| If you watch the news recently, you've seen the | | | | originally. |
| epidemic health crisis plaguing this nation's cats and | | | | So far, both cats and dogs are affected by the |
| dogs in the early part of 2007: poisoned petfood | | | | tainted food. However, more cats are having |
| that's making pets ill. | | | | life-threatening issues than dogs. Theories for this |
| Shortly after eating the tainted food, the animals | | | | include that cats tend to eat more for their |
| have started suffering. These pets are having | | | | weight than dogs, that cats require more protein |
| serious problems, including vomiting, lethargy, | | | | than dogs in their diet (which means more gluten |
| kidney failure and death for some animals. Though | | | | eaten), and that cats likely are more sensitive to |
| few animals have died (a couple dozen) the issue | | | | the chemical causing the illness. |
| has affected many dog and cat lovers. | | | | Though the product recall has affected some dry |
| At first, people believed that the problem was a | | | | pet food, most of the items involved in the recall |
| substance in rat poison in the food supply, namely | | | | has involved wet varieties of pet food. |
| the chemical aminopterin. Aminopterin is used for | | | | All together, the recall has involved about 100 |
| chemotherapy. While New York officials stated | | | | brands or more of wet dog or cat food, and a |
| this, the FDA never confirmed the matter. | | | | manufacturer has recalled approximately sixty |
| Currently, the general consensus is that a food | | | | million items of food, totaling millions of dollars in |
| distributor's product included toxins. The dangerous | | | | losses. |
| chemical in the wheat gluten, melamine, is used in | | | | If you note a problem with your pet, it is very |
| pesticides, as well as for plastics. | | | | important to get prompt attention. The kidney |
| Wheat gluten is the protein part of starches like | | | | damage caused by the poison is irreversible, and |
| those found in flour. It resembles gelatin, and is | | | | so immediate treatment is required to halt any |
| good for food in that it adapts to the flavor and | | | | damage. |
| texture of the food it's in. It's used to add volume | | | | So for their protection, remember to monitor |
| to products, and may imitate meat by taking on | | | | your own pets. Pay attention to any change in |
| the texture and flavor as well. It can also add | | | | energy or attitude, as well as water consumption |
| elasticity and chewiness to products, as well as | | | | and eating. Symptoms such as ignoring food, |
| act as a binder, filler, and thickener. | | | | lethargy, ignoring water (or drinking more water), |
| Melamine has been used for plastics for years, | | | | or infrequent urination are items to look into |
| and is also a pesticide in Asia, which may explain | | | | immediately. |
| how it made its way into the wheat gluten | | | | |