Local dog owners wants answers

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Local dog owners wants answers
Joy Scott Star Staff Writer - The Star

The story so far:

On Tuesday, Diamond Pet Foods recalled several of its brands of dog and cat food, specifically those with best buy date codes between March 1, 2007, and June 10, 2007, according to its Web site. It is warning pet owners not to feed this food to their pets and telling stores to stop selling them.

The company discovered aflatoxin in a product made in its Gaston, S.C., facility. Aflotoxin is a toxic chemical that comes from the growth of a fungus found on corn and other crops. The fungus develops during crops’ early years and severe high temperatures of stress and drought.

Symptoms of illness include: sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums and severe bloody diarrhea.

If your pet is experiencing these consult a veterinarian and keep your product date code. The code will look like this: “Best By 01-March-07” through “Best By “11-June-07





SHELBY — Now that Diamond Pet Foods has recalled its contaminated products and at least seven Cleveland County dogs have died from the toxin, Shelby resident Donald Short wants to know how the company will make it up to pet owners.

“If we lose our dogs, we feel Diamond should compensate us,” said Short, who owns nine Beagles.

Diamond Pet Foods’ Web site does not state if it will compensate pet owners affected by the contamination.

The company’s phones were so inundated with calls Friday that a spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

Short has a friend who took his dogs to the vet recently. They had the symptoms of aflatoxicosis — yellow gums, yellow eyes and diarrhea, he said. One of the dogs had to be put on an I.V., he said.

“I would like to know if and when they come up with an antidote who’s going to come up with the bill?” said Short.

Short is also a member of the American Rabbit Hound Association. Its members own more than 250 Beagles combined, he said. Many are champions or grand champions.

Short took his Diamond Dog food back to Cleveland Feed and Farm Supply in Shelby for a refund. But by the time he learned of the recall he’d fed about 45 pounds of it to his dogs.

Short has been feeding his dogs Diamond products for four years. If his dogs suffer from eating the food, Short said he doesn’t know what he’ll do.

“I don’t know what situation they’re in,” he said.

don’t feed dogs:

Alcoholic beverages – can cause intoxication, coma and death

Baby food – can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to cats. Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts

Bones from fish/poultry/meat – can obstruct or lacerate the digestive system

Canned tuna – Large amounts can cause malnutrition, since it lacks proper levels of vitamins and minerals

Cat food (for dogs) - Generally too high in protein and fats.

Chocolate/coffee/tea/caffeine – Contain caffeine, theobromine or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous system

Citrus oil extracts – can cause vomiting

Dog food (for cats) – If accidental ingestion, will not cause a problem; if fed repeatedly, may result in malnutrition and diseases affecting the heart

Fat trimmings – can cause pancreatitis

Grapes/raisins – contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys

Hops - Unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures and death.

Human vitamin supplements containing iron – can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys

Large amounts of liver – can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones

Macadamia nuts – contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle

Marijuana – can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting and changes in heart rate

Milk/dairy products – some adult cats and dogs do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for cats

Moldy/spoiled food and garbage – can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs

Mushrooms – can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock and result in death

Onions/garlic (raw, cooked or powder) – contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions.

Persimmons – Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis.

Potato, rhubarb and tomato leaves; potato and tomato stems - Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock.

Raw eggs - Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.

Raw fish - Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.

String - Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a “string foreign body.”

Sugary foods - Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.

Table scraps (in large amounts) - Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10 percent of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed.

Tobacco - Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death.

Yeast dough - Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.



Source: www.peteducation.com



What local vets are saying about toxic dog food

n Dr. T.G. Westmoreland at Boulevard Animal Hospital in Shelby:

He’s seen two or three dogs that could have been affected by aflatoxicosis. None have been proven to be related to the recall.

One dog has died. He has requested an autopsy for it.



n Dr. J.L. Eskridge in Kings Mountain:

He hasn’t seen any animals affected by the recall. A couple of his clients have called, suspicious that their pets had symptoms of aflatoxicosis but none have brought them in.



n Dr. Gene Yarbro at Cleveland Veterinary Hospital in Shelby:

No inquiries or patients yet.



n Cottonwood Veterinary Hospital in Shelby:

On Dec. 16, Cottonwood Veterinary Hospital asked a state veterinary lab to do an autopsy on two dogs that had died. Both were Shelties. “Lacey” was 2-years-old and “Maggie” was 16 months, according to state vet records.

Dr. Richard Oliver, who did the examinations Monday, said it’s his strong impression aflatoxicosis killed the dogs.