Update at 11 A.M. PST: FOX19 has since issued a correction, stating that the dogs did not eat food on the IAMS and Eukanuba recall list. So the link between the recall and this dreadful event appears to be false. The following note was also posted on the Pet Spot Facebook wall:

Dear Valued Customers,

As many of you are aware, early last week we had a few dogs show symptoms of a severe stomach illness. In response, The Pet Spot temporarily closed our daycare while awaiting independent facility and veterinarian test results. I would like to share with you an update from these tests:

· All of the veterinarian infectious disease tests have come back negative (clean)

· Independent laboratory test results looking for the usual causes of gastro intestinal issues have come back negative

· We have had our food and water tested and the results came back clean, showing no issues

· None of the food consumed was on the pet food recall list

· In addition to our usual multi daily sanitation, the facility has been completely sanitized numerous times and our daycare floors have been stripped and resurfaced

While all the testing has come back negative, we are still waiting on results from the Ohio Veterinarians Office. We are expecting to have these final test results later this week. Therefore, to ensure the safety of our pets to the best of our ability, our daycare will remain closed until we receive these results. The Pet Spot will plan on opening our daycare on Monday, August 26th. Our boarding and grooming services will continue normal business hours. Your outpouring of support on social media, emails, and phone calls has greatly lifted the spirits of our staff through this difficult period. Your continued support means so much to us in many ways.

Kind regards,

Jeff Voelpel and The Pet Spot Staff

++++

Throughout the many recalls we’ve seen of dog food over the threat of salmonella contamination, we don’t always hear reports of deaths due to tainted product. Procter & Gamble’s recall of Eukanuba and Iams dry dog foods might be different. Just days after after the pet food giant announced a voluntary recall, three dogs died after allegedly contracting an illness at the Pet Spot doggie daycare in Norwood, Ohio. In all, six dogs got sick, showing symptoms of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, or HGE. All the dogs ate Procter & Gamble food that was on the recall list, according to FOX19, which is investigating the deaths.

One of the dogs affected was one of the news station’s own: Mr. Benson, who was owned by FOX19’s Morning Meteorologist Frank Marzullo. The four-year-old dog passed away on Aug. 13, and Marzullo posted this message on his Facebook page:

“Our Mr. Benson is in wagging his tail in heaven this afternoon. We lost him at 12:15 after he took a turn this morning there was nothing more that the doctors could do. He was our life and made us smile and laugh everyday. Leslee and I thank you all for your kind words and thoughts he was a fighter and your prayers helped. I have so many memories of him especially the times we shared with all of you on the tv with him! Leslee, Mr. Otis and I love you all and thank you!”

Here are some photos of Mr. Benson:

Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is characterized by sudden vomiting and bloody diarrhea. MedVet, a pet hospital in Madisonville, is currently awaiting test results to confirm whether HGE caused the illnesses and deaths. Pet Spot closed over the weekend, according to a message on its Facebook page, and plans to reopen once the test results come in.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture is on the case as well and is urging owners to monitor their dogs closely for warning signs, according to WCPO.com. ODA spokesperson Erica Hawkins says people who those symptoms should take their dogs to the vet immediately.

“It’s important for dogs with any stomach illness to keep them hydrated,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins said she has heard reports of other dogs getting sick, but isn’t linking the HGE outbreak to the recall just yet. “We’ve heard reports of that as well. We’ll be able to tell better when we get the test results.”

If you feed your dog Eukanuba or Iams, please check the list of affected products here.