No single dog food brand has been definitively proven to kill dogs on a widespread scale, but several specific products have been recalled for contamination that caused serious illness and death. The biggest ongoing concern involves grain-free diets high in peas and lentils, which the FDA has been investigating since 2018 for a possible link to heart disease. Beyond that, individual recalls over the years have involved toxic levels of vitamin D, a mold-produced poison called aflatoxin, bacterial contamination, and even trace amounts of a euthanasia drug.
Grain-Free Diets and Heart Disease
The largest and most complex safety concern in dog food involves a potential connection between certain diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a condition where the heart muscle weakens and the heart enlarges, eventually leading to heart failure. DCM has long been recognized as a genetic condition in breeds like Dobermans and Great Danes, but starting around 2018, veterinarians began reporting cases in breeds with no known genetic predisposition.
The FDA received 1,382 DCM reports between January 2014 and November 2022. More than 90 percent of the diets named in those reports were labeled “grain-free,” and 93 percent contained peas, lentils, or other legume seeds as primary ingredients. The affected dogs ate food from a wide range of brands and protein sources, including chicken, lamb, fish, bison, and duck. No single protein stood out as the cause.
The FDA has not identified the exact mechanism behind the connection. It may involve how legumes interact with nutrient absorption, genetics, or other underlying health factors. Importantly, some grain-containing diets with high levels of peas and lentils were also implicated, so “grain-free” alone isn’t the defining risk factor. The common thread is legume-heavy formulations. The FDA has stated it does not have enough evidence to declare these diets inherently unsafe or pull them from shelves, and as of late 2022, the agency paused public updates until meaningful new science emerges.
If your dog is currently eating a diet where peas, lentils, or potatoes appear among the first ten ingredients, this doesn’t mean your dog is in immediate danger. But it’s worth discussing with your veterinarian, especially if your dog shows signs like exercise intolerance, coughing, or fainting, which can signal heart trouble.
Vitamin D Toxicity
Excessive vitamin D in dog food has triggered multiple recalls and confirmed deaths. Dogs with vitamin D poisoning may vomit, lose their appetite, drink and urinate excessively, drool, and lose weight. Left unchecked, it leads to kidney failure and death.
In late 2018, the FDA alerted the public about vitamin D toxicity linked to dry dog food produced by a single contract manufacturer and sold under several brand names. Then in early 2019, Hill’s Pet Nutrition issued a recall of canned dog food that eventually expanded multiple times over several months. In February 2023, Nestlé Purina recalled select lots of its Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental prescription dry dog food after two confirmed cases of toxicity. The FDA issued warning letters to both Sunshine Mills and Hill’s Pet Nutrition following investigations into their respective incidents.
The danger with vitamin D is that it can accumulate over time. A dog eating a contaminated batch day after day may not show obvious symptoms until significant organ damage has already occurred.
Aflatoxin Contamination
Aflatoxins are toxic compounds produced by mold that can grow on corn, peanuts, and other grains used in pet food. When present at elevated levels, they attack the liver. Dogs suffering from aflatoxin poisoning may show sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice (a yellowish tint to the eyes, gums, or skin), and unexplained bruising or bleeding. Some dogs suffer liver damage without showing any early signs and can die suddenly if they keep eating contaminated food.
In July 2021, Sunshine Mills recalled multiple product lines for potentially elevated aflatoxin levels, including products sold under the Triumph, Evolve, Wild Harvest, Nurture Farms, Pure Being, and Elm Pet Foods brands. A larger and deadlier outbreak occurred in late 2020, when Midwestern Pet Foods recalled products after aflatoxin contamination was linked to more than 100 dog deaths across the country.
Pentobarbital in Rendered Meat
Pentobarbital is the drug used to euthanize animals. In 2017, Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food recalled its Hunk of Beef Au Jus product after the drug was detected in cans sold in Washington state. The company’s first recall in 82 years of operation came after a dog owner posted about their pet’s death on social media. Evanger’s traced the problem to a beef supplier it had used for 40 years and terminated the relationship.
An earlier FDA study had investigated trace pentobarbital in dog food and found no dog or cat DNA in the contaminated products. The agency concluded that the drug was likely entering pet food through rendered cattle or horses that had been euthanized. While the amounts were often small, the presence of a euthanasia drug in food is alarming regardless of concentration.
Bacterial Contamination in Raw Diets
Raw dog food carries an inherently higher risk of bacterial contamination. The FDA issued an advisory against certain Answers Pet Food products after testing found Salmonella and Listeria in multiple formulas, including their Raw Beef Detailed Formula, Raw Beef Straight Formula, and Straight Chicken Formula. Notably, the FDA reported that the company did not initiate an adequate recall after being notified, prompting the agency to issue a public warning directly to consumers.
Salmonella and Listeria can sicken both dogs and the humans who handle the food. Symptoms in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and lethargy. These bacteria pose an especially serious risk in households with young children, elderly family members, or anyone with a weakened immune system.
Copper Levels and Liver Damage
A quieter but growing concern involves copper levels in commercial dog food. Copper-associated hepatopathy is a form of liver disease caused by copper accumulating in the liver over time. Some veterinary nutritionists have raised concerns that copper levels in modern dog food have increased, partly because manufacturers shifted from copper oxide (which dogs absorb poorly) to more bioavailable forms of copper.
Currently, there is no official maximum limit for copper in dog food. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) convened a workgroup to study the issue, and an expert panel concluded there was “insufficient scientific evidence to support establishment of a maximum copper amount in dog food.” The workgroup proposed a voluntary “controlled copper” label claim, which would cap copper at 15 milligrams per kilogram of food on a dry matter basis, but this remains optional for manufacturers. Certain breeds, including Labrador Retrievers, Dobermans, and Dalmatians, appear more susceptible to copper buildup.
What to Watch For
The warning signs of food-related illness in dogs overlap across many of these hazards. Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy are the most common early symptoms. Yellowing of the eyes or gums suggests liver involvement and warrants immediate veterinary attention. Increased thirst and urination can point to kidney or vitamin D problems. Exercise intolerance, coughing, or fainting may signal the heart issues associated with DCM.
Some of these conditions develop slowly. A dog eating food with borderline aflatoxin levels or accumulating copper may appear healthy for weeks or months before symptoms emerge. If your dog’s health changes and you suspect the food, save the original packaging. The lot number, best-by date, and UPC code are critical if you need to file a report. You can submit a complaint through the FDA’s Safety Reporting Portal online, and including your veterinarian’s contact information and diagnosis strengthens the report considerably.
Staying informed about active recalls is one of the most practical steps you can take. The FDA maintains a running list of pet food recalls on its website, and signing up for alerts means you’ll know within days if a product in your pantry has been flagged.