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Schaumburg, Illinois (May 3rd 2007)
Tests conducted on contaminated pet food have resulted in a new theory to explain how animals are being adversely affected by contaminated pet foods.
The investigation into contaminated pet food has
until now focused on melamine contamination of ingredients imported from China, such as wheat gluten,
and rice protein concentrate. Kidney crystal
analysis of affected animals has revealed that they
are approximately 70 percent cyanuric acid and 30 percent melamine, and are extremely
insoluble - leading to the theory that a chemical
reaction between melamine and cyanuric acid forms
crystals that block kidney function. It is believed
that cyanuric acid is formed as an animal
metabolizes melamine. In addition, tests mixing melamine and cyanuric acid in samples of cat urine resulted in almost immediate formation of crystals that were identical to crystals found in the kidneys of affected animals.
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While there are currently more than 12,000
reports of pets suffering from recall- related illnesses,
only 16 deaths are confirmed as directly attributed
to the contamination; and while over 90 brands have
been recalled, this represents less than 2% of the
pet food on the market. Furthermore, many of the
brands have performed a proactive recall - meaning
that there was no actual requirement for them to do
so. Most affected cats and dogs are recovering through use of standard fluid therapy and supportive care.
The contamination appears to have affected more cats than dogs.
Meanwhile, the FDA continued to test wheat gluten, rice protein concentrate, corn gluten, corn meal, soy protein, and rice bran being imported from China for these contaminants.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
recommends that if you suspect that your pet has been affected by a recalled food
you should retain food samples for analysis, make a
note of the product details (and keep the
packaging), and document when and how much food was
eaten. The AVMA advises that signs of kidney failure include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in water consumption and also changes in urination.
Related Resources
American Veterinary Medical Association
FDA
Information On Pet Food Recall
Pet Food Recall - Useful
Information
Discuss
The Pet Food Recall
Cat Food Uncovered
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