I don’t know about you, Dogsters, but I’m getting a little tired of hearing about (and writing about!) recalls of dry dog foods because of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a mold by-product that occurs on corn. It’s not terribly pretty, but it’s surprising that it’s so toxic. Here’s what the moldy corn with it looks like.

Dogs who have eaten aflatoxin-contaminated food can show sluggishness or lethargy, a reluctance to eat, vomiting, a yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea. They should be seen by a veterinarian.

As I asked in a post earlier this month, I wonder if this was from one giant batch of moldy corn, or if these are separate, isolated incidents? One way to avoid it would be not to feed your dog any dog food with corn products, I suppose. Another way would be to have more quality control wherever the corn comes into the dog food recipes.

It looks like a dog-food alert I’d posted earlier this month has expanded:

Petrus Feed and Seed Stores, Inc. today announced a voluntary recall of its dry dog food — 21% Protein Dog Food in 40 lb Petrus Feed bags. The product is being recalled because the product was manufactured with corn which tested above acceptable levels for aflatoxin. The affected products were manufactured at Cargills manufacturing facility located in LeCompte, Louisiana, between December 1, 2010 and December 1, 2011.

The recall only applies to 21% Dog Food, packaged in 40-lb Petrus Feed bags with the following packaging Date codes (lot numbers) 4K1011 through 4K1307. Updated lot numbers are 4K1011 through 4K1335.

The affected dry dog food was distributed in Petrus Feed and Seed in Alexandria, Louisiana.

While no adverse health effects related to these products have been reported, Petrus Feed and Seed Store, Inc. is implementing this recall as a precautionary measure. Consumers are urged to return affected products — whether in opened or unopened packages — to their place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, contact 318-443-2259.