As many as 70 dead and 80 sick dogs: pet food withdrawn

In the US, about 70 dogs died and another 80 became ill after consuming some types of food of the Sportmix brand

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

Fear in the USA after about 70 dogs would have died and another 80 would have become ill after consuming some types of food of the Sportmix brand, produced by Midwestern Pet Foods. And the fault would be the aflatoxins present in food.

The number of dog foods withdrawn in the United States is growing like wildfire. The Food and Drug Administration intervened and after providing a long list of withdrawn products, it is giving indications to owners and veterinarians on how to manage what is turning out to be a real emergency.

The affair began at the end of December when the company voluntarily recalled some products. Midwestern Pet Foods then expanded the recall to include other foods that contained corn, produced at the Oklahoma facility.

Notably, on December 30, 2020, Midwestern Pet Foods announced the recall of some batches of Sportmix pet foods after at least 28 cases of dead dogs and 8 sick after consuming the withdrawn pet food were reported to the FDA. According to the FDA website, several samples were tested by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and found that they contained very high levels of aflatoxins. The number of animals involved rose rapidly as the days went by.

As of January 11, 2021, the FDA is aware of over 70 pets that have died and more than 80 pets that are sick after eating Sportmix pet food. Not all of these cases have been officially confirmed as aflatoxin poisoning through laboratory tests or review of veterinary records. This count is approximate and may not reflect the total number of affected pets, ”explains the FDA saying that a series of investigations are underway that will clarify.

A hazard called aflatoxin

Aflatoxin is produced by the Aspergillus flavus mold. It proliferates on grains used as ingredients in pet food. If you take high levels of aflatoxin, this can cause illness or death. And that's what could have happened to the 70 dogs who died and shared the fact that they consumed this product.

Pets poisoned by aflatoxin may exhibit symptoms including sluggishness, jaundice, visible in the eyes or gums, loss of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea. Animals are highly susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning because, unlike people who eat a varied diet, they generally eat the same food for long periods of time. Consequently, any aflatoxins present could accumulate, to the detriment of health. In some cases, this toxicity can cause long-term liver problems and / or death. Some pets sometimes suffer liver damage without showing any symptoms.

"The United States Food and Drug Administration, in partnership with the state departments of agriculture for Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington, is studying some Sportmix pet food products manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. that may contain potentially fatal levels of aflatoxins, ”explains the FDA.

All lots affected by the recall

Although at the moment the recall concerns the USA, here you will find all the lots withdrawn both by the company and subsequently by the FDA since the product can also be purchased online.

“If your pet has symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning, contact a veterinarian immediately. Even animals without symptoms may have suffered liver damage, so you may want to contact your veterinarian if the animal ate any of the recalled products, ”recommends the FDA.

Sources of reference: FDA, CNN