 Barked: Tue Mar 27, '07 8:46pm PST |
 | |  | | They just came out with a report too that they think other poisons are in the food. here is the email we got about it.
ASPCA Advises Caution As Pet Food Recall Crisis Grows
Other Contaminants May Be Involved in the Menu Foods Recall
NEW YORK, March 27, 2007—Since Menu Foods announced its massive pet
food recall on March 16, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) has been flooded with calls from
concerned pet parents and animal welfare professionals alike. Call
volume at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), which is
based in its Midwest Office in Urbana, Ill., has increased
significantly over the past 10 days—approximately 14 percent—and the
ASPCA's veterinary toxicologists have been carefully analyzing data
from these calls.
Today the ASPCA reports that, based on these data, clinical signs
reported in cats affected by the contaminated foods are not fully
consistent with the ingestion of rat poison containing aminopterin
that, according to Menu Foods, is at the "root" of the contamination
issue.
"We've seen reports coming in from all around the country that animals
that were eating the contaminated foods are definitely suffering from
renal failure," said Dr. Steven Hansen, veterinary toxicologist and
senior vice president with the ASPCA, who manages the ASPCA's Midwest
Office, including the APCC. "But the data that we've been collecting
do not conclusively prove this connection, which is why we strongly
recommend that those involved in the investigation continue to search
for additional contaminants."
Dr. Hansen continued, "Aminopterin has been used to treat cancer in
people, since it is able to disrupt rapidly-growing cells. In animals,
it should result in effects that mimic this function, and these
include bloody diarrhea, bone marrow suppression, abortion and birth
defects. Further, renal damage—which has been seen in the affected
animals—can occur at high doses.
"However, to be consistent with the effects of aminopterin, we should
also be seeing a significant number of affected pets showing the
accompanying signs of severe intestinal damage, as well as bone marrow
suppression, including `leukopenia,' which is a serious reduction in
white blood cells.
"This is the missing connection that we want to alert veterinarians
around the country to. We are asking all veterinarians treating cats
affected by these products, to report their findings to the U. S. Food
& Drug Administration (FDA)."
Although Menu Foods announced last week that aminopterin was at the
"root" of the contamination issue, the FDA, the agency leading this
investigation, has not corroborated this finding.
"There are so many inconsistencies in the purported link between
aminopterin and the animals affected, that we urge veterinary
toxicologists and veterinary pathologists at diagnostic laboratories
to continue looking for additional contaminants," said Dr. Hansen.
"Only continued rigorous testing will uncover the real reason or
reasons for this crisis among our pet population."
The ASPCA strongly recommends that pet parents should have their pet
examined by their veterinarian if any signs of illness occur following
consumption of the recalled foods, including loss of appetite,
lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in water consumption or changes
in urination. Adverse effects or deaths of pets conclusively linked to
eating the contaminated foods should be reported to the FDA at
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html. Additionally,
the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has a wealth of
resources at http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/default.asp. |  |  | |  |
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1
. Mustang and family, I really hope you're ok. This is such a sad time for so many dog and cat owners. The whole thing just is unbelievable 
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