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Letter to the editor

Florida vet probes pet deaths

By IVAN PENN, The Consumer's Edge
Published April 21, 2007

Call him the CSI guy of Florida's animal world.

Dr. Jim Maxwell and his team of post mortem veterinarian docs examine animals for causes of death. You know, everything from bullets found in a horse a few months back to the growing problem with pet food.

For now, it's the pet food that has Maxwell's agency, the state Bureau of Diagnostic Laboratories, buzzing. Since the nationwide recall began in March, the bureau has reviewed 16 cases of deaths to cats and dogs in Florida "presumptively" not confirmed associated with contaminated pet food.

What we know about them: four female and eight male cats; and two female and two male dogs. They ranged in age from 1 to "geriatric" and all suffered "renal" or kidney failure.

The state withheld the names because of privacy issues but disclosed whether the animals had been spayed or neutered. (Talk about private. Go figure.)

To give some perspective on the numbers, Michael Herndon, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration spokesman, said as of April 17 the FDA confirmed 16 pet food related deaths nationwide.

Maxwell calls Florida's numbers significant, not only compared to confirmed deaths nationally. All the statistics aren't in, but he said their case load is unusual. And he's fearful: "The cases might be the tip of the iceberg."

Why? These cases might be classified as "acute" (animal eats food and passes away). Maxwell is concerned about the "chronic" cases, where the food causes gradual kidney failure and death.

Then there are all the unreported pet deaths, Maxwell said.

"It's really not a pretty picture," he said. "Dog's and cats are becoming like family members more than they used to be."

So what's a pet owner to do?

With all of the information flowing from the government, it all can get a bit confusing.

So I thought I'd talk to some professionals. What do they feed the greyhounds at Derby Lane race track in St. Petersburg?

"They make their own stew for the dogs everyday," said Vera Filipelli, a spokeswoman for Derby Lane. "You're talking about athletes versus pets."

Maryann Tolliver, of Greyhound Pets of America, said she prepares her pets' meals herself with such foods as macaroni, mixed vegetables, rice, barley and natural dry dog food.

"We try to keep them on the best diets we can," Tolliver said. "...That 'we are what we eat thing,' it's probably true."

Know this: The concern is over an ingredient, called melamine, that may have come from China. Investigators believe agriculture products firm Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. supplied the agent.

The problem has been found mostly in some wet pet foods.

So here's the edge:

• Read the label. Tolliver says if you don't recognize an ingredient on the pet food package, you probably shouldn't feed it to your pet. (Good advice for human eating habits, too).
• Make your own mix. The professionals serve their pets such foods as rice, barley, vegetables (lima beans, corn, etc.), baby foods, quality meats. Mix dry pet food with the meal, but check the contents of the package first.
• Seek answers. If you're concerned that your pet might have died from contaminated food, the state's Bureau of Diagnostic Laboratories will perform a tissue analysis or even an animal autopsy (called a "necropsy") for $50. Call 321-697-1400.

The Consumer's Edge is a twice-monthly column to help consumers in the marketplace. Ivan Penn can be reached at ipenn@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2332.

FAST FACTS: Recall widens
On Friday, a third company on recalled pet foods made with an imported Chinese ingredient. Royal Canin USA said it was recalling some of its dry dog and cat foods made with tainted rice protein concentrate. U.S. customers with questions about Royal Canin's recall can call the company toll-free at 1-800-592-6687 or visit its Web site, www.royalcanin.us.

Earlier this week, pet food companies Natural Balance, of Pacoima, Calif., and Wilton, Conn.-based Blue Buffalo recalled cat and dog foods made with the contaminated rice protein concentrate.

For the latest on recalled pet foods, visit pets.tampabay.com.

[Last modified August 25, 2007, 02:03:05]