Clay County, Ky. - Because we're sure there are many questions about the lawsuit against Purina's "Beneful" brand dog food, filed by a California man who believes his dogs' unfortunate deaths were a result of being fed Beneful...
1. First, this is a class action lawsuit, and NOT a recall. Anyone can file a lawsuit at any time, and for any reason. The FDA has not substantiated any of these concerns regarding Beneful dog food, and there is no recall in place at this time.
2. Unfortunately, the autopsies performed were not able to determine a definitive cause for the dogs' symptoms. Many different diseases and toxins in the environment can cause similar symptoms and deaths. A link between the dogs' deaths and Beneful has not been proven.
3. The ingredient mentioned most often in both the lawsuit and the news stories we have read is a sweetener called "propylene glycol." While this ingredient sounds very similar to the ingredient in antifreeze ("ethylene glycol"), they are two VERY separate ingredients. Propylene glycol is an FDA-approved food additive found in thousands of pet products, and thousands of human products we use every day.
4. Neither our veterinarians, nor veterinarians at large, have noted a pattern of toxicity around Beneful dog food.
5. Your pet's safety is our top priority, and we would be the first to know if there is a recall.
6. If you do plan to transition your pet off of Beneful, we still recommend you do a slow transition over 1-2 weeks to prevent any stomach upset from an abrupt diet change.
7. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 606-598-8255.
Any pet owner who feels that a pet food or pet treat has made a pet ill should report the case to the manufacturer and to the FDA.
Source: Noahs Ark Animal Hospital
