Royal Canin Canada on Tuesday announced it was recalling some of its pet food after finding that one of its production lots contained contaminated wheat gluten.

The recall applies to the Medi-Cal Feline Dissolution Formula canned diet foods. The product was available only through prescription.

"After being repeatedly reassured by Menu Foods, as reinforced by FDA [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] public statements, that none of the contaminated wheat gluten had made its way to Canada, we were completely shocked to learn yesterday that this was not the case, and that this wheat gluten had been used in the Feline Dissolution Formula canned product" said Xavier Unkovic, CEO Royal Canin Canada, in a release.

Meanwhile, Menu Foods' chief financial officer on Tuesday told the Globe and Mail that it was a "horrible coincidence" that he sold 4,000 units in the company almost three weeks before the extensive recall was issued.

Mark Wiens said that while the company began fielding pet illness reports in February, he didn't learn of the problem until March.

Kidney failure in cats spiked by 30 per cent in U.S., vets say

As the recall continues to widen, doctors at a large U.S. veterinary hospital chain say the contaminated pet food recall period corresponds with a 30 per cent upsurge in cases of cats suffering from kidney failure.

'It has meaning when you see a peak like that.'—Hugh Lewis, Banfield veterinarian

Banfield, The Pet Hospital, released its findings on Monday, culling data from files at 615 veterinary clinics.

"It has meaning when you see a peak like that," said Banfield veterinarian Hugh Lewis. "We see so many pets here, and it coincided with the recall period."

The veterinary clinic said that three out of every 10,000 cats and dogs treated at its clinics developed kidney failure over the three-month timeframe the tainted pet food was sold. Doctors had not determined if those animals had consumed the contaminated food.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received over 12,000 reports in the last three weeks, more than double the number of complaints normally fielded in a year. No comparable statistics are available for Canada.

Imports of wheat gluten blocked

The FDA has blocked imports of wheat gluten from the Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. after finding melamine — a chemical used in plastics, countertops, glue and fertilizers — in samples of recalled wet and dry pet food and treats. The chemical was also found in cats who died after eating the contaminated food.

Banfield doctors said they did not detect a rise in the number of dogs treated for kidney failure. Lewis said this finding seems to indicate that dogs were less vulnerable than cats to the contaminated ingredient. Banfield clinics treat about six per cent of dogs and cats in the U.S.

The U.S. Veterinary Information Network on Monday said it surveyed 1,400 of its members and estimates the recalled pet food may have sickened between 5,000 and 10,000 animals. The group also speculates the food may have caused the deaths of as many as 2,000 pets. Paul Pion, the founder of the 30,000-member group, says the numbers were not definitive.

Five companies pull pet-food products

Last month, Ontario-based Menu Foods recalled 60 million containers of its "cuts and gravy" style wet pet food, sold under nearly 100 store labels and major brands across North America. On Thursday, the company expanded its date range of recalled wet pet foods to include products dated back to Nov. 8, none of which were sold in Canada.

The Canadian division of Del Monte Foods has recalled its Jerky Treats Beef Flavour Dog Snacks with a best before date of Aug. 16, 2008. In the U.S., Del Monte Pet Products has pulled its Jerky Treats Beef Flavour Dog Snacks, Gravy Train Beef Sticks Dog Snacks and Pounce Meaty Morsels Moist Chicken Flavor Cat Treats.

Testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found melamine — a chemical used in plastics, countertops, glue and fertilizers — in samples of recalled pet food.
(CBC)

Purina has also pulled its Alpo Prime Cuts in Gravy product from U.S. store shelves. The product was not sold in Canada.

Meanwhile, Hill's Pet Nutrition has also confirmed its Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry cat food included the tainted wheat gluten. Hill's, a division of Colgate-Palmolive Co., is so far the only company to recall any dry pet food. The cat food in question is sold in both Canada and the United States.

Alabama-based Sunshine Mills Inc. on Thursday also pulled its products in the U.S. made for sale under five private labels, including Ol'Roy biscuits, sold by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and Stater Bros. large biscuits, sold by Stater Bros. Markets. The recall also applies to a portion of Sunshine's own Nurture, Lassie and Pet Life dog biscuit brands.

The FDA traced the problem to melamine after pet owners grew concerned about apparent kidney failure in their cats and dogs. There have been 16 confirmed cases of animals dying in the U.S. after eating Menu Foods products.

With files from the Associated Press