Purina Dog Food Making Dogs Sick Exposed Through Consumer Reports and Pet Owner Experiences

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Posted Oct 24, 2024

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Man Holding Brown Paper Bag with Dog Food
Credit: pexels.com, Man Holding Brown Paper Bag with Dog Food

Many pet owners have come forward with disturbing accounts of their dogs falling ill after consuming Purina dog food.

Some of the most common complaints include digestive issues, skin problems, and even life-threatening conditions.

Consumers have reported that their dogs developed diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain after eating Purina dog food.

In some cases, the symptoms were so severe that they required emergency veterinary care.

Purina Dog Food Controversy

A class action lawsuit has been filed in California against Purina, alleging that dogs have become sick and even died due to an ingredient in the Beneful line of dog food.

The lawsuit quotes 3,000 dogs who have eaten the dog food in question and subsequently become ill or even died.

Many news outlets have reported that the ingredient in question is the same or at least similar to anti-freeze, specifically Propylene Glycol.

Propylene Glycol is found in many commonly consumed foods, both human and pet, as well as beverages as a preservative.

Credit: youtube.com, Purina Says it's Pet Food is Safe: Social Media Says Otherwise

Companies, or at least their chemists, do make mistakes, but so do lawyers, so it's essential to approach this situation with caution.

The AVMA is advising vets to pay close attention to the situation and to advise their clients accordingly.

If you decide to transition your dog away from Beneful to something else, remember to do it over the course of 3 or 4 days to get their system accustomed to the new food.

Propylene Glycol is also the active ingredient in Mira Lax laxative, while a similar molecule, Ethylene Glycol, is the traditional anti-freeze found in your car.

Pet Owner Experiences

Pet owners have reported severe health issues in their dogs after feeding them Purina Pro Plan.

Some owners have reported severe diarrhea and dehydration in their dogs after switching to Purina Pro Plan.

One owner's dog was hospitalized twice due to severe diarrhea and dehydration, leading them to suspect the food as the culprit.

See what others are reading: Good Food for Dogs with Diarrhea

Credit: youtube.com, REPORTS of PURINA Making Pets Sick!?! as of 1/8/2024

My 2 dogs who are raw fed are perfectly fine.

A Rottweiler lost an entire litter of puppies and is waiting for an official diagnosis of PLE after being fed Purina Pro Plan.

A 12-year-old pit bull boxer mix had seizures after eating Purina Lamb and Rice Adult food, a type of Purina dog food she had never had before.

The owner of the pit bull boxer mix suspects that the Purina food caused the seizures, but an MRI is needed to confirm the diagnosis.

The doctor suspected a brain tumor or epilepsy, but without an MRI, the exact cause is unknown.

Purina dog food has been accused of harming dogs, with a class action lawsuit filed in California alleging that dogs have become sick and even died due to an ingredient in the Beneful line of dog food.

The lawsuit quotes over 3,000 dogs who have eaten the dog food in question and subsequently become ill or died.

FDA Actions

Credit: youtube.com, FDA: Dog food linked to death, illness in pets

The FDA has issued a Form 483 when conditions or practices observed indicate that any food, drug, device, or cosmetic has been adulterated, or is being prepared, packed, or held under conditions whereby it may become adulterated or rendered injurious to health.

This can include issues such as elevated mycotoxins, presence of pathogens like Salmonella, and toxic levels of Vitamin D in pet foods. It's arguable that multiple instances of inadequate control of can cooling water should also trigger a Form 483.

Purina's Beneful dog food has been accused of harming dogs, with a class action lawsuit filed in California alleging that dogs have become sick and even died after eating the food.

The lawsuit quotes 3,000 dogs who have eaten the dog food in question and subsequently become ill or died, but the broad range of common symptoms makes it difficult to pin this on any one cause.

The ingredient in question is Propylene Glycol, which is found in many commonly consumed foods and beverages as a preservative. However, chemistry can be complicated, and even small changes in chemical formula can entirely change the type of molecule produced and what that molecule is capable of.

Purina has issued an expanded recall due to an investigation prompted by the company, which revealed a production error by a U.S. supplier that resulted in potentially elevated vitamin D levels in a particular formula.

Expanded Recall Issued

Credit: youtube.com, New Pet Food Recall? - Is Purina Dog Food making your dog sick.

An expanded recall has been issued for Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental prescription dry dog food, affecting 8 and 20-pound bags.

The recall was prompted by a production error made by a U.S. supplier, resulting in potentially elevated vitamin D levels in the dog food.

Healthy amounts of vitamin D are beneficial for canine health, but an excess can cause health issues depending on the level of vitamin D and the length of exposure dogs experience.

Dogs that consume this dog food may exhibit symptoms, so it's crucial to contact your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has been affected.

Purina advises to immediately stop feeding the affected product to your pet and throw it away in a container where no other animals can obtain it.

Fortunately, no other Purina products have been impacted by this recall.

Supply Chain and Control

Supply chain and control can be a major issue in the pet food industry. Blindly relying on suppliers to provide safe products can be disastrous, as seen in the Clinton experience with faulty pre-mix supplied by ADM.

A simple test of each batch of pre-mix would have prevented the release of multiple production lots of toxic pet food. This highlights the importance of proper quality control measures in the supply chain.

In the case of ADM, a routine test could have saved many dogs from suffering.

Nestlé's Complexity

Credit: youtube.com, Why Are Modern Supply Chains So Needlessly Complex? | Economics Explained

Nestlé Purina is not a monolith, with each manufacturing location having at least partial autonomy over its operations and food safety decisions.

The Clinton location relied solely on ADM to provide the specified formulation for its pre-mix ingredient and finished products, with no attempt to test for Vitamin D levels.

In contrast, the Edmond plant submitted periodic samples to the corporate lab for nutritional analysis.

This decentralized approach can lead to inconsistencies in food safety practices across different locations.

The Clinton location's lack of testing for Vitamin D levels raises concerns about the quality control measures in place.

Supply Chain Control

Supply Chain Control is crucial for ensuring the quality and safety of products. Blindly relying on suppliers to meet specifications can be disastrous.

The Clinton experience with faulty pre-mix supplied by ADM is a stark reminder of this danger. This practice can lead to the release of toxic products into the market.

A simple routine test of each batch of pre-mix would have prevented the release of multiple production lots of toxic pet food. This highlights the importance of quality control measures in supply chains.

Close-up of Dog Food
Credit: pexels.com, Close-up of Dog Food

Supply-chain preventive control is a better approach, where companies take proactive steps to ensure the quality of their products. This involves monitoring and testing products at every stage of the supply chain.

In the case of the Clinton experience, a more robust quality control process would have caught the faulty pre-mix and prevented the disaster.

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Raul Bednar

Senior Assigning Editor

Raul Bednar is a seasoned Assigning Editor with a passion for guiding writers towards compelling narratives. With a keen eye for detail, Raul has a proven track record of selecting high-quality articles that captivate readers. His expertise spans a range of topics, including dog training and behavior.