From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2007-05-26 21:05:18 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: 8 and 1 Victim
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, ferret-l@LISTSERV.FERRETMAILINGLIST.ORG
I've been told that my note about the ferret who ate that 8 in 1 food
could be misinterpreted so here is a clarification:
I am trying to find out if there has been a definite case of the
cyanuric acid and melamine crystals in ferrets because
1. to date it has not been documented in ferrets, and dogs from
which ferrets are descended are less prone to the problem than cats.
2. So, it is an unknown how easily the crystals can form in ferret
urine. (All types of urine differ in a number of factors including
typical pH.)
3. Also, if those crystals do form in ferrets then because ferrets
have more narrow "tubing" than cats and dogs is there an increased
risk of not only kidney damage but also of blockage lower in the
urinary track such as in the urethra?
4. And finally, since that one type of food was recalled because it
was produced at the same as the contaminated foods I wanted to find
out if there was actual documented cross-contamination rather than
just the possibility of such cross- contamination. (So far there is
one food from a different location which did have actual cross-
contamination, so if there was actual cross-contamination it probably
even more makes sense for any manufacturer to recall all types of
foods made at that time (as happened with that one type of 8 in 1)
rather than just ones with those known ingredients.)
So, I asked about the crystals, and also in my FML post (perhaps also
in my FHL post but i can't recall off-hand) I gave the info on which
specific 8 in 1 food was involved because there are sure to be those
who missed the original announcements who will want and perhaps even
need to know (i.e. may have one of the recalled bags).
Here is the FDA announcement again for those it can help:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/chenango05_07.html
> Chenango Valley Pet Foods is now expanding the recall action to
> include those pet foods that do not contain rice protein
> concentrate but were manufactured during periods when rice protein
> concentrate formulas were processed. The recall of these products
> is precautionary due to the possibility of cross-contamination.
...
> 8 in 1 Ferret ULTRA-BLEND ADVANCED NUTRITION DIET, NET WT. 20 LBS,
> UPC 26851 00413, Code: C7072
All that had been said was that the food was the cause but there was
not more data, and in both cat and dog health care there have been
both cases which were clearly the food as the cause but non-
acceptance of that by some food makers, but other cases with the
opposite where other causes turned out to be to blame. All that
anyone can do when little info is given is to ask questions. With no
other ferret reports that I have been able to find the data in this
situation become especially important to help others.
I am sorry that I was so brief but my own life has had some huge
demands recently with my elderly father (almost 93) extremely ill.
Yes, I am very sorry that KIller passed on, but was thinking that
perhaps information could save others. If I'd been under less time
pressure I'd have done a better job of getting that across. I
apologize for not being clear and hope that testing results are
shared because this poor little boy's appears case seems to be the
only case (so far?) in which people can possibly learn about cyanuric
acid-melamine crystals in ferrets, so the test results become
especially important and hopefully there will be a detailed report
should the testing not show an alternative kidney disease cause.
(This particular food maker appears to be more consciencous than some
others but I also kind of hope that some urine and kidney tissue is
looked at independently with a report.)
The research info on those crystals specifically can be linked to
from past posts.
Hopefully, that is more clear now.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
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