“Supplier Error” Blamed in Poisoned Purina ProPlan Prescription Dog Food Recall

Nestle Purina Prescription Dog Food With Toxic Level of Vitamin D Poisons Dogs.

Today Nestle Purina PetCare Purina expanded the recall of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental (PPVD EL) prescription dry dog food due to a “supplier error” resulting in potentially elevated levels of vitamin D in two additional product lots, which precede the production dates of the previously recalled lots.

The original announcement was made on February 8, 2023. Purina recalled specific lots of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental (PPVD EL) prescription dry dog food due to elevated vitamin D levels.

So far, at least two confirmed cases of a dog exhibiting signs of vitamin D toxicity after consuming the recalled dog food.

SIGNS OF POISONING

Vitamin D toxicosis is a potentially life-threatening condition that should be treated immediately.

The early signs of vitamin D poisoning may be vague and easily missed. At first, your dog may drool, start vomiting, or have diarrhea and start drinking more than usual and peeking more than usual. More severe signs include muscle spasms, fits/convulsions, and weight loss. Eventually, your dog may exhibit symptoms of kidney failure, pain, bloody vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and changes in the heart rhythm. If your dog shows any of these signs, contact a veterinarian immediately.

DIAGNOSIS

Only a veterinarian can diagnose vitamin D toxicity. They might take a blood sample to measure levels of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D or obtain urine to assess kidney function. Vitamin D toxicosis is characterized by hyperphosphatemia, hypercalcemia, hypokalemia, and azotemia. These diseases can lead to renal failure, cardiac abnormalities, hypertension, CNS depression, and possibly even death. Treatment will depend on your veterinarian’s assessment of each case. Without aggressive therapy, your dog may be predisposed to chronic kidney disease for the rest of their life.

WHAT TO DO

Take a picture of the pet food label, including the lot number. It’s also helpful to save the food in its original package in case it’s needed for testing. If your veterinarian suspects the food is the source of excess vitamin D, having the lot code helps the FDA identify precisely when the contamination occurred and what other products might also be affected.

REPORT IT

You should report suspected illness to the FDA electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. It’s most helpful if you work with your veterinarian to submit your dog’s medical records as part of the report. The FDA welcomes case reports, especially those confirmed through diagnostics. For an explanation of the information and level of detail that would be helpful to include in a complaint to the FDA, please see How to Report a Pet Food Complaint. Without these adverse event reports made to the FDA from veterinarians and consumers like you, recalls like this would not occur. Taking this critical step can help prevent other dogs from getting sick.

TO FIND OUT MORE

How to Identify the ProPlan Recalled Dog Food

Vitamin D Toxicity in Dogs

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON VITAMIN D TOXICOSIS

Cholecalciferol, Merck Veterinary Manual

Vitamin Tolerances of Animals; Vitamin D, National Academies Press

Vitamin D, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

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