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Dog and Cat Food poisoning causing acute kidney failure March 19th, 2007 During the week of March 12th through 16th media information began to be distributed concerning food based toxicity to dogs and cats which caused kidney failure. This information began to be disseminated by TV news stations on Friday March 16th. The precise agent that is causing this toxicity is currently not known, but there is an intense level of investigation taking place. More precise information on the source and precise mechanism of this poisoning is expected soon based on the amount of research that is currently taking place. We hope to be a source of current accurate information for our clients through our website. We will update our website on a 24 hour basis and will provide you access to links to major sources of information for the public. If you would like a complete list of the effected foods and brands, please follow this link to Menu Foods, Inc.: Dog products Cat products . For more complete and constantly updated information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page. California Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association represent an objective, veterinary based source of information. You can in turn go to the Menu Foods, Inc. website for detailed information on the foods and manufacturer dates of the suspect foods. Basic information on the diets that are suspect are: 1.) Diets manufacturer between December 6th 2006 and March 6th 2007. 2.) Diets which are either canned or in semi-moist sealed pouches. 3.) The diets are typically in 3.5 oz. cans or 5.5 oz pouches. 4.) The manufacturer has stated that the toxic agent is traceable to wheat gluten from a specific source. That particular wheat gluten source has been discontinued during the period of investigation. 5.) The toxicity is based from several U.S. processing sites, although Menu Foods is a Canadian company. From product codes owners can determine the sources of food production. The website will assist in “decoding” numbers to help determine the manufacturing dates and sites. The toxicities appear to be mostly reported to be in cats although data is still very early in the collection process. The presenting signs to the owner is a loss of appetite, listlessness, and nonspecific illness. These signs are so vague that I would advise investigation of any animal who has been fed these foods, which appears to be unthrifty, not well, or has had a loss of appetite. The specific laboratory findings have been elevation of blood urine nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine values. These values are general markers of the kidney’s ability to produce filtrate from the circulation. There are numerous causes for impaired kidney function and at this time the mechanism of this kidney insult has not been determined. Cornell University is one of the sites of investigation and more detailed information will be revealed in probably a matterof days. The level of injury to cats has been severe with a number of fatalities in closed environments where the cats did not go outdoors. Specific methods of treatment or the prognosis of effected cats is currently not available, but with the rapid dissemination of information, the ability to remove these foods from the consumer will hopefully minimize injury. Also, with early detection of toxic exposure, animals may be successfully treat. The toxicity appears to be caused by aminopterin, an antineoplastic drug. For more complete information, please go here. Link: www.menufoods.com/recall Link: American Veterinary Medical Association Link: www.CVMA.org |
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