Question:
I read your column in our newspaper with regard to Hill's Pet Nutrition's use of Bisphenol A in its pet-food cans and would like more information from you. Our cat seems to fit the profile of this issue, as our veterinarian prescribed Hill's ID in May 2008. By late fall, we noticed he seemed thinner although he was eating well. I finally took him to the doctor, and he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. He has been on medication for that, but it also causes him some itching and stomach upset as side effects.
Upon reading your article, we have discontinued the Hill's flip-top canned food. Do you think his thyroid functions will return to normal?
Can you tell me if there are any class-action suits against Hill's in regards to this matter? Our cat has been, and is, suffering from this illness, and we have spent hundreds of dollars getting him diagnosed and treated
G.W., Minneapolis, MN Jun 21, 2009
Answer:
Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disease in cats and the lining of flip-top cans containing Bisphenol is only part of the problem. There are many endocrine-disrupting and thyroid-harming chemicals in our environment, from the fluoride and chlorine in tap water (cats need pure water) to the fire-retardant chemicals in upholstery, carpets, household dust and even in seafood. I am not aware of any class-action lawsuits against pet-food manufacturers. Even so, I am not the only veterinarian concerned about the increasing evidence of health problems in cats associated with manufactured pet foods and the lack of due diligence by the veterinary profession in this area.
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