Melamine Pet Food Symptoms

Melamine is an industrial chemical that found its way into pet food protein sources from China. There was a recall of pet foods containing melamine in 2007, and the FDA lists melamine pet food symptoms and reasons that melamine causes health problems. If a pet exhibits symptoms of melamine poisoning, stop feeding it the suspicious food and take the pet to a veterinarian immediately. Melamine has killed pets, so it is not something to take lightly.

  1. Vomiting

    • The FDA lists vomiting as one of the most important symptoms to look for in melamine poisoning.

    Loss of Appetite

    • Pets who have consumed melamine may start eating less than normal. If a pet's appetite decreases, the FDA recommends taking it to a veterinarian.

    Lethargy

    • When a pet eats melamine, it may act less energetic than normal, according to the FDA.

    Diarrhea

    • Melamine pet food symptoms may also include diarrhea. If a pet gets diarrhea, the Michigan Department of Agriculture suggests taking it to the vet.

    Increased Thirst and/or Urination

    • If a pet starts drinking noticeably more water and urinating more frequently, it could mean the pet has melamine poisoning.

    Kidney Failure

    • All of the above symptoms are preliminary symptoms of kidney failure, which is what usually causes melamine-related deaths in pets. Although pets do not always die from melamine poisoning, some may get kidney failure.