Saturday, March 24, 2007
-- If your pet ate any of the tainted foods recalled by Menu Foods and is not showing symptoms, that does not necessarily mean your pet is safe. There are two types of kidney failure: chronic, which is slow-acting, and acute. Both require immediate veterinary care, because lost kidney function cannot be regained. Both can be fatal.
Acute kidney failure is a sudden, major loss of kidney function, resulting in a very sick animal in a very short period. Symptoms are vomiting, refusal to eat, lethargy and increased drinking or urination.
Chronic kidney failure is slower damage, with a slower decline. Symptoms are subtle: gradual weight loss, occasional vomiting.
Veterinarians can use a urine test to screen for kidney failure and might follow it with blood work or an ultrasound. Treatment is to stop the loss of function.
-- The Web site http://petconnection.com asks owners to report sick pets there, to build a database, and to the Food and Drug Administration.
-- A list of the recalled products with product codes, descriptions and production dates is available at http://tinyurl.com/2pn6mm.
--Menu Foods has two phone numbers pet owners can call for information: 866-463-6738 and 866-895-2708.
--FDA pet food recall information: www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/ http://hottopics/petfood.html
Menu Foods recalled the following pet foods. The recall is limited to "cuts and gravy"-style food sold in cans and pouches.
Cat Food
America's Choice,
Preferred Pets
Authority
Best Choice
Companion
Compliments
Demoulas Market
Basket
Eukanuba
Fine Feline Cat
Food Lion
Foodtown
Giant Companion
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Iams
Key Food
Laura Lynn
Li'l Red
Loving Meals
Main Choice
Nutriplan
Nutro Max Gourmet
Classics
Nutro Ultra
Nutro Natural
Choice
Paws
Pet Pride
President's Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Sophisticat
Special Kitty Canada
Special Kitty US
Springfield Prize
Sprout
Total Pet, My True
Friend
Wegmans
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Dog Food
America's Choice,
Preferred Pets
Authority
Award
Best Choice
Big Bet
Big Red
Bloom
Bruiser
Cadillac
Companion
Demoulas Market
Basket
Eukanuba
Food Lion
Giant Companion
Great Choice
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Iams
Key Food
Laura Lynn
Loving Meals
Meijers Main Choice
Mixables
Nutriplan
Nutro Max
Nutro Natural
Choice
Nutro Ultra
Nutro
Ol'Roy
Paws
Pet Essentials
Pet Pride - Good 'n
Meaty
President's Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Publix
Roche Bros
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Shep Dog
Springfield Prize
Sprout
Starter Bros
Total Pet, My True
Friend
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Your Pet
-- Associated Press
and Newsday
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