At least 28 dogs died and eight others became ill after eating dog food that contained high levels of a toxin called aflatoxin, the Food and Drug Administration said, as some pet food was collected on Wednesday.
The FDA is investigating these reports and warning pet owners and veterinarians that certain Sportmix pet foods “may contain potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin”.
Aflatoxin is produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, says the FDA. This mold can grow on corn and other grains used in pet food. At high levels, it can be deadly to pets.
On Wednesday, Midwest Pet Food Inc., which makes the Petmix brand of pet food, announced a recall of nine batches of pet food. A list of collected products can be found on the FDA website.
The FDA and the Missouri Department of Agriculture are working with the manufacturer to determine whether additional products contain high levels of aflatoxin.
“While this pet food recall is still ongoing, we are sharing the facts we have so far because the levels of aflatoxin found in the collected pet food are potentially fatal,” Dr. Amber McCoig, deputy director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine Division of Compliance said in a statement.
People should stop feeding their pets with these foods and contact their veterinarians.
Symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning in pets can include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (a sign of liver damage) and / or diarrhea, says the FDA. If your pet has symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Pets are particularly susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning because they usually eat the same food every day, says the FDA. If the food contains aflatoxin, the toxin can build up in your bodies over time.
Pet owners, however, are not at risk when handling pet food.
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