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After finding that some of their lots of canned cat foods contained less than the required amount of thiamine, WellPet has announced a recall of the suspected lots in the interest of caution.
Recalled foods include Wellness Canned Cat, all flavors and sizes, with best by dates from 14APR 13 through 30SEP13; and Wellness Canned Cat Chicken & Herring, all sizes, with best by dates of 10NOV13 and 17NOV13.
No other types of foods are affected by this recall.
Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1, is an essential part of the feline diet. While cats have traditionally had their thiamine needs met through fresh meat, the modern domestic cat receives it through store bought cat foods, making the correct balance of this essential vitamin a matter of great importance.
Permanent damage to the nervous system and heart can result from prolonged thiamine deficiency. Some of the symptoms to watch out for include excessive drooling, tilting of the head, loss of coordination (ataxia), circling, loss of appetite (and concurrent weight loss) and slowed heartbeat.
In this case, the risk of serious health consequence is minimal, as long as the suspected food is discontinued immediately and replaced with a good quality commercial cat food. Even when initial symptoms of thiamine deficiency are present, reversal is generally successful when treated immediately. Should you have any concerns about your cat’s health, contact your veterinarian for an examination.
If you have these foods in your possession, you are advised to stop feeding them to your cat. You may either dispose of them responsibly, or return them to the place of purchase.
In addition, WellPet can assist you in arranging for returns and refunds by phone at 1-877-227-9587, Monday – Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. EST. Consumers can also find more information about this recall at WellPet’s website, www.wellnesspetfood.com
Source: WellPet
