According to a survey done by Oregon’s public health veterinarian, Dr. Emilio DeBess, to date there have been at least 14 suspected cases of illness in cats and dogs who have consumed the recalled food and are in various stages of renal failure.

As a result, the OVMA has issued a press release urging pet owners to continue checking pet food labels against the list of foods recalled by Menu Foods, and to monitor their cats and dogs for signs of acute renal failure. A list of the recalled foods can be found on the Menu Foods Web site at www.menufoods.com/recall.

The suspected cases were reported in Portland (5 cases), Gresham (1), Milwaukie (1), Clackamas (1), Salem (1), Seaside (1), Corvallis (2), and Bend (2), and include at least 5 dogs and 8 cats.

"Should you suspect that your pet is ill, contact your veterinarian immediately. They will run comprehensive tests to determine the nature of the illness and if it is, in fact, renal failure," said Dr. Roger Mahr, DVM, AVMA President. "The veterinarian will then contact the FDA complaint line in his or her state. It is extremely important that detailed veterinary records are kept in order to determine if the illness is due to the recalled products."

While studies have detected aminopterin, a rodenticide, in Menu Foods samples, the FDA stated Friday that it has not yet determined if this is the cause of 16 confirmed animal deaths.

For current information about managing suspected cases of renal disease associated with this recall, visit the AVMA Web site at http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/veterinarian_info_acvim.asp.

In response to the aminopterin finding, the Animal Poison Control Center at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has issued new information for pet owners on its Web site at http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=press_032307.

Please monitor the AVMA Web site (www.avma.org) for the latest information on the recall. Consumers with questions for the manufacturer can contact Menu Foods, Inc. at 1-866-895-2708. Consumers with questions about individual brands can find contact information for those companies on the AVMA Web site. A list of veterinary internal medicine specialists can be found at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine at www.acvim.org, or by calling Jenn Armbruster, Communications & Media Relations Manager, at 1-800-245-9081.