Is this killer drug in your pet’s food?

We have Talula the pug to thank for a new investigation – one that will ultimately protect a lot of other pugs, as well as poodles, Pomeranians, and dogs of all breeds.

Talula was one of five beloved pups owned by Nikki Mael who were all stricken a little over a year ago after sharing a can of Evanger’s pet food.

“They were falling over…running into the walls” and having convulsions, Nikki remembered. Four survived, but sadly, Talula didn’t. A subsequent examination uncovered the shocking news that Nikki had fed her adored canine family pet food tainted with the euthanasia drug pentobarbital.

And Talula’s tragic death was the reason behind another close look at certain dog foods. One that has now morphed into a brand-new scare involving the recall of some of the most popular brands out there, including Gravy Train and Kibbles ‘N Bits.

But two big questions remain, how does this drug — one used by veterinarians to euthanize animals — end up in pet food, and how can you protect your own pup from becoming the next canine casualty?

Dog food to die for?

It’s one of the dirty little secrets of the pet-food industry — pentobarbital.

And while manufacturers will say that they can’t imagine how it gets into Fido’s food, there’s only one way: “It comes from euthanasia of animals,” says veterinarian Dr. Nicholas Dodman.

“If (pet food companies) say it doesn’t come from dogs, cats, and horses, where does it come from?” asks Dr. Dodman. “It’s not outer space.”

That’s right – the shocking truth is that animals who are “put to sleep” with pentobarbital could end up in your pet’s dinner. And that may even include euthanized shelter pets.

The remains of such animals can be rendered and processed into ingredients (I’ll give you some names to look out for in a minute) that are used in the products you regularly feed your beloved furry friend.

The current horrific findings and the subsequent recall came from a pet food analysis done by an ABC news station in Washington, D.C.

The station commissioned a lab that specializes in looking for contaminants in food products to test and re-test 62 samples of wet dog food over a 7-month period for pentobarbital.

And one brand came back positive for the drug again and again.

Sixty percent of the Gravy Train the lab tested contained the poison! Can you believe that? And guess what company owns that brand? You might not recognize the first name, Big Heart Pet Foods, but you’ll sure know its parent company – Smucker’s.

But apparently, it’s not only Gravy Train that’s putting dogs at risk.

Because Smucker’s is now stripping the shelves of a bunch of its other brands of dog food as well. Those include Kibbles ‘N Bits, Skippy, and the Ol’ Roy brand that’s sold in thousands of Wal-Mart stores.

When reporters for the ABC station that commissioned the current testing asked Smucker’s how this drug got into its pet food, they didn’t get a single answer back. But at the Gravy Train website, a tactless letter to consumers says that “extremely low levels” of the drug “do not pose a threat to pet safety,” although the company says that it understands we “may have concerns.”

You can bet we have concerns! I can’t even imagine how horrified I would be if I found out that I had been feeding my pups Maci and Chance any level of this killer med!

And if you’re wondering where the FDA is in all this, the agency has announced that it will be conducting one of its slow-boat investigations.

The FDA watches out for our furry friends even less than it does for us!

And mind you, officially, this drug isn’t permitted at any level in pet food. None. Zero.

Of course, if you’ve got the time and patience, it’s not hard to make home-cooked meals for your dog. They’re not aliens from another planet who can only eat specially processed foods! In fact, there are numerous books and websites with easy-to-follow recipes.

But when it comes to store-bought pet food, the best way to not take any chances is to avoid all products containing rendered ingredients, which can go under names such as “meat meal,” “meat and bone meal,” or even just “by-products,” especially “animal by-product meal.”

It may cost a little more, but I think you’ll agree that our furry family members deserve whatever it takes to keep them safe.

“Dog foods pulled from shelves nationwide after ABC7 investigation finds euthanasia drug” L:isa Fletcher, ABC7, February 14, 2018, wjla.com