Pet Food Recall: Meet Oreo, the Boston Terrier

Remember that cute Boston terrier we showed when we first wrote about the Menu Foods pet food recall?

His name is Oreo, and, unfortunately, he was sickened by the tainted pet food. According to the puppy's owner, Oreo, who lives in New Jersey, "spent more than a full day in the hospital being treated for kidney failure.” He is back home and "energetic," but the experience was harrowing, to say the least. Oreo did wind up on local television, but, given the circumstances, both he and his owners probably would rather have avoided it.

As of Wednesday, Menu Foods still can't determine why pets are suffering from kidney failure after eating their food. The president of Menu Foods isn't coming out and saying that wheat gluten is the primary suspect, but the Food and Drug Administration said that's what they're looking at.

But the word is clear: Do not feed your pet wheat gluten under any circumstances. Double-check that label before you feed man's best friend (or man's most apathetic friend if you're talking about cats) anything. If you really aren't sure, just don't feed your pet the wet "cuts 'n' gravy" food.

Here are the full lists of brands recalled by Menu Foods: 1. Brands of recalled dog food. 2. Brands of recalled cat food. Be prepared - these lists are long! You'll be wondering if you should be feeding your pet anything.

The Herald reports of one instance in which changing a pet's brand of food caused a miraculous recovery: "Dawn Stockford, 41, of Marshfield, said her 2-year-old gray cat was close to death, her kidneys failing despite vigorous treatment, until she took her off Iams cat food on Friday. Maggie has started to play and eat again." When in doubt, switch the food until this mess gets cleared up.

Image of Oreo, the tough terrier, from Flickr user SheepGuardingLlama, who has plenty more pictures of the Menu Foods survivor in his Flickr account.