Australian Veterinary Association warns poisoned meat is causing kidney damage

[Frosty]

Australian Veterinary Association warns poisoned meat is causing  kidney damage in dogs

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24772364-662,00.html



By Miles Kemp

December 09, 2008 12:00am

    * Hundreds of dogs hit in poison scare
    * Experts try to track down source
    * Meat from China suspected

UNIVERSITY experts are urgently trying to track down the source of a deadly poison which has struck hundreds of small dogs, with pet food meat from China the suspected cause.

The Australian Veterinary Association has issued a national warning to all vets to report any serious kidney damage in small dogs in the past month.

"We have only become aware of this in the last three or four weeks, and we need to make people aware there are some clear indications there is a problem out there," AVA national president Mark Lawrie told The Advertiser yesterday.

Mr Lawrie said the AVA had discussed the cases with a prominent pet-food supplier suspected to be the source of the poison, which the AVA would not name for legal reasons. Vets and small-dog owners have been told to look out for warning signs:

INCREASED thirst and urination.

REDUCED appetite and lethargy.

VOMITING and weakness.

University of Sydney researchers have issued a national alert over the kidney-destroying poison - but after a legal threat from the company, have been banned by the university from making any public comment.

The AVA had also warned vets - in a national alert to all members to be aware of the problem - against making comments to the media about the case.

One university researcher, who would not be named, said there was enough evidence to recall the product but the safety message had been hampered by threats from the company.

"We have not been able to call for cases and an open call to vets for cases has just been made and we are aware of dozens of cases and suspect there are hundreds," he said. "What is important is that the meat is sourced in China and I think pet owners can trust the product if all the ingredients are sourced in Australia."

The researcher said owners should be concerned about any breed but especially dogs the size of a small terrier.

Studies of dead dogs are also being carried out to identify the cause, with one brand of meat suspected of causing symptoms.

Vets have been urged to contact the University of Sydney Faculty of Veterinary Science via email A.Arteaga@usyd.edu.au if they have suspected cases of the poisoning.

[Bonkers]

   Oh No! This is terrible! Why would they not name the supplier or the name of the food? So pretty much what they are saying is that if the food doesn't contain meat from Australia then it is poisoned. So I am guessing that it may be fish or chicken meal that is what's being imported from China.

[Perseus]

Here's another link on the story, with some posters comments below. Please read the comment listed after the article. It may shed some clues on who the manufacturer is. The poster claims the product is imported from China.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24772207-5006301,00.html

"The product is made in China, but imported into NSW. Scarily enough, it is a well known brand, and it is sold in many pet shops and in the 2 big supermarket chains. However, a number of brands were withdrawn from the US market 12 months ago, one of them supposedly the brand that is under investigation here - it was quietly introduced by the manufacturer. If the company in question truly believed that it was doing the right thing, it would not try to sue the Australian Veterinary Association, or buy off the silence of consumers whose pets have been affected by this. I personally know of a very very reputable pet food company who realised that its food manufacturing processes had been contaminated with melamine (not the compound in question with this product reported here) and were open about it with veterinarians. Their approach was commendable. But this company's approach is deplorable. There have been enough scandals coming out of Chinese products. Infant formula milk laced with melamine (causing liver failure), lead in childrens toys, the list goes on. As Dick Smith says, Buy Australian."

[GreyGhost]

Oh man. Not again. This is ridiculous. Did they not learn anything from last year. I wish they would name names and let it be known to everyone. This is absolutely unacceptable and this just furthers the point hat we as consumers need to be firm in letting manufacturers know if we can't trust them then no sale. Period.

I am so darn po'd. I have had it with all this bull. I can not believe this is happening again. I don't even have the words. Well I have them I just can't post them.   

[GreyGhost]

Just found this:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/09/2441623.htm

[robfdavis1971]

From the article at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/09/2441623.htm

"The one thing that is common with all of the cases, is that the dogs have among other things, eaten a certain chicken treat that has been sourced in China," he said.

"Although we have no idea what the cause of this problem is, we are concerned there's a link between the feeding of the treat and the emergence of this clinical syndrome."

So why not state the name of the chicken treat instead of making everyone throw out what was bought just to be on the safe side. Talk about BS. It was strange that we almost bought some chicken treats from the store just last week but it said made in china so we put it back.

[Perseus]

It appears to be public knowledge now:

KraMar pulls dog food after poison reports

The importer of a Chinese-made chicken dog treat has today voluntarily recalled the product, after reports of kidney damaging illnesses in dogs around Australia.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/09/2441919.htm

ETA:
It's an Australian company that manufacturers its treats in China.  Here's the company's press release:
http://www.kramar.com.au/voluntary_product_recall_notice.pdf

[GreyGhost]

Its about time they came forward. Why in the world would an Australian company manufacture in China. Makes no sense. I guess they didn't see the damage of the US recalls from China garbage.

[Bonkers]

Its about time they came forward. Why in the world would an Australian company manufacture in China. Makes no sense. I guess they didn't see the damage of the US recalls from China garbage.

  I suppose the answer to your question GG, is most likely the almighty dollar. Cheaper to manufacture there then to build your own facility. Hmmmm, that rings a bell. Kinda like what happened with Menu. I am now wondering if the facility that makes the KraMar treats also makes them for any other companies abroad or here in the US.      Also why did they not say they were treats in the first place instead of giving the impression it was a pet food that was causing the illness's?

[GreyGhost]

They really have a messed up system over there. I thought it was food too. I wish they would say who the manufacturer in China is. I'm sure the plant makes more then just their treats. We will have to keep a close eye on this.

[Perseus]

From Consumer Affairs website Dec. 10, 2008:

"An Australia company has recalled some of its Chinese-made chicken strips because the treats may cause illnesses in small dogs. And those illnesses sound similar to the ones dogs and cats have experienced after eating Nutro food, according to a regular ConsumerAffairs.com reader."

Full article here:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/12/australia_pet_recall.html

[GreyGhost]

I haven't seen any updates on this. Has anyone else seen anything?

[Perseus]

I haven't seen any updates on this. Has anyone else seen anything?

Not a word, I've been looking for new stuff every day, too.  It's gone dead silent.  Same about Orijen/Champion Pet Foods; no further info since 12/3/08.

[GreyGhost]

I see Champion has "news" but none about this yet that I can find.