Natural Balance dry food recall

In more exciting news for pet owners, Natural Balance is recalling Venison and Pea dry cat food, and Venison and Rice dry dog food.  This recall has nothing to do with wheat gluten, and it hasn’t been associated with any deaths.  The recall comes after numerous pet owners reported their pets displayed stomach problems and vomiting after eating the recalled foods.  The recall is not yet listed on the Natural Balance website, but I believe the source of the information to be accurate and trustworthy (you can click the above link to find out more).  News of this recall has caused a number of people to come out of the woodwork to claim that their dog or cat got ill after eating NB.  Around our house we’re feeding Natural Balance canned food to all our cats, and our two small dogs, but everything has been fine.  Chelsea or Jackson had one day where one of them ate and then immediately threw up all over the bathroom, but that’s not uncommon - they both have very sensitive stomachs, no matter what I’m feeding, and it’s the only vomiting we’ve dealt with since we started to feed NB a couple of weeks ago.  We go through a lot of food—somewhere around 240 cans of cat food every month—and I still feel comfortable with Natural Balance.  I’ve got a bag of kibble in the house because I thought I’d use it for weaning kittens, but I may wait a day or so to see how this recall pans out, even though the kibble I’ve got doesn’t include venison.

I was reading pet owner comments about recalled food, and saw people claiming their pets had become sick from Nutro dry foods, and even Solid Gold dry food.  I don’t really know what to believe anymore, so I’m sticking to foods with good ingredient lists, and I’m just going to be extra-observant.  I just started feeding our two large dogs Solid Gold Holistique kibble, because I can add raw food/extra meat to it myself, and everyone else eats something made by Natural Balance.  My plan is to eventually make homemade food, like I do for our parrots, but I have neither time nor energy for that right now.  If I give myself any more “projects” I’m going to pass out from exhaustion!  The pet food industry had better get its crap together quickly, because I think we’re just one small step from riots in the streets.

Speaking of the pet food industry, I tried to obtain a free pass to attend Petfood Forum in Chicago this week, but I was unsuccessful.  The organizers offered me a half-price student discount, but I couldn’t afford the $500 entry fee, plus hotel, plus airfare.  I should be able to buy conference notes after the event, and I’m anxious to read what people like Nancy Kerns of “Whole Dog Journal” have to say.  Looking at the schedule of events, I can’t find any reason why the conference should cost almost $1000… I think the organizers are probably trying to weed out “the little people” (like me).

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 04/15 at 11:32 PM

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  1. Gah. What next?

    I got a few cans of the Natural Balance and Mad-kitty would like me to tell you that she adores you. She scarfed a whole 1/4 can and then another 1/4 after an hour.

    This is the cat who would eat no more than a few mouthfuls of any wet food over the course of a day, including the Wellness brand.

    We send you much love and want you to know that you completely rock. (I took your advice and kept her on the Royal Canin dry, which she likes just fine.)

    Posted by Diana  on  04/16  at  10:04 AM

  2. From the sounds of it, the Natural Balance wet food is still fine.  I can’t figure out what the problematic ingredient would be in the Venison dry diets—I guess it would have to be either the venison or the peas, because the cat food doesn’t contain any rice.  I hope the company will find out and say something.

    I really do think Natural Balance is good, but have you tried giving Mad Kitty some Merrick food?  I’d be curious to know if she likes it.  Also, what is Mad Kitty’s given name?  I just realized that I could have been calling my foster kitten Madison “Mad Kitty”.

    Btw, ages ago you sent me an email, and we were talking about the Nintendo DS, and I mentioned a game which is designed to keep your brain nimble.  I don’t think I ever answered that email, because I suck.  The game is called “Brain Age”:  http://www.brainage.com

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  04/16  at  11:06 PM
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