Expanded from figures from a major animal hospital chain, article by
Andrew Bridges, Associated Press Writer:
They suspect about 39,000 cats and dogs sickened (including those who
did not make it).
<http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070410/ap_on_go_ot/pet_food_recall;_ylt=ApKSaAhf_LnCff2bFS34Z.is0NUE>
>Banfield, The Pet Hospital, said an analysis of its database, compiled
>from records collected by its more than 615 veterinary hospitals,
>suggests that three out of every 10,000 cats and dogs that ate the pet
>food contaminated with melamine developed kidney failure. There are
>an estimated 60 million dogs and 70 million cats in the United States,
>according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
>
>The hospital chain saw 1 million dogs and cats during the three months
>when the more than 100 brands of now-recalled contaminated pet food
>were sold. It saw 284 extra cases of kidney failure among cats during
>that period, or a roughly 30 percent increase, when compared with
>background rates. ...
>The chain continues to share its data with the Food and Drug
>Administration.
>
>FDA officials previously have said the database compiled by the huge
>veterinary practice would probably provide the most authoritative
>picture of the harm done by the tainted cat and dog food. ...
>The recall involved about 1 percent of the overall U.S. pet food
>supply.
It's the first estimate I've personally heard of that has been based
on reasonable looking data.
So far I have not personally heard of any ferrets affected, though too
few people do histology or chemotherapy.
Sukie (not a vet)
Current FHL address:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/http://ferrethealth.org/archive/http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.htmlhttp://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/http://www.ferretcongress.org/http://www.trifl.org/index.shtmlhttp://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
[Posted in FML 5573]
