Both Important: Grid Marks and Pet Food

I checked the list, our two Ridgebacks started life on Eukanuba dry puppy food and advanced to the dry adult formula, they have never eaten wet/canned food. The cost would be prohibitive, 70 pound dogs eat a lot. They've been eating Purina Large Breed for about two years now. Miss Pinkee Squeek-a-Lotta also eats only dry cat food, Fri skies Hairball and Weight Control.

I feel so bad for those who have lost their pets. My Mom always fed her miniature poodle Mighty Dog, which is on the list. Musette and Mom have been gone a long time.

Back to the sewing machine, trying to get some quilted "possible bags" made for show and tell next week. I'm also working on "Puzzle Balls", from Jinney Byers book, they're sort of therapeutic!

B>I think that the expensive foods are made at the same plants is pretty

Is that just the ones in his area? Debra in VA See my quilts at

No, he's trying to keep a tally of ALL the deaths that can be attributed to the food.

I doubt that we will ever really know the total. Sometimes it is difficult to tell that a death is due to that specific thing, without a necropsy. Woman across the street (the one who accused us of "kidnapping" her cat--- cat has decided to live here, goes out whenever she wants to, but always comes back in.) feeds the cats canned food. And I have seen open cans sitting by our hedge. Not positive what brands, but probably WalMart type stuff. One of our QIs died a couple of weeks ago... and the symptoms he exhibited are right up there with the warning of the bad food. But--- we don't really know how old he was. (another of the cats that adopted us, just moved in and decided he lived here.) So it may have been old age too.

There are many people who may have had a pet die, and not have the $$ or whatever to let a vet or anyone know about it.

Pati, > I think that the expensive foods are made at the same plants is pretty

One of the pet deaths was confirmed by necropsy here in Phoenix. The vet says that the kidneys were essentially "chewed up". Looked similar to what happens if a dog gets into anti-freeze according to the interview on tonight's news. Part of the problem is that they know it is a toxin, But they don't know what specific toxin so they don't know how to treat it or if it is reversible, etc. Estimates are that there will possibly be thousands of sick pets, and they may be sick for years. Many may not show signs until months from now. Sad news indeed.

We feed dry food to our pets. Glad we do.

Pati, > No pets of my own, but I know a lot of other people's pets to forward this

I just saw something on Yahoo's home page that they think it might be rat poison in the pet food.

I thought the news articles saying that were probably a bit misleading. Just because there is a chemical involved that is used in rat poison does not mean that it is rat poison. Ingredients that are not legal for sale for human consumption are often used in pet foods where there are no real rules. So any number of contaminants like molds or pesticides could have been present in the wheat used for the gluten, if indeed the gluten is the culprit as seems obvious. If a reporter had covered my MIL's death and had wanted to be a bit sensationalist, they could have legitimately written that she died after ingesting medication that contained rat poison. One of the drugs that caused the drug interactions that killed her was methytrexate, which was originally developed as a rat poison. You have to really keep your eyes open when reading the news anymore.

NightMist

Yogi is absolutely right. May his cholesterol never grow higher!

I couldn't believe that Iams was on the list! So much for that being an exclusive and healthy animal food. I am thanking all the lucky stars that 'Dorable Dora only gets Iams kibble and not their canned food. My little princess insists on Fancy Feast once a day, but it wasn't on the list. My sympathies to all out there who are worried about their QIs and beloved pets.

Polly, part of the problem is that the silver coating is water repellent. So all the markers do is sit on top of it. They aren't able to "sink in" and bond with the fibers. You might be able to mark the silver with a "scratch" (think something like a nutpick along the edge of the ruler) followed by a permanent marker that could then contact the fibers directly. After drying then I would wipe it with a damp cloth to remove excess ink. Not sure it would work, but may be worth a try. ????

Pati, > I tested three different markers to see if I could safely put some grid

Years ago my folks did exactly that. The vet said (remember this was many, many years ago.) to feed her (German Shepherd) Purina Dog Chow. Dry food was fine, helped to clean the teeth and so on. She also got occasional table scraps as a "treat". That dog finally laid down to sleep when she was over 20 years old. And had tangled with both a porcupine and a rattlesnake in her adventurous days.

Pati, > I think IAMs went over to the non-exclusive side when they went grocery

That sounded good so I tried it. The 'scratch' (although I was quite gentle) split the silver cloth wide open. A lovely patch of heavy-duty fusible interfacing holds it together nicely. Even with its Band-Aid, it looks so much better than it did. The pressboard's new cover has had a lot of duty this week and just works beautifully. I do love it. Polly