CITY FOCUS:Pet clinics keeping busy

Vena Sloan of Huntington Beach considers her 11-month-old Yorkshire terrier puppy her baby.

So it may not be a surprise that she tended to overreact at every possible sign of trouble.

Two weeks ago, when Trixie started vomiting and drinking lots of water, Sloan decided she wasn’t going to freak out right away. But when she found out the wet food she had been feeding her baby was part of the massive Menu Foods Inc. pet food recall, she took Trixie right away to her veterinarian at the All Creatures Care Cottage in Costa Mesa.

Trixie was in kidney failure, but quick action by both Sloan and staff at the animal hospital helped put the Yorkie on her way to better health.

“We were really, really nervous and scared — we didn’t know what was wrong,” Sloan said. “We still don’t really know for sure what will happen long term if it’s going to be something that affects her … or makes her more susceptible to kidney problems, we’re still a little nervous, but we’re relieved it’s getting better.”

The New York State Department of Agriculture determined on Friday that some samples it tested from food produced by a Canadian-based Menu Foods Inc. at a Kansas facility was contaminated with aminopterin, a rat poison banned from use in the United States in 1985, according to U.S. EPA spokesman Francisco Arcaute. The recalled food was “cuts and gravy” style wet food from cans or foil “pouch” packages.

The rodenticide has been named as a possible toxin responsible for the deaths of at least 16 cats and dogs, according to the Menu Foods Inc.

“We are happy and relieved that the experts from the New York State Department of Agriculture and from Cornell University have discovered the root of the issue that has harmed North American cats and dogs,” Menu Foods president and chief executive officer Paul K. Henderson said in a recent news release. “This important discovery caps an unprecedented search by top experts. Dedicated and knowledgeable researchers at universities, independent laboratories and our own veterinary consultants worked tirelessly to defend and protect our cats and dogs.”

The company will begin testing all the raw materials that could have had the poison in it to determine how the rodenticide entered the supply, Henderson said at a news conference Friday.

Trixie ate Nutro Natural Choice food, one of the recalled wet foods.

In Huntington Beach, a few cases were reported at animal hospitals and veterinarian offices.

At the Warner West Pet Clinic, several animals had come through that looked like they may have been adversely affected by the contaminated food they ate. On Tuesday, one dog was undergoing ultrasound tests to determine the extent of the kidney damage.

“It doesn’t look really bad at this point, but we’re trying to find out more information,” clinic worker Rachel Villarroel said Tuesday.

At least one other animal — a cat at the Beach Boulevard Pet Hospital — was affected, but hospital worker Dawn Densberger said the cat was doing very well.

About five cases were reported at the Animal Hospital-Huntington Beach.

Some pet hospitals were reluctant to say how many dogs and cats they thought might be affected because of the animals’ relative old age or inconclusive tests. But one thing’s for sure — the recall has kept veterinarians busy.

“We’ve had so many people call and ask questions, it’s been busy,” Animal Hospital-Huntington Beach office manager Kristen Nizato said.

At one time, Dr. Kelly Wright of the Cat Clinic of Orange County in Costa Mesa had seven cats on intravenous fluids at once.

Any pet owner who thinks their pet might have eaten recalled food or has a pet showing symptoms should call their veterinarian’s office or a local pet hospital for testing.

“Pet owners should watch for any symptoms that have been publicized — lethargy; vomiting; diarrhea; dark, tarry stools; excessive thirst — and immediately bring them to the vet or an emergency clinic so that they can treat and flush the toxin out with fluids,” said Debbie McGuire of the All Creatures Care Cottage said.