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Purina Pet Foods

Valerie of Springfield OH (09/26/08)
My Pom has been throwing up off and on for the last month. I have been searching the website for possible reasons. It started off with him peeing excessively and then I saw blood in the urine. I took him to the vet and they tried a couple of antibodics. The second one seemed to work. He was back to his old self. He has been eating Beneful made by Purina for about 2 1/2 years but he never ate alot of it. I just thought he was picky about food. He may eat about 10 pieces of day. He was still growing and was healthy.

I bought some beneful last month and decided that he needed to eat more dog food so I didn't give him anything else. No treats or anything. He started throwing up, peeing, losing weight. Last month when we went to the Vet he weighed 5 pounds. Now he weighs 4.7 pounds. Tomorrow he will get blood work done and x-rays.

After readng some of the complaints, I am worried that I will lose him. He has all the symptons that people are explaining. I have not contacted Purina because I didn't even think that this could possibly be the problem but now I don't know.

Deanna of Dayton, OR September 24, 2008

Deanna of Dayton OR (09/24/08)
I own and run a 200 sow farm. In June 2007 I got tired of my pigs being sick and decided to spend the money to have the pigs and feed tested. I called the Oregon Department of Agriculture and they started testing feeds. It turns out that the pigs had Chronic Selenium Toxicity. Not from a bad mix, but from grains grown in high selenium states such as South Dakota. I have test results from aborted fetus liver, many sow livers, maybe 100 blood tests, Official feed tests from ODA, and more tests from other farms, including goats and cows. Confirmed diagnosis from my herd Vet, Top Vet at Oregon State University, and top expert Nutritionist/Research Scientist in the country, of Selenium and Swine, at Ohio State University. All collaborated to get the diagnosis right.

They are all in agreement, and I have others test results from CA and MT. High Protein grains (soybean meal, Canola) grown in high selenium soils in states like South Dakota, is well known to be dangerous, but the animal food companies don't test it, ever. They go by 40 year old book values for determining Selenium content of grains and as a result many animals are being slowly poisoned. Especially in the States West of the Mississippi. The Grains grown in South Dakota and other Plains States is cheaper and closer to save the companies shipping costs. Selenium Toxicity is well known and well researched since the early 1800's.

Chronic Selenium Toxicity can mimic a very long list of ailments and diseases. We tested for diseases, but my herd was already certified against diseases (one of a handful in the country. I lost over 100 sows due to damage. I am the first in the country to figure this out and I have the attention of the National Pork Board. The problem is people are not requesting selenium tests on their animals, and the Vets aren't thinking of it either.

I will be happy to help you bring a class action against the whole feed industry for lack of testing. Because they cannot show me any tests they have ever done on grains, even though they know very well what can happen with selenium. I have already brought a suit against two very big companies. Court date in January 2009. But, I would like to see this problem of mysterous ilnesses of animals brought to the attention of the world. I have read about the Nutro illness situation and I can bet nobody has thought to test for selenium levels in the animals or food.

Kevin of Fairfield, CA September 22, 2008

Kevin of Fairfield CA (09/22/08)
We had been feeding Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula to our cat for a couple of years. Suddenly she starts vomiting several times a day and can't keep the food down. We just figured she was sick, but then after a few days we would wake to find that she raided the trash can and after eating that food she didn't throw up. So we fed her some tuna and she kept it down, but would not touch the Purina any more. We have switched cat food brands to something more like Science Diet, and still have some of what we believe is tainted Purina which we are considering sending off to our local University for testing. We are grateful that our cat is still doing well however.

Marla of Lambertville, NJ September 21, 2008

Marla of Lambertville NJ (09/21/08)
Purina Pet Food Illnesses and Adverse Reactions

To all those who are experiencing adverse effects (illness, vomitting, diarrhea from feeding your pets Ralston-Purina pet foods:

Further to my previous email, I have critical information for you. I met with 3 FDA investigators the other day and they were tremendously helpful and concerned.

I learned a few things:

1) Purina will only do a physical anaysis if you submit a complaint to them about a product. What this means is that they will not analyze for content, but look simply at the appearance of the product. After I sent them samples of the poisoned cat food that induced violent vomitting in as many as 21 cats in the immediate area, they determined that it looked normal.

2) Purina is required by law to report complaint incidents to the FDA ... UNLESS THEY DETERMINE THAT PRODUCT IS NORMAL. Therefore, no complaints regarding any Purina products have been reported to the FDA.

3) If your pet is experiencing illness as a result of ingesting any Purina product, you must contact the FDA directly as Purina will not examine for anything but it's visual appearance.

4) It is imperative that you contact Walter Osborne to register complaints at walter.osborne@fda.hhs.gov, referencing Docket #2007N-0487 to have the pet food more thoroughly investigated and to have it analyzed for toxic contents.

5) CRITICAL - the more incidents reported directly to the FDA, the more credibility it affords them to pursue criminal action against Ralston-Purina.

Like most of you, Purina pet food and products have been a staple in my pets' diets for many years, and their reputation always led me to believe that they produce high quality products. Not the case!

Shawna of Grand Rapids, MI September 21, 2008

Shawna of Grand Rapids MI (09/21/08)
Last year my cat, Topey had to be switched off of Purina Cat Chow because of crystals in her urine which resulted in her frequently urinating small amounts of bloody urine. Went through a couple courses of antibiotics and it came right back. She was switched to Iams Low PH and since she has been fine!

NOW- my other cat, Sidney is sick and I am worried. I kept her on the Purina Cat chow as she seemed to be fine on it and it was cheaper. Probably a stupid idea! Now I also noticed that the PACKAGING was changed a couple months ago when I purchased a new bag. Apparently I am not the only person that has had an animal get sick since Purina changed the packaging? She now has developed a rodent ulcer which is eating away at her upper lip. She went through a month and a half of steroids and now its coming back again two weeks after the steriods have stopped. The ulcers can be caused by food allergies, other allergies etc. So now I have purchased Hills Z/D Low Allergen, another expensive food- 22 for 4 lbs- in the hopes that she will be able to get better. I wonder if it could be related to their new packaging? Was it changed because the packaging is better or was it cheaper? Probably made in china!!!

Both of my cats are indoor cats and there's noting else I can see that has changed that could have caused this. Hopefully the new food will help Sidney's ulcer. I think the more expensive foods pay off in the long run with reduced vet bills!

Roque of Danbury, CT September 19, 2008

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