Major Dog, Cat food problem

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Last week I ordered Acana Grasslands for Riley and Orijen Puppy food for Boris as I am going  to start transitioning him to Orijen next week.  I started feeding Riley the Acana three days ago and of course Boris loves it too so I started to add a little of it to his food as he was refusing his own.  Both boys have been eating really well but Riley has had gas. I thought it was due to him eating Boris's food when he got the chance and this morning Boris was a little constipated.  I thought this was due to him not drinking enough water.  This evening I decided to re-check the amounts on the back of the wrapping just to double check on amounts for Riley and lo and behold I see that it's not dog food at all but CAT food....I should have been alerted as the pieces are smaller than usual but for some reason I didn't notice.  I checked my order and it was definitely for Dog food.  The packaging is exactly the same the only difference is the small symbol of a picture of a cat!!!.  So now I have just emailed the internet shop and left a voice message.  What damage is being done to my boys? I can stop Boris having any but I don't have an alternative for Riley until the company call me in the morning and hopefully send a courier with Dog food!

[Anthony Leong]

I think the company should give you some free dog food.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Why don't you just give them both the puppy food for now? I don't know if the cat food would be harmful but I am sure, in the short run, the puppy food would not be.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Yep, that's what I'm going to do tomorrow.  Riley can have the puppy food and Boris can have some of the stuff he came home with (it's not too bad) mixed with some puppy food.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

I have almost made that mistake in the store. You really have to look at the pkg and my store puts them together yet on different shelves. I would stop the cat food immediately. It's either cat food is toxic to dogs or dog food is toxic to cats. Can't remember which but better to be safe than sorry. The puppy food seems to be a better alternative.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Ugh how Awful! Hope Riley is OK!!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The cat food is higher in fat and protein than dog food, (the fat is a concern, protein not so much) and too high in certain nutrients, specifically retinol or retinoic acid (preformed vitamin A, as cats can't make vitamin A), taurine (an essential amino acid), and arachadonic acid (an omega 6 fatty acid that is not beneficial for humans or dogs). The Omega 6:3 ratio is also different and less desirable than the one for dogs. I sincerely doubt that any harm has been done in three days but I would not give them any more of it. Give them both the puppy food until you can get something else for Riley; just watch the amount you feed, as the Orijen puppy food is going to be higher in valories than the Grasslands by about 60 k/cal per cup.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Thanks Karen, they were both wolfing down the darned cat food and for some reason it didn't occur to me that the size of the kibble was a clue!  I'm annoyed at the company and am hoping they will get the right food here pronto with a big apology.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would be very assertive about that when you speak to them. Cat food can make a dog pretty darned sick if they eat enough of it, and the company needs to get some dog food to you pronto. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That should be calories, not valories, the darn thing won;t let me edit, lol.

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

Wow.. I have never noticed that the packages look so similar- In my line of work (Pharmacy) "Look Alike" Packaging is a BIG deal. I think it is something that Champion should REALLY look at changing their packaging to help reduce these kind of errors.  We have a means to report potential mix-ups to Lobby Drug Manufacturers- I wonder if there is a venue for people to report these issues to Pet food Companies. I suppose Champion Website might be open to feedback - they are a good company. I might fire off an email in support as well.

Perhaps the company you purchased this from wouldn't have made the mistake if they didn't look so much alike.

I hope the boys are OK. You must be having fun with 2 now : )

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Oh my!   What a disaster to have with a new puppy too.

One of my cats also eats Acana.  I took a HUGE sharpie and circled her package one day when I had small samples of Acana Dog Food around. It was impossible to tell. Just a small silhouette on the bag was the only difference.  I totally get how this happened.

I think they both will be fine on Puppy food for now. I've even posted in the Food Group that when a  few fosters have passed my way, I go straight for the Good Dog Food.  Never seems to bother them from day one.

My other cat, will eat the Acana Dog Food though.  Oh, I am so confused in my house

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

Wow they look incredibly alike.. I haven't looked at the Cat stuff before.

http://acana.com/products/regionals