Is your dog or cat being sickened by the pet food you are feeding?
Over the last several weeks pet parents have reported numerous instances of their dogs and cats becoming ill after eating Purina Pet Food. Signs include vomiting with or without blood, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite and depression. Unfortunately, some pets have also died.
According to Consumer Reports, initially the sick and dying pets were linked to eating Purina Pet Food but recently the list of potentially incriminated pet foods have expanded to Include Merrick, Pure Balance, Stella & Chewy’s and Instinct.
Currently none of these foods are being publicly recalled.
What should pet owners do if they think their pet is sick because of eating a certain pet food?
If your pet has become ill or has died and you believe it is linked to a pet food, it is important to report the issue to FDA and your State Department of Agriculture.
Following the blue link above details how to report a pet food complaint.
Save all the pet food and do not return it for a refund. If the company asks you to return the pet food, return just a small amount. Be sure to keep the rest of the pet food frozen in its original packaging.
Call your veterinarian and ask for a copy of your pet’s records. Avoid sending the pet food company your pets records and document your conversation.
If your pet requires veterinary care, ask your veterinarian to report it to the FDA.
Your veterinary expenses may eventually be reimbursed. The pet food company may say they will reimburse you but in exchange you will be asked to sign a form.
Should the matter escalate to become a class action lawsuit, anyone who signed the forms will not be eligible to join the lawsuit or initiate legal action on their own behalf.
‘Saving Pets One Pet @ A Time‘ is a Facebook group of pet loving volunteers who are working 24/7 trying to help pet parents who are distraught because their pets have been affected by this issue.
We cannot confirm or deny that Purina pet foods are currently experiencing a problem, only Purina or the FDA has the knowledge and/or authority to do that.
TruthaboutPetFood.com is a web site whose director, Susan Thixton is communicating directly with the FDA, consumer reports and concerned pet parents.
Independent Purina pet food testing is currently being conducted at various laboratories. Results are pending. We do not currently have any further information on specific contaminates.
Social media is blasting pet food reports from the USA, Canada, Europe, and the UK.
Please fill out this Pet Owner Consumer Survey
We encourage pet owners or their veterinarians to submit reports of illness or other adverse events associated with pet food directly to FDA.
Integrative veterinarian, pet lover and advocate, Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM., will continue to keep you informed on this matter as more information becomes available.
Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM
Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM, is a practicing integrative veterinarian and a nationally recognized leader, speaker, educator, and advocate in the field of functional medicine. She is the founder and director of the Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center and Pet Clinic and an Emmy-nominated television journalist. Her first two books, Naturally Healthy Dogs and Naturally Healthy Cats hit the international best-seller lists. She is a regular contributor to several television shows and networks including FOX & Friends, The Today Show, Discovery’s Animal Planet, and Good Day LA.Dr. Carol is board-certified in Anti-Aging Medicine and developed and patented PAAWS: Pet Anti-Aging Wellness System for dogs and cats. Today she has turned her passion for functional pet medicine, real food, nutrition, and wellness into activism. Dr. Osborne is leading a pet health revolution that challenges us to reimagine our pet’s biology and the process of aging to create and sustain your pet’s health for life. Learn more at http://www.chagrinfallspetclinic.com
