Another pet food recall

[LBTC]

actually, some specialists that I've talked to in the past have told me that dogs and cats don't really need grains, primarily they just need meat and vegetables, preferrably raw wherever possible. think of what cats in the wild eat.....they might need about as much grain as they would find in the stomach of a mouse.....that's a very tiny amount.

and, yes, I've read that tuna isn't so good for cats. besides being hard on their livers, it is also kind of addictive - once they start eating it they often won't eat anything else.

didn't seem all that complicated when I was doing it - except when we were going to go on vacation and needed someone looking after them.

Unfortunately, the cost is too much with our limited budget these days. I'm asking the universe to help out all the kitties and doggies and keep them healthy even though the food supply is so tenuous.....

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Starfish]

I've been feeding my cat canned salmon mashed up with canned peas. She loves it. Is salmon bad the way tuna is?

[Velobambina]

Ironically, we switched from dry Nutro to Natural Balance (Venison and Brown Rice) after the first round of recalls. As soon as I found out about the NB recall, the remaining food went in the trash. The girls seem unaffected, thank goodness.

I was lucky because a couple weeks ago, I ordered a bag of food from Timber Wolf Organics (highly recommended by some Dog folks at work) so I have back up food ready to go. You can order it online and they will ship it for free. The girls love it--filled w/all kinds of good stuff. They make a feline formula, too. Website is www.timberwolforganics.com, I think.

[LBTC]

I've been feeding my cat canned salmon mashed up with canned peas. She loves it. Is salmon bad the way tuna is?

From what I've read, salmon is a very good food for your kitty (and you, too)

~T~

[KnottedYet]

Is it the mercury in Tuna that causes the trouble?

[Eden]

I've been feeding my cat canned salmon mashed up with canned peas. She loves it. Is salmon bad the way tuna is?

I read something yesterday that said too much fish in a cat's diet can cause, I think it was, thiamine deficency. I don't think it was just tuna.

hate to be the bearer of bad news but, just read this...
"Fish, no matter if whole, dressed, raw, cooked, or canned will cause nutritional deficiency of some kind, which in turn will eventually lead to serious disease.
If fish is to be included in the meal plan of the domestic cat, one may only do so sparingly as treats, or to entice a sick cat to eat. Other than that, the story of fish and cats shall remain a fairytale."

[mimitabby]

An industrial chemical that led to a nationwide recall of more than 100 brands of cat and dog foods has been found to contaminate a second pet food ingredient, expanding the recall further.

The chemical, melamine, is believed to have contaminated rice protein concentrate used to make a variety of Natural Balance Pet Foods products for both dogs and cats, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. Previously, the chemical was found to contaminate another ingredient, wheat gluten, used by at least six other pet food and treat manufacturers.

Natural Balance said it was recalling all its Venison and Brown Rice canned and bagged dog foods, its Venison and Brown Rice dog treats and its Venison and Green Pea dry cat food.

The Pacoima, Calif., company said recent laboratory tests showed the products contain melamine. It believes the source of the contaminant was rice protein concentrate, which the company recently added to the dry venison formulas.


link! http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...ck=1&cset=true

[oxysback]

Sheesh...when will this end??

We got Frankie, our Pugs, tests back this morning and everything's normal, thank goodness. Better to spend a few dollars for testing than the alternative!

[KayTee]

We got Frankie, our Pugs, tests back this morning and everything's normal, thank goodness. Better to spend a few dollars for testing than the alternative!

So glad to hear the good news on Frankie! And you're right on about the testing.

[sbctwin]

I am desperate to find something to feed my Kallie. I had fed her some of the recalled Iams wet food long before it was recalled, but of the same lot that was recalled. In the past weeks, she has suffered from terrible asthma/allergies. Something she never had before. I was feeding her chicken breast meat (she only liked the white meat) but was then told that was probably to high of a protein diet. I was mixing it with rice and my vet said she didn't need the carbs. Because she is overweight, I give her about 1/2 cup of Hills perscription dry food as a staple and she nibbles on it during the day, but never eats it completely. I feel so desperate trying to figure out what to feed her. She is now on prednisone and an antibiotic trying to control her breathing problems caused by the allergies/asthma. It is heartbreaking to hear her struggle in her breathing and I worry what is best for her. Last night was a bad night for her. Last week was a very expensive week at the vet. Please give us a report. Mimitabby as to your success with your receipe. I feel at a loss. I can't comfort Kallie enough and when I do, I think her purring aggrevates her breathing....

[Starfish]

I read something yesterday that said too much fish in a cat's diet can cause, I think it was, thiamine deficency. I don't think it was just tuna.

hate to be the bearer of bad news but, just read this...
"Fish, no matter if whole, dressed, raw, cooked, or canned will cause nutritional deficiency of some kind, which in turn will eventually lead to serious disease.
If fish is to be included in the meal plan of the domestic cat, one may only do so sparingly as treats, or to entice a sick cat to eat. Other than that, the story of fish and cats shall remain a fairytale."

Thank you! She loves canned peas and other canned vegetables, and I just thawed some chicken. Last night I tried a little mash of peas, ham and oatmeal, but she didn't like the oatmeal!

[sbctwin]

Thank you all for your suggestions....My Kallie slept better last night. I woke up several times when her wheezing got loud, but she didn't have the forced breathing episodes from the night before. My vet suggested I up her pred a little until he sees her on Friday. Yes, x-rays and an ultrasound were taken last week. The sudden onset of her breathing problems is what is so troubling. No liquids were found in her lungs. I know she is overweight and we are both working on this. Her treats consist of the pill pockets I got from the vet that I stuff her pills into. She is more enthused about eating those and I don't have to force her pills down her throat. I worry about what I feed Kallie these days because of all the food recalls. I am afraid that what isn't recalled today, will be tomorrow. Kallie is also diabetic. As I left for work this morning, she was purring and the sounds she made were not enhanced by wheezing or strained breathing. Something hopeful.

[mimitabby]

last night i went to the cat rescue lady's house and met all her cats and rescue cats and we made cat food.
I took 1 chicken, 1 1/2 lbs of chicken liver (at 5 supermarkets i couldn't find
chicken hearts) 5 eggs, some dulse, some salmon oil, some lysine and some taurine. we ground the chicken up in this huge heavy grinder she has
and mixed it with the other stuff and water and psyllium.

then i put it into little freezer bags and froze most of it. I took some and fed it to my dear little primadonnas.

well, two of them tasted it, but it was still in the dish this morning.

so I will cut back on dry catfood rations and try again tonight. hopefully hunger will do the trick.

[lisa_b]

My cat George's test results came back from the vet this morning and his kidneys are working fine! Am so relieved. Hope everbody's pets are feeling well. The vet gave me some suggestions on home cooking and I'm going to try it out, George is not at all picky about what he eats, so I don't think he will mind. I never thought I would have to cook for my cat!