FDA Warning: Pig Ears and Cow Hooves May Contain Salmonella

Manufacturer does NOT recall potentially contaminated dog treats

November 10, 2009

On November 5th, FDA warned dog owners that pig ears and cow hooves – both plain and stuffed – manufactured by Pet Carousel, Inc. (Sanger, CA) may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The warning came after routine FDA testing revealed the presence of Salmonella in a sample of the manufacturer's pig ear dog treats. The finding triggered an FDA inspection of Pet Carousel's manufacturing facility.

During the course of the inspection, FDA noted the potential for cross-contamination in the manufacturing facility between different products and batches. Additional testing resulted in more Salmonella-positive findings – in beef hooves, pig ears and the manufacturing environment.

Although Pet Carousel has not issued a "voluntary" recall notice, FDA recommends that consumers discard all date codes and packages sizes of the following products:

• Pet Carousel Pig Ears
• Pet Carousel Beef Hooves
• Doggie Delight Pig Ears
• Doggie Delight Beef Hooves
• Choo Hooves Beef Hooves
• Dentley's Beef Hooves

These dog treats are sold nationwide through retail stores and over the Internet. Both PetSmart, Pet Food Express and Petco have posted formal recall notices on their web pages, and have offered to exchange or refund the recalled products. Please post a comment below if you have information on recall notices posted by other retailers of these products.

Salmonella can cause gastroenteritis in dogs, including symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some dogs will shed Salmonella in their stools without ever showing any symptoms of illness. If any stool clings to an infected dog's coat near the anus (not unusual with long-haired breeds), the Salmonella can be spread to other parts of the coat by licking – and then transferred to anyone who pets, or is licked by, the dog.

If your dog is showing symptoms of gastroenteritis a week or less after chewing on one of the pig ear or cow hoof treats listed above, contact your veterinarian. If you believe that your dog's illness is linked to one of the recalled items, please contact the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator for your state.