Purina Lawsuit Filed

Question

For what it's worth here is the info on the lawsuit. :(
This was 3 dogs that died owned by the same owner fed the same food.

"...A post-mortem examination revealed signs of internal bleeding in the dog's stomach and lesions on his liver...."
"...The consistent symptoms reported include stomach internal bleeding, malfunction or failure of the liver,..."
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lawsuit-claims-purinas-beneful-poisoning-killing-dogs-n312176
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/lawsuit-purina-beneful-dog-food-may-be-killing-dogs

A couple of years ago my dog was diagnosed with hermageo sarcoma of the liver. It was VERY hard to diagnose because he would bleed slightly enough to make him pass out if he got up fast but by the time I got him to the vet he was fine. Several trips like that and finally the bleeding into the stomach became evident (ever so slightly that a novice owner would not notice)and an ultrasound showed the lesion.

That said: During the next 4 weeks I came in contact with 6 other dog owners having the SAME diagnosis even one coming into my vet the following day, same symptoms and dog was fine upon arrival. My vet immediately did an ultrasound and the dog had the same lesions on the liver as mine did. And one week later a friend in California, same thing.

Then when my divorce attorney called and said she was changing my court date because her dog had just passed out and was diagnosed with lesions on the liver!!.....I was then convinced something was going on externally to cause that many dogs to have the same symptoms.

I have always said this was a hot spot of something serious when that many dogs have the same problem. And of course my answer to that is WHAT are they all eating that is in common. Sadly no one ever connected the dots. Many dogs just bleed out and die or are just put to sleep with out autopsies and never diagnosed.

It has 'always' been my thought that during that time frame something was being added into all dog foods across the board to cause these lesions on the liver on that many dogs in one time frame. And BTW it is fatal.

So I don't find what happened to this family surprising at all.
I just hope it doesn't get swept under the carpet by the big money Purina has.:(

rockhillmanor · Answer

On Edit: A couple of years ago I posted the FDA report on Ethoxyquin when it was pulled from pet food.

It WAS found to CAUSE 'liver cancer' at a certain level of ppm. FDA 'lowered' the amount allowed by one or two ppm under the level it caused cancer so it could still be used in pet foods. The maker of Ethoxyquin said they would 'try' to keep it under that level.

It is to this day allowed in pet foods.

mabynack · Answer

There have been dozens of recalls on pet foods. I remember one recall on Chinese made food that contained plastic dust as a filler and it resulted in liver failures similar to what you described. Many high fiber foods contain sawdust as a filler. The problem is so prevalent that numerous websites have been setup to list the recalled foods. One of the ones I use is:

Pet Food Recalls

My sisters are dog handlers/vet techs for a private kennel. They make their own dog food using 100% meat.

I can't afford to do that for my 5, so I only buy Limited Ingredient Diet (LID) food for my dogs. I spend about $130 every three weeks on food, but I save a lot on vet bills.

I foster for the animal rescue that my daughters started and we get a few dogs every year that the owners surrendered because of expensive skin problems and ear problems. A month of special food usually clears up those problems and the dogs are a lot happier and healthier.

magnusfide · Answer

rockhillmanor wrote:For what it's worth here is the info on the lawsuit. :(http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lawsuit-claims-purinas-beneful-poisoning-killing-dogs-n312176http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/lawsuit-purina-beneful-dog-food-may-be-killing-dogs Not only dog food but human food!While the suit alleges propylene glycol is a known animal toxin and component of automotive antifreeze, Purina says on its website that the type it uses is "an FDA-approved food additive that is also in human foods like salad dressing and cake mix."

rockhillmanor · Answer

This Purina lawsuit is using the ingredient propylene glycol as the cause.

Interestingly a few years back they found propylene glycol to be harm full to cats. And they prohibited it's use but it is ok to leave it in dog food?

"It was known for some time that propylene glycol caused Heinz Body formation in the red blood cells of cats (small clumps of proteins seen in the cells when viewed under the microscope), but it could not be shown to cause overt anemia or other clinical effects. However, reports in the veterinary literature of scientifically sound studies have shown that propylene glycol reduces the red blood cell survival time, renders red blood cells more susceptible to oxidative damage, and has other adverse effects in cats consuming the substance at levels found in soft-moist food.

In light of these new data, CVM amended the regulations to expressly prohibit the use of propylene glycol in cat foods."
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=589

Question for our resident DVM Doug:
Is a cat's assimilation of propylene glycol that different than a dogs?

dturm · Answer

I'm going to close this, there was a thread (previously closed). This is redundant.

Propylene glycol IS the ingredient in our RV antifreeze. It is also the base/substrate for many IV and oral medications used both in animals and people.

There are some individual cats somewhat more sensitive to propylene glycol, thus the elimination in foods.

Generally: Proplyene glycol causes a Heinz body anemia in cats BUT

The problems with Heinz body anemia in cats occurred when propylene glycol composed >8-12% of the total diet.

It's unfortunate that these things get traction on the internet. The facts as presented by the plaintiff lawyer sure seems to indicate a potential of toxin, but they lost me with the discussion of propylene glycol. Mycotoxins are certainly consistent with the symptoms listed, but there are so many places where mycotoxins could enter the food (including while in possession of the owners) that causation will be difficult to prove. We just don't have enough information when trying to judge this by the press release of the plaintiff's attorney.

The problem with our legal system and the internet and these types of suits is that they basically are judged guilty and if and when the suit is dismisses or lost there is very little PR.

This is a good reason that the rules prohibit posting when lawsuits are contemplated or actually files.

BTW, Mark (BCSnob) looked up the LD50 for propylene glycol and it's higher than Vitamin C and table salt. :)

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