Healthy Dogs
Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recalled
Excess Vitamin D in Some Lots of 'Blue' Brand Dog Food
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Katherine Scott, DVM, DACVIM

Oct. 12, 2010 -- The Blue Buffalo Company Ltd. is recalling several lots of its "Blue" brand dog food, which may have excessive amounts of vitamin D.

So far 36 dogs have had symptoms, which include lethargy, unusually frequent water consumption and urination, and, in some cases vomiting. All recovered with no long-term effects noted to date.

Blue Buffalo CEO Bill Bishop says consumers whose dogs show any adverse reaction to the recalled products should have their pet checked by a veterinarian. He promises to reimburse consumers for any veterinary or testing expenses related to illness caused by company products.

Bishop says the company's ingredient supplier had produced a vitamin D supplement immediately before preparing ingredients for the Blue brand dog food. The company thinks that some of this vitamin D was "carried over" into the Blue Buffalo products.

In a news release, Bishop says the "increased vitamin D presents no serious health risk, and any negative reaction to these products has been confined to a very small segment of the canine population who appear to be sensitive to higher levels of vitamin D."

 No other Blue brand dry or canned pet foods are involved in this recall, and only the specific code dates of these products are involved:

 
Blue Wilderness Chicken Flavor dry dog food     4.5 lb     "Best If Used By JUL2611Z"
"Best If Used By JUL2711Z" &
"Best If Used By JUL2811Z"
Blue Wilderness Chicken Flavor dry dog food     11 lb     "Best If Used By JUL1211B"
Blue Wilderness Chicken Flavor dry dog food     24 lb     "Best If Used By JUL1211B" &
"Best If Used By JUL1311B"
Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon and Potato Recipe dry dog food     11 lb     "Best If Used By AUG2111B" &
"Best If Used By AUG2211B"
Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon and Potato Recipe dry dog food     24 lb     "Best If Used By AUG2111B"
"Best If Used By SEP2311P" &
"Best If Used By OCT2611P"
Blue Life Protection Formula Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Large Breed Adult dog food     30 lb     "Best If Used By SEP2211P"
"Best If Used By SEP2311P" &
"Best If Used By OCT2611P"

 

Consumers who have purchased any of the products being recalled are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 877-523-9114 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time or visit the company web site, bluebuffalo.com.