Monday, April 16, 2007

Another Travesty With Pet Food



For reasons I can't explain, after the initial recall of pet food from one Canadian firm, the issue no longer captured the attention of the news organizations. These same news organizations have no problem, including the financial ones, trumpeting the story of how much money Americans are willing to spend on the animals we live with, and how we consider them a member of the family.

One of my family members, Holmes has a problem with her kidneys. She started getting sick earlier this week, and by Wednesday we had her in the vet's office for blood tests. We automatically had started her on an antibiotic to stave off any possible kidney infection. We have been checking the website for her food from Petsmart since the scare with the tainted food began. We were down to checking every week, on Wednesdays.

We got the results of her blood tests on Saturday, and her kidney were not performing well. Once again, things looked bleak. She has been eating Nutro Max's Gourmet Classics in the Maxcat line such as Veal Pate and Hunter's Stew with Savory Venison. An alternative is something with gravy from the Science Diet line. Holmes eats well, and why not. Imagine the surprise to find both lines had been pulled from the shelves on Friday, and the computer says that they were updated on the 10th. ALL of the food is out of the house and in the car awaiting return.

We have some Fancy Feast in the house now, and Holmes is suddenly hungry and eating., and she has started drinking some water. Tomorrow morning, she will get some fluids at the vets to help flush out her kidneys. And when the vet says she's OK again, well maybe my hemorrhoids will unwind. In the meantime, the two of us are silently screaming. I can't make a joke about things even though I started to, I am just too angry. If you live with an animal, it behooves you to check the food again to see if they slipped in a recall on you while you weren't looking, particularly if you have seen any unusual behavior you haven't seen before. Whatever you do, don't leave it to chance, please, check the food and don't trust that it's safe.

If companies can't deliver food to us humans that's fit to eat, remembering the tainted lettuce, the problems it caused at Taco Bell, and other issues; why should I believe that anyone is going to care more about our pets? Enjoy the other pictures, a woodpecker and a yearling, female cardinal.



16 comments:

Glamourpuss said...

I remember the shock I felt when i found out that P&G use animal testing for their petfoods - no, not just taste testing, full on experiments, nasty stuff. Sick irony. I never buy Iams or Eukanuba as a result.

Puss

Crankster said...

Strangely enough, the pet food recall bugs me more than the e-coli Taco Bell. Maybe it's because the cats have less choice in the matter. At any rate, I understand your rage.

mist1 said...

Which Science Diet? Dry?

Crap. I have to go check the recall list again. I just checked on Thursday or Friday.

I hope Holmes feels better soon.

M@ said...

I need to stop eating cat food. I hate to say it, but homeless people should be worried.

This is awful.

The CEO said...

Puss, isn't it about time to end animal testing. They can't create life, why should they treat it so cheaply?

Crank, I am so pissed off i can barely shriek. Glad you're OK.

Mist, we had the wet food with a gravy, but why not check anyway. The *&%^& don't deserve your trust anyway. Thanks for thinking of Holmes!

Matt, you make an excellent point, as usual.

Claudia said...

Glad to hear Holmes is feeling better...

Odat said...

Awwwwwwwww....I feel your rage and pain...poor Holmes.....I have a lil dog...and check to make sure his food is not on the list..I even ask the pet store people and they all assure me it's not on the list...but we have to be their advocates in this....I will keep lil Holmes in my prayers (and you too!)
Peace

Wicked H said...

OMG!

I am glad that Holmes in on the mend.

I completely understand your rage. None of this makes sense. I am going to check on both my furry nephews by phone and make sure they don’t have any tainted food. It has almost been a year since my beloved golden passed and after all this I don’t think I will ever be ready to parent another furry child.

Hugs to Holmes and to You!

Lee said...

Maybe some time soon we will boycott goods from China. Yes, they are cheaper, but at a undefinable human (and now animal) price. They don't care about their people. Why would they care about our pets? The consumer market can exact change.

cmhl said...

I'm glad Holmes is OK---

I am fixed on your "they can't create life, why should they treat it so cheaply" note... I think you know where my mind is going with that one, as we have debated it before, but perhaps another time!

seriously, I'm glad that you SAW Holmes was having the symptoms & caught it before she really got sick. Such an irresponsible thing for the industry to let slip through.

Cindy said...

That is why I am going to cook for my next cat.

The CEO said...

Thank you all.

CMHL, after we got Holmes back when we were ready to put her down a few months ago, I completely changed my position on the Kevorkian Laws. I no longer go to Annapolis and lobby in favor of them, I am still completely against capital punishment, and, as usual, you were correct. Another reason I always have sought your advice.

Itsnopicknick said...

I'm so sorry CEO! that's awful, i would be mad as hell if my pet was hurt like that. But what i can't fathom is the reach of this pet food lot, we've also had pet food pulled off our shelves!!! Must be the same manufacturer and I'm surprised that we're selling pet food made in Canada!!! Wierd. Here, it's called Vet's Choice. 2 nights ago on the TV, they said 22 pets had died already because of it. I hope Holmes is fit again in no time!

Echomouse said...

I am so sorry all of you were affected by this pet food nightmare. Holmes especially. I hope Holmes makes a full and easy recovery. Good job catching it quickly!

My little brother lost one of their cats to sudden kidney failure in January. They think it might have been one of the foods and that was food from the vet! Now they are being ultra careful. The loss of Doodlebug broke their hearts.

Keeping Holmes and your family in my thoughts. {Hug}

Echomouse said...

Just a question...why is it weird that Canadian made pet food is sold in the USA?

Pickled Olives said...

I am so sorry to hear that your beloved family member is dealing with this. It can't be fun for anyone involved having to get fluids and new foods and Hemeroids. I have four pets here and I can't imagine losing a single one.