Tests turned up rat poison in the pet food suspected of causing kidney failure in dogs and cats across the country and killing at least 16, state officials and scientists announced Friday. The toxin was identified as aminopterin, which is used to kill rats in some countries, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said. Aminopterin is not registered for killing rodents in the United States, though it is used as a cancer drug, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
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State officials did not say how they believe Aminopterin got into the now-recalled pet food, though they said no criminal investigations had been launched.
The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation was focusing on wheat gluten in the pet food. Wheat gluten itself would not cause kidney failure, but the common ingredient could have been contaminated, the FDA said.
The pet deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food produced by Menu Foods and sold throughout North America under 95 brand names. There have been several reports of kidney failure in pets that ate the recalled brands, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog.
Menu Foods last week recalled "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food. The recall sparked concern among pet owners across North America. It includes food sold under store brands carried by Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers, as well as private labels such as Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba.
Menu Foods is majority owned by Menu Foods Income Fund of Streetsville. The company also makes foods for zoo cats, but those products are unaffected by the recall.
The company's chief executive and president said Menu Foods delayed announcing the recall until it could confirm that the animals had eaten its product before dying. Two earlier complaints from consumers whose cats had died involved animals that lived outside or had access to a garage, which left open the possibility they had been poisoned by something other than contaminated food, he said.
SoCal Terrier Dies After Eating Recalled Dog Food
Our sister station in Los Angeles reported Thursday morning that a Yorkshire terrier who became ill after eating recalled dog food has died.
Pebbles had been battling kidney failure since eating the dog food, which was later recalled. Her story became symbolic of the food scare's impact on pets and owners nationwide.
SLIDESHOW: View Images Of Pebbles Since Friday, the 7-year-old normally healthy pooch has been treated at Sylmar's Collett Veterinary Clinic. Even hooked to an IV she attempted to wag her tail. More than one week ago, the brown-eyed dog was perfectly peppy, said Pebbles owner, Jeff Kerner. Then she threw up her food, and kept vomiting. She became lethargic, dehydrated.
Blood tests on Friday revealed renal failure.
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About 60 million cans and pouches of wet food manufactured by Canada-based Menu Foods have been recalled after a nationwide outbreak of kidney failure in dogs and cats, including 16 deaths, though it's not clear how the animals are being made ill.
Kerner said Pebbles was kept in a "controlled environment" in his Sherman Oaks apartment and did not have access to antifreeze, a common cause of kidney failure in animals that ingest it.
Pebbles had, however, been fed Nutro foil pouches -- a Menu Foods-manufactured product.
When Kerner's sister called to tell him about the recall, everything clicked. The dog's three remaining food pouches matched serial numbers "number for number" with the recalled food, he said.
"There was almost a sense of relief. 'OK, it wasn't anything I did.' The next feeling, 'Oh God, I'm the one who hands this to her. ... Here, have some more poison.' It was heartbreaking," he said.
Kerner, 48, who works in film distribution, e-mailed and called Nutro, and as of Wednesday afternoon had not heard back. He had even worked for Nutro at one point as a demonstrator.
Los Angeles County officials have confirmed at least nine cases of kidney failure in dogs and cats exposed to the recalled food, said Jonathan Fielding, county director of public health.
Of those nine animals, three dogs and two cats have died, he said.
"These are dogs and cats that have specifically eaten that food," he said. "Clearly, there's something going on here."
County health officials on Tuesday conducted a telephone survey of 219 area pet stores, and found that all but two had removed the affected products from shelves. Fielding said he was more concerned about large retail and grocery stores that might have the pet foods among numerous other products.
South Bay Company Produces All-Natural, Holistic Pet Foods
Due to the cause of the pet food recall, more people may be shopping for products that don't contain wheat gluten, and a South Bay pet food company is reaping the benefits.
Natura in San Jose is the first company to produce holistic dog and cat foods, NBC11 reported.
Now more than ever, people are looking at its all-natural products as a safe alternative for their pets, according to NBC11.
"We're the first company to make holistic dog and cat foods using fresh fruits, vitamins and human-grade ingredients," Peter Atkins of Natura said.
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Natura sells hundreds of thousands of bags of its food at 4,000 stores nationwide.
Since the pet food recall, the company has been inundated with calls, with most people just double-checking that the dog and cat food they fed their pets was safe.
Natura's products sell under the names California Natural, Innova and Evo.
Most of Natura's food is produced in Nebraska, but its dog treats are made in San Leandro, Calif.
None of the products contain wheat gluten.
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