Just wanted to add that one acetominophen tablet (500mg) can kill a seven-lb cat. “Noticeable signs of clinical illness” aside, it’s deadly. HOW it got into the pet foods is a huge question in my mind, I can’t think of it being used as a “protein substitute” or binder or pesticide or fertilizer.

The following comes from the Animal Pet Doctor website:
http://animalpetdoctor.homestead.com/poison.html

(Tylenol) POISONING

Tylenol is, of course, the human over-the-counter analgesic medicine used to relieve pain. In people, after the pills are taken, the ingredients are broken down in the body by enzymes in the liver. In people, Tylenol is generally a safe and useful painkiller.

Cats, however, have less of the enzyme required to detoxify the drug following ingestion. As a result, there are many dangerous metabolites, or break-down products of acetaminophen that bind to red blood cells and other tissue cells, resulting in the destruction of these cells. There may also be direct damage to tissue cells from the painkiller. As little as one regular strength tablet (325 mg) can poison a cat to the degree that it can develop noticeable clinical signs of illness.

Two extra-strength tablets are likely to kill a cat.

Dogs (particularly small dogs) are also susceptible to significant tissue damage from as little as two regular strength Tylenol and repeated doses increase the risk significantly. Signs develop quickly and can include salivation, vomiting, weakness and abdominal pain.

Due to the significant toxicity to pets in relatively minimal dosages, the recommendation is clear Tylenol should not be given to dogs or cats. Other, safer, drugs are available for pain relief; talk to your veterinarian about your own pet’s specific needs

The FDA has an obligation to tell people what company this is. Who does the FDA work for? It should be the people. The more time people have the better it will be for the pets in terms of getting them to the veterinarian for a check-up and follow-up treatment.

As the author of Food Pets Die For: http://www.newsagepress.com/foodpetsdiefor.html and Protect Your Pet:
http://www.newsagepress.com/foodpetsdiefor.html I have researched/investigated the commercial pet food industry for over seventeen years. What is being used is garbage, material that should be sent to landfill not used in pet food. I feed my pets a homemade diet and have for many years. All are very healthy and happy and at least I know what I am feeding them.
When you consider that diseased material from slaughterhouse facilities, road kill, zoo animals and even euthanized companion animals can be used as sources of protein in pet foods it gives you an indication of the quality of the ingredients that are used. You also have drugs, antibiotics, hormones, and even pentobarbital, a euthanizing drug are all making their way into these foods. In testing the FDA/CVM found low levels of pentobarbital in a number of dry commercial dog foods. They tested because they had received complaints from veterinarians stating it was taking more of this drug to euthanize dogs. THIS IS A DRUG AND SHOULD NOT BE IN PET FOOD IN ANY AMOUNT. When I contacted Dr. Sundlof head of the FDA/CVM and asked what steps they were planning to take to remove this drug from the foods his reply was “This drug is not approved for use in pet food; so it should not be present in these foods. That being said, CVM is not planning to undertake any special enforcement effors to detect pentobarbital in pet food.” This gives you an indication of how well they are overseeing the foods that we are feeding our pets.

I really want to know when they are going to identify the brands found to contain acetaminophen. As soon as they do I will be posting them on my blog. Thanks for spreading the word. This should really be getting more air time. I have some vet recommended menu suggestions and am no longer buying packaged pet food.
http://thisgreenlife.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/acetaminophen-in-pet-food/