Nutro Cat Food Voluntary Recall

Nutro Products Announces Voluntary Recall of Limited Range of Dry Cat Food Products

Franklin, Tennessee (May 21, 2009) -- Today, Nutro Products announced a voluntary recall of select varieties of NUTRO® NATURAL CHOICE® COMPLETE CARE® Dry Cat Foods and NUTRO® MAX® Cat Dry Foods with “Best If Used By Dates” between May 12, 2010 and August 22, 2010. The cat food is being voluntarily recalled in the United States and ten additional countries. This recall is due to incorrect levels of zinc and potassium in our finished product resulting from a production error by a US-based premix supplier.

Two mineral premixes were affected. One premix contained excessive levels of zinc and under-supplemented potassium. The second premix under-supplemented potassium. Both zinc and potassium are essential nutrients for cats and are added as nutritional supplements to NUTRO® dry cat food.

This issue was identified during an audit of our documentation from the supplier. An extensive review confirmed that only these two premixes were affected. This recall does not affect any NUTRO® dog food products, wet dog or cat food, or dog and cat treats.

Affected product was distributed to retail customers in all 50 states, as well as to customers in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Israel. We are working with all of our distributors and retail customers, in both the US and internationally, to ensure that the recalled products are not on store shelves. These products should not be sold or distributed further.

Consumers who have purchased affected product should immediately discontinue feeding the product to their cats, and switch to another product with a balanced nutritional profile. While we have received no consumer complaints related to this issue, cat owners should monitor their cat for symptoms, including a reduction in appetite or refusal of food, weight loss, vomiting or diarrhea. If your cat is experiencing health issues or is pregnant, please contact your veterinarian.

Consumers who have purchased product affected by this voluntary recall should return it to their retailer for a full refund or exchange for another NUTRO® dry cat food product. Cat owners who have more questions about the recall should call 1-800-833-5330 between the hours 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM CST

Information came from: http://www.nutroproducts.com/

Nutro… The Next Big Pet Food Recall?

FDA Confirms Probe of NUTRO Pet Food Deaths, Illnesses

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that the agency is investigating NUTRO pet food, following a series of unexplained illnesses and deaths. Consumers have been complaining for more than two years that their pets have become ill after eating NUTRO products; many have recovered when they were switched to other foods. The company has steadfastly denied that its food is to blame.

 

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/04/nutro_foia.html

I found this link in one of my dog forums, so I emailed it and posted it into other forums where I thought people could benefit from the information.

Almost immediately afterwards in one of the forums, the link below was posted:
http://www.wxyz.com/news/story/FDA-No-Investigation-into-NUTRO-Pet-Food/hOoE48nKOkORqDNodwN3EQ.cspx

In the comments on that page, this link was posted…which is Nutro’s response:
http://www.nutroproducts.com/quality_facts.html (it’s in the 2nd Q)

Of course, I got emails back from people who “have been feeding Nutro to their dogs for X amount of years and have never had a problem”. Good for them.

When we lost our cats in the Menu Foods recall of 2006, we had been feeding the same food for however many months and then – boom – the cat got sick and we lost him a month later.

That’s all it takes, folks.

When is the FDA going to get some control over pet food? When are they going to stop getting crappy ingrediants from God knows where and have us feeding them to our pets? When is this madness going to stop??? If real human food had killed the amount of animals that have been killed in the past few recalls, it would be ALL over the news…HUGE investigations, lawsuits would be going on. But because these are ANIMALS and NOT people…the reaction is much, much smaller and all of the hype dies down after a while.

It’s BULLSHIT! It really is.

People ask me why we feed raw…well, not only do we have a special needs pup, but I don’t think I could feed my dog commercial pet foods. I’m even leery of the natural foods anymore! I hate that we have to feed the cats commercial food. I hate worse that it’s a “grocery store” brand and not premium. But we have 4 stinking cats and it’s too much money to feed them premium foods. But I swear to God, let there be ONE recall of the brand we feed them and I’ll work something else out. I’ll make their food if I have to.

I’m not losing another animal to a pet food recall…not as long as I can afford to help it!

There’s a video on this page…check it out. it’s about half way down the page.
http://www.ilovemydogfood.com/

So back to Nutro…personally, we don’t feed it and we never will. I say buyer beware. But that’s really with any pet food anymore. Who knows what’s REALLY in the bags?

It's Official...Canidae/Diamond

I have been reading on my dog forum and on other sites around the net that not only did Canidae change their dry formulas, but they also are now being manufactured or partially manufactured by Diamond.

We don't feed this to our dogs any longer, but my mom feeds Mickey their canned food (that's really all he'll eat) and so I still try to keep up with the recalls and what's going on in the pet food world.

This really concerns me because we lost two cats to the Diamond recall of 2006 and frankly, I just will never trust any brand made by Diamond again.

So I emailed Canidae...and here was my response from them.

http://www.canidae.com/new-formulas.html
Dear Heidi,

Please click on the above link, we have updated our site to insure all your questions are answered about our newly improved formulas. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of that page.

Due to overwhelming customer support and increased demand on our products, we have been faced with unique production capacity challenges. Our growing customer support and demand has pushed for increased capacity, therefore we have outsourced additional production from Diamond Pet Foods. Our customers demand and deserve no less than the highest quality safe ingredients, as well as state of the art consistent manufacturing. Outsourcing additional production from Diamond comes not without first carefully instating and accepting only the strictest testing protocols, as well as mandating stringent operating procedures to ensure the highest quality products possible at every level of production. We are very happy with this relationship and the high quality formulations we are able to bring to you. Expect Excellence!

Our quality of raw material as well as quality control has actually increased not decreased. Yes we have diversified our complex carbohydrates as rice continues to climb and high quality availability decreases. Our products are better than ever and more consistent. Yes we have cut costs on shipping rates as fuel continues to go through the roof. To ship pet food from one location is no longer cost effective. Our economy is facing some challenging times and we are being proactive in offering you the highest quality products, yet affordable enough for our consumers to purchase. We are not sure about other companies and their plans for change or their reasons in the past, however we feel we are being open and honest about our changes. We are getting alot of positive feedback from our customers that are actually feeding their pets our improved formulas.

We thank thank you for your comments, and hope your pets are able to receive the benefits of our products.

Personally, I still wouldn't trust them. But that's me and it's really a personal preference.

Added 8/11/08....many people have come to my blog to read this post so I thought I'd also include a list of foods that are made by Diamond. I copied this list from a dog forum I participate at and so I cannot account for it's accuracy. But thought it was worth adding.

• Kirkland is made by Schell and Kampeter who also is dba for Diamond. (imo pretty sneeky way of not coming right out and saying what foods Diamond does make)
• TOTW
• Solid Golid
• Country Value
• Diamond
• Professional
• Natural Balance
• Artemis
• Chicken Soup for the Soul
• Canidae
• Nutra
• Premium Edge
• Menu foods makes canned Nutro

Like I said, I cannot account for the accuracy of this list. I hope that a food like Artemis is not made by Diamond, but I have no clue and cannot say. I'll have to look into it.

Here's a site that has a good list of many foods and their ingredients: The Best Dry Dog Foods

Christmas Fading into the Distance

I can't believe that Christmas is over! It came so fast and poof! now it's gone!

I love Christmastime. I love the music, the lights, the tree, the spirit, the giving, receiving. I just love it all. I like getting together with family and celebrating the season.

Tonight was our progressive dinner with my siblings and parents. It was a lot of fun, but a long night!! We had appetizers here, then off to my younger sister's house for soup...then to my parents house for dinner and then to my youngest sister's house for dessert and a white elephant gift exchange. I had alot of fun. I wish my husband could have come, but he was working. Which is good! But he missed great food and good times.

2008 is right around the corner. I wonder what it will bring?? I am hoping nothing but good things! 2007 wasn't too bad....could have been better, but definitely could have been worse too! Whatever comes our way in 2008 we can surely handle.

Happy New Year to you and yours. May you have a safe, health and happy 2008!!

Houston...we have lift off!

I am writing this day down as a success!!

Topaz ate his breakfast AND ate his dinner!! The raw is a success! I am so happy. The lady who runs the Pet Beastro brought me in some chicken necks to try with Topaz...and he ate it right away. So either he was hungry, or he's into it now! LOL Onyx, of course, ate hers like a pro.

Also, we had an excellent adoption at the shelter today. 15 homeless animals were adopted out into their new forever homes. We were SO busy today at the shelter!!! I'm really glad to see so many people who want to open their homes and hearts and welcome a new pet into their family. It's awesome to watch people come in and meet their new best friends. It definitely makes me feel great to be a part of it all.

I got all of our Christmas decorations out this week. Well Todd got them from the garage for us. I went through and picked out the few things we will be putting out this year. See, my mother decorates every inch of her house...and I mean every inch. And don't think it's tacky because it's really spectacular. She uses lights and a lot of vintage Christmas items, it's just really cool. I wish I had that much stuff to decorate with, and could do it as nice as my mother does. But I'm always left with this feeling like it's just not enough. My sisters say the same thing. It's a curse really. lol

Anyway...I am going to put up the few things I picked out of our boxes to decorate with. We have not had a proper tree since getting topaz and now that we have 4 cats here, I am so afraid that they will climb into our tree and/or knock it down. And I don't want to ruin all of our nice ornaments. Maybe next year we'll get a tree and I'll decorate with plastic bulbs. We'll see.

Gotta go...have stuffs to do!!

Later...H

Please take the container of turkey necks out of the fridge

Well the title says it all.

Funny how this is going...the little lab girl is loving the raw...loved the bones. Knew to chew them, what was I worried about?? And the Topaz...still having a hard time.

I'm worried about the seizure/blood sugar thing since he's not eating much. We still have a few kibble samples that I've been giving him because I am nervous about the amount of food he's eating. The last thing I want is for him to have another seizure.

I still feel really clumsy and I'm worried about the raw food all over the kitchen.

I need to get into a routine. I'm working on it.

So far though, not that bad. Tripe is the nastiest thing on earth...that's all I have to say.

Till next time...H

Adventures in RAW - Day One

I should rename this blog...Our adventures with RAW! LOL

Ok...so we got the food tonight. A little pricier than I had thought it was going to be, but we'll see how long it lasts and how everything goes. I was paying this much a month for a month's worth of dog food and canned cat food, so I think we can work it out for just the dogs. And yes...the animals are NOW eating better than the humans in the house...haha

I have a few tips for myself...The inexperienced RAW feeder.

A little tip...don't attempt to feed this way on a day that you are really clumsy and inexperienced and NEED to feed the dogs something!! We ran out of kibble...totally. I needed to feed them something today...it was either cat food or this mix.

Tip two...also plan out to thaw the tripe...just in case the red beast doesn't like the mixture. Which for some reason, he doesn't!!! Well...I think it's the consistency that he doesn't like. Now the little black dog...she ate the shit out of that mix!! Tomorrow is the turkey necks...this will be interesting.

Tip three...remember that you have 3 VERY curious male cats who would also LOVE to sample a bit of that raw mix food. It's very hard to measure and scrape off the thawed meat mix from the block when you have 3 nosy kitties all in your face.

Tip four...put the box of turkey necks just in the tub...no water, no nothing. Necks in a tub in water made for a huge mess. I was able to pull a few off for the next couple days and thank GOD for Freezer zipper bags...I will be splitting them up and refreezing some of them tomorrow.

Tip five...dig the other aluminum pan out of the garage tomorrow and buy another one. kitchen bowls will not cut it.

Tip six...remember to breath and know you're learning as you go. It will all be ok. You bought enough food for a month.

******************

Tips are over for now. lol

Anyway...yeah, the cats would LOVE to eat a bowl of the mix. All of the boys were all over the counter and licking the spoon and bowls and everything!!

And tell me why the little black dog gobbled it all down and Topaz kind of picked up a mouthful and then spit it out everywhere. I added a little tripe and he picked that all out. He's a fruitcake!

I am so tired. I will write more tomorrow.

The adventure continues...H

Raw Raw Bo Baw

So much for posting to this blog, eh? LOL

Ok, so I'm no good at this everyday stuff. I feel like I'm talking to myself. Maybe one day someone will stumble across this pile and think...oh there's an intelligent mind at work...heh, yeah right.

Ok...so I decided to revisit this blog because although I do have other dog issues to write about today, I'd like to keep the other blog strictly about the seizures and although related, not quite seizure topic.

So...raw foods. Yeah, I believe will will be going that route. Who woulda thunk it?? Not I said the fly!!

I got the information on both sides...good and bad. I read info till my eyes glazed over. Shit, I even dreamed of raw foods last night!! Totally bizarre! But I feel like I have been well educated and ready to give it the ole college try.

I think it's the control over the food. I will know EXACTLY what's going into those dogs. No additives, nothing not natural, no preservatives. None of those bad things the seizure dog shouldn't have and then let's see how he does. Shoot, how they both do because the little girl dog has her own issues...hair loss, alopecia. So maybe it will help her as well. It should!!!

So people...the adventures with RAW start on Thursday...well, Friday we'll start feeding it. Won't that be fun? lol

Till next time...H

Some thoughts..RAW Diet??

This is brought over from my other blog about the seizure dog....

My husband and I volunteer on a regular basis at a local animal shelter. This weekend was the grand opening of the pet store that's located inside the shelter building. The pet store is called "The Pet Beastro" and they sell holistic, natural and raw pet foods and treats as well as some quality toys, collars, and beds. On Sunday I sat in on a talk about pet food nutrition. Now I know that since all of the pet food recalls last year and earlier this year, I for one, have been paying more attention to what is in the food I'm feeding our animals.

The dogs have been getting Canidae and the cats, unfortunately, are still getting a mixture of the crap that you buy at the grocery store. I have one cat, the little female, here that will NOT eat premium foods...however, we may just buy a bag of it...replace the junk in the feeder and not give her a choice BUT to eat the premium food. I think we're going to do that this week and see how it goes. I want to feed them all the best we can.

Ok, so this brings me to the little seminar/talk I sat through and the whole RAW diet thing.

It was really interesting...i mean what she was saying made sense and I really have to wonder if it would help Topaz. We're just about out of dry food, so we're due to buy some more. The 40lb bag of Canidae lasted us just about a month...a few days shy is how it will come out. But we free feed, so I don't know who's been eating what and if we fed at certain times, certain amounts I am sure that it probably would have lasted a little bit longer.

Anyway...so now we have to buy food this week. I am seriously considering giving raw a try. I never ever in my life thought I'd say that, but it doesn't seem as awful as it all sounds. I mean it's gross sounding to me and it will probably take me some time to get used to the whole fact that I am feeding my dogs raw meat, but I think we're going to give it a month and see how it goes.

I am worried about Topaz with his meds and the seizures and everything and unfortunately the internet is not the best place to get information about all of that because you do get such differing opinions and everything. I almost need to just stop reading the net, think about it, get my questions answered and go from there. I'd be better off.

And I do have a TON of questions: How to get a dog that gulps and doesn't chew to chew the bones? What about vitamin supplements? Do we need to go cold turkey and just jump into it? Will there be side effects to look for? What about Topaz and his medication, what effect will the food change have on him? How do I know how much 8 ounces is? Do I need a scale? What about veggies and fruits? Will this make them sick in the beginning?...and well, the list goes on and on!!

So... I will need to chat a bit with the Pet Beastro lady and see what she says. And well, we may be venturing into the scary world of RAW food. I don't know yet...I have a few days to figure it out.

Here are some links:
http://www.barfworld.com/html/barf_diet/barfdiet_specific.shtml
http://www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm

Here's a site that talks about what is in pet food:
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spring04/Perhach/PetFood/Processing.htm

The jury is still out on this one. I don't know what to think about it all.

Later...H