As always, we
are very concerned about the safety of your pets!
The
food recall troubles have mostly subsided, however we still receive
briefings about new companies and products periodically. All info
we receive about recalled foods will be posted below.
If
you are ever concerned your pet may have been affected, please call
our office!
(Pet
Kare Clinic is bummed about this recall because these have been a
great dental care product we loved and supported. We have returned
all of our inventory to the company and are waiting for further information.)
We
have not heard of any issues with the US product and will update our
clients if anything arises. Call us if you are concerned your pet
may be affected!
Virbac
recalls VeggieDent chews in Australia
June
4, 2009
By: Edie Lau
For The VIN News Service
VeggieDent chews for dogs are off the market in Australia following
the discovery by veterinary researchers of an association between
consumption of the chews and development of acquired proximal renal
tubulopathy.
Virbac
Animal Health recalled the chews this week after having introduced
them to Australia only three months ago.
VeggieDents
have not been proven to cause the renal disorder, also known as Fanconi-like
syndrome. The company took action as “a precautionary measure
in the interests of animal welfare and the veterinary profession,”
according to a prepared statement by Bruce Bell, general manager of
Virbac (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
The chew
strips, composed of corn, starch, glycerin, soy, rice, yeast, sorbitol,
corn derivatives and water, are designed to promote canine dental
health.
A potential
problem with VeggieDents was recognized in May by veterinary researchers
who have been trying to determine the cause of acquired proximal renal
tubulopathy in dogs. The Fanconi-like disorder first surfaced in dogs
several years ago in the United States and Australia in association
with consumption of chicken jerky snacks made in China.
Symptoms
mimic those of Fanconi, a disease in which kidneys do not properly
resorb electrolytes and nutrients, but lose them in urine. The disorder
is characterized by excessive drinking and urination (polydipsia and
polyuria, or PUPD) and glucose in urine (glucosuria).
Dr. Linda
Fleeman, a senior lecturer in small animal medicine at the University
of Sydney, and colleagues were working on the Fanconi-like puzzle
when they came across about a half-dozen cases of dogs that developed
the kidney problem but had not had access to Chinese-made dried chicken
treats.
In all
the cases, the pets had been given VeggieDents, which are designed
to be consumed daily.
Virbac
opted on Monday to recall the product after discussions with the researchers.
The company
instructed veterinarians in Australia to pull all stock from their
shelves and return it to their wholesalers for credit. Virbac also
advised veterinarians to dispose of marketing material, and to contact
at their discretion the owners of dogs that use VeggieDents.
The chews
are still available in Europe, Asia and the United States, where the
company has received no reports of problems associated with the product.
Michael Walsh, marketing manager for dental products at Virbac Animal
Health in Fort Worth, Texas, told the VIN News Service last week that
VeggieDents have been sold in Europe and Japan for about two years,
and in the United States since September.
He said
the chews are manufactured by Virbac in Vietnam, and that the ingredients
also originate from Vietnam.
Dr. Gerard
Lim of Virbac Australia told a reporter by e-mail that the company
has sold about 7,000 bags of VeggieDents since the chews were introduced
in his country in March.
Lim noted
that “There are no hypotheses regarding any potential source
of toxicity because no causative association has been established...
.”
However,
Virbac’s recall notice points out that VeggieDents sold in Australia
differ from those sold elsewhere in that the product is irradiated
as required by the Australia Quarantine and Inspection Service.
The Australian
government last week banned irradiation of cat food because of scientific
evidence that the sterilization process was somehow to blame for neurological
problems, including ataxia and tetraplegia, seen in some cats that
ate Orijen brand irradiated dry food made by Champion PetFoods Ltd.,
which is based in Canada.
However,
dogs fed similarly irradiated food were not known to be affected.
Champion
PetFoods has since pulled cat and dog foods from the Australian market.
More
discussion online about this recall:
