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                Report a Problem

Report a Problem

                        How to Report Animal Drug and Device Side Effects and Product Problems
          How to Report a Pet Food Complaint
          Reporting Problems with Horse or other Livestock Feed/Food
          Veterinary Adverse Event Reporting for Manufacturers Home
          Animal & Veterinary
          Safety & Health
          Report a Problem
          How to Report a Pet Food ComplaintReport a Problem How to Report a Pet Food Complaint
  
  	
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Report a Pet Food Complaint

You can report complaints about a pet food product electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or you can call your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.

Your report to the FDA is important. Thank you for submitting it. The FDA continues to devote time, energy, and resources to monitor reports of illness that could be related to pet foods, to determine their root causes where possible. The FDA will review your report to determine whether any follow-up investigation is possible or needed based on the information provided. A follow-up investigation could include collecting pet food or treats, or seeking a diagnostic sample from your pet for analysis. Even if no testing of pet food products or diagnostic samples is needed, your report will be part of adverse event and product problem surveillance to help prevent future problems. You may choose to have your pet food product tested by a private laboratory, but testing may be costly. The FDA cannot pay for private laboratory testing costs or provide reimbursement for veterinary costs associated with your animal’s illness.


Please have as much of the following information available as possible when submitting your complaint:

*Consumers often transfer dry pet food into other containers for easier handling.  If possible, please save the original packaging until the pet food has been consumed.  The packaging contains IMPORTANT information often needed to identify the variety of pet food, the manufacturing plant, and the production date.*

Exact name of the product and product description (as stated on the product label)
	Type of container (e.g. box, bag, can, pouch, etc.)
	Product intended to be refrigerated, frozen, or stored at room temperature
	Lot number - This number is often hard to find and difficult to read.  It is stamped onto the product packaging and typically includes a combination of letters and numbers, and is always in close proximity to the best by/before or expiration date (if the product has a best by/before or expiration date).  The lot number is very important as it helps us determine the manufacturing plant as well as the production date.
	Best by, best before or expiration date
	UPC code (also known as the bar code)
	Net weight
	Purchase date and exact location where purchased
	Results of any laboratory testing performed on the pet food product
	How the food was stored, prepared, and handledDescription of the problem with the product.  Examples include:

Foul odor, off color
	Swollen can or pouch, leaking container
	Foreign object found in the product.If you think your pet has become sick or injured as a result of consuming a pet food product also provide information about your pet, including:

Species (dog, cat, rabbit, fish, bird, other)
	Age, weight, breed, pregnant, spayed/neutered
	Previous health status of pet
	Any pre-existing conditions your pet has
	Whether you give your pet any other foods, treats, dietary supplements or drugs
	How much of the suspected product your pet normally consumes
	How much of the “suspect” product was consumed from the package?
	How much of the product you still have
	Clinical signs exhibited by your pet (such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy)
	How soon after consuming the product the clinical signs appeared
	Your veterinarian’s contact information, diagnosis and medical records for your pet
	Results of any diagnostic laboratory testing performed on your pet
	How many pets consuming the product exhibited clinical symptoms
	Whether any pets that consumed the product are not affected
	Whether your pet spends time outdoors unsupervised
	Why you suspect the pet food caused the illnessResources

Safety Reporting Portal
	Pet Food Safety Reporting Portal Frequently Asked Questions
	What Happens When a Problem is Reported?

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      04/04/2023Report a Problem

          
                        How to Report Animal Drug and Device Side Effects and Product Problems
          How to Report a Pet Food Complaint
          Reporting Problems with Horse or other Livestock Feed/Food
          Veterinary Adverse Event Reporting for Manufacturers
 
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