Late last week, J. M. Smucker Co. voluntarily recalled a variety of Jif peanut butter products due to a Salmonella outbreak. Because peanut butter is one of the most common human foods we feed our furry friends, you may be worried that you have unwittingly exposed your pup.
If you have fed your pup Jif peanut butter, you should contact your vet for guidance.
Here are the details on this outbreak, along with signs and symptoms of canine Salmonella poisoning.
Details Of The Outbreak
As of publishing, 14 people across twelve states have been infected with Salmonella poisoning. The Food and Drug Administration published a comprehensive list of the recalled Jif products.
In humans, Salmonella poisoning causes severe gastrointestinal upset that can even result in death in immunocompromised individuals.
Thus far, the states impacted by this outbreak include:
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
Earlier this year, dog treat brand “Dog Gone Dog Treats” was a source of another Salmonella outbreak. While three humans contracted Salmonella from handling these treats, no cases of Salmonella poisoning in dogs were reported.
What If My Dog Ate Jif Peanut Butter?
If your dog has been exposed to salmonella from Jif peanut butter, the good news is that salmonella poisoning in dogs is rare. A healthy doggy digestive system should be able to fight this bacteria off without showing any symptoms of illness.
Additionally, most cases of Salmonella poisoning are mild in canines.
However, this doesn’t mean that dogs are impervious to Salmonella poisoning. Some signs of poisoning include diarrhea with mucus, vomiting, lethargy, and loss of appetite. An extensive list of symptoms can be found here.
If your dog is experience severe symptoms of Salmonella poisoning, you should take them to the vet as soon as possible to prevent complications that could arise from this illness.
Has your dog eaten Jif peanut butter recently? Did they exhibit signs of Salmonella poisoning? Let us know in the comments below.
