Recommendations for Pet Owners Affected by Pet Food Recall

Via PR Newswire - As of May 8, 14 brands of pet food were recalled due to a Salmonella bacteria contamination. 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 protocol for disposing of contaminated food and rapidly changing their pets' diets.

To assist pet owners, petMD.com has pulled together a list of recommendations for what to do if your pet's food has been recalled:

1. Remove the Recalled Food: If you check the labels of your pet food bag and find that it has been recalled, seal it in a plastic bag and place it in a secure garbage can. This helps ensure that neither your pet nor an outdoor animal will eat the contaminated food and risk becoming ill.

 2. Clean: 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 various objects and people and live for several hours or even days.

3. Change 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 your pet's diet:

1. Find a Similar Pet Food Formula: Pick a new pet food that closely matches the old variety. Read the ingredient list. If you can match up the first few ingredients, the foods will be fairly similar. Also, review the guaranteed analysis on both labels. Avoid big changes in the percentages of protein, fat, and fiber whenever possible.

2. Offer Small Meals Gradually: Start by offering your pet a small meal. If he or she eats it and doesn't develop any tummy troubles as a result, offer another small meal a few hours later. Gradually increase the size and decrease the frequency of your offerings until you are back to your normal schedule in a day or two. If your pet doesn't take to the new food, pick it up and don't offer anything for eight hours or so. Continue to offer the new food every 6-8 hours and then pick it up if it is not eaten. Continue this pattern for 24 hours (cats) to 48 hours (dogs). If you cannot get your pet to eat the new food within this time, consult your veterinarian and try another formulation.

3. Go Easily Digestible: If your dog or cat has an especially sensitive stomach, consider switching to an easily digestible formula at the offset and gradually mix in small amounts of the new, long-term diet a few days later. Probiotics for dogs and cats can also reduce the chance that a pet will develop diarrhea when its diet suddenly changes.

 4. Consult Your Veterinarian: If you can't find a new food your pet likes or if despite all precautions the change in diet results in vomiting, diarrhea or other signs of gastrointestinal distress, talk to your veterinarian. He may be able to suggest other pet food brands that are less likely to cause your pet a diet-related illness.

For more information on pet food recalls, visit http://bit.ly/IKREGe