The tainted pet food recall in 2007 was due to vegetable byproducts containing melamine put into dog and cat food to artificially boost the protein percentage. Melamine is an industrial chemical and is used to make a number of products, including plastics, glue and in concrete. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), effects on dogs from melamine usually show up within two days.
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2007 Pet Food Recall
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The official FDA statistics for pet deaths due to melamine total only 14 pets, including one dog. Nobody knows exactly how many dogs were affected by melamine-tainted food, although some speculate the number is in the thousands. Within weeks of the news, Cornell University reported that veterinarians across the country had reported kidney failure in hundreds of pets.
Kidney Damage
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Melamine forms tiny crystals in the urine, which plug the urinary tract (tubules) leading to the dog's kidneys. This leads to acute kidney damage and potential death. Since kidney tissue does not regrow after it's damaged, the dog's kidneys remain permanently compromised. A dog who survives melamine poisoning may need to eat a special homemade or prescription diet, and have her kidney function monitored for life.
Symptoms
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The common symptoms of kidney disease are vomiting, lethargy, excessive thirst, and loss of appetite. In 2007, the FDA urged pet owners who suspected their dogs had eaten melamine-tainted food to take the animal to the vet, whether they saw symptoms or not.
Melamine and Cyanuric Acid
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Although some studies have indicated long-term ingestion of small amounts of melamine are harmless for dogs, it's harmful when combined with cyanauric acid, another ingredient in some pet food. The combined chemicals form insoluble crystals that plug and obstruct the tubules, damaging the kidneys and causing renal (kidney) failure.
Long-term Effects
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There are no extensive studies on the long term effects of melamine in dogs, but a report in the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation (JVDI) found chronic melamine-associated renal failure (MARF) in a post-mortem study of 10 cats and six dogs affected by tainted foods in both 2004 and 2007.
Managing Kidney Disease
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In addition to a diet low in protein and phosphorus and high in fat, a dog with chronic kidney disease needs a lot of fluids. Sometimes providing a constant supply of water is not enough, and you need to learn how to administer subcutaneous fluids on a regular basis. A dog with kidney disease can live a long, happy life as long as you work with your veterinarian to manage his diet and control symptoms.
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