Purina Cat Food Recalled: Don't Panic

The FDA announced a voluntary recall of Purina OM Cat Food. This recall encompasses a specific production lot of this brand name canned cat food. The recall is for the 5.5 ounce cans and stamped on the bottom is the "Best By" date of June 2013.

The food is not available in any local retail stores or pet food outlets, it is available through veterinarians by prescription only. So there's no need to check your cat food cans that you picked up in the supermarket.

The company recalled the cat food in response to a FDA complaint from a consumer and the recall is for precautionary measures. The Purina cat food involved in the recall reportedly had too low a level of thiamine, an essential nutrient for cats. This was the finding after the cat food got analyzed by the Food and Drug Administration. For more information on the recall click here.

Thiamine, which is also called vitamin B-1, works to metabolize carbohydrates in cats. After several weeks of eating a thiamine-deficient diet, the cat is in danger of suffering significant health risks. Symptoms of a Thiamine deficiency in cats include vomiting, walking in circles, drooling, decreased appetite and a lack of coördination or seizures.

One bit of good news if this did happen to your cat, Thiamine deficiency is typically reversible. This is only if it's treated before significant damage has occurred. If cat owners see any of these symptoms appear they should contact their veterinarian immediately.

Pet owners would have purchased the food sometime after last June. The Purina OM canned food that's being recalled got distributed between June 2011 and May 2012 to the veterinarian clinics throughout the US and Canada. The recall involves none of the other Purina products.

The Purina Cat Food cans recalled contain the following on the cans:

Purina Veterinary Diets® OM / (Overweight Management) Feline Formula

The can size is 5.5 oz with the "Best By" Date: June 2013 stamped on the bottom of the can. The Production Code: 11721159 and UPC Code: 38100 - 13810 also appear on the cans.

The FDA is recommending that if pet owners have any of these cans of recalled cat food to stop feeding them to their cats. At least with this recall it is not involving your pet contracting the Salmonella bacteria like the ones earlier in the week. This involves your cat not getting the proper nutrition.

It is getting frightening for pet owners with all the pet food recalls lately. Pets are family members in many households and many pet owners worry about them just like they are children. The alarming amounts of recalls lately are of great concern.