How Safe is Your Dog’s Food?

Image of pet food on a store shelf.

Over the last several years, numerous dog food brands and treats have been recalled for chemical contamination or Salmonella. This last summer many dog food brands were recalled due to Salmonella; all were manufactured in a Diamond Pet Foods plant in Gaston, South Carolina, USA. This plant makes many brands besides their own Diamond brand; Solid Gold, Canidae, Taste of the Wild, and Kirkland (Costco’s brand) were just some of the types of food affected. Further investigation showed that problems extended back to October 2011. By July 2012, at least 49 people had been sickened from the Salmonella in the dog food, and ten had been hospitalized. Salmonella can cause illness in dogs as well, such as vomiting and diarrhea. It is not known how many pets were affected from this infection. And like humans, some dogs and cats may not show any symptoms, but become carriers of Salmonella and can infect other animals and people.

An even larger problem is the chicken jerky treats made in China. It has been known for a few years that many dogs have been sickened from them, and the number of cases is increasing. The FDA just reported that in the last 18 months, 360 dogs and one cat have died from ingesting them. Extensive analysis has not revealed the cause. They have been tested for several chemical compounds including melamine, heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins and infectious agents. The warning has now been extended to duck and sweet potato jerky treats.

For pet owners and veterinarians, there’s nothing quite as scary as discovering the food that you feed your dog is actually making him or a human family member sick. While you can’t prevent your pet’s food from being recalled, you can take the following five steps to reduce the risk for food poisoning and contamination or at least document a problem.

1. Store food in an airtight container. Before adding a new bag of food to the container, thoroughly wash it out with soap and hot water.

2. Save the barcode. Cut the barcode off your dog’s current food bag. Oftentimes a brand will only recall certain bags of food, depending on where they were manufactured. This information is contained in the barcode.

3. Wash bowls and food space regularly, and then disinfect them in bleach. If dry dog food falls on the floor, treat it the same as you would raw meat or chicken; clean the floor immediately with antibacterial spray.

4. Watch for symptoms. If you notice a change in your pet’s behavior and energy levels, contact your veterinarian. Common symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. It is always possible that your dog’s food may be making him sick but it has not officially been recalled.

5. Practice good hygiene. When feeding your dog, it’s natural to reach down and pick up fallen pieces of food off the floor and put them back in your pet’s bowl. If the food is contaminated with E. coli or salmonella, however, then doing so will spread these dangerous bacteria to your hands. Always wash your hands with soap and water after feeding your dog; never touch your eyes, ears or mouth with unwashed hands.

If you suspect that your dog’s food is making him sick, contact your veterinarian and government regulators. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formally tracks complaints about suspect dog food and treats. You can contact the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator.

Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

KTLA 5 News

Location


Office Hours

Open 7 days a week!

Monday:

7:00 am-6:00 PM

Tuesday:

7:00 am-6:00 PM

Wednesday:

7:00 am-6:00 PM

Thursday:

7:00 am-6:00 PM

Friday:

7:00 am-6:00 PM

Saturday:

7:00 am-6:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonials

Feedback from our clients

  • "Great vet practice! Have experienced many other vet clinics in NE Ft Lauderdale area and Dr. Vaujin is the best. Knowledgeable, reasonable and the front desk staff is very friendly so not sure about some of the complaints. Everyone has a bad day now and again, don't take it personally and judge with such harshness. Caring, compassionate and excellent care-that's what matters. Won't go anywhere else."
    RubiR A.
  • "I am completely happy with Heroes. They take good care of my dog, Annie. Their pricing is fair and reasonable. Annie needed minor surgery to remove a growth from her neck and during the procedure the Doctor removed a second growth that was unknown to us at diagnosis at no additional charge. I find the staff to be accommodating and sensitive to Annie's high anxiousness during her visits. I highly recommend their services."
    Mark G.
  • "This place and these professionals are the epitome of true love for the care of all pets....They get 5 stars from me on there worst day. My best friend was looking at paralysis due to a chronic condition he has had for many years and they have found a way to limit his condition and to live a pain free full life.
    *****5 STARS *****"
    Michael L.
  • "I am truly amazed with the friendly staff and how they treated my dog
    They saved my dogs life and I'm very grateful that they found the time to do a emergency surgery without it my dog would have passed away.
    Other vets were charging 2500 to 3500
    Heroes did the surgery for 1/4 of the price
    Thanks again"
    Paul C.
  • "I took my cat in today without an appointment and everyone was so caring, helpful, and understanding of how emotional I was getting. They thoroughly explained exactly what she'd have to have done and were so nice. I really appreciate how sweet they were because I was so upset and worried before coming in. I'm glad to have found a new vet to take my pets to :-)"
    Kimmy W.