IMPORTANT - Recalled Pet Food

[txsvicki]

I don't understand why Walmart in the U.S. is labeling food as their brand when it may be made in Canada out of products obtained from China. It's ridiculous that they are not letting people know where products are really from.

 

[pjop]

Her BUN and creatinine levels were out of this world....BUT, can chronic renal failure be reversed?? Can my cat heal from this??/quote]

As far as I know, it cannot be reversed. My cat's BUN/creat. were through the roof, too. He spend one night in the hospital and peed all over himself. He looked awful, his breath was horrendous, and he was so very sick.

See this link re: chronic renal disease.

http://www.fabcats.org/crf.html

 

[LionRun]

Although, we love our pets as well loved beings, the law considers all animals as property. If it can be shown that a pet more than likely died from or became ill from said food, and an owner wins a case he/she can be reimbursed for the Vet bills and the value of the animal. Generally, I have heard of amounts for purebreds to top out at about $500.00; but, please do not quote me on that.

If a pet can be shown to be worth more than that it would hopefully be awarded. Assistance dogs for the disabled are valued at about $20,000.00 each , for example. SAR dogs, police dogs, bomb dogs, highly trained hunting dogs, top show dogs, and high ranking show cats, etc.. can also be valued very high----monetarily only. So, an owner can receive about $500.00 (if purebred, in most cases), less if the pet was a mixed breed, plus the cost of Vet bills and possibly time off from work to tend to a sick animal or take him to a Vet. The law does not and will not consider the personal value based on how much one loved their pet, unfortunately.

Also, because an animal is considered to be property an owner cannot sue for pain and suffering regarding what the owner or the pet or even a grieving child who's pet died a tragic death right in front of him.

I have long thought that such laws need to change. Maybe this tragedy will spark that change, but only if enough people stand to make that change. It would not be an easy task. Though, I believe we sue too many times, over too many things, for too much money in many cases, this is not one of those situations.

Lion

 

[Pepper]

For all your kind words.
As you know...a pet can never be replaced, just like humans. They all have their own distinct personality traits, funny ways, etc. I still see him running up the yard to the house and still hear him meowing at times. I guess that will happen for a while.
What would any of you do as far as the next course of action? First I guess I should contact Menu Foods and see what they tell me. And if they aren't responsive I probably should contact an attorney. I would at least like to have the vet bill paid.

I would contact your vet and see if he would write a letter stating the cause of death to back up your claim. Do you have any left over food?

Information on a class action lawsuit already filed:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/22/pet.food.recall/index.html?eref=rss_us

 

[pjop]

I would contact your vet and see if he would write a letter stating the cause of death to back up your claim. Do you have any left over food?

Information on a class action lawsuit already filed:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/22/pet.food.recall/index.html?eref=rss_us

Yes, I do have leftover food. When I first saw the recall last weekend I was at work and didn't remember if I had thrown it away but thank goodness I hadn't. I still have it and some receipts as well.
Thanks.

 

[Silverwolf]

First of all, my deep condolences to those here who have lost their dear fur babies. It is an unbelievable heartache. This situation with Menu Foods makes my blood boil.


Call me paranoid ~ but I am wondering if there is any chance this tainted food was on store shelves BEFORE December? I don't trust a thing this company says. And I have another reason for wondering.


In August of last year, we had to put our sweet Siamese, Chloe, to sleep, due to kidney failure that came on very suddenly. Now granted, Chloe was 19 years old, and had some health problems ~ but nothing serious, and certainly not life threatening ~ and she had NEVER had any problems with her kidneys. She did eat one of the brands back in August that has now been recalled. It probably isn't connected, it was probably just old age, but it came on SO suddenly and she deteriorated SO quickly, that I just can't help but wonder. When I first read about this recall, my heart just sank, and I immediately thought about my precious Chloe. She had been with us since she was about four weeks old, after someone had abandoned her, and she was my baby for nineteen glorious years. I miss her so much every day.


Anyway ~ just wanted to put this out there. I am so afraid of how many pets are ultimately going to have died from this. It is beyond reprehensible. Again, I am so sorry for all of you who have been affected by this ~ my prayers are with you.



Blessings,
Silverwolf

 

[izzyB]

i have 6 precious little cats, 4 outdoor feral that we feed and who live in our yard, and two that stay indoors. just by "luck" we feed them the Fancy Feast grilled style with gravy which is made by Purina and is not affected by this recall, but it could have been so different for us since this is the exact type of canned food everyone gets for one of their two meals, the other being hard food.

my prayers and the depth of heart feelings go to all pet owners living this nightmare right now!!! i know you are devastated b/c i would be.

i believe this company should be held accountable to the full degree of whatever the law allows in this case (and then some!)

 

[Agatha]

I am thanking God for my stingy-ness. Before all this happened, I was starting to feel guilty for always feeding my cats the cheap stuff and my dogs homemade. I had just about decided to mortgage the house and invest in some Iams or Eukanuba for them. I'm so glad my stingy-ness won out. They are all fine.

 

[Sundayrain]

I am thanking God for my stingy-ness. Before all this happened, I was starting to feel guilty for always feeding my cats the cheap stuff and my dogs homemade. I had just about decided to mortgage the house and invest in some Iams or Eukanuba for them. I'm so glad my stingy-ness won out. They are all fine.

That is so true Agatha........it didn't matter if you paid the highest price for name brands.......or.......you paid the lowest price for store brand names. Most of the dog foods were in this melting pot. I couple of things my dogs eat were not on the list ....a few of the things were. My older dog has all the symtoms of this toxic food.....she should be fine now.....I am not sure my 800 vet bill in December just before Christmas for the other little poodle...didn't fall under this toxic mess. As his tests were not showing a major cause for his misery. He kept walking away from his food.....the ones in the "pouches"....Poor guy. I feel so bad.
We all love our pets so much......how shameful of this company to hide this for the almighty dollar. Big billon dollar loss, but our losses are so much greater........
Do I trust this company.....now that all the foods are coming back on the shelves........No.........I have to have some facts .........true, forthright facts.

 

[Sundayrain]

Just reading an article in Florida where a lady fed her shitzu Ol'Roy that was on shelves in Walmart. The dog got sick immediately. She trusted that all the foods were removed. They are not.........be careful.
The register caught one of the recalled foods, but not the others.
I know the food is back on shelves in SC........everyone be careful.
Please........poor little guy.
Hummmm..........how many is this now we know of? Many more then they will admit too.

 

[narlacat]

This has been awful and I'm so sorry for everyone here who has lost their much loved pets
Sue Menu Foods this is America- and peoples pets matter

 

[Malapoo]

There is chronic renal failure and acute renal failure. The food should cause acute which generally can be reversed if caught early enough and the animal responds to treatment. Acute is more associated with an event (such as toxins, poisonous plants etc) as opposed to chronic which is more of a "natural" disease or aging process. Chronic cannot be reversed and generally would be progressive over time. Although depending on the cause and severity of acute failure, you'd likely have somewhat compromised kidneys but if values return to normal, then you're generally ok.

http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=210

Above is a link to safe foods.

 

[englishleigh]

I heard yesterday that Menu Foods will pay all medical bills for all pets affected by this. I also heard that a person cannot sue for "pain and suffering" due to the loss of a pet....which makes no sense to me. Pets are as much a part of the family as the humans are. I hope this company saying they'll pay the medical bills, even if it puts them out of business, doesn't have them thinking this makes up for all this.

What the heck are they doing getting wheat gluten from CHINA?? Saving money?? In the long run it certainly didn't save them any money, it will likely ruin them. Why not buy wheat from AMERICAN suppliers and farmers??????? :banghead: :furious:

 

[SieSie]

Thanks for the info, everyone! I just sent a bulk email to all my friends and family with detailed information (links, the list of brands, the phone number, etc...) with a note for them to forward it to everyone they know, as well.

Glitch, I'm so sorry you lost your dog. Hugs to you!!!

I haven't read the whole thread, my sympathies to anyone else who has also had a pet suffer or die because of this pet food.

 

[PaperDoll]

I've been feeding my dogs people food along with some of their dry.. I call the dry "crunchers" hehe I'm using Dick Van Patten dry food.. They are not on the recall list. I'm boiling chicken breast with sweet and regular potatos. I also cook up some beef and sramble some eggs with it and some brown rice.. They are eating it up Their poop is looking better as well. Before, when they were eating that Nurtro pouch food, their poop was runny and odd looking. They were throwing up as well and didn't want to get near their food dish.. This is so unlike my puppies.. They are usually all over their food... Now, they are back to normal and I'm pleased...

 

[GlitchWizard]

I'm so sorry. I hope this *&#$#@ company goes out of business, and I truly hope that anyone who has a sick or dead pet because of this, joins in the class action lawsuits that are sure to follow.

Unless I dig up my doggie and pay for an autopsy, I can't join in any class action lawsuits. I don't know how many thousands of people have lost their pets and can't or won't prove it (or do not know.) Please don't be upset that I can't join the lawsuit without digging up my doggie. She is wrapped in her favorite blanket, burried in my "pet cemetary" in my yard - and I just can't dig her up. :-(

 

[Mabel]

Pig Ear dog treats recalled.

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/petrapport03_07.html

 

[reb]

ughh... no big surprise to hear it's foor they sell at wal-mart... go figure! you get what you pay for. i would rather feed my dogs garbage then cheap-o dog food.. all sorts of nasty vile stuff in there.

 

[PaperDoll]

Pig Ear dog treats recalled.

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/petrapport03_07.html

:banghead: :furious:

Well I'm glad I don't give my dogs pigs ears.. I do give them rawhide bones to chomp on though.. I sure hope they don't come up with a recall on those

 

[reb]

but to be fair... anything could happen anytime, even with better quality foods, so i'm knocking on wood here.
still, chances are much higher that these things would happen with crappy cheap dog food.

btw.. for anyone who doesn't know yet what goes into your pet's food.. do some research.. there's lots of info out there now, so it's no secret anymore. there's a reason so many dogs & cats have been dying at age 8 or 10 with all kinds of degenerative diseases and other problems... when technically, they can live a lot longer & healthier life (as long as nothing else happens or they don't get cancer, which can be totally random).. it's the same thing with people.. eat junk food all your life and you're gonna look like hell & start falling apart at age 35.

people say they can't afford to feed their pets better food.. well, you can't afford tons of vet bills as they get older either, right?