Voluntary Dry Food Reports
For the latest news, including new recalls, the sources of the toxin, and others, go here.
Report your pet’s death or illness now.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated since the first posting.
Several days ago, we started reading reports of dry food possibly making pets sick, specifically Iams. We then asked our readers to provide their experience to us. Here’s what we found:
Number of pets covered: 134 (47 cats, 87 dogs)
Reported ARF (Acute Renal Failure): 24 (17%) 15 cats, 9 dogs
Cat Deaths: 20 | Cat Illnesses: 26
Dog Deaths: 9 | Dog Illnesses: 77
Since our report, one DRY food from Hills has been recalled so far.
We caution you against accepting this as the final word as these are self-reported numbers from parents who have been reading about other sick or dying pets. Given the caveats, the brands that really stood out were Iams, Nutro, and Science Diet. We expected quite a few Iams reports since the survey results from posts about sick pets who ate Iams, (read about Menu Foods’ exclusive contract with Iams) but the Nutro reports seemed to have come from nowhere. Of the 5 reported deaths parents linked to Nutro, 3 were from Acute Renal Failure. 3 ARF deaths were reportedly linked with Science Diet and 7 were linked with Iams. There may be legitimate reason why some brands are on this list, for example, Science Diet may be recommended by vets to particularly sick pets.
Recall resources: Detailed timeline & facts | Recalled Food List | Get recall alerts | More
Our numbers are not enough data to make any conclusive decision, but some correlations were highly troubling. We are highly in favor of a statistically correct and significant study of dry food-related problems. And we’d love to hear your thoughts in our comments.
Important note: If you feel that dry food is causing your pet to fall ill, please contact the FDA.
Number of Specific Cat Food Brand Reported: What to feed your cat
Iams: 17 (ARF: 5 dead, 1 sick)
Purina: 6 (ARF: 1 dead)
Science Diet: 5 (ARF: 3 dead)
Nutro: 4 (ARF: 1 dead, 1 sick)
Special Kitty: 3 (ARF: 1 dead, 2 sick)
Royal Canin: 1 (No ARF)
Number of Specific Dog Food Brand Reported: What to feed your dog
ARF reported:
Iams: 21 (ARF: 1 dead, 2 sick)
Nutro: 14 (ARF: 2 dead)
Ol’Roy: 5 (ARF: 1 dead)
Eukanuba: 2 (ARF: 1 sick)
No ARF reported:
Science Diet: 4
Pedigree: 2
Purina: 2
Authority: 1
Beneful: 1
Natural Balance: 1
Trader Joe’s: 1
(For emailed alerts about future recalls and other important news, sign up for our free Itchmo Pet Safety Alert.)Report your pet’s death or illness now.
March 28th, 2007 at 9:33 am
My cat became sick the 17th. on march. she was fed iams dry food.
i recognised symtoms associated with renal failure and started imeadite
homeopathic treament, my cat survived.. but was excedingly ill for 4days?
i feel lucky to have been sucessful in saving her, but am nonethe less
excedingly angry at pet food maunfactures? iams is on my list of corporate
con-artists?
in the present times , we can no longer turn away in the face of corruption
and corporate greed? whatever must be done, we must do. in doing so
we will regain our liberty, threatened by corrupt interests and ceos who
only seek to enhance their wealth at the expense of all.
March 28th, 2007 at 10:08 am
How do we know if these numbers are anything more than the “normal” instances of ARF? I know that it’s not common, but also not unheard of. And is the Iams number highest b/c more people feed Iams brand? I am no statistician but as they are, those numbers are not very meaningful.
March 28th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Adrienne, your concern it totally warranted. Without getting a sample of the entire pet population, it’s hard to know if the total ARF numbers are normal or not. However, relative numbers to the brands can be significant. The Iam’s brand only has a very fractional market share, Nutro was in the single digits…
March 28th, 2007 at 10:37 am
to itchmo: THANKS THANKS THANKS!
It would be helpful to show in your breakdown of cat food brand reported:
“Of the 5 reported deaths parents linked to Nutro, 3 were from Acute Renal Failure.”
How many of these were cats/ how many dogs????
Could you please add this?
catfood brand reported:
Nutro: 4 (how many deaths how many illnesses)
dogfood brand reported:
Nutro: 14 (ditto)
AGAIN THANKS THANKS THANKS!
March 28th, 2007 at 10:44 am
ADRIENNE: Adrienne Says: How do we know if these numbers are anything more than the “normal†instances of ARF? …as they are, those numbers are not very meaningful.
THEY’RE MEANINGFUL TO ME ADRIENNE. MY 3 YR OLD HEALTHY CAT EXHIBITED THE SAME EXTREME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED CANNED FOOD, FROM DRY FOOD MFR BY A PRODUCER ON THE RECALL LIST, FOOD PURCHASED WITHIN THE RECALL DATE, TIME FROM INGESTION TO ONSET OF SYMPTOMS W/IN THE VIN REPORTED RANGE. I FEEL RATHER CERTAIN THAT MOST PET OWNERS WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR COMPANION ANIMAL WOULD PREFER NOT TO WAIT UNTIL THIS BECOMES MEANINGFUL TO YOU - ESPECIALLY IF THEY MAY ALREADY BE NOTICING
SOME SYMPTOMS BUT WERE UNSURE OF THE CAUSE AND HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHETHER THEY SHOULD SUSPECT DRY FOOD BECAUSE THE PET INDUSTRY IS COVERING THEIR A’S NOT RECALLING DRY.
I’D RATHER NOT WAIT UNTIL MY PET IS KILLED. IT’S NOT LIKE THERE’S NOTHING GOING ON HERE. BUT, FEEL FREE TO FEED YOUR ANIMAL THIS FOOD IF YOU’RE THAT BLASE.
March 28th, 2007 at 10:56 am
benemo Says: Adrienne, your concern it totally warranted. Without getting a sample of the entire pet population, it’s hard to know if the total ARF numbers are normal or not. However, relative numbers to the brands can be significant. The Iam’s brand only has a very fractional market share, Nutro was in the single digits…
I’D LIKE TO KNOW IF ADRIENNE HAS A PET THAT BECAME ILL OR DIED FROM DRY? OR SEE A DISCLAIMER OF NO CONNECTION TO PETFOOD INDUSTY. **ANY** NUMBER OF ARF CAUSED BY FOOD IS UNACCEPTABLE AND ABNORMAL. PERHAPS WAIT ANOTHER 6 MO TO SAMPLE ENTIRE POPULATION (MEANTIME MORE DEATHS — AND MORE INDUSTRY PROFIT). NUTRO MAY HAVE SINGLE DIGIT MARKET SHARE, BUT IF YOUR CAT ATE IT AND DIED OR HAS KIDNEY DAMAGE OR RESULTING IM SUPPRESSION FROM EFFECT ON BONE MARROW -
MARKET SHARE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO RELEVANCE WHATSOEVER.
ANY FOOD RELATED DEATH OR ILLNESS IS SIGNIFICANT REGARDLESS OF MARKET SHARE. YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT INITIAL PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS FROM ARF FOR THE CANNED FOOD ONLY CONTINUED TO GROW.
WE ARE SEEING LESS, NOT MORE, IN STATISTICAL RESULTS THAN THIS SCANDAL WARRANTS.
PLEASE POST YOUR DISCLAIMERS. THANKS.
March 28th, 2007 at 11:08 am
MAKE THAT DISCLAIMER OF NO CONNECTION TO PETFOOD INDUSTRY-
OR THE POSTER BOYS OF THEIR MARKETING CHAIN - THE VETERINARY “BUSINESS”.
March 28th, 2007 at 11:18 am
4lgdfriend- First of all, please stop yelling.
Second, my cats don’t eat dry food, nor do they eat wet food with wheat gluten in it.
I’m sorry your cat is sick, and if you have any inkling that it might be from the food, please do change it. I certainly would in your shoes, and indeed i am suspicious that the same wheat gluten used in the wet food was used in the dry. But those numbers are just not enough at this point to prove a link between dry food and kidney failure. I hope they never will be.
Oh, and no, I have no connection to pet food or vets, in fact I’m seriously against the fact that most vets recommend what I consider poor quality pet food.
March 28th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
You should have this dry food tested for the poision that has contaminated the wet food.
March 28th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I completely agree with the idea that the “poster boys for their marketing chain is The Veterinary INDUSTRY. On several occasions, when I was considering switching to a highly researched, holistic alternative, a frozen raw diet, every veterinarian in town debunked the idea that this was more nutritious. Never mind the processed dry food is enzyme deplete and needs to have artificial vitamins and nutrients pumped back into it after it’s been through the ‘mill’ of rendered, euthanized and diseased animal filler. Never mind that my dog succumbed to seizures, extreme thirst and renal failure because of it. All but one veterinarian said “Keep them on the same dry food diet.” He died. Bottom line: These pet food corporations are ENCOURAGED to keep the price down and therefore cheapen the product in any way so they can make more of a profit. Secondly, VETERINARIANS are subsidized by the Hill Corporation and are often awarded all sorts of perks to promote these products and claim they are more balanced nutritionally. They aren’t educated about proper nutrition in veterinary school. I just heard a professor of veterinary medicine make a claim on NPR a few days ago saying that generally commercial pet food is safe and that it’s not much different from what an animal would find in the wild. How preposterous! It’s a lie that consumers have bought into. The veterinary industry has an investment in the illness of our pets. If we were to take more responsibility for our own health, their businesses would not be flourishing as well. Morbid, but in a business-oriented world, buyer beware and take care of thyself and these domestic creatures who depend on us.
Hopefully the brighter side of this issue is that people are being forced to examine what they are feeding their animals. If conventional medicine works so well, why then are so many animals getting sick. With or without the present toxins in the food. There are more allegies and degenerative diseases than ever.
March 28th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
4lgdfriend is glad to hear Adrienne respond.
However, I must still object to the basis /rationale behind the questionable post. ANY number of ARF death/illness caused by food is too many, is relevant, and unacceptable.
I still find this quick criticism of the first preliminary tally available when the “usual suspects” seem to be stalling, highly questionable and cold-hearted.
March 28th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
If I am “cold-hearted” because I don’t like jumping to conclusions, then so be it.
Anonymous- very nice post.
March 28th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
4lgdfriend - I would agree with you that:
“ANY number of ARF death/illness caused by food is too many, is relevant, and unacceptable”
The problem - as Adrienne tries to calmly explain is CAUSATION.
My pet ate food X
My pet died
THEREFORE: food X killed my pet.
That doesn’t work in science. It doesn’t work in the courtroom, and ergo
it doesn’t work with the government when you are trying to get laws passed or changed.
Do I think there are problems with some dry food?
Yes.
Do I think that Itchmo has done a wonderful job?
Yes.
Do I also think a few people are running around with their arms in the
air screaming “the sky is falling!”?
Yes, I frankly do.
A tragic occurance, and the following COVERUP have killed thousands to
tens of thousands of precious furbabies and we need to get it fixed, NOW!
However, running around in circles only does one thing - the people with
the power to change things point at you and go “Look at that NUT!”
(Like it or not - it is the truth!)
The lax and cheap way most commerical pet food is made is nothing new.
What IS new is that due to the Menu Foods incident we’ve learned that
there really isn’t much difference between some of the SUPER-PREMIUM
brands (and pardon my laughter here) and bargain store brands. To get
food that is “better” you need to go BARF, other homemade, or go with
some of the rather expensive and esoteric brands of pet food that the
vast majority of pet owners don’t even know about.
(There’s a lesson here about what ‘marketing’ really is - I’ll leave that one
to the readers)
This should never have been, and we need to hold the manufacturer, the
marketers (the brands), and the governmental agencies responsible for
oversight to the fire until it’s fixed.
If for no other reason than to owner the memories of the pets who died
because some corporate SOB somewhere decided the payment on his
new house or Mercedes was more important than our pets lives.
March 28th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Jim wrote:
“The problem - as Adrienne tries to calmly explain is CAUSATION.
My pet ate food X
My pet died
THEREFORE: food X killed my pet.
That doesn’t work in science. It doesn’t work in the courtroom, and ergo
it doesn’t work with the government when you are trying to get laws passed or changed.”
I agree. In 2004, I adopted a cat slated for euthanasia because it was severely anemic, jaundiced, and borderline diabetic. I took him home and changed his food and he recovered completely. No longer any issues. I would claim it was the food making him sick - but others say he recovered because he “went to a home”. Likewise, I have adopted three diabetics. Since adoption (and changing food), two have ceased needing insulin and the other’s needs have decreased over 85%. Again, I claim it was the food - again, I’m told it could be the change in environment. I’ve also fostered two diabetics (one ceased needing insulin) and fostered a cat with chronic diarrhea (problem stopped)…
Appearance is there - proof is not.
In my opinion, the way to make change is to shift the burden of proof. Currently *we* are forced to prove the food made our cats sick. Yet, pet food companies can make claims on their packaging without any proof to back it up. They can claim it benefits dental health, claim it supports the immune system, claim it is “complete and balanced nutrition” - based on what? A six-month trial that six animals survive? If a cereal company puts “reduces cholesterol” on a box, it needs to show research to back that claim up - but for reasons unknown to me, pet food companies aren’t held to the same standards other industries are. We are fighting to change that. If you care to join the fight, there is information here:
http://www.mousabilities.com/n.....paign.html
March 28th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Adrienne Says: my cats don’t eat dry food, nor do they eat wet food with wheat gluten in it.
Your reply shows a pattern I have observed in many people. You seem to have an attitude that your views are superior because you only feed wet food and would never consider feeding your pet food with wheat gluten in it (Horrors). When others show concern about the food their cats or dogs are eating, posters like you express the idea that they are overreacting. Your attitude is concerning to me. If you feel this way why are you reading and posting??????
Some of us have fed the recalled food and have concerns for out pets. We do not need to be told we are acting as if the sky is falling.
So please try not to be such a snob and show a little care and compassion, for if you really cared you would not post the way you do.
March 28th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Our cat died of acute renal failure in Jan. We had just bought a new bag of dry Hill’s food. I contacted the FDA last Thurs. and Fri. an investigator called to say they would send someone to pick up a sample of the food and test it. If all who feel the food is the culprit in their pet’s illness or death will contact the FDA for testing, perhaps enough reliable statistics can be compiled. My cat’s death may have just been coincidental, but I want to know the truth before I adopt another cat. I do not want to endanger another cat if there is something toxic in the food supply. Could some of you give suggestions for alternative foods? Should I try making my own cat food? We also have two Border Collie dogs who were eating Nutro but exhibited no signs of illness. However, just to be on the safe side, we did buy an organic food–Natural Balance–for them.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
To add some degree of balance to the approach of posters who are questioning the value of the numbers reported here - looking at their response objectively:
Concerned petowner reports death or illness does not = irrational, hysterical, exxagerated, or sloppy assessment of facts concerning that death or illness. Detractors are making a subjective assessment of the petowner possibly based on some personal bias. Since neither they nor I have access to the history or vet records of all these pets, lucidity or relative awareness or education of the owner, — we can’t speak for anyone but ourselves. Can we rule it out? Maybe not, but the numbers are important to call attn to the deaths/illnesses so that further investigation can occur.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
I’m not sure if I reported yet to this site that I also lost my Kitty Boy within 3 days of feeding him 2 pouches of Special Kitty brand wet food. He had all the tell tale signs of a major shutdown. Vomiting, not eating, laying in his bowl to drink. I want Kitty Boy to be counted. He was my best fur friend for alomost 5 years. I have no opened pouches as he died about 2 weeks before the recall. What I do have is my Walmart receipt with the UPC’s matching the recalled food. The day was February 23-2007. I am devastated and hope he is added to the number of cat deaths.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
My yorkies just started refusing to eat the Nutro Max small bites over this past weekend! I usually mix it with Flint River Ranch. I dumped the bowls out, only put in the Flint River Ranch and they gobbled the food up in no time. What do they know that I dont know?? Needless to say, we are no longer using the Nutro Max small bites.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
I haven’t reported it on this site because i honestly don’t know if its true. However i have a 5 year old cat that was in good health who was diagnosed with ARF a week before the food recall. My cats have only been eating Science Diet Dry cat food. I honestly don’t know if its related because i have 4 cats and only 1 became sick. I am suspicious though as he had the exact same symptoms that were later reported for the wet pet food recall. My cat was hospitalized for 4 days, on IVs before the vet deemed him stable enough to send him home. I am now required to administer 100ml of fluids to him through a needle every other day. The Vet tried to put him on perscription foods for renal failure, but he refuses to eat any of them. The only food i have been able to get him to eat is Fancy Feast, and i’m not sure i feel comfortable feeding it to him but he has to eat something.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Maybe I am one that is being paranoid…but I love my dogs and have been feeding dry Nutro…would like to know what others are using (that seems to have no side effects) while I consider what to change their food too….thanks.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
I have been feeding my cats Nutro dry… and have not seen any side effects, I am quite nervous and am researching home propared holistic diets. I just received my copy of Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats and am planning on using one of the diets from this book. My trust in the pet food industry is gone.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Brandon,
Report your cat’s illness to your state FDA. It might take awhile to get a reply from them, but they will test your cat’s food to see if there is a problem. Be sure to save some of the food. I would suggest switching to an organic food. Better to be on the safe side. After a week of being on IV’s at the vets, our cat came home for 5 days. The vet suggested kd but he would not eat it. He did eat a few kibbles of Royal Canin kidney formula. You might try it, but I think an organic food would be best.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Thank You Janice, I feel the same way. I also just want to know the truth and would like to try to protect any future animals I get from potentially
harmful ingredients. I lost my best friend on Feb 28th at the age of 3 1/2 All of his test results came back as “toxic poisioning”. My cat became ill within days of opening a new bag of Hill’s Science Light Adult.
P.S. I work for a MAJOR retailer that yesterday notified us that
all stores are to immediately pull Iam’s INDR WGH CTR HB and
Iam’s ADULT ORIGINAL
March 28th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Susski,
Our border collies ate Nutro dry, but we switched them to Natural Balance just to be safe. They were not exhibiting any symptoms, but after losing our cat to acute renal failure (he was eating Hills’), we were not taking any chances. They love the Natural Balance. In fact, when we were switching (1st mixing 1/4 Natural Balance to 3/4 Nutro, then half and hal, then 3/4 Natural Balance to 1/4 Nutro, they would pick out the Natural Balance and pretty much leave the Nutro alone. Hmmm!! Maybe they recognized something we didn’t!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck!!!!!!!!!!
March 28th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Sorry I forgot to mention on my previous post that the Iam’s we are to
pull from shelves is the 4 LB bag
March 28th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Do not reccomend DRY FOOD. Please don’t do it! Dr. Becker, you have good intensions but your 180º out of whack. You see, I believe that the dry food problems have been with us for years, they are being magnified now because of the newer wet food problems…in a big way. In the past your dog got sick and you didn’t go on the net to see who elses dog or cat died, no, you just buried them. Now we have the resources to compile and assimilate a great deal more information in a short time. With these tools we have the world and all of it’s good and bad at our fingertips. I have been in touch with people in all over this great country and Great Britan, Mexico, Newfoundland and South Africa all since the death of my dear Abby Gayle. I have found that pets are in serious trouble every where and no one wants to admit it. The news papers give us the back page, the syndicated columnist under state the crisis, the vets are getting wealthy. Hell, they sell to us what is killing our pets and then charge enormous sums for treatment. The pet food manufactures make their quick bags of change and the pet owners foot the bill.
This is just the opinion of a person who has lost something very dear and knows it will be impossible to replace. Any money we recieve should be used as Mary stated earlier, get your pet at the S.P.C.A. or Animal Shelter, maybe then, if we all did this, it could put animals in our homes instead of in our pets food.
They killed our Dog! Our Dear Abby Gayle Died last night at 10:05 pm with my wife, sons and daughter at her side. Almost 4 years old, purbred Airedale Terrier, picture perfect health record, She died of acute kidney failure due to eating tainted, contamiated, IAMS Dry, Green Bag, purchased from Walmart. Dead before we could do anything because we were notified to late and as for the dry food no notification at all. Please people, listen, do not feed your dog any products from these recalled manufactures, wet or dry. Do you trust them, they have been hiding this for months possibly years. They have had this problem for 2 years and have still not trully fiqured out why. Please don’t feed your pets poison DRY FOOD! It may have anti freeze components in it or worse yet someone elses pets.
I know I’m going to ruffle some feathers, bring it on.
keen for Abby Gayle (keen@mac.com)
March 28th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
didn’t want to be Anonymous.
keen@mac.com
March 28th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
If the dry food is tainted, I shudder to think what will happen at animal shelters all over the country. Many have contracts with Hills to get free dry food and feed it exclusively.
Personally, I don’t feed any dry food to my cats. Recent research links dry cat food to CRF, FLUTD, diabetes, obesity, IBD and other health issues.
http://www.catinfo.org
http://www.catnutrition.org
http://www.yourdiabeticcat.com
http://www.felineoutreach.org
March 28th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
keen and lynette are reflecting a lot of information available showing that dry food is bad. Good for the mfrs profit sheet though - full of cheap fillers and low quality highly processed ingredients [and we can now add: from unknown suppliers].
Dry food is especially bad for cats and especially for male cats. However there are some cats that simply will not eat anything else. And fortunately *are* a few dry catfoods that are better than others. If you can’t be certain of a safe canned food right now, and do not understand how to properly prepare a homemade diet that meets the animals nutritional needs *completely*, a better dry food might be what you’re left with. sigh.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Lynette,
Thanks for the links about cat nutrition.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
For catowners who are thinking of switching to homemade food - a wise move is to get feedback from others who are experienced with this.
There are online communities that can offer good info. holisticat is one.
This site provides links to others who do this. http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/sources.htm This is not to be undertaken without careful reading and consideration of the complete nutritional aspects of the diet.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Read carefully considering all the recall information available.
forums on raw feeding/nutrition:
www.holisticat.com
www.listservice.net/wellpet
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CatNutrition
INFORMATION ON FELINE NUTRITION:
http://home.earthlink.net/~jacm2/id1.html
www.maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm
www.homevet.com/petcare/feedingyourcat.html
many resources: http://www.holisticat.com/archive.htm
http://www.api4animals.org/689.htm Selecting a commercial petfood
about.com rates types of catfood - caution!
http://cats.about.com/cs/nutri.....atfood.htm (consult the recall information before taking advice from any website)
March 28th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
My beautiful baby girl, Sophie, died on March 9, three days after she ate a sample bag of Science Diet dry dog food. This was prior to the recall. She was only 7 and very healthy. The vet was stumped as to why her LIVER scores were off the scale. When I asked the vet to “look” inside to see if she could figure out why Sophie died, she (the vet) said Sophie had “bled out” and the only other times she’s seen that was when dogs got into rat poison. There’s no doubt in my mind what so ever that Sophie was poisoned by the food. She’s with me 24/7 and there’s no posion here. I’m just devistated. Thanks for caring.
March 28th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Claire,
I am so sorry about your Sophie. I feel Hill’s dry foods are contaminated. Our cat died after eating Hill’s Prescription dry c/d. We had just bought a new bag. The FDA is going to pick up the remainder of the food to test it. I saved out enough for testing by an independent lab if I can find one.
We all care and are so sorry for your loss.
March 28th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
For anyone interestd in making their own cat food see this link:
http://www.catinfo.org/
The site is done by a lady vet and she’s VERY well educated & informed about cat nutrition.
March 28th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Our 6 year old toy poodle (pure bred) had enjoyed perfect health up until two months ago. She ate only Eukenuba dry pet food. In a very short period of time, she lost complete control over urinary function (never happened before), lost about 20% of her weight, became lethargic and very ill. We took her into the vet who did a urine test and x-ray. The x-ray was clear, but the urine test showed crystals. He put her on Royal Canin. She would not eat it, lost more weight and continued her downward spiral. We switched vets. After much discussion we convinced the new vet to do blood work which showed acute kidney failure. The vet said that our dog would die in 1 to 6 months. All of this happened before the recall. We insisted that our dog be placed on fluid therapy which we now administer each evening via IV.
I then proceeded to report all of this to the FDA, Pet Food Manufacturers, Pet Food Retailers, elected officials (2 US Senators, 1 Representative, and The President of the United States) and the press (CNN & ABC News). The extremely dubious reporting process, lack of interest of our elected officials and media certainly does explain why there are not more reports being filed or process. At each and every step, I encounted denial and cover ups. With the FDA, which after much insistance finally accepted my complaint but never requested a sampling of the contaminated food (I still have it), I was immediately told that dry food was not recalled. The implication was clear as it was with the Pet Food Manufacturer and Retalier-do not waste our time with a complaint about dry pet food. I had to insist that a report be processed. I responded to the FDA and the Manufacturer, “how do you know the food is safe? Do you not have a legal, ethical and moral obligation to process these complaints? If more pet owners such as myself make similar complaints, then maybe an investigation will follow.” After much insistance, my complaint was finally taken. I’ve also contacted the legal firm in Seattle which is handling the class action case. They informed me that they too had received many complaints about contaminated dry pet food.
None of the news networks have responded to any of my complaints. I’ve received nothing but form letters from all of the elected officials I contacted and not even a form letter from the president of the United States. The coverage is so extremely biaised towards the Pet Food Manufacturers. Vets are put on TV proclaiming the safety of dry pet food. An industry which has killed thousands of pets because of the documented presence of rat poisoning in wet pet food, is granted by the Media the benefit of the doubt about dry pet food. How is this possible in America?
I have never been a partisan of conspiracy theory, but I am absolutely disgusted by the entire process. A government to which we pay hard earned tax dollars that could care less about this criminal activity; a supposed free press that has taken the side of America; and elected officials at the highest level of government who do not respond to the desperate pleas of their constituents.
Completely lost in the entire process, is a wonderful being, our poodle, who is in the process of dying a horrific death before our eyes. Completely lost in the process is a 3 year old girl and a 14 year young women (our daughters), who was raised by this adopted mother/sister and who will loose shortly this beloved family member. Completely lost in the entire process are the parents of this wonderful child, who must now bear witness to this horrific death and make at some point the decision to put her life to an end when the suffering becomes too much.
I ask you all, is our daughter’s terminal illness and inevitable death a meaningless statistic? I think not and will fight as hard as I can to ensure that it does not become one.
March 28th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Thanks for caring. I have contacted my local TV news and they are investigating the dry dog food also. I have also give them this web page to read how many people are having the same problem with dry dog food. I just want everyone to know about the dry food so they can beware and save there pets.
March 28th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
my 3 year old pitbull has had lots of algery problums in the past, so when he got sick the vet said “oh its just algerys” but that same day i saw the recall of IAMS wet food and stoped feeding him the IAMS dry food immeaditly. He soon got a little better on the ground beef and rice diet i was feeding him, but he lost 10 lbs and for a 50lb dog thats alot so i decited to feed him the dry food once again. and what did i wake up to? pee on my bed, vomit in 5 spots on my white carpet, and poo just about everywhare else. I stoped feeding him that crap instantly and he is slowley geting back to himself (still 10lb light) CAN ANYBODY SAY CLASS ACTION??? i dont know what to feed him now, if anyone has an idea please e-mail me bmt602@aol.com
P.S. i bought the bad food at albertsons in henderson, NV
March 28th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
To Beau,
I truly think a raw food diet is probably best. Am I doing it? No. I did for a while but was having trouble finding food I liked. Would probably be a good time for some on-line research.
Currently for my two dogs I use Blue Buffalo dry food. There’s no wheat in it. Blue Buffalo is sold in Petsmart and it’s made in Connecticut. But, I also cook chicken for them and add vegetables to it. That takes the place of canned food which I just don’t feel safe using any longer.
March 29th, 2007 at 12:02 am
maybe animals that have been dying from these diseases for years were never connected to the food source until now. I think its been the food all along thats making pets sick, but now people are aware of why.
I’ve switched to either home cooked or completely holistic brands
March 29th, 2007 at 2:38 am
Could someone please either compile a list or point me in the right direction if one already exists, for the specific Flavors/Formulations of the suspicious dry foods? I am particularly interested in the Iams dry products and the Purina dry as I feed several different flavors/formulations and am trying to determine how great the risk and if I need to discontinue them? Breaking it down farther, I need to know if any cat illness or death has been attributed to Iams Original Chicken and Rice in the orange bag or Iams Multicat in the blue bag, also Purina “One” chicken and rice and Pro-Plan Adult Chicken and rice. I have special needs cats and do not want to risk gastrointestinal upset by changing foods unless necessary.None of them were eating any of the recalled wet food but I still have huge concerns about the safety of the dry. Thanks.Sue
March 29th, 2007 at 4:41 am
All of my animals were eating some form of Nutro.
Dog was on Ultra Holostic Nutro for Large Breed dogs and Cats were on Ultra Indoor formula.
Unfortunately I did not save any samples (im kicking myself in the butt for that now). Our dog started throwing up a lot of mucous and some of his food, we thought perhaps worms so I dewormed him, but he still continued to vomit up his food. I pulled him off it immediately and started raw and I have had no problems since then.
Our cats wouldnt even eat the Nutro so I started feeding the junk cat food I feed the ferrals “Kit and Kaboodle”. We are now in the process of switching over to raw for them as well.
I strongly believe that the dry food is also tainted or just poison itself. We will not be going back to a Manufactured food and I will continue to make their foods for them.
March 29th, 2007 at 7:08 am
I everyone there I know what you’re saying, I did a test yrs ago on my pups, feed them 2 hrs before travelling, then when they threw up it was the same as what went in, no digestive tract etc, it hadn’t even broken down to go thr the body, so in what they are saying it takes a lot of digestive system to send it thr and then a whole lot more more to digest it.
If you’re worried about it then don’t feed your dogs any sort of dried food whatsoever, go back to usng raw meat or raw veges or raw whatever. Jan
March 29th, 2007 at 8:50 am
MY cats have been sick for three days from eating Iams Original Dry food. Iams Original Dry is all I have feed them for the past eight years. I bought a new bag last Saturday at PetCo. Started noticing the next day they became VERY lethargic, not sick, but out of their routine. All they do is lie around and drink all the time. I called Iams and made a report, gave them the ID Codes from the new bag, but they told me nothing was wrong as their dry food was made in their own factory. Something is VERY wrong with my cats. All they have eaten is Iams Original Dry food.
March 29th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Jojo said: “When others show concern about the food their cats or dogs are eating, posters like you express the idea that they are overreacting.”
I think you are failing to understand my point here.
By questioning the numbers posted, I wasn’t saying that I believed them to be false. And if someone’s pet is sick, they’re certainly not overreacting to be concered about the food. I was questioning the numbers because it’s a small amount of data and I wanted more information. Numbers on their own don’t tell you much. For instance, if you say 13 people who ate at a restaurant got sick afterwards… that’s data with no information. How many people ate there total? 13 out of 50 would be a high percentage, 13 out of 500, not so much. Is there a flu going around or something else going on that could explain those people getting sick? Are two of those people exibiting different symptoms than the other 11? Wanting more information is not the same as saying “so what, who cares”. It’s critical thinking.
I consider myself lucky that I don’t happen to feed any foods made by Menu. It’s pure coincidence that I don’t, it doesn’t make me feel superior. And I do feel compassion for those that were feeding the recalled foods, or who have concern about foods that aren’t on the recall list, and frankly I’m horrified at the number of folks who will be/are affected if this recall expands to dry food. I don’t really appreciate being judged and called a cold hearted snob when I’m on the same side as others here- I want Menu and the FDA to be accountable for this fiasco, and I want people to learn about better choices for what to feed their pets.
My condolonces to those who have lost pets, and best wishes to those who are learning and making changes to their pets diet.
March 29th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Here’s a great link to a site that lists foods NOT on the recall list:
http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=210.
March 29th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Janice,
Thanks for sharing what dog food is working for you. I have an Aussie mix and a border collie/terrier/heinz 57 mix.
To some of the other postings…I am so sorry to read about your losses and thank you for sharing, so the rest of us can become educated.
March 29th, 2007 at 11:28 am
This was posted on another site:
“Julie Schmit // Mar 18, 2007 at 11:56 am
I’m a reporter for USA TODAY, trying to locate someone who’se pets ate these products. Please call me: 925-528-3657 ”
Note the date, Mar 18th, so she’s talking about wet foods. However, might not be a bad idea to let her know if you’ve had problems with dry food.
March 29th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
In August 2006 I lost my much loved Rottie mix. He had been eating Nutro Lamb and Rice Large Breed Adult, the store where I bought his food was out of that type when his food got low, so I bought a bag of I think Nutro Max Natural (the only other one I could find not containing corn) to mix in and tide him over. He stopped eating, would only eat a few bites and walk away. Took him to my vet, who figured a bad tooth was the most likely explanation, so we cleaned all his teeth and removed the bad one. Curly Joe never recovered from this simple surgery, over the next two weeks he just got weaker and weaker. After antibiotics and steroids, we did some blood work and found his liver enzymes bad. The next step was a liver biopsy. His liver was found to be literally cracking apart and bleeding, therefore no sample was taken. Curly Joe died that night, I have no doubt that he would have anyway even had we not done the surgery, and I don’t blame my vet at all. I did send samples of both bags of food to Nutro for testing, many weeks later I got a letter from them stating that nothing was found to be wrong with the food. On that note, I decided the food was safe, and tried to feed it to my other dogs. NONE OF THEM WOULD EVEN TOUCH IT!
Wish I had kept those bags of rejected food so I could now send them to FDA.
Curly Joe was a large dog, he was almost 10, but he was not by any means an old dog, still active, always ready to go (part lab), his coat was shiny, the bad tooth was no doubt caused by playing tug-of-war with an over exuberant 10 year old boy (Curly always let him win), I know this is no scientific evidence but in my own mind and in my heart I know that Nutro was to blame for his death.