Due to the possibility of cross-contamination, Drs. Foster & Smith Lamb & Brown Rice Dry Adult Dog Food is being recalled. Check link for specific lot numbers.
You can find out much more on the recall on my Pet Food Recall Archive Page.
George, The Jack Russell, Saves Children
George, a brave little Jack Russell in New Zealand, showed just how much courage can be packed into a little terrier body. When two aggressive, unrestrained pit bulls lunged at the group of children he was with, George tried to protect the children by barking at and charging the much larger dogs, allowing the children to escape and get help. Heartbreakingly, George was too badly injured to be saved himself. I know there are a lot of people who share their lives with terriers and who know just how fiercely protective they can be despite their small size—give them some extra love today.
Pet Food Recall: More SmartPak Added
SmartPak Canine is recalling its LiveSmart Adult Lamb & Brown Rice. (scroll to bottom) It tested positive for melamine even though it is not supposed to contain “rice protein concentrate, wheat gluten, or any of the ingredients on FDA’s import watch list.”
You can find out much more on the recall on my Pet Food Recall Archive Page.
Pet Food Recall: Melamine & Cyanuric Acid Combo Deadly
Renal tubule blocked by crystals.
Two months into the pet food recall, scientists weren’t sure why melamine and cyanuric acid, which are not thought to be very toxic, were killing pets. Now scientists at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, may have found the answer as to how the contaminants in the tainted pet foods cause renal failure. Perry Martos mixed melamine and cyanuric acid together and it almost immediately formed crystals like those found in the kidneys of animals that died. Unfortunately, these crystals appear to be very insoluble.
On April 20th, I wrote that researchers have identified three melamine by-products in the tissue and urine of affected animals.(article via PetConnection) Scientists at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and Michigan State University’s Diagnostic Center for Population & Animal Health have found cyanuric acid (used as a stabilizer for pool chlorine), amilorine, and amiloride.
Michigan State University’s Diagnostic Center for Population & Animal Health has photographs of these crystals in the kidney of an affected dog and micrographs of these crystals clogging the renal tubules of the kidney. It makes it easier to understand what these crystals did when you see these images. (Note: At the time these pathology slides were prepared, it was still thought that aminopterin was the contaminant.)
You can find out much more on the recall on my Pet Food Recall Archive Page.
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Dominic The Dog
Dominic is a remarkable dog with only two left legs.