FDA confirms probe of NUTRO pet food deaths/illnesses

[LeAnn, Lucy & Rusty!!]

I use NUTRO dog food for both my puppy and adult dog. I switched about two years ago and saw a huge improvement in my german shepherd's coat and, more importantly, his ability to get up and down (he was gettin' old). I have not ever had a problem with the food but a friend sent me an article from a "consumer affairs" website that was worth reading. I am continuing to read the information. I'm including two links - one to the consumer affairs artlcle and the other to NUTRO's defense. I recommend reading both before drawing a conclusion.

It's important to note the "consumer affairs" website is an independent website and is not affiliated with anyone - including government agencies. I have read the article three times now and personally have come to the conclusion that the FDA is looking into complaints they have received nothing more, nothing less. "Probe" is a emotional word and the connotation is not positive. No conclusions or even suggestion conclusions have been determined - there has been no recall. Prior to reading this article I had no knowledge that there even MIGHT be a problem... I'm glad I know of a potential problem... but I'm not going to change foods... yet...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Those "reps" are independent contractors who work part-time weekend hours in the pet supply stores for extra income. Nutro advertises for them all over the place. During the week, they have other jobs, lol.
What is even scarier, the one I spoke to at my local pet Supplies Plus store didn't know there was menadione in the food, and didn't know what it was. They are like the ladies in the supermarket handing out samples of cheese.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

We give too much credit to many so called "experts." We need to be the experts in any food, medication or other things we put into an on our dogs. There are experts in companies, The FDA and even vets who have no clue what foods, vaccinations and spot-on poisons are doing to our dogs. They only care about their bottom lines, we must be their advocates and their voice.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I'm DONE. I too, have used Nutro for many years. I'm frustrated. I borrowed some cheap dog food from the neighbor tonight ( not puppy food like I need) and will seek out a new brand in the morning. Thank you so very much for your postings. Off to join the food group.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Good luck, R & J. I know how hard it is...I don't do well with change, lol. But you will feel so much better about it.
Read the Commercial Foods: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly discussion; a lot of us have put an amazing amount of info in there for just this situation.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

My 4 month old puppy acts like 10 year old dog on NUTRO. In February our vet told us to switch off Nutro, we did for a few weeks but he hated the other brand and went back to Nutro. Okay so I read the emergency post about Nutro, and then joined the food group and read for the next several days about what food to go to next. We bought the new Nutro food last Saturday. I thought he seemed okay. No vomiting, no diarrhea.

Today my son asks me, " What is wrong with him?" He acts so exhausted. My neighbors also commented on his"mellowness". ENOUGH

I found a pet store who let us sample a few varieties. Spud decided he liked Fromm , Innovo, and Merrick. Okay so it's my imagination--we get home, he finally eats ( he hasn't really wanted much in the past week )and now is back to an obnoxious puppy in 2 hours time.
Anyone have a puppy that is driving them crazy out there--just feed him bad food, he will calm way down. Thank you for the Posting of Nutro Food and Thank you to the Wonderful Food Group

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So glad to have helped...and really glad you have your "obnoxious puppy" back, lol!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I also want to add that I don't think it's your "imagination" about the food being connected to Spud's energy levels. The changes in the Nutro formula, if nothing else, result in lower quality protein & lower usable protein levels. Potato & pea protein are not complete proteins in that they do not supply all the essentail amino acids. So even though the law allows the company to count them in the overall protein percentage of the food for labelling purposes, your dog is not getting the full amount of amino acids that he would be getting if that overall protein percentage were composed of animal proteins such as meat, chicken, fish, etc.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I don't know how old you are --I will say I'm 49. So that being said your last post reminds me of President Reagen who, while referring to school lunch nutrition said that tomatoes, tomato sauce etc would be counted as a vegetable and this was good enough for children.

The Nutro sales clerk last week told me there was too high a demand for lamb and rice and so they would no longer be providing it in Nutro puppy foods because bigger dogs needed it more... and here is your $2.00 coupon--blah blah blah try this food you will be so happy. I suppose I should just give my dog a tomato. It would have been just as good.

I am truly looking forward to having my old dog back. When my husband is out of town I eat poorly. In just a few hours time I'm feeling pretty bad. I know Spud will soon be back to normal with a few days of nutrition.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm 57, and laughing at the dumb comment from the Nutro marketer...ROFL. No matter how you read it, it makes no sense!
School lunch programs are a whole other matter, but like dog food, it comes down to the bottom line. They will use the cheapest means they can to meet the minmum requirements. The Reagan comment makes sense when you learn that the government department that is in charge of approving public nutritional requirements is the OMB...Office of Management and Budget.

[Debbie and Toby]

Due to all the recent news about feeding Nutro products, and despite the denials from the pet stores that there are any issues wih Nutro products, we are making the transition, slowly, over to a new food. Innova was highly recommended to us, since it provides nutrition from 5 different food groups, as well as Avoderm (mainly because we maintain the lamb/rice diet that Toby is used to, with the added benefit of avacados.) We are mixing the Innova/Avoderm 50/50, Toby has tolerated it very well. We hope to have him 100% on the Innova/Avoderm mix by mid week, although Toby has already decided he will not eat Nutro anymore! When he eats now he picks out the good stuff, and spits the Nutro Natural kibbles out on the floor next to his dish! Then guess who gets to clean up when he is done? He is obviously a lot smarter than we thought :-) He seems to love the taste of the new food! I just joined the Food Group so I will now stay tuned so I can stay on top of any food issues and news. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and suggestions to help keep our doodles healthy and happy!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Deb, go ahead and leave out the Nutro now; just give him the new mix. He'll do fine with the transition.

[Debbie and Toby]

Thanks so much for the quick response, we have been transitioning since Thursday to the new food, so I will go ahead and give him 100% the Innova/Avoderm mix now. I guess you could say he has already transitioned himself because he has been spitting out the Nutro. Any opinions on the mixing of the Innova and Avoderm? We were following a suggestion to do that so he wouldn't get bored with one flavor or food. He seems to love the new mix, he is actually eating more now.