Knight Ridder Newspapers

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Scott Brown of Camden, S.C., is “99.9 percent sure” toxic pet food made in South Carolina poisoned his dog Lacy, who died Dec. 12.

Others fretted over their pets’ welfare this week as the recall of 19 kinds of dog and cat food from the Gaston, S.C.-based Diamond Pet Foods plant gained nationwide notoriety.

The federal Food and Drug Administration launched an investigation at the plant Wednesday, assisted by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, Commissioner Hugh E. Weathers said.

In a press release dated Tuesday, the company said it found “aflatoxin” at the facility. Aflatoxin comes from a fungus found on corn and other grains, and can cause severe liver damage in pets.

Companies are required to screen for aflatoxin, Weathers said.

“Somewhere in their process, that screening must have had some sort of interruption.”

Since the recall notice, the plant boosted screenings for the toxin, Weathers said.

It’s still unclear how much contaminated pet food was distributed, although the company announced it may have reached 22 states.

Weathers said cases of dogs dying in New York prompted the recall. No cases have been reported in cats.

The odds aren’t good for animals who eat aflatoxin-tainted food.

“If they get a tainted feed, they have probably a 50-50 chance of surviving,” said Linda Muegel, South Carolina Association of Veterinarians emergency preparedness coordinator.

Officials told Brown his yellow Labrador, Lacy, was the first presumed case in South Carolina.

Veterinarian Eric Rundlett treated Lacy and warned that once symptoms appear, there’s little time for treatment.

“Really, it’s amazing how fast (Lacy) went from doing OK to crashing,” said Rundlett, who works at Wateree Animal Hospital in Camden. “They can be on it a couple of weeks or a month, and not show any signs. … We’re not really sure how long it takes to build up.”

Lacy ate Diamond Premium Adult Dog Food for two to three weeks, Brown said. She stopped eating one day, and Brown took her to the vet the next morning.

“I thought it was going to be a regular drop-off: Lacy goes in growling with her hair up at the other dogs,” Brown said, a smile turning up the corners of his lips.

That afternoon, Brown’s 6-year-old son, Blake, had four handmade get-well cards waiting for Lacy’s return home.

Instead, Lacy’s vet rushed her to Palmetto Regional Emergency Hospital for Animals in Elgin, S.C. Brown arrived at the emergency hospital and found Lacy clinging.

“When they would shave her legs for the IVs, they would bruise,” he recalled. “She could barely lift her head up. Her face was all swollen.”

Brown decided to euthanize her around 11 p.m.

He ordered an autopsy the next day to search for her cause of death. Final results received Wednesday pointed to aflatoxin, Brown said. News of the recall reached him the same day.

South Carolina State Veterinarian Tony Caver said South Carolina has five presumed cases linked to aflatoxin. Three of the dogs died.

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