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Seven Puppies Die Suspicion of Pet Food Contamination
- 6-29-2010
- Categorized in: Pet Food Recall
Seven of eight King Charles Cavalier Spaniel puppies have died; they were eight weeks old. The last baby is barely hanging on. While there has been no confirmation as of this writing, NutroMax Puppy food is under suspicion.
Judy V. filled out the Vindication Memorial form to remember the first five puppies (only five had died at this point). When I received the notice, I immediately picked up the phone and called her. We connected a day later; two more puppies had since died.
The puppies were eight weeks old, born in two different litters on the same day. All were 'fat and sassy' until June 23, 2010.
Judy's veterinarian suspected Parvo virus when the puppies first became ill. Suddenly, from one day to the next, fat playful puppies turned to skin and bones. Constantly vomiting bile with a high thirst drive. The Parvo tests were negative. Judy's family veterinarian sent her to Dr. Greg Campbell DVM of Oklahoma State University Vet School. At first look, Dr. Campbell agreed this had to be Parvo, despite negative results from previous testing. Dr. Campbell did extensive Parvo testing; negative again.
Liver biopsies of several of the deceased puppies show "yellow livers"; liver enzymes were extremely high. Judy V. (the co-owner of the two litters of puppies) explained that the only thing different was a new bag of NutroMax Puppy Food was opened and fed on June 22, 2010; the very next day the first of the puppies became ill. She assured me that both families had gone over every inch of the puppies 'area', "there was nothing...nothing they could have gotten in to. The only thing different was that bag of food, a new bag."
The puppies were weaned around five weeks and had been eating NutroMax Puppy Food since weaning without incident. The new bag of pet food is the suspect bag. But again, this has NOT been confirmed.
Dr. Campbell requested the pet food for testing; it is unknown when the food will be tested or if Dr. Campbell has spoken with the FDA or the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. A phone request this morning (6/29/10) for a statement has yet to be returned.
Needless to say, Judy V. is devastated. We spoke for thirty minutes or so last evening; she promises to provide me (us) with information as this story further unfolds. When I hear from Dr. Campbell, I will post his information.
One more time, this story is shared with all not to cause panic but only to alert of the possibility of a puppy food problem. Nothing has been confirmed at this point. However I do believe that because Dr. Campbell has numerous tissue samples of these puppies plus has the pet food in the original bag, if there is a problem Dr. Campbell and the Oklahoma State University Vet School will find it.
To Judy V. and the Co-Owner of these babies - I am so sorry. I'm confident you have the sympathies and support of countless pet owners who have suffered as your families must be now.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Surely the petfood company was contacted with the SKU # off the bag??
I had a similiar incident with "cookies"--I opened the bag --and it smelled like PLASTIC--the cookies are manufactured in the USA (STATER Brothers own brand) I called the store--they said bring them back--I assured them I would, but that wasn't good enough...
I went to the store and asked for the manager -asked him if he had a dog " he said yes" I said take a WHIFF of this! He IMMEDIATELY went to the shelf with a cart and CLEANED the shelf off--saying "Oh my GOD" the cookies WERE ultimatly RECALLED---I like to think I helped!!!!
Susan, please post the names of the dog and cat foods that your research has approved. You are a blessing to all pet owners, and thank you for your knowledge in these things.
Nutro, of course, is owned by Mars Petcare, the biggest maker of pet food in the United States (maybe the world; I'm not sure). This is the same company who in 2009 (I believe that's the year, although I've lost the link, Susan) had the government's Center for Veterinary Medicine announce that there were no ongoing investigations of Nutro products, despite numerous consumer complaints. (See: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/nutro.html
I hope no undue influence will be used in this story, Susan, and if pet food made by Nutro is responsible that the owners and the veterinarian will file a complaint via the new government safety portal to bring about a further investigation:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm213221.htm
can she get the bag of food tested at an independent lab? anyway i am sad for the people and dogs who's lives are hurt like this.
Another tragedy-I'm so sorry for the pain the owner is going through and for any suffering those little pups endured.
I know there is no guarantee in life for anything, but I'm so glad I'm a Petsumer member and have the guidance to make some safer choices. ANYTHING made by Mars, Proctor & Gamble...anything approved by Good Housekeeping will NEVER cross my pets lips. We have to be so careful, so suspicious of everything.
I want to share my empathy with the puppy owners. It's a horrible thing that has happened and I hope that they find out what exactly killed them.
Tears for those poor babies.
Our hearts go out to the owners of these poor little babies, who obviously suffered so much during their last hours of life.
I hope that the last baby survives this horrible ordeal and lives a long and happy life.
Any details regarding the lot number of the suspect bag, and/or region of the US where the bag was purchased?
The location is in Oklahoma; I do not have the lot # or 'Best by' date yet; when I receive this information I will post it.
My deepest sympathy go out to the owners of these puppies. What a horrible, painfull death they must have endured. How can we get people to start changing how they feed their pets? As long as it is manufactured by these large pet food companies, pets will suffer, just from a poor diet let alone any other serious issue. I do have a question though; isn't 5 weeks a little young to wean a puppy?
Six months ago, due to economics, I tried introducing a holistic, expensive pet food to my two dogs. Normally I feed raw & try to buy organic.
Both dogs started having bouts of diarrhea & vomiting. By eliminating the offending food for a day then reintroducing, within 1 hour they were sick again.
I contacted the petfood company twice over a 2 week period.
The company did not respond.
I contacted the store where I had bought the food & they contacted the petfood company.
Finally a representative called me.
The conversation made me LIVID! The representatives attitude was flippant!
It showed me how these companies really DO NOT GIVE A DAMN!
Currently I am back feeding organic & raw foods exclusively.
Beware of cheap chicken & beef at conventional groceries. Loaded with nasty chemicals. I will not eat it.
Simply strategy is.......if I can not or will eat a product, my dogs do not receive it.
I recently went to a dog show with my 8 month old pups that were fully vaccinated and with in seven days my puppy was throwing up, then not eating well, the diarrea, tested for parvo it was neg. then dehydrated not eating then more diarrea this time a positive parvo, too late lost my puppy! In the mean time his sister started with the same symtoms gave her tami flu and started fluids ASAP she did make it. Then my 6 week olds puppy one ran a fever never any other symptoms.... three days later....another but this time the fever was higher... both tested negative for parvo but we supported them as if they had it good in 3 days..... At the vet clinc they had several dogs from 12 wks to 2 yrs with the same symptoms ...
Not always petfood......
Nope, not always pet food but not always disease either. Illnesses caused by pet food should be on any vet's radar this day and age just as much as common diseases are. Considering the pups fell ill right after a new bag of food was opened, it definately needs to be added to the list of potential causes.
My heart broke reading about this...but is it the food or something else?
Hasn't there been time to actually test that food and see if there was a problem with it? And if the food is suspect then the pet food company should be notified so they can start their own investigation. Nothing in this report has any DATA about the food other than coincidental timing. That's not really information - people need to know what, if any, food issue there was, and the producer has to be notified to start looking into a recall. Has any of that been done?
Dr. Campbell has not issued a statement - however he has sent the pet food for testing. The pet food company has been notified.
That is all we know at this point.
I think its important to note that testing pet food is not quick, its not easy and its not cheap. There are many things that can be tested for and its difficult to ascertain what to test for just based on symptoms. Many of the tests can take time and even then, may not be the test that would show the problem.
The gardener at Vindication has been informed that an area for "Baby Pet Angels" may be needed. I cannot repeat the language this inspired on a family forum.
That #$%@@&^% Nutro @#^%* is STILL being sold?
Five acres aint gonna be enough! Not even for THIS year if those fuc...er.. Nutro mutha fu..er..a$$holes keep selling poison!
You get the drift.
The stones being made for the pups required no water to make, the tears were enough.
Sigh.
Rumor???? How can you say it is the food that killed those puppies if there has been no testing of the food. To bash Nutro before you even have proof is wrong. They have been around for over 80 years and yes there have been recalls just like other big companies have of their premium foods. There are numerous pets on the Nutro product who have never had a problem with the food and continue to feed their pets the food because it fits their pets needs. Everyone has their opinion which should be respected.
I definitely feel for any pet that passes away no matter what the age but there are othe reasons besides food. With all the inbreeding and environmental stuff both outside and inside it could be anything.
There are also a lot of pet owners who feed there pets food like Alpo, Iams, Kibbles and Bits etc. that most of us would not even buy it for our pets as the ingredients are not what we want for them, but the animals do live long healthy lives on these foods too and possibly have made them sick also. We don't know as there are millions of pet owners out there who do not report such things.
It's been almost two weeks since the initial story - still no news about the surviving puppy or the cause of the illness/death?
Have you not heard anytihing about the food testing and how is the surviving puppy. An update would be nice.
The last puppy did survive. He/she (I'm not sure) is doing fine now. I have not posted any more on this because we keep hoping that the veterinarian will provide us with information on the pet food testing and further tests on the pups that did not survive. The pet owner signed a release providing her approval for him to speak with the media, but so far the vet won't talk.