News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
In light of FDA-recalls on various dog food brands, local veterinary officials warn of high Vitamin D levels.
Amanda Bowan is a Vet Tech at White County Veterinary Hospital. Bowan said natural levels of Vitamin D help dogs develop.
“If they have too much, then that could lead to kidney failure or death because the kidneys can’t process it all. It’s like if a human has too many vitamins. It usually comes out in the urine,” Bowan said. “But when it goes through the kidneys it causes kidney failure. It also causes loss of appetite, vomiting, increased thirst, because the kidneys are trying to keep up.”
High levels of Vitamin D can cause kidney failure in dogs.
Bowan said veterinarians treat the symptoms of kidney failure first.
“They usually put them on some supplements for other things, not vitamin D,” Bowan said. “An appetite supplement to get them to eat, some anti-nausea medicine, and they make sure they keep fluids in them to flush them out. Basically kind of like dialysis.”
Bowan said veterinary offices can conduct blood work to make sure Vitamin D caused the symptoms.
“Call a vet and definitely make sure and see what is going on. Tell them the symptoms, just get that in so that you know,” Bowan said. “Sometimes the same symptoms show up in different things.”
Bowan said dog owners can avoid the worst by being proactive.
“We can also check the urine to see if it is maybe a urinary tract infection or if there is something else going on,” Bowan said. “Just look at the foods that you buy. Make sure they are not anything that has been recalled.”
The FDA has recalled eight dog food brands, including Ahold Delhaize, Kroger Abound, King Soopers, ELM Pet Foods, ANF, Sunshine Mills, Orlando Brand, Natural Life Pet Products, and Nutrisca.
