“Natural Balance,” considered a premium pet food, has announced a voluntary recall their venison dry cat and dog formulas. The statement on their website reads:
We are receiving consumer complaints regarding the Venison & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food, and Venison & Green Pea Dry Cat Foods. We do not know what is wrong with the food at this time, but we have heard that animals are vomiting and experiencing kidney problems. Although the problems seem to be focused on one particular lot, as a precautionary measure, we are pulling all dates of Venison & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food and Venison & Green Pea Dry Cat Food from the shelves.
Please discontinue feeding all Venison and Brown Rice Dry Dog Food, and Venison and Green Pea Dry Cat Food.
We are working closely with the FDA.
We will update this website today, as more information comes available.
NO OTHER NATURAL BALANCE PRODUCTS ARE AFFECTED.
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We commend Natural Balance for responding quickly and appropriately to the reports, hopefully this is a “false alarm” caused by consumers’ heightened awareness and concern in the wake of the recent recalls. Earlier this month Natural Balance reported an increase of nearly 40% in their sales, as people responded to the publicized pet food recall by upgrading from grocery store brands to premium pet foods.
We encourage those of you who have made the switch to premium foods to not be discouraged by this, to continue reading the labels on your pet’s food and treats, and to continue to monitor the news about the recalls. We also encourage all pet parents to do the research for themselves on how to consistently feed their pets a healthy diet. The quality of the food you feed your pets is absolutely the most important contribution you can make to lengthen and improve their quality of life.
Our friends at Wag ‘n’ Wash, retailers of premium pet foods have provided a brochure online, called “For Pet’s Sake – Get Smart!” to help you educate yourself on what to look for and what to avoid when selecting pet foods. And to add our two cents, due to the recalls and the source of the contamination being traced to wheat gluten – if any of your pets’ food or treats contain wheat gluten, throw it out. Better safe than sorry!
I’ve been reading all the blogs on this recall, and there are an alarming number of sick and or dead dogs in Austin, TX, all of whom were eating NB Venison. I know at least one woman has been posting on Itchmo and is working with the FDA, her vet, and NB to find out why her young, healthy dog died suddenly of kidney failure after eating NB Venison. She claims to know of several others in her area who are very ill or on the brink of death. I stumbled upon another guy whose 2 dogs are sick in Austin after eating NB Venison with kidney failure, and are currently undergoing IV treatment.
I just want folks to take this seriously. It’s not just paranoia, as I’ve seen posted eveywhere. Something is wrong here.