Hill’s Pet Nutrition has voluntarily recalled eight additional SKUs of canned dog food because of elevated levels of vitamin D discovered in a supplier’s vitamin premix.
The newly flagged Prescription Diet and Science Diet wet foods include:
[table id=14 /]Too much vitamin D in a dog’s diet has been linked to hypercalcemia, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration noted causes symptoms similar to the ingestion of rodenticide.
“While vitamin D is an essential nutrient for dogs, ingestion of elevated levels can lead to potential health issues depending on the level of vitamin D and the length of exposure, and dogs may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling and weight loss,” Hill’s reported.
“Pet parents with dogs who have consumed any of the products listed and are exhibiting any of these signs should contact their veterinarian,” the company added. “In most cases, complete recovery is expected after discontinuation of feeding.”
The initial voluntary recall, announced Jan. 31, followed a pet owner’s complaint.
“Our investigation confirmed elevated levels of vitamin D due to a supplier error,” Hill’s stated.
The complete list of recalled canned foods, including 20 additional lots of previously recalled products, is available at http://bit.ly/2FxpBfP. Hill’s is answering pet owner and veterinarian questions at 800-445-5777.
What should veterinarians do?
In light of the Hill’s Pet Nutrition voluntary recall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has this advice for veterinarians:
“First, don’t sell the recalled foods to your clients, and contact the manufacturer for further instructions. The FDA also encourages veterinarians to contact clients who have purchased recalled products, if they have the means to do so (such as through medical records or sales receipts).
“The FDA urges veterinarians treating vitamin D toxicity to ask their clients for a diet history. We also welcome case reports, especially those confirmed through diagnostics. You can submit these reports electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. For an explanation of the information and level of detail that would be helpful to include in a complaint to the FDA, please see How to Report a Pet Food Complaint.”