Sunday, August 30, 2009

Pet Tabs Multivitamins Contain Lead

Written by Jan on August 20, 2009 – 8:56 am

Important disclaimer. I received this alert via e-mail from Dr. R. J. Russell (who earned a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Zoology from Duke University and writes widely about dogs) regarding Pet-Tabs, a multivitamin made by Pfizer and widely sold. It concerns a report he said was made by ConsumerLab, a subscription testing site. I am not a ConsumerLab.com member and have not independently verified the report although I did communicate with Dr. Russell about it. I also checked the site and found Pet-Tabs listed in their multivitamin report. You can read it if you’re a member. http://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/Multivitamin_Multimineral_Supplements/multivitamins/

If you use this product, I suggest you to subscribe to ConsumerLab.com or write them and ask about it. Or write Dr. Russell. Please do not contact me. I have no further information. Read the report for yourself when making your decision as to whether to continue the product or not. I am not a vet or a research scientist. I do not use the product. I do not sell vitamins. This is for information purposes only. – Jan

PET-TABS ALERT

by

Robert Jay Russell, Ph.D.,a

Coton de Tulear Club of America President,

(607) 693-2828

August 5, 2009. DO NOT GIVE YOUR DOG ANY PET-TABS. THEY ARE CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD AND HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS!

I cannot emphasize enough the extreme danger these multivitamins represent. Quixotically, they are not being recalled and the FDA has taken no notice of the results of testing published by
ConsumerLabs.com.

ConsumerLab, a paid subscriber testing service, tested Pet-Tabs Complete Daily for Dogs in 2007 and again in 2009. They found very high levels of lead contamination in the product: 1.41 mcg (in 2007) and 6.45 mcg (in 2009). The latter is nearly 13 times above the level mandated as safe by the state of California.

Dr. Russell continues:

Pet-Tabs are perhaps the most widely sold dog and cat vitamin supplement. We’ve used them (albeit not for many years). Pet-Tabs are sold by PetsMart, Doctors Foster and Smith, and virtually every pet shop, and on-line pet store in the nation. Pet-Tabs are made by the giant Pfizer Pharmaceutical Corporation, one of America’s leading opponents of health care reform and industry inspection and regulation. Pet-Tabs are sold under another corporate name: “Virbac” << http://www.virbacpets.com/ >>

ConsumerLab tests mostly human products. Sadly, this report and the previous years’ report confirming lead contamination in Pfizer/Virbac Pet-Tab supplements calls into serious question the safety and efficacy of these giant corporations’ entire product lines.

ConsumerLab tests mostly human products. There is no other information (such as why or how this supposed animal health care product has been laced with toxic levels of lead for years).

LEAD POISONING

Lead can be absorbed through the skin or, in the case of these supplements, ingested and absorbed. Clinical signs can be gastrointestinal and/or neurological. Many dogs or cats who are chronically ill, have upset stomachs, anorexia (food avoiders), blood disorders, kidney disorders (degeneration of the glomeruli and tubules), immunological problems, reproductive problems, or are suffering abnormal behavioral signs could have suffered chronic, catastrophic lead poisoning through supplements.

Before this revelation of supplement poisoning, the most common known cause of lead poisoning in people and dogs was contact with lead based paint or old car batteries. Other common causes of lead poisoning include ingestion of lead shot (fatal to many wild birds and sometimes served up in food that is hunted) and handling lead painted toys and ceramic ware. During the past 6,000 years humans have mined and redistributed lead on the planet to the extent that each of us has approximately 1,000 times the lead in our system (as measured in our bones) than prehistoric North American Indians.

Puppies absorb lead more readily than adults and are at greatest immediate risk for signs of lead poisoning, but lead poisoning can prove debilitating, even fatal for mature pets as well.

If your dog suffers from the diffuse signs of lead poisoning or if your dog or cat have been exposed to Pet-Tabs, the CTCA recommends you have its blood tested for lead concentration. Children in the household should also be tested should your pet prove contaminated.

CTCA RECOMMENDATIONS

I would avoid all vitamin and mineral supplement products sold under labels by either Pfizer or Virbac. These include labels such as “Pet-Tinic,” and “Lixotinic,” and “Liqui-Tinic,” which are generally sold for large animals.

Save any bottles of these products in a sealed Zip Loc bag. Label the bag well, stating “DO NOT USE - POISON!” You may need a sample of this product should your dog or cat become symptomatic. You will need to save the original packaging and product should Pfizer/Virbac be subject to a Class Action suit.

REFERENCES FOR VETS

Veterinarians normally do not first associate gastrointestinal, immunological or even neurological signs with lead poisoning. Given America’s current largely untested, unregulated food, supplement, and pharmaceutical supply, perhaps they should.

Should your vet need additional information about lead toxicity, its diagnosis and treatment, I suggest the following available, up-to-date references:

Michael E. Peterson, Patricia A. Talcott (editors), “Small Animal Toxicology, Second Edition,” Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, MO. 2006

Ramesh G. Gupta (editor) “Veterinary Toxicology: Basic and Clinical Principles,” Academic Press, New York, NY. 2007.

WHAT VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS ARE SAFE?

That question is analogous to asking: “what food is safe?” It’s a crap shoot to be sure. ConsumerLab tested only three pet supplements; one was “Halo Purely for Pets VitaGlo Daily Greens.” It did not contain lead, but it contained less than half its advertised vitamins. “21st Century Pet Nutrition Pet Chews Plus” was “approved” since it did not contain lead and its ingredients were as labeled.

Our veterinarian believes that one-half a Centrum Senior (human vitamin) is safe and effective for a dog the size of a Coton de Tulear. But without widespread government tests of our food, drug and supplement supply, who knows?

We have been using ProPet 8-in-one Vitamin supplements without problems, but chronic, gradual poisoning is not something we’d necessarily see. As noted: it is a gamble. And one that no one in this country should have to take.

NOTE: you have permission to cross post this article. If you do so, please leave the article intact.

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Saturday, August 29, 2009

Blind Dog Rescue Needs Your Stuff

Blind Dog Rescue Alliance, Inc. is having an eBay auction! We need money for vetwork. Adam, a pointer mix, our first foster, came into rescue with a bad upper respiratory virus, very bad ear infection in both ears, and lastly he was positive for Coccidia, whipworms and Lung Fluke. He has been to the vet a couple times already to monitor him. He's doing well, but vetwork was expensive. Buddy, a senior poodle we pulled from a shelter in NJ, also may have kennel cough.
We have a 10 week old puppy born without eyes coming in next week. We need to raise money to pay for their vetwork!

Please, if you have anything to donate, email info@blinddogrescue.com. You can either ship the item or send it to us to ship (though if you can ship, that'd be great) All items are welcome, not necessarily dog related items. Auction will start on September 6. Please crosspost widely, and thanks for your support.

BDRA, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing blind and visually impaired dogs.
www.blinddogrescue.com

Please contact Blind Dog Rescue directly as I am not involved in this project, merely cross-posting for the director.