Every pet lover’s nightmare…it’s one of those sentences you never want to hear: Your dog’s favorite food was recalled.
While a dog food recall is definitely inconvenient, staying informed on which dog foods are unsafe is an important part of being a pet parent.
Back in late 2020, the FDA was notified of hundreds of pets who had either taken ill or died after consuming several brands of dry food from Midwestern Pet Food Inc. However, the investigation recently made headlines again. Here’s all the essential and most up-to-date information to help keep your dog happy and healthy.
The FDA is alerting consumers that Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. is voluntarily recalling nine lots of Sportmix pet food products because they contain potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin.
FDA is aware of at least 28 deaths and 8 illnesses in dogs that ate the recalled products. The varieties included Sportmix Energy Plus, Premium High Energy, and Original Cat lines.
Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus and at high levels, it can cause illness and death in pets.
The toxin can be present even if there is no visible mold. Pets are highly susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning because, unlike people, who eat a varied diet, pets generally eat the same food continuously over extended periods of time.
If a pet’s food contains aflatoxin, the toxin could accumulate in the pet’s system as they continue to eat the same food. Pets with aflatoxin poisoning may experience symptoms such as sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes, gums, or skin due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea.
According to AWM, some pet owners have turned to social media to launch a discussion as to whether this pet food led to their animal’s sudden death.
“I was getting my dog this dog food, and she passes away,” wrote one Facebook user.
Another said that her Rottweiler “passed away three weeks ago just out of nowhere. He was a very healthy dog.”
“This happened with Purina Beneful at one time as well. They paid on a class action suit and tried to keep it as hush as possible. Really sad because it isn’t something you should have to worry about, but it happens too often not to.”
“It’s really easy to make your own dog food and very much worth it. My dog lived until he was 19.”
Pet owners should stop feeding their pets the recalled products listed above and consult their veterinarian, especially if the pet is showing signs of illness.
The pet owner should remove the food and make sure no other animals have access to the recalled product.
Contact Midwestern Pet Foods Consumer Affairs at 800-474-4163, ext. 455 from 7 am to 4 pm CT, Monday through Friday, or by email at info@midwesternpetfoods.com for additional information.
Further information regarding this recall can be found in the related FDA Bulletin.
Source: AWM