This is extremely important - if your dog has been on any of the following prescription Medical/Walthams/Royal Canine (all one big company different names)dog food and has been ill - excessive drinking, urination, vomiting, lethargy, difficulty walking - and there is an elevated calcium level in their blood - then check with your vet to see if you might have purchased any of the case lots of the following foods.

Urinary SO - best before date May, 2007 and June, 2007
Calorie Controlled - best before date April and July 2007
Canine Lo Fat - best before date June, 2007

The above case lots had excessive levels of Vitamin D - which causes retention of calcium and increases other things like phosphorous, hypercalcium is very dangerous and can lead to renal failure and death.
The company claims they did not know until they were contacted by my vet (Dr. Katherine Gardiner at Capilano Vet Hospital in North Vancouver) and some other vets about sick dogs.

Reason my vet checked is because my 5 year old Corgi, Lizzie, has been on Urinary SO (it is formulated to prevent the formation of bladder stones which my little dog gets and has had one surgery plus loads of infections in her short life) and became very ill just after Christmas. Blood tests showed increased calcium Dec. 29th and two weeks later more tests showed even higher levels of calcium, phosphorous, muscle enzymes. My vet did X Rays and an ultrasound looking for a tumour and then Lizzie went to the Critical Care Group and had another ultrasound which showed calcium building up around her kydneys and a kydney biopsy. The vets thought she had cancer even though they couldn't find a tumour. My vet was reluctant to accept that diagnosis and decided to focus on treating the symptoms with medications including lasix. Then another little dog came in with similar symptoms and what both Lizzie and this little guy had in common was the dog food. My vet contacted Medical and they apparently said they had had similar reports so they said they had gone back and checked whatever it is they check and discovered the problem (excessive Vitamin D). But they didn't send out a recall until Friday, February 4th

Needless to say I am very angry and so are the vets - Lizzie, and who knows how many others - have been through hell the last few weeks and could have died. I have a mastercard which is loaded with vet and medicine bills but not everyone would have that ability. My vet said as sick as Lizzie was and as expensive as it was getting she would not have blamed me if I had had her euthanized as we were getting nowhere and the prognosis was cancer. Thank god I didn't do this but I spent many a sleepless night worrying about her and taking care of her. Apparently the company has said they will reimburse the vet bills. Don't know yet if she has permanent damage. She is doing much better now she's finished all the bad food !!! She will have to have another blood test next week and I am slowing taking her off the medications.

Maureen Gabriel