As a pet parent and veterinarian who cares for 2,000 patients, news of a pet food recall is always concerning. Pet food recalls can immediately undermine our confidence in a food brand. For many of us, we are very selective in what we feed our furry loved ones.

I have trusted Hill’s pet food for over 20 years because I believe in the product. They put a great deal of science and care into their pet food and treats. That’s why I even feed Hill’s food to my own pet. So, as you can imagine, this news was initially quite alarming.

I have spent a great deal of time learning more about this voluntary recall to see how this may affect my patients. It was also important to me to get all the facts so I can answer my clients’ questions. I talked with Hill’s Pet Nutrition, reviewed the data released by Hill’s, and read what my colleagues have had share about the recall. We also checked our inventory and we DO NOT have any canned dog food affected by this recall.

NOTE: No dry foods, cat foods, or treats are affected.

My staff and I have started reaching out to our clients to ensure they know about the recall and to answer any questions they have. Below are the details of the the Hill’s recall. CLICK to find additional information.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition learned of the potential for elevated vitamin D levels in some of their canned dog foods after receiving a complaint in the United States about a dog exhibiting signs of elevated vitamin D levels.  Hill’s investigation confirmed elevated levels of vitamin D due to a supplier error.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition is voluntarily recalling select canned dog food products due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin D. While vitamin D is an essential nutrient for dogs, ingestion of elevated levels can lead to potential health issues depending on the level of vitamin D and the length of exposure, and dogs may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss.

Vitamin D, when consumed at very high levels, can lead to serious health issues in dogs including renal dysfunction. Pet parents with dogs who have consumed any of the products listed and are exhibiting any of these signs should contact Vista Animal Hospital or their veterinarian (if they don’t see us for their pet’s care). In most cases, complete recovery is expected after discontinuation of feeding.

Hill’s says they “Have identified and isolated the supplier error and, to prevent this from happening again, we required our supplier to implement additional quality testing prior to release of ingredients to Hill’s. In addition to our existing safety processes, we are adding our own further testing of incoming ingredients.” (See Frequently Asked Questions)

Pet parents who purchased the product with the specific lot/date codes listed should discontinue feeding and return unopened product to your retailer for a refund. For more information, please contact Hill’s via at 1-800-445-5777.