“Doc” owned by Vicky Stone is back (“National Wal-Mart pet treat scare appears in Lake County,” Record-Bee, Aug. 23) and being hospitalized today for another 48 hours of IV fluids due to melamine kidney toxicosis from contaminated pet treats. Blood tests showed significant elevations in his blood nitrogen and creatinine after being off of IV fluids for the past five days. Just to clarify, there is no way to tell if he will survive or what percent of his kidney function he will be left with.
Not even the internal medicine specialists can tell us this. What is known is that when a toxin destroys a portion of your kidney cells, time, IV fluids and supportive care may allow some healing and compensation to occur. If more than two-thirds of the kidney function is lost, the animal probably won”t make it. The options of dialysis and kidney transplants are not good options for dogs.
Diagnosing kidney disease is easy, with a simple blood test. Diagnosing melamine toxicosis is difficult, with a biopsy needed.
The treatment does not change even if you know that melamine caused the problem, so rarely is a biopsy taken. We have seen an increase in kidney failure recently, but there is no way to know the cause in most cases. The early signs of kidney failure are usually just lethargy, poor appetite, and weight loss. Some owners may notice them drinking a lot more water than normal.
The big question is what to do about Wal-Mart or other companies that choose low cost over quality control? Earlier this year, when Menu foods recalled their melamine contaminated wheat gluten from China ? that was distributed to multiple dog food companies, including premium brands ? I assured people that it was probably a one-time thing.
I assumed that whether it was an accident or done purposefully to increase the measure of protein content, it would probably never happen again. I guess I was wrong. Why would Wal-Mart continue to buy from a company with a poor reputation?
This was not the first time that Shanghai Bestro and Import-Pingyang Pet Product Co. products were recalled. Probably the only way things will change is if individual company profits decrease due to decreased consumer interest. I don”t think this is going to happen by Wal-Mart paying someone”s veterinary bill or by losing some of their pet food sales.
Chris Holmes, DVM
Wasson Memorial Veterinary Clinic
Lakeport
