Community Corner

Pet Food Can Make Dogs, Cats – and Humans – Sick

Natura Pet Products expands its voluntary recall of dry pet foods.

Not only can your pets be affected by Salmonella from dry pet food being recalled by Natara Pet Products. Humans also are at risk from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced that Natura Pet Products is voluntarily expanding its recall of dry pet food because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. No Salmonella-related illnesses have been confirmed to date.

The FDA has a complete online list of the dog and cat food products – and even ferret food – that have been recalled. The affected products are sold through veterinary clinics and select pet specialty retailers nationwide and in Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Costa Rica, as well as online. The dry cat food expiration dates for this expanded recall range from 1/1/2014 to 3/24/2014. The dry cat treats have expiration dates from 7/1/13 to 9/27/13.

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Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

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Sampling conducted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of Salmonella in additional dry cat food and a cat pet treat. No canned wet food is affected by this announcement.

Consumers who have purchased these pet foods should discard them. For additional information, consumers may visit Natura Pet Products online. www.naturapet.com. For further information or a product replacement or refund call Natura toll-free at 800-224-6123. (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CST).


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