*warning* Deadly Diamond Dog Food!

I'm not sure if anyone already posted this, or feeds these brands to their dogs or cats....better safe than sorry. Three articles, and links below regarding toxic pet foods. At least six dogs have already died from this. :(
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http://www.democratandchronicle.com/...73230230352717
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Diamond Pet food information for pet owners

FOR RELEASE: Dec. 22, 2005

Several dogs from the Rochester area are being treated at the Cornell
University Hospital for Animals for liver damage apparently caused by
ingesting commercial dog food contaminated with a fungal toxin.

Diamond Pet Food Company released a statement about distribution of the
suspected lots of contaminated food warning owners to check lot numbers to see
if the food during a specific time frames at the Gaston, South Carolina plant.
Please see their website for more information http://www.diamondpet.com/

If you have been feeding Diamond Brand foods and suspect you may have a
contaminated bag you should change foods, contact your veterinarian, as well
as the company.

Affected animals may be lethargic, refuse to eat, may vomit, and may develop a
yellowing of eyes and gums (jaundice). Severely affected dogs develop bleeding
tendencies (vomit blood tinged material, pass bloody stool).

Onset of signs of liver injury is slow and initially appears to be
misleadingly mild. It can take several days for a dog to exhibit serious signs
of illness. Blood tests can detect liver injury and clotting problems.

The typical changes on a biochemical profile with most forms of acute severe
liver injury are not seen; the enzymes marking liver cell death are not
markedly increased. High bilirubin concentrations and low cholesterol
concentrations have been consistent in all ill dogs.

Even if there are no overt signs of illness, liver function tests should be
done on dogs that have eaten affected food.

Treatment with certain antioxidant and hepatoprotective medications is advised
for dogs demonstrating liver injury. Since the signs of liver injury may not
be detectable in the early stages of intoxication, it is advised that dogs
consuming affected food be prophylactically treated with the hepatoprotective
medications recommended for the overtly ill dogs.

For additional information check back and also visit:

Diamond Pet Foods http://www.diamondpet.com/index-diamondpet.php
NYS Agriculture and Markets http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AD/releaseList.asp
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Subject: [VETPET] Aflatoxicosis testing/treatment info for veterinarians

Aflatoxicosis Associated with Feeding Diamond Pet Food
Testing and Treatment Recommendations for Veterinarians
(Dr. Sharon Center - Cornell CVM)

Advise clients to discontinue feeding of Diamond foods. Have them record
production codes and date codes from food bags, if available. Contaminated lot
numbers are available on the Diamond website (www.Diamondpet.com). Owners
should keep food bags and food samples for possible further testing. They
should feed a good quality, non-protein restricted diet.

Affected pets may have no clinical signs initially, so any exposed animals
should be evaluated. Owners may report that their dogs have been refusing to
eat the food since they opened the new bag. Clinical signs are vague and
include lethargy, inappetence, and vomiting. Also look for signs of jaundice
and bleeding.

Screening lab work should minimally include a chemistry profile and CBC, even
in asymptomatic dogs. Look especially for low cholesterol, high bilirubin, and
high ALT. Aflatoxins interrupt protein transcription at the DNA level and so
may invalidate ALT alone as a true indicator of liver cell injury. Pre and
post bile acids are recommended in dogs that are not already icteric as the
best way to evaluate the extent of liver damage. Many affected dogs also have
clotting abnormalities, so it is also recommended to check coagulation times.

The toxin may continue to impact the liver for up to 60 days. Oral
hepatoprotectants are recommended for dogs that are not vomiting.

Vitamin E: alpha tocopherol 10 IU/kg PO SID

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe)

Milk Thistle (silymarin or silibinin)

Note: The proven bioavailability and biologic effects of the Nutramax
Laboratories Inc., SAMe product (Denosyl-SD4) and their new polyunsaturated
phosphatidylcholine-silibinin product (Marin(TM)) may make these preferred
therapeutic agents. Use package dosing directions.

In dogs that show clotting abnormalities administer Vitamin K 0.5-1.5 mg/kg SC
or PO q 12 hours. Recheck clotting times after 3-4 doses.

In vomiting dogs, use N-Acetylcysteine 140mg/kg loading dose IV, then 70 mg/kg
q 6 hours until SAMe can be given orally. When N-Acetylcysteine is
administered IV it is recommended to use a syringe filter (acrodysc syringe
filter, 0.2 micrometers, HT tuffryn membrane, made by Pall Life Sciences).

In critical cases plasma transfusions may be indicated.

No cats have yet been identified with disease, but Diamond reports that cat
foods have also been contaminated. Similar recommendations are likely to be
appropriate, but please contact Mendon Village Animal Hospital or Dr. Sharon
Center ([email protected]) at Cornell if you see any cases.

Prognosis at this point in mildly affected dogs with treatment seems to be
fair to good. Cornell can still accept more animals for treatment if owners
want them referred.