Two Different Brands of Canned Dog Food Recalled

Blue Buffalo Company, a Connecticut-based pet food manufacturer, has recalled its Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Wet Food for Adult Dogs in a 12.5 oz. can. WellPet, another pet food company headquartered in Massachusetts, has recalled its 13.2 oz. Wellness 95% Beef Topper for Dogs.

The thyroid is a gland found in you, your dog, and (obviously) cattle, that’s located in the neck and produces several different hormones. It helps regulate everything from metabolism to body temperature to heart rate, and an overactive thyroid can throw off those systems. You, or your pet, can also be affected by thyroid hormones from other sources. That’s where the recall comes in.

Both companies warn that dogs ingesting high levels of beef thyroid hormones can exhibit symptoms such as increased thirst and urination, weight loss, increased heart rate and restlessness.

“These symptoms may resolve when the use of the impacted food is discontinued,” says Blue Buffalo Company in a statement. “However, with prolonged consumption these symptoms may increase in severity and may include vomiting, diarrhea, and rapid or difficulty breathing. Should these symptoms occur, contact your veterinarian immediately.”

Neither company has received reports of dogs exhibiting any symptoms, but the FDA contacted both companies after a small number of pets were sickened. In the case of Blue Buffalo Company, the FDA advised them of a single dog with symptoms. The dog has fully recovered, according to the company. The FDA contacted WellPet after three dogs exhibited symptoms. All those animals have also recovered, according to the FDA release. Both companies’ products were distributed nationally and both are limited to the above mentioned varieties.

So how do too many cow hormones find their way into canned dog food? Simple. If the product contains too many (literal) heads of cattle that have thyroids still attached there may be elevated thyroid hormone levels in the product. A 2015 research study looked at several dogs who were suffering from hyperthyroidism (elevated thyroid hormone levels) that was linked to their food containing high levels of thyroid hormones from animal head meat.

For more information on the affected WellPet products you can find more information here and for Blue Buffalo Company go here.