Peanut-recall casualties: 1 dog, 500 people, 1,555 tainted products - so far

OAKLAND, ORE. — The first veterinary case linked to the nationwide peanut-products recall involves a 3-year-old mixed-breed dog that became ill after its owners fed it Happy Tails Multi-Flavored Dog Biscuits, a treat containing a product from the Peanut Corp. of America that was one of eight pet products on the Food and Drug Administration's initial recall list.

The dog's Oakland, Ore., veterinarian, Dr. Paul Gore, referred the case to the state public-health veterinarian, Dr. Emilio DeBass.

Two of the three dogs in the household became ill, according to the state veterinarian's office. One tested positive for serogroup B Salmonella, the strain implicated in the current outbreak, as did the package of treats submitted by the pet owners.

The positive dog was treated with fluids and antibiotics and was expected to make a full recovery.

At least 1,555 products were recalled in response to the Salmonella typhimurium outbreak at the Blakely, Ga., plant. Besides the one that sickened the dog in Oregon, other pet treats on the recall list so far are: Carolina Prime Peanut Butter Hooves, Rawhide Bone Peanut Rawhides, Beef Shank Peanut Butter Dog Bones, all varieties of Grreat Choice dog biscuits, Saligs three-count packs of Healthy Hide Deli Wrap Peanut Butter-Filled Rawhides, SuperValu Happy Tails multi-flavor dog biscuits, Shoppers Valu multi-flavor biscuits, and American Nutrition Inc. Vita Bone Flavors dog treats in various sizes, Peanut Butter Vita Snacks, Farm Style assorted dog biscuits, Hill Country Fare dog biscuits in several flavors and sizes, several varieties of Integrity dog biscuits, Northwest Royal dog biscuits, Mill Creek dog biscuits, Premium Smarty dog biscuits Springfield Prize Multi-Flavor dog biscuits, Western Family biscuits, Nex Gen Pet Products small assorted biscuits and a number of bulk dog biscuit products.

More than 500 people were affected by the tainted ingredients from the company, which does not sell directly to consumers, according to the FDA. The agency is conducting a criminal investigation based on reports that the firm shipped products even after receiving positive Salmonella test results on site.

The list of recalled products continues to grow. That current complete list and updates on the criminal investigation are posted at www.fda.gov.