*Update as of 09/20/07*

Bravo! has recalled three poultry products for cats and dogs due to salmonella and listeria contamination.  The affected products are Bravo Original Formula Chicken Blend frozen raw food, Bravo Original Formula Turkey Blend frozen raw food, and Bravo Basic Formula Finely Ground Chicken frozen raw food.  Visit the AVMA website at http://www.avma.org/aa/petfoodrecall/other/breaking_news_070919.asp for specific sizes and product numbers.

*Update as of 09/17/07*

Several complaints have been filed regarding multiple brands of jerky treats for dogs that have been making pets sick - specifically with lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea.  Specific brands and manufacturers have not been named, but all of the complaints have involved treats manufactured in China.

Until more specific information is obtained, please use caution when feeding your pets any food products manufactured in China.  Updated information will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.  Click here to view the AVMA article in its entirety.

*Update as of 08/30/07*

According to consumeraffairs.com, the FDA blocked more than 100 Nutro Products from entering the United States last month because they appeared to contain unsafe additives or poisonous substances.  Some of the foods on the Import Refusal List were Adult Turkey with Chicken Liver, Choice Adult Cat with Turkey & Duck, Choice Complete Care Kitten Rich in Chicken with Liver, and Adult Large Breed Chicken & Rice. 

Visit http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/08/pet_food_recalls69.html to view the article in its entirety.  You can also visit http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/7/ora_oasis_i_72.html to view the FDA's Import Refusal List.

*Update as of 08/22/07*

Wal-Mart's Chicken Jerky and Chicken Jerky Strips pet food products have been recalled due to the presence of melamine.  To view the AVMA article in its entirety, please visit their website at http://avma.org/aa/petfoodrecall/breaking_news_070822a.asp.

Mars Petcare US recalls some Krasdale Gravy and Red Flannel Large Breed dog foods because of suspected Salmonella contamination.  The affected products, as well as the East Coast stores in which they were sold, are listed at the AVMA website.  You can view the article in its entirety at http://avma.org/aa/petfoodrecall/other/breaking_news_070822.asp.

*Update as of 07/25/07*

Castleberry's Food Company has expanded its human food recall to include pet food products.  This recall is not due to the presence of melamine, as in the previous updates, but rather the suspicion of the presence of botulinum toxin, the substance that causes botulism.  The following canned Natural Balance brand pet food products, which Castleberry's co-packs for Natural Balance, are being recalled:

Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Irish Stew With Beef, Potatoes & Carrots
Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Chinese Take Out With Sauce With Vegetables and Chicken
Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs HOBO Chili With Chicken & Pasta
Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Southern Style Dumplings With Chicken & Vegetables

For more information, including signs and symptoms of botulism poisoning, see the FDA press release at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01670.html.

*Update as of 05/24/07*

Diamond Pet Foods has recalled a limited quantity of Nutra Nuggets Lamb Meal and Rice Formula after tests confirmed traces of melamine due to cross-contamination.  For production codes of the recalled foods, as well as information on how to obtain a refund, you can visit the FDA website to view the press release here: http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/diamond05_07.html.

*Update as of 05/19/07*

Chenango Valley Pet Foods has expanded its recall list to include eight new pet foods, including a ferret food.  This is the first ferret food to be included in the pet food recall.  These foods do not contain rice protein concentrate, but were manufactured at the same time as the contaminated foods.

The recalled foods are: 8 in 1 Ferret Ultra-Blend Advanced Nutrition Diet; Doctors Foster & Smith Lamb & Brown Rice Formula Adult Dog Food; Shop Rite Redi-Mixt Dog Food for Dogs; Lick Your Chops Kitten & Cat Food; Shep chunk style dog food; Bulk Lamb & Brown Rice Formula Dog Food, sold to one consignee SmartPak; Health Diet Cat Food Chicken & Rice Dinner; and Evolve Kitten Formula.

To view the press release in its entirety, and to learn more details about the foods listed above, please visit the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/chenango05_07.html. 

(Thank you to Lynn Wilson for bringing this to our attention!)

*Update as of 05/15/07*

Costco has recalled its Kirkland Signature Lamb and Rice canned dog food after its manufacturer, American Nutrition, announced that the rice protein concentrate used to make this product may contain melamine.  For more information, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association website at http://www.avma.org/aa/petfoodrecall/breaking_news_070515a.asp.

*Update as of 05/14/07*

Royal Canin USA has announced a nationwide recall of eight Sensible Choice dry dog food products and seven Kasco dry dog and cat food products, according to a press release.  Please visit the Royal Canin USA website at http://www.royalcanin.us/news/eight_sensible_choice_dry_dog_1.html to view the press release in its entirety and for a complete list of the affected foods.

*Update as of 05/04/07*

SmartPak Canine has issued a voluntary nationwide recall on all lots of LiveSmart Adult Lamb and Brown Rice food after this product tested positive for presence of melamine.  Visit the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/smartpak05_07.html to view the SmartPak Canine press release in its entirety.

*Update as of 05/03/07*

Menu Foods has expanded their recall list to include 200 more items due to cross-contamination concerns.  These are foods that don't necessarily contain contaminated wheat gluten, but were processed in the same plants at the same time as the affected foods.  PLEASE review the Menu Foods recall list at http://www.menufoods.com/recall/PressReleaseUS05022007.htm before feeding your pets any packaged foods.

*Update as of 04/30/07*

American Nutrition, Inc. has issued a voluntary recall of more canned foods for both cats and dogs in addition to the ones listed in the 04/27/07 update.  They are not sold under the American Nutrition name, but rather Blue Buffalo, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, Harmony Farms, Natural Balance, Canine Caviar, Diamond, Kirkland, and Mulligan Stew. 

For a complete listing of recalled canned cat and dog foods and some baked dog treats, visit the AVMA website at http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/breaking_news_070430.asp.

*Update as of 04/27/07*

Diamond Pet Foods and Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul have recalled several types of canned food for both cats and dogs.  This recall is in response to the announcement that American Nutrition, Inc, a manufacturer used by both companies, used a rice protein concentrate that contained melamine.  The affected types of canned food are Diamond Lamb & Rice Formula for Dogs 13 oz. cans, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Kitten Formula 5.5 oz. cans, and Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Puppy Formula 13 oz. cans.  To view the press release in its entirety, visit the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/diamond04_07.html.

*Update as of 04/26/07*

Drs. Foster and Smith Pet Food, along with Chenango Valley Pet Foods, has issued a voluntary recall of several pet foods, including Drs. Foster and Smith Adult Dry Lite Dog Food and Adult Dry Cat Food due to a risk of melamine in its rice protein concentrate.  Please visit the Drs. Foster and Smith website at http://www.drsfostersmith.com/general.cfm?gid=568 for product lot numbers and refund information.

*Update as of 04/24/07*

According to the AVMA website, LiveSmart Weight Management Chicken and Brown Rice dog food was recalled by its manufacturer, who had received potentially contaminated rice protein concentrate.  You can view the entire press release at http://www.avma.org/press/releases/070424_livesmart.asp. 

Another recall has been announced due to salmonella risks.  T.W. Enterprises has recalled its line of A.B. dog chews in various sizes.  Pets and people are at risk for this infection; healthy pets can also be carriers.  To view the list of dog chews that have been recalled, as well as view the press release in its entirety, visit the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/twenterprises04_07.html.      

*Update as of 04/20/07*

Royal Canin USA has announced a voluntary nationwide recall of all of its dry food products containing rice protein concentrate, after discovering it contained a derivative of melamine.  Please view the FDA press release at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/royalcanin04_07.html for a list of all affected Royal Canin products, which include some veterinary cat and dog diets, as well as some Royal Canin Sensible Choice dry dog food formulas.

As always, you can view the latest updates in the pet food recall by visiting the American Veterinary Medical Association website at http://avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/default.asp.

*Update as of 04/19/07*

Wilbur-Ellis, a company that has shipped rice protein concentrate to pet-food manufacturers, has voluntarily recalled all lots of the concentrate, because of a risk that it may be contaminated with melamine.  One affected product is Spa Select Kitten dry food by Blue Buffalo Company. 

Please visit the AVMA website at http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/default.asp and look carefully at the comprehensive list of recalled pet food products before feeding your pet any foods, wet or dry, or any treats.

*Update as of 04/18/07*

The Natural Balance Pet Foods products that were recalled yesterday were found to contain melamine, the same chemical that was suspected in previous pet food recalls, reports the AVMA.  The melamine in these foods, however, was not in wheat gluten, but in rice protein, a completely different food source.  To view the entire article, as well as the updated comprehensive food recall list, please visit the AVMA website at http://www.avma.org/press/releases/070418_petfoodrecall.asp.

*Update as of 04/17/07*

Please click here to see a note from our Doctors regarding the pet food recall and the health issues to monitor with your pets.

*Update as of 04/17/07*

Natural Balance Pet Foods is voluntarily pulling one specific lot of dry dog and cat foods, after receiving consumer complaints of animals vomiting and experiencing kidney problems.  According to the AVMA website, "the company is advising consumers to discontinue feeding all Venison and Brown Rice Dry Dog Food, and Venison and Green Pea Dry Cat Food."  The FDA, as well as Natural Balance, are investigating the cause of the problem, as there is no indication that this is related to the melamine in the wheat gluten.  Visit http://www.avma.org/aa/breaking_news_070417.asp to view this article in its entirety on the AVMA website.

*Update as of 04/12/07*

The American Veterinary Medical Association has compiled a comprehensive list of recalled pet food products that have been brought to their attention.  To view this list of both cat and dog pet food products, visit the AVMA website at http://avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/products.asp.

*Update as of 04/11/07*

Menu Foods has voluntarily recalled more pet food products made with the wheat gluten supplied by ChemNutra, Inc.  According to the Menu Foods website, this wheat gluten was used in the production of pet food in Dec. 2006 and Jan. 2007.  You can view the latest recalled group of Menu Foods pet products at http://www.menufoods.com/recall/PressRelease04102007US.htm.  The latest list includes such brands as America's Choice, Nutriplan, Nutro, and Pet Pride.  You can also visit Nutro's website at http://www.nutroproducts.com/mfproductlist.asp for the complete list of affected Nutro pet products, including many of their 3 ounce cat cans.

Royal Canin Canada has also announced a recall of Medi-Cal Feline Dissolution Formula canned food, after learning of the contaminated wheat gluten.  According to Royal Canin USA, this recall does not affect any Royal Canin products sold in US retail stores or at veterinary clinics.  You can visit the Royal Canin USA website at http://www.royalcanin.us for more information.

*Update as of 04/05/07*

Sunshine Mills, Inc. has announced a voluntary recall of many brands of dog biscuits that may contain contaminated wheat gluten.  The list of affected brands includes Ol' Roy, Nurture, Pet Life, and Lassie.  For a complete list of recalled Sunshine Mills, Inc. products, please visit their website at http://www.sunshinemills.com/press_release.html.

*Update as of 04/01/07*

More snacks, treats, wet and dry foods have recently been added to the list of recalled products, so please do not feed your pets anything without checking the full listing of problem foods!  Several jerky-type treats, beef sticks, and also some cat treats have been recalled, so please check the links on this page before giving your pets any treats or snacks. 

Purina has voluntarily recalled all sizes and varieties of its ALPO® Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog food with specific date codes due to the common wheat gluten supplier.  For more specific information about the date codes and how to receive a refund on this ALPO product, please view Purina's press release at http://www.purinavets.com/petfoodrecall.aspx#purinarelease.

Del Monte Pet Foods has also voluntarily recalled select product codes of its pet treat products, such as Jerky Treats, Gravy Train Beef Sticks, Pounce Meaty Morsels, and Ol' Roy products.  For a complete list of products, and how to obtain a refund, please visit their website at http://www.delmonte.com/petfoodrecall.html.

*Update as of 03/30/07* 

Please discontinue all use of Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food immediately!  According to the Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. website (www.hillspet.com), this is a voluntary recall because Hill's had received wheat gluten from the same supplier as Menu Foods.  If you have purchased this product from Knollwood Hospital for Pets, please return it to our clinic for a full refund. 

We have checked the ingredients of all of the other prescription diets that we currently carry, and there are no other products that contain wheat gluten.  Corn gluten is an ingredient in some of the prescription diets that we carry, but at this time, corn gluten is considered safe. 

If an alternative diet is needed for a pet that is currently on Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food, and as a concerned owner, you are uncomfortable using a different brand of dry food that does not contain wheat gluten, you can use a fresh food alternative.  You can find easy-to-follow, fresh food recipes in Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, which is available for purchase at our clinic, or at http://balanceIT.com, a website with recipes developed by veterinary nutritionists.  (Please note that if you do choose to use a homemade recipe, it is very important to rotate the protein and carbohydrate sources that you use.)

You can also visit the Our Favorite Things - Specialty Stores section of our website to find a listing of stores where you can find safe, wholesome, additive-free food for your pets.  These stores are recommended by clients (and our Doctors!) just like yourself, who want only the best for their pets and would only buy from these trusted resources.  You can also click here to read Dr. Mitchell's April 2007 Newsletter Highlight regarding the pet food recall and healthy diet alternatives of frozen, dehydrated, and fresh foods for your pet.

Any current Knollwood Hospital for Pets clients that are concerned for their pet's health should call the clinic to make an appointment with the first available Doctor.  The Doctor will complete a full health exam, as well as offer blood and urine tests that can inform you about the health of your pet's kidneys and other body organs.

Please keep in mind that this is an ongoing situation, and we will keep you apprised of any new reports as we receive them.  We will update the website as we learn more about which foods will be appropriate replacements for Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food.  Please note that the vast majority of recalled products are available for purchase at any retailer; these are not the prescription diets that are available from the clinic.  The only prescription diet that has been affected has been the Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food.

For more information about melamine, the chemical found in the contaminated wheat gluten, or for a complete list of recalled products, you can visit the American Veterinary Medical Association website at www.avma.org or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at http://www.fda.gov/cvm/MenuFoodRecallFAQ.htm.