Fox News/Rat Poison in Dog Foods

Fox News | 3/23/07 | Toespi

[Abby4116]

Rat Poison Cited In Pet Food Recall Wheat From China Contaminated, Lab Says POSTED: 10:52 am EDT March 23, 2007 Email This Story | Print This Story A spokeswoman for the New York state Department of Agriculture and Markets said Friday that rodent poison was found in tainted pet food that killed several animals and sparked a nationwide recall. A spokeswoman did not identifying the chemical or its source, beyond saying that it's rodent poison. State officials will be releasing laboratory findings later today. A news conference is expected at 1 p.m. EDT. ABC News reported that the chemical was aminopterin, which was on wheat imported from China. Various online medical sources indicate that aminopterin is also used in trials to treat leukemia. Sixteen animal deaths led to the recall of 60 (m) million cans and pouches of pet food sold throughout North America under 95 brand names.

http://www.nbc10.com/family/11346835/detail.html?dl=mainclick

The above is the sum total of what I have read (including the link).

[Ladysmith]

Thanks for the link. I'm going to get some for my cat.

[drymans wife]

They would show signs of kidney failure, they would vomit, have diarea and lethargic. If your pet has eaten any of these foods and starts to act strange even in the least, like loss of appetite and not wanting to play, I would definitely take it to your veterinarian. They earlier you can diagnose it and begin treatment is sometimes the diff between life and death.
It can also leave them with lifelong health issues but can be treated with medication.

[Gunflint]

Doesn't rat poison cause death by internal bleeding?

My dog ate about an ounce of mouse poison. The vet said that symptoms wouldn't show up for a week or so. Then, the poison is spread throughout her system and it would be fatal.

In other words, if I hadn't found the empty poison tray, by the time I noticed anything was wrong, it would have been too late.

[maryz]

I think some of the modern ones kill by dehydration.

[mewzilla]

Yikes. According to this link....

Aminopterin : Definition(s) from the Unified Medical Language System ®

...Aminopterin: "A folic acid derivative used as a rodenticide that has been shown to be teratogenic."

[tertiary01]

I just heard it was in wheat from China and was a chemical commonly used to kill rats in their wheat fields. I just wonder how much made it into the human food supply here. And what other crops is it used on.

Will we ever learn?

[CDHart]

Another thread it was said that the rat poison was found on wheat coming in from China. Why would we import wheat from China? I thought their crops had failed, and we were supposed to be exporting to them?

Carolyn

[mewzilla]

EPA Chemical Profile Aminopterin

[CSM]

I'm trying to figure out why we would import wheat from China, while we pay US farmers to not grow wheat.....

(not directed at you, I just chose your post to respond to.)

I hope all FReeping dogs and cats are fine out there.

[tiki]

You've probably already been told but it was on the wheat from China. It was probably substandard wheat that had been in a silo for ages and they had a little too much rat poison on it.

[Slings and Arrows]

No word if yet if rat poison was found in the recalled cat food yet, but thought I should ping this anyway.

BTW, until evidence to the contrary comes up, I'm going to follow the advice of Robert Heinlein and chalk this up to gross stupidity rather than malice.

[mom4kittys]

Still not very reasssuring is it?

[StormEye]

"Our local radio said the poison (banned in the U.S.) was used on wheat shipped from China."

Why does America need to import wheat from China? America is one of the largest wheat producers on the planet.

[mewzilla]

According to this link....

AMINOPTERIN

....Aminopterin isn't registered for use in the U.S. I wonder why not?

[4yearlurker]

I have an 11 year old poodle mutt mix. He's been eating Mighty Dog for years. He seems lethargic in the last week or so and drinks a lot of water. Screw it. I'm gonna feed him cooked ground beef on top of his dry food. It can't be worse than rat poison. Our little Willy is gonna love it!

[tertiary01]

I'm trying to figure out why we would import wheat from China, while we pay US farmers to not grow wheat.....

I have known several farmers in my area that make a good living off not growing several crops.

But it makes no sense to me unless we are intentionally giving away our ability to grow our own food to other countries to circumvent various policies and laws.

[Spktyr]

Oddly enough, the food was made in Canada, not the US.

[tertiary01]

Why does America need to import wheat from China? America is one of the largest wheat producers on the planet.

Canada grows quite a wheat, also. And the shipping should cost less than from China.

[Jaded]

More cats have died. Fifteen cats and one dog.