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Hill’s (Science Diet) has updated their January food recall, which included several varieties of canned food found to have high levels of vitamin D. To see the updated list of all affected foods, please review https://www.hillspet.com/productlist .
Due to multiple recalls over a short period, Pieper Veterinary has elected to temporarily remove Hill’s canine canned diets from inventory until additional information from Hill’s is available. We recommend discussing options with your veterinarian. To continue feeding a Hill’s canned canine diet, please purchase from https://pieperolson.vetsfirstchoice.com/ or another online vendor during this time period. If you would like to transition to a comparable diet, please contact your veterinarian to discuss alternative options. Please remember, all diet changes should be gradual to reduce the risk of causing gastrointestinal upset.
We checked in with Dr. Nunez, a veterinarian and one of the owners of Pieper Veterinary, to find out more information about how we can help our pets during this recall.
What are the signs of vitamin D toxicity?
Some of the signs include lethargy, decreased or lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, increased water drinking and/or urination, nausea/drooling, weight loss, or occasionally joint issues
What should I do if I think my dog is sick?
If you think your dog may be exhibiting these signs, please call your veterinarian to discuss your concerns and/or schedule an office visit so your veterinarian can do a physical exam and assess your pet’s condition. In any case, we recommend to discontinue feeding the recalled diet immediately. If your veterinarian suspects that your dog is exhibiting signs of Vitamin D toxicity, lab test screening will be performed to investigate this possibility and/or rule out other potential contributing diseases.
Is vitamin D toxicity treatable?
In some cases, discontinuation of the diet and close observation may be the only recommendation. In other cases, specific treatment intervention with hospitalization will be necessary. In most cases, full recovery is expected after discontinuation of feeding. In cases of any pets consuming the recalled food, Hills will pay for diagnostic screening and reimburse pet parents for medical treatment for any affected pets.
My dog eats a prescription diet that is being recalled – what can I feed instead?
If your pet eats a prescription diet that is being recalled, please ask your veterinarian what alternate prescription diet is recommended based on your pet’s individual medical condition. Purina and Royal Canin are two pet diet companies that offer comparable prescription diets.
I purchased food from Pieper that has been recalled – how do I return it?
If purchased at Pieper Veterinary, please return all recalled canned food diets to us for reimbursement. If purchased at our online pharmacy Vet First Choice, please contact Vet First Choice directly for reimbursement: support@vetsfirstchoice.com
Where can I find more information?
For an updated list of recalled products please go to www.hillsvet.com . Additional information is also available at https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm634087.htm.
To contact Hills consumer affairs directly, please email contactus@hillspet.com or telephone 1-800-445-5777 available 7 days a week.
Dry food, cat food, and treats have not been affected by this recall.
Virginia Nunez, DVM, obtained her DVM from Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine in 1981. She is a member of the AVMA, CVMA, VMG-VSG, serves on the Middlesex Community College Veterinary Technology Program Advisory Board, and the Middlesex Community College Veterinary Technology Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.