G
Guest
·http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news ... 768c49&k=0
(There is a picture of her with her dog on the site)
Ottawa • An Ottawa woman is recovering after becoming violently ill after eating some of her dog's food, in a case likely related to the tainted pet food that has killed several dogs and cats and sickened dozens more across North America.
In this case, a canine and its master wound up in hospital - Missy at the Alta Vista Animal Hospital and Elaine Larabie at an after-hours emergency room.
"I thought I caught a virus, but then I realized I ate the food, and put two and two together," Ms. Larabie said.
For three days, she suffered a range of "confusing" and "embarrassing" symptoms, including loss of appetite, vomiting and foaming of the mouth. She also had problems urinating.
She went to the emergency room on Tuesday and had blood work done on Wednesday. She is now awaiting the results of those tests.
After adopting one-year-old Missy six weeks ago, Ms. Larabie discovered the little dog refused to eat anything but table scraps.
"I was trying to get her to eat," Ms. Larabie said, but Missy's protest continued. Desperate, Ms. Larabie tried "just a little bite" of the Iams dog food to make the terrier think it was people food, then gave Missy the rest.
"I said, 'It's not going to kill me to take a little bite' ... but I guess it could have," said Ms. Larabie, who notes the trick worked.
"When I would take a bite, she'd eat it," Ms. Larabie said.
The mealtime routine continued for about two weeks, until both dog and master became sick on March 17.
At the time, Ms. Larabie was unaware of the massive pet food recall that was announced a day earlier. Two days later, she saw a TV news story about it and connected the dots.
When Missy went to the Alta Vista Animal Hospital for a previously scheduled operation, the vet told Ms. Larabie the dog was severely dehydrated.
The dehydration did not go away after the surgery, so Missy went back to the vet.
The vet explained the symptoms were not associated with the spaying; it was something Missy had eaten, Ms. Larabie said. It was suggested she contact Iams.
The vet who handled Missy could not be reached, and Alta Vista Animal Hospital declined to comment on the specifics of Missy's symptoms or prognosis, citing client confidentiality.
Ms. Larabie contacted Iams and confirmed the food she and Missy ate was part of the recall and was likely contaminated with aminopterin. When asked about Ms. Larabie's illness, Iams spokesman Kurt Iverson said Iams and its parent company, P&G Pet Care, "are working directly with her" and will continue to do so until the problem is resolved. He refused to say if any other human illnesses have been reported.
Last week, Menu Foods recalled 60 million cans and pouches of food made in the United States and sold under 95 different brand names after reports that pets were falling sick and dying after eating some of their products.
Ms. Larabie said Iams representatives assured her the company will cover the medical bills resulting from the tainted food. She has not ruled out legal action, but says her primary concern is Missy's well-being.
"I just want my dog better right now," she said.
After an overnight stay at the vet, Missy returned home last night. Ms. Larabie said both of them are on the mend. As for herself, Ms. Larabie said she has learned her lesson and vows to "never eat dog food again."
(There is a picture of her with her dog on the site)
Ottawa • An Ottawa woman is recovering after becoming violently ill after eating some of her dog's food, in a case likely related to the tainted pet food that has killed several dogs and cats and sickened dozens more across North America.
In this case, a canine and its master wound up in hospital - Missy at the Alta Vista Animal Hospital and Elaine Larabie at an after-hours emergency room.
"I thought I caught a virus, but then I realized I ate the food, and put two and two together," Ms. Larabie said.
For three days, she suffered a range of "confusing" and "embarrassing" symptoms, including loss of appetite, vomiting and foaming of the mouth. She also had problems urinating.
She went to the emergency room on Tuesday and had blood work done on Wednesday. She is now awaiting the results of those tests.
After adopting one-year-old Missy six weeks ago, Ms. Larabie discovered the little dog refused to eat anything but table scraps.
"I was trying to get her to eat," Ms. Larabie said, but Missy's protest continued. Desperate, Ms. Larabie tried "just a little bite" of the Iams dog food to make the terrier think it was people food, then gave Missy the rest.
"I said, 'It's not going to kill me to take a little bite' ... but I guess it could have," said Ms. Larabie, who notes the trick worked.
"When I would take a bite, she'd eat it," Ms. Larabie said.
The mealtime routine continued for about two weeks, until both dog and master became sick on March 17.
At the time, Ms. Larabie was unaware of the massive pet food recall that was announced a day earlier. Two days later, she saw a TV news story about it and connected the dots.
When Missy went to the Alta Vista Animal Hospital for a previously scheduled operation, the vet told Ms. Larabie the dog was severely dehydrated.
The dehydration did not go away after the surgery, so Missy went back to the vet.
The vet explained the symptoms were not associated with the spaying; it was something Missy had eaten, Ms. Larabie said. It was suggested she contact Iams.
The vet who handled Missy could not be reached, and Alta Vista Animal Hospital declined to comment on the specifics of Missy's symptoms or prognosis, citing client confidentiality.
Ms. Larabie contacted Iams and confirmed the food she and Missy ate was part of the recall and was likely contaminated with aminopterin. When asked about Ms. Larabie's illness, Iams spokesman Kurt Iverson said Iams and its parent company, P&G Pet Care, "are working directly with her" and will continue to do so until the problem is resolved. He refused to say if any other human illnesses have been reported.
Last week, Menu Foods recalled 60 million cans and pouches of food made in the United States and sold under 95 different brand names after reports that pets were falling sick and dying after eating some of their products.
Ms. Larabie said Iams representatives assured her the company will cover the medical bills resulting from the tainted food. She has not ruled out legal action, but says her primary concern is Missy's well-being.
"I just want my dog better right now," she said.
After an overnight stay at the vet, Missy returned home last night. Ms. Larabie said both of them are on the mend. As for herself, Ms. Larabie said she has learned her lesson and vows to "never eat dog food again."
