P&G investigating whether its pet food made dog sick

MIAMI TWP., Montgomery County — A Miami Twp. man says his mixed-breed golden retriever became ill while eating a Eukanuba pet food that Procter & Gamble Co. recalled over concerns that it might have been contaminated with salmonella bacteria.

P&G said it is investigating Steve Brandell’s complaint that his dog suffered several weeks of vomiting and diarrhea while eating the Eukanuba Naturally Wild dry food he bought on July 11.

A P&G team of veterinarians and veterinary technicians will contact Brandell and his veterinarian, company spokesman Jason Taylor said Friday, Aug. 20.

Brandell said that after he learned P&G had recalled that pet food from the market , he switched to another brand of pet food with a veterinarian’s concurrence. The dog has recovered, Brandell said Thursday.

P&G on July 30 announced the voluntary recall of the dry pet foods produced in Lewisburg “as a precautionary measure because it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.” There has been no confirmation that any pets have been sickened, Taylor said.

The company has stopped making pet food at the Lewisburg plant since July 30 to search for sources of contamination. It may have come from chicken used to make the food, Taylor said.

The recall involves Iams veterinary dry formulas, sold through veterinarians’ offices, and Eukanuba Naturally Wild, Pure and Custom Care Sensitive Skin dry foods, sold mostly at specialty stores, P&G said.

P&G has received about 20,000 inquiries about the recall, but only a small percentage of those queries have been referred to the company’s team for investigation, Taylor said.

Brandell said he incurred $167 in bills from the veterinarian for the dog’s treatment.

P&G will consider, on a case by case basis, whether to reimburse pet owners for costs of medical treatment if the company confirms that the pet was sickened by contaminated P&G pet food, Taylor said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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