If you think your dog or cat has eaten some of the tainted food or
is showing signs of kidney failure (loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in water consumption and also changes in urination)
take your pet to see a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Pet Food Recall

The ongoing pet food recall has left many pet owners wondering what they can feed their pets, what should they do if their pet has eaten some of the recalled food, what is being done to prevent this from happening again and many other questions.

Because the information is changing rapidly, the Veterinary Institute of Integrative Medicine has linked to websites that are posting new updates on a daily basis. For the latest information, click on the links below.

American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association - Recalled products and link to FDA website with Frequently Asked Questions about the pet food recall.

American Veterinary Medical Association - News updates and resource links for veterinarians and pet owners.

Menu Foods - List of Recalled Pet Food and other announcements.

The following FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS have been reprinted from the AVMA website:

Q:  What foods have been recalled?
A:  For a complete listing of dog foods and cat foods affected by the recall, please go to http://www.menufoods.com/recall/.

For information regarding the voluntary withdrawal of Hills Pet Nutrition Prescription Diet™ m/d™ Feline Dry Food, please go to www.hillspet.com/menu_foods/Menu_Foods_03302007_en_US.htm.

For information regarding the voluntary withdrawal of Del Monte Pet Products pet treats and wet dog food products, please go to http://www.delmonte.com/petfoodrecall.html

To facilitate viewing by our users who may be unable to access the Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. site directly at this time, we have reproduced the press release announcement from the Hill's site here.

Q:  Why have so many different brands been recalled?
A:  Menu Foods contracts with a wide variety of pet food companies to produce their specialized products. Although these foods are produced in the same facility, they are made using ingredients specified by the individual pet food companies. The foods themselves are not identical despite being produced by one manufacturer.

The contaminated lot of wheat gluten was supplied to Menu Foods, one supplier of dry food (see above), and a separate manufacturer of certain dog treats and wet dog foods. Therefore, only foods and treats that were manufactured with the affected wheat gluten source have been recalled

Q:  The initial recall list was only for canned or pouched foods. What about the dry food and treats I feed my pet(s)?
A:  Menu foods processes the "cuts and gravy" type pet foods at the processing plants in Kansas and New Jersey. Dry foods are manufactured using different processes and at different facilities.

To date, only one brand of dry food has been recalled (see above). This product was voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer after it was determined that a portion of the contaminated lot of wheat gluten was used to manufacture this type of food.

On Monday (April 2, 2007), a manufacturer of certain wet dog foods and dog treats issued a recall of products (see above). These products were voluntarily recalled as a result of the ongoing investigation and tracing of the distribution of the contaminated wheat gluten.

Q:  What should I do if I have the recalled pet food in my house?
A:  Do not feed the food or treats to your pet. If the product is unopened, you may return it to the store from which you purchased the food or treats.

If the product is opened, dispose of the remaining food or treats so that your pet cannot get to it. If your animal appears normal, consult with your veterinarian and/or monitor your animal closely for signs of illness.

If your animal shows any signs of illness and has been fed one or more of the recalled foods or treats, have your animal evaluated by a veterinarian. Store any opened food or treats away from the reach of animals, and contact your state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Complaint Coordinator. For a state-by-state list of Coordinators, go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html. Please include as much information as possible, including the specific product name, lot numbers, veterinarian's report and diagnosis, etc.

Q:  Does the problem affect dogs and cats equally?
A:  To date, it appears that cats are more commonly affected than dogs, and small dogs may be more affected than larger dogs. This may be because cats and smaller dogs are more sensitive to the causative substance, or it because they are more likely to be fed the types of food involved in the recall.

Q:  My pet has eaten the food that has been recalled. How do I know my pet is sick?
A:  Signs of illness include loss of appetite, lethargy, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden changes in water consumption, or changes in the frequency or amount of urination.

These signs may also occur with other illnesses. Any animal showing these signs should be examined by a veterinarian, even if the animal has not eaten any of the recalled pet food.

Q:  My pet is showing signs of illness. What do I do?
A:  Have your pet examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Q:  What will my veterinarian do?
A:  Your veterinarian will examine your pet, and will most likely take blood samples and collect a urine sample to test for kidney disease or other problems. Other diagnostic procedures, such as radiographs (x-rays) or ultrasound examinations, may be recommended to eliminate other causes of kidney disease and vomiting.

If the tests determine that your pet has kidney disease, your veterinarian may recommend treatment including intravenous fluid therapy and medications.

Q:  What is in the food that is making animals sick?
A:  The cause of the illnesses has not yet been confirmed, and the FDA and laboratories are continuing to evaluate samples and reports of illness or death. Because the cause is not confirmed, the treatment can not be specifically directed to one cause. Generalized treatment for kidney disease and vomiting is recommended until a more specific treatment can be determined.

Q:  How long will it be before you know what is causing the problem?
A:  The answer to this question is unknown. Food, blood, urine, and tissue samples are being thoroughly tested for many possible causes. Many of these tests are not rapid tests, and may require additional time to complete. There is always the possibility, however, that the cause of the problem will not be found.

Q:  How do I report my pet's illness from the pet food?
A:  You should contact your state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Complaint Coordinator. For a state-by-state list of Coordinators, go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html. Please include as much information as possible, including the specific product name, lot numbers, veterinarian's report and diagnosis, etc.