1. Immediately stop feeding your dog the recalled food; save a small sample of the food and the barcode label in case government regulators need to test the food.
2. Disinfect everything, including your dog’s food bowl, food storage container and feeding space with bleach and hot, soapy water.
3. Immediately take your dog to your veterinarian for a wellness exam, even if your dog does not show symptoms of food poisoning. In some cases, internal organ damage can accumulate slowly over time; early intervention is essential to protecting your pet’s health.
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.
Anasazi Animal Clinic offers our patient form(s) online so they can be completed it in the convenience of your own home or office.
Anasazi Animal Clinic is celebrating National Pet Dental Month in February by giving a 10% discount on all dental procedures done in the Month of February. Dental disease and especially periodontal disease can shorten your pets life, by leading to internal organ infections in the liver, kidneys, respiratory system and even the heart. Periodontal disease can be very painful and result in losing teeth, as well as bad breath and problems eating. You can prevent the consequences of dental disease by having your pets teeth cleaned on a regular basis starting at an early age.
Anasazi Animal Clinic will do free awake oral exams on the next two Saturday mornings, January 30 and February 6. So call and reserve a spot for your pet. This offer is reserved for pet owners that see the offer on out web site.
Anasazi Animal Clinic offers Care Credit for your convenience, which allows qualified client to spread the cost out interest free. You can apply online at Carecredit.com or call and ask us here at Anasazi Animal clinic.
Call us at 928-567-3807 to take advantage of this exclusive offer. You must mention that you saw it on our web site or Facebook.