MELISSA ARSENIUK and JOHN COLEBOURN, CanWest News Service

An Ottawa woman is recovering after eating dog food and then becoming violently ill, in a case possibly related to the rat-poison-laced pet food that has killed 14 dogs and cats and sickened dozens more across North America.

Elaine Larabie said yesterday she ate some dog food last week in an effort to convince her terrier, Missy, to do the same.

Soon afterward, both Larabie and Missy found themselves in the hospital - Larabie at an after-hours emergency room, and Missy at Ottawa's Alta Vista Animal Hospital.

Initially, the devoted dog owner did not think dog food made her sick. "I thought I caught a virus, but then I realized I ate the food, and put two and two together," she said.

For three days, she suffered a range of "confusing" and "embarrassing" symptoms, including loss of appetite, vomiting and foaming of the mouth. She also had problems urinating. She is now awaiting the results of blood tests.

Dog and cat owners around North America continue to be on high alert for tainted pet food - subject of a nine-day, North America wide recall - after reports of dying animals.

On Friday, investigators in the U.S. confirmed reports a rodent-killing chemical sprayed on Chinese wheat was found in the pet food. The manufacturer, Menu Foods out of Mississauga, Ont., issued the recall of 60 million cans and pouches of "gravy style" wet pet food, which is expected to cost the firm $40 million.

The recall covers dog and cat food sold under such brands as Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba.

Larabie said she ate the dog food because Missy would only eat table scraps. Larabie tried "just a little bite" of Iams food to make the terrier think it was people food. The mealtime routine continued for about two weeks, until both got sick.

Missy returned home last night. Larabie said both of them are on the mend.

Ottawa Citizen and Vancouver Province

© The Gazette (Montreal) 2007