What To Do If You Suspect Your Pet Ate Contaminated Food

Athens MidDay reporter Allison Morrison explains why one local pet owner is concerned about pet food being sold in Athens:



Jennifer Sharp, a local vet, explains how to take precautions:



If you are a pet owner concerned about the recent pet food recall, Athens MidDay has some tips for you.

There are several symptoms you should be looking for if your pet ingested recalled food. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, these include: loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms can appear within several days of ingesting such food, so it is important to monitor your pet for any changes. If your pet experiences these symptoms, consult your veterinarian immediately. Kidney failure resulting from these symptoms has been the cause of death in animals that ate contaminated pet food. If you suspect your pet is ill, your veterinarian can assess the animal's kidney function by performing blood tests and urinalysis.

The FDA also recommends that you consult your veterinarian with any questions about your pet's health or nutritional needs. In light of the recall, it is important to note what types of food are safe to feed to your pet. In the Athens area, Kroger and Aldi are making efforts to remove recalled pet food from their shelves. PetSmart is also recalling the products affected.

The FDA's most recent count of pets that have died as a result of contamination from recalled food stands at just sixteen, but some pet owners report that the number is even higher. This argument is discussed on Pet Connection's Web site, which also includes links to pet-owner blogs and information about how to report a sick or diseased pet to the FDA.