| The issue of the dog food recalls in March was | | | | pet food being tested for melamine and cyanuric |
| one of the biggest and most alarming incidents for | | | | acid. |
| pet owners in 2007. When the news broke out, it | | | | Several other pet food companies have also |
| was also discovered that cat food was similarly | | | | recalled their products after an undetermined |
| affected. In this article, we will furnish you with | | | | number of animals were either downed or even |
| more information to keep you aware about dog | | | | killed. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) |
| food recalls. | | | | puts the death toll at roughly 1,950 cats and |
| One of the pet food giants enlisted a different | | | | 2,200 dogs. |
| supplier to provide them with some of their | | | | Such staggering statistics, and those numbers |
| ingredients, and it was observed that there was | | | | were released back in late April. The extent of |
| an increasing number of reports of pets all over | | | | the chemical outbreak is confounding and has |
| the country, cats and dogs alike, showing | | | | even led people to question whether or not |
| indications of kidney failure, like vomiting and | | | | humans are safe. So far, officials are quick to |
| lethargy. That pet food company took the matter | | | | point out that none of the contaminants have |
| seriously and withdrew almost 100 brands of their | | | | been detected in human food. |
| products from the market. | | | | What can you, as the pet owner, do? Observe |
| It was found that the gravy-thickener, wheat | | | | your dog closely. If you recognize the symptoms |
| gluten, imported from China, contained the | | | | of kidney failure as mentioned above, do not |
| chemical melamine, which is used in the | | | | hesitate to take him to the vet at once. |
| manufacture of plastics and which was added to | | | | Do your own research and keep an eye on the |
| the wheat gluten to make protein levels seem | | | | constantly updated recall list to see whether your |
| enhanced. | | | | dog's food may be included. Better yet, switch to |
| After the initial dog food recalls, traces of | | | | premium, human-grade dog food purchased at |
| melamine in yet another ingredient, rice gluten, | | | | feed stores rather than grocery stores. |
| were discovered just a month later, leading to | | | | If you have the time and means, there are |
| further recalls. Other melamine-related compounds | | | | countless dog food recipes available for you to |
| have since been found, along with cyanuric acid, | | | | prepare yourself, so you know exactly what goes |
| which is used in pool chlorination. | | | | into your dog's system and you can be sure of |
| Corn gluten, imported by South African pet food | | | | his health and safety. |
| firms also from China, has likewise tested positive | | | | But most important of all, you need to keep |
| for melamine and has been blamed for the deaths | | | | yourself informed and updated about any news |
| of about 30 dogs due to renal failure. It was | | | | or issues that may affect your pet's food |
| reported in May that corn gluten had reached | | | | products. The dog food recalls opened up many |
| Canadian soil as well. | | | | pet owners' eyes to all the issues that can affect |
| As if all that wasn't enough, in June, ExperTox, | | | | their pets, and by reading this article and learning |
| Inc., a Texas-based laboratory, detected lethal | | | | more about this matter, you've taken a good |
| amounts of the pain reliever, acetaminophen, in | | | | step towards ensuring your pet's welfare. |