Merrick Pet Care of Amarillo, TX, has initiated a voluntary recall of a limited amount of beef dog treat varieties due to the potential that they contain elevated levels of a naturally-occurring beef thyroid hormone.

Dogs consuming high levels of beef thyroid hormone may experience increased thirst and urination, weight loss, increased heart rate and restlessness. If a dog consumes high levels of beef thyroid hormone for a long period of time, these symptoms may increase in severity and may include vomiting, diarrhea and rapid or labored breathing. These symptoms may resolve when consumption decreases. If your pet has consumed a product listed below and has exhibited any of these symptoms, please discontinue feeding and contact your veterinarian.

The voluntary recall covers only specific production codes of the beef treat products listed below. These treats are distributed in the U.S. through pet specialty, grocery and online retailers with limited distribution in Canada. To locate the production code, consumers should look on the lower back of the treat bag.

Affected Item	Size	UPC	Best-Before Date Range
Castor & Pollux Good Buddy Prime Patties Real Beef Recipe	4 oz.	780872510806	5/1/2017 – 9/1/2019
Castor & Pollux Good Buddy Sausage Cuts Real Beef Recipe	5 oz.	780872510745	5/1/2017 – 9/1/2019
Merrick Backcountry Great Plains Real Beef Jerky	4.5 oz.	022808786160	5/1/2017 – 9/1/2019
Merrick Backcountry Great Plains Real Beef Sausage Cuts	5 oz.	022808786047	5/1/2017 – 9/1/2019
Merrick Backcountry Great Plains Real Steak Patties	4 oz.	022808786078	5/1/2017 – 9/1/2019

No other production codes, sizes or varieties of these products are affected, and no other Merrick or Castor & Pollux products are impacted.

This potential health risk was brought to Merrick’s attention as a result of the FDA sharing one consumer complaint where the dog’s health was temporarily impacted while eating Merrick Backcountry Great Plains Real Beef Jerky 4.5 oz. The dog’s health improved and fully recovered after discontinuing consumption of the treat. Pet owners should know there is limited risk, as treats are not intended for full nutrition and should only be consumed occasionally, however out of an abundance of caution and to maintain trust with consumers, Merrick has withdrawn all potentially impacted product.  To date, Merrick has not received any similar reports from consumers about issues with these products.

If you have any of the products listed above and would like a refund, please call Merrick at 1-800-664-7387 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday, or email customerservice@merrickpetcare.com. Consumers may also initiate the refund process online by visiting www.merrickpetcare.com/customerrelations.

See the full FDA Alert for this recall HERE.