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"QUICK BITE"
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Many of us have been closely monitoring the pet food recall and are concerned for the safety of our pets. The investigation regarding the toxic element in pet foods has not been completed and may not be for quite some time. Until then, it is recommended that pets who have eaten any of the recalled food should visit their veterinarian, especially if there are signs of illness. The veterinarian will perform an examination and run a simple blood test to determine whether your pet may be affected.
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Is Your Pet’s Food Safe?
If you are like me, your pets are beloved members of the family. And the recent news of the pet food recall has many of us wondering how safe our dog's and cat’s food is. Many of the types of foods recalled are considered to be premium diets. And it is disturbing that even the highest quality foods have been affected by the recall. We should all be able to feed our dogs and cats high quality food without worrying about the safety of their diet. The FDA reports that 1% of all commercial pet food in the United Stated has been recalled. Recently the recall has been expanded from wet to dry products. You can visit http://www.fvma.com/ where a link is provided to the public with up to date information on the pet food recall. There has been no conclusive evidence that any one toxic substance is responsible for any animal’s illness or death. Veterinarians in state and federal agencies are doing everything possible to determine the underlying causes.
It is important to realize that whatever the precise cause of the contaminated pet food turns out to be, it is unlikely that there will be a specific antidote available to treat affected pets. However, your family veterinarian will be able to help your pet by providing supportive care and symptomatic treatment. It is also important to realize that the pet food industry has consistently regulated the nutritional content of their product. Recent events have demonstrated that pet foods need to be screened more thoroughly for toxic substances.
If you notice that your pet is showing any symptoms that may indicate poisoning, please contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. These symptoms may include lethargy, loss of appetite, changes in water consumption, changes in urine production, changes in behavior, or vomiting. But sometimes animals, especially cats, may hide signs of illness or show subtle signs that may indicate serious diseases. Therefore, it is important to visit your veterinarian if your pet has ingested the recalled food and has shown any symptoms of possible illness.
As a veterinarian who feeds his dogs and cats a premium diet, I am as concerned as many of you about the circumstances surrounding the recent pet food recall. As tragic as it is that animals have lost their lives due to tainted food, I am hopeful that recent events will lead to procedures and safeguards that prevent further pet food related illness. The Pet Food Institute is a group representing companies that supply the majority of pet food on the shelves today. This group has promptly and appropriately responded to the recall by creating the National Pet Food Commission, an industry-government partnership committed to ensuring the safety of pet food products. To learn more about this commission, you can visit http://www.petfoodreport.com/.
Jason Palm, DVM
Hiawassee Veterinary Clinic
6525 Old Winter Garden Road
Orlando, FL 32835
(407) 299-3969
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