Quincy, European shorthair cat
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IMAGE SOURCE: Wikimedia Commons/ European shorthair cat, Quincy/ author: Flashgrinder
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Warnings For Pet Owners
A Missouri pet food maker admits 21 cats have been sickened from its dry pet food distributed in the South and East Coast.
In September, Diamond Pet Foods recalled some bags of its Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat food.
The dry food did not contain enough thiamine, an essential nutrient for cats, reports AP.
If cats were only fed the dry food as a source of nutrition, they could develop neurological and gastrointestinal problems.
On Tuesday the company said it has confirmed 21 cases of thiamine deficiency in New York and Pennsylvania. These incidents were reported before October 19.
Symptoms include vomiting and weight loss, decreased appetite and salivation. Symptoms of neurological problem are an inability to bend the neck, unsteady walking, falling, and seizures.
The food was distributed in 18 states altogether including: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
The original lot numbers from the September recall include Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat: RAF0501A22X 18lb., RAF0501A2X 6 lb., RAF0802B12X 18lb (BB30FEB11), RAH0501A22X 18 lb., RAH0501A2X 6lb.
The date of manufacture is May 28, 2009 and August 30, 2009.
The company has tested the product and confirmed the cat foods were deficient in thiamine, reports the FDA on its Web site. The agency says samples taken by the FDA indicated there were additional lots with insufficient levels of thiamine.
Diamond Pet Foods has no other complaints against it.
Consumers can return the dry food to the place of purchase for a full refund or call the company at 800-977-8797.
FDA Recalls & Withdrawals
Pet lovers may want to check the FDA Web site on veterinary and pet products subject to recalls and withdrawals. Some items include:
- PetSmart – Dentley’s beef hoof products, a voluntary recall was issued over salmonella concerns covering 14 products
- Pet Carousel – Possible salmonella contamination in pigs’ears and beef hooves sold under the names Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel #