Pet food recall

[Wolfgang]

I'd like to urge everybody to check the list at www.nightly.msnbc.com (among other sites) for pet fods that have caused kidney failure and other major health problems in pets.
One of my rescues died last spring after several months of battling kidney failure, it's very ugly.

 

[megsk8z]

My coach lost 2 dogs in 3 days and she thinks the food has something to do with it.
My mother's cat had kidney stones (which my then-2 year-old daughter insisted were "kitty stones") and not only was it painful for the cat, but the bill was enormous! So, yes, please, everyone, check your food for flaws!

 

[Mathman]

One interesting thing is that they are recalling dog food "sold under 48 different brands" and cat food sold under 40 different brands.

In other words, they just shovel from the same pile into 48 different-colored cans, then sell some of it as "high priced premium," some of it as "complete balanced nutrition," some as "high protein," some as "especially for your growing puppy," etc.

 

[Wolfgang]

I've heard that all peanut butter comes from the same plant in South Carolina, companies just bid on huge vats, then slap their respective labels on it......

Yes, 90+ % of all pet food is absolute crap, just read the label (second question being how true that info is.....), no cat or dog normally eats stuff like 'corn gluten meal', 'brewer's yeast', 'dried beet pulp' and other such filler nonsense.
I guess mine are fortunate in the sense that some of them have special needs, which means a lot of fresh bolied chicken and chicken livers.

 

[Arianne]

My cat Ernie just recently died of kidney failure. He ate that soft food as well. The vet is telling me it wasn't because of the food, but I'm not so sure.

Please fellow pet owners, help me out! What food is actually safe and healthy and natural for my pet? I have two cats and two dogs. Is there a pet food expert out there? I just want my animals to have good food and be healthy! Even the "natural" food that I was feeding them evidently is the farthest thing from natural!

 

[Spun Silver]

I used to have a friend who lived in Paris a long time. According to her, French people feed their pets people food, so she always cooked up meat and rice for her poodles or gave them her leftovers.

I can't do that for my poodle though, because I'm a vegetarian. Or, I won't. Nina Simone Jr has been eating one of those expensive "health" brands for years with no ill effects. She's been on the verge of death for almost four years (heart disease) but she seems to be indestructible (just turned 14). At the moment she is eating Innova exclusively since the pet store stopped selling Nature's Choice for now as a precaution. It smells better than most dog foods, fwiw.

I've gotten pretty relaxed about her food in her old age. She's getting to be a picky eater and I don't see why I should hold my dog up to a higher standard than I hold myself. So I've been putting half-and-half or skim milk on her food to tempt her to eat, giving her cheese, and cadging all the meat scraps I can for her from my carnivorous bf. I can't see any effect on her health. I think the whole pet food thing is a racket.

 

[Wolfgang]

The cat I grew up with made it to the ripe old age of 18 on a diet of birds, mice, moles and raw livers, kidneys, hearts and other gizzards from the grocery store.
Very rarely ate any actual 'pet food'.
Perhaps I should mention that she was born in a barn (literally), may have been part mountain cat (very wide, furry paws), and was the strongest of her litter, all that probably made a difference.
If you live in a city, having your cat snack on birds and mice may not be possible (or safe), but you'll be doing your pet a favor if you feed as much fresh meat as possible, look for pet foods that list meat as at least the first one or two ingredients, and provide some kitty grass to help her digest and cope with hairballs.
Don't leave the food out all the time, establish set feeding times, a hungry cat is better than a sick cat.
Fresh water should be available at all times.

While dogs are technically omnivores, meat is still no.1, so much of what I said about cats goes for dogs as well.When my Husky gets his stomach upsets - which is due in part to the fact that he's a Husky, in part because his previous owners fed him primarily Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, etc. leftovers and Ole Roy (pretty much the cheapest crap dog food there is) - he gets a mix of plain boiled rice with plain boiled chicken.
Dogs often like grass, too.

Many of the problems people have with pets isn't only due to the food, frequently it's the pets themselves, who come from inbred, sickly, or otherwise 'inferior' stock.
Through no fault of their own, it's a bunch of irresponsible, greedy breeders and merchants who are too focused on the only God they know - Mammon.
This applies mainly to pets you buy from a pet store, especially birds and fish.

 

[SeaniBu]

My biggest concern with this is the humane shelters and how to compensate for their loss of food. One shelter in Englewood lost over 90% of their wet food.


SeaniBu rant.-
Just because I am hearing the mention of "Pets" eating birds - which I asume meaning wild. Don't forget the impact of what an animal that only exists because of it's "guardian" giving it a, buying a, or supporting it killing natural habitat is not good for the environment. The skies of Colorado used to be filled with Chickadees, since mankind has come and destroyed much of it's natural habitat anyway, now we are adding predators in the environment, the natural bird population is crushed even more. Humans took away their nesting spots and add a new predator in what little nesting areas they have left .... Moms don't return to their babies even more so. Not to forget all of the wonderful things they will bring back to your house, or worse a neighbor's.

Unless it is crows - yah right - (or some form of bird that has exploded it's populous due to humans) and you want to feed your cat live birds, raise the "Livestock" yourself.

As it was pointed out to me just last night (again I witness), neighbors get sick of having to deal with other peoples pets becoming their responsibility. i.e. (last night) friends neighbor came over with my friends cat that snuck in again as he was packing up his car to head for work, and rips stuff up. He was kind about it and said simply, "I don't have a cat, I don't want a cat. This is your cat, so why am I once again forced to deal with aspects of having a cat. The way I can leave my door open while packing stuff into my car should be my right to do so. Your cat takes this right away from me. Is that fair to me?"

Also how many times I had cats trying to get into my house when I had birds. What gives someone else pet the right to kill mine? Numerous stories of gardens being used as litter boxes. And the ever present fact of either getting in an accident because of or running over a cat. I can't think of any involved party that is fair to. Yes the owner is ultimately taking the brunt (foregoing the cat feelings on the subject) but just the idea that you killed some poor little girls cat fluffy is a feeling and emotion that is another added responsibility brought on by someone else's decision to impact other's / strangers lives. Isn't there enough of that going on all ready?

But hey, we should just take the opinion that humans have been doing it for so long now, it is OK. Because humans have done such a good job with the environment an social structure so far, there is nothing in need of change. It seems that 90% of the people who think letting cats go free to do what they want in other peoples shared and privite / personal environments are cat owners.

Sorry, I love individual cats, and for some reason they love me (must be because I am allergic ) but it is a pet peeve - Literally - that cats, a pet that are destructive to ecological balance and a hinderance on neighbors, why not the same guidelines as dogs?

Ask a neighbor without pets how they feel about you letting your cat do whatever it wants, and then ask them again in 6 months. They'll usually give a different opinion if there is a discussion.

btw, I don't dislike people for letting their cats out, just the idea of it. It takes a number of things I don't like about or agree with a person to make me acutely not like them. It is after all my friend that does this too. I don't like his free roam cat policies, but I do like him and like and cuddle with Aurelius (the cat) - cats are cute and they always get on my lap and want attention from me. I think he has good intents, he is just not thinking "past human habits" to see if this is another one that is hurting as a whole on any scale.

 

[Petlover]

According to my vet, outdoor cats live an average of 4 years, completely indoor cats live an average of 14 years. My cat (an old rescued persian) was declawed
by his former owner, so the only outside he gets is my screened porch.

I took my dogs and cat off of canned food about a year ago, a couple of them were having some stomach upsets, and they are much healthier. They get dry dog food (and dry cat food for the cat), and lots of meat and vegetable table scraps. My dogs have always gotten meat and veggie table scraps, and have been healthy and long lived. In fact, a dachsund I had (Fred) lived to be 19 years and 7 months, and his diet was over half meat and veggie table scraps. I don't give them onions or shellfish though, and no pork either on the recommendation of my vet.

This is really scary.

 

[SeaniBu]

Onions? I wonder what that in particular is due to? I have never seen a "pet" of any sort eat an onion. Not even my birds - although they loved peppers.

I have also heard statistics as supported above. I think it is the factor of really looking out for your pet rather than thinking they will know what is best for them. I am acutely surprised in Boulder that the Humane Society doesn't file "pet abuse" on some of the guardians of cats that have been killed or diseased. After all, who's responsibility is it to know what is safe, healthy and best for a cat? The cat? And isn't that just "temporary abandonment." Have them indoors when you want them and stick them out in the "wild of society" when you don't? I know, quite the stretch , but I do like cats, so in my mind I want them healthy and safe as possible - along with the other wild animals and pets of the world. Sometimes don't we have to intervene with an animals curiosity or they get hurt? - same with children.

 

[Jhar55]

When I had pet only bought dry food.
My sister has a dog that won't eat dog food they feed her from the table (not sis's idea)
What's wrong with the food sources today? There was a time you never heard of food recalls. I never eat that salad is a bag without washing it first or any fresh fruit and veggies.

 

[Wolfgang]

RE: Seanibu rant - Relax. Bauzi the cat wasn't subsisting by exterminating rare species, the little birdies that formed a good part of her staple diet were the European Sparrow, a bird that is about as rare and endangered as mice or cockroaches........
A few times I had to take half-dead pigeons away from her, the city used to try to eradicate them by spreading rat poison all over the place, which led to many pet deaths, so they finally had to stop when public pressure got more overwhelming than lobbyists' pressure.......
I used to pick up pigeon corpses almost daily on the way to and from school and sort of dig makeshift 'graves' for them. I was often late.....

What is wrong with food today?
Same thing that's wrong with cars, real estate, and everything else.
Everybody's a crook, and trying to pawn off the cheapest, nastiest garbage for the most moolah possible as quickly as possible, then cut and run.

 

[SeaniBu]

RE: Seanibu rant - Relax. Bauzi the cat wasn't subsisting by exterminating rare species, the little birdies that formed a good part of her staple diet were the European Sparrow, a bird that is about as rare and endangered as mice or cockroaches........

Cool, have Bauzi look over this article so the cat knows the difference
http://www.fws.gov/news/NewsReleases/showNews.cfm?newsId=A76B7418-1143-3066-40D6E7B7699AAB48

What is sad is that I do agree with a "control or ridding" of the starlings - or whatever "European sparrows" you have. Also the dead pigeons I can't agree with more, the breeders and attitude that spread this pigeon crap all over is the exact same attitude I am addressing regarding cat owners. It is not the neighborhoods responsibility to have a pet. Just the one that decides to have it, should be 99.9% responsible for it and not pawn off their guardian responsibilities. BUT I HATE, YES HATE PIGON BREEDERS! This is the same problem.

Isn't there and old folk song about the farmer getting a cat to get the mouse ... then a dog to get the cat, then a....
It has to stop / start somewhere.

But frankly it is the attitude that get perpetuated and people do not make a differentiation between a species that requires "cultivation" and the ones that are endangered. Also the fact a cat can't, and one dead Black capped at this point in time does have effect. Like I said, haven't we damaged enough already! Yep those birds "the little birdies that formed a good part of Bauzi's diet" are not native and proliferating like rats (another example of careless guardianship of animals) but now I would have to say, how the heck do you know all the birds the cat is eating / killing. Does the Cat differentiate between a Starling and a Warbler?

Here is a list with pics, maybe Bauzi can't read.
http://www.50birds.com/Gend1.htm

Sorry I just can't resist the joke of the cat methodically hunting only non-native birds. The idea is just hilarious to me.

Now I totally disagree with some of these vigilantly types that hurt others pets - i.e. the freaks who mix anti-freeze and tuna in their yard they know a neighbors cat visits. But I must say Their mentality does not seem that far removed from that of a cat owner who lets their cat out to kill wild animals. After all, the cat is introduced into the environment JUST LIKE the starling was, and both of thew issues regard killing of an animal that is not native to the land.

But it seems there are some things that people are not aware of.
Many species of bird nest in the ground.
Many types of native bird will asses a nesting area before they nest. If they see a "predator" frequenting the area they will not nest there AND LIKELY not find a place to nest, hence not having babies. - species depletes.
See, it is not just the ones that actually get killed.
This is due to all the stuff we have done to deplete it's environment, now people add a none native predator? Strange mentality we have.

And btw... Relax is the last thing you say to someone when you acutely want them to.

Also great name, We have a Bauzi news caster here (and she is lovely ) as well as the tribe that was once animalistic society and then became Christian influenced. I hope that is the perfect name.:agree:

And I hope you realize, that although I don't agree with your actions, and however you try to justify them - regarding this topic, I had no bad feelings toward you, it is more common than not that people have your attitude. I didn't hold you fully responsible for the judgment of letting you cat out. Just a product of societies actions and decisions of the past that are now undeniably catching up to us all.

 

[Wolfgang]

I think I know where the misunderstanding comes from.
Bauzi the cat came from a barn in the ski resort/spa town of Semmering, Lower Austria, and spent the vast majority of her life in a suburb of Vienna, Austria, a city in the heart of Europe, roughly 2 million people, and absolutely no Warblers.
Or anything else even remotely resembling a rare species of anything.
All of them died or fled a LONG time ago.......
Pigeon breeders ??????
What a concept.......
No no no, these are very much regular, plain old everyday wild city pigeons, millions upon millions of them.
Just about every city in Europe is absolutely covered with them.
So whether or not Bauzi could read, she couldn't have found any non-prolific birds or other critters within a 1,000 miles.
Terms such as 'nature' or 'wildlife' mean something completely different in Europe (and many parts of Asia) than they do here.
Think 5 times the people, 10 times the asphalt on 1/3 of the space.......

 

[SeaniBu]

I thought this was in reference to the states due to the NM on you location. ???

And city cats I do understand more so because we have already killed off the "natives" just like what is continuing to happen. So I 'spose if it continues this direction of the same thing, we'll have the same results in newly / newer populated areas and it will all be moot because there wont be any left to protect and the streets will be over ridden with "pests" that we will NEED our pets to kill. Change the course or leave it the same, I guess we'll see which way works best for the planet and all inhabitance in the future.

The breads were just examples. Pigeons were brought to North america too - just like dandelions IMO. They had good intentions in growing it hear, but "good intentions" are often know as "the pavement on the road to hell."
And as I say that I realize that "I am" doing the same, by having good intentions, but it will likely be taken negatively by someone - hence I will be in "hell" by saying anything. But I do see these 2 different POVs being discussed in a very nice manner. IMO anyway. That is awesome.

Think 5 times the people, 10 times the asphalt on 1/3 of the space.......

Glad this wasn't taken to harshly. And that really is the point, how much impact we have had already and then adding to it that makes me even question our moral conscience in regard to our planet - geesh the Boulder, CO. really comes through in me sometimes - and how sometimes I hear things and it sounds like "we have screwed it up so much already, what is a little more going to hurt?" - not what you said I note, but comments always lead to determinations.... But anyhoo, a "extremely generalized" correlation of topics there.

I've been doing a little bit of looking for I have not heard or read that a Veterinarian would recommend a pet eating live animals from a local environment. All I find is stuff like....

http://www.wbu.com/edu/cats.htm

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/WHEALTH/issues/AI/questions.htm

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fwt/back_issues/december98/cats.html

This one was really good. Old school to new school.
http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanagement101/a/indooroutdoor.htm
btw, you see cats on leashes in Boulder more than you would think. Yep, happy prancing down the street sniffing noses with other cats and some dogs. I know from one person it was really awkward getting a leash on a cat they had already, but the new kitten took to it and inside or on a screened patio when not walking on a leash without any issues. I must admit the new kitten became the sweeter of the 2 for sure and the other seems to be fine with it now

this one even talks about Europe situation.
http://www.state.nj.us/health/flu/documents/avianflu_in_cats.pdf.

I guess it is my "Hippy loving earth muffin" computer only turning up these searches. For I can think of a few "remote" situations where that might, MIGHT be encouraged but came up with only "don'ts."??? I am surprised, not even a retaliatory blog???

There are a lot of reasons why killing wild animals can compromise a pets health, expl. "bird flu." And IMO it is our responsibility to ensure they are safe just as much as happy.

And I always think it is nice that people take strays under their wing, even if it is only partially under their wing. Animals need love, care and direction. That is great that you gave some to Bauzi - I am thinking lucky cat.:agree: Of course there are the situations that people over extend their "caring abilities" and this can be bad for the pets and the neighbor hood. Not thinking that of Wolfgang / you, but it comes to mind how good intentions - like that lady you might see on the animal planet with 40 cats in a one bedroom apartment, being an example of SOME people just don't know went the good intentions become more harmful to everyone involved.


BOT, so I heard last night it was some kind of mix up in food distribution - wrong stuff in the wrong package, and even wrong ingredients for dry food. Something about rabies (which I don't think indoor cats get) "treatment" food being improperly distributed or something. I bet this comes down to some fool not paying attention on the "assembly line." Possibly looking over the Union news letter feeling totally secure at their "coosh" position and not caring enough.

eta, parents just said it was rat poison that is illegal in the states. How the heck did that get in pet food????

 

[bronxgirl]

Indoor cats are definitely susceptible to rabies! All it takes is a bat getting down the fireplace or through an open window. People forget to vaccinate their indoor cats because they think it can;t happen to them, but sadly, the virus does not discriminate based on living situation.:yes:

 

[Wolfgang]

Seanibu - Current location NM is correct, but wasn't in Bauzi's days.....
My current critters do not go outside -aside from the dog being walked - too many stray dogs, used condoms, used crack needles, drunk gang guys with guns & knives and other lovelies in the neighborhood.

Living in Boulder, I'm not surprised your 'puter is of the hippy tree hugging Birkenstock variety....
We also need to keep in mind that those types of people are about 10 times more likely to post stuff on the web than Shotgun Bubba, who does not recognize anything without a franchise name on the box as food, thinks poker is a sport, and belches 'Neon Moon' for entertainment.

I tried putting one of my cats on a leash once.
Let's just say we didn't go very far.......

As for bird flu, the only realistic way you or your pets can catch this, is if you take them to a chicken slaughterhouse in Saigon.
Just like the West Nile virus, and a multitude of other illnesses made 'sexy' by wall-to-wall news coverage, these things very rarely survive very long outside of the area that produced them.
If it was otherwise, the world's population of any species would have been wiped out millenia ago.

 

[SeaniBu]

Seanibu - Living in Boulder, I'm not surprised your 'puter is of the hippy tree hugging Birkenstock variety....

:agree:
...to add the original owner was from San Fran Didn't you know that Power PC processors have a Hemp core.

We also need to keep in mind that those types of people are about 10 times more likely to post stuff on the web than Shotgun Bubba

.
And what is their opinion is worth anyway? Besides they are to buisy on the C.O.P.S. web site.

As for bird flu, the only realistic way you or your pets can catch this, is if you take them to a chicken slaughterhouse in Saigon.

http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/journal/issues/v30n6/990710/990710.web.pdf
Rare yes.

Just like the West Nile virus, and a multitude of other illnesses made 'sexy' by wall-to-wall news coverage, these things very rarely survive very long outside of the area that produced them.

I don't totally disagree with you point, they were just examples anyhoo, I wouldn't know what new and undiscovered diseases are out there, and have no real faith that a pet could bring it to a lager scale or whatever. Just an example, and it has. One situation in the Denver area was a cat bringing a pelage from Prairie dogs and killing one human. But it is uncommon.

West Nile is not so "uncommon" around hear still. Lots of infections reported in animals, most humans take the precautions to ward of the "skeeders," and it is being combated now as a mater of fact before it starts up as say the probs we had in 2003. Birds that had west nile were so easy for cats AND dogs to catch, there were a lot of reported cases back when it first started and it has gone down due to "intervention tactics."

Sorry about your living situation - unless you like it - I had a similar situation for the 2 years at the art institute. Rent was fair though "Head up and no eye to eye contact unless someone says "hi." and things were just fine, provided you could sleep through the dumpster out back getting used as target practice when they were selling guns in the ally. Of course my neighbor and friend was strapped with over 30 guns and we both grew up using them, so I felt safe.

BOT, haven't heard any new developments on this pet food issue, hopefully that means there are no more deaths or sicknesses and it is under total control.

 

[SeaniBu]

People forget to vaccinate their indoor cats because they think it can;t happen to them...:

Good point, :agree: More likely for most that a mouse could transmit it - where do you live bronxgirl, Carlsbad Caverns J/K We have a huge variety of bats in the Boulder area and people all over have bat boxes on the north sides of their homes. Very useful and I found them fun to watch while sipping on an afterwork Guinness in the back yard swooping on bugs flying around / near (usually we were barely able to make them out, and identified them mainly by their flying) the lamps in the park after dusk. Sometimes they come really close but never have heard of one in the house / living areas yet. Not personal account anyway, only being in attics and garages. Our flew was usually closed during "bat seasons." And most chimneys around here have screens due to the Raccoons, Birds and squirrels that get caught in them.

 

[Wolfgang]

As far as I know, the only cases of West Nile here were a couple of elderly people (more susceptible) who live near the river, and a few horses, I don't think anyone died.
Haven't heard anything about it for about 8 months or so.

There really aren't any 'good' neighborhoods here, if you think about it, this one is currently being swallowed by the ever-expanding 'war zone' (= gang, drug & hooker land).
The guy who just bought this complex and has dreams of raising the rent sky-high and have yuppies come live here is in for a rude awakening.......
He's in L.A. and did not do his homework on Albuquerque......