Dog Food Products Recalled For Excessive Vitamin D
In December 2018, the FDA notified the public about reports of vitamin D toxicity in dogs that ate dry dog food made by a common contract manufacturer and marketed under several different brand names. Then at the end of January 2019, the FDA became aware of a report of vitamin D toxicity in a dog that ate a canned Hills dog food. Hills Pet Nutrition put out a press release about the recall. On March 20, 2019, Hills expanded the recall to include additional lots of canned dog food. On May 17, 2019, the firm expanded the recall to include one additional product lot code for a canned dog food that was recalled. This recall did not affect cat food, dry food , or treats.
After conducting an investigation into these incidents, FDA issued warning letters to both Sunshine Mills Inc. and Hills Pet Nutrition Inc. in 2019.
What Are The Most Dangerous Vitamins For A Dog
Vitamins are essential for people, and dogs need them too. We need different ones than our fur kids, though, and some of the good things for people can be poisonous to our fur kids.
Most human vitamins contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener, which is toxic for dogs even in small doses. Vitamin D, iron, and calcium, which is also abundant in human vitamin supplements, are also toxic to dogs. Yikes!
Xylitol causes liver failure and low blood sugar in dogs. Vitamin D enhances calcium formation in the body. When your dog gets too much of it, the overload of calcium could cause secondary kidney failure.
For this same reason, dogs shouldnt ingest too much calcium. Lastly, iron causes vomiting, diarrhea, and even organ failure in dogs. Thats very scary and enough of a reason to lock those prenatal vitamins up very securely. Your much-needed vitamins could literally kill your dog.
Vitamins That Are Toxic To Pets
Murphy says one of the most serious situations involves prenatal vitamins, which are high in iron and can cause iron toxicity in pets. If your dog or cat happens to knock over a bottle of prenatal vitamins and swallows a bunch before you can intervene, you need to call your vet immediately.
Similarly, vitamin D supplements are fairly serious because too much vitamin D can increase levels of calcium and phosphorus, which can eventually lead to permanent problems with the heart and kidneys, among other organs, Murphy says.
Many other vitamins and supplementslike fiber supplements and many multivitaminsare less serious, Murphy says, but if consumed in large enough amounts, any human-grade vitamin may represent a threat to a pets health.
Whenever you see your pet ingest a vitamin or other human supplement, make sure to keep the vitamin bottle on hand in case you have to visit your vet or an emergency animal hospital. The doctor will be able to treat your pet more efficiently with information about dosage and ingredients.
Recommended Reading: Does Vitamin C Help Psoriasis
What Is The Best Vitamin For Dogs
There is no best vitamin for dogs.
All vitamins on the market have pros and cons, some contain too much of one type of vitamin while lacking in another.
Trying to find a best depends on the individual dogs needs rather than any particular product.
It is important that each person carefully read labels and consult with their vet or pet nutritionist to see what nutrients are required for their dogs specific health goals if they cannot look it up themselves.
For example, senior dogs may need an extra dose of calcium and phosphorus because bones become brittle as they age puppies eat more energy-rich foods, so they require dietary fats like omega 3s and 6s pregnant dogs need choline for fetal development some breeds have a genetic predisposition to Type II Diabetes and may be sensitive to high glucose levels, so they may need more Vitamin B12.
What Are The Side Effects Of Eating Too Many Vitamins
Weve already established that human vitamins could potentially kill your dog, even in small doses. But, what if you didnt realize that your dog had some of your vitamins? What are the symptoms and side effects to look out for?
Glad you asked.
If your dog had too much Vitamin D, hes likely to vomit quite a lot. Added to that, he wont have an appetite, and hell probably drain his water bowl repeatedly from extreme thirst. Poor Rover will probably also pee much more than usual and lose weight given a bit of time. Yikes. If left unchecked, all of these things could kill him.
When your pup gets in too much Vitamin A, itll show up in his movement first. Hell be super stiff because of new bone growth around his joints. Poor dog! This bone growth might seriously limit his neck movement. In severe cases, he could also show paralysis.
You may notice some general symptoms when your pup eats human vitamins, such as muscle tremors and seizures. With an overdose of iron, your Rover will probably show abdominal swelling and shock. If xylitol is the culprit, your pup is likely to have convulsions accompanied by drowsiness because of the drop in blood sugar levels.
These symptoms are all pretty severe and could all be fatal. So, if you suspect that your pup got his paws on your vitamins, . Dont wait for signs of poisoning before you act.
Read Also: What Is The Best Omega 3 Vitamin
Is There Any Danger In Giving My Dog Vitamins
Possibly. If an animal already eats a balanced diet and receives excess portions of some vitamins and minerals, they could be harmful, according to the FDA and veterinarians.
Too much calcium can cause skeletal problems, especially in large-breed puppies too much vitamin A can harm blood vessels and cause dehydration and joint pain. Excess vitamin D can prompt a dog to stop eating, harm bones, and cause muscles to atrophy.
Continued
Dog Ate Vitamin B12 Pill
Compared with the beef eaters, the veg dieters also ate extra servings of end result.
Zinc, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and omega-three fats. Nonetheless, researchers say a properly-designed consuming.
My dog were given into my bottle of B12 and ate about 30 pills . I recognise B12 is safe for dogs and I am monitoring her, Answered by way of a verified Dog Veterinarian We use cookies to present you the pleasant feasible enjoy on our internet site.
Dog Puppy Vaccine Schedule ACV is always seeking out volunteers who have a coronary heart for the people of the Coachella Valley. ACV is a small, local, fingers-on. She currently took one in every of her cats, her little buddy to be neutered all through a Humane Society of Summit County MABEL Mobile. Spring Valley Vitamins B12 Details ·
Typically, B12 injections are reserved for serious deficiencies, and theyre encouraged if the pet has a gastrointestinal contamination or an inherited situation that forestalls it from absorbing the vitamin thru food. Injections are commonly administered to a dog’s hind leg. Cats receive the diet through subcutaneous injection.
My mother and father might take me on three hour road journeys with the singular cause of purchasing fresh meats and cheeses. We ate eggs for breakfast, ham sandwiches for lunch, and meatloaf for dinner, just.
28.06.2011.
Vitamin A is vital for immune functioning and properly imaginative and prescient, however it does even more for your frame than you might guess.
Recommended Reading: How To Make Your Own Vitamin C Serum
What Happens If A Dog Eats A Vitamin D Pill
What happens if a dog eats a vitamin d pill? In a dog with vitamin D poisoning, calcium, and phosphorous levels rise, affecting the kidneys, heart, gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system. In extreme cases or if left untreated, dogs can experience acute renal failure, coma, and death.
What if my dog eats a vitamin D pill? If your dog has eaten vitamin D supplements, medications or rat/mouse poison, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control center, at 1-800-213-6680 immediately. The type of treatment needed depends upon the amount ingested and time since ingestion.
How much vitamin D kills a dog? In dogs, the lethal mouse and rat poison dose that kills 50% of patients that get into it is only 85 mg/kg . Toxic doses of Vitamin D3 are considered to be as low as 0.1 mg/kg of body weight.
Can vitamin D be toxic to dogs? In both humans and dogs, vitamin D supports multiple aspects of good health. But for dogs, high levels of this vitamin can be toxic. Depending on how much a dog is exposed to and for how long, vitamin D poisoning can cause a variety of symptoms: increased thirst.
Those Dog Food Recalls
Nine brands of dry dog food were recalled in late 2018 when they were found to contain overly high levels of vitamin D. In January 2019, Hills Pet Nutrition recalled multiple varieties of its canned dog food for the same problem. The Hills recall was expanded in March. You can find more information about the specific brands and products involved in these recalls here.
The manufacturers of the recalled dog food were first alerted to the problem by concerned pet parents whose dogs had become sick. Its still unclear how many cases of illness or death have been caused by the recalled foods. If you suspect your dog may have been sickened by excess vitamin D, you can find additional help, including links for reporting a complaint, on the FDA website.
Recommended Reading: What Vitamins Give More Energy
What Is Vitamin D Poisoning
Vitamin D is necessary for the body to absorb calcium, a mineral that is essential for healthy bones, muscle movement, nervous system function, and immune system function. Excessive amounts of Vitamin D may result in poisoning. There are two forms of vitamin D. Plants, fungi, and yeasts produce Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 is produced by animals.
Poisoning commonly occurs when pets ingest rodenticides containing cholecalciferol or supplements containing either form of Vitamin D. Vitamin D2 has a much wider margin of safety than vitamin D3 and larger amounts are generally more tolerated by animals. Many topical psoriasis medications also contain potent amounts of vitamin D and poisoning can occur when pets lick the cream off someones skin or directly from the tube of product. Improperly formulated pet foods, both commercially produced and homemade, have also resulted in poisoning.
How Should I Choose A Supplement
Here are tips from veterinarians and those who test supplements or work in the industry.
- Look for a brand that specializes in one area, or that has commissioned clinical studies of their products.
- Read labels. Know the name of the ingredient youre looking for, so you wont be deceived by sound-alikes.
- Look for a lot number on the product, a sign that the company has set up quality control checks.
- Look for a contact number for the company on the label. Call and ask who formulated the product, what expertise they have, and how long the manufacturer has been in business.
- Be wary of claims that sound too good to be true, such as promises to alleviate diseases like parvovirus, cancer, and hip dysplasia.
- Look for certification from an organization that has independently verified a supplements contents.
- Be cautious about giving human supplements to dogs. Some products, such as garlic, can be dangerous for dogs.
- Know the seller. Cooperman says ConsumerLab.com has found fewer problems with supplements sold at vets offices, although they do occur.
Continued
Don’t Miss: Is Vitamin C Good For Ckd Patients
Which Supplements And Vitamins Are Dangerous For Pets
Many of us take vitamin or dietary supplements to keep our health in check, but these same supplements that can be helpful to us, may be dangerous or even fatal to our pets. Whether this is due to the ingredient we are looking to take or the inactive ingredients in the product, it is important to keep these supplements out of paws reach. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has provided a brief look into some common supplements that can be harmful to our furry friends.
Alpha lipoic acid is a vitamin-like antioxidant that is found in many foods such as yeast, broccoli, spinach, potatoes and meat. It is often taken to decrease inflammation, slow skin aging, lower heart disease risk factors, slow memory loss, reduce blood sugars, promote weight loss and to improve nerve function. However, pets that get into thioctic acid may develop a drop in their blood sugar due to its synergism with insulin. Clinical signs of overdose will often include drooling, vomiting, difficulty walking, tremors and seizures. These effects can be seen within 30 minutes to two hours after an overdose. Left untreated, this overdose may be fatal to pets, but with prompt veterinary treatment, most pets will recover.
Iron is taken by many people as our diets are often deficient. While taking iron may be beneficial to most humans, in pets high doses of iron can be irritating and caustic to the GI tract leading to vomiting, diarrhea and, in high doses, can cause liver damage.
Too Little Vitamin D Is Also A Problem
Most research on this vitamin in dogs has focused on the effects of deficiency. But even evaluating a dogs vitamin D status by blood test is problematic, according to a recent summary of the canine research on this subject.
For one thing, researchers cant measure how much of that final, usable form of vitamin D a dog has they can only measure the intermediate form thats produced by the liver. Recent studies estimate that 75% of dogs dont have enough of that preliminary form, but the meaning of that statistic is somewhat unclear.
Puppies whose diet doesnt contain enough vitamin D develop weak, soft bones . Low measures of vitamin D in adult dogs have been associated with chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease , hyperparathyroidism, congestive heart failure, and some cancers.
But researchers havent been able to show that larger amounts of vitamin D reduce the risk of most of these diseases either. In fact, it may be that some diseasesespecially canceractually cause vitamin D deficiency by interfering with the bodys ability to process the vitamin into its usable form.
Also Check: What Does Your Body Need Vitamin D For
Vitamin D Poisoning In Dogs
Your canine companion may not show any symptoms until about 12-24 hours after eating the vitamin D. However, he can have symptoms appear as long as 72 hours later.
Vitamin D poisoning causes a dogs calcium and phosphorous levels to rise. This can cause issues with the kidney, heart, gastrointestinal system, or problems with the central nervous system. If left untreated, acute renal failure can develop, which leads to comma and death.
The supplement can also cause a condition called hypercalcemia, which causes an electrolyte abnormality.
How Is Vitamin D Poisoning Treated
As with any poisoning, early treatment allows the best chance for a full recovery. If your dog has eaten vitamin D supplements, medications or rat/mouse poison, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control center, at 1-800-213-6680 immediately.
The type of treatment needed depends upon the amount ingested and time since ingestion. Early decontamination and treatment decrease the risk for serious toxicity. If ingestion occurred within a few hours of treatment, the veterinarian may induce vomiting. Once vomiting is controlled, activated charcoal may be administered. This can decrease absorption of Vitamin D from the gastrointestinal tract. Activated charcoal should only be administered by a veterinarian. Otherwise, aspiration into the lungs and life-threatening changes in blood sodium levels may occur.
Blood work to evaluate calcium, phosphorous, and kidney function is necessary. If a low dose was ingested, outpatient care may be sufficient. When higher doses are ingested, hospitalized care including intravenous fluids, additional medications to prevent absorption of vitamin D, steroids, anti-nausea medications, antacids, and medications to decrease calcium and phosphorus levels may be needed.
Don’t Miss: Which Vitamins Are Needed Daily
How Is Vitamin D Poisoning Diagnosed
Most cases of vitamin D poisoning are diagnosed in pets that have the expected signs and a known or suspected exposure to Vitamin D-containing supplements, rat/mouse poisons, or psoriasis treatments. Blood work showing elevated levels of calcium, phosphorous, or markers of kidney damage increase the suspicion for vitamin D poisoning. A urine sample may be performed to help assess kidney function. In some cases, specialized testing to rule out other causes of elevated calcium may be necessary.
Can You Overdose On Vitamin D
Vitamin D toxicity is extremely rare, but does occur with extreme doses. It usually develops over time, since extra vitamin D can build up in the body. Nearly all vitamin D overdoses result from taking high amounts of vitamin D supplements. It is almost impossible to get too much vitamin D from sunlight or food.
Read Also: What Vitamin Is Good For
How Much Vitamin D Do Dogs Need
That broad range of acceptable vitamin D amounts in dog food reflects the fact that there hasnt been enough research done yet on how much dogs actually need.
Different commercial dog foods may contain radically different amounts of vitamin D, depending on each manufacturers choice within that acceptable range outlined by the AAFCO and similar organizations.
In the dog foods that were recently recalled for elevated levels of vitamin Din some cases more than 70 times the amount that was intendeda mistake in the vitamin premix was reportedly the source of the problem.
But even when the premade mix of synthetic vitamins thats added to a pet food contains the intended amount of vitamin D, the level in the final product may still be too high if the manufacturer hasnt correctly accounted for the natural vitamin D content of the other ingredients. In addition, synthetic vitamins dont always behave the same way food-based vitamins do.
