Hey Ollie blog readers! We’re offering you an exclusive 60% OFF your starter box! Try now!

All Recipes

Fresh Recipes

See all

Whole food ingredients, slow-cooked for nutrition and flavor and frozen for freshness.

Baked Recipes

See all

Real meat and veggies, gently baked in small batches for crunch and convenience.

2 May 2017

3 MINS READ

Avoid Scary Dog Food Recalls in Three Easy Steps

As a pet parent, there’s probably not much that’s scarier than a food recall: you feel guilty because you fed your dog something that could have made him sick, and yet what could you have done to possibly prevent it? It leaves you feeling pretty helpless (and paranoid about your pup’s health!). With the seeming […]

Share article

As a pet parent, there’s probably not much that’s scarier than a food recall: you feel guilty because you fed your dog something that could have made him sick, and yet what could you have done to possibly prevent it? It leaves you feeling pretty helpless (and paranoid about your pup’s health!). With the seeming rise in recalls, we talked to Tonya Wilhelm, founder of Raising Your Pets Naturally and author of Proactive Puppy Care, who travels throughout the United States to talk about how to do just that. She filled us in on how to prevent dog food disasters before they actually happen.

How to avoid them the first place

To start, "I always look for United States-sourced ingredients," Wilhelm says. It’s important to read the ingredients on the label, too. Look for whole foods such as fresh meats and vegetables versus byproducts such as "chicken meal" and chemical preservatives like BHA: the less processing, the fewer chances of there being an issue which could lead to a recall. Also be on the lookout for pet food made in meat rendering plants, which process animal by-product materials that can include euthanized pets. In terms of the pet food brands, smaller companies (like Ollie) tend to have a close relationship with their suppliers and there are fewer people involved in the process, Wilhelm says. "Most actually will talk about the process on their websites, because they are proud of their sourcing," Wilhelm says.

How to stay aware of recalls

The easiest way to make sure you find out about a recall is to sign up for the Food and Drug Administration’s email alert option at FDA.gov. Most pet food companies also have their own email alerts, so be sure to go onto your individual pet food company’s website to see if that’s an option. Since recalls typically only involve limited batches of a product, always save the original packaging which contains the specific batch information, says Mike Sagman, founder and managing editor of Dogfoodadvisor.com, an independent review site that helps dog owners make informed decisions about purchasing dog food.

What to do if your dog food is recalled

Stop giving your dog the food immediately! Contact your vet if your dog has eaten the food and look out for any symptoms of sickness. Ask your vet about how to safely switch your dog over to a different brand of food, and then follow the instructions included in the recall notice, which may include going to an emergency veterinarian, Sagman says. Typically, the manufacturer will have you return your food for a refund, but make sure you save a little of it in case the vet needs to examine it. Since it is a contaminated food or treat, make sure you are careful when handling it (use a glove and wash your hands thoroughly.)

The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out MyOllie.com.

Tagged As:

The nutrition your dog needs,
the food they want.

Get Started

You might also like

5 MINS READ

Risks of Home Cooking for Your Dog

Although home cooking for your pup sounds like an intuitive and heartwarming way to serve up optimal health through fresh whole ingredients, there are many things you need to know about homemade f…

by

6 MINS READ

How to Choose The Perfect Treat for Your Dog

Treats have a place on your dog’s food pyramid, but they should be given with care and consideration.

by

5 MINS READ

Is Organic Dog Food Better for Pups?

Is organic dog food a healthier option for your dog? We investigate what the term organic really means when describing dog food.

by