The Pet Connection database is now up to nearly 2,000 *Dead* Pets

[nicknameless]

http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/25/pet-food-recall-again-the-numbers

Death count reaches 1,716

The Associated Press continues to report 16 dead pets, without even mentioning the possibility that there are hundreds if not thousands more. So, does Newsweek, in this otherwise excellent piece on how to feed pets, featuring the esteemed Dr. Tony Buffington of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

So far, both the Animal Medical Center (the “Mayo Clinic” of veterinary hospitals) and Banfield The Pet Hospital, with more than 600 locations all connected by a central database, have both gone on the record saying there could be thousands of pets sickened or killed by recalled food.

So what’s up, AP?

This afternoon, we got an e-mail from a person in the news department of a radio station, who pointed out to his boss that other media — such as USA Today and ABC News — have been reporting a potentially much higher death rate, and asked to change the AP’s “rip-and-read” radio copy. He was told he could not, and until the AP decides to do more than parrot the FDA line, the story will remain largely under-reported. That means it will soon die.

...

Our self-reported database, by the way, is now reporting 1,716 dead pets as of 9 p.m. PT.

I honestly have to wonder: Would the Associated Press accept only official government information if the deaths were people? Is this because these are “just pets”?

As long as the AP continues to report only 15 dead pets, the story will not be taken seriously. And that means there will be little interest in changes.

Report your pet’s loss to the FDA. Also, ask your veterinarian to report your pet’s loss to the state veterinarian for reporting to the FDA. Additionally, if your pet has eaten one of the recalled foods and become sick, add your pet to our database.

From an earlier blog entry at PetsitUSA.com:

The folks at Pet Connection have mentioned they’re going to take a break and take the day off from posting. I think I’m going to take their lead and get away from the computer myself. I know many of you have posted messages with your concerns about particular pet foods. I intend to hit the phones hard tomorrow to attempt to get answers to your questions, and I’ll update the blog appropriately.

And that's just one website's database -- as of 9:00 PM PT on March 25th

:cry:




Thanks to Rumpel for the headsup.

[rumpel]

1. the latest number seems to be

Update: As of 11 a.m. PT, reports to our PetConnection database: 1626 deceased pets (941 cats and 685 dogs). Remember, these are self-reported numbers, and all previous caveats still apply.

http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=216

[nicknameless]

2. Oh no!

I hadn't seen that.

[Princess Turandot]

3. Do they have the list available for review on their website?

With information such as when the pet died and of what? I could not find a link at http://www.petconnection.com/index.php
that went to anything but the form to add a pet to the list.

[rumpel]

4. I am tryin to find it...

but have not yet

[rumpel]

5. even that seems to be old numbers

look at the front page:

1700+

http://www.petconnection.com/index.php

also:

snip
This afternoon, we got an e-mail from a person in the news department of a radio station, who pointed out to his boss that other media — such as USA Today and ABC News — have been reporting a potentially much higher death rate, and asked to change the AP’s “rip-and-read” radio copy. He was told he could not, and until the AP decides to do more than parrot the FDA line, the story will remain largely under-reported. That means it will soon die.

snip

There are still questions about how many animals have died. With no national reporting system for animal injury or death, official numbers are impossible to come by.

However, data from the nation’s largest chain of pet hospitals, Banfield, suggest it is as high as hundreds a week during the three months the food was on the market.

During that time, the more than 600 Banfield hospitals in 43 states saw 200 to 250 cases of kidney failure in cats above the usual number that would have been expected, says Hugh Lewis, president of Data Savant, Banfield’s data collection arm.

During that period, Banfield vets saw 100,000 cats. Extrapolating to the entire cat population of the USA, that could mean “we’re probably talking several hundred cats a week across the country being affected,” Lewis says.

http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/25/pet-food-recall-again-the-numbers/

[Hekate]

6. "Would the Associated Press accept only official government information if the deaths were people?"

Yes -- yes, the AP would. The dead and mutilated from W's war of choice are vastly under-reported.

Hekate

[nicknameless]

7. Actually, you're right. Katrina numbers too.

[kenny blankenship]

26. To protect the reputation of "globalization" and global capital? you BETCHA.

Few subjects are more touchy and protected by corporate news than anything that suggests a downside to "globalization".

[Pierogi_Pincher]

8. I had to take a respite today from reading all that I could the past

two nights well into the early a.m.--it made me so sick.

FWIW, I did some comparisons re: kitty food--it was a toss-up between Life Abundance (name?) and Van Patten's Natural Balance. The drawback w/ Life Abundance was that it was mail order. Today daddy went to get Natural Balance loaf/pate canned and a bag of kibble. I crossed my fingers and gave our girl a can of their chicken & liver pate. She ate it readily. I smelled the food before I gave it to her, and lo & behold!, the aroma was appetizing enough for us to want to eat it.

The food we had been feeding her is stinky compared to this brand. Two other commented on a pet blog and said they noticed their pet's food had been smelling stinky. Our first baby boy who went to God on Mothers' Day 1995 ate mostly water-packed people tuna for all those years (along w/ some soft treats and an occasional can of wet food). He really would not eat cat food and lived 20 years. Go figure!

"Dear God, our prayer is that this horrendous event ends now. Remember all your little ones who have suffered and are now suffering. Give Your peace to the parents and families of these little ones, who loved and cared for them as You have deigned. Amen."

P_P

[piesRsquare]

10. Thank you...

For that beautiful prayer...

I'm going to post that on the blog, credited to you (of course!)

Miao! :-)

http://2blackcats.wordpress.com

[diane in sf]

9. time for a class action suit--

this should cost the mfg enough to change their ways or go out of business--it is impossible to ever really make this right.

[nicknameless]

11. Class action suits in both US and Canada.

Here are just some of them. Filed in various States and Ontario.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/22/pet.food.recall/index.html

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=bf70dae2-7f5b-4306-acf2-934a634bb497&k=2599

http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=46291

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=6273544

http://www.nbc11.com/news/11319859/detail.html?rss=bay&psp=news

[annabanana]

12. Once again. . . the media lies. . . . . n/t

[leftchick]

13. we never had the right number of people dead from Katrina

or in the occupation of Iraq. I doubt the AP will change.

K&R

[TZ]

21. funny how they kept trying to increase the mortality figures

after 9/11 for all those killed without "checking" but are cautious in this case.

[SammyWinstonJack]

31. When it suits their evil agenda............they are truly despicable!

:grr:

[fasttense]

14. The corporate media can't even count people accurately.

What makes you think they can count animals accurately? I figure the pet food corporations are paying off the media to keep their numbers low.

[woodsprite]

15. I'm worried that it wasn't only in the canned food. We have a

previously healthy german shephard who is on a 50/50 mix of Science Diet WD dry and Pedigree, w/ a little wet Pedigree beef thrown in to wet things down. She goes in Wed. morning for an ultrasound of her liver and kidneys because we have been having a hard time providing her with enough water. Last night in the middle of the night she ran out (this is an tank type water bowl) and she moved on to trying to find a toilet with the lid open. She's been peeing up a storm and just finished a course of antibiotics because blood and urinalysis didn't show anything conclusive. Her urine was too dilute to culture.

If you could, send some good thoughts Silver's way. :(

Edited to add this has been over the last 4 weeks that this started and it's been getting continually worse.

[nicknameless]

16. Pedigree -- Some pet owners' experiences

These are anecdotal, but I don't give a royal rip. Your furbaby's health is what matters.
Maybe switch her to people food until you can get healthier alternatives.

A lot of people in the Pet Forum are swearing that raw diets cured their pets who were gravely ill.
I sure wish I had had my kitty on a raw diet.


* * *

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:KYOgc3EBw0UJ:hubpages.com/hub/Menu_Foods_Dog_Food_Recall+Pedigree+menu+recall&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

26. Comment by Connie -- 4 days ago

My dog eats pedigree dry food and has been drinking more water and urinating more, but i don't see pedigree on the list. Any one else with symptoms from pedigree?"

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:xueLOmnqbqsJ:hubpages.com/hub/Dog_Food_Safe_To_Feed_After_The_Dog_Food_Recall+Pedigree+menu+recall&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us

22. Comment by M -- 4 days ago

Is Pedigree wet dog food being recalled or manufactured by Menu Foods? My cocker spaniel never eats wet dog food, but this past Friday she was given some. That night she was lethargic, thirsty, and shaking. She was not herself. We didn't give her any more of the food. Saturday night she was feeling much better. I'm suspicious, but I realize it could have been a coincidence & something else.

40. Comment by Amy -- 3 days ago

I fed my dog Pedigree Little Champions mixed with his dry food. Pedigree is not on the recall list but he died suddenly Sunday, March 18 1 hour before my five year old sons birthday party. He all of a sudden couldn't stand up. His tongue turned white and after 1hour of labored breathing, he died in the car on the way to the animal hospital. I called BJ's where the foil packaged food was sold just 10 minutes ago and it HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THERE SHELF. DO NOT FEED YOUR DOGS PEDIGREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

59. Comment by tereasa -- 2 days ago

I know Pedigree is not on the recall list, but both our beagle and our lab started drinking alot and vomiting some. After I noticed the symptoms, I read about the recall. Today I called Menu foods; I asked if they make Pedigree. He asnwered with "Pedigree is safe." I asked again, "But do you make Pedigree?" and he answered, "There have been no problems with Pedigree." I said I disagreed and told him about our dogs. His manner got alot softer then, and he aked for our contact info and which food we were using. We're waiting for a call. I'll try again tomorrow. Meanwhile, our dogs are off all canned food. This is bigger than they are letting on. It took them many days to announce their recall even after they knew they had a problem.

[woodsprite]

17. OMG! I'm going to research this and go get her some other food.

She usually does not have wet mixed in with the dry until this past week because that was the only way we could get her to eat. She has eaten Pedigree dry since before we had her (she was a rescue - we've only had her a year - she's 7yo). When she was diagnosed with a colitis issue, we mixed it 50/50 with Science Diet high fiber WD food to fix the problem. She wouldn't eat straight WD and the vet thought it might be too much high fiber for her tummy.

Both bags (Pedigree and Science Diet WD from the vet) were bought in early February, while the wet was bought some time ago but was good until Dec 07.

I specifically checked the label and it says something like Masterfoods (I'm not home now and can't remember), but it WASN'T Menufoods. Wonder if they work under two names.

[nicknameless]

19. You might want to cut out ALL Pedigree until more is known.

Especially since she's already showing signs of food contamination.

[iconoclastic cat]

24. Here we go again, eh, nick?

How many goddamn unnecessary pet deaths are we going to sustain during the Bush years?

[nicknameless]

30. This is so horrendous, I cannot effing believe it.

I just lost my furbaby in January.
Some of her foods were made by Menu ... but not on the original recall list.

:cry:

[piesRsquare]

28. The Prescription Diet W/D

The w/d from the vet is fine. Science Diet is different from Prescription Diet, though they are both made by Hill's.

ALL canned and dry PRESCRIPTION DIET (c/d, w/d, r/d, i/d, etc) is fine, safe, etc.

The only Hill's/Science Diet products recalled are the "chunks and gravy" style.

If your pet is on prescription diet, do not change your pet's diet without consulting your veterinarian first. Prescription Diet is exactly that--PRESCRIPTION.

More up-to-date pet food recall info (my blog): http://2blackcats.wordpress.com You'll find a link to the Hill's company webpage about the recall (among other useful links and info).

[iconoclastic cat]

33. A lot of the Prescip. Diet doesn't even have wheat/gluten.

One of mine is on S/D, which contains rice.

The problem here, though, is what other poisons are now in the food supply?

[Holly_Hobby]

37. I'm one of these...

"A lot of people in the Pet Forum are swearing that raw diets cured their pets who were gravely ill."

Four years ago, my 8 y.o. Collie was diagnosed with mast cell cancer, grade III. After putting him on a natural diet and a spice used in mustard, turmeric, his cancer has not gotten worse - in FOUR YEARS. The original tumors have only gotten slightly bigger, a few millimeters, and haven't metastisized any further, per ultrasounds. I was intially told he had maybe 9 months to live. He's now 12 and you would never know he's been dying for 4 years.

He also had a chronic dry eye condition, and on immuno-suppressive eye drops for years. Within two weeks of feeding a natural diet, it went away, never to return. His chronic skin condition left too.

I can't explain it, I'm not medically trained. It's only one dog, but it's MY dog and his quality of life and longevity had to come from somewhere. The only thing that changed was the natural diet and adding a spice to his diet that is known to have anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, according to mice studies at Vanderbilt Univ. and UCLA. These studies also showed it helped mice with MS and slowed progression of Alzheimer's in mice. (Just how they give Alzheimer's to mice, I don't know) This has been studied in mice, and it's not pseudoscience. Spices can't be patented and that's why this information isn't well known. The drugs companies wouldn't make billions on it.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=news&dbid=43#article

http://www.turmeric-curcumin.com/

In addition to my 12 y.o., I've got 3 youngster Collies who get a natural diet. None of my dogs will ever need a dental. Go do some research and find out what mouth rot will do to humans. It seems to me it would apply to carnivores too, who don't get their teeth brushed and flossed every day with whole, raw food.

On edit, my grandmother always said, "Only fools and the dead refuse to change their opinions."

[nicknameless]

40. Thanks for posting that, Holly

I'll be checking it out.

:hi:

[faithnotgreed]

39. Raw food information: Prairie raw food (frozen) is so easy to use

the ones we use come in 3lb bag of "medallions" and are made by Natures Variety. They are so easy to use and store since it goes in the freezer. And the same bag can be used for cats and/or dogs though the 3 lb bag wouldnt last long if using for a dog. They also have chubs and cans, and dry which we also use and get from our local natural pet food store

it comes in 4 varieties - turkey/chicken, lamb, venison, and organic chicken i think

if you are interested just check out
www.naturesvariety.com

best wishes ....

[nicknameless]

41. Thank you, Faith

I'll look into NaturesVariety too

:)

[faithnotgreed]

43. i am glad to share the love nick - and i really hope you find

whatever food works best for your little ones
some can do the homemade version but not i so i was thrilled to learn about prairie
that was was approx 4 years ago though they didnt have all the varieties they do now

hope one (or more) works for you
take good care

[nicknameless]

18. I couldn't find anything on Science Diet WD dry, but you might want to keep checking.

All I did was Google "Menu + recall + (whatever food brand)"
I prefer to look at cached pages because the keywords are highlighted.

[TZ]

20. you are in my prayers, Silver

I had a cat who had kidney/liver/pancreatic issues that even with multiple ultrasounds (which because my kitty loved having her belly rubbed loved the ultrasounds to the vets amazement-she certainly became their favorite patient after that!) they could never exactly pin down. Lucky for her antibiotics helped for a long time before it became cancerous. Good luck with everything. Keep us posted!:hug:

[nicknameless]

23. Please see my post #22

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=503313&mesg_id=503920

Do we need to be worried about dry food too?
Is it too risky to not be cautious enough?

My prayers are with your dear Silver.

:(

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

29. My dog has been exceptionally thristy for the

past few weeks. No others problems w/ him though. He eats Kibble and Bits dry.

[nicknameless]

32. Excessive thirst and urination are signs of possible kidney problems.

http://sev.prnewswire.com/health-care-hospitals/20070317/NYSA00618032007-1.html

[nicknameless]

22. Dry Food could be a problem too???!

So far the only brand I've seen mentioned by name is Iams.
This article isn't very specific. It does include Iams dry, but suggests that there might be other brands causing problems as well.

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_21270904.shtml

Consumers are now worried that their animals may have become ill after consuming dry pet food manufactured by Menu Foods, prompting PETA to demand the company immediately recall all dry pet food products until they have been chemically tested for safety. The Seattle-based law firm that is handling a class-action lawsuit against Menu Foods has said it is receiving numerous reports from people attributing their animals' illness to dry food.

At least 15 cats and one dog are reported to have died of kidney failure after eating food manufactured by Menu Foods and sold under several brand names, including Iams, and veterinarians across the country are reporting daily cases of cats and dogs experiencing renal failure after eating the contaminated food.

"While millions of containers of wet food have been recalled, we also need to ask whether dry food is safe," says PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich. "With dogs' and cats' lives on the line, we are asking Menu to pull all dry pet food until a full chemical safety analysis has been completed, and we are urging consumers not to buy dry foods manufactured by Menu Foods until the company issues an all-clear."

Edited to add qualifying info at top.

[iconoclastic cat]

25. Ah, that's great.

F'ing lovely.

[wicket]

27. Oh god

This is so freakin' sad :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Holly_Hobby]

34. Interesting

"As long as the AP continues to report only 15 dead pets, the story will not be taken seriously. And that means there will be little interest in changes."

This is exactly why the number of dead is being unreported - so no one stops buying commercial pet food. Corporations and their bottom line, don't ya know.

It would be interesting to follow the money and see where it goes.

[nicknameless]

36. It's ALWAYS about the money, isn't it?

[nicknameless]

35. Is there a way to get this thread's title corrected on the Greatest page? It's "almost 2,000"

Not "1,000"

It's misinforming, the way it reads now.
I was too slow with my edit.

:shrug:

[nicknameless]

38. 1,871 deceased pets (1067 cats/ 804 dogs) -- Reported to PetConnection

Current as of 4 p.m. PT

These are self-reported numbers, to ONE website. How much higher is the true death toll?

:(

[kestrel91316]

42. Somebody needs to contact every vet clinic in the country

eventually and ask them for an honest assessment of likely deaths at their facility. And recognize, when the stats are compiled, that it may have a significant margin of error. But they'll catch the cases that slip through the cracks because of owners not having an UNOPENED CAN OF RECALLED FOOD to test.

FDA case criteria are best suited for determining cause, not total numbers affected.