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Nutro Pet Foods

Katy of Ocoee, FL October 29, 2008

Katy of Ocoee FL (10/29/08)
My great Dane (nearly 3 years old) has been fed Nutro brand dog food (different types-- age related) since the day I brought her home 2 1/2 years ago. Recently, within the past 4-6 months, she has not been eating well, had begun to vomit (undigested food, even 12-14 hours later!) and have looose stool. She also developed a ravenous appetite for grass. 2 weeks ago she also developed a high fever.

We recently had her at our vet, who did a range of bloodwork, and could not make a diagnosis. We were referred to a specialist (AVS Specialists in Maitland Fl) where she underwent another battery of tests, including blood, urine, x-rays, and ultrasounds--(1300.00 worth)all with normal results thus far. We have stopped the Nutro over 1 week ago, and she has improved greatly. I contacted a rep at Nutro to file a complaint. They have asked me to send them a sample of the food (I have also kept some for further testing if necessary). They asked me to submit all my vet bills and findings, which I certainly will.

My dog has suffered greatly, and had had to endure many tests and some overnight stays. I am just greatful that she is so much better. I have spent approximately 2000.00 to get some answers, which I have not yet received. Willow is my child and this has caused my husband and I a great deal of emotional turmoil, and many sleepless nights, not to mention a house full of destroyed carpeting.

Cat of Richmond, VA October 29, 2008

Cat of Richmond VA (10/29/08)
last April 08 I bought a new bag of Nutro Natural Choice small bites. Within a couple of days of feeding 3 dogs the 20 pound dog began to vomit repeatedly. A day later my 35 and 55 pound dog also began to vomit. I immediately took away the nutro food as that was the only thing I could find that all three dogs had been exposed to. I had noticed prior to that incident that my largest dog was throwing up stomach acid before he and the small dog ended up vomiting.

I have since been feeding my young dogs a raw diet of chicken, brown rice and a small amount of greens and a bit of apple cider vinegar, and my elderly dog gets cooked chicken and green vegies as she is 16 and can't eat bones. My dogs are healthier than ever since I took them off of dry dog food. No skin or digestive issues. Bulk chicken is actually CHEAPER than premium dog food without the junk fillers.

I was fortunate that I stopped feeding as soon as I realized all dogs were sick and I have a pet care experience so my dogs were only sick about three days and recovered fully with home care & feeding strategies.

Cheryl of Ogden, UT October 29, 2008

Cheryl of Ogden UT (10/29/08)
New information concerning my 2 yr old yellow lab, with pancreatits, diarhea, vomiting, pigment change and massive weight loss. Found vet #6 who believed my dog's symptoms are food related and went above and beyond to find another vet who specializes in animal internal medicine and a hematologist. All of these drs agree that 5 dogs with heart disease, pancreatitis, eye problems, elevated liver enzymes, bladder enzymes and ate grass like they were cows, had to be fed a food that was contaminated. The vet ran additional pancreas tests, b12, cobalamine and folate and found that Harley has massive bacteria overgrowth. He also has a bacterial eye infection as well.

Either the bags were contaminated during shipping or in the warehouse, (Nutro said they had a bag issue), or the food was contaminated. All I fed was Nutro dry, canned, biscuits and snacks. All 5 dogs were diagnosed in February. If they were exposed to a bacteria, it would explain why all 5 dogs had normal, healthy exams the prior year. Bacteria can cause heart valve damage, (which killed 3 of my dogs in June and July). My pom also has heart valve damage. Harley's heart rate is very slow for a 2 yr old lab. If your dog is eating a huge amount of grass, our vet said that is an indication that the dog needs more fiber due to an irriation in the small intestine. Your dog should be checked asap.

Our vet bills from May til now are over 4k. 3 dead dogs, two seriously ill.

Janine of New York, NY October 27, 2008

Janine of New York NY (10/27/08)
I have been feeding my 11 month old Yorkie Nutro Max wet and dry food for the past few months. Beginning September he began to only eat about 1/2 to 1/4 of his food. Occassionally he would vomit about 12 hours after eating and sometimes have loose stools. Eventually, When I would get his food out of the cupboard he began to actually run away or hide under the kitchen table. Expensive trips to the vet yeilded ZERO information. All blood tests and fecal tests were negative and he did not have any foreign items in his stomach. He was noted as dehydrated and possibly a few extra bacteria in his stool and I was given antiobiotics.

More time went on and he was very inconsistent, eating sometimes and not others, lethargic, sleeping alone in the corner, still only eating very small amounts of Nutro, vomiting here and there. If I fed him chicken, cheese, baby carrots and dog treats and he ate all of these items hungrily (didn't run away or hide). If I mixed chicken in his wet Nutro, he would try to eat around the wet food and pick out the chicken. I thought he was being finicky but that wouldn't account for the lethargy, vomiting and loose stool.

After 2,000 in vet bills and a month of an inconsistent and sometimes sad puppy, the only answer I had was well vomiting and diarreah can be symptoms of many things (brilliant diagnosis). No one suggested it could be the food or food related. They scheduled me for full blood work-up and x-rays.

I angrily declined and figured I would try to simply change the food and see what happened. I mixed chicken, rice, baby carrots and cottage cheese in food processor. The dog waited anxiously at my feet instead of running away or hiding under the table. When the food was placed in front of him, he ate every last drop. I have done this for the past 3 days and the pup seems like his old self again..running around playing, energetic and no wretching, vomiting or loose bowels. There seems to be only one logical conclusion to this. Something is wrong with the Nutro food and the only one who knew it was the dog. Certainly the vets were clueless.

Anyway...my suggestion is to save yourself some if your dog exhibits these symptoms (as many of you seem to have experienced already); avoid the medications and expensive tests and attempt a change in food first. If this doesn't resolve the problem, then I'd seek a vet opinion. Just angry that the vets never even suggested that the food could be an issue.

Peter of Mableton, GA October 26, 2008

Peter of Mableton GA (10/26/08)
We have been using Nutro Natural Choice Lamb Meal and Rice Formula for years. On 10/13/08 I purchased a new bag and opened it later that week. That Friday, our Golden became very sick - both vomiting and loose stools. Not thinking that it was food related, we fed him dinner that night and he threw it up. We then switched his food to a Eukanuba canned chicken and rice formula thinking that would be easier on his stomach.

Middle of the following week he was back to normal, so we fed him some Nutro again mixed with the Eukanuba and he threw it up...back to the Eukanuba by itself. He seemed to be better by Saturday (10/25/08), so we attempted to blend the Nutro food back in with the Eukanuba again. The vomiting and loose stools were back within 12 hours.

It is hard for us to believe that it is the Nutro food. However, every indication leads us to believe that the Nutro food is the root cause of his illness. We are now looking to see how we can have the remaing food in the bag tested to verify our hypothesis. Meanwhile, our Golden looks very tired, is not interested in food, and will be heading to the Vet.

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