Help from those feeding Wellness canned to their cats-

[anabelle_katie]

Hello all, I am new here, glad to have found you.
I posted this over at Itchmo, only got a few responses, I am hoping the fine folks here will have more to add.
I would really appreciate if those still feeding Wellness canned to their cats could help me. I have used Wellness canned for a long time, but the Menu connection scares the heck out of me. I spent a lot of money and tried very hard to get my calico girls to eat a different canned. I tried Evangers, Artemis, Solid Gold, Felidae. They absolutely refuse it, even if I mix it with the Wellness. They don't like "people food", so I don't think home cooking or raw is an option. Although I do think I will try it at a later date, I just can't right now (I am recovering from surgery).
I am nearly out of the Wellness cans I was using before the recalls (I had several cases, different flavors), I assume these were safe, they have eaten them for months and I took both in recently for bloodwork and all was normal.
I ordered new cases (there is no store local to buy it), of course they are different lot numbers, newer expiration dates then the cases I have been using and but I am scared to use them.

If those still using the Wellness could PLEASE take a moment and post here the expiration dates and code numbers on the bottom of the cans you are using, along with the can size and flavor (I have both 3 oz. and 5.5 oz. here, different flavors), I would appreciate it more than you know.

We could help each other, and hopefully determine if it's "safe". And for those of you who are able to buy locally, you can know what lots to look for.

I'll start- The cans I have been using that are almost gone (again, both my girls went in for bloodwork, so I can assume these lots are okay) are:

• 3 oz. turkey- ex. date 24 NOV 09, code: 7WTKC1 0128 ( I believe these last 4 digits are a time stamp and are different on each can)

• 3 oz. chicken- ex. date 23 OCT 09, code: 7WCCC1 1620

• 3 oz. chicken- ex. date 24 NOV 09, code: 7WCCC1 0620

• 3 oz. chicken & herring- ex. date 27 OCT 09, code: 7WCH1 0033

• 3 oz. sardine, shrimp & crab- ex. date 16 APR 08, code: 7WSSC1 0014

• 5.5 oz. turkey- ex. date 18 JAN 09, code: 7WTKS4 1845 

                           

• 5.5 oz chicken- ex. date 18 JAN 09, code: 7WCCS4 1150

Again, thanks in advance for your help-
Anabelle Lee, Katie Ann and their person, Shelly

[KimS]

I am assuming none of the Wellness canned foods are problematic. My animals (1 dog/2 cats) are all doing great on the wet food.
We get the chicken and herring big cans for the cats. All is well. Sorry I don't have the lot numbers. I think it's a moot point since Wellness is not involved. I know that Menu is and they can the Wellness but the lot #s don't matter unless they've been recalled specifically. Maybe I misunderstood your question?
Good luck with your kitties!!

[jenny]

Actually I had three sick cats this week - we thought my IBD cat was going to die.  We think it was related to a new case of Wellness.  Not melamine, but something different about them.   They had been eating them for about a month - and I just purchased a new case of Turkey & Turkey/Salmon and then they all got sick.  I've eliminated one of the flavors and started to mix in Innova.  My IBD cat is back to his old dry food.

[anabelle_katie]

Actually I had three sick cats this week - we thought my IBD cat was going to die.  We think it was related to a new case of Wellness.  Not melamine, but something different about them.   They had been eating them for about a month - and I just purchased a new case of Turkey & Turkey/Salmon and then they all got sick.  I've eliminated one of the flavors and started to mix in Innova.  My IBD cat is back to his old dry food.

I am so sorry to hear that! I hope they are all doing okay now.
Can you tell me the size and expiration dates of  those new cases that you think gave them a problem?

Thanks,
Shelly

[eternaljester81]

Oh my, there better not be something wrong with Wellness. We've been using the dry indoor health formula for our five cats. Please let us know how your kitties are doing now.

[jenny]

Hi everyone.  Just an update.   Well, the IBD cat is eating again - after $900 in vet bills and a shaved tummy (ultrasound).  I won't let him near any canned cat food.  He is eating his old dry food because I just don't want to take a chance.

As for the other two boys, I tried mixing in some of the Innova food but then they didn't seem to like it much (I didn't want to do a quick change on food to make things worse). So Sunday night and today I did just Wellness again.  So far they are OK - one of them is still taking Pepcid AC and will till about Thursday. 

Honestly, I'm just not sure what to think about the food thing.  That was an easy change to identify.  But I had also just increased the amount of canned food I was feeding the IBD cat - so that may have triggered something for him.  The others were so stressed out by his vomiting and diahhrea, trips to the vets, etc..   One of them was sick for about a day and then better - but then we took him to the vet for a weight check and he was bad again.  The other one didn't really have any symptoms but we had to give his hind a bath Saturday a.m. (he is long haired) so there was something going on a little Friday afternoon/night for him. Makes me wonder about stress too. So, maybe something was there, maybe there wasn't.   They did a float and didnt find anything for parasites.  For the IBD cat, Cougar, they did urine and blood work which only showed dehydration. 

So, two of my cats are eating it again for now.  I'll let you know if their symptoms return.  As an FYI - the codes are: 
Turkey & Salmon -  Best by 13 Apr 10  7WTSC1 1143
Turkey                 - Best by 11 Apr 10  7WTKC1 1024
If anyone else is feeding thier cats these I'ld like to know about it.

So, things are much better today! 

[KimS]

I hope your animals get well soon!

[jenny]

Thanks Kim.  The two big cats are like nothing happened.  They are eating Wellness 100 % since Sunday.  Cougar, the IBD cat who was so sick, is now taking mirtazapine in addition to his pred and Pepcid AC.  It really seems to be working - he is eating a lot of his old dry food and not getting sick.  We are hoping it will let us reduce his pred dose.  He tried to eat some of the Wellness today but I'm a bit nervous about it so didn't let him. 

[Therese]

Shelly, it sounds like your cats are about as finicky as mine! I hope they continue to do ok on Wellness.

Jenny, I'm sorry to hear about your cats. I hope it was something other than the food. I certainly hope they bounce back and start feeling better soon. Please do keep us informed on the food though.

[jenny]

Thanks Therese - the two are still eating Wellness.  The other is doing well too.  He goes to the vet on Friday for a status check.

[Sharon L.]

How did Cougar's vet check go? 

[jenny]

Hi!  Well, my two big cats are eating Wellness again and we have seen no issues.  I did also start feeding them some Innova as I would really like to have two brands to feed them.  If there was something with the Wellness, I am guessing maybe just some case variation.

For my IBD kitty, Cougar, I had also just increased the quantity of canned he was eating so maybe he just can't tolerate Wellness.  But I have started to feed him Innova canned and for the first time in his life he is prefering something besides his old dry food.  He is currently taking mertazapine short term as an appetite stimulant and to control vomiting.  This is in addition to the pepcid and pred he normally takes. His weight was back up to 8 lbs - a little short from where it should be.   The vet was very pleased with his progress.  His energy level still seems a little low to me, but I'm thinking as his weight comes back up he should do better for that.

So, things seem to be OK!  Thanks!