The San Diego County Veterinary Medical Association is urging veterinarians to report suspected or confirmed cases of animal illness due to tainted pet food. So far the county has tallied 16 cases -- and that number is growing. KPBS Radio's Andrea Hsu has more.
VMA Administrator Pauline White says in 25 years, she's never seen a recall as large as this. On the list are almost a hundred brands of canned pet food -- from the cheaper store brands to higher-end labels sold at veterinary facilities. White says since the problem is believed to be with wheat gluten, pet owners might want to take extra precautions, regardless of brand.
White : “Some vets are recommending to their clients that they check the label of the food they're feeding -- and if contains a wheat gluten, from any brand -- to maybe just set that aside until more is known about what is happening.
White added that pet owners should know how to recognize signs of kidney failure. Symptons include loss of appetite, excessive thirst, vomiting, and changes in urination habits.
For KPBS, I'm Andrea Hsu.
