Pet parents may want to check their pantries – Zuke’s is voluntarily removing all of their Mini Naturals treats from store shelves after customers reported the presence of mold inside the package.
“We’re pet parents, too, and only want the best for our four-legged family members. For this reason, we are proactively and voluntarily removing Zuke’s Mini Naturals from store shelves as well as various online retailers, due to a quality issue with a recent batch of products.”
If you have any of the following products in your home, stop feeding them to your dog immediately and toss them out in a trash can your dog can’t get into.
- Zuke’s Mini Naturals Chicken Recipe, 6 oz. and 16 oz., SKU 013423330517 and 013423330210
- Zuke’s Mini Naturals Chicken Recipe, 0.5 oz. sample size, no SKU number
- Zuke’s Mini Naturals Peanut Butter & Oats Recipe, 6 oz. and 16 oz., SKU 013423330524 and 013423330227
- Zuke’s Mini Naturals Duck Recipe, 6 oz. and 16 oz., SKU 613423330533 and 613423330236
- Zuke’s Mini Naturals Salmon Recipe, 6 oz. and 16 oz., SKU 013423330548 and 013423330241
- Zuke’s Mini Naturals Pork Recipe, 6 oz. and 16 oz., SKU 613423330557 and 613423330250
- Zuke’s Mini Naturals Rabbit Recipe, 6 oz. and 16 oz., SKU 613423330564 and 613423330267
- Zuke’s Mini Naturals Beef Recipe, 6 oz. and 16 oz., SKU 613423330588 and 613423330601′
However, multiple people have taken to social media to argue that not only is this not a problem with a recent batch, but it has been going on since last year.
Posts dating back to late November 2020 show confused and concerned consumers attempting to reach out to Zuke’s via Twitter with questions and photos of their pup’s treats covered in mold.
The issue appears to be ongoing, as there have been more and more photos and complaints online directed at the company. 
Reviews on Amazon also tell stories of sick pups.
“I started giving these to my pup and the smell was not normal. But I assumed dog treats sometimes small. Then today I opened the package and my asthma went crazy and I saw mold (I am severely allergic to mold). This bag should have been fresh, but since I am a week past the return date I am out a refund for a mold-infected treat that could have poisoned my dog and set off my asthma. This is horrible and having to pay for such a gross product is not okay. Quality is bad. I highly do NOT recommend buying from this seller. Sadly I have spent a ton of money buying these treats over the year. My dog recently has started puking all the time. Rancid expensive treats may be the cause. Bad on the seller and Amazon for selling.”
“I poured out a large amount to put in a Ziploc bag for a hike. When I poured the bag out, There were numerous globs of mold and the smell was absolutely TERRIBLE.
“I am sad that I fed my dog some of the treats in this batch. He has had an upset stomach the past few days, and I was not sure why until now. Very disappointed.”
According to Dr. Jennifer Coates, a veterinary advisor with petMD,
“Toxic mold is of particular concern for [dogs] because these organisms produce mycotoxins that can cause health problems.”
The five types of toxic mold are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Stachybotrys. They can cause annoying symptoms like a coughing fit or, worst-case scenario, neurologic problems, and death. If your dog has eaten moldy food, you may notice a decreased appetite, vomiting, and changes to bowel movements.
If you observe any of these symptoms, take your pup to the veterinarian. Treatment for mold inhalation or consumption typically includes the management of respiratory symptoms, inducing vomiting, and IV fluids for dehydration if your dog suffers from gastric complications. Vets use medication to treat mold allergies.
Thankfully, if your dog interacts with the fungus, she will most likely fully recover if the source of mold is removed from her everyday life.
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via Whisker Therapy