For people with pets...

[derekkj 0]

OK, so I need objective advice since I am way too emotionally tied up in this. Well, as objective as VJ can be anyway!

As I said in my previous post, I am pretty sure the IAMS, Eukanuba and Nutro that I was feeding Jenny contributed to her death. Not an unexpected death at 21 I know (thanks Lisa and Mags!), but a bad death since she really suffered in the last week. I always wanted her to just curl up in her favorite spot and not wake up, and it pisses me off that instead she was throwing up, unable to eat and in pain. Obviously I have moved from guilt to anger in the whole steps of grief thing.

My question is, should I even bother to call the manufacturer and b!tch? On one hand I feel like I owe it to Jenny to bring it to their attention and on the other, she was 21 and perhaps if she had been younger and healthier she might have overcome recovered. I certainly have no proof that the food was the cause, although as I said, I believe it hastened her death.

Oh, and just to make matters worse, after Jenny passed but before the recall, I gave all her food to a co-worker for his 2 cats. Fortunately he only gave one or two of the pouches to them but don't you know, they puked. He's bringing me back the remaining food and at the very least, I am taking it back to PetSmart and asking for a refund.

BTW, what ARE you guys feeding your pets now? ALL the food I gave Jenny was on the recall list and it seems like most brands are also. I would be at my wits end trying to find a substitute that I could trust!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Thanks for that list.

I forwarded it to my mom and she said her boyfriend had a cat die 3 weeks ago that ate food from the list. Can't prove anything now but I think there might be many more pet deaths than reported.

[broma25 2]

I am now so grateful that my husband insisted we buy Purina Fancy Feast for our baby!!!

I would have gone with one of the other brands as they are cheaper,

Want to say how sorry I am to anyone who's cat or dog got sick from this fiasco!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

for those of you who have lost pets to these tainted foods, my heart goes out to you! I sympathize with your loss and your sense of anger. I would feel the same.

When I read about the recall I immediately checked the catfood in my cupboard. I had picked up a number of Whole Foods PAWS a while back and had given some tins to the cats. When I checked their dates they were produced before the recalled dates but I am still reluctant to give them these now, just in case the recall dates are extended.

My regular food is ProPlan and it is a quality cat food that is NOT on the recall list. They don't do pouch food. ProPlan is available at PetSmart and PetCo so if you are looking for a catfood that is good quality and safe as well as one your cats will eat, I highly recommend it. I started mine on ProPlan several years back when two of my cats had abdominal problems caused by lower quality 'commercial' cat food and spent several days - and lots of dollars - recuperating at the vets. It might cost a bit more but it is absolutely worth it in the long run.

[Reba 2]

any dry foods can be fed to your pets, they are not part of the recall. I believe it is only wet/canned foods. Dry foods are better for them, if they'll eat it.

That said, Chicken Soup brand is good, and has emblazoned on their home page that they are not included in the recall. http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/ There is a link on the site to find retailers. They have kibble and canned foods for both cats and dogs. George & Bruno love the stuff. We've switched temporarily to another brand though, at vet's request, which made no sense, but I had no say in the matter...

There have been 2 pet deaths of co-workers. Today, one lady had her wee dog at the vet, because it had been sick the past few days, and even after she realized the food she was giving him was on the recall list, she waited to take it to the vet. And kept feeding it the same food Anyhoo...prognosis wasn't good. Complete kidney failure.

One other lady and her boyfriend who had been adopted by a stray some time (years) ago, discovered that their cat has stopped coming round and the food they had been feeding it is on the list. They figure she went away somewhere to die, and now they feel all guilty.

I just cannot imagine the anger and guilt pet owners are feeling right now, who have sick pets, or whose pets have died because of this. I also wouldn't want to be anyone in the manufacturing plants of any of those food brands.

[ajames79 0]

I occasionally give my girls some wet food as a treat. Tisn't on the recall list but because I actually know people who have lost pets now I am on pins and needles.

Woke up this morning and my Gracy wasnt where she normally is in the a.m and I paniced a bit!

Hope this gets figured out.

[Scott & Lai 12]

I heard on the radio this morning that they found the source of the contamination. The wheat used in the pet food had come in contact with rodent poison. The wheat was from a processing plant in China. At least now they now how to treat any further pets that get sick, so they have a chance of saving them.

From what Lai tells me about food handling in China, this doesn't surprise me one bit....

[Alex+R 0]

I heard on the radio this morning that they found the source of the contamination. The wheat used in the pet food had come in contact with rodent poison. The wheat was from a processing plant in China. At least now they now how to treat any further pets that get sick, so they have a chance of saving them.

From what Lai tells me about food handling in China, this doesn't surprise me one bit....

I feel so terrible for these pets and their owners.

eta: nm read whole thread

Edited March 23, 2007 by Alex+R