Associated Press
03-19-07
ISU Vet Lab Works To Identify Recall Cases
Sick Cat Could Be Tied To Contaminated Pet Food
AMES, Iowa -- Several popular brands of cat and dog food have been pulled
from the shelves.
Menu Foods, the Ontario, Canada-based company that produced the pet food, is
recalling dog food sold throughout North America under 48 brands and cat food
sold under 40 brands including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba. The food was
distributed by major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway.
The company said an unknown number of cats and dogs have suffered kidney
failure and about 10 have died.
There's already one suspected case in Iowa cat in Des Moines.
Companion Animal Clinic's Dr. Tammy Kersting said she is doing everything she
can to calm the fears of her clients concerned about a nationwide pet food recall.
Her phone started ringing right away Monday morning with calls from pet owners
asking questions about their pet's health.
"Everybody's panicking because all they heard was a pet food recall. To my
knowledge, so far, it's only the canned formulations," Kersting said.
The recall list includes 50 different dog food and 40 cat food brands that were all
sold in cans or pouches.
Major retailers have pulled the products from the shelves until the source of the
problem is pinpointed.
"Tests are currently under way to try and determine what the underlying cause is,
what's going on and to stop the problem from happening," said Iowa State
University veterinary medical clinician Dr. Kim Langholz.
Doctors at Iowa State's Veterinary Medical Laboratory are working with local
veterinarians to identify any Iowa cases that may be linked to the pet food.
If pet owners notice changes, such as excessive thirst and urination, or their
animal is lethargic and not eating, they should contact their vets.
Your vet can then work with Iowa State to test samples from your pet and any
contaminated food.
"Right now, we don't know exactly what the toxin is, but we suspect that it's a
toxin that affects the kidneys," said ISU veterinary toxicologist Dr. Steve
Ensley.
"We've got a fairly short list of things we suspect that are probably more likely so
we'll look at those first," Ensley said.
Iowa State veterinary diagnostic lab will only accept food or tissue samples from
veterinarians.
Experts said that those who have contaminated pet food and a sick pet should
first talk to their vets.
Recall Information
Menufoods.com/recall