Nancy Cambpell, RVT, attended the recent American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine annual forum in Seattle for Pet Connection. She attended a luncheon panel sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Royal Canin, Nestle’ Purina and Procter & Gamble, the makers of Iams and Eukanuba. Panelists and speakers included Dr. Claudia Kirk from the University of Tennessee and Dr. Paul Pion, co-founder of the Veterinary Information Network, and a number of other veterinarians from the pet food industry and academia.

“The overriding message to veterinarians had to do with their role in identifying, treating and monitoring emerging disease or toxicity in animals,” Campbell said. “When they are faced with a possible contamination/poison case, such as idiopathic acute renal failure, do not wait to follow up, do not wait to get information from food labels, do not wait to report possible issues. Get that information immediately.”

Dr. Dru Forester from Hills called for “some system of notifying every vet instantly” so veterinarians can get recalled food out of the hands of pet owners, out of veterinary and hospitals, off the shelves.

Dr. Kimberly May from the AVMA’s communications division pointed out that the first recall was issued late on a Friday afternoon, and at that time the AVMA tried to get the information to vets in their system. They found that spam filters and inaccurate contact information made that very difficult, and she acknowledged that pet owners had more information than the vets by the time the information did reach them.

She stressed that AVMA members needed to make sure the organization has their correct contact information, but insisted the profession needs to push for a “CDC for animals” and to give recall authority to the FDA. Campbell reported:

There was talk of putting together a system that vets could make reports of cases so that there would a resource for all of them and if there seems to be a pattern emerging they’d be able to see it. Such as when they see a few cases of acute kidney failure in a relatively short period of time.

Dr. Pion stressed again to not wait and to be aware … if you’re seeing a few unusual cases that don’t fit the norm, report it. Get more information. Do not wait. I really felt that the panel was calling for more vigilance on the part of the veterinarian.

Her other impressions? Campbell was disappointed that the initial questions considered by the panel were pre-determined, and noted that a number of attendees left during a long summary of events leading up to the present. Dr. Linda Ross from Tufts University and Dr. Pion felt the pet food industry had responded pretty well, given the uncertainties early on. Questions were asked about ingredients from China, and Dr. Denise Elliot from Royal Canin said, “We no longer source any vegetable protein from China.”

The panel was asked how does the FDA regulates pet food, and Dr. Kirk responded, “The FDA does not have regulatory or policing authority over pet food. The USDA does. That is why they were unable to force any of the pet food manufactures to recall their foods, only suggest/encourage that they do so. They have no authority.”

Dr. Pion added, “The FDA took on a CDC type role, but that is not their role.”

Asked how many pets had been affected, Dr. Pion said, “We’re never going to know.”

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And in more recall news:

New Jersey may join 2 other states in giving pet owners the right to sue for more than 'property value' over the deaths of their pets

Trenton, NJ: In the aftermath of the huge Menu Foods pet food recall this past spring, the New Jersey state legislature is considering joining two other states - Illinois and Tennessee - in granting pet owners the right to sue for loss of companionship and reasons other than economic loss - and to claim damages up to a specific cap.

The legislation differs from current civil law statutes, which limit pet owners to the right to litigate for economic damages only.

Neil Cohen, the Assembly Deputy Speaker, introduced the Bill in the New Jersey State assembly after finding several brands of the recalled pet food still on store shelves in New Jersey.

About 100 brands of pet food manufactured by Menu Foods of Canada were ordered recalled back in March after the food was found to be contaminated with melamine, an industrial binding agent that’s toxic to animals and can result in kidney failure. Scores of treasured pets were sickened, and many died after eating contaminated pet food.

Under U.S. law, pets are classified as property, and while there are provisions for criminal charges if a pet is abused, current civil law only allows pet owners the right to sue for economic damages if a pet is harmed, or dies.

The new legislation, if enacted in New Jersey as it has in Tennessee and Illinois, would grant plaintiffs the right to sue pet food manufacturers, producers or distributors of adulterated pet foods, or any other person or persons who might have contributed to the contamination that may have caused, or led to a pet’s illness or death.

The proposed Bill would also clear the way for compensation over loss of companionship, costs of veterinary care, training, and any other unique value the pet may have had. A show dog, for example.

A cap of $15,000 would be placed on total damages payable.