Pet Food Recall, or, Why I Like My Vet

[cjsmith]

The pet food recall has now been expanded to include some dry foods, including (notably for me) Hill's m/d, commonly used for diabetic cats.

How do I know? My veterinarian's office took the time to call me. I went in today to exchange a big bag of Hill's for a big bag of Purina D/M.

They're also offering blood work free of charge for any cat who has been eating this food. For me that's all three cats. Little Girl will get blood drawn when she's in for her teeth cleaning (rescheduled due to the Busines Trip From Hell), and the other two will go in the following Saturday.

I'm impressed with my vet.

Comments

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

Our vet is good too. They also had composed a list of clients to call & warn about the Hill's m/d cat food recall. My mother dropped by with the bags of Hills M/D we had just before they were to call us. The replacement food we got is IVD (Royal Canin / Waltham) Calorie Control CC dry cat food for Shadow. (We, however, didn't get any offers for free blood work -- it looks like your vet is going above and beyond the call of duty!)

Shadow is also due for a teeth cleaning. We're not quite sure when we're scheduling that yet.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I think my vet is pretty conservative, always opting to test more rather than less. It makes the place expensive (ouch) but I can see why it would also contribute to them making an offer like this.

Good luck to Shadow on her teeth cleaning!

[nosrednayduj]

I'm sort of really sad that the premium brands don't have better quality control than this. The store brands I expect to have bad control. But I was really annoyed to see Science Diet and Iams on the list. And hills! Egads!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I guess when you get down to brass tacks, they all buy from the same suppliers.

[genuine-snark.livejournal.com]

I'm not seeing any dry food (including Hill's) listed on the site, and the press releases say something about the recall -not- being expanded. I'm not trying to be contrary; I want to make sure my cat's food isn't listed. Where were you seeing the Hill's dry food listed?

[genuine-snark.livejournal.com]

Found Hill's own recall

http://www.hillspet.com/menu_foods/Menu_Foods_03302007_en_US.htm

Apparently, Hill's is the only one to recall a dry food so far. Kind of frighteningly, they don't appear on the main recall website.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I've heard Hill's is a voluntary recall, which may be why it doesn't appear on the main site. I wish it did; that would be more reassuring, giving one solid place to go for a full list.

[stormecho.livejournal.com]

We got a letter from the Animal Hospital on this. Good luck to your kitties!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Say, who's that cute feline in your icon, with a nose looking like it's been dipped into the paint pot? :-) Yours?

[stormecho.livejournal.com]

Yup, that's Echo, lounging in front of the fireplace. This one's Henry.

[therobbergirl.livejournal.com]

Would you mind saying who your vet is? I need to find a new vet. Driving across the bay to Fremont is more hassle than I'd prefer.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I go to Sunnyvale Veterinary Clinic at Mary and El Camino. I usually see Dr. Wright, who is described as the staff veterinarian "most up on diabetes", though once I got Dr. Singh, the clinic director. Both are great. There are other doctors on staff whom I haven't yet met.

The gem of the clinic, in my opinion, is Bron McInerney, who works desk and gives injections and calms frantic little first-time-diabetic-cat-owners and pet-sits during her off hours.