Pet Food Recall: Information for Pet Owners

Updated 12.11.07 8:00 pm PT

• National Pet Food Commission Recommendations
• Pet Owners' Q&A
• Fast Facts About the Recall, Symptoms of Illness
• News & Developments

Pet Owners' Q&A

The OVMA encourages pet owners to remain informed on the recall list and recheck all pet food in their possession.

What should I do if I have recalled pet food?

• Stop feeding it to your pet immediately.
• If the food is unopened, return it to the store where you purchased it. 
• If the food is opened, do not feed it to your pet. Retain 4 unopened cans or pouches, or about 2 lbs. of dry food, for testing or if you intend to make a consumer complaint to the FDA. Dispose of any opened food so that your pet cannot get to it.

What should I feed my pet? What is safe?

Generally speaking, if your pet has been doing well on a specific food and the food is not on the recall list, continue feeding it that food. If you notice any changes in appetite, urination, thirst or energy level, discontinue feeding that food and contact your veterinarian immediately.

Some veterinarians have recommended avoiding pet food that contains wheat gluten and/or rice protein concentrate until the matter is resolved. There are many pet foods on the market that do not contain these products.

If you have any concerns or questions about what food to feed your pet, we encourage you to consult with your veterinarian.

My pet has eaten food that has been recalled. How do I know if my pet is sick?

Kidney disease (renal failure) has been identified as the primary illness related to consumption of the recalled food.

Signs of illness include: loss of appetite, lethargy, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden changes in water consumption, or changes in the frequency or amount of urination. 

It is important to note that these symptoms may also occur with other illnesses. Any animal showing these signs should be examined by a veterinarian, even if the animal has not eaten any of the recalled food.

My pet is showing signs of illness. What do I do?

Have your pet examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible. If you suspect that your pet has been affected by a recalled food, here is what you can do to help your veterinarian with your pet’s diagnosis:

• Retain food samples for analysis. Retain 4 cans or 2 lbs. of dry food, when possible. Freeze when possible or store at room temperature in airtight bags.
• Document product name, type of product and manufacturing information. Retain all packaging. Identify date codes or production lot numbers. Retain purchase receipts.
• Document product consumption, including the dates that the products were fed, time of onset of clinical signs and a detailed dietary history, including all products fed and feeding methods.
• Contact the Oregon/Washington Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Complaint Coordinator at (425) 483-4949. You will need to report the specific product name, lot numbers, and veterinarian’s report and diagnosis.

What will my veterinarian do?

Your veterinarian will examine your pet, and will most likely take blood samples and collect a urine sample to test for kidney disease or other problems. Other diagnostic procedures, such as radiographs (x-rays) or ultrasound examinations, may be recommended to eliminate other causes of kidney disease and vomiting. If the tests determine that your pet has kidney disease, your veterinarian may recommend treatment including intravenous fluid therapy and medications.

While there have been some deaths reported, animals are surviving with aggressive supportive care including IV fluid therapy. Long-term prognosis cannot be predicted, but partial kidney recovery can be anticipated in many cases.

How do I report my pet’s illness? 

If you believe your pet has become ill as a result of consuming recalled food, contact the Oregon/Washington Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Complaint Coordinator at (425) 483-4949. You will need to report the specific product name, lot numbers, and veterinarian’s report and diagnosis.

What is in the food that is making animals sick?

Melamine and cyanuric acid have been found in wheat gluten and rice protein—both now identified as wheat flour—that was used in production of the recalled food. A chemical reaction between melamine and cyanuric acid is suspected of forming crystals and blocking kidney function. Analysis of the crystals in the kidneys of affected animals have revealed that they are approximately 70 percent cyanuric acid and 30 percent melamine, and are extremely insoluble. Furthermore, tests mixing melamine and cyanuric acid in samples of cat urine resulted in almost immediate formation of crystals that were identical to crystals found in the kidneys of affected animals. Two other melamine-related substances—ammelide and ammeline—may also play roles and are under investigation.

I thought that it was wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate that was contaminated. Now I hear those items were really wheat flour?

The FDA has determined that the contaminated wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate imported from China was mislabeled and was really wheat flour contaminated with melamine and melamine-related products. Iinvestigators believe that melamine, which is high in nitrogen, was added to the wheat flour. As a result, protein level test results on the flour were consistent with those of wheat gluten and/or rice protein.

Will there be more recalls?

We cannot say for certainty whether or not more foods will be recalled, but will update our recalled food page as needed.

What is being done to investigate this issue and protect the food supply?

Contaminated ingredients have been identified in the recalled pet food products. The FDA continues to sample all rice protein concentrate and wheat gluten from China. On April 24, the FDA announced that it will invesigate wheat gluten, corn gluten, corn meal, soy protein, rice bran and rice protein concentrate in both the human and pet-food systems. We will update our news page as developments warrant.

What will happen to all the recalled products and ingredients?

According to the FDA, they will ensure they do not re-enter the food stream and that they are disposed of in accordance with state and federal law, whether in a landfill or by incineration.

Will the manufacturers reimburse pet owners for medical expenses?

Several manufacturers have stated that they will reimburse or assist pet owners with medical expenses relating to illness caused by the contaminated food. Menu Foods and American Nutrition have announced their claim procedures. Other companies with prescription foods, such as Hill's and Royal Canin, have programs in place through their veterinary clients to help with testing and treatment expenses. Several class action lawsuits have been filed against Menu Foods and others.

Fast Facts:

• If you have any of the recalled food, stop feeding it to your pet immediately.
• If you have concerns or questions about what food to feed your pet, please consult with your veterinarian.
• If your pet becomes ill, keep any full or empty cans, bags, or pouches so that your veterinarian can verify that the food is part of the recall, or for testing, if necessary.
• Kidney disease (renal failure) has been identified as the primary illness related to consumption of the recalled food.
• Symptoms of kidney disease include: loss of appetite, lethargy, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden changes in water consumption, or changes in the frequency or amount of urination.
• Symptoms are usually seen within a few days, but the time to onset of symptoms can vary. The important thing is to monitor your pet closely for the above symptoms.
• If your pet exhibits these symptoms, consult your veterinarian immediately.
• While there have been deaths, animals are surviving with aggressive supportive care, including IV fluid therapy. Long-term prognosis cannot be predicted, but partial kidney recovery can be anticipated in many cases.
• Pet owners can report cases of illness or death due to the recalled food by contacting the Oregon/Washington Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Complaint Coordinator at (425) 483-4949. Owners will need to report the specific product name, lot numbers, and veterinarian’s report and diagnosis.
• For those whose pets have died, we are very sorry for the loss of your beloved companion and hope that these resources can be of some assistance to you at this time.

Sources: AP, USA Today, American Veterinary Medical Association, FDA, State Public Health Veterinarian, Pet Connection

This page will be updated as events warrant.