Stella, a 5 1/2-year-old golden retriever who ate pet food later recalled, died late Friday after complications from cancer.
Stella’s owner, Stu McFadden, had given the dog the pet food two weeks ago, and since then, Stella had not eaten and had been vomiting.
Her story was featured in The Denver Post on Wednesday.
It appeared that the pet food, which has been linked to the deaths of pets nationwide and in Canada, had caused Stella’s sickness.
Menu Foods, the company that made the pet food sold under several popular brands, has recalled 60 million cans. On Friday, government officials identified the lethal substance in the food as aminopterin, a cancer drug used to kill rats in some other countries.
McFadden took Stella to her vet in Colorado Springs on Friday and when she got worse later that night, doctors performed surgery on the dog and the inoperable cancer was found.
Stella was then put to sleep.
McFadden said Stella’s vet does not know whether the tainted food hastened Stella’s condition.
Since the story first ran in The Denver Post, dozens of people called McFadden in support of Stella. On Saturday, he wanted to thank everyone who offered support and prayers, and who tried to help.
Staff writer Carlos Illescas can be reached at 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com.
