| Since March 16, more than 5,600 pet food items | | | | lethargic. Some salivate and have oral ulcerations. |
| have been recalled after it was discovered that the | | | | Weakness and blood in the urine has also been |
| chemical melamine, found in imported wheat gluten, | | | | reported. |
| rice gluten and corn gluten, has been making | | | | Some general signs to watch out for include your cat |
| thousands of pets sick. | | | | or dog drinking more water and urinating more often. |
| 4,867 pets (2,527 cats and 2,365 dogs) have been | | | | Your pet may be losing weight, specifically loss of |
| reported (by owners) as deceased, and the total | | | | muscle mass, as the kidneys lose protein. As kidney |
| number of affected pets reported has been 14,750, | | | | failure advances, your pet may become weak due to |
| as of May 16, 2007. | | | | anemia. He may have a decreased appetite due to a |
| The Pet Food Recall is a crisis of unprecedented | | | | buildup of toxins in the blood stream. In advanced |
| proportions. Never in our history have so many pets | | | | cases, he will be dehydrated and completely off food. |
| died and developed illness as a result of Pet Food. | | | | In some pets, kidney disease causes elevated blood |
| The Pet Food companies have lost our trust. This | | | | pressure, which may affect his eyesight. |
| scandal is producing more questions than answers, | | | | Here are a few things you can do if you see any of |
| and NO ONE is standing up and telling the Truth. | | | | the above signs. First of all, see your Veterinarian. If |
| Initial reports suggested that aminopterin, a | | | | your pet is showing any of the above symptoms, |
| rodenticide not used in the US or Canada, could be | | | | have your pet's blood and urine tested. In some |
| the causal agent - but this was not proven by | | | | cases, an ultrasound may be needed to confirm the |
| subsequent testing, and is currently being discounted | | | | disease. |
| by the FDA. Melamine, a non-protein nitrogen fertilizer | | | | At home, the most important thing that you can do |
| (used in China) and component of plastics such as | | | | for your pet is to maintain adequate hydration. Offer |
| formica is currently the most likely suspect compound | | | | lots of fresh water. If your cat isn't a great water |
| because it has been found in the affected gluten and | | | | drinker, then make the switch to (safe) canned food. |
| foods. | | | | Another thing you can do is to lower the protein and |
| The specific toxin in the contaminated protein | | | | phosphorus levels your pet receives. Newer research |
| ingredients (gluten, rice protein concentrate) has not | | | | has shown that the most important thing to restrict |
| been completely identified. Overall, the 4 substances | | | | in early kidney failure is phosphorus. This mineral |
| that have been identified include melamine, amiloride, | | | | speeds up destruction of the remaining kidney cells. |
| amilorine and cyanuric acid. Testing in 3 laboratories | | | | Stop all dairy products as they are very high in |
| has identified cyanuric acid in the contaminated food | | | | phosphorus. Feed a specific, moderately reduced |
| and in crystals from cat urine. In fact, analysis of | | | | protein diet, such as a premium quality senior diet, in |
| melamine cyanurate crystals shows a close match to | | | | the early stages. |
| crystals obtained from cat urine - this has allowed for | | | | As kidney failure advances, switch to a restricted |
| a tentative identification of melamine as the culprit. | | | | protein diet, available from your veterinarian - or use |
| Cyanuric Acid is commonly used as a chlorine stabilizer | | | | a specific home made diet that is low in protein and |
| in swimming pools. The 'CYA test' to determine the | | | | phosphorus. |
| concentration of cyanuric acid in pool water uses | | | | A third treatment you can offer is to add Omega 3 |
| melamine as a reagent to form a white insoluble | | | | fatty acids to your pet's diet. The Omega 3 |
| precipitate. The damage happens when Melamine | | | | polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oil are shown |
| combines with Cyanuric Acid to form melamine | | | | to delay the progression of kidney failure. The dose |
| cyanurate crystals, resulting in kidney damage and | | | | is one 250mg capsule per 10 lbs of body weight daily. |
| the other associated signs. | | | | This article is an excerpt from an online seminar I held |
| This may explain the problem, but what can you as a | | | | on the Pet Food Recall. If you would like a copy of |
| pet owner do about it? How can you protect your | | | | the seminar, in video format, please see my bio and |
| pet from the Pet Food Recall, or treat your pet if | | | | follow the link provided - the seminar (and website) is |
| they've consumed contaminated, recalled food? | | | | called the Pet Food Recall Report. I've included |
| If your pet has consumed contaminated food, the | | | | several home diets and more treatments you can |
| first thing you should be aware of is the signs of Pet | | | | offer your pet, as well as my suggestions for safe |
| Food Toxicity. | | | | commercial foods. I also discuss feeding raw food to |
| Affected individuals often vomit soon (1-12 hours) | | | | your pet as a safe alternative. |
| after ingesting the food. Some become anorectic and | | | | |