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Just a few years ago, the FDA alerted pet owners to a potential problem (emphasis potential) in pet food. In July of 2018, the FDA notified the public the agency was investigating a potential connection between pet food and cases of canine heart disease.
Although this 2018 notice did not specifically state how many adverse event reports the FDA received linked to canine heart disease, it appears at this first public notice – there were not many. “Medical records for four atypical DCM cases, three Golden Retrievers and one Labrador Retriever, show that these dogs had low whole blood levels of the amino acid taurine. Four other cases of DCM in atypical dog breeds, a Miniature Schnauzer, Shih Tzu and two Labrador Retrievers, had normal blood taurine levels.”
With no known cause, and only a handful of consumer complaints – the FDA alerted the public they were investigating a potential pet food issue.
This FDA public pet food alert was picked up by media all across the US which resulted in more events reported to the agency. A year later, in 2019 the FDA stated “Between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2019, the FDA received 524 case reports of diagnosed dilated cardiomyopathy.”
Answering the question to why FDA decided in 2018 to alert the public to a potential pet food problem, the agency stated:
“The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) felt a responsibility to shed light on a signal that we have been made aware of and to solicit reports from pet owners and vets that may know of related cases.”
Fast forward to today (1/17/24)…the “signal” FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has been made aware of today…
In about a five week time frame, the Facebook Group Saving Pets One @ a Time (Pet Owner and veterinarian volunteers) has received 957 reports of sick pets, 234 of which have died.
As of today (1/17/24), the FDA has not felt any responsibility to shed light on the current issue and has not solicited reports from pet owners and/or veterinarians that may know of related cases.
It is unknown how many of reports of sick or dead pets have been submitted to FDA, or if the agency has received more than the 957 reports collected by this one pet owner group.
Why don’t we know? Because unlike in 2018 with the potential (never confirmed) grain-free pet food link to canine heart disease, the FDA is refusing to feel that same responsibility to alert pet owners as they did in the past.
The FDA is not providing information to anyone – including mainstream media.
Why is FDA handling this current situation differently?
When asked how many adverse event reports the agency has received regarding the potential current pet food issue, the FDA is requiring all (including media) to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request which could take months (even years) to receive.
But…during their investigation into a potential (and never proven) link between grain free pet food and heart disease in pets, the agency provided all of the reports they received publicly – without the need of filing a FOIA request as the are requiring for the current pet food concern.
In 2019, the FDA released the brand names involved in the adverse event reports received by the agency relating to a potential (and never proven) link. Yet in this instance the FDA has remained VERY silent about brands involved.
The significant difference between how FDA handled reports of sick/dead pets in 2018 and how FDA is handling the current issue…it makes one wonder…
Is FDA protecting the manufacturers involved in the current situation? Or…
Are the manufacturers of the pet foods currently linked to pet illness and death not cooperating with the FDA? Perhaps pet food corporate lawyers are strongly suggesting FDA remain silent on this current issue?
We don’t know.
What we do know is we need answers from FDA.
Because FDA is remaining silent, pet owners are encouraged to write their representatives in Congress. Ask your Representative to urge FDA to alert pet owners to what ‘signal’ they are currently seeing in pet food and what they are doing about it.
Example email:
There appears to be a concerning health issue in pet food right now. Reports from individual pet owners of sick and dead pets collected by one volunteer group of pet owners are increasing by the day – as of today this one group has collected 957 reports of sick pets, 234 of which have died. The FDA has failed to keep US pet owners updated, refusing to disclose any information to how many reports of sick or dead pets the agency has received or if the agency is investigating on behalf of these pets.
I am asking you to reach out to the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine for answers. FDA has alerted the public in the past to various pet food safety issues, and pet owners certainly deserve some answers now.
To find your Representative in Congress, Click Here.
On behalf of the sick and dead pets, on behalf of their worried or grieving families, take five minutes and write your Representatives. FDA might ignore us, but it will not be so easy to ignore Congress.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
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What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients? Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 5,000 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Click Here to preview Petsumer Report. www.PetsumerReport.com
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Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.
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Susan’s List of trusted pet treat manufacturers. Click Here to learn more.
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