Could it be pet food toxicity? Let’s answer a few simple questions to help figure things out. We encourage you to explore this page, even if your furry friend is feeling fine. Knowledge is power, and we’re here to support you. When we know better; we do better!
You can reasonably assume pet food toxicity could be the cause of your pets problem if:
It can take months for a pet food manufacturer to be forced by the FDA to do a recall. Good pet food manufacturers will issue voluntary recalls, but this rarely happens.
Pet parents need to be vigilant!
If you believe your pet has pet food toxicity do the following:
You can reasonably assume your pet food could be the cause of the problem if:
If this applies to your situation, then this sounds like Pet Food Toxicity. Read further on what steps to take. If other conditions may also be a factor, make sure to check out our MEDICAL CONDITIONS pages as well.
Note: If you have recently given traditional flea, tick or heartworm meds, make sure to also explore information on those topics as well in our learning center.
Symptoms to look for include: Lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness and seizures, rapid weight loss , excessive urination, rectal bleeding, vomiting blood, red/yellow eyes , excessive urination, kidney issues/failure, elevated liver (ALT), seems like something caught in throat.
Reported problems to date: Since 12/5/23 in the Saving Pets One Pet @ A Time (Original) group on Facebook, we have over 4,541 dogs and cats who have gotten sick or died from many different ultra-processed pet foods. The problem seems to date back to May 2023. Due to the sheer volume of sick pets, we are no longer collecting data because we are all volunteers. The number of sick pets continues to grow.
For further details, please refer to the FDA Freedom of Information Request Concerning Adverse Events in Pet Food article authored by Susan Thixton.
Here is the list of pet parent consumer reports of food refusal, lethargy, diarrhea (or bloody diarrhea), vomiting (or bloody vomiting) as of February 21, 2024.
Aflatoxin
Mycotoxins
“Health Risks of Fumigants in Your Pet Food” by Dr. Judy Morgan and Susan Thixton.
“Glysophates” with Dr. Jean Dodd & Dr. Judy Morgan.
Recommended product for
heavy metal toxicity
We need a recall! If you believe your pet has been impacted with contaminated food, we need you to do the following:
In the 2019 Hill’s case, it was almost 10 months from when pets started to get sick to the time a recall was issued by the FDA.
Pet food testing was done several times before the cause was found.
This happened because of consumer outcry and reporting to the FDA, not because Hill’s issued a recall voluntarily.
Sadly, there is no quick fix.
Did you know most labs and universities are affliated with the major pet food manufacturers and may not give you accurate results? It’s true.
Pet food testing can be very costly and there is approximately 2000 potential contaminants. The majority of pet food testing facilities (including universities) are owned or sponsored by the conglomerates that own the pet food manufacturers. You will not get an unbiased result if you use one of these labs.
If you are interested in having your pet food tested, we recommend these testing facilities.
We recommend testing for mold toxins in general. Also please LET US KNOW when you receive your test results.
My dog Duncan got sick from his Science Diet food and died from his food within 32 hours. I wish someone would have warned me about the food."
Dr. Judy Morgan (2025 Holistic Veterinarian of the Decade): A call for regulatory action from the FDA. “Comparing FDA Data 2024 PET FOOD CRISIS vs 2007 Melamine Recalls” video from June 8, 2024.
“Understanding the Role of the FDA in Regulating Pet Food” with Chelsea Kent and Gwen Campbell.
“Purina Sales Drop As Benefit of Fresh Food As Evidenced In A New Study” with Susan Thixton.
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