On October 5th, K-9 Kraving Dog Food announced a voluntary recall of their Chicken Patties Dog Food. The pet food was recalled due to possible contamination of salmonella and listeria monocytogenes. This recall is the latest in a recent string of pet food recalls, many of which have been due to salmonella contamination. One of the greatest concerns about raw dog food is the risk of salmonella contamination in the uncooked meat.
The recalled dog food was shipped between July 13-17, 2015, and it was distributed to retail stores in Maryland only. No other products from K-9 Kraving were affected, and no illnesses have been reported yet. The company is urging consumers who purchased the recalled products to follow the Safe Handling Instructions that are printed on all K-9 Kraving Dog Food packages when they dispose of the dog food.
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The company became aware of the issue after they received notification from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that a routine sample of Chicken Patties had tested positive for salmonella and listeria monocytogenes. Consumers that purchased the recalled products should discontinue use immediately and monitor themselves and their pet’s health closely.
Salmonellosis is an infection found in canines that is caused by salmonella bacteria. The disease is zoonotic, meaning that it can also be spread to humans. Salmonellosis can also affect cats. The severity of the disease determines the signs and symptoms that will be present in your dog. The most common symptoms include:
- lethargy
- fever
- shock
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- weight loss
- anorexia
- dehydration
- mucus in stool
- skin disease
- abnormally fast heart rate
- swollen lymph nodes
- spontaneous abortion or miscarriage
- abnormal vaginal discharge
Pets that may have come in contact with the bacteria should be monitored closely for these symptoms. If they begin to show any signs you need to contact your veterinarian immediately. If left untreated more severe problems may occur.
Most pet owners do not realize that many dogs carry and shed salmonella bacteria regardless of their diet. Salmonella is most commonly contracted from other animals, not from food. Not only can it affect the dog that consumes the bacteria, but salmonella can also effect humans who have handled the food or touched a surface that made contact with the dog food. Proper hand washing and surface sanitation is crucial when dealing with any type of raw meat.
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Humans that may have been exposed to the bacteria should monitor themselves for the following symptoms: vomiting or nausea, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramping. In rare cases salmonella can also cause serious ailments like endocarditis, arterial infections, muscle pain, arthritis, urinary tract issues and eye irritation. Consumers showing any of these symptoms need to seek help from a medical professional immediately.
Pet parents that purchased the recalled product are entitled to a full refund or exchange by returning the product to the retailer they purchased it from. If you no longer have the full packaging, a proof of purchase will be sufficient as well. Any dog owner with questions or concerns can call the K-9 Kraving Consumer Relations team at 1-800-675-1471 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., ET.
