Why did Iams wait until March 17 to announce the recall when (read the following dated 5/10/06):

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MSNBC News Services
Updated: 11:08 a.m. ET May 10, 2006

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that at least 76 dogs nationwide are believed to have died as a result of eating contaminated Diamond Pet Foods.

The company has recalled 19 varieties of dog and cat food because tests showed high levels of aflatoxin, a naturally occurring toxic chemical that comes from a fungus found on corn and other grains that causes severe liver damage in animals.

The company recalled products manufactured at its Gaston, S.C., plant from around September to November 2005. Based on sample testing, Diamond has narrowed down the exposure to food produced on Oct. 11, Brinkmann said Thursday.

The FDA and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture have launched investigations.
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So Iams and many others knew the food was bad and did not do anything about it until they were forced to nearly 10 months later. How many pets died in those 10 months? I will make my own dog food from here on out. Don't buy anything from these jerks...

My dog has been on a RAW food diet for a year now. There are many health benefits to being on the B.A.R.F (bones and raw food) diet. Perhaps after this scare more people will be willing to try it. Cats can eat this diet as well.
Sorry to everyone who has a sick pet.

Approximately two weeks ago, my 8 month of Shih Tzu puppy, Sweetie, became gravely ill after eating Natural Choice by Nutro. Initially, there was a lot of vomiting and Sweetie refused to eat or drink anything. She eventually became very dehydrated and extremely lethargic. I took her to her primary vet and they thought that perhaps she had swallowed something that was causing her to be sick to her stomach. That night after returning from the vet, she worsened and could barely walk or lift her little head. She would cry in pain whenever she was touched in the tummy area. At 4:00 a.m. I rushed her to the animal emergency room and she was there for two days. They x-rayed her again and again and still could not find anything foreign in her stomach. Sweetie was hydrated via IV and numerous tests were conducted. The vets were extremely perplexed as to what could be wrong with Sweetie and concluded that perhaps she had an intestinal virus. They suggested having her see a specialist; however, I ended up bringing Sweetie home with me after the emergency care bill climbed close to $2,000.00. After a few days at home Sweetie slowly began to eat again but she was being fed baby food from the jar. I am happy to report that she is doing better but she has not eaten the National Choice since becoming ill. Actually, I tried giving it to her last week, prior to the recall and she refused to eat it. At that time, I had no idea why but thought that perhaps it was because she had been away from eating dog food for a while.

I have had no success with getting in touch with anyone at any of the recall numbers. Understandably, the lines are jammed but I have also sent numerous emails but have yet to hear from anyone at either of these companies. This was a traumatizing experience for me and I cried for three straight days and was unable to sleep at all. I feel especially saddened by the stories where the pets actually died. I’m pretty sure that if I didn’t rush Sweetie to the vet that she would have not made it either. She was a very sick little pup but at least now I know what was causing her to become so ill.

I have a dog that I had began feeding IAMS wet dogfood on Jan.29,2007. I normally do not even use this brand. I have always only used Pedigree. My dog was a boxer who was pregnant. I feed her IMAS during her last weeks of pregnancy because their food is suppose to be so healty and what not. She gave birth to 6 puppies on 2/17/07 and she died a week later. She was a very healthy dog, no problems, and died suddenly. She was drinking some water and began to stumble. I rushed her to the emergency clinic but she died on the way there. Because she had no physical signs of anything and I did not have an autopsy ran, the ER clinic ruled her death as a heart attack. Now I don't know... I suspect it could have been this food. Out of the 6 puppies, only 2 have surrived, and this is because they have had to be bottle fed. Two of the puppies died within the 1st day and 2 others died 3 days later. We had originally thought she may have not been producing enough milk for them.... but since this recall I feel differently. I can't believe IAMS waited so long to recall this food, maybe my dog and her puppies would have surrived. As well as all the others that have died do to this recall. I did call IAMS on Sunday and was told that there were not any reported deaths, but a Supervisor would be calling me back...Guess what, NO supervisor has called at this time. Go figure.

I would hope these food companies would do more than refund the price of the food. I have 3 dogs(two of them basset puppies) that are very ill from eating this junk. My bill at my vet so far is $615.00. At this point, we expect them to recover. This will be(I hope not) a class action law suit where we all get a coupon for six cans of "improved" food. I cannot help but feel the sadness those people have at the loss of of a pet.

Thank you so much to all of you who feel comfortable enough to share your stories with us. Misty, my heart goes out to you with the loss of your boxer. Marcy and Tony, we wish your pups all the best in their recovery. I have two cats that I just happened to take off of IAMS canned food last December, so I really feel like one of the lucky ones. I will continue to post more news here as we get it.

This is just a nightmare for so many furbabies and their families!! My heart and prayers go out to anyone possibly affected by all of this - to anyone with a sick pet, to anyone with a pet that has passed, and to anyone with a pet that will recover but may have residual effects!! I grieve for your loss with you!!

My sympathy to all who have lost their beloved furry family members to these pet foods. I hope that the outpouring of sympathy will bring comfort to those who have lost a friend. And I wish speedy recovery to those who are ill. And please, everyone continue to spread the word, I have discovered people who had no idea that this was happening.

I'M VERY UPSET AT THE COMPANY FOR KNOWING THIS WAS GOING ON AND NOT RECALL IT SOONER. MY DOG PAST AWAY THIS SATURDAY MARCH 17, 2006 HE HAD NOT WANTED TO EAT. WHEN I TOOK HIM TO THE VET. THEY SAID HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT BECAUSE HE WAS ALREADY URINATING BLOOD AND HEART BEAT WAS SLOW. I ALSO AS EVERYONE ELSE CALL THE COMPANY BUT NO ANSWER. PLEASE ADVICE AS TO WHAT MEASURES I CAN TAKE TO GET THIS COMPANY TO TAKE RESPONSABLITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

I have three adult cats - 2 that are 10 and 1 that is 8. Last fall, I stared fostering kittens for a local shelter who were underweight and/or too young to be adopted.

Stupid me, I chose to feed the kittens the Iams select cuts kitten mix, thinking it was the best quality wet food. Well, my cats felt left out not getting any of this yummy food, so I decided to let them have a 'happy hour' and started giving them some of the adult cat Iams wet food at night.

My cats have always been healthy and kept indoors. I figured this small indulgence wouldn't be detrimental.

Now I have a cat who has stopped eating, is lethargic, has had two rounds of fluids admistered into his skin to bring down his fever as well as combat severe dehydration, has a serious infection of some sort, and is starting to vomit foam. I had bloodwork done on all my cats Monday and currently the sick one has normal kidney and liver functions, although he has dropped nearly 3 lbs and there were small amounts of blood in his urine and he has a heart murmur. We are hoping a big round of antibiotics will bring him back around.

A month ago, one of my foster kittens quickly fell ill the first week I had him. I took him in to see the shelter vet and was told his heart had a murmur, his kidney's were failing, and he was severely dehydrated that he had to be put to sleep. I had been feeding him the Iams all week. Now I wonder if in doing that, I am responsible for his death.

Is it the food? Who knows. At this point, the only thing being attributed to it is kidney failure, but so many people are reporting sick animals who ate this food, surely there's more to it than that.

I'm disgusted that Menu foods waited over a month to report the tainted food, and even then that they did it in such a poor manner, not even providing all the information when they issued the recall. I'm also mad that the major companies haven't put more information out there on their own to alert the public and to help get people the answers they need.

i want to send my prayer to all the pet owner.who have dog y cat.just be careful.it make me sad to see all this pet pass on.it is sooo sad. i was crying.love all your pet.

Jay boo,

This is not the same food, problem, or manufacturing plant as the Diamond recall you mention.

I do question why, since the current problem has been known to Menu Foods for a month, they waited until late on a Friday to announce the recall. Also, the press release didn't clarify that 9-10 pets in a taste trial of about 50 pets died, only that 9-10 pets died across the country. We need to pressure ALL involved companies to completely disclose the information they have related to this incident.

Sherrie

Last week we had to have our lab put to sleep. She showed every sign of having this problem. Out of the blue one evening she could not stand and became very lethargic. We took her to our vet who ran blood & urine tests only to find nothing. The vet had the same response as the other stories I've read, that she eaten something that may have poisoned her. They gave her fluids and she seemed 95% better the next day, but she got worse the next few days. The final day she could not even raise up to go out to potty. My concern for other pet owners is that she only ate dry food and the recall is on wet food. Our lab was not quite 3 years old. I'm not sure if there is a connection, but the food she was eating was Alpo's Come & Get It. Typically we feed her Benetiful by Purina, but just happen to got a bag of the Alpo. My wife took it hard for a few days. We have since adopted two more lab pups, which has helped with our loss.

I heard the news about the recalled dog food and checked our cans we had been feeding my 7 mth Chihuahua. Sure enough one of the cans were listed on the recall list. Our dog had been throwing up the night before. So we took him in to the vet today and found out he had a high level of phosphate. They are going to keep him over night and this will cost us 200 dollars, not to metion the 79 dollars for the blood test. Does anyone know if these companys plan on helping the victims pay these pet bills? Also I want to express my sympathy to any that have lost their pets.

It was rat poison?!
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Rat poison found in recalled pet food

10:28 AM CDT on Friday, March 23, 2007

Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Rat poison has been found in pet food blamed for the deaths of several animals around the country, a spokeswoman for the State Department of Agriculture and Markets said Friday.

Spokeswoman Jessica Chittenden would not identify the chemical or its source beyond saying it was a rodent poison.

State agriculture officials scheduled a news conference Friday afternoon to release laboratory findings from tests on the pet food conducted this week. The deaths led to a nationwide recall.

The chemical is rumored to be aminopterin. This is a folic acid antagonist used as a rodenticide in other countries and as a chemotherpeutic agent in the USA.

my 9 year old american eskimo has kidney failure he was on ol roy and I already have a vet bill of 1400 dollars my dog is so sick I dont know what to do.... I have to give him IVs at home and he is also on meds. they say that he will be on the fluids the rest of his life and it is so sad..He is a great dog who almost died and it really sadens me..

I would like a list of dates & or lot #s of affected pet foods.I have not seen this addressed.I might have missed it.If so ,please help me to get it.Thanks.H.C.Clem

I watched CBS's Cold Case Sunday night and your station played three promos teasing your story about "list expanded" of recalled pet foods. I watched your newscast wanting to know more. The story was "teased" by your female anchor before all but one commercial breaks. I waited while I fed my sick, weak, anorexic cat a drop at a time with a baby's medicine syringe.

I waited. Then, at the LAST story, your anchor gave all of about 20 seconds to - was the pet food recall. She incorrectly reported that "all wet pet foods were being recalled and that the list had been expended" She did not say that "all affected" or "all Menu Foods brands/wet" had been recalled. She incorrectly reported the story, I went to Menu Foods to check it oot. I also called Purina (who makes the Fancy Feast that I had just spend $42.00 on) as I was very worried and upset. I was up until 3AM worrying about my cats. She said "all wet cat foods!!"

Perhaps she should have spent less time reading the police blotter - I really do not care about the low lifes who shoot each other after leaving some bar. That does not relate to my life and I do not care about it. I can't relate to those stories...I just don't care.

Shame on you, KHOU. You need to retrain your weekend anchor chick. I have worked in broadcasting for most of my life...and have never seen scare tactics such as your promos and teases - then giving the audience a FEW seconds with wrong - and basically no good information.

Our cat went into acute renal failure, was in the emergency hosp. for four days and discharged home where we have been giving her pills, liquid medication, and injecting her subcutaneously with Ringers solution. Three days later she went blind and was put on Norvasc to control her blood pressure with the hopes it would reverse the blindness. Today we made the heart-wrenching decision to euthanize her. She stands with her head down and sways. As a group, we need to address this issue to the people representing us in Washington, DC. There has to be better control of the products our pets, and ourselves, eat. China, for god sake!