Dog foods recalled for excess vitamin D

Two St. Louis-based dog food companies have voluntarily recalled certain formulations of their dry dog foods due to an excess of vitamin D, according to FDA recall announcements. Natural Life Pet Products has recalled the 17.5-lb bags its Chicken & Potato dry dog food, while Nutrisca has recalled 4, 15 and 28-lb bags of its Chicken and Chickpea Dry Dog Food, the releases state. No other products are affected by this recall. 

Affected products are as follows:   

• 17.5 lbs Natural Life Chicken & Potato Dry Dog Food 
  • Bag UPC: 0-12344-08175-1
• 4 lbs Nutrisca Chicken and Chickpea Dry Dog Food 

• Bag UPC: 8-84244-12495-7  

• 15 lbs Nutrisca Chicken and Chickpea Dry Dog Food 
  • Bag UPC: 8-84244-12795-8 
• 28 lbs Nutrisca Chicken and Chickpea Dry Dog Food 
  • Bag UPC: 8-84244-12895-5 

The bags affected have a “Best by” date code of February 25, 2020, through September 13, 2020, which can be found on the bottom of the bag. 

The Natural Life Pet Products food was distributed to retail stores in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and California. The company discovered a formulation error after researching complaints of vitamin D toxicity from three pet owners, the release says. 

The Nutrisca food was distributed to retail stores nationwide. A formulation error was discovered after investigation into reports of vitamin D toxicity from three pet owners, the release states.

Clinical signs of elevated vitamin D levels can include vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling and weight loss. At very high levels, excess vitamin D can lead to more serious conditions including renal dysfunction, the FDA release says.

Pet owners or veterinary teams should discontinue feeding these foods to pets, and the products affected by the recall should be disposed of or can be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund, the release says. 

Questions can be directed to Natural Life Pet Products at (888) 279-9420 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Standard time, Monday through Friday, or by email at consumerservices@nutrisca.com for more information or to Nutrisca at (888) 279-9420 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Standard time, Monday through Friday, or by email at consumerservices@nutrisca.com for more information.