Dogfoood maker being sued
I feel it is necessary to warn those owners who are feeding Canidae products to their dogs. The sales people may not be telling their potential clients that they have modified their original formula. This new formula is no longer free of gluten because they added barley. If you know your dog is intolerant of gluten, you are going to want to start looking around for another brand dog food.
The changes in their formula may also affect dogs that do not necessarily have issues with gluten. They have added ingredients such as rice bran and peas which have been known to contribute to intestinal gas and may upset the digestive system in some dogs. Not all dogs will have a problem with the changes in the formula. For some dogs it may take a few days to adjust to the changes. If your dog has a delicate digestion system, then they may no longer be able to stomach the food.
The company may also be replacing “herring meal” with a generic “ocean fish meal”. This opens the possibility for the company to use a variety of fish from one batch of food to another without the need for modifying their ingredient listing on the packaging.
The statement that has been heard from Canidae is that they are “diversifying” their ingredients. Though this term can sound positive to many people, please keep in mind that not all dogs do well with the ingredients that they are including in their product.
As a result from these changes, a class action lawsuit has been filed January 26th 2009 against the creators of Canidae dog food. This suit was filed on behalf of dog owners nationwide and seeks payment for vet bills alleged to be a direct result of dogs taking ill after consuming the dog food between last summer and present. They hope to have the court order Canidae and Diamond Pet Foods, to begin a corrective informational campaign.
According to complaints that have been posted across the internet it is alleged, that dogs affected by the food have experienced loose and bloody stools, lethargy, rectal bleeding and even death.
It is not clear if the changes made to their formula were, as the company states, intended as an improvement, however it seems that many feel it is the primary cause of many ailing dogs. With the economy as it is and many people finding it hard as it is to juggle bills and family expenses, it is no wonder many people are forced to enter debt reduction programs to cope with these mounting vet bills. It is no wonder they are looking to recoup these costs by joining the pending lawsuit.
If you would like more information about the lawsuit please visit www.dogfoodclassaction.com.