Hello Pups and Kittens and welcome back to The Groomer Next Door. This week we sit down to break down the Purina Beneful class action lawsuit.Episode 68 Show Notes

The lawsuit lists stomach and related internal bleeding, liver malfunction or failure, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, seizures, bloat and kidney failure as symptoms consistently reported by dog-owners feeding their dogs Beneful, which is owned by Nestlé Purina Petcare Company.

Nestlé Purina Petcare Company for response to this suit. A spokesperson could not comment immediately.

What do I do if I want to join the class action suit?

If you feel you fit into this class action lawsuit against Nestlé Purina , you can call this toll free number for more information:

1-877-667-4265

What do I do if my dog is showing symptoms?

If you fear your dog is showing any signs of illness, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. There are a number of diseases that can lead to symptoms like those described in this lawsuit. Only your veterinarian can determine the cause of those symptoms and the right course of action.

What dog foods does the lawsuit say are dangerous for my dog?

The most recent lawsuit is a class action lawsuit concerning Purina Beneful’s “kibble” dry food varieties:

· “Purina Beneful Health Weight”

· “Purina Beneful Originals”

· “Purina Beneful Incredibites”

· “Purina Beneful Healthy Growth for Puppies”

· “Purina Beneful Healthy Smile”

· “Purina Beneful Health Fiesta”

· “Purina Beneful Healthy Radiance”

· “Purina Beneful Playful Life”

What symptoms should I be watching for?

The lawsuit lists the following symptoms, mostly digestive, as possibly connected to feeding a dog Beneful's “kibble” varieties:

· Vomiting

· Diarrhea

· Seizures

· Weight loss

· Dehydration

· Bloat

· Stomach and related internal bleeding

· Liver malfunction or failure

· Kidney malfunction or failure

What makes a dog food unhealthy or dangerous?

Pet food recalls are often a result of the presence of toxins within the food, whether its a toxic ingredient or an ingredient in which toxins can develop. The class action suit references mycotoxins, which are naturally-occuring toxic chemical by-products of fungi that can develop on corn or other grain ingredients often included in pet food.

Purina's commitment

"Satisfaction Guaranteed. If you're not happy, we're not happy. Complete satisfaction or your money back..."

"At Purina, we're unconditionally devoted to pets. We've dedicated over 80 years to developing the high-quality products that satisfy the needs of dogs and cats."

"100% Complete and Balanced Nutrition"

Yes, dogs can have it all -- and should! How? A special blend of wholesome ingredients, including grains, real beef, and accents of vitamin-rich veggies! It gives dogs the complete nutrition they need and a taste they love." (Beneful Original)

"Made with wholesome rice, real chicken, soy, and accented with veggies and apples, it has the complete nutrition adult dogs need..." (Beneful Healthy Weight)

"With real chicken, wholesome rice, and accents of vitamin-rich veggies, it has the complete nutrition puppies need..." (Beneful Healthy Growth for Puppies)

"When your puppy is grown, Beneful has so many delicious ways to help keep him healthy and happy." (Beneful Healthy Growth for Puppies

What is propylene glycol and why is it part of this lawsuit?

The lawsuit lists propylene glycol as the primary troubling ingredient in Beneful, saying the amount of the compound used in the dog food is toxic.

In fact, propylene glycol is an ingredient often found in many food products, used mainly as a preservative. The Food and Drug Administration classifies the compound as “generally recognized as safe” as a food additive for human and animal consumption.

It can be found in salad dressings, cake mixes, and store bought cookies, for example.

Propylene glycol is no stranger to food safety cases, though. Fireball Whisky was recalled in Finland, Sweden, and Norway last October for what some officials claimed were dangerous levels of the product in the whisky.