Imagine your dog has just been diagnosed with what your veterinarian suspects may be food poisoning – what is the first thing you do? Why, panic, of course.

Being in a state of sheer panic is never a good thing. Especially when you’re trying to deal with a complex problem or attempting to navigate the vast ocean of information on how to report a pet food problem. A situation that will reduce even the hardiest of people to a complete meltdown.

After you come home from the veterinary hospital, grab a bag of cookies – and if you must a cocktail – (both if you’re really in bad shape) and sit down in your comfiest chair, because I will be helping steer your passage through the sea of complaining-to-the-government-about-pet-food information overload.

First, check out Poisoned Pets’ fabulous guide: The Complete Guide to Making a Pet Food Complaint. It is a compilation of all the various documents from all the numerous places found hiding in the government Intertubes collected and organized in one handy document for your reading pleasure.

OK, so maybe it’s not pleasure – but at least it’s organized in one place!

Second, if you really feel you must, peruse these excellent sources (below).

The links provide a plethora of information on how to report a pet food to the FDA written by the FDA – from the very, very basic (for the completely nerve-shattered) – to the unbelievably in-depth. Here they are:

• Report a Problem
• Reporting Veterinary Problems at FDA Yes! No! Maybe So!
• Pet Food Safety: Paws Up for Progress
• Your Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA
• FDA 101: How to Use the Consumer Complaint System
• How do I report a problem with an FDA-regulated product?
• How to Report a Pet Food Complaint