Pet Care: Crisis Within The Pet Food Industry (Part 2)

Melamine has been used for plastics for many years, and is also used for a pesticide in Asia, which may explain how it made its way into the wheat in the first place.

At present the recall has involved close to 100 varieties or more of wet pet products, and a manufacturer has recalled approximately fifty million packages of food, with over millions of dollars in losses.

Both cats and dogs are affected. However, more cats are experiencing complications than dogs. Theories for this include that cats require more protein in their food than dogs (which means more gluten consumed), that cats eat more for their weight than dogs, and that cats may be more sensitive to the toxin causing the sickness.

Though the product recall has affected some dry pet food, most of the items involved in the recall has only involved so-called ‘wet’ food.

If you note a problem with your dog or cat, it is vital to get immediate attention. The damage to the kidneys caused by the toxin is irreversible, so immediate treatment is vital to halt any damage.

So for their protection, watch out for your own pets. Pay attention to a change in attitude and energy, besides water consumption or eating. Symptoms such as ignoring water, or drinking more water, lethargy, avoiding food, or infrequent urination are causes to look into right away.

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