The Times-Journal

Sunday, September 5, 2010 | DeKalb County's Oldest Newspaper

Classifieds | Jobs | Homes | Autos

Woman thinks dog poisoned by food

By Mark Harrison
The Times-Journal

Published December 27, 2005

It was a terrible thing for Sheila Barnes to endure just before Christmas – the loss of her family’s 8-year-old pet dog, Ringo, who she lovingly described as “a mixed mutt.”

Ringo died after apparently eating Diamond brand dog food contaminated with toxic fungus.

Diamond has advised retailers in more than 20 states – including Alabama – to stop selling some of its dog and cat food that may be contaminated. Some dogs, like Ringo, have died after eating the food, many have gotten sick.

Barnes said another family pet, Maggie, a young pit bull, is in critical condition. She said her family has racked up thousands of dollars in vet bills in an attempt to save the animal, which she said, “is like a member of the family.”

Barnes said she’s confident both her dogs became ill after eating contaminated Diamond pet food, a brand she has always trusted in the past.

The food is contaminated with a fungus that produces poisonous aflatoxin, which attacks the animal’s liver. Symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include lethargy, loss of appetite, yellowish eyes and gums, and severe or bloody diarrhea.

Diamond issued a recall of 19 varieties of dog and cat food earlier this week, sold in 23 states under brand names such as Diamond, Country Value and Professional.

The recalled batches have date codes of March 1, 2007, through June 21, 2007, and were made at the company’s plant in Gaston, S.C.

Barnes said she took her animals to DeKalb Animal Hospital in Fort Payne after they became sick, but said she has since learned that dogs, which are pack animals adverse to visible, outward displays of illness, may not show symptoms of having been poisoned until after suffering almost 80 percent liver failure.

Vets at DeKalb Animal Hospital, closed Monday for extended Christmas holiday, could not be reached for comment, nor could Freda Waters, director of the DeKalb County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

One Fort Payne vet, Dr. G.S. Killian, said he hasn’t yet seen any cases involving animals suffering from aflatoxin poisoning. He said those feeding Diamond brand foods to their pets should stop and contact a vet if they believe their animal has been poisoned.

Barnes encourages pet owners not to wait, since by the time symptoms become apparent, it could be too late to save the animal.

“I would advise anyone who has had an animal that’s been eating Diamond dog food to take the animal to the vet to be tested for liver damage. The problem is that this is something that is typically rare in small animals,” Barnes said. “It is important to understand that by the time the symptoms present, it is most likely too late to manage.”

South Carolina State Veterinarian Tony Caver said that state has five presumed cases linked to aflatoxin — three fatal.

As of December 23, no cases have been seen or confirmed in cats, though some of the samples of the cat food did test positive for the toxin, according to Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

— The Associated Press contributed to this story

Share | Save | Mail | Print

Photo Reprints
Purchase select photographs from local games and events. New from The Times-Journal and The Times-Journal.

Subscription Services: Circulation | Home Delivery | Back Issues | Vacation Stops | Newspapers In Education

The Fort Payne Times-Journal | Publisher: J.D. Davidson

811 Greenhill Blvd.NW, Fort Payne, Alabama 35967 | Tel: 256-845-2550 | Email