Is your pup safe from the threat of Salmonella? Check if you recently purchased these dog treats!
When buying food for your pup, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the right ingredients to meet nutritional needs, and of course, ensure that it does fit your budget. But in the long run, that’s probably not the most important consideration. The recent Salmonella scare surrounding chicken-flavored dog treats emphasized the importance of looking at quality indicators. Ensure that your pup is on the safe side by staying informed about the recent nationwide dog treat recall.
Last November 22, Carolina Prime Pet Care, Inc., announced that it will be recalling 400 16oz bags of “Hollywood Feed Carolina Made Chicken Chips” due to it being potentially contaminated with Salmonella. The company announcement was also published on the website of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a form of public service.
According to the press release, the treats come in a purple and black-colored bag with an expiration date of 11/13/25. The back side of the bag also has a lot number of 20051324L2; it’s the only lot number that came up as potentially contaminated, according to the report. The Hollywood Feed Carolina Made Chicken Chips that’s being recalled was sold online and in the Hollywood Feed stores in 19 states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
FDA said that dogs who eat food tainted with Salmonella could experience several health issues like abdominal cramping, fever, and nausea. The same symptoms could appear in people who touched contaminated products.
What to Do If You Got the Contaminated Dog Treat
While there were no illnesses reported in connection to Hollywood Feed Carolina Made Chicken Chips, it doesn’t mean you have to ignore the warning. Whether you got your hands on this dog treat, or you know someone with pets who have ingested it, there are certain actions that must be followed:
- If you or someone you know bought the recalled dog treat, you may contact the company at 828-394-6460 or treats@carolinaprimepet.com, from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. A representative should give you complete information about returning the product for replacement or refund.
- If your pup or someone else’s pet ingested the recalled dog treat, monitor for the presence of symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and fever. If a dog has these symptoms after consuming the product, contact a veterinarian immediately.
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Preventing Salmonella Infection in Dogs
While some pets who ingested salmonella-tainted food will become lethargic and experience the above mentioned symptoms, others might only have decreased appetite, abdominal pain, and fever. Even then, they could infect other animals and/or humans. This is why it’s important to take a dog to the vet, if any of the symptoms show up. Severe cases of salmonella infection might call for antibiotics or hospitalization for fluids and other medications.
You can find a bit of good news, though, in the fact that salmonella infection can be prevented. You just have to know the right things to do. Here are some preventative measures that you can follow:
- Consult with your veterinarian regarding the best diet for your pup. Take note of any ingredients that shouldn’t be included in their meals.
- Make it a habit to wash your hands before and after handling the food of your dog. The same habit should be followed after cleaning their water bowls and beddings.
- Only buy dog food in packaging that shows no damage and consider avoiding raw meat. Dogs may get salmonella infection from contaminated pet food or undercooked meat.
- Stay updated on the pet food recalls announced by FDA. You can monitor the recalls via this page.
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From The Club
Situations like this remind us how important pet food quality is. At the same time, pet owners like us should be proactive in learning about the ingredients of our pups’ food. Getting infected by salmonella isn’t something to take lightly because it can affect both dogs and humans. Thankfully, there were no reported illnesses linked to the recalled product, and hopefully, there wouldn’t be any. In the end, it’s important to remain vigilant, practice good hygiene, and stay informed about the latest in pet food and safety standards.
