The illnesses are linked to a pet food recall of at least 11 brands of dog food manufactured in a plant operated by Diamond Pet Foods. Affected brands include Cosco store brand, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul, Canidea and Taste of the Wild, as well as several Diamond brands.
“There’s no doubt about it, pet food recalls like this are scary,” said Dr. Jennifer Coates, a practicing veterinarian and spokesperson for petMD.com. “Invariably, owners are halfway through feeding a bag of potentially contaminated food when they hear of the recall, which means they have to go on high alert for a week or two. In the case of Salmonella, we have to watch both pets and people in the household for vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and fever.”
The recent pet food recall has left many pet owners scrambling to replace their recalled pet food brands, yet few are aware of the proper way to dispose of contaminated food and quickly change their pets’ diets.
What to do if your pet food brand has been recalled
1. Remove recalled food and store safely
After you check the labels on your pet food bag and find it’s been recalled, seal it in a plastic bag and place it in a secure garbage can to ensure that pets and wild animals can’t get at the contaminated food.
2. Clean everything the food touched
Thoroughly wash all containers, utensils, bowls, your hands, and any other items that have come into contact with the recalled food. If surfaces are not sanitized, bacteria can attach to objects and people – and live for several hours or even days.
3. Change to safe food
Switch out your pet’s food for a non-recalled brand. Talk with your veterinarian or pet food supplier to get more information on the status of the recall and to identify which brands are considered safe.
How to quickly and safely change pet diet
Find a similar pet food formula
Pick a new pet food that closely matches the old one. If your pet was eating a lamb and rice product that was recalled, buy another brand’s lamb and rice formulation. Check the ingredient list and review the guaranteed analysis to avoid big changes in percentages of protein, fat, and fiber.
Offer small servings at first
Once you get the new food home, start by offering your pet a small meal. If they eat it and have no tummy troubles, offer another small meal a few hours later. Gradually increase the size and decrease the frequency of meals until you are back to your normal schedule within a day or two.
If your pet doesn’t take to the new food, pick it up and don’t offer anything (including treats) for eight hours or so. It’s okay to let your pet get a little hungry, so long as you continue to offer the new food every 6 to 8 hours and then pick it up if it is not eaten. Continue this pattern for 24 hours (cats) to 48 hours (dogs).
If you can’t get your pet to eat the new food within these timeframes, consult your veterinarian and try another formula – but avoid frequent changes in flavor as this can promote finicky eating habits.