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Salmonella Bacteria in Dry Dog Food

New Alert for Pet Owners Handling Dry Dog Food Causes Concern with Health Officials

 

The continuation of the investigation from last year’s outbreak into pet food manufacturer Mars pet food in Pennsylvania has led to more concerns and this time it is affecting humans who handle the dry dog food.   This includes employees at the manufacturing plant, to pet stores, to dog owners and finally to the dogs who consume this food.

 

All the way through the food chain the spread of salmonella is continuing to the point of another bulletin issued on May 15, 2008  from the Center for Disease Control.

 

Concerns over salmonella cases in human beings who handled the dog food leads health officials to believe this outbreak is ongoing from one year ago.

 

Dr. Stephen Ostroff of the Pennsylvania Health Department says its the

first time there has been an out break of disease in humans that associated with the simple handling dry pet food.

 

Last spring 62 people in 18 states were infected with salmonella and officials say that it was all because of handling dry dog food.

 

Pet experts, people who handle dog food, including pet owners are being advised not to touch the food or come into contact with this dry dog food.  Some of this manufacturer’s products are still on the shelves and in pet owner’s homes.  This includes treats made by the same company and handling treats could make you sick, let alone what it can do to your dog.

 

 

Red Flannel Dry Dog Food

 

The manufacture is Mars Pet Care US Inc., which sells the food under brand name Red Flannel.  There is also a warning for Krasdale Gravy Dry Dog Food in the 5 Lb. Bags.

 

As for reading the warnings on their site it advises you to dump the dog food which can be poisonous into your trash can and return the bag to the store where you purchased it for a full refund.    I would say to pet owners to return the whole bag with its contents to the store, and get a full refund.  If you put these products in the trash it could kill other animals or affect sanitation workers who would come into contact with the product.  I would not want it sitting in my garbage and the pet food manufacturer should be responsible for its disposal as well.

 

Yes it’s getting that bad.  that you cannot even handle dog food these days without contacting a disease or infection.

 

Precautions In Your Own Home:

 

1)     If the food falls on the floor make sure you clean your floor and do not pick it up with your hands.  Use plastic gloves and dispose of it quickly.

2)     Don’t feed your pet in the kitchen and do not handle treats with your hands.

3)     Wash any surfaces of your kitchen that come into contact with this food.

4)     Wash your hands and containers with hot water and soap for 20 seconds.

5)     Get rid of any of these brands of dog food and return to the store.

6)     Do not let any children handle or touch the dog food.

 

 

Salmonella Poisoning Symptoms:

 

An infection that develops into diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, 12 to 72 hours after the infection.  The illness can be treated however it can also lead to the need to be hospitalized.   The infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and to other parts of the body which may cause death.

The elderly, children and people with impaired immune systems are more likely to be severely affected by this infection.

 

Where Does Salmonella Develop From?

 

The germ is a group of bacteria that causes diarrhea illness and are microscopic

Creatures that pass from the feces of people or animals to other people or animals.

 

The more peculiar part of this new warning is that people would normally only acquire this disease if they ate contaminated food.  Today it is the fact that you may have just “handled” bad dog food and you are likely to become ill.

 

Needless to say I would never want to feed my dog anything that came from a commercial pet food company’s factory.  It’s just not safe anymore for pets and now for people.

 

Written By:

 

Teri Salvador

 

Tags:  Salmonella from dog food, contaminated dog food, Mars Pet Care, Center for Disease Control, Bad Dog food, symptoms of Salmonella, handling dog food, diarrhea, contaminated foods, New alert for pet owners handling dog food, Krasdale Gravy Dry Dog Food, Salmonella Poisoning Symptoms,  Where Does Salmonella Develop From, dog treats.

 

Manufacturers Website:             MARS PET CARE

 

For More Details:     Contact :    Center for Disease Control