Wellness Canned Cat Food Recall

[Contrary1]

Tim Callahan, the CEO of WellPet, makers of Wellness® natural pet food announced on February 28, 2011 a voluntary recall of some of their canned cat foods.

The following lots are affected in the recall:

Wellness Canned Cat (all flavors and sizes) with best by dates from 14APR 13 through 30SEP13
Wellness Canned Cat Chicken & Herring (all sizes) with best by date of 10NOV13 and 17NOV13
Though no cats have been reported ill from consuming the cat food, product quality testing on several "runs" of the food revealed a deficiency of thiamine. As a result, WellPet made the decision to recall the foods "out of an abundance of caution."

If you have cat food from these lots, you should stop feeding it to your cats. You may call WellPet at 1-877-227-9587 to arrange for return of the product and reimbursement.

Thiamine is an essential nutrient for cats. Cats eating a diet deficient in thiamine for several weeks can develop symptoms. Symptoms of thiamine deficiency typically affect the gastrointestinal and nervous systems. Signs of a thiamine deficiency may include:

vomiting
reduced appetite
drooling
weight loss
ventriflexion of the neck (the cat's neck will bend toward the floor)
incoordination
walking in circles
falling
seizure

If your cat has been eating the recalled diet and is exhibiting any of these signs, contact your veterinarian.


http://www.examiner.com/pet-health-in-national/wellness-pet-food-recalled

More: http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/letter.aspx

[emilyg]

1. ty

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Important information. Thanks for keeping everyone informed. nt

[virgdem]

3. Thanks for the info...

I feed one of my cats Wellness and two cans seem to be affected. The flavor I usually feed was not affected, so I don't think much harm was done by feeding her the small amount that I did. At least it's not some poison from China.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. The problem seems to be what's not in it rather than what is.

And the cat would have to be eating it (probably to the exclusion of other foods) for weeks before problems occurred due to the lack of the specific nutrient. It's good that they recalled those particular batches. I've fed my guys Wellness for years with no problems (though not these flavors).

[devilgrrl]

5. Thanks for the info!!!!!

I had a can of that too! :scared:

[Lorien]

6. This is one of the reasons I rotate brands regularly

I always have at least five USDA brands in the house at any one time. They get something different every day; it keeps them from getting finicky, becoming allergic to an ingredient or missing out on a key ingredient.