Two supplements marketed for dogs have been recalled in the United States over the possibility that they carry salmonella, according to a company announcement posted on the US Food and Drug Administration's website.
The recall covers Fi Calming Supplement for Dogs, 180 g, lot number 26118, UPC 8 50064 80011 1, and Fi 8-in-1 Formula Supplement for Dogs, 180 g, lot number 26159, UPC 8 50055 11168 4. Only those two lots are affected.
Fi, based in New York, said the contamination risk traces to an ingredient supplied to its manufacturer. The manufacturer has suspended production while it investigates the source. The company said it is notifying all affected customers as a precaution. The FDA lists the recalling firm as Vet Plus, Inc., which sells under the Fi brand name.
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The products were sold directly to consumers and through the online retailers Amazon.com and Chewy.com. The company announcement is dated September 3 and the FDA published it on September 8.
What owners are told to do
Anyone who has either product should stop using it, make sure the container is tightly sealed, and throw it in the trash, the recall notice says.
The FDA warns that the risk is not confined to the animal. Salmonella can affect dogs that eat the product, and people can be exposed by handling the supplement itself or by contact with animal waste after a pet has eaten it. That risk rises sharply if hands are not washed thoroughly after touching the products, any surface they have touched, or the animal's waste.
Symptoms to watch for
In pets, salmonella infection can cause lethargy, diarrhoea or bloody diarrhoea, fever and vomiting. Some animals show only reduced appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Critically, the FDA notes that a dog can be infected, appear healthy and still carry the bacteria to other animals or to people. Owners whose pets have consumed either product and are showing these signs are advised to contact a veterinarian.
In people, salmonella typically produces nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or bloody diarrhoea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarer complications can include arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary symptoms. Anyone with those symptoms after handling the products should contact a doctor. The recall notice does not report any confirmed illnesses in pets or people.
