What Pet Owners Need to Know About the Latest Dog Food Recall (Video)

A drug used to euthanize animals was found in cans of Gravy Train dog food, prompting a recall of the brand. The drug pentobarbital was found in the food, produced by the J.M. Smucker Company. Pets that eat pet food containing pentobarbital can experience drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, nausea, nystagmus… FDA statement While only levels of the drug was found in the food, high levels can result in coma and even death.

A major food brand has announced a voluntary recall that concerns anyone feeding commercial pet food to their dog. As CBS News reports, dog meal and snack varieties from four brands have been tainted with pentobarbital, a chemical used in euthanasia drugs.

The compromised brands, all owned by the food company J.M. Smucker, include Kibbles ‘N Bits, Gravy Train, Ol’ Roy, and Skippy. Smucker has narrowed down the pentobarbital contamination to a single ingredient from a single supplier used at one of their manufacturing plants.

The pentobarbital was found in very low amounts where present and is “unlikely to pose a health risk to pets,” the FDA said in a statement (any level of pentobarbital found in pet food, no matter how small, is enough to get a product pulled from shelves). Though the FDA notes that the risk to pets is low, it does warn of a few symptoms to look out for, including “drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, nausea, nystagmus (eyes moving back and forth in a jerky manner) and inability to stand.” The agency says that pet owners who think their animal may be sick from eating the tainted food should head to the vet.