Natural Balance Pulling Venison Formulas (Pet Food Firestorm!)

Itchmo ^ | Monday April 15, 2007 | Milwaukee_Guy

[onedoug]

Islamist dry runs?

[Milwaukee_Guy]

IMHO, Unregulated profiteering and dysfunctional Federal oversight.

[Malacoda]

Jeepers. Is there any pet food left that’s safe?

[Milwaukee_Guy]

I remember when my Black and Tan Miniature Smothie Dachshund and I would sit down together with a plate of fried beef liver and onions.

The rest of the family would clear the kitchen in shock and disgust, but me and the little guy had no problem at all!

BTW - He also loved raw baby carrots. The vitamin “C” is supposed to be good for back problems and the fiber in the carrots really cleans their teeth well and “sweetens” their breath.

[McGavin999]

I wouldn't worry about it. They are reporting gastric upset. I'll bet with all the people switching to natural products they are doing it too quickly and probably feeding WAY too much.

Natural products are pretty rich, and you feed a very small amount. I feed a 130 lb dog only 2 cups a day.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

from http://www.petconnection.com/blog/category/2007-food-recall/

“I’m not sure why it has taken a month for a lot of people in the media to get that having the pet-food recall isn’t “just” a pet story, you know, something to fill space with “what are those silly pet-loving people doing now?” between the latest Anna Nicole Smith is still dead update and whatever the Runaway Bride or Diapered Astronaut is doing now.

As we’ve pretty much said from Day One here on the Pet Connection, this is a story about what consumers have a right to know, about how veterinarians deserve to be respected and better integrated into the public-health system and, finally, it’s a story about global imports and food safety.

The Associated Press takes up the last thread (thanks, several readers):

WASHINGTON - Just 1.3 percent of imported fish, vegetables, fruit and other foods are inspected — yet those government inspections regularly reveal food unfit for human consumption.

Frozen catfish from China, beans from Belgium, jalapenos from Peru, blackberries from Guatemala, baked goods from Canada, India and the Philippines — the list of tainted food detained at the border by the Food and Drug Administration stretches on.

Add to that the contaminated Chinese wheat gluten that poisoned cats and dogs nationwide and led to a massive pet food recall, and you’ve got a real international pickle. Does the United States have the wherewithal to ensure the food it imports is safe?

[primatreat]

Try the bacon softies from Betterpets.com. We switched our long hair chihuahuas to it and it works fine. The company that makes them have over thirty years experience with formulating special diets for expensive high end animals .

[MaryFromMichigan]

Well, so far, we've been lucky with Hill’s Prescription Diet (potato and duck).
So far, so good.
No vomiting, ear infections, his coat is better and no raw spots from his gnawing on his skin.
The downside is that last 17.6 pound bag set us back $38.95, and he goes through 4 to 5 cups a day.

[Ditter]

I switch all my dogs to Natural Balance over a year ago because one of them has skin allergies. It didn’t help with the allergies but they all gained weight. I free feed so after the initial weight gain they have not continued to gain. They haven’t lost either but their health and vitality is so good I am not worried.

[neodad]

I would prefer a Chardonnay or a Riesling.......

Or some fava beans and a nice chianti.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Yeah, I suspect that there's going to be more recalls in coming weeks.

I'm not sure if this is related to the wheat gluten poisonings or not, but my dad's previously healthy eight-year old white Persian cat had to be put to sleep this morning because of sudden illness and kidney failure. He had been feeding it Purina and Nine Lives cat food. These two products are not currently on FDA's recall list, but does anyone else know about other potential problems with these two brands? I've told my dad to document everything and to hold on to the cat food just in case this blows up further, and it turns out his cat was in fact poisoned.

[ApplegateRanch]

I don't think my dog likes her cats with green peas.

That's okay; my cats don't like dried dog, either. They prefer fresh and moist.

[null and void]

What should I feed them today?

Cats.

*ducking*

[ApplegateRanch]

beans from Belgium

They may be tainted, but by golly, the EU ensures that they meet straightness standards!

[IamConservative]

IMHO, Get those frozen tubes of ground chicken, turkey or beef and cook it up in a pan with some water to make a “gravy”.

We make our dog food and it costs much less than prepared. We use roasted pork shoulder, cooked rice and canned vegetables. Dog loves it. Nice smooth shiny coat and best of all, no dog farts.

[null and void]

I’m also wondering about the venison. Don’t we have a major outbreak of Chronic Wasting Disease in our wild deer population?

[ApplegateRanch]

Don’t we have a major outbreak of Chronic Wasting Disease in our wild deer population?

We do in several parts of the country, among the wild populations.

Seems like I heard awhile back that there was a problem with a farmed elk herd, too.

Where do these people get the venison they use, and what are they calling 'venison'?

Some of the things I've seen go into pet food is called 'beef' only as a courtesy, because it is technically part of a cow.

[Ditter]

LOL! I am fresh out of cats.

There are some here who would hold that little joke against you but not me.

[null and void]

Check your tires?

[CarolinaGOP]

My 9 year old Golden Retriever has been eating this food for a few weeks, and last Tuesday I purchased a 30 pound bag. The “recall” does not say it is related to the “wheat gluten problem” in other pet foods.

What do I do now?!