This is the only product Hill's currently sells in the United States that contains wheat gluten from any supplier. No other Hill's Prescription Diet® or Science Diet® products are affected by this voluntary recall. Hill's Science Diet Savory Cuts Feline canned cat foods, manufactured by Menu Foods, were previously withdrawn from the market as a precaution.

The voluntary recall of Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food involves discontinuation of all retail sales and product retrieval from sellers. This recall does not include Prescription Diet m/d Feline canned food which contains no wheat gluten.

Consumers should stop using this product and return it for a refund. Following is a list of Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry products included in this recall:

• Prescription Diet™ m/d™, Feline dry food 52742 42770 (all lot numbers), 4 lb. bag
• Prescription Diet™ m/d™, Feline dry food 52742 42790 (all lot numbers), 10 lb. bag

For more information, contact Hill's at 1-800-445-5777 or visit www.HillsPet.com for details.

We will be updating this page on our Web site with the latest case numbers and new information as we receive it: http://www.oregonvma.org/news/recallcases.asp

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Melamine Found in Wheat Gluten Used in Recalled Pet Food

Today, the FDA announced that their laboratory testing identified melamine in samples of wheat gluten linked to the pet food recall.

The Animal Health Diagnostic Center at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University has also identified melamine in urine samples and the kidney of one cat that had eaten the recalled food. Melamine is used in Asia as a fertilizer, but is not approved for that use in the United States. In the US, it is used in the production of plastics, such as kitchenware and whiteboard surfaces, as well as cleaning agents. The FDA also reported that little is known about the effects of exposure to melamine, and so it cannot be certain it is linked to the illness or deaths of animals eating the recalled foods.

According to the ASPCA's Poison Control Center, at high doses, melamine causes a pronounced diuretic affect in dogs and rats, as well as the development of crystals in their urine.

Based on these findings, the ASPCA's Poison Control Center does not recommend any change in treatment of animals affected; animals currently being treated for kidney failure suspected to be related to the ingestion of the contaminated food should stay on such treatment.

It is important to note that investigations into the source of the toxin(s) are ongoing.