Area veterinarians keeping abreast of tainted pet food problem

Published 11:23 pm Friday, March 23, 2007

Local veterinarians are monitoring pets closely for signs of poisoning after scientists found that rat poison in some recalled pet foods have killed approximately 20 cats and dogs nationally.

“I haven’t seen anything that could be verified (in our clinic),” said Chris Stearns, a veterinarian with Dalton Animal Care. “But this is something we are monitoring very closely.”

About 60 million cans and pouches of a gravy and meat chunks food produced by Menu Foods were recalled last week after reports that some cats and dogs suffered kidney failure or died after eating the products.

Veterinarian Jeff Richmond of the Animal Hospital of Whitfield County said he hadn’t treated any pets with potential poisoning. He said some of his customers had bought the tainted food but saw the recall in time to keep from feeding it to their pets.

Menu Foods sells the products under 95 different brand names including Eukanuba and Paws.

“There has been a great deal of concern by pet owners about this,” Stearns said. “And I’ve been impressed with how rapidly Menu Foods posted information on their Web site. People looked at information, evaluated their food and are asking questions.”

Scientists first linked the problems to wheat gluten, but the Associated Press reported Friday that anminopterin, a rat poison, was found in two cat food samples.

“There are a lot of different ideas about what the causative agent is,” Stearns said. “But they are doing deep analysis for the exact cause. While it’s an ongoing investigation I think we all need to focus on our pets.”

Stearns said people should look for signs from their pets such as vomiting, weakness and lethargy and contact their veterinarian immediately.

He advised pet owners to visit Menu Food’s Web site or contact the company for brand information. The products will have lot numbers that can be used to identify the tainted cans or pouches.

Stearns said people who find their products to be contaminated should hold onto them in case their pets get sick so the food can be analyzed.

When pets are poisoned, Richmond said, the threat to their lives depends on how much damage was done to their kidneys.

“What we have to do is put in intravenous fluids to stimulate function of the tissue remaining and hope to flush the poison out of the system. There are no guarantees,” Richmond said.

Prevention is the best way to ensure pets’ health, Stearns said.

“If there are any concerns whatsoever they can stick to dry food because at present there are no known contaminants in dry food,” Stearns said. “Or they can make home diets,” such as boiled chicken or turkey.

Richmond said he normally recommends dry food to pet owners anyway since the products are easier on the digestive system, keep teeth cleaner and contain less fat than gravy-based foods.



The Associated Press contributed to this report.