Who can forget the heartbreak of the 2007 pet food scandals – where dogs and cats died because
of tainted food. At first, the recalls were associated with the consumption of wet pet foods made with wheat gluten from a single Chinese company. At the time this was the problem:
- wheat gluten was contaminated with melamine – yes, melamine, that chemical used to produce Formica counters among other things
- although its use in food production is universally banned, the New York Times reported the addition of “melamine scrap” into fish and livestock feed to give the false appearance of a higher level of protein was an “open secret” in many parts of mainland China
While blatant deception like this is rare, pet food recalls are here to stay. Just this month, 5 manufacturers have recalled dozens of dog food brands. And some of these dog food recalls are from highly reputable companies, including —
- EVO
- Innova
- California Natural
- HealthWise
They’ve been recalled because of possible contamination with Salmonella bacteria.
- Two brands of poultry-based raw pet foods have also been recalled after the MDA laboratory discovered Salmonella bacteria in routine sample tests. These are Bravo! Raw Food Diet and Steve’s Real Food Turducken Canine Diet.
- More Salmonella – Jones Natural Chews Recalls Woofers Beef Patties for Dogs because of contamination.
Dangers of Salmonella
There are more than 2,000 strains of Salmonella and all are very toxic. And, they can be passed from animals to humans.
Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning in dogs include: high fever, severe diarrhea and vomiting, very rapid heart rate, lethargy and even shock. If you suspect your dog is affected, please get immediate help from your Vet. A small dog like a Morkie can be at serious risk.
One-stop sites for dog food recalls
- DogFoodAdvisor.com – great site for dog food advice and news
- The Humane Society
- The FDA – Food & Drug Administration
- PetMD Recalls page