Amarillo, Texas - A deadly mold could be in your dog's food and this past years drought could be to blame.
Aflatoxin is a mold that can grow on corn and other grains, many of which are ingredients in dog food.
Because of the drought, many crops in the Midwest saw dangerous levels of this. A local plant pathologist we spoke with says the warm dry conditions of the drought caused the mold to thrive.
Hy-Vee brand dog food has already been recalled causing makers to take a closer look at the corn they use. High levels of this mold can be very dangerous to pets who consume it.
"You'll see liver failure in an animal, especially dogs and cats. What I see, they'll come in, vomiting, diarrhea, gums turning yellow, whites of the eyes turning yellow, the skin. The aflatoxin itself hammers on the liver and in a high dose can actually kill liver cells," Merten Pearson, DVM Noah's Ark Pet Hospital says.
Dr. Pearson says no cases have been reported in our area. Companies nationwide are reporting that they are aggressively testing for Aflatoxin. Pearson says large name brands such as Iams and Purina are going to be safer.
To check your dog's food for recalls, you can go to www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recalls/
