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Canidae Pet Foods

A statement from Canidae:

September 2008
We apologize to all who have voiced their concerns with our new formulation. Canidae distributed letters to retailers, breeders, updated packaging, and provided in-store signage, however it appears that this message did not reach all of our customers.

The new formulation, with increased levels of meat protein, lowered carbohydrates, and an increased overall complex carbohydrate quality, provides the most nutritious, all natural, palatable products. Canidae never uses soy, corn, wheat, by-products, grain fractions, or fillers in our food.

If you believe your pet has experienced challenges related to the new formula we suggest feeding smaller portions multiple times a day. Adding warm water can decrease the chance of pets eating too quickly and not chewing thoroughly. It’s not unusual for pets to experience some digestive issues when transitioning, but if your problems persist, contact your veterinarian to rule out any underlying health concerns. For more tips, visit canidae.com/transitioningfromorig.html.

Due to increased commodity costs, we’ve changed our packaging sizes, reducing the overall weight by approximately 3-5 pounds per bag. The new sizes are more consistent with other brands and allow for easier handling.

We are committed to bringing quality products to pet owners and in June that commitment led us to Diamond’s manufacturing facility. Diamond facilities have rigorous quality control processes, utilizing a 141-point ingredient test protocol. All products are subject to a 10-point final product safety review and Canidae has also implemented hourly testing to confirm quality and product safety in our onsite laboratory. All Canidae products meet or exceed AAFCO nutrient profiles in USDA and FDA approved facilities.

At Canidae, we are committed to providing you and your pets the highest standard of excellence for product quality, palatability, and customer satisfaction. Please call 800-398-1600 or visit www.canidae.com to let us know what we can do to serve you better.

Canidae
Scott Whipple and John Gordon
Owners
PO Box 3610
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403

Vicki of Grand Ledge MI (10/21/08)
I have had my 2 sussex spaniels on the canned Canidae dog ford for 2 years. With in the last 2 months they have had foul smelling gas, loose stools chewing feet and smelly ears. I feel that not only the dry formula was changed it was also the canned. I have as of this day stopped feeding this food to my dogs. I will never go back to it again.

Brett of Pearland, TX October 21, 2008

Brett of Pearland TX (10/21/08)
Canidae changed their dog food formula.

My one year old German Shepherd started to refuse to eat. She lost a substantial amount of weight. She had a tremendous problem with itching. We've run up several hundred dollars in vet bills. She started to get back to normal soon after we changed dog food. Our two other mature dogs didn't seem to have any problem.

Lisa of Northridge, CA October 21, 2008

Lisa of Northridge CA (10/21/08)
Re: Lamb & Rice formula. My dog recently stopped eating, started vomiting and having skin rashes, and was extremely lethargic. I stopped feeding Canidae immediately and he is back to normal, full of his normal vitality. I am furious with this dog food company!

Janet of Oconomowoc, WI October 21, 2008

Janet of Oconomowoc WI (10/21/08)
Our two labs have been on Canidae dog food for over two years. They did really well on the dog food. I saw positive changes in their behavior. All of the sudden my older female lab started throwing up about 4-5 hours after eating her food. She gets a cup in the morning and a cup at night. My other lab has not seen any reactions from the food. So I waited a couple of days, until I reached out to my vet. They told me to bring her in for a check up.

We spent the entire day at the vet. They took xray afer xray to see if my dog has swallowed something. Because we were going out of town I could not bring her in the following day for more tests. I started feeding her beef/rice mixture and she stopped vomiting. After a weekend of no longer vomiting we started her back on to the Canidae dog food, she has started to vomit again.

I went to my pet store and asked them what other type of food they recommended and thats when I heard about the formulaution changes. I am so angry that my dog had to suffer. I feel that the packaging should of expained that there was a new fomulation. We had no idea that there was a change. I would not recommend this product to anyone. Something is making all of these dogs sick.

My dog has suffered. She is not acting the same. Throwing up, acting tired. Our Vet bills were 300. Plus the cost of dog food about 40.

D. of Oregon City, OR October 21, 2008

D. of Oregon City OR (10/21/08)
We switched our dogs off Canidae cold turkey 4 days ago. We didn't bother with a gradual transition. Not only did our dogs stools return to normal immediately, my male stopped belching, and the one dog that was constantly scratching and chewing on herself stopped that day.

But something I had not noticed also corrected itself. One of my dogs eyes constantly wept and her left eye would from time to time have white tissue protrude from the outside corner around the bottom, pushing her eye back and up in the socket. Of course I spoke with my vet about this and everyone drew a blank. It was not a cherry eye and would happen repeatedly in a single day. If I applied gentle pressure, it would correct itself. I was preparing her for early spay surgery and asked that her eyes be checked while she was under. My vet thought it might be a growth of some sort putting pressure behind her eye. THEN prior to her surgery I switched her food from Canidae to HealthWise and in 48 hours I noticed her face looked markedly different. She looked like she USE to look..only I hadn't noticed the gradual change that had taken place. Her face had been swollen and the protruding tissue was the exposed swelling from around her eye.  Because she's a giant breed, I had not noticed the physical change.

After the switch in foods was when I noticed she looked like she use too and I asked my boyfriend if he noticed anything different about her. He said, Her face...it's like her sinuses were swollen and now they aren't. Can I say for sure it was a reaction to the new Canidae? Not without my vet having treated her....but it is interesting that since I changed her food..the tissue around her eye has not protruded, her eyes aren't constantly weeping and her face isn't swollen any more.

So IMO, I believe it was related and she was having a reaction to what ever they have put in their new recipie. And the other issues my dogs were dealing with are also clearing up. My other female dog lives to be in water and never had a problem with it when eating the old Canidae, but on the new Canidae when ever she would get wet there was some odd reaction between the water and her female parts...she would cry, lick and chew at her private area when she would get out of the pool. Since the change in food, this has also stopped. She again enjoys the pool with no ill affects. They are no longer lethargic, sleeping all the time and they are playing and eating regularly again.

Shame on you Canidae. Shame on you! You did more then add meat and barley and take out the rice. You know you did and so do the rest of us. Why don't you be honest. Too many pets and pet owners are suffering and spending money on unnecessary vet bills for it only to be some barley and more meat. Get real.

Elaine of Chino Valley, AZ October 21, 2008

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