Pet Food and Rat Poison

Franny Syufy, About.com's Guide to Cats, is following the recent pet food recalls. She mentions an Associated Press story that indicates rat poison was found in some of the contaminated dog and cat food.

The poison reportedly found in this case is aminopterin - a cancer drug closely related to methotrexate - that is not approved for use in the US. Most rat poisons here in the states use thallium sulfate or warfarin as the active ingredients.

Now that we know it's not good for the pets to eat, what happens when the kids get into Fido's food bowl?

Basically, call Poison Control 1-800-222-1222.

The amount of contamination may or may not be enough to make the kids sick (I hope the adults aren't eating the cat food), but it's better to be safe than sorry.

If you have any of the recalled pet food, be sure to throw it out. If your kids get into it, take it seriously. Even if the amount of contamination isn't enough to kill, it may be enough to cause serious liver or kidney damage.

For more information:

• Rat Poison Symptoms
• methotrexate
• FDA Update on Pet Food Recalls