PET FOOD RECALL December 5, 2018


DRY DOG FOOD RECALL DUE TO TOXIC LEVELS OF VITAMIN D

DECEMBER 5, 2018


The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall of at least 8 brands of dry dog food after tests revealed potentially toxic levels of Vitamin D.

The investigation was prompted by reports of dogs presenting to their veterinarian with symptoms of Vitamin D Toxicity. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for dogs in appropriate amounts but in excessive amounts causes illness. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that, unlike water soluble vitamins, when excess amounts are consumed they cannot simply be eliminated through normal body waste products (like urine and feces). As a result, excess Vitamin D accumulates in the body leading to toxicity.

Symptoms of Vitamin D Toxicity include vomiting, weakness, loss of appetite and increased urination and usually develop within 12 to 36 hours after ingestion. Extremely high levels of vitamin D can cause more serious conditions like kidney failure and can be fatal if not treated right away. If you are concerned your dog might be showing symptoms or has been eating one of the recalled diets, contact your veterinarian right away. Take a picture of the food label so that the clinic can determine if your dog’s food was contaminated.

Extremely high levels of vitamin D can cause more serious conditions like kidney failure and can be fatal if not treated right away.

Some of the dry dog foods made by the following companies have been recalled:

Click on the Company names in red to get details about the FDA recalls for that particular company.

Nutrisca

Natural Life Pet Foods

Sunshine Mills Inc.

LIDL (Orlando Brand)

Kroger

ELM

Ahold Delhaize


Not all of the affected brands appear to be available in Canada…

but Nutrisca and Natural Life products are carried by local retailers but it is not known if any of the specific affected foods are locally available. Dog owners concerned that their dog may be showing signs of Vitamin D Toxicity or that have been feeding a dry food manufactured by any of the listed companies should contact the clinic for advice. If you have been feeding your dog dry dog food manufactured by any of the listed companies, you should discontinue the food until you can confirm whether or not your dog’s food has been affected.