Has your pet died from the contaminated food?

[MoonRiver]

Poll question: Has your pet died from the contaminated food?

I'm reading a lot about the problem here, and how to feed pets more safely (thank you!), but nothing about how many have actually had a pet get sick and die.

[Donnachaidh]

1. go to petconnections.com

I believe they have set up some form f database on pet deaths. Last I looked the number had gone well over 500.

[hedgehog]

2. I answered no, but count me as a close miss.

I wanted to get some canned food for an older cat that I have that either can't or won't eat dry food anymore. It's pure chance that I grabbed a safe brand instead of going with the store brand! If I hadn't been tired and in a hurry, I probably would have picked the store brand because it's cheaper!

[Critters2]

3. My vet says my Sophie's symptoms of 10 days or so, give or take

show all the earmarks, but I don't think she was exposed to any of the tainted food. At least, I can't see how she would've been. Anyway, she seems on the mend now.

[iconoclastic cat]

19. Looks like that Wysong Uretic stuff is the ticket. nt

[saracat]

4. I voted wrong.My pet died

[Critters2]

5. Wow. I'm so sorry! nt

[MoonRiver]

8. Oh, I'm so sorry.

My dog is on dry Hill's Prescription. I hope she'll stay well, but I'm thinking of switching to a brand some DUers recommended.

[Auntie Bush]

9. I'm so sorry Sara. Pets are almost like losing a child. Very traumatic.

[LiberalHeart]

14. God, that's sad ... so sorry to hear that.

[vankuria]

18. I'm very sorry for your loss

We occassionlly buy one of the brands affected as a special treat for our dog. Fortunately, by the grace of god, we just didn't get around to buying it lately. We're very lucky. I know how tough it is to lose a pet, they're a member of the family. My deepest and heartfelt sympathies.

This is all very scary. How the heck did rat poison get into dogfood?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

25. (((((((((saracat)))))))) I am so sorry.

:hug:

[Marnieworld]

26. Oh no! That's so horrible.

VIsit petloss.com for support and info. :hug:

[Vidar]

31. I'm very sorry, Sara.

[Samantha]

37. I am so so sorry

I do not think there are words that will make you feel better. But let me tell you this.

Six years ago, I lost Jasmine. She was a cockapoo I had had since she was born. Her life expectancy was 9 to 10 years. Had she lived one more month, she would have been 15. Her last two years, she had tumors which turned cancerous. I did not have her treated because her age and her breeding were against her; I simply wanted her to live her last days as happy as possible. This she did for almost two years. The day I had to have her put to sleep I said I would never get another dog. I grieved for her six months.

Then one day I went to Ocean City with my best friend. So many people were walking down the boardwalk with their dogs. I have to get another dog, I said to my friend. Shortly thereafter, I found Cheyenne. She too is a cockapoo and has lived with me now for four years. I tell her about Jasmine. When I visit Jasmine's grave, Cheyenne comes too.

I tell you this because I think when one does lose a pet, it's best to spend time grieving, and then doing what the pet who loved you would want you to do -- get another dog to give that love to ... My heart is with you and I am sorry about your loss.

[MasonJar]

6. My pets (6...3 dogs and 3 cats) are safe so far. I understand from

my vet (who did have one pet client die) that Purina is safe. I luckily was feeding my cats Purina, but my dogs were getting ground up Kroger brand. So far they are doing well; I hear the problem is the chunk and gravy style, but I am still worried.

[Little Wing]

7. No problems, but I'm definitely considering either finding better source

despite the expense or just making some recipes/concoctions listed on the net and here at our beloved DU.

[LiberalHeart]

10. My cat is eating dry food, but...

...he's throwing up. It's been going on for days, though he seems healthy otherwise. If they didn't keep assuring us the dry food is fine, I'd be worried.

[MoonRiver]

11. Hairball?

[LiberalHeart]

13. Doesn't seem to be. I give him Laxatone. Keep him combed.

[MoonRiver]

15. All my best to your baby.

He'll probably be just fine. My dog gets sick from time to time and I don't think much about it. Now, however, I'd be freaking.

[iconoclastic cat]

21. You might want to take him in to a vet.

Even if it's not the poisoned food, one of ours had an inflamed intestine that was about a day from strangulating itself all because of a massive hairball.

[kestrel91316]

27. Exactly what brand/flavor is he eating?

[DeepBlueC]

34. maybe you should switch

it sounds like something about it is not agreeing with him. I'd take him to the vet if I were you. If it's nothing you'll get some good news and if it something you should be concerned about, you'll spend a lot of time blaming yourself for not seeking advice in a timely fashion.

[libnnc]

12. Can you add "other" or "not sure"?

We've lost 4 pets since January '05. Two were very old, and very sick to begin with and ate pouch food. They died within 2 weeks of each other. One dog ran away in a thunderstorm last fall (she ate Mighty Dog pouch several times). And last year around Thanksgiving, my 13 year old cat (indoor/outdoor) never came home. I can't remember if she ate pouch food at any time before she disappeared. I know I had her on Deli Cat every day but she may have had some pouches as treats intermittently.

I'm highly suspicious. I wonder if this has been a problem for a long time and it's just now showing.

[MoonRiver]

17. I changed it.

I'm really sorry about your pets. That's hard. :(

[libnnc]

20. Thanks. The more I read about this

The angrier I get. We adopted a kitten back in October. She's never going to leave our sight.

[MoonRiver]

23. She's beautiful!

[kestrel91316]

28. Ooh, a pretty moggie!

[GreenEyedLefty]

41. I think my parents' cat ate some bad food

He was an indoor/outdoor cat and my parents said he didn't seem well, then went outside for the last time and never came back. They said he was acting quite ill, as though he'd been poisoned. This was around Christmas. Hmmm....

[stimbox]

16. Pet food recommendation

I'm so sorry to hear that some DUers lost their pets. :(

Merrick makes really good food and are not affected by the recall.
http://www.merrickpetcare.com

[Critters2]

22. A friend sent me this link, and I think it has good info

as to which foods are tainted, which are safe, and which are questionable:

http://www.petfoodexpress.com/petfood/default.asp?pageid=78&Section=About

[MoonRiver]

24. Thanks!

Tomorrow I'm going to do a lot of research and make a decision about whether to switch from Hills.

[kestrel91316]

29. Hill's is absolutely fine except for the four listed feline cuts and gravy .

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[MoonRiver]

38. Thanks for the reassurance.

She's a toy breed and a fairly picky eater. I have tried organic foods and she's hated every one of them! Go figure. Anyway, she loves Hills. I get it from my vet and have felt good about her health and nutrition. I certainly hope this nightmare makes all pet food manufactures more vigilant about what they put into our animals' food. Maybe a slew of lawsuits will help focus their attention.

[thethinker]

30. I have a very sick cat

She is still in the hospital. She seemed to be doing better today. They are running more tests tomorrow.

[Critters2]

32. So sorry. I'll pray for you and your cat. nt

[LisaL]

33. Well, there should be another option.

My cat ate the recalled food, however I have no clue if he is "perfectly healthy." How would I know? What if there are long term consequences?

[left is right]

35. A year ago, I lost my beloved dachshund and my cat

within 6 months of each other. It turned out that the dog was eating most of the cat's food, as well as his own. After he died, she started losing most of her hair, went quite insane and soon joined him. Food related, I don't know.

[july302001]

36. My cat is healthy and happy.

My cat eats Purina One dry cat food. No wet food whatsoever.

[femmedem]

39. Not sure. She ate a couple cans of the food and she died.

But she was 18 years old and had other health problems. She sure took a sudden turn for the worse, though.

[MoonRiver]

40. So sorry for your loss.

Three years ago I lost my beloved 15 year old Schnauzer. He was old also, but it was kidney disease that got him. As with your cat it all happened incredibly fast. Of course this was long before the recall, but now I wonder. I switched my other, younger, dog to Hills. People on the board are saying it is safe.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

42. My cats are healthy and NOT happy! PISSED in fact!

I don't know what to believe about good or bad canned cat food, so all they get now is the dry stuff. And they're not happy about it.

Even catnip turns them to mean drunks. Mean a drunk as GWB.