Merrick Pet Care, Inc. (Amarillo, TX) announced on Monday, August 8 that it was recalling one lot of its "Doggie Wishbone" dog treats, due to potential contamination with Salmonella. The company, citing "the abundance of caution," chose to voluntarily recall the product after routine sampling by the Food and Drug Administration indicated a potential problem. To date, no illnesses or consumer complaints have been reported in relation to the product.
248 cases of the affected treats were sent to distributors in 10 states, all of whom have been notified and have begun their own recall procedures. The treats are labeled as ITEM #29050, UPC #2280829050, Lot 11031, Best By 30 Jan 2013. Only one lot of "Doggie Wishbone" treats are being recalled; no other Merrick Pet Care or Merrick brand products are affected.
Salmonella Infection
This is the latest of many dog treat recalls due to potential Salmonella contamination, although most have involved pig ears. In May, Bravo, Keys Manufacturing, Blackman Industries, and Boss Pet Products all issued pig ear treat recalls, and in March the Jones Natural Chews company recalled 2,075 boxes of pig ears sold across the U.S. Merrick issued voluntary recalls in January 2011 and in July-August 2010; in all cases the recalls were based on sampling results with no illnesses reported. Salmonella can pose potentially serious health threats to both people and pets.
In pets, Salmonella can cause fever, lethargy, diarrhea with or without blood, and vomiting. Mildly affected pets may exhibit lack of appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Some pets will appear symptom-free, but can carry the organism and infect other pets and people.
Salmonella can cause fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea with or without blood in humans. Eye irritation, muscle pain and arthritis, urinary tract issues, or cardiac infections may occur in rare cases. Salmonella can infect persons handling contaminated dry pet food or treats, or those who come into contact with chews or surfaces that have not been thoroughly disinfected.
If You Purchased the Affected Treats
Pet owners who have given their dog recalled "Doggie Wishbones" should monitor their pets and themselves for any signs of infection, and seek medical or veterinary care if symptoms appear. Consumers who have purchased the treats can return the unused treats to the place of purchase for a full refund.
For More Information
Merrick Customer Care: 1-800-664-7387 M-F 8:00am – 5:00pm CST.
Subscribe for e-mail updates when new pet product recall alerts or National Boxer articles are published. It's FREE and anonymous! Follow Jennifer on Twitter, Facebook, or her website, JenniferAWalker.com. Disclosure.
Comments