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The Hill’s dog food recall has already spurred serious legal action from consumers after their dogs allegedly suffered the effects of vitamin D poisoning.
Six of these claims have already been consolidated in Kansas federal court, after the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) ordered them to be combined due to the similar nature of the allegations. Each of the claims allege certain varieties of the company’s Science Diet and Prescription Diet canned dog food had excessive levels of vitamin D, which allegedly caused the claimants’ dogs to become ill.
The JPML creates a multidistrict litigation when it expects a large number of lawsuits to be filed against the same defendant over the same issue, a common occurrence in products liability litigation.
In addition to the six claims, there are reportedly 23 other potential lawsuits alleging similar injuries that could be brought into the consolidation.
Overview of Vitamin D Poisoning
Also known as hypervitaminosis D, vitamin D toxicity occurs when there is too much vitamin D in the body and can cause a toxic buildup of calcium.
Vitamin D poisoning can affect humans as well as dogs. While vitamin D is vital for calcium and phosphorus production, it can overwhelm the kidneys and digestive tract and cause potentially fatal problems.
Vitamin D poisoning can start affecting dogs between eight to 48 hours after ingestion. A dog may show symptoms such as:
- increased urination
- constipation
- dehydration
- dark tar-like stools
- breathing difficulty
- heart arrhythmia
Vitamin D poisoning in dogs typically occurs if they accidentally ingest products like rat poison that contain the supplement, but can happen in rare cases of contaminated dog foods.
The Hill’s dog food recall was announced on Jan. 31, 2019, with the company state several varieties of their Prescription Diet and Science diet canned dog foods were withdrawn from the market cause of excessive vitamin D levels.
Even though the Hill’s dog food recall was conducted, a claim from New York alleges the company should have known about the alleged vitamin D contamination as early as February 2018.
During this time, online complaints were reportedly surfacing from dog owners who stated their pets had exhibited symptoms of vitamin D poisoning. However, Hill’s reportedly “dragged its feet” on issuing the recall.
The panel reportedly assigned United States District Chief Judge Julie A. Robinson, and the litigation is expected to proceed. There was initially some dispute over which district the consolidation would take place but ultimately concluded Kansas would be convenient for most parties in the MDL with Hill’s reportedly headquartered in the state.
In addition, eight of the potential Hill’s dog food lawsuits are currently pending in that district.
The first six lawsuits in the Hill’s Dog Food Multidistrict Litigation are:
- Bone et al. v. Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. et al., Case No. 1:19-cv-00831, in the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- Russel et al. v. Hill’s Pet Nutrition et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-00395, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- Jubinville et al. v. Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. et al., Case No. 1:19-cv-00074, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island
- Navarrete v. Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc., Case No. 3:19-cv-00767, Sun-Dampier v. Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc., Case No. 3:19-cv-00819,
- Bauer et al. v. Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc., Case No. 3:19-cv-00908, all in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Join a Free Hill’s Pet Nutrition Dog Food Recall Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you purchased Hill’s Science Diet or Prescription Diet canned dog food, you may qualify to join this Hill’s dog food recall class action lawsuit investigation.
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9 thoughts onHill’s Dog Food Recall Spawns a Federal Multidistrict Litigation
Por Dios ! Yo no sabía que se había retirado del mercado el
alimento para mascotas hills , como es eso? Si yo todavía la semana pasada compre latas de alimento para mi perrito???? …. ahora entiendo sus vómitos constantes, la bilis, la falta de apetito, su extrema delgadez y sus eces oscuras! … a donde puedo dirigirme para ayuda ? No es justo, y aun así lo seguían vendiendo,!
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Please add me
My dog ate this food and became sick shortly after.
My 3 Chihuahuas got sick from this crap, twice. Vet prescribed this after being on Purina for their entire lives, which suddenly made them sick. They couldn’t complete their going potty #2, no eating, then sudden lots of #2 but uncontrolled.
This ended up starving my 15 year old, she had no medical issues prior. She had to be put to sleep.
I took my receipt and all of this Hill’s Science Poison food back to PetSmart, since it’s prescription that is the only location that I could purchase it from. There were the “light” recalls, then this big one. I had a large bag of the $$$ dry food, and many cans of the wet food.
PETSMART REFUSED TO TAKE HILL’S SCIENCE DIET BACK, DESPITE AN OFFICIAL RECALL.
Yes, that’s right. They have their non-existent No Hassle Returns, even with no recalls, you can still return food to PetSmart, they will take it back, especially if it made your pet ill or they don’t like it. They are also Chewy.com, who do the exact same thing.
Well not the Asst. Mgr., Chris, at the Roseville, MI store. I had to have a huge, embarrassing argument with him. Why was he not taking it back? I had the original receipt. It was HIS policy. Yep, Official Recall of this crap food, and PetSmart refused to take it back. I finally forced him to, he gave me the lowest sale price, NOT the price on my receipt, and said he was “doing me a favor even returning that”. He refused to credit my debit card too, he gave me a store credit, on the sales price.
So be careful. I only had Hill’s because Purina made all 3 of my Chi’s sick and killed my neighbor’s dog, same wet food.
PETSMART DOES NOT HAVE TO GIVE YOU YOUR MONEY BACK WHEN THERE IS AN OFFICIAL RECALL FOR THE FOOD THAT THEY SOLD TO US THAT CAN KILL YOUR PETS.
Lawyers should go after these stores too, especially in this case, most pet parents bought Hill’s at PetSmart, they are also responsible. When I said to Roseville, MI PetSmart Manager Chris that this food killed my dog, his answer was “I don’t care.”
Oh, and it was still on the shelves, out for sale, AFTER this recall began.
Our 1 1/2 year old Lissey Leu has been on Science diet chicken and barley for small dogs. She has been having increased urination and wanting out more often. Should we be concerned?
YES!
Was prescribed ID Low Fat for my chihuahua who now has a heart condition. I would like to be added.
Had a yorkie very sick on w/d and i/d ..that pass away… I have a chihuahua on i/d and w/d has kidney problems..
We were prescribed Hills CD food for our bichon who has passed away. Add me to the class action