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Nutro recalls dry cat foods due to incorrect mineral levels
May 21, 2009
By: Jennifer Fiala
For The VIN News Service

This afternoon, Nutro plans to send an e-mail blast to 42,000 members of the veterinary community via a list provided by Advanstar Communications, publisher of DVM Newsmagazine, Veterinary Economics and Veterinary Medicine. In a ?Dear Doctor? letter, Nutro explains that the ingredient mistake stemmed from a production error by a U.S.-based pre-mixer. 

?Two mineral premixes were affected,? the letter explains. While one contained excessive concentrations of zinc and under-supplemented potassium, the other contained just under-supplemented potassium. 
 
?Both zinc and potassium are essential nutrients for cats and are added as nutritional supplements to NUTRO dry cat food. ... We are working with all our distributors and retail customers in both the U.S. and internationally to ensure that the recalled products are not on store shelves,? the letter adds. 

A full list of affected product is available at http://www.nutroproducts.com. Customers who have purchased product now recalled are advised to return it to their retailer for a full refund or exchange for another Nutro dry cat food product. 

Veterinarians and concerned owners can call the company at (800) 833-5330 or visit http://www.nutroproducts.com for more information. 

Food Recall extended to Pet Treats

Information for Veterinarians and Veterinary Professionals regarding Pets and the Peanut Butter and Peanut-Product Recall

Questions and Answers Related to Pets and the Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak  

as of February 14, 2009 

CDC has been investigating the current Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak in humans in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state and local health departments. In addition to human illness, animals may also have been affected. One laboratory-confirmed case of Salmonella in a dog from an Oregon household was reported, and further characterization of this Salmonella isolate is pending.  Salmonella resembling the outbreak strain was isolated by a private laboratory from recalled peanut butter flavored dog biscuits from this dog?s household. At least three states have reported incidents of dogs that have shown gastrointestinal signs consistent with Salmonella infection, and those animals have been known to have consumed peanut butter products on the FDA recall list.  

Advise clients that you do not recommend giving away their pet or euthanizing their pet because of a Salmonella infection. Talk to clients about what precautions to follow in order to minimize the risk of illness to their family and how to safely clean up after their pet. Prescribe treatment 

INSE

Pet Food Recall Links:

July 21 2007

Natural Balance Dog Food Recall

RECALLED Natural Balance Eatables dog food varieties:

*Irish Stew with Beef Dog Food 15 OZ 23633-59860 (UPC Code)
*Chinese Take Out with Sauce with Vegetables and Chicken Dog Food 15 OZ 23633-59861
*Southern Style Dumplings with Gravy with Chicken and Vegetables Dog Food 15 OZ 23633-59862
*Hobo Chili with Chicken Pasta Dog Food 15 OZ 23633-59863

According to the FDA, if a pet has eaten any of the recalled dog food in the past two weeks, it should be observed for signs of botulism for 10 days after eating the product. If the pet develops signs of botulism, seek private veterinary attention immediately.

Signs of botulism in pets are similar to those in people and included double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness. If untreated, the illness may progress with paralysis and difficulty breathing.

Get the latest news just click on the link FDA

//www.vin.com/WebLink.plx?URL=http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01590.html

BREAKING NEWS MARCH 30

Hills Pet Nutrition, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Single Product, Prescription Diet? m/d? Feline Dry Food, Only Product Containing Wheat Gluten

Topeka, KS (March 30, 2007) - In accordance with its over-riding commitment to pet health and well-being, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is voluntarily recalling Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food from the market. Hill's is taking this precautionary action because during a two-month period in early 2007, wheat gluten for this product was provided by a company that also supplied wheat gluten to Menu Foods. U.S. Food and Drug Administration tests of wheat gluten samples from this period show the presence of a small amount of melamine. Prescription Diet m/d Feline Dry represents less than one half of one percent of all Hill's products.

This is the only product Hill's currently sells in the United States and Canada that contains wheat gluten from any supplier. No other Hill's Prescription Diet® or Science Diet® products are affected by this voluntary recall. Hill's Science Diet Savory Cuts Feline canned cat foods, manufactured by Menu Foods, were previously withdrawn from the market as a precaution. Together with this earlier withdrawal, less than 1% of all Hill's products have been affected.

The voluntary recall of Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food involves discontinuation of all retail sales and product retrieval from sellers. This recall does not include Prescription Diet m/d Feline canned food which contains no wheat gluten.

Consumers should stop using this product and return it for a refund. All Hill's products carry a 100 percent guarantee, and consumers can receive a refund for recalled product.

Hill's expects to resume shipment shortly of a reformulated version of this highly beneficial product that will not contain wheat gluten. Please check with your veterinarian for an alternative Prescription Diet until m/d Feline dry is reformulated and made available again.

Following is a list of Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry products included in this recall:

Hill's has been fully cooperating with the FDA since the outset of its investigation and made the decision to voluntarily recall these products in consultation with the FDA. We deeply regret any concern that this has caused our valued customers.

For more information, consumers can contact the company at 1-800-445-5777 or visit www.HillsPet.com for details.

BREAKING NEWS  March 23  1 p.m.

//www.vin.com/WebLink.plx?URL=http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2975912&page=1

to get updated please open the link above at this time

News

While none of the foods sold in our clinic have been recalled,  links to those that have is provided below for your convenience.  We will post further breaking news as we learn of it.

Recalled Foods

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was available from the Menu Foods Web site, http://www.menufoods.com/recall . The company also has two phone numbers that pet owners can call for information - (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708 -

Copy of recent email>

PET FOOD RECALL TALKING POINTS

Elizabeth Dole, DVM

VNN - Syracuse, NY 

-----THIS IS A VERY LARGE RECALL INVOLVING MANY

      DIFFERENT BRANDS OF FOOD. THE TYPES OF FOOD

      AFFECTED ARE THE "CUTS AND GRAVY" TYPES SOLD

      IN CANS AND SMALL FOIL POUCHES. 

-----THE EXACT CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT YET  KNOWN.  MORE RESEARCH IS BEING DONE

      TO PINPOINT THE CAUSE. WE EXPECT MORE

      INFORMATION IN THE COMING DAYS. 

-----DON'T PANIC.  IF YOU DO HAVE THESE FOODS,

      STOP FEEDING THEM AND CALL YOUR

      VETERINARIAN FOR ADVICE. 

-----SIGNS OF KIDNEY DISEASE INCLUDE LETHARGY,

      A DECREASED APPETITE, VOMITING, AND

      INCREASED THIRST/URINATION.  IF YOUR PET IS

      SHOWING THESE SIGNS, PLEASE CALL YOUR

      VETERINARIAN. 

-----YOUR VETERINARIAN CAN ORDER LABORATORY

      TESTS TO CHECK YOUR PET'S KIDNEY FUNCTION.  THESE TESTS ARE ALREADY RECOMMENDED TO  SCREEN SENIOR AND GERIATRIC PATIENTS FOR A  VARIETY OF DISEASES. 

-----YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION AT THE FOLLOWING:

      www.menufoods.com/recall 1(866) 463-6738

      www.iams.com   1 (800) 882-1591

      www.HillsPet.com   1(800) 445-5777   

Affected Products
For a complete list of recalled products your clients may go to www.menufoods.com/recall where specific information about each brand may be found.

Iams/Eukanuba: To determine if any Iams or Eukanuba product is affected, your clients can refer to the code date on the product. The recalled products have code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197. For canned products, the code date is found on the bottom of the can. The first four numbers of the second line of numbers are the date code, and the next four numbers are the plant code. For foil pouches, the code date is located in the bottom left hand corner of the pouch. The date and plant codes are found in the third group of numbers. For more information, your clients may go to www.iams.com or www.eukanuba.com.

More Information
Menu Foods: www.menufoods.com or clients can call 1-866-895-2708 Iams/Eukanuba: www.iams.com or www.eukanuba.com.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Menu Brands Pet Food Recall

AVMA


What foods have been recalled?

      For a complete listing of dog foods affected by the recall,
please go to http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/product_dog.asp.

      For a complete listing of cat foods affected by the recall,
please go to http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/product_cat.asp.


What should I do if I have the recalled pet food in my house?

      If the food is unopened, you may return it to the store from
which you purchased the food.

      If the food is opened, do not feed it to your pet.  Dispose of
the food so that your pet cannot get to it.


My pet has eaten the food that has been recalled.  How do I know my pet is sick?

      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.


My pet is showing signs of illness.  What do I do?

      Have your pet examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.


What will my veterinarian do?

      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.


What is in the food that is making animals sick?

      The cause of the illnesses is not yet known.  Because the cause
is not known, 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.


How do I report my pet's illness from the pet food?

      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.
----------------------------------------------------

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF VETERINARY

INTERNAL MEDICINE (ACVIM)

1997 Wadsworth Blvd., Suite A

Lakewood, CO 80214-5293

http://www.ACVIM.org/




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       MEDIA CONTACT:

March 20, 2007                        Jenn Armbruster


Communications & Media Relations Manager

                                                         303.231.9933
or Jennifer@ACVIM.org


PET FOOD RECALL: INFORMATION FOR VETERINARIANS


LAKEWOOD, Colo. ? In response to the recent national pet food recall,
the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) has
collected the following information for veterinarians in regards to
the treatment of animals that have ingested the recalled food.


Menu Foods, Emporia Kansas, has initiated a North American Recall of
dog and cat food manufactured in its "cuts and gravy" format between
December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007.
According to an FDA press release dated March 16 ,2007, some dogs and
cats refused further feedings following feeding of the product, while
others exhibited signs of renal failure (including loss of appetite,
lethargy and vomiting).
The Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory reports
that autopsy and microscopic examination of tissues from affected
animals indicate acute renal toxicosis including the presence of
birefringent crystals, as well as other crystal formations.  The
effects are consistent with exposure to ethylene glycol and
derivatives, mycotoxins, ochratoxin and citrinin, some heavy metals or
vitamin D toxicity.  At the present time the exact cause of this
problem is not yet known. Investigations are continuing.
  Veterinary toxicologists at Iowa State University College of
Veterinary Medicine can confirm the presence of toxins in the food or
samples from the pet.  The Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory has the capability to analyze pet food for the suspected
toxic agents described above and examine tissues from animals that
have died. At least 2 cups of suspect food are needed for testing.
  More information is available at www.vdpam.iastate.edu.
Veterinary experience with affected pets is still limited. Owners
should not panic. As always, if a pet shows any signs of illness
including anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, polyuria/polydipsia, the owner
should consult their veterinarian.
It might in fact be prudent and proactive for veterinarians to
consider examining pets and performing screening blood work even in
asymptomatic pets that have consumed the recalled food to assure pet
health.
Veterinarians should consider history including dietary history with
each pet. After a thorough physical examination, the minimal data base
of a comprehensive blood panel and a urinalysis should be performed to
screen for causes of clinical signs including renal disease. It is
important to screen for all diseases because this recall will bring in
clients whose pets had preexisting diseases or coincidentally have
developed an unrelated illness at the time of the recall.  If renal
disease is diagnosed, additional tests such as a urine culture and
imaging should be considered to rule out causes of renal disease other
than a toxicant.
Patients with renal disease should be managed with appropriate fluid
therapy including an assessment of electrolyte status and
administration of medications to treat gastrointestinal signs. If the
patient is in acute renal failure and anuric or oliguric, additional
considerations to acid-base status, and diuretic therapy (including
lasix, mannitol and/or dopamine) may be required, necessitating a
careful monitoring of fluid rates, vital parameters such as CVP, and
urine production.
If a patient with anuric or oliguric acute renal failure is not
responding to appropriate therapy, veterinarians should promptly
consider contacting a small animal internist with the American College
of Veterinary Internal Medicine (www.ACVIM.org) in their local
community for case consultation and possible referral.
Duration of treatment in patients which may have renal failure due to
ingestion of the recalled food is unknown at this time and obviously
will vary between patients. Long term effects on renal function are
unknown. Patients succumbing to illness should be necropsied and
tissues saved in formalin for histopathology to determine cause of
death.
Pet owners are very concerned. Please note that the recall does not
involve most types of canned dog and cat food and dry food and most of
the recall is voluntary and has not been associated with disease.
Assist your pet owners in calming their fears, provide the latest
information from the websites, and assure pet health.


Prepared by Sandy Willis DVM DACVIM

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