Pet Food Recall
Updated February 18, 2009

FDA expands recall to include pet food products that may contain Salmonella-contaminated peanut butter

Several brands of pet treats containing peanut butter and peanut paste made at the Blakely, Georgia, facility of Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) have been recalled for potential Salmonella contamination. PCA is currently the focus of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation. There has been at least one confirmed case of Salmonella in a dog from Oregon. In addition, at least three states have reported dogs known to have ingested recalled pet food products with gastrointestinal signs consistent with Salmonella infection.

Read more about presenting signs of Salmonella, diagnostic testing recommendations and treatment, or visit www.fda.gov or www.avma.org for specific products and full details of the recall.

For questions regarding this recall or for assistance in choosing the appropriate diagnostic test, interpreting your culture or RealPCR™ results, or determining treatment, please call our internal medicine specialists at 1-888-433-9987, option 4, option 2.

The recommendations contained in this alert are intended to provide general guidance only. As with any diagnosis or treatment, you should use clinical discretion with each patient based on a complete evaluation of the patient, including history, physical presentation and complete laboratory data. With respect to any drug therapy or monitoring program, you should refer to product inserts for a complete description of dosages, indications, interactions and cautions.

November 2008 Mars Petcare U.S. expands voluntary recall

Mars Petcare U.S. has expanded its recent voluntary recall of dry pet food products to include Special Kitty Gourmet Blend cat food sold at Wal-Mart locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia. Special Kitty Gourmet Blend cat food manufactured at the Allentown, Pennsylvania, factory facility on August 11, 2008, is being voluntarily recalled following a positive test result indicating a potential contamination with Salmonella.

Read more about presenting signs, diagnostic testing recommendations and treatment, or visit www.petcare.mars.com for specific products and full details of the recall.

For questions regarding this pet food recall or for assistance in choosing the appropriate diagnostic test for your patient, interpreting your culture or RealPCR™ diarrhea panel results or determining treatment, please call our Internal Medicine Consulting Team at 1-888-433-9987, option 4, option 2.

The recommendations contained in this alert are intended to provide general guidance only. As with any diagnosis or treatment, you should use clinical discretion with each patient based on a complete evaluation of the patient, including history, physical presentation and complete laboratory data. With respect to any drug therapy or monitoring program, you should refer to product inserts for a complete description of dosages, indications, interactions and cautions.

August 2007 Melamine Contamination Recall

The expansion of the initial 90-brand pet food recall report is causing a new wave of concern in the veterinary community. See the latest list of recalled pet foods.

Pet owners are worried and unsure about what to feed their pets. While the publicity on this topic has been beneficial in alerting the public and increasing awareness, it has also caused confusion.

• What should an owner do with a potentially exposed pet?
• What food is truly safe to feed cats and dogs?

The questions extend into the veterinary community as well.

• Do all exposed dogs and cats need to be tested?
• What if there are no clinical signs?
• How often should we monitor these animals?

The following are the most frequently asked questions by veterinarians to our IDEXX internal medicine specialist. Check back often, we will be adding more information frequently.

Should I test nonclinical pets exposed to the food source? What should I test in an exposed nonclinical dog and cat? How do I report an illness that I suspect is caused by the contaminated food? What food/type of food should I recommend? What are your testing recommendations in clinical versus nonclinical dogs and cats exposed to recalled food? View all questions and answers >

View our monitoring guidelines and additional resources sections.
Visit frequently, we will continue to add new information.

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