So just how many cats and dogs have died as a result of the Menu Foods recall? Depends on who you ask.
The Food and Drug Administration's official tally of fatalities stands at 16 (15 cats and one d0g). But some suggest that the figure is off by at least two decimel points.
Since the story about the rat-poison-laced cat and dog food broke almost two weeks ago, Pet Connection has been tabulating fatalities. Granted, the entries are self-reported, and no one can tell how many of the more than 1,700 deaths listed are legit.
But even if the truth is somewhere in between, that's a heck of a lot of dead animals.
File under "One more thing to worry about": Experts say that if your dog or cat survives the kidney failure caused by the tainted foods, then bone marrow suppression is the next thing to obsess over.
Comments (20)
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Curse words - it makes me so angry that I feel just like venting now.
A vicious cycle starts. Will it ever end?
From the Pet Connection: New FDA Recall - PIG EARS
A recall has also been announced for pigs’ ears sold as treats for dogs. From the FDA:
Petrapport, Inc. is voluntarily recalling pig ear dog treats it imported from a Chilean company during the period August 2006 through December 2006 because the pig ears have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious infections in dogs, and, if there is cross contamination, young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
The Pet connection has a good article, also written and in my local paper "The Sacramento Bee" about that pet owners are doing and making their own food etc. and more about the Menu fiasco.
Just a note, I bought a Holistic Healthcare book and make home cooked meals according to a special formula. I add Molasses, and Human Grade Bone Meal, and Process raw carrots - very fine - as dogs have a problem digesting vegtables, even cooked ones, unless they are finely chopped. I also add some yogurt for its benefits and use sweet potatos and oatmeal and other things besides the protein, boiled chicken or boiled hamburger. I am not an expert, but when I do cook homemade I am cautious that a person can easily almost poison their dogs with too much protein (but over a long period of time).
Pet Food Recall: What to Feed and the numbers in the thread.
This is from the petsitusa.com site about pet foods and where they are made etc., some useful information. (But I would avoid all products with wheat in it until we know more and that is just me.)
I myself am using Natural Balance. Now as a personal note, I don't see what the problem is or was with me posting information on this problem. I hope none of our pets get ill, that includes DKM puppies, and anyone elses. I hope this information is helpful.
From the site:
"With the massive pet food recall that is going on, I have had people asking me what pet food is safe. At this point, feeding our pets any commercially prepared food can feel quite risky. The following companies have made statements that their food is not affected by the Menu Foods recall. Keep in mind that we are not “recommending” any of these foods. Rather, we’re compiling a list of foods that are reported safe by the manufacturers.
For those with just the business name listed, we have obtained information from their websites. We will be contacting them for further information and will update the list appropriately as soon as possible.
Alpo (Purina) (verified via website 3/23/07)
Artemis - Holistic Pet Food
Aunt Jeni’s (Home Made 4 Life) (verified with company 3/22/07)
They make all their own food (no outsourcing)
No wheat products of any kind
Azmira Holistic Animal Care Products (Verified by company rep 3/26/07)
Do not use Menu Foods but will not disclose name of manufacturer.
All ingredients are from the USA except New Zealand lamb.
They test every batch and submit a sample to the USDA for testing.
Test for proximates, salmonella, bacteria.
No wheat corn, soy, or wheat gluten is used in their products.
Back to Basics
Beneful (Nestle Purina)
Bil-Jac
Blue Buffalo
Blue Seal (verified by company 3/22/07)
Brands include Blue Seal, Bright Life, By Nature, Life Stages
Menu Foods manufactures Blue Seal - The Loaf Style wet, but it is not involved in the recall.
Menu Foods is not used for any of their other products.
Breeder’s Choice
Brands include AvoDerm, Active Care, Advanced Pet Diets Select Choice, Health Food for Dogs, Pinnacle
Wet foods made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Canidae
Brands include Canidae and Felidae
No products made by Menu Foods
Canine Caviar (verified via website 3/25/07)
No products made by Menu Foods
Products contain no wheat or corn
Castor & Pollux Pet Works (verified via website 3/23/07)
Brands include Organix & Ultramix
Wet foods made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
The wheat gluten product in tainted foods is not used in their foods.
Champion Petfoods, Ltd. (verified by company 3/25/07)
Brands include Origen and Acana
Own and operate their own production facilities in Morinville, Alberta, Canada
They make their own foods exclusively - their mandate is to produce world-class foods from fresh regional ingredients. That means almost all of their ingredients (over 90% for ORIJEN) are raised, fished or farmed within western Canada.
Only imported ingredients are lamb from New Zealand and rice from California - these are used in their ACANA brand foods.
They do not, and never have, had their brands produced or co-packed by any other pet food producer.
They do not use glutens or other vegetable proteins in any of their foods.
ORIJEN and ACANA foods are not on any recall list.
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
Del Monte Pet Products
Brands include Cycle, Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘n Bits, MeowMix, Nature’s Recipe, Reward, Skippy, 9Lives
None of their products are manufactured by Menu Foods
Diamond Pet Foods
Drs. Foster & Smith Products
Wet foods made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Eagle Pack
Some products made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Evangers
Manufactures and packs their own food.
No products made by Menu Foods
Evolve Pet Food
Brands include Evolve, Hi-Tor, and Triumph
Fancy Feast
Flint River Ranch
Friskies
Fromm Family Foods (verified via website 3/25/07)
Canned foods are NOT made by Menu Foods.
Foods produced in a human food plant without wheat gluten
or other grains.
Canned food made with 100% pure meat, duck, chicken & fish, NOT
reformed meat.
No by-products used in their dog and cat foods.
Fromm Family Foods does not test on animals.
Products are all-natural. Products made with binders to make reformed
meat and products which use wheat gluten are NOT considered all-natural
by their standards.
Go! Natural (Petcurean Pet Nutrition) (verified by company)
Menu Foods manufactures wet food
Dry foods manufactured at various Canadian Mills
Halo (verified via website 3/23/07)
No products made by Menu Foods
Healthy Pet Products (verified by company 3/23/07)
Manufactures all products in-house.
Hills Science Diet (verified via website 3/24/07)
Menu Foods IS used for some wet Science Diet cat food products
- these have been recalled. No other Science Diet foods are affected.
Hills Prescription Diet (verified via website 3/24/07)
Homestyle Select (verified via website 3/24/07)
All foods are manufactured in their own plant in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.
Their foods contain none of the suspect ingredients in the recall.
Kumpi (verified by Kumpi President, 3/24/07)
Does not use Menu Foods for any products
No soy, wheat gluten, wheat, or wheat source of any kind
Manufacturer is Crosswind Petfood Industries, in Sabetha, KS. ‘Dries’
are procured from Lortscher Agriculture Services in Bern, KS (about eight
miles from Sabetha)
Only outsourced product is lamb from New Zealand
Lassie Natural Way (verified via website 3/24/07)
No products made by Menu Foods
Dry foods are wheat, corn, and soy free - and no meat by-products
are used.
Mars Pet Food
Brands include Cesar, Pedigree, Sheba, Whiskas
Merrick Pet Foods
No products made by Menu Foods.
All Merrick foods, dry, canned and treats are made by their own
facility.
Natura Pet Products (verified with company 3/24/07)
Brands include Innova, Evo, California Natural, Healthwise,
Mother Nature, Karma Organic
Manufacture their own dry food, using their own formulas
They use only US suppliers - no ingredients come from China
or other foreign countries.
They use no corn or wheat products (including wheat gluten)
Wet foods made by Menu Foods (S. Dakota plant) but not involved
in the recall.
Natural Balance (verified via phone 3/23/07)
Dry food is made at their own plant then shipped to
the Diamond plant where it is bagged.
Canned food is made at their own plant, then shipped
to American Nutrition in Utah where it is canned. Natural Balance has their
own line at American Nutrition and no other canned foods are run through Natural
Balance’s equipment.
Nature’s Variety
Brands include Nature’s Variety and Nature’s Variety Prairie
Dry foods are outsourced, but not by Menu Foods.
Frozen and freeze-dried raw foods are made in house.
Canned foods made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Neura (verified by company rep 3/26/07)
“Menu does make some of our canned cat and canned dog foods. They make
OUR recipes according to OUR quality standards.”
“We have procedures in place to clean between each run of food that is produced. We also inspect the plant regularly to audit their procedures. Since we take our quality very seriously we go above and beyond what is expected in the industry. We are happy to tell you that we require our facilities to pass an audit by Cook & Thurber, a HUMAN FOOD auditing firm.”
Other manufacturers are used besides Menu Foods.
Products do not contain wheat, corn or soy, artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.
Newman’s Own Organics
At least some products made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Products not produced in the suspect Menu Foods plants.
Products do not contain wheat gluten.
Nutra Nuggets
Nutrience (verified via website 3/24/07)
Nutrience dog and cat canned foods are not produced by Menu Foods
Manufacturer does not use the supplier in question.
Foods contain no wheat gluten and are formulated with human-grade meat only.
Old Mother Hubbard (verified by company rep 3/26/07)
“Menu does make some of our canned cat and canned dog foods. They make
OUR recipes according to OUR quality standards.”
“We have procedures in place to clean between each run of food that is produced. We also inspect the plant regularly to audit their procedures. Since we take our quality very seriously we go above and beyond what is expected in the industry. We are happy to tell you that we require our facilities to pass an audit by Cook & Thurber, a HUMAN FOOD auditing firm.”
Other manufacturers are used besides Menu Foods.
Products do not contain wheat, corn or soy, artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.
Performatrin
Pets Valu’s Brand
Majority of their wet food is made by Menu Foods in Canada
Some products (excluding Ultra) are made by Menu Foods in the US, however not at the plant in Kansas, Missouri, and are not included in the recall.
None of their wet or dry products contain wheat gluten
PetGuard Organics
Pet Promise (verified via website 3/25/07)
No products made by Menu Foods
Precise (verified by company 3/22/07)
Verified their products are not on the recall list but when asked if they use Menu Foods to manufacture any of their products I was told that information was “confidential.”
Premium Edge
Professional Pet Food
Purina Dog Chow
Purina One
Purina Pro Plan
Purina Veterinary Diets
PHD Products
Royal Canin
Solid Gold Health Food for Pets
No products made by Menu Foods.
Dry food made by Diamond.
Timber Wolf Organics (verified by company)
When contacted, they refused to say whether or not their food is made by Menu Foods, and said they can’t give out that information.
Trader Joe’s
Wet
food manufactured by Menu Foods but not involved in recall. As a precaution, they are recalling all canned foods.
Verus Pet Foods
Wellness (verified by company rep 3/26/07)
“Menu does make some of our canned cat and canned dog foods. They make
OUR recipes according to OUR quality standards.”
“We have procedures in place to clean between each run of food that is produced. We also inspect the plant regularly to audit their procedures. Since we take our quality very seriously we go above and beyond what is expected in the industry. We are happy to tell you that we require our facilities to pass an audit by Cook & Thurber, a HUMAN FOOD auditing firm.”
Other manufacturers are used besides Menu Foods.
Products do not contain wheat, corn or soy, artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.
Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value (verified by company rep 3/23/07)
When asked, they would neither admit or deny that Menu Foods is their manufacturer - the name(s) of their manufacturer(s) is “confidential.”
“Raw ingredient that caused the illnesses reported was not being used in our products.”
Wysong
IMPORTANT:
Please check with the manufacturer of your pet’s food…check their website or call them. Also, as more pet foods are being added to the list of recalled pet foods, it’s imperative that you continue to check the Menu Foods recall list at http://menufoods.com/recall/ And if you find out your pet has eaten any of the recalled food, call your vet immediately.
Do not take this list as the final word. It is neither an endorsement of any foods listed, nor is it a complete list of all pet foods that are not on the recall list. There undoubtedly are other foods that are not on the recall list. We are adding them as we find out about them and verify their status.
"Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
May God give each of you rest and refresh you for tomorrow.
Father Creator, do not let us give in to our fears; but trust in You. Help all the surviving cats and dogs in the pet food recall. Welcome into Your Kingdom all of them that did not make it. Let justice and retribution be Yours. Welcome into Your Kingdom, sweet Cocoa and sweet Peebles. Bless and protect Vivi, Max, Annie, Hopey, Missy, and all the lost and missing. Heal Your animals and animal lovers. We lift these prayers in love, and in Jesus' name . . .
Father, continue Your watch over Vivi,Missy, Annie, Max,Hopey,Axel,Bowdee,Saffie,Zoey,Vern,the show babies, Biggie, and Sniffles. Show them to the volunteer of Your choice so that they may return to their earthly families. Bless all of these who work so diligently and with such kind hearts to bring them home as well. Surprise us by sending Vivi home to a volunteer (Kathy from Bayside,Rosa, Tina, Gail T,Bonnie, Diane T, Diane K-M, Darlene, Debbie, Monica, Lois T, Nancy M, Barbara Jean, Linda S,and her husband Mike, or Renee? Margot or Irene?) Many of us also have animals which need Your healing touch. Great Physician we lift to you for your healing Jethro Scrappy, Homer, Mercy, Spit, Dante, Terrie's dog Cubby, Moses, Briar, Skittles, Barney, Tara, Joey, Meeko, Skeeter, Andi, Sparky, Scout, Dodge, Auggie, Billy, Ezme, Clarus, Star, Doogie, Felice, Max, Little McGee, Murphy, Mylie, Gunner, Linus, Kiva, Ellie,(restore all that had to be taken), Morgan, Tucker, Brandy, Lexie, Isabella, Twin Kittens, Bowen, and Heather. Enfold all of us in Your healing embrace.
We thank you for healing Maureen, and Zipper!! Thank You for the improvement in Gail's Dude.Thank You for Isabella's improving health! Thank You for McGee's weight gain.
We are frail Father and many of us need Your healing so that we can serve the purpose for which You have created us.
We lift up the following people in need of Your healing: Madison,"J", Kathleen, Terrie, Amanda, Rosa C, Kathleen's Mom Mary, Renee, Pam, Jacque, JL, Lance, Chris, and Abby.
God of Power, stand behind Duke and Denise, and Otis' followers,as well as those of Boston and Chevy, as they have stood behind these animals, until justice is done. Thank you for Ruby, and all the bloggers who bring these animals to our attention. Take gentle care with Anne who has Alzheimers, and was the doxie's former mom.
Welcome all those who make the journey to Paradise, tonight. Let their animal companions greet them at the gates of Heaven. Hold both people and animals in your arms.
Give blessings to all who have done Your work.(We specially thank You for the success of Woody's rescuers!!) Reward our faithful animal companions who have gone ahead. Let all who are homeless know Your love, and ours, too.
Send your angels and saints to work with Vivi's angels. These NYC volunteers, and their leaders; Tina, Rosa, and Bonnie, serve as Your compassionate presence on earth. Don't let them become discouraged. Let them know that prayer wise "we've got their back"!
Let our faith grow as a result of this experience! Restore as we sleep, Heavenly Father, as we turn over the night watch to you! YOU ARE IN CHARGE! AMEN!
Heavenly Father, we send up a special prayer for our treasured Sharon and little Princess Madison that they may heal and feel well once again. Please watch over and protect them both during this night watch, for they both love You so much.
Candles?
http://www.gratefulness.org
GOD INHABITS THE PRAISE OF HIS PEOPLE!!!
Here also you can find valuable information about dog food and their secrets:
http://dogfoodsecrets.blogspot.com/
They publish new article each day that is not affordable in any other website!!
If you are just tuning in today and want up to date info on the pet food poisoning, go to this website: www.petconnection.com
Avoid this Newsday site as it is not relevant.
ABC reported on the morning news: 10,000 or more pets to die:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2984402
I saw that on the news this morning. A very scary possibility even if they are only half right.
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST PLEASE:
I just spoke with Gina, and Madison's condition seems to be worsening very much. Something is causing her oxygen levels to go up and down, and Gina has not been able to wean her back off the oxygen. They have an appointment with the neurologic shortly, and I look to see him hospitalize our little Princess.
Gina (as I also) fear her little body systems are starting to shut down. Please pray so hard for this baby. We are all so worried and upset right now.
Thank you,
Love Kathleen, Gina and Madison
I will pray for Gina.
KATHLEEN: Just got home and will say many prayers for Madison and light candles.
I meant to add Madison to my prayer also. Sorry.
Thank you so much, Margot. You and so many others have been so kind and faithful with your prayers and candles for Madison. You will never know how much this means to all of us.
I just lite one myself. One of the hardest things I have had to do because my grandmother always taught me in times of crisis like this to pray that God's Will be done. If this is the time God has chosen for this precious child, I pray He will give us all the strength to say goodbye also. I just pray this time has not come.
I felt this urge to call Gina and did. Her first words were, "You could not have picked a more perfect time to call." She was in tears and so worried. Isn't it amazing how God directs us in our lives. He was telling me in my heart I needed to call her - now I know why.
You know Madison and Gina are like Vivi to me. Some wonder how anyone could love a little girl they have never met, but I love her the same way I do all these sweet creatures like Vivi. I know someday I will meet them, if not here on Earth definitely in Heaven.
Thank you Linda. This whole Randolph family and friends will be devastated if we lose this sweet little girl.
I even had Gina put the phone up to Madison's ear and I tried to talk to her and see if she would open her eyes. But she did not.
I need a prayer for my little sisters Golden Retriever Emma, she is at the vets having her kidneys flushed, because she got into wet cat food
that my sister got as a bonus in her Nutro dry food.
This whole ordeal with Menu Foods sucks and I hope
that someone socks it to them with a huge law suit.
Emma is 8 yrs old and has never been sick a day in
her life and now she is fighting for her life.
Kathleen, Madison is in my thoughts and prayers. Always know you have us and please don't leave the blog. You are a good soul and have helped so many people and furry buddies.
I forgot to mention that my ill cousin, Karen, had a golden retriever named Tinkerbell. She was the sweetest dog. She lived for over 13 years and had to be euthanized when her cancer spread. It was right before Karen was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. There is something special about doggies named Tinkerbell. I love hearing about your little girl and now she has a buddy. That's great!
I am so thankful to see Lassie brand natural way posted as a 'safe' food. At this time there are so many sources for information on recalled foods that it is overwhealming and discouraging. I appreciate the exhaustive research that went into this list of 'safe' foods.
I had been feeding my cat Mickey, Purina one indoor cat chow and he only had ate from bag for one week. He started drinking more water and was drooling, I thought maybe he was hot.He also, was acting a little fatigued and weak on the last day of his life. A week after I started feeding him this food, he passed away. it was very traumatic and a devastating loss to my husband and I. I hope that maybe someone will read some of these signs that my cat displayed and be able to save their own pet. my pet was my baby, he was like a son, and this was so un expected.