- PET HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS -
Pet Food Recalls - Minimize the Risks !
You feed your pet every day , usually with food purchased from a grocery or pet feed store . But do you really know what ' s going in your pet ' s bowl ? With serious recalls from pet food companies over the past two months , it ' s understandable to be alarmed . While it ' s nearly impossible to ensure that your pet will never come in contact with tainted food or treats , you can reduce risks by taking these important steps :
1 ) Follow commonsense tips for protecting your pet :
• Start by practicing good hygiene with your pet ' s food and water bowls . Clean them regularly .
• If your pet ' s food or treats are recalled , immediately stop feeding the product to your pet . You can return recalled products to the store where you purchased them for a full refund , or dispose of them in a secure area not accessible to animals . If you have questions about recalled food or treats , contact the manufacturer .
• If your pet may have consumed a recalled product , consult your veterinarian , even if he or she isn ' t showing any symptoms . Depending upon the reason the food was recalled , your vet will be able to determine what , if any , action should be taken .
2 ) Be aware of recall alerts :
• Be aware of information about pet food and treats that have been recalled . Sign up for timely email alerts at dogfoodadvisor . com , or regularly check sites such as avma . org , petful . com , or petfoodrecall . org for up-to-date alerts .
3 ) File a complaint with the FDA if your pet has been poisoned :
• If your pet has become ill or died because of tainted food or treats , please report it to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in your state .
4 ) Research and be aware of possible symptoms of pet food poisoning :
• In general , food poisoning can result in vomiting , diarrhea , lethargy ( lack of energy ), changes in water consumption , and frequency of urination , among other symptoms .
• Symptoms , of course , will vary , depending on the source of contamination in the pet food . In a past recall , five dogs became ill and one died after eating canned dog food that contained the deadly euthanasia drug , pentobarbital . Side effects from that include drowsiness , dizziness , excitement , loss of balance , nausea nystagmus ( eyes moving back and forth in a jerky manner ), inability to stand , coma , and death .
• If you must change your pet ' s food due to a recall , try to replace it with a similar food , or ask your veterinarian for suggestions , as sudden changes in diet can lead to dietary distress for dogs .
Source : humanesociety . org