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What can happen when a Pet Owner isn't warned about a Product Pull
- 11-30-2011
- Categorized in: Pet Food Recall
While there is no confirmation (lot numbers) that this pet consumed the pulled Iams dog food due to elevated aflatoxin levels, this pet owner story does provide evidence that something seriously went wrong. Her dog was eating Iams Lamb & Rice - the same size bag listed in the recent Price Chopper product pull notification. Here's the story...
Sometimes a pet food is 'pulled' from store shelves at the request of the manufacturer. Sometimes a pulled pet food is removed because of potentially serious outcomes to the pets that would consume the food. Product pulls are not an official recall (though many should be) and they are not meant for public notice (though all should be regardless of the reason). The following is the story of one pet - Gavin - who is believed to have consumed the recently pulled Iams pet food.
From Shannon G.
Gavin at his obedience school Graduation.
"We rescued a Chug, Chihuahua/Pug mix named Gavin, at the end of August. The foster mom had him had been giving him Iams Lamb & Rice so we continued with it. The first time we bought the small bag and he was doing fine. Then when his food was low we bought the bigger sized bag, the "pulled" bag. At first I noticed subtle changes in him. He stopped initiating play on his own. He'd often go sleep in his crate rather than with us on the couch and occasionally vomited. Nothing to make me alarmed. But then about two weeks ago he stopped playing altogether and slept all the time, was vomiting more frequently, had loose stools and was very irritable. If you moved him or tried to pick him up he growled. And his gas and breath smelled the same, absolutely horrible. It was very alarming. Then he stopped eating.
I immediately took him to the vet. The vet examined him and couldn't find anything wrong with him. He suggested his food might be the problem and that he may have a delicate system and suggested we switch. He gave us a couple of cans of Prescription I/D gastrointestinal to mix in with his food and suggested we switch to that for his dry food as well. He immediately started feeling better. That's when I started doing some research on pet food and didn't like what I was reading. So I gradually started transitioning him to XXX pet food. Within days he perked up, his coat is now soft and shiny and doesn't feel like straw. He's not hostile and doesn't growl when we move him around. He's like he was when we first got him in August. He's back to initiating play and playing by himself. He's energized again. As soon as I read about the Iams recall/product pull on your site, I immediately understood his behavior and sickness. My husband and I went through his food last night and dug the rest of the Iams out of it. There was still some mixed in from the transition. I can only hope that what he did eat didn't cause him long term damage.
That's my dog Gavin's story.
Thank you Shannon for sharing your story. We all hope Gavin recovers completely!
I have heard from several other very concerned pet owners who had been feeding the confirmed (they have the bags) pulled Iams pet foods. All have agreed to keep me posted on the pets conditions (and I will update with any news).
Product pulls - without consumer notification - are bad. I suggest to everyone - call or write your pet food manufacturer and inquire if they ever pull products from store shelves without consumer notice. Encourage the company to initiate an email notification system that customers can register for to be alerted of any product pulls (Pet Food Recall First Alert). If they don't, well...you'll have to make the decision if you are ok with the possibility of product pulls without your notice. My guess is that Shannon would never again accept anything less for Gavin and her other pets.
Another note: Please keep all pet food packaging (including cans) until the food is completely gone and you are certain your pet is not having any adverse reaction to the food. Without the packaging, should a serious issue arise, the FDA will not investigate. Report any and all adverse pet food events to the FDA (click here to do so online) and to your State Department of Agriculture. Many States are very helpful and will test the pet food for you at no charge (and they will provide you with the results).
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Your Gavin is very lucky to have survived the Eukanuba-Iams poisoning. Mine did not. All I have left are some pictures, two little metal cans of ashes and lots of tears. My wife insisted, I didn't know enough. I will be divorced soon. It is not enough !
Great reporting on this issue, Susan! I just want to add emphasis to the need to REPORT any and every adverse event (reaction) you think may be related to pet food. If enough people do report problems, that may provide impetus--and data--to support changing the rules so these "silent" recalls become loud and clear!
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/R...
Aflatoxins are among the most carcinogenic byproducts that can be in pet foods.
"Silent Recalls" should not be allowed. Our pets lives are at stake. I would question the motivation of any manufacturer who initiated a silent recall, and question my willingness to purchase their products. Its good that this concern is discussed here and that this site remains at the vanguard of this issue.
One thing every pet owner CAN learn from this incident, is the attending issues when you choose to feed your pets foods that are grain based. Problems with molds, mold-eating insects, and the added anti-fungal agents and insecticides accompany that decision.
I not only question the motive of any pet food manufacturer that does silent recalls, I also question the motive of the stores that carry their products, who dont announce to their customers that they are silently pulling products from the shelves. Its bad enough that the pet food companies iniate silent recalls to the stores, but its the stores who are pulling the products and not telling their customers. I posted a question on Petco's website blog about why they have failed to put a notice about Iam's recall on their website and my post was deleted by Petco. So it aint just the manufacturers that are allowing these recalls to remain silent. Its one thing if none of the product was sold to any customer but first we have reports that Price Chopper was told to remove product, and now Petco, how many other stores. I find it hard to believe none of this compromised food wasnt sold to any customers.
In addition to this newsletter, Google has an option to send notices your email account on any topic requested, such as "pet food recall" or your products name.
Due to the lag time in receiving notice from companies that either don't know or try to hide the recall, I try to keep a 3 month supply to help bridge any delay of notice.
Neal
my twelve week old chihuahua poodle mixed died on a week ago after becoming non playful, sleeping a whole lot and having a few bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. the vet said it was probably a virus and that he would be ok after being put on fluids and antibiotics. well he was wrong. today my other chihuahua seven weeks old died after experiencing the same and the same answer from the vet. my concern is that both ate only iams puppy proactive health, not the listed recall batch. reporting this to the fda now. concerned that this may have been the cause. note both puppies went into seizure right before dying. indoor dogs so they were not exposed to any toxins.