Royal Canin Law Suit

Does anyone know about this Law Suit with RCanin? My cat has been on
one of the foods metioned on the Law Firm's website, who is
representing the plantiff.

I talked to my former vet who has been selling me the food for since
June of 2003 to now, and they have no answers for me other than A) the
food is safe B)the food was recalled in January 06 and everyone one
was contacted by their office (NO, I was NOT contacted). I was not
contacted by their office. When I called the first time about this
another girl told me that the company never released a recall and they
did not know about it - seems this vet's office had a staff meeting
and now are changing their tune. I requested my "files" from this
office, as I am taking my cat to another vet, as she is having
drinking way too much water. Oddly enough, my file has now
mysteriously disapeared for my cat. My cat has a history of illness
with liver problems and now I'm wondering if there is some connection
to this food - my cat has been on it since she was six months, she is
now going on five..........

I don't know anything about the recall - which ones?

On Mar 28, 1:24?pm, "KittiKat" wrote:
Does anyone know about this Law Suit with RCanin? My cat has been on
one of the foods metioned on the Law Firm's website, who is
representing the plantiff.

I talked to my former vet who has been selling me the food for since
June of 2003 to now, and they have no answers for me other than A) the
food is safe B)the food was recalled in January 06 and everyone one
was contacted by their office (NO, I was NOT contacted). I was not
contacted by their office. When I called the first time about this
another girl told me that the company never released a recall and they
did not know about it - seems this vet's office had a staff meeting
and now are changing their tune. I requested my "files" from this
office, as I am taking my cat to another vet, as she is having
drinking way too much water. Oddly enough, my file has now
mysteriously disapeared for my cat. My cat has a history of illness
with liver problems and now I'm wondering if there is some connection
to this food - my cat has been on it since she was six months, she is
now going on five..........

Petfood maker Royal Canin hit with lawsuit
Updated Tue. Mar. 20 2007 10:31 PM ET

Canadian Press

TORONTO -- A Canadian class action lawsuit has been filed against pet
food maker Royal Canin Canada Co. on behalf of dog and cat owners
claiming that certain products contain excessive amounts of vitamin D
and have caused their pets to become sick or die.


One of the lawyers handling the plaintiffs' case said the suit against
Royal Canin has been in the works for months and is unrelated to the
high-profile problems that have come to light at Menu Foods Income
Fund (TSX:MEW.UN), a major North American pet food maker that
announced last week it was recalling dozens of brands of "cuts and
gravy" style products.


In the United States, a Chicago woman sued Menu Foods on Tuesday,
alleging the Canadian pet food manufacturer delayed announcing a
recall of 60 million containers of dog and cat food despite knowing
its products were contaminated and potentially deadly, the Associated
Press reports.


Menu said it had not seen the suit and had no comment.


The suit against Royal Canin, filed Tuesday in the Ontario Superior
Court, alleges the pet food maker -- a subsidiary of a French company
-- either knew or should have known the levels of vitamin D were
unsafe and could cause the animals to develop high levels of calcium
in their blood, renal failure and other conditions.


None of the allegations have yet to be tested in court.


The Canadian lawsuit is seeking compensation for people who bought
Royal Canin dog or cat food since Aug. 1, 2004.


Joel Rochon, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said he wants the company
cover the cost of veterinarian services related to the health
problems, as well as the replacement cost of pets that have died, and
reimburse the price of the food.


The claim outlines at least 59 Royal Canin products that it says
should be included in the refund.


The lawsuit has been filed by law firms Rochon Genova LLP and
Himelfarb Proszanski LLP.


Rochon said the case has been in development for up to six months and
is not directly related a pet food recall issued by Menu Foods but
Rochon added that his firm has been retained for a case involving
Menu.


While a class action suit hasn't been filed in the Menu Foods case,
"it looks like we're heading in that direction,'' Rochon said.


Menu, which is based in the Toronto area, said Friday it was recalling
some of its dog and cat food and conducting tests after receiving
feedback that about 10 pets had suffered kidney damage after eating
the firm's products.







On Mar 28, 3:32 pm, "Buddy's Mom" wrote:
I don't know anything about the recall - which ones?

On Mar 28, 1:24?pm, "KittiKat" wrote:



Does anyone know about this Law Suit with RCanin? My cat has been on
one of the foods metioned on the Law Firm's website, who is
representing the plantiff.

I talked to my former vet who has been selling me the food for since
June of 2003 to now, and they have no answers for me other than A) the
food is safe B)the food was recalled in January 06 and everyone one
was contacted by their office (NO, I was NOT contacted). I was not
contacted by their office. When I called the first time about this
another girl told me that the company never released a recall and they
did not know about it - seems this vet's office had a staff meeting
and now are changing their tune. I requested my "files" from this
office, as I am taking my cat to another vet, as she is having
drinking way too much water. Oddly enough, my file has now
mysteriously disapeared for my cat. My cat has a history of illness
with liver problems and now I'm wondering if there is some connection
to this food - my cat has been on it since she was six months, she is
now going on five..........- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

This from CBC Newswire, Royal Canin's Response to the allegations:

"In a statement Wednesday, Royal Canin said none of its products is
linked to any current safety issues regarding Menu Foods. Royal
Canin's products that were recalled in early 2006 were prescribed
exclusively through veterinary clinics, it added.

"Royal Canin Canada wishes to assure customers that all affected
products have been removed and destroyed," the statement said. "No
over-the-counter pet food was affected.""

Last week when I called my old vet's office (who I have been
purchasing Royal Canin Urinary SO for feline, since 2003) first said
A) they were NEVER informed of any recall on RCanin, and did not know
anything about it. This week however, they are now saying WE CALLED
ALL OUR CLIENTS ON THIS FOOD back in January of 2006.. I was never
ever called, I am in their office every 3 weeks to purchase food, no
one ever, ever spoke to me about this back in 2006....I probably fed
my cat this food as I buy it from here every 3 weeks.


Here is the Legal Teams website if you want more information, they are
claiming over 18 foods, all prescribed from the vet, for both feline
and canine were tainted with excessive levels of Vit D3 - which they
claim are still being produced and sold today in vet's clinics:

http://www.rochongenova.com/index.aspx

I just had my cat into a new vet's office, and let me tell you, they
were NONE to happy to have me as a client, eventhough I was quite
polite, etc.,,, The MINUTE they heard the story as to why I was at
their clinic, attitude changed, very quickly. The vet said, "my cats
are still on this food and doing well"...Yeah, my response was, you
did not fed your cat's the bad lot of food, I on the otherhad, was
never contacted. This vet did a quick exam on my cat, and said
everything "looked" fine and nothing further was recommend???
HUH..first time ever I've been in a vet clinic where they DID NOT WANT
TO DO TESTS to make money (and no I am not saying that all vets do
this, please don't flame me for this remark) . I insisted both blood
and urine be done, as my cat has not been well lately.

Personally, I think vet's are crapping their drawers over this,
afterall, if they prescribed RC food, and it is proven that animals
were either made sick or have died, there will be legal recourse.
Right now, I'm waiting to get the lab results back...ugh.








On Mar 28, 3:32 pm, "Buddy's Mom" wrote:
I don't know anything about the recall - which ones?

On Mar 28, 1:24?pm, "KittiKat" wrote:



Does anyone know about this Law Suit with RCanin? My cat has been on
one of the foods metioned on the Law Firm's website, who is
representing the plantiff.

I talked to my former vet who has been selling me the food for since
June of 2003 to now, and they have no answers for me other than A) the
food is safe B)the food was recalled in January 06 and everyone one
was contacted by their office (NO, I was NOT contacted). I was not
contacted by their office. When I called the first time about this
another girl told me that the company never released a recall and they
did not know about it - seems this vet's office had a staff meeting
and now are changing their tune. I requested my "files" from this
office, as I am taking my cat to another vet, as she is having
drinking way too much water. Oddly enough, my file has now
mysteriously disapeared for my cat. My cat has a history of illness
with liver problems and now I'm wondering if there is some connection
to this food - my cat has been on it since she was six months, she is
now going on five..........- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

"KittiKat" wrote in message
ups.com...
Does anyone know about this Law Suit with RCanin? My cat has been on
one of the foods metioned on the Law Firm's website, who is
representing the plantiff.

This is what's on their site on current recall:
http://www.royalcanin.us/
Now if I wanted to be absolutely reassuring to my customers I would say that
menu foods does not make any of our product, BUT that is not what they said.
Look on your cans - what's in it?

............I believe the problem was with Vit D a while ago. Just Google
Royal Canin Vitamin D. HEre's one:
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/business/070321/b032102A.html
The Canadian lawsuit is seeking compensation for people who bought Royal
Canin dog or cat food since Aug. 1, 2004.
This was from last year and is a cached version:
http://tinyurl.com/2mnft9

Check your cans:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/enforc.../ENF00950.html
RECALLS AND FIELD CORRECTIONS: VETERINARY MEDICINE -- CLASS II
_______________________________
PRODUCT
a) Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Urinary SO, Food for Dogs, packaged
in 13.6 oz. cans, 24 cans per case, Recall # V-067-6;
b) Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Low Fat LF, Food for Dogs, packaged
in 13.6-oz. cans, 24 cans per case, Recall # V-068-6;
c) Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Calorie Control CC In Gel, Food for
Dogs,
packaged in 12.7-oz. cans, 24 cans per case, Recall # V-069-6;
d) Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Sensitivity VR, Food for Cats,
packaged
in 5.8-oz. cans, 24 cans per case, Recall # V-070-6;
e) Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Calorie Control CC, Food for Cats,
packaged in
5.8-oz. cans, 24 cans per case, Recall # V-071-6;
f) Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal LP, Food for Cats, packaged in a
3.0-oz.
pouch, 24 pouches per case, Recall # V-072-6
CODE
a) Code 511A/B, Exp. 03/2007; Code 521 A/B, Exp. 03/2007;
Code 525A, Exp. 06/2007;
b) Code 526A/B, Exp. 06/2007;
c) Code 515B, Exp. 04/2007; and Code 528A, Exp. 07/2007;
d) Code 518A, Exp. 05/2007;
e) Code 449A, Exp. 11/2006; Code 451A, Exp. 12/2006, and Code 515A, Exp.
04/2007;
f) Code 519B, Exp., 09/2006; Code 522B, Exp. 09/2006; Code 526A, Exp.
10/2006, and
Code 541A, Exp. 02/2007, and Code 543A, Exp. 02/2007
RECALLING FIRM/MANUFACTURER
Recalling Firm: Royal Canin USA, Inc, Saint Charles, MO, by letters dated
February 2, 2006 and March 6, 2006.
Manufacturer: MasterFoods, USA, Vernon, CA, firm initiated recall is
ongoing.
REASON
The products contain excess levels of Vitamin D3
VOLUME OF PRODUCT IN COMMERCE
31,414/24-can cases and 13,850/24-pouch cases
DISTRIBUTION
Nationwide

http://www.kvma.org/displaycommon.cf...barticlenbr=83
You can see from this Kentucky State Vet site that the recall goes back to
Feb of 2006.

I am taking my cat to another vet, as she is having
drinking way too much water. Oddly enough, my file has now
mysteriously disapeared for my cat. My cat has a history of illness
with liver problems
.........I would go hire a lawyer to write a letter of request for your
files. That ought to get his attention! If you're in the US every state
has laws governing medical/vet record availability and they have to be
produced within a certain amount of time. Are you in Canada? The lawyer
ought to know about any relevant laws. You don't have to hire the lawyer to
sue or anything, just write a letter on his letterhead. I've used this
tactic before and it works. I can't help it if they make assumptions! ;-)

and now I'm wondering if there is some connection
to this food -

http://www.exoticcatz.com/carembd.html
Vitamin D
Cats do not effectively convert precursors of vitamin D to active isomers,
but nonetheless appear to have an extremely low dietary requirement for
vitamin D provided that they have exposure to some sunlight and are
otherwise well nourished.

Vitamin D controls calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood stream and
also the absorption of dietary calcium. Vitamin D occurs in two forms,
vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). This vitamin,
when given as a supplement in excess, results in a condition called
hypervitaminosis D (Hoskins 1990). Adding oral vitamin D3 will cause
withdrawal of calcium from the bones of a felid fed a calcium deficient
diet. Vitamin D toxicity can be produced relatively easily and is usually
the result of overzealous dietary supplementation with, for example,
cod-liver oil. As with all fat-soluble vitamins, excesses are stored in the
body and their effects are cumulative.
http://www.petvet.co.nz/news.cfm?content_id=101
Unlike humans and herbivores, dogs and cats are not able to synthesize vit
D3 and depend on dietary intake. When vit D3 contents of commercial cat
foods were evaluated, 20 of 49 canned cat foods had excess of 30 times the
vit D3 requirement and 15 were in excess of a maximal level of 10,000 IU/kg
diet dry matter (recommended is 500 IU/Kg). It has also been found that
administration of excess vit D resulted in dental and periodontal conditions
that resembled radiographic and histopath FORL lesions. So it appears that
finally there may be a break through in the cause of FORLs. Lets hope the
pet food companies take this information seriously and act to remedy those
products with too high a level.

buglady
take out the dog before replying

On Mar 28, 7:53 pm, "buglady" wrote:
When vit D3 contents of commercial cat
foods were evaluated, 20 of 49 canned cat foods had excess of 30 times the
vit D3 requirement and 15 were in excess of a maximal level of 10,000 IU/kg
diet dry matter (recommended is 500 IU/Kg). It has also been found that
administration of excess vit D resulted in dental and periodontal conditions
that resembled radiographic and histopath FORL lesions. So it appears that
finally there may be a break through in the cause of FORLs. Lets hope the
pet food companies take this information seriously and act to remedy those
products with too high a level.

Wow, very interesting. I remember reading an article about lesions in
cats and how common they were becoming. Seems maybe there is a
correlation with the diet they're being fed.