotten much worse!
Other excellent foods are those made by the Canidae company. www.canidae.com. This is the one that I have switched to.
Another thing you can do for the health of your pets, is to pick up some chicken gizzards, livers and hearts at the grocery store. Feed them raw a couple times a week. If they have never had raw food, saute them lightly to the point where they will eat them. Dogs will usually eat them right up, but cats may not.
Learning how to properly feed dogs and cats takes awhile, so don’t get discouraged. This latest fiasco has all of us upset, and the main thing right now is to find a safe food.
From the point of safety, Whiskas is safe, but Iams is the better food, because there is no gluten in it! This means more of the protein listed on the bag comes from meat.
Think about it. You’ll see!
May 12th, 2007 at 9:59 am
If you go to www.naturapet.com, the makers of Innova, Evo, Calif. Naturals, Karma, and Healthwise, they have a video and statements about the recall and why their foods are safe.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:01 am
I must be getting caught in the spam filter, that’s the second replu Iv’e sent that’s gone MIA
May 12th, 2007 at 10:05 am
CathyA
My bottle of Carlson super 1000mg cod liver oil has 240mg of omega 3’s consisting of EPA, DHA, ALA, DPA. Whereas the salmon oil has only EPA and DHA but in higher concentrations. I was told to alternate between the two since they are differnet sources of omegas. And not told by one person but many. I use a small amount and do regular CBC panels on my cats and they are doing very well, no complications for the vitamin D. In fact, their panels have come back better since I began the oils. Maybe it has something to do with the urinary crystals not returning in more than 4 years, the oldest’s seizures completely dissapearing for more than 3 years, the herpies not flaring in in youngest since he was diagnosed…maybe not. But these cats are healthier than they have ever been and it’s been almost 3 years on EVO. Also, I admit I also feed raw and use kitty bloom supplements for the meat. My vet says we have to do what’s best for the cats even if that means thinking outside of the normal vet books sometimes. We watch how they act, how they look and what their bloodwork says. I, like everyone else, am doing the best I can for my guys. But it may not be the same as the next person.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:05 am
For those of you making your own foods, do your pets a favor and don’t add the veggies. If you must, add only a small amount. Meat is what they need. You must also add bonemeal to any boneless meat. If not, fed over a period of time, you will cause deficiencies. The bone MUST be put back.
A dog or cat can live indefinitely on meat and bone. Always good to add heart, liver, kidney and some of the innards too.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Kripes! everyones awake! LOL
Holy Moly what’s with all the Food labels in the thread? I think a link would work just as well, but that’s just me :-P
I haven’t read all of the most recent in thread.
Hey Mandy how you doin’ today?! I hope you got some rest. And remember what I said last night.
Doing your best is the best you can do :-D
I live in a much larger area. I’m on the outskirts of several Million. And I hate ordering things. But looking in the pets shops or health food stores here has resulted in Very little. You’d think it would be Easy here. Nope.
And I’ve begun to use the phone more to save on Gas! PoW! It’s a killer. It takes over an hour to get from one side of the city to the other in good traffic.
I’ve asked for Felidae, Canidae, Chicken Soup, Timberwolf, you name it, Noone has Heard of these foods! {me neither!}
Until here.
So I am very Happy you’ve found something within your area that your babies Like and will eat. It also doesn’t cost a hugh fortune! Geees they can be picky. Even if we stand on our heads!
Anyway, I hope today is a Much better day for you!
This is Not Our Fault. Something that *Should be* a ‘Certain Saftey’ isn’t.
Anyday- the other shoe can fall on Any commercial food. imho
By the time We find out, it’s already Done. These Comp. are being Re-Active.
{yeah and they’ve had weeks and weeks ahead of us!}
I heard it’s going to be Very Hot in the ‘Southwest’ today. I Love the Southwest area. Keep cool! :-D
Hug your Babies for me :-)
How’s everybody doing this morning {besides the “news”!} We made it through another night here LOL
Have we turned a corner here with this food thing ya think? {was that groaning I heard?!}
May 12th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Sorry to be bringing this up again but I just can’t see the rice of wheat in this Kasco Maintenance Dog food. It must be cross contamination or ? It just makes me suspicious that it’s Royal Canin’s corn gluten in South Africa that was reported to kill 30 dogs and now this. Guess I’m just paranoid.
Ground corn, chicken by product meal, corn gluten meal, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract and citric acid), beet pulp, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, choline chloride, Vitamins [dl-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), biotin, d-calcium pantothenate, niacin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), folic acid], Trace Minerals [zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, calcium iodate].
May 12th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Jessica - the press release cited cross-contamination….
May 12th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Jessica: Either it’s the corn gluten or any of the other ingredients that were “substituted” by the manufacturer. We all know that other products had claims of “no glutens of any kind” until they found out their manufacturer had taken it upon themselves to just go ahead & add some. Have no doubt it was because it would cost them a lot less to throw in this junk & had probably been doing it forever…..this time it was contaminated so they got caught withe their pants down. Just MHO.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Hi Jessica, I think imho, it just might be CORN products. It was CORN products {corn gluten} in South Africa’s Royal Canin products.
ALL of their stuff was Recalled there weeks ago.
But then again it could be a “slip” of the Rice in disguise!
I saw No specifics in the Recall. Just “traces” of Melamine. Nice of the Manufactures to be So helpful in figuring this out huh?
Grrrrrrr.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Yes, you’re all right. There just is no trusting anyone. I just keep thinking, what are the chances that Royan Canin SA is the only one in the world that got tainted corn gluten. They tested the corn and it came back positive for melamine. And they’re the only ones?
May 12th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Cross contamination huh? Well that would sound like Dirty equipment, since No Wheat or Rice is mentioned in the Ingredients right?
That’s some Serious DIRT!
How does a Corn product come in contact with a Wheat or Rice in that case?
And Here in th USA No Corn melamine has been found yet right?
May 12th, 2007 at 10:25 am
I’m doing better today Yaya. I think we do have to try to have a certain amount of humor about things so we don’t go insane. Hey it’s the YEAR OF THE PIG! The year the Chinese say it’s time to take a stand and speak your mind. I just don’t think they wanted US doing it. LOL I’m going to be laughing about that one for years…
May 12th, 2007 at 10:26 am
IMO if someone is on this site, they are trying to do the best they can for their pets. Personally, I am happy to see pet owners researching and trying to make better food choices. We all start somewhere. I’m glad when I started my (ongoing) journey, it was before the internet so I had no one to put me down or tell me I was poisoning my pets. I might never have gotten going.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:31 am
I don’t know about y’all but I’m just tired. I shouldn’t have to fight with my cat to get her to eat something I consider relatively safe for the day. I shouldn’t have to watch my dogs constantly to see if they’re walking funny or drinking too much. I shouldn’t have to spend hours and hours examining pet food labels. I shouldn’t have to drive from store to store looking for something safe to feed my animals. This is America. I SHOULD be able to enjoy my pets and feed them with the confidence that what I choose to feed won’t be poisoning them. I shouldn’t be having to do all those other things, but I DO have to and I will continue to because it has been proven to me that I can no longer have faith in the pet food companies. They are not looking out for the welfare of my pets. But I’m just tired and discouraged and felt like ranting this morning.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Genny: I keep reading people with cats that have crystal problems have been giving their cats Emu oil. You may have to look on the internet to find it, but the people who reported doing this said their cats have no problems with crystals after adding the Emu oil. Emu oil has anti-inflammatory properties.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:40 am
I am so sorry about all the pets that have gotten sick and passed. My condolences goes out to everyone whose experienced a loss:+(
This is TERRIBLE and i’m very FRUSTRATED!!!
My question is i don’t have any cats…all dog furbabies, and have always fed them “Purina One” Dry dog food. I just switched 3 days ago to “Pet Prosmise” Dry dog food by reccomendation from my vet. he claims it’s all natural products and is made here i the US. I VALUE Itchmo’s website and all the responses and information here. In your opinion have i made the right choice? Does anyone here know anything about “Pet Promise” dry dog food?
Thank you so very much. Good luck to ALL of you.
Muffin
May 12th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Before I get busy with my day and forget to say it,
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL :)
whether it’s a butterfly kiss from your kid, a sandpaper kiss from your cat, or a super soft kiss from your dog, I hope you all have an extra special one tomorrow.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:42 am
For Lainie:
Can you please explain to me what the “Dream Coat Oil” is and where you obtain it? I haven’t heard of it before
May 12th, 2007 at 10:44 am
For Muffin:
I found their website:
http://www.petpromiseinc.com/products.htm
May 12th, 2007 at 10:47 am
OK never mind - I found a link to Dream Coat Oil. Thx
May 12th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Hey Ya Ya Welcome Back U Beat To To My ? By Her Latest Txtz I Think Mandy Is Having A Much Better Morning. Hope Im Right. I Have To Go Shopping Now 4my Pets And Have No Idea What Im Going To Get Anymore I Knw Some Great Foods But My Dogs For Some Reason Cant Eat Them They Vomit Evrytime I Give Them Spots Stew Or Merrick. I Was Using Innova But With Menu And Cross Contamination Im A Bit Nervous Now. And I Gotta Get Bird Food And Shez Worse Then The Dogs And Cats She Only Eats 1 Kind Of Food No Matter What Else I Try 2give Her Purina Bird Chow. Gotta Change The 10wk Olds Dry Food Now To. Gotta Find A Good Home 4my Lil Grl Dachshund Cant Keep 6dogs My Head Is Pounding Again. We Can Research Anythng And Find Out Today Its Fine But What Happens Tommorrow.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:53 am
I wanted to mention that if anyone is thinking of making their own food and has nutritional questions, the people at dog bloom are very friendly and helpful about supplement questions. They have vitamins, minerals, calcium, etc. and have been in business for 50 years. I have been using them for 10 years and really value their support.
http://www.dogbloom.com/index.htm
May 12th, 2007 at 11:02 am
www.halopets.com JLR I Love Thr Products And Have Tried Most As Much As I Dont Like The Store Chain Petland Carries It Here But They Do Alot Of Mail Order Also I Found It In The Pet Supply Store I Drive 45mins To Get To My Gas Bills Are Soon Going To Excede My Pet Food Bills Lol. Halo Is Also Earth Friendly They Pack Thr Products 4shipping In Popcorn.
May 12th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Well I gotta go for now. Laters!
May 12th, 2007 at 11:14 am
So now we will have to wonder who will be next on the list from this cereal by product company. Heaven knows who will. What scares me now is if they do let all the tainted chickens into our food chain because they tell us that there is little chance of harm, well they did not say if the left overs from all these chickens that will be put into our animal feed will cause harm. Especially to cats since they seem to get ill far worse then the dogs. I do not want these chickens into our food chain, nor the leftovers to be put into our animal feed and it will be put into our animals if it is used by us. Now think of this all of you that are on holistic food or raw foods. IF they put tainted chicken into our food supply then that same chicken will be used in all of those expensive pet foods too. Now what will that do to our animals. They say there is little risk to us but they did not say if there would be any risk to our pets.
Then there are the vitamins that are put into the pet food. Almost all of our vitamins in human sources come from China now. They make almost all the vitamin C. Eighty percent of all of our fish is shipped over seas while China ships their fish to us. Maybe they will get some of our tainted farm raised fish that they helped distroy.
I guess I should not blame all of them over there. I am sure there are some animal lovers in China too. I do not feel our country is going to do much about this since we did get a loan from China. It puts the US in a sticky situation. Loan or no loan we are the consumers and have to stop these chickens from getting into our food supply and our animals too!!! Most of all the animals since they would probably consume the worst of it. But no one knows what it can do to us in the long term either. The American companies have moved a lot of their business over seas because it is cheaper labor and cheaper everything and it scares me to wonder what we are even eating any more. There is no guarantee that any of our food sources are pure. Don’t just worry about the animals any more! We better start worrying about ourself as well and our children and the elderly especially!
Right now if your pet is eating something that they are not getting sick over then do not stop feeding them this. Changing the diet is hard on a pet. Switching from one thing to another is costly and you very well may end up on the recall list before you know it.
I know a lot of people that have been feeding their dogs purina and have no problems. I fed my dog Alpo that was on the recall list and he was taken to the vet twice now and they said he is fine. but he will not eat. I have to beg him every single night and he will not eat out of his bowl at all. I have to hold on to it in my hand before he will eat a bite. and beg with each and every bite. He will not eat dry at all. No Dry!! evo or any of it.
I have spent all kinds of money trying different kinds and he will not touch it. The birds like it though. I went to this pet store and picked up all sorts of wet kinds. He would not eat holistic or organic. He turned his nose up to all of it. He took the dry foods and scooted them out of his bowl with his nose. He did the same with the wet. I have had several messes to clean up. My vet said to give him the science fresh. tried it.. he would not eat it. Tried the chicken soup. nope. evo and he would not touch it. Halo.. nope, Paul Newmans brand, nope.. I could go on naming them.. but he just would not touch them.. You cannot leave them out all night long either since they are raw. so.. i had no choice but to pick them up after an hour of waiting.. I finally got some pedegree.. well he put his nose up to that too of course. I would too. I looked like there was no meat in it.. and then I got some of the new pedegree with more meat in it.. such a little can and I have a collie, so I bought two cans.. and then I noticed that for every ten pounds that i needed a can.. wow.. my dog is over sixty pounds. well he was.. not sure at this point. he had lost five pounds when i took him to the vet last time.
anyway he will eat this stuff out of my hand but it is hard to get him to do that even. I cannot afford to take him to the vet again!!! I have taken him twice and they said he is okay. I wonder about that.. I mean maybe his kidney and his liver is okay but what else? He was fine till this all started. Ate every day, but now? I wonder each and every thing I have fed him may have somethig in it by changing to this one and then that one. I mean I could take him to the vet every week because i have changed his food and anything I may have fed him could have poisoned him again! I may as well give up.. After all if they put the tainted chickens in our food supply then we all are going to have it in us. WE can go to a place that says their chickens are okay, but are they? just there word is not enough any more. I could go buy a cow but am I sure that it had not been fed bad feed or is from a line of mad cows?
I think we all may have been eating tainted food for sometime now and our animals too. I mean think about it. It is in the fish, Pork, chickens for how long? IT just looks like a losing battle! One that is already lost! All we can do now is try to stop all of this for the future and for our childrens future and our animals. Stop those chickens from getting into our food supply!
May 12th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Lorie: I am supplementing my efforts at better wet foods with Sheba. It is made in Thailand for Mars. It has only three or four ingredients per flavor, being mostly chicken, tuna, turkey, a little tapioca, guar gum. No supplements, but smells like human food, and for some reason my cat likes it way better than the human food. It is chunky, recognizable as food, and has a little sauce. I do not feel this is the best choice for her, but it is helping her get wet food in her, has not made her sick so far, and has helped get her started on some other wet foods. I mixed a little Sheba with some better food, and she ate all instead of turning up her nose. The Sheba has zero grain in it, and it is helping to detox her from the junk canned food she keeps craving.
May 12th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Well…bought another bag of lamb and rice canidae yesterday….with reading all the input re dogs foods this is getting pretty scary. Please, please canidae do not show up on the recall list………..I have been feeding my dogs this for several years. I tried adding evangers wet to the dry food and the german babies scarfed it down, the chi would not eat it. ?? So, me add whatever my husband and I are eating. I make a big pot of stew for ALL of us. If you’re looking for treats I recommend innova health bars…they love these treats! The ingredients are very good. Several of my co-workers WERE feeding science diet. After I gave them this site boy did they change foods…lot of pwople are not aware of the recalls that are going on. My DUMB vet has ROYAL CANIN ads all over his vet office…..geezzzzzzzz. I keep forwarding him all the recall information. They are not aware what is going on. :o(
Happy Saturday,
Hot IN ARIZONA. :o(
May 12th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Jessica,
How much of each of the two oils do you use per feeding? I would like to put a little on their dry food each day. I’m gradually getting my cats used to eating raw food. Right now they are eating a little Nature’s Variety Raw Organic Chicken and I’m going to start some Pitcairn’s recipes.
It’s just difficult to get cats who are used to a certain brand of dry food to switch to raw. I’m taking it very slowly.
May 12th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Jessica,
Would you say one capsule of either cod liver oil or salmon oil per cat each day would be about right?
May 12th, 2007 at 11:34 am
JLR: “has ANYONE heard of any episodes of internal hemorrhaging?”
I have read several instances of this here at Itchmo. Also liver involment instead of kidney. Lots of talk about bloody stool also.
May 12th, 2007 at 11:43 am
Well, I have been cooking for my cats for about three weeks now. My husband fishes so they have been getting lots of trout, flounder, drum, and redfish. I cook it for them, make a broth since they like gravy, and grind it up with guts and bones in the food processor. I am a little scared of the chicken right now since we cannot get a definitive answer and they don’t like beef. I prepare it with pumpkin (vet suggestion) or carrots. They like it and I have noticed that they seem to have much more energy than when I was feeding them cat food. my cats have always been healthy, but I notice a big difference in their energy levels. I guess it is because of all the crap that was added to the cat food, and the deal with wheat flour. It is ironic because you always hear don’t cook for your cats unless you make sure you add all the correct vitamins, etc to satisfy their dietary needs. Where they really getting that in cat food anyway? I was feeding Natural Balance. I do have an old bag of Meow Mix dry that I give them as a weekly treat. I hate too. I give them very little but they are like a bunch of kids in a candy store when i give it to them.
May 12th, 2007 at 11:45 am
PET PROMISE is a PURINA PRODUCT
that is how good they are!!
grrrrrr no go!!
May 12th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Mia, Natura is testing all their products for melamine.
May 12th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Anonymous, Natura makes their own dry food. Their canned food is made by Menu South Dakota plant. They are testing their food, wet and dry for melamine before distributing.
May 12th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Zoe,
I alternate each day between the cod liver and salmon oil but ONLY Carlson brand. I have 3 abys, 3 stainless steel bowls, I poke a hole in one capsule and divide it evenly between the 3 bowls. It ends up being just a few drops each but the stuff is strong. That’s the amount that I’ve been advised to use with the diet I’m feeding right now.
For the meat, I stated using the honest kitchen recently but I add beef hearts to increase the meat content. I’ve tried Steve’s real food, Grand-dads, Primal, Feed this inc., just to name a few. Also, I’ve made my own using Four Paws Five Directions recipie as well as Pictarins. But I feed the Evo along with it. I know it can be scary making food for our pets but let’s be honest, we feed ourselves and our families. In fact, I feed my cats better than my family :)
All of my cats gradually took to raw. I just always offered it and then tossed it if they didn’t eat it. Now they all ask for it. My cats are indoors only so I feel liker I have to offer it. If they were outside eating birds or mice I wouldn’t bother at all.
May 12th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Jessica,
I posted this last night but I guess you didn’t see it so I’m reposting because I REALLY, REALLY need your advise, please….
Do tell……are you feeding Innova Evo DRY to your kitties with the bladder/crytals problems? Are you using the fish oils with the Evo also?
I ask because of a recent vet emergency trip and hospitalization with my 6 y/o male. Vet said the switching to the premium foods not done gradually caused the crystals and they would most likely return if I didn’t start feeding a rx’d urinary diet — SD and Purina, natch. Don’t want to go that route. Since the Innova is so high in protein I’ve been a little paranoid to continue feeding this. My cat is not liking me withholding the Innova…he loved it!
With your tried and true experience with Evo, I would be thrilled if I could start feeding this again. So would my cat.
Thanks for any info you can share !!!
May 12th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Our Krogers sells Spot’s Stew. It smells like human food. My cats will not even lick it.
My cats hate aromatic root vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, zucchini, squash, pumpkin used in premium pet foods. Don’t mention garlic. Any garlic and they run
I tried Doxsee canned clams last night. They looked excellent. I rinsed off the juice. Cats would get near the dish. Sigh
About Mars. Mars at one time a rather secretive privately owned company has suddenly gone global expanding aggressively into pet foods. I believe Mars bought a Menu plant a while back. I think it just bought Nutro? My warning meter is up. Mars is changing rapidly. I am staying away from it
Even before the pet food crisis I have lost faith in the companies going global, because a drop in quality follows and the labels become evasive about where the food is made. I have noticed this on candy.
The smaller candy bars made for Halloween are not the same quality as the big bars. That warns me production may be farmed out. Who knows where since the globals have all changed from ‘Product of” to ‘Distributed by’. (Lying scumbags) I just threw away a bag of candy reduced because it was made in Easter colors. It was definitely inferior to the normal brand product. No more will I touch Holiday production runs
I am not against people selling foreign product. I just want it listed on the label so I can choose to buy or not. This is the crime. They do not want us to know what we are buying. Snake oil salesmen used to be run out of town on a rail.
I am using Whiskas too because of unemployment.
My cats love roast turkey. Sometimes the store cuts up almost expired frozen turkeys reduced. Turkey livers are the best treat of all
My kitties love the new Purrfectly Fish in a pouch. It seems to be mostly water, has nitrites to make it bright red. Thailand of course. Why doesn’t some news service go visit that factory in Thailand? The one making almost every brand? It bothers me but it makes the cats happy so they share a pouch a day. If I wasn’t broke they would not be eating this
May 12th, 2007 at 11:58 am
When I add meat I add calcium too… gotta have calcium with the meat.
May 12th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
There are several options out there for people who are interested in feeding their cats completely grain-free food, that do not involve having to make your own cat food. Since these foods do not contain any rice or wheat products, this could go a long way in allaying your fears about melamine contamination.
Here is a list of some of the more readily available grain-free cat foods out there:
*Wellness canned foods - at least 3 flavors are grain-free. Three out of my four cats eat it. (One only likes dry food.)
*Nature’s Variety Raw Instincts - dry food and also canned food. My 4 cats love the kibble but not the canned variety.
*Innova Evo - dry and canned. Three out four of my cats like the kibble.
Yes, these foods are more expensive, but as someone else on this forum pointed out, because they are protein-rich, the cats eat less of it to feel full, instead of gorging on carbs. No one has ever been able to explain to me why obligate carnivores like cats should be fed grains!
My own cats have done very well on the grain-free diet. Their coats are shiny, they have far less dander, NO hairballs, and their poops are smaller (because they are absorbing more of what they eat). They have muscle tone instead of flab, too.
All this food is available in selected pet stores, but generally not in the chain stores. You might be able to get good deals over the Internet.
To transition your cats to the dry food, try first offering a few kibbles to them as “treats.” Then add a small amount to their existing food and slowly work up to using only the new food.
May 12th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Helen,
Hey there, I read the same about emu oil, too, a week or so ago. I even orderd some and got it Thursday! I’m all for natural remedies and it sounds really promising. I even ordered a little sample pack. Thought the oil might help my overly stressed neck from staring at this monitor since the recalls started and reading everything I can.
Are you using it?
Thanks for the heads up!!!
May 12th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Genny,
Sorry, I missed that last night. I do feed the Evo, with the raw, and the crystals are gone. I saw a new vet yesteday, my last one retired so I’m starting over. He said it’s impossible that the crystals are gone. I said tell that to the tech who analyzed the last cysto. I swear 2 cats who had problems regularly have had none since I started Evo. The raw I fed all along so I can’t attribute it to that. But the kibble change coincides with the bladder improvement. I’m a cautious person by nature, skeptical of most things but I am beginning to wonder if it’s not that the Evo made things better but perhaps the the other foods were the problem. Maybe the grains have been bad for a long time?
May 12th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
High Note: Have you tried getting a new bowl that is a different color and shape? Your dog might associate the bowl with getting sick. Put the new bowl in a different spot (don’t get any kind of plastic) and try throwing one bite at a time into the bowl? If that works, put a little food in the bowl first and then hand toss a bite on top of it. My sig other had a dog once who got her legs stuck in a sewer grate when she was a puppy and would never walk on a pattern after that (no patterned floor, etc) and would avoid every odd spot in a sidewalk. Once your dog has made a link like that, you may be stuck with it, but if you can change the whole concept of a food dish, you might be able to get back to a dish, or a plate. I will keep fingers crossed for you. This is so frustrating!
May 12th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Jessica,
Thanks! I’m confused about the Evo products since there are several. I was feeding Innova Evo dry in the orange bag. Is that the same Evo you are talking about?
Thanks!!
May 12th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Helen has a great idea with the bowl change. I used to work with dogs. Nearly 100 dogs at a time sometimes at a service organization that shall remain nameless and the dogs get some odd ideas and associations. I got into trouble for coaxing the dogs to eat sometimes but your suggestions did work.