Dog Supplement Recall Expanded Over Salmonella Risk From Supplier

New York-based pet brand Fi has voluntarily recalled two of its canine supplements due to potential Salmonella contamination linked to an ingredient supplier, placing the expanding online market for pet wellness products under increased scrutiny. The safety notice specifically targets 180-gram containers of “Fi Calming supplement for Dogs” bearing lot number 26118, and 180-gram containers of “Fi 8-in-1 Formula supplement for Dogs” labeled with lot number 26159.

Salmonella bacteria pose a dual public health risk, capable of causing illness in both the dogs consuming the supplements and the humans handling them. Human infection, known as salmonellosis, often occurs when people touch contaminated pet products, food bowls, or animal waste and fail to wash their hands thoroughly before eating or touching their faces. The recall highlights the ongoing challenges in managing supply-chain safety for pet health products sold directly to consumers and through major e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Chewy.

According to the company, the potential contamination originated from a raw ingredient provided by an external supplier to Fi’s contract manufacturer. Production of both formulas has been halted while the manufacturer conducts an investigation into the source of the pathogen. Because the affected supplements were distributed nationwide via direct-to-consumer online sales and major e-commerce retailers Chewy and Amazon, safety regulators are urging pet owners to check their products immediately.

For canines, ingestion of Salmonella-contaminated products can manifest as lethargy, vomiting, fever, decreased appetite, and diarrhea that may contain blood or mucus. Some infected dogs may experience only mild abdominal pain. In humans, common symptoms of salmonellosis include abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which may be bloody. While most healthy individuals recover within a few days, severe cases can lead to more serious medical complications.

Consumers who have purchased products from the specified lots are advised to stop administering them to their pets and dispose of them in secure trash receptacles to prevent access by other animals or wildlife. The regulation of pet supplements occupies a distinct space under U.S. law. While veterinary drugs must undergo a rigorous pre-market approval process by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), animal dietary supplements are generally regulated as animal food under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Those rare but severe manifestations include arterial infections, endocarditis (infection of the heart’s inner lining), arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract complications. Regulators advise anyone exhibiting these symptoms after handling the recalled supplements to contact a medical professional. Even if a pet shows no visible signs of illness, it can still act as an asymptomatic carrier, shedding the bacteria in its saliva and feces and silently spreading the infection to other household pets and human family members.

Under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules for preventive controls, manufacturers of animal food are required to implement written food safety plans that identify hazards, including pathogens like Salmonella, and establish preventive controls to mitigate those risks. This includes verifying that third-party ingredient suppliers are adhering to appropriate safety standards, which is the focus of the current investigation by Fi’s manufacturing partner. Pet owners who observe any of these symptoms in their dogs after they have consumed the recalled Fi supplements are advised to seek veterinary care.