MORE pet food recalls (dry food, now, too)

[dreamer]

The info I have found so far is sketchy, but I heard yesterday around noon time that melamine has been found in dry pet food.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2...871298-ap.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2996679

[Nancy]

Also they cannot confirm that aminoptern was in the wet food, they now believe it is the plastic chemical melamine.

I always thought that dry food would be tainted gtoo.

I did get an email from the makers of Nutro telling me that they do not use any wheat glutin or imported grains from China in making their dry food and that their dry food is made in a completely seperate plant and is not tainted at all. I'm glad since I'm still using the dry food in addition to new food until she gets use to it, but I still won't go back to them.

I'm now using all natural or organic dog foods.

Nancy

[tiredmommy]

Here's a link to Hill's:
http://www.hillspet.com/menu_foods/M...2007_en_US.htm

[donna723]

The website for one of our local TV channels is now saying that they are pulling some of the Alpo canned dog food varieties too. THIS IS WHAT I FEED MY THREE DOGS!!! I just bought several more cans this morning! Now I'm really scared! They said that Purina also used the questionable wheat gluten from China in making Alpo. But the way it's worded on the website, it's hard to tell if they're talking about one specific variety or all of the canned ones. It said "Alpo-brand prime cuts in wet gravy". There is a specific variety called "Prime Cuts in Gravy", but it's not capitalized on the website, so you can't tell if they mean that one specific kind or all the canned food in gravy! I don't give mine that variety ... they're "Beef Stew" fans ... but I wish they had been more specific! Now I'm going to be worried sick and watching them constantly!

http://www.wsmv.com/news/11470502/detail.html

I'm going to look on the Purina website next and see what I can find.

[donna723]

Well, I feel a little bit better now...


http://www.purina.com/

"The contamination occurred in a limited production quantity at only one of Purina's 17 pet food manufacturing facilities.

Consumers should immediately stop feeding their dogs ALPO Prime Cuts products with the date codes listed below and consult with a veterinarian if they have any health concerns with their pet.

The recalled 13.2-ounce and 22-ounce ALPO Prime Cuts cans and 6-, 8-, 12- and 24-can ALPO Prime Cuts Variety Packs have four-digit code dates of 7037 through 7053, followed by the plant code 1159. Those codes follow a "Best Before Feb. 2009" date. This information should be checked on the bottom of the can or the top or side of the multi-pack cartons."


But only a little better! Mine have been eating this stuff forever! From what they say, it was just from one of their 17 plants, and the plant code on the cans I bought is different. I would think that what is in the stores here would come from the same processing plant all the time, probably whichever one is closest, but who really knows! I'm still scared!

[Dammit Janet]

Now that it is hitting dry food it is getting a bit bothersome. What on earth are we supposed to feed the animals?

I have large dogs and really dont think I can afford to cook for them but I may have to go that route. I have noticed it seems to be the purebreds that seem to be getting ill though. I wonder if that old saying about how you cant kill a mutt is holding true.

Anyway...I found these recipes for pet foods and treats in case anyone was interested:

As a pet owner, no doubt you want to give your dog or cat the best care possible. And caring for your pet means feeding him the best diet you can.
Animals, because they are color blind, choose their foods by smell. Most dogs like gamey flavors best, as well as liver, fat, garlic, horsemeat, lamb, beef, cheese and fish. Cats enjoy chicken, liver, fish, turkey, lamb, and yeast, and prefer fresh to aged flavors.
Remember that cats are fussy eaters and it is not wise to continually feed them their favorite foods. Soon they will refuse to eat anything else; it is your job to see your cat has a balanced diet.
Animals do not need salt added to their diet as the natural salt in the food is enough for them.
Dogs may eat any vegetable they want, but cats should not have any starchy veggies, like peas and corn. Some dogs and cats even enjoy fruits! Onions are potentially harmful to dogs.
It's a good idea to always add a grain, such as Kibble, wheat germ, cooked oatmeal or whole wheat bread to meat dinners. For dogs use 75% carbohydrate foods (grains and vegetables) to 25% meat; for cats use half carbohydrate foods to half meat.
You will find, once you begin making your own pet foods, that it is really relatively simple and you will save some money as well. remember that all pet foods should be served at room temperature; don't serve food cold from the refrigerator nor hot from the stove.
Incidentally, you should know that cats should be fed three times a day, while an adult dog needs only one meal a day.
Here are some pet recipes you can make at home:

SAUTEED LIVER

Heat 1 teaspoon corn oil in a pan.

Add 1/4 pound beef liver and fry on both sides until cooked but not dry inside.

Add 1/2 cup water to the pan and mix it up with all the brown bits.

For dogs, cut the liver into pieces and serve; for cats, grind the liver in a blender, using the pan juices.

CHICKEN SOUP

Combine 1 chicken liver, 1 giblet, 1 chicken heart, 1 chicken neck, 2 cups water and 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley.

Cover and simmer until the giblet is tender.

Chop all the meat for dogs removing bones and mix with kibble; for cats, you may want to grind the meat in the blender.

VEAL STEW

Combine 1/2 pound stewing veal, 1 cup canned tomatoes, 1 cup water, 1 chicken bouillon cube, parsley and a dash of garlic powder in a pot and simmer.

When meat is tender, remove all the bones.

For dogs, cut the meat in chunks, and mix stew with kibble or some other grain; for cats, grind the stew in blender, adding a tablespoon of wheat germ or 1/2 slice of whole wheat bread.

LIVER COOKIES

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine 1/2 cup dry milk and 1/2 cup wheat germ; drizzle 1 teaspoon honey on top.

Add one 3 1/3 oz. jar of strained liver baby food or homemade blended liver and stir until everything is well mixed.

Form the mixture into balls; place them on an oiled cookie sheet and flatten them with a fork.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes.

Consistency should be fudgy.

Store in a jar in the fridge; freeze if keeping more than a few days.

LAMB STEW

Follow the recipe for Veal Stew, using chunks of lamb instead and leaving out the tomato if desired.

MACKEREL DINNER

Heat 1 tsp. corn oil in a skillet and fry 1 small mackerel until it flakes apart easily. Remove and cool. Pour 1/2 cup hot water into the pan and scrape the brown bits into it. Remove the bones from the fish and mix with the juice. For dogs, serve in pieces with kibble; for cats, grind with the pan juices.

FISH COOKIES

Follow the recipe for Liver Cookies but use instead 3 1/2 ounces of mashed and boned mackerel, either canned or freshly cooked.

BEEF COOKIES

Following the recipe for Liver Cookies, using cooked beef puree instead.

DOG MORSELS

* 2 cups whole wheat flour
* 2 tsp. garlic powder
* 2 cups white flour
* 1 cup skim milk powder
* 2 eggs
* water
* 1/2 cup melted beef or pork drippings (or lard)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix ingredients together with enough water to make a stiff dough. Roll out and cut into Christmas shapes. Bake on cookie sheet until hard.
KITTY TREATS

* 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
* 1/2 cup flour
* 1/2 cup tuna oil, chicken broth or beef bouillon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all ingredients into a dough. Dust hands with flour and form small, 1/2-inch-thick, round "biscuits". Set on greased cookie sheet. Bake 30 minutes (or until biscuits are slightly browned).

Cool 30 minutes before serving.

[Hound dog]

Well, if mine won't be able to eat dog food it'll be table scraps for sure.

Does anyone know if this is affecting the generic brands at all?? Mine eat the generic lamb and rice from wallie world.

[Dammit Janet]

So far I havent heard that it is. I am a bit worried about that too Lisa.

Mine eat the generic stuff too. Actually we buy whatever is on sale. But if I have to make it for them they are gonna be eating awfully cheap rice, chicken scraps and dented canned veggies. Maybe I can cook it all up on a weekend and freeze it. I guess a box of chicken livers wouldnt be that expensive and we have chickens on the yard I could gather some eggs to use.

[donna723]

Well, I'm off to the grocery store to buy "dog food"! I'm getting hamburger, some extra eggs, and some store-brand canned mixed veggies, maybe some chicken. I'm going to give them this for a while instead of their regular canned Alpo until this is all sorted out. More expensive but I don't care! The Purina website said the contamination was very limited, to a specific kind manufactured in only one plant on a certain date, but all this seems to change daily, and I don't trust any of them any more. Why the delay in Purina announcing that they too used the contaminated wheat gluten??? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img]

My three get a good quality store-brand dry food that they really like, that was NOT a part of the recall. In the mornings I always mixed it with the canned Alpo for their breakfast. I imagine they will like hamburger and scrambled eggs for breakfast even more! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[donna723]

OK, I'm back from the store ... I've been sitting here cyphering and counting on my fingers and I've figured out that the "human food" I just bought for my dogs for the next five days cost maybe a DOLLAR MORE than buying them two 13.2 oz. cans of Alpo per day! They get dry food too, but in the mornings I was splitting two cans of Alpo between the three of them, mixed with their dry food. The canned food is 75 cts. per can, $1.50 per day. For not much more than that I just bought them about two lbs. of hamburger, two lbs. of ground turkey, three cans of mixed veggies and two dozen eggs! I browned the hamburger and turkey together, drained it, mixed in the canned vaggies, and divided it into five freezer bags. In the morning, I'll scramble them a few eggs, add in the meat/veggie mixture, and mix this delightful concoction in with their dry dog food!

It comes out to about the same amount of food as in two 13.2 oz. cans, they will like this better, it's probably better for them, and I won't have to worry that their canned dog food might be contaminated! It's a little more work, but I can make them a weeks worth at one time. Not bad!