Drs. Foster and Smith have now announced recalls of their pet food:

• DOCTORS FOSTER & SMITH CHICKEN & BROWN RICE FORMULA ADULT LITE DOG FOOD, NET WT. 5 LBS., 12.5 LBS, and 25 LBS; Code dates: Best Used By Jan 24, 09; Best Used By Feb 8, 09; Best Used By Feb 26, 09; Best Used By April 10, 09; Best Used By April 17, 09;
• DOCTORS FOSTER & SMITH CHICKEN & BROWN RICE FORMULA ADULT LITE CAT FOOD, NET WT. 3 LBS. and 7 LBS.; Code date: Best Used By March 13, 09;
• LICK YOUR CHOPS LAMB MEAL, RICE & EGG CAT FOOD, 4 LBS. packages, Code date: Best Used By April 29, 08;
• Bulk CHICKEN & BROWN RICE FORMULA ADULT LITE DOG FOOD sold to one consignee (SmartPak) in a 2000 lbs. tote, Ship date: Feb 9, 2007.

SmartPak has also issued a recall on some of its LiveSmart Weight Management Chicken and Brown Rice Dog Food.

We’ll continue to post information as notices are received.

We reported earlier about a Natural Balance recall, but that has now been expanded to include the following:

• Venison and Brown Rice Treats for Dogs
• Venison and Brown Rice Canned Formula for Dogs
• Venison and Brown Rice Dry Food for Dogs
• Venison and Green Pea Dry Food for Cats

The culprit is melamine found in the rice protein concentrate (described by the company as rice gluten).

In addition to Natural Balance, other pet food companies are issuing recalls due to contaminated rice gluten:

Blue Buffalo Company Spa Select Kitten Dry Food

T.W. Enterprises A.B. Dog Chews Due to Salmonella Contamination

Product Name/ A.B. Dog Chew - Size / UPC):

• A.B. Small Chew, 3 - 4 inch / 833234001105
• A. B. Puppy Chew, 4 - 6 inch / 83323401112
• A.B. Dog Chew Medium, 6 inch / 833234001051
• A.B. Dog Chew Large, 10 inch / 833234001068
• A. B. Dog Chew XL, 13 inch / 833234001075
• A. B. Dog Chew Mega, 16 inch / 833234001082
• A. B. Dog Chew Jumbo, 26 inch / 833234001099

Royal Canin USA Recall:
ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET(TM) (available only in veterinary clinics)

Dry Dog Food

• Canine Early Cardiac EC 22(TM)
• Canine Skin Support SS21(TM)

Dry Cat Food

• – Feline Hypoallergenic HP23(TM)

ROYAL CANIN SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) (available in pet specialty stores
nationwide)
Dry Dog Food

• Chicken Meal & Rice Formula Senior
• Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Puppy
• Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Adult
• Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Senior
• Rice & Catfish Meal Formula Adult

Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance has announced a food recall of its Venison & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food, and Venison & Green Pea Dry Cat Foods. Their website states that they “do not know what is wrong with the food at this time,” but have reports of animals vomiting and experiencing kidney problems.

IAMS is looking to make pet owners feel better about feeding its products. They invite the first 250,000 pet owners to register at www.IamsPromise.com to receive a voucher for a free 4-lb. bag of either dry dog or dry cat food or the equivalent value (up to $6.50 for dog and $10.00 for cat) off a larger size bag. The giveaway will exceed over 1 million pounds of free food. The IamsPromise website also provides information on IAMS cooperation with the FDA.

Additional giveaways:
Ceasar Canine Cuisine
Pedigree Butcher’s Select Dog Food
Sheba Premium Cuts Entree for Cats
Bag of Goodlife Recipes Pet Food

With all the food recalls in the last month, pet owners have been wondering if anyone really cares about what is happening to their pets. Well it turns out, the FDA does. A Florida rescuer has been passing along information to get pet owners to contact the FDA directly if their pets have been affected by any of the contaminated foods.

The FDA has asked me for my help in contacting you.

Lately the FDA seem to becoming my new best friends, sadly. I am willing to
talk openly and honestly with them and this is not what they are getting
from thousands of people out there who have already lost their pets or had
them suffer terribly.

They are asking that if you even THINK you have had a problem please go to
their website and send them an email so they can speak with you. They will
phone you. They asked me to put the word out there. This is exactly what
they want. You at their website and asking for help so they know where to
turn. It’s doing them no good to discuss your problems on this or any other
list and speculate what might be. They need your help just as much as you
need theirs to get to the bottom of how many pets have really died or are
sick and when the actual dates of the recall should be and which brands and
types of food really are on the recall list. They don’t have accurate
information because the pet people out there have not given it to them.

If you lose a beloved pet, please have your vet send the entire kidney to
the FDA. The FDA will tell you how to do this.

They would really like a pound of the food you have been feeding. Not mixed
with any other brands. The codes would be good. Your speculation as to what
is going on is wanted.

They are coming to my home as soon as it can be arranged. They phoned and
asked me to help them since I seem to be holding a smoking gun that they are
looking for.

If there are more of you out there then please come forward and go to their
website. More than likely the number of dogs and cats affected is probably
thousands above the seventeen we hear about in the news. More than likely
the dates go far before the recall date but don’t have a clue when and they
won’t unless they get the help.

My vet had six young dogs going down from kidney failure in his office the
last I was in. They were all most definitely victims of the food recall. But
they are not counted in the numbers. That is being rectified. Banfield, a
nationwide chain of veterinary clinics, stated Monday that they have seen a
30% increase in kidney failure.

We have a duty to help them as do the vets. It’s the only way we will ever
get to the bottom of this horror.

Please do not contact me. Contact the FDA.

Food and Drug Administration Home Page

Pet Food Recall - You may file a complaint directly on this page.

Linda G