Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall

Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall. After being part of the 2007 MENU Pet Food Recall, today, Monday, October 11, 2010: The Blue Buffalo Company Ltd. of Wilton, Ct., is once again recalling Blue Buffalo Dog Food. This time recalled Blue Buffalo dog foods are those being sold under the names of Wilderness Dog Chicken, Basics Salmon for Dogs and Large Breed Adult Chicken Dry Dog Food. Today’s dog food recall announcement is not associated with Chinese Gluten or Melamine as it was in 2007 but instead it is due to excess Vitamin D.

So far, Blue Buffalo has received 36 reports of dogs sickened. The excess Vitamin D in the dog food is called Vitamin D Toxicity, or Hypervitaminosis D. Too much Vitamin D in your dogs diet causes canine bone loss and abnormally high blood calcium levels. Excess calcium can lead to canine kidney stones as well as calcium deposits in other organs including your dogs heart and kidneys. Dogs affected by the recalled dog foods with excess Vitamin D levels, generally show signs of excess blood Calcium. Excess calcium is referred to as Hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia is often associated with various types of pet cancer specifically Dog Kidney Cancer and Canine Lymphoma Cancer, both of which may also be fatal in dogs.

Signs of excess calcium are initially those of Dog Kidney Failure and include increased thirst, increased urination, stomach upset, lethargy, and/or appetite loss. If your dog has eaten Blue Buffalo Dog Food and/or is showing any of these signs, call your veterinarian and/or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toll free at 1-888-426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may apply for pet owners calling the ASPCA’s Poison Control Center. Canine Hypercalcemia or excessive blood levels of Calcium in dogs has a negative on the kidneys, heart and nervous system in dogs. Specifically excess calcium in dogs can lead to acute kidney failure and may also damage your dog’s heart and/or the canine nervous system. Untreated cases of hypercalcemia in dogs can lead to pet cancer, coma and death. Be sure to check exactly what type of dog food you are feeding your dog!

Blue Buffalo may be contacted by phone at 1-877-523-9114 to arrange for return of the recalled dog food and financial  reimbursement.

Apparently, Blue Buffalo found that their ingredient supplier had made a scheduling error and produced a Vitamin D Supplement immediately prior to preparing the ingredients for the recalled BLUE dog food products. Blue Buffalo’s spokesperson said, “We believe that some of the Vitamin D supplement may have been carried over into our products, resulting in more Vitamin D than is called for in our formulas.”

Specific lot numbers of Blue Buffalo’s Recalled Dog Food are listed below and include:

• Blue Wilderness Chicken Flavor dry dog food — 4.5 lb —”Best If Used By JUL2611Z” “Best If Used By JUL2711Z” & “Best If Used By JUL2811Z”
• Blue Wilderness Chicken Flavor dry dog food — 11 lb — “Best If Used By JUL1211B”
• Blue Wilderness Chicken Flavor dry dog food — 24 1b — “Best If Used By JUL1211B” & “Best If Used by JUL1311B”
• Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon and Potato Recipe dry dog food — 11 lb — “Best If Used By AUG2111B” & “Best If Used by AUG2211B”
• Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon and Potato Recipe dry dog food — 24 lb — “Best If Used by AUG2111B” “Best If Used by SEP2311P” & “Best If Used By OCT2611P”
• Blue Life Protection Formula Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Large Breed Adult dog food — 30 lb — “Best If Used by SEP2211P” “Best If Used by SEP2311P” & “Best If Used By OCT2611P”