Press Release: ASPCA Sheds Light on Toxin Identified as Part of Tests on Tainted Food
NEW YORK, March 23, 2007—Based on new reports issued by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets that rodent poison was found in laboratory testing of the tainted pet food recalled last week, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), through its Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), has the following information to provide to the public:
Aminopterin, a toxin found in some rodenticides available outside the USA, is a folic acid antagonist, i.e. it disrupts the body’s ability to utilize folic acid. In animals, this can result in loss of appetite, diarrhea and weight loss. It may also cause leucopenia, which is a reduction in white blood cells, as well as birth defects.
Aminopterin is closely related in chemical structure and mechanism to a drug called methotrexate, which is used to treat some cancers, both in humans and animals.
Click here to read the rest of the press release...
Aminopterin, a toxin found in some rodenticides available outside the USA, is a folic acid antagonist, i.e. it disrupts the body’s ability to utilize folic acid. In animals, this can result in loss of appetite, diarrhea and weight loss. It may also cause leucopenia, which is a reduction in white blood cells, as well as birth defects.
Aminopterin is closely related in chemical structure and mechanism to a drug called methotrexate, which is used to treat some cancers, both in humans and animals.
Click here to read the rest of the press release...
posted by ASPCA at 4:10 PM PERMALINK
1 Comments:
It is a terrible tragedy about the poison pet food, my heart goes out to the pet families that have lost a loved one. I just wanted share an adoption story. Our old dog, Dally, got picked up by the local dog catcher (he escaped 1st time in 11 years. When we went to pick him up, there was a little girl named Sassy up for grabs (she was slated for execution the next day, shih tzu, knows tricks, owner died family took her to the pound about 2 yrs old)I took her home and she is my best pal! She is one of the few dogs I have ever truly loved! Dally, died about 1 week later, I think the reason he ran off was to die since he had never done it before. He was a wonderful old guy and we are lost without him! However, I think he led us to Sassy! Having her did somewhat lessen the blow of his loss. I know that may sound strange to many people, but true pet lovers understand the bond they have with their animals. Dally was also a shelter dog. We have 1 no kill shelter in my area and several local dog catchers who (due to budget) put dogs down after about a week of being picked up. I strongly support the no kill shelters however when I go to look for a pet, I go to the ones that execution is a common practice. When we got Sassy, the dog catcher just gave her to us (no fees at all) because he didn't want to put her down and also returned our old fellow too no fees because he sees so many families abandon their loved ones, he was thrilled to see a family who wanted their pet and was willing to take on a stranger. Please check your shelters before buying a cat or dog, you may save a life and end up with a fabulous new family member that truly needs a home!
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