Vet P.O.V. The melamine Chihuahua: Infant deaths in China recall the pet food recall

Those of us who like to think in epidemiological terms know that pets can act as sentinels for cancers, infectious diseases and toxin exposure. The Chihuahua in the coal mine and all that.

The recent press on thousands of sickened babies in China (and at least four deaths to date) recalls that line of thinking, begging the question that’s in all of our minds: How could they let this happen...again?

It’s not as if they didn’t get the memo on the pet food recall. At least one official was hung for the melamine debacle in that case—less than a year ago. Is institutional memory that short in China? Or perhaps it never got the serious due it deserved given the victims’ non-human status.

After all, we know that China’s emerging economy isn’t exactly an enlightened one, despite our business leaders’ protests to the contrary and our collective swallowing of Beijing's Olympic pomp.

Dogs in China have received clubbings in lieu of rabies vaccinations. Animal deaths in America inspire only minimal additions to systemic controls over product safety in China. And now lower-income Chinese babies, for their sub-humanness and drain on the economy, are rewarded with melamine-laced milk powder.

Not surprisingly, the outcry on Chinese human rights blogs has come fast and furiously. Most of them reference the worldwide pet food recall, implying that Chinese officials only paid lip service to the seriousness of the melamine toxicity out of a need to mollify soft American sensibilities and safeguard their business interests.

More interestingly, the pet food recall is again on everyone’s lips, more so even in China than in the US.

This week, we’ve heard 2007’s pet food recall referenced in the media more than ever since the first month of the scandal. In fact, I can’t help feeling that the coverage now applies more credence to the severity of the recall in the wake of the at least 6,200 infant poisonings in China.

Finally, it seems, both sides of the Pacific are giving the animals the respect they deserve as sentinels for more broad-based malfeasance on the part of lax Chinese safety protocols.

“Thousands of pets were sickened and died.” Sad as it is to recall, this now-popular media line is music to my ears. It validates everything we experienced. Gone are the detractors claiming much ado about a mere thirteen animal deaths. And here’s where we get to say… “We told you so.”

September 19th, 2008

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Maybe some good may come from this in our field in that more clients and practitioners alike will show some healthy skepticism and scrutiny and not blindly accept everything from China as superior to Western medicine. I have seen some clients and colleagues persue alternative Chinese based medicine with a mysticism as logical as faith healing and snake handling.

Hobson September 19th, 2008 11:27:00 AM

We were talking about this a lot lately. One of my pals was impressed when China executed the guy over the issue. Terrible but I just figured it was more show than actually doing anything about fixing the problem.

Personally, I take issue with the commerce with countries where the standard of living for their people is horrible. Never mind that the practices of using toxic pesticides, human waste for fertilizers, and using water is questionable at best.

Want to knock people to their knees? Attacking the food source seems to be the new wave of terrorism--especially if nothing is done to correct or control the problem after the first blip on the radar.

Diana L Guerrero September 19th, 2008 12:03:00 PM

To the best of my knowledge, no one was executed as a result of the melamine-contaminated pet food. The official who was executed in July, 2007, was convicted of taking bribes in an earlier scandal involving fake medicines. The story is here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/a...

I was unable to find anything indicating that anyone involved with the tainted pet food was punished. At least one factory was shut down, but that was more about covering up what happened than punishment. One owner, Mao Lijun, was arrested, but I could find nothing further about what happened to him. See these stories:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/foodwine/200...

Story from February, 2008, about indictments in the US, says, "The Chinese government shut down Xuzhou Anying last year and arrested Mao. Prior to his arrest, Mao said in an interview that he had done nothing wrong. Wood said it was unclear if Mao was still in custody." (https://www.nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/2008-Februa...)

Mary Straus September 19th, 2008 02:14:00 PM

Thanks for clarifying this. Sad to see capital punishment for fraud cases, but somehow I still wish heads would roll...figuratively, at least.

Dr. Patty Khuly September 19th, 2008 04:47:00 PM

boycott Made in China if you can. I know almost impossible! Grrrr!

lolasmiles September 20th, 2008 02:09:00 PM

At least its clear that we weren't all a bunch of hysterical pet owning crazies. Too bad it took the poisoning of children to get people to pay attention, but frankly, if it weren't for outside pressure, I don't think the Chinese govt would be doing much even about this crisis. After all, these are the folks that will force late term abortions on women who already have a child.

Its all about money....now that some countries are banning the import of Chinese dairy products, they have to do something. But don't count on it being more than just a few slaps on the wrist - China needs that income to keep up its growth.

2CatMom September 24th, 2008 04:46:00 PM

I don't think we have seen the end of it either. My wife insists on buying China Made Rawhide flip chips that come from Wal-Mart. I now have two younger dogs at the vet with renal failure which is a symptom of melamine, on 10/17/08, a year after the dog food contamination. I have no proof that is what it is but the vet said it is a strong possibility. He has no way for testing for melamine. It doesn’t look like they are going to make it. I am not too sure how to prove it or have the financial resources to do so, but am still very sadden. My guess is there are other cases and it will be coming out before long ….again.

Randy H October 17th, 2008 08:25:00 PM

Hi Randy,
I am so sorry about your dogs. I was giving my little pom, beef eaters TASTY SPOTS W/ REAL CHICKEN,( so they say) And sure enough MADE IN CHINA! I had no idea about all this, I would have never given him these junky stuff. I am devasted because my dog is ill now. He has problems with his small intestines, and his stomach makes alot of noise. He is under a vet internal medicine dr. and he is on medications. I am so upset with myself. WE dont know if this raw hide is the cause of all this. He hasnt had raw hide in 10 months and he still has diaherra also. Randy, if you know anything about this product will you let me know? i AM SURE THIS IS WHY MY DOG IS ILL. i WOULD LOVE TO DO SOMETHING LEGALLY IF I CAN... THANKS! DEBORA

DEBORA October 31st, 2008 10:57:00 PM

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