Australians ONLY - Orijen users alert

[BLAISE]

There is a report on an (what appears to be) a cat-only discussion forum based in New South Wales, of a small number of cats allegedly suffering from a paralytic condition caused by the over-irradiation of Orijen cat food upon its importation into Australia.

Posters on the site have not referenced any media reports. One poster suggests that some form of public announcement is to be made "sometime next week". (That poster uses the title "Administrator".)

There are several references in the thread indicating that the cause of the problem is NOT the Orijen product itself, but the irradiation process used by the Australian government's 'food import safety' department/authority. There is a suggestion that the product was over-irradiated.

None of the posters have indicated that their own cats have been so affected.

Some of the posters (apart from the "Administrator"), IMO, appear to have some "inside knowledge" of the report, but seem very reluctant to divulge details.

If it were not that this site appears to be a well-established one and that an apparent authority on the site seems to be confirming some of the information, I would not be posting this. I lived through (what was for me) the terror of the NA recalls last year, watching for weeks as new products were added to the recall list. I well know the anxiety I experienced...and would not wish nor want to cause such for any other kitty parent.

The report on that forum may be bogus - if basically true, it will undoubtedly have inaccuracies - certainly, if correct, there are many details missing.

Knowing of, and having felt the harm done by the delay for weeks/months of the release of information here in North America last year, I cannot not make this post tonight - even if the purported public announcement is "only" days away.

The only point of my own that I'll add is that the connection between irradiation and limb paralysis appears to be scientifically accurate. Through Google (using: irradiation,paralysis,cat), several science papers are available documenting it, among which is this (allow time to load).

[Kalikat]

Thanks for the information. I read a headline, I think it was while I was waiting at the vets, that said something about Orijen cat food being the cause of an organ, can't remember which one, being affected & irriversible.
If what you say is correct about over-irradiation of the food, is it possible that all imported pet foods into Australia could also be affected? I feed my puppy on Innova & my cat on California Natural.

[missymotus]

Originally Posted by BLAISE

Some of the posters (apart from the "Administrator"), IMO, appear to have some "inside knowledge" of the report, but seem very reluctant to divulge details.

Most of the members over there breed and/or show cats, work in vet offices, rescues, and are quite involved in the cat community. I would not say that they are reluctant to divulge, but until anything official gets said there are some that simply may not feel comfortable adding too much to the rumours.

Orijen is a fairly new food over here and only available from 1-2 places, so even if there is a problem hopefully it will not be widely spread.

[BLAISE]

Originally Posted by Kalikat

...I read a headline...

So, Kalikat, do you think that this actually appeared in the media? After I read about this, I Googled everything I could think of, but the only mention of it at all was on the site I referenced.

I noticed that you mentioned being at the Vets....one of the posts I read talked about staff putting up posters at a Vet's office.

missymotus- I have no right to judge anyone's action/inaction - I can only say that if such were to occur here and I were to have had prior (to an announcement) knowledge, I wouldn't be able to live with myself, wondering how many kitties might have been "saved" from this had I not raised an alarm immediately. (Frankly, that's why I posted this tonight - I, at the very least, wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.) But, to work "on the inside" and not to somehow "blow the whistle"....incomprehensible to me.

[catsrthebest]

We fed our two cats (approx. 2 years old) exclusively on Orijen cat food since the middle of August 2008. Three weeks ago one of the two cats showed some weakness in one hind leg. The weakness progressed and we saw a vet who suggested a neurological problem. Eventually the cat was seen by a specialist vet at the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) in Sydney. This hospital had recently seen many cases like ours with the use of Orijen cat food being the common factor.We heard that the gamma radiation of the Orijen cat food was under consideration as a possible cause. I e-mailed Champion Petfoods Ltd (the manufaturer of Orijen) with request for any insights or test results which would help to bring the appropriate focus on this issue with the relevant government authority in Australia.

The company's reply included the following: "... we have temporarily stopped the sale of ORIJEN cat foods in Australia and have engaged on an intensive program to investigate every possible factor or co-factor whether or not related to ORIJEN foods."
And further that: "All laboratory tests have so far shown both irradiated and non-irradiated samples are of acceptable nutritional quality and free of toxins. While irradiation remains the focus of our study, we are also considering that these reports are exclusive to the Sydney area. As you may know, ORIJEN foods are sold world-wide and are available in the majority of pet speciality shops here in Canada. While the single lot shipped to Australia was widely distributed in Canada and abroad, reported problems are exclusive to the Sydney region. "

Our cat's condition deteriorated rapidly to the point where both hind legs were severely affected. It was unable to walk without the hind legs collapsing and it also became incontinent. Sadly, he was put to sleep a couple of days ago. Our second cat began to show the initial symptoms of weakness in one hind leg 10 days ago. His condition has got slightly worse and he continues to be given supplements as prescribed. We remain hopeful.

There has not been much publicity about this issue and therefore it would be reasonable to assume that some people who have previously purchased the Orijen cat food continue to feed it to their cats without knowledge of the facts.

[mrblanche]

Originally Posted by BLAISE

So, Kalikat, do you think that this actually appeared in the media? After I read about this, I Googled everything I could think of, but the only mention of it at all was on the site I referenced.

I'll go you one better. I just googled it, and all I found was this one thread.

The site mentioned above comes up "not found." I found it through a different search, but a search of the site for "orijen" comes up with no returns.

All google searches of "paralysis radiation cat" refer to radiation treatment of the cat.

My spidey-sense says this might be an anti-radiation activist hoax.

[Nance]

I live in Canada and have in the past fed my dogs ...Orijen dry food when searching for what I thought would be a good healthy food for my dogs...I didn't choose this food in the end...simply because I had to drive to far to buy it....Since then a store near me has been selling it...and I was thinking about switching back to it....now I won't be doing that...I know its seems to be only in Australia but I won't take the chance ..until there is more info about this.....Does it sound like it could be tampering ? Or prolong use of the food ? Anyways sounds scary all around...I would freak if the food I was giving my pet caused there death...hence why I went with food that were not on any recall lists...I think I need to revisit making my own food again...

Sorry for your loss...and best wishes for your remaining kitty

[sharky]

Originally Posted by mrblanche

I'll go you one better. I just googled it, and all I found was this one thread.

The site mentioned above comes up "not found." I found it through a different search, but a search of the site for "orijen" comes up with no returns.

All google searches of "paralysis radiation cat" refer to radiation treatment of the cat.

My spidey-sense says this might be an anti-radiation activist hoax.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&p...sue%3F&spell=1

here is my google... I put in Au orijen and irridation.. it pull the orginal site , this site and a newspaper article

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/...375062012.html

[sarahp]

Are there any legal implications of blaming a specific food on medical problems with no proof on a public forum? It could certainly explain why people aren't saying anything definitive yet.

[sharky]

Originally Posted by sarahp

Are there any legal implications of blaming a specific food on medical problems with no proof on a public forum? It could certainly explain why people aren't saying anything definitive yet.

yes there could be ...

[Ewa]

Originally Posted by Nance

I live in Canada and have in the past fed my dogs ...Orijen dry food when searching for what I thought would be a good healthy food for my dogs...I didn't choose this food in the end...simply because I had to drive to far to buy it....Since then a store near me has been selling it...and I was thinking about switching back to it....now I won't be doing that...I know its seems to be only in Australia but I won't take the chance ..until there is more info about this.....Does it sound like it could be tampering ? Or prolong use of the food ? Anyways sounds scary all around...I would freak if the food I was giving my pet caused there death...hence why I went with food that were not on any recall lists...I think I need to revisit making my own food again..

Orijen dog and cat food being fed in Canada has not had a single case or report or even rumors of anything causing illness in the animals ingesting it. The reports or rumors, whatever you want to call it, being referred to are in Australia, not Canada. I personally have had my dog with severe food allergies on Orijen fish dog food for years now. I also live ten minutes away from the Champion feeds plant where Orijen is produced and have friends that work there. It is a very good food. The reason the food could be causing illness is from the processing it goes through when imported to certain countries. If you live in Canada you are just as safe to feed Orijen to your cats as any other food, considering all of the recent pet food recalls of other brands.

[BLAISE]

Well, how quickly things can change...it's now Monday in Oz and Monday morning's Sydney Morning Herald is breaking this story.