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Canidae Pet Foods

A statement from Canidae:

September 2008
We apologize to all who have voiced their concerns with our new formulation. Canidae distributed letters to retailers, breeders, updated packaging, and provided in-store signage, however it appears that this message did not reach all of our customers.

The new formulation, with increased levels of meat protein, lowered carbohydrates, and an increased overall complex carbohydrate quality, provides the most nutritious, all natural, palatable products. Canidae never uses soy, corn, wheat, by-products, grain fractions, or fillers in our food.

If you believe your pet has experienced challenges related to the new formula we suggest feeding smaller portions multiple times a day. Adding warm water can decrease the chance of pets eating too quickly and not chewing thoroughly. It’s not unusual for pets to experience some digestive issues when transitioning, but if your problems persist, contact your veterinarian to rule out any underlying health concerns. For more tips, visit canidae.com/transitioningfromorig.html.

Due to increased commodity costs, we’ve changed our packaging sizes, reducing the overall weight by approximately 3-5 pounds per bag. The new sizes are more consistent with other brands and allow for easier handling.

We are committed to bringing quality products to pet owners and in June that commitment led us to Diamond’s manufacturing facility. Diamond facilities have rigorous quality control processes, utilizing a 141-point ingredient test protocol. All products are subject to a 10-point final product safety review and Canidae has also implemented hourly testing to confirm quality and product safety in our onsite laboratory. All Canidae products meet or exceed AAFCO nutrient profiles in USDA and FDA approved facilities.

At Canidae, we are committed to providing you and your pets the highest standard of excellence for product quality, palatability, and customer satisfaction. Please call 800-398-1600 or visit www.canidae.com to let us know what we can do to serve you better.

Canidae
Scott Whipple and John Gordon
Owners
PO Box 3610
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403

Eileen of Hinsdale, IL September 19, 2009

I was shocked to read that my dog's digestive problems could be caused by his dog food. He has had mucous in the stool for the past two weeks. We switched foods back and forth then back to canidae. We thought it was because we had transitioned to a new food Origins. It was so expensive,we went back to the Canidae dry food. We put him on a boiled chicken and rice diet to rest his digestive system and slowly reintroduced the Canidae dry food. The mucous began again. Now we have switched to the same Canidae food in the moist form. He seems better, but I aom really afraid to keep using this product. The company should be upfront about the problems this food is oausing!

Sandy of Ware, MA September 16, 2009

While looking for a more economical way to purchase Canidae All Life Stage dog food, I came across this web site. Once I began reading the stories from other people, I began thinking about the one and only "accident" my 1 1/2 year old german shepherd had in the house. A few weeks ago I came home to a huge, runny mess on my living room carpet. When I looked at my food receipts I found that it was right after I bought a new 44lb bag of Canidae! I switched from Wellness for financial reasons, but I guess I'll be switching back!

Trish of Studio City, CA September 15, 2009

My dog too got sick right after we bought the big 40lb bag of the chicken formula! He had diarrhia all over a brand new rug. He has never gone to the bathroom in the house before or since! Unfortunately we were on vacation and he stayed on the food for 2 more days! We had to take him to the vet and pay over 400 for tests, meds and a "Special diet food" that he wouldn't touch! We didn't think it would ever be Canidae as that is what he had eaten at the pound where we rescued him from and had done fine with it for the first 6 months with us. We have tried the lamb and rice and he seems to be doing better. We thought perhaps it was a bad batch of food but it looks like everyone is having the same problems!! I don't know that I will continue feeding him this if they Canidae can't inform users of the issues.

cindy of Springdale, AR September 6, 2009

My dog began having severe digestive troubles following the formula change during the summer of 2008. It was a nightmare and the meds her vet prescribed were of little to no help. Her digestive system seemed to have been compromised permanently. I found a mild, easily digested food with very limited ingredients which worked for her, but I have had to supplement with digestive enzymes just to get things back to "normal". I recently stopped the enzymes for a couple of days and things went from bad to worse. She did not have this problem before eating the "new formula" Canidae. Certainly not what I bargained for. I remember feeding her a good quality food at the time that I decided to switch to Canidae and now, looking back, I wish I had left well enough alone.

Alina of Loomis, CA September 5, 2009

I have been feeding Canidae food for several years and loved it. But in May my dog started having mucus and bloody diarrhea. then just blood. The vet treated him for pancreatitis ran a blood panel witch was not normal (Dont remember the details) Went on special diet and meds 2weeks. stated on food again stools better but as should be. Has been having all of the same symtoms and concerns as I have been reading. Thinking back, my dogs issues started when I went to the new 40 lb. bag. I am stopping his food today!!

leslie of seattle, WA September 2, 2009

Unbeknownst to its loyal customers, Canidae, once an honest company that provided a safe product, changed ownership and/or management within the last few years. One of those changes was to use a supplier by the name of Diamond, with possible ties to China and I suspect it is this supplier that has slowly poisoned your pets. I have a bag of Canidae Beef and Ocean Fish Meal Formula, the remainder of which has just been sent to a lab for testing here in Seattle. My husband and I are in a unique position of knowing for an absolute fact that our dog has not ingested anything except Canidae kibble and fresh, purified water since April 1st, 2009. Our dog never has access to garbage and has been on nothing but closely monitored leash walks during which he has ingested no feces of any kind, nor garbage, nor plant. When we are finished with play sessions at home with toys, balls, ropes and such they are put out of his reach. Sounds austere and controlling; it's not, we have no children, both work only blocks from our residence and consequently spend plenty of time interacting with our beloved two and a half yr old lab/ sharpei Playdough. Also, if you were to interview a vet you'd find that cars, aggressive dogs left to roam free and random undigestible objects pay much more than half their salary each year.

Back to the reason for testing the kibble... around June 18, 09 our dog started having small amounts of blood in his stool and mucous laden cowpies. After four days of this I took a stool sample to be tested for parasites which came back negative. The problem persisted and as I racked my brains for an explanation I remembered a conversation I had had this past Thanksgiving with someone who had done copious amounts of research on Canidae dog kibble as his dog became ill after consuming it. He was the one who had informed me about Canidae recently changing hands and insists that his research shows Diamond having ties to China. Our dog had best come out of this situation alive and well! I strongly urge Canidae to do the right thing: continue to make a healthful product if that is indeed what you're doing or remove those substances which are causing so much suffering. If appealing to a higher conscience is moot, maybe self-preservation is your thing. Wouldn't cost much for some crazy who's lost faith in our legal system to hire a private investigator to find a private residence or two. I'm too well-adjusted for such behavior and being in the fact gathering phase, awaiting the facts. If this post should reach a competent attorney, I will gladly put you in touch with a well-educated, well-regarded person who has spent hours researching Canidae and if I find that this food had caused my pet his illness, will gladly participate in a class action law suit. In the interim, I'm changing to Innova along with a product made by Eaglepack called Holistic Supplement for Dogs and Cats in an effort to restore his digestive health.

Jolene of New Fairfield, CT September 2, 2009

I contacted Agway who sold us this dog food to let them know what is happening. They never contacted me back, all they did was report my claim to Canidae. My dog had to be rushed to the vets yesterday because he had blood dripping out from his butt. He is now being treated for irritable bowel symdrome and is on prescription dog food and medication that he will have to take for the rest of his life and he is 4 months old.

Margarita of Bradenton, FL August 31, 2009

Since July 2009, My 2 dogs (1 german shepherd & 1 chow mix)have been experiencing diahrea off & on for the the last 2 months. At 1st I thought it was the heat, but they are in door dogs. The only food that they eat is Canidae dry Chicken for all stages & Canidae canned lamb & rice mixed in. The problem began after we switched to the canned lamb & rice. We usually gave them canned chicken & rice, but our supplier ran out of it. Our Shepherd seems to be effected by the food the most, vomiting & diahrea. I gave our dogs colby and/or cheddar cheese to help the situation, but it doesn't solve it. We are going to switch to a differnt dog food!

Tracy of Alpine, CA August 30, 2009

I started giving my French Mastiff Canidae snap biscuits. A few days later he started urinating blood. I took a sample to the vet, as requested by him, along with the dog. He said that he had never seen a urine sample with that much blood. In fact it had blood clots in it. The vet had blood work and urinalysis done (which had to be taken via a needle to the bladder. The vet told me that by the lab analuysis, it looks like he must have consumed something toxic that had created an acute attack on his kidneys. Luckily, the vet said that it looks like the kidneys are recovering and he should be fine. I started to look on the internet to try and find out what my dog could have consumed, and I found this webstie. I got so upset, I threw the biscuita away immediately. Now I wish I hadn't so they could be tested. I do have to say, that my other dog also ate the biscuits and didn't seem to have any problems. I hope the company looks into this. I can't think of anything else he could have eaten. We have a fenced yard and we don't use any poisons on our property. In addition, he stays in the house most of the time and someone is here all day. I guess I'll never know for sure, but it seems like a lot of dogs are getting sick who have consumed Canidae products.

Jade of Irvine, CA August 30, 2009

I had been feeding my 75lb German Shepherd Canidae All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, and Fish Meal (44lb) food for about a year with no issues. This past July 2009, I picked up the most recent bag from my usual pet store and about half way through the bag in early Aug. 2009 I came home to a complete MESS of liquid diarrhea all over his crate. I put him on the usual rice and plain chicken diet to help him recover, and when he seemed better I slowly started mixing in Canidae again, and a few hours later...same reaction, liquid, uncontrollable diarrhea..in the house! I immediately searched online and found the recent round of similar complaints of a possible formula change all around July-August 2009. It's been 3 weeks and I will need to take my dog into the vet ASAP since his condition is not improving.

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