This is outrageous! I have never been a peta person, but this just makes me sick!

I can NOT believe that they "test on animals" knowing that so many have died or gotten sick!!!




WASHINGTON -- As many as one in six animals died in tests of suspect dog and cat food by the manufacturer after complaints the products were poisoning pets around the country, the government said Monday.

A federal investigation is focusing on wheat gluten as the likely source of contamination that sparked a recall last Friday of 60 million cans and pouches of the suspect food, said Stephen F. Sundlof, the Food and Drug Administration's top veterinarian. The ingredient, a protein source, is commonly used as filler.

Agency investigators are looking at other ingredients as well. The wet-style pet food was made by Menu Foods, an Ontario, Canada-based company.

Menu Foods told the FDA it received the first complaints of kidney failure and deaths among cats and dogs from pet owners on Feb. 20.

It began new tests on Feb. 27.

During those tests, the company fed its product to 40 to 50 dogs and cats and seven animals -- the mix of species was not immediately known -- died, Sundlof said.

The contamination appeared more deadly to cats than to dogs, he said.

The recall now covers dog food sold throughout North America under 51 brands and cat food sold under 40 brands, including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba.

The food was sold under both store and major brand labels at Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers.The FDA has yet to tally how many reports it has received of cats and dogs suffering kidney failure or death. The company has reported just 10 deaths, of nine cats and a single dog.

Yeah after $1,500 vet bill and my heart was broke because I thought my dog was dying from old age, she is 11 yrs old , just because she ate the cats food , which by the way the cat would not eat, smart cat huh?? ...and they say sorry we can't give anything for the vet bills or make it go away..I am going to have to tell my DD that we have to either put her down or pay a big bill.....go to #$%% is what I say they need to take responsiblity for what they should have never let happen

That sucks for your dog.. I am sorry to hear that.. I bought some of the canned food for my cats , just hadn't given it to them yet.. So , crisis averted although a small part of me wants to give it to my cat that pees on everything.. *Insert evil laugh.

I am so sorry to hear about your dog. My heart goes out to you and your family. Somehow I missed this one. I've been feeding my cat Purina One.

Purina makes Cat Chow and they also make Mighty Dog the Mighty Dog pouches have been recalled..
I am thinking of switching to Natural Balance or Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul.Neither of these products has had any recall and are top quailty foods with no by products.

chelsea gets sick on the wet food, so we are using the dry stuff--no puking. (yay!!)

she gets sick on the "natural" dry foods too... so cat chow is the only one that doesn't cause her to ralph

Most pet food both cheap and expensive sucks and isn't the best for your pet. The contain all kinds of things they really shouldn't (not talking about whatever the recalled stuff had it in that is killing pets, just ingrediants in general). Chances are if you can buy it in a grocery store or places like WM, it's not a healthy and safe food.

That being said my cats and dogs eat Friskies, Kibbles n Bits, etc are a fat and happy. Could there life be extended or improved with better food, prolly...


Snappletease, I'd be calling a lawyer if I were you. I hope your dog is okay.

i was scared to death i use cesar for my peewee hes 7 lbs he wouldnt last to long being sick but on cesar site they say thiers is not involved thank god. im sooooo sorry for your dog i hope they get in trouble for all this heartache they have caused!!!!

My heart breaks for you! I have a mini weenie dog. I don't feed her wet food, bc I do everything I can to keep her size lower. More wieght, might cause her back issues. Been feeding her dry Iams Wieght control. But will prolly be switching. I'd sue the hell outta the makers.



LAUREN

The plant that did this is in Kansas the main corp is in Canada..they actually put the food in conainers and seal it and label it, the food from Iams, Nutro, Science Diet etc. distrubted to Menu Foods was already made and was sent to them for Packing purposes only..I know that Nutro, etc..will all be suing this company as well..I am sure Menu Foods will not be around for very long..they would be the ones that you should consider suing. And I know how you feel, I had to put our cat down last week.But it was not from a food related problem.But it still sucks all the same.

I haven't heard, but I would imagine there will be a class action lawsuit against Menu Foods in the near future....

I would highly recommend finding out if there is one and getting on it--because at the very least they should pay for all the vet bills and any Rx that pets need!

I feel for everyone who had problems with the pet food and have either had a pet die or get really sick. I would be pissed as h*ll.

But the company had to see if it was their food that was making these animals die or get sick. Now to use such a large number is pretty bad, but unfortunately they need a larger "test" group to make sure that it is the food. Sad, but true.

I for one don't feed my dogs the expensive stuff. Cheap is good enough for my dogs, since one eats 4 cups a day! YIKES!

Karen I love ya, I truly do but WTH????? How can you say that their "tests" are necessary?

what they should have done instead of "tests" on more animals, would be to go to the individuals that lost their pets and find the common denominator--ie...test the people to see exactly what foods were involved.

I am sure that pet owners would gladly provide necessary information regarding their pets' diet.

I don't think it was necessary to test 7 days after all these cases were reported

I could not imagine them testing it on animals, after what happened. There must have been a more scientific way to see if the gluten was the problem. I no longer have pets but I feel your pain.

Let's be realistic... They probably used animals that were going to get put down anyway.. there are so many animals in the shelters that don't get adopted... What do you think happens to them?

That is absoletely no excuse for patholical behavior demonstated by company by "testing" on more animals. So sickening animals who are already sick in some way (not even going to touch the shelter thing) would not be a very good way to determine anything!

I can only speak to our Humane Society in my area, no animal gets put down for simnply not being adopted. Most shelters in the country operate that way now. People who say otherwise are making statments based upon misconceptions and/or ignorance.