In The News: Confusing News over NUTRO Pet Food Investigation

Update 4/28/2009 FDA issued statement: "Nutro Products, Inc. is not currently under investigation."

Update 04/27/2009 CNN corrected their Nutro story, confirming that FDA is not investigating Nutro Pet Foods.

Update 04/27/2009 - 2 pm Additional reporting from VIN News Service includes interview with freelance journalist Lisa Wade McCormick and Nutro spokeswoman Monica Barrett.

"Swine Flu" and political news will likely dominate the airwaves, keeping this ConsumerAffairs article from much airplay or coverage. The article reports of an FDA investigation on NUTRO Pet Food brought on by a series of unexplained illnesses and deaths. ConsumerAffairs noted that consumers (their readers) have been complaining for more than two years about illnesses believed to be linked to NUTRO Pet Food.

ConsumersAffairs followed up with an article on NUTRO's denial of the investigation. ConsumerAffairs remained steadfast on the existence of an FDA probe, evident by FDA's denial to ConsumerAffairs' request for a list of all complaints and lab results collected on NUTRO in the past two years. The request was filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and was denied since:
"The document(s) constitute record(s) compiled for law enforcement purposes, the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings."

ConsumerAffairs concluded NUTRO is under investigation on the basis of this FOIA denial. Confirmation from an anonymous agency official was also reported.

Screening of veterinary-specific lists for news of confirmation or denial of this investigation did not make things any clearer. When questioned by a veterinary news service, a representative from the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) division of FDA confirmed that NUTRO is not under investigation. This information is repeated in this eFoodAlert post. But a direct announcement from the FDA was not found. Apparently, the FDA is not stepping up to deny the investigation themselves publicly. Instead, FDA is denying it to NUTRO and other sources, allowing those parties to reply to ConsumerAffairs report and CNN Headline News coverage. Perhaps, FDA did not think a ConsumerAffairs article warranted a direct response?

As of today, there is still no explanation for the denial of ConsumerAffairs FOIA request. It is possible the FOIA denial is related to the "Menu Food Recall" of 2007 or other subsequent recalls. Why not tell us that and dispel this probe rumor?

So is NUTRO Pet Food safe? Probably. With the many pet food options available, you need to decide whether "probably safe" is good enough for your pets. We will update as more information is available. Hopefully, the information will be more from the (FDA) source than rumors and second-hand denial / confirmation.

As a reminder, diet changes should be made gradually over a course of 5 to 7 days, longer if your pet is more sensitive to changes. Even with "safe" diets, sudden changes may cause vomiting, diarrhea and intestinal discomfort.

Tell your family veterinarian if you suspect your pet's illness is food related. Bring a sample of the food in a freezer bag, labeled with the product's name and lot numbers. If your veterinarian agrees the diet is implicated, he/she can contact the company and FDA with the diet information.

Sites We Like....L.A. Times Animal Blog

Los Angeles Times' animal related blog, L.A. Unleashed, is a great read for animal lovers that want to stay informed. L.A. Times does a great job of posting everything from the trivial (what Newt Gingrich thinks of Obama's new dog), to the wacky (goat enters a Carl's Jr. Riverside), to the serious (animal cruelty case updates). L.A. Times unleashed is here.

Events....The Orange County Pet Expo

Billed as "the world's largest pet expo," Orange County's Pet Expo is this weekend, April 17-19th.



The Pet Expo has demonstrations, pet products, and of course, lots of rescued animals for adoptions. The Pet Expo is located at the Orange County Fairgrounds. For discount tickets and more information, visit their website.

Long Beach Animal Care Services' Microchip Day May 3rd

If you have ever considered microchipping your pet, Long Beach Animal Care Services will be having a low-cost microchip day Sunday May 3rd. For just $10, your pet will be microchipped with an AVID microchip, as well as registration. This is a fantastic deal, as AVID registration normally costs about $15 alone. No appointment is required for this event. For more information, contact Long Beach Animal Care Services at 562-570-7387.

L.A. Times Features Local Veterinary Clinic

Sunday February 23rd's Los Angeles Times featured an extended look at Veterinary Cancer Group's practices, located in Tustin and Culver City.

Chocolate Toxicity: National Geographic's Interactive Chart

Did you know that just 3 ounces of dark chocolate can be deadly for an average (6 pound) Yorkie Terrier?

While many people are aware that chocolate is dangerous to dogs, most don't know the specifics for their own dogs. Because the type of chocolate and quantity vary greatly, National Geographic's Interactive Chocolate Chart is very helpful. Use the slider bar to scroll to the approximate size of your canine companion to see how much different types of chocolates harm your pet.

Of course,NEVER give chocolates to your dog, and NEVER put them within reach. (Remember, dogs can also bite through boxes and bags that contain them.)

Pet Regulations for Long Beach Residents

We closed our clinic for several hours today to attend a Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) meeting. We left the meeting not only with more insights on pet overpopulation but also with a renewed sense of optimism. As some of the proposed ideas take shape, we hope to share them with you and invite you to join in these efforts. After all, pet overpopulation is neither an ACS nor a veterinary problem. Pet overpopulation and responsible pet ownership are community issues and should be addressed as such to ensure effective lasting solutions.

During the course of the meeting, we were reminded that there are pet regulations for Long Beach residents that may be unknown (or forgotten) to many of us.

Most people know about dog licensing. Some may know that cats are not licensed in Long Beach. But did you know that it is illegal to own intact (unaltered) cats over 4 months of age? Delay or exemption from the surgery is granted with a licensed veterinarian's recommendation.

Did you know that a permit is required to breed dogs and cats in Long Beach? That means if you want your dog to "experience" a litter of puppies by breeding her to your neighbor's male dog, you and your neighbor have to apply for a permit.

And I wonder how many people are aware of the dog and cat transfer permit? Anyone in the business of selling, transferring or even adopting dogs and cats in the City of Long Beach must register and renew this permit each year. The permit fee is waived for nonprofit 501(c)(3) registered organizations (i.e. non-profit rescue & adoption groups).

For more key pet regulations, visit the ACS municipal code page.