March 31st, 2007

Hill’s Recalls Prescription Diet m/d Feline Dog Food

Hill’s Pet Nutrition has voluntarily recalled its Prescription Diet m/d Feline Dog Food because the food included wheat gluten purchased from the same supplier as Menu Foods.  Yesterday, the FDA announced that scientists had found melamine in samples of Menu Foods recalled pet food as well as the wheat gluten used in as ingredients in the recalled food.

March 30th, 2007

Melamine Found in Recalled Pet Food

The Food and Drug Administration has released the results of their testing of samples of contaminated pet food that was recalled by Menu Foods earlier this month.  Here is a synopsis of the FDA’s results:

• The FDA found melamine in samples of the recalled pet food.  Melamine is a chemical used to make plastics.  It is also used as a fertilizer in Asia.
• Melamine was also detected in the wheat gluten used as an ingredient in the tainted pet food.
• FDA Officials confirmed that the contaminated wheat gluten was also shipped to a company that manufacturers dry pet food.  The FDA Officials will not release the name of the company at this time as they cannot confirm if the company has used the wheat gluten.
• Melamine was detected in the urine of cats that got sick after eating the recalled food and it was also found in the urine of one cat that died as a result of eating the tainted food.
• Scientists do not have enough data on mammalian toxicity levels of melamine to conclude it caused the death or sickness of pets eating the contaminated food
• FDA scientists did not find evidence of aminopterin in the samples they tested.  Scientists at the New York State Food Laboratory found aminopterin in the samples they tested.

March 30th, 2007

Other Contaminants in Recalled Pet Food?

The ASPC is urging diagnostic laboratories to continue looking for other contaminants in recently recalled pet food.  The ASPCA’s Dr. Steven Hanson explains, “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.”

There has been no word yet that any additional contaminants other than aminopterin (rat poison) has been found in the recalled food.

March 27th, 2007

Help Bring Pixie Home

The Deatricks in Bolingbrook, Illinois are asking anyone that may have information on their missing pug, Pixie, to contact the Bolingbrook police or Crimestoppers.  Pixie was stolen from the family’s home along with other personal belongings during a robbery last week.

Pixie is a year and a half old and is fawn color.  The family is offering a $4500 reward or Pixie’s safe return.

Great News!  Pixie has been reunited with her family.

March 27th, 2007

Tell HGTV how you pamper your pug

HGTV is putting together a segment on dogs that enjoy the finer things in life and they want to know “How do you pamper your pooch?” So drop them a line and let them know exactly how you pamper your pug.  Who knows, you may even get a shot at being on HGTV.

March 23rd, 2007

Rat Poison Found in Contaminated Pet Food

ABC News has reported that rat poison has been found in the contaminated pet food produced by Menu Foods.

“A source close to the investigation tells ABC News that the rodenticide, which the source says is illegal to use in the United States, was on wheat that was imported from China and used by Menu Foods in nearly 100 brands of dog and cat food.” (ABC News)

You can read the full article here.

March 23rd, 2007

Chat with Pet Poison Experts

On Friday, March 23, 2007 from 3PM to 5PM EST you can chat online with ASPCA Pet Poison Experts.  The chat session is a great opportunity to find out more information about specific foods or household items that you may be wondering if they are safe for your pug.

Anyone can join in on the chat, all you will need to do is register with the ASPCA Online Community.  Registration is free and easy.

March 22nd, 2007

Menu Foods Recall - Helpful Links

A lot of information has been released about the Menu Foods pet food recall.  I will do my best to keep an updated list of links here.

Legal Action

• Information on Menu Foods Class Action Lawsuit

Press Releases

• Menu Foods Recall List
• FDA statement on the Menu Foods pet food recall
• Recall Information from Hill’s Pet Nutrition
• Recall Information from Purina concerning Mighty Dog products
• Recall Information concerning Iams products
• P&G Pet Care Press Release concerning Menu Foods Recall of pet food
• Statement by Nutro regarding the recall

News Stories

• CNN - Mass Recall of dog and cat after pets die
• MSNBC - Owners watching pets closely after pet food recall
• CNN - Recalled pet food blamed for more than 100 deaths
• Animal rights group calls for broader pet food recall
• Many pet owners may be thinking about Organic Pet Food after the Pet Food Recall | video
• CNN - FDA finds new chemical in recalled pet food, sick animals
• CNN - Dry food added to pet recall list
• MSNBC - FDA bars wheat gluten used in recalled pet food
• Pet food recall expanded to include Canada-made products

Other Information

• Information from the ASPCA regarding the Pet Food Recall
• ASPCA Pet Food Recall Resource Center

Last updated April 11, 2007

March 18th, 2007

Pet Food Recall

Menu Foods is recalling dog and cat food sold under various brand names after several reports of animals getting sick and even dying after eating the food.  You can see the complete list of recalled items here.

The Menu Foods Recall list has been updated at least once.  So, if you have checked it before you may want to check it again.

March 14th, 2007

Marc Tetro Auction to Support CPR

On Thursday, March 15, 2007 Marc Tetro will be auctioning a few of his paintings on eBay to benefit Compassionate Pug Rescue.  Tetro’s work is amazing and he has a unique way of connecting with animal lovers with his animal themed pieces.  The auctions starting on Thursday are a great opportunity to purchase a few pieces of Tetro’s spectacular work and support Compassionate Pug Rescue at the same time.