Pedigree recalled two lots of canned dog food over metal and plastic fragments. Here is what to check.

Mars Petcare US issued a voluntary recall on July 2 for two lots of Pedigree Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor, the 13.2 ounce wet food. The reason is not the usual contamination story. Mars says both lots failed the company's own internal quality control standards before they ever should have shipped, and were sent to a third party vendor to be destroyed. Somewhere along the way, that did not happen. The lots appear to have been fraudulently diverted and sold into the marketplace instead. (FDA)

What to check

The recalled cans may contain sharp metal or plastic fragments, which can pose choking risks or cause lacerations and blockages if swallowed. Only two lot codes are affected, 613C3KKCFC and 613C1KKCFC, both on the 13.2 ounce Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor can. The lot code is printed on the bottom of the can. If your dog has already eaten some of the recalled product and seems fine, Mars says it has not received any reports of illness or injury tied to this recall so far, but it is still worth checking the code before you feed another can. (Medical Daily)

If you have a matching can, do not feed it. Mars is offering replacements or refunds through Pedigree Consumer Care at 1-800-525-5273, or through pedigree.com/update. If your dog shows signs of drooling, vomiting, decreased appetite, or discomfort after eating from an affected can, that is a call to your vet, not a wait-and-see situation. (FDA)

This is not veterinary advice, just a plain summary of what Mars and the FDA have published. If you have any doubt about a can in your pantry or a symptom your dog is showing, your vet is the right call, not a search engine.

While you're checking the pantry, check the heat too

Mid-July is peak season for heat related emergencies in dogs, and it tends to sneak up on people faster than food safety does. Pavement that feels warm to a bare foot can already be hot enough to burn paw pads, and a car interior can climb well past dangerous temperatures in minutes even with a window cracked. The simplest rule of thumb still holds, if you cannot hold the back of your hand on the pavement for seven seconds, it is too hot for a walk.

Around my house that means walks with Sophie, my Shih Tzu, and Luna, my Mini Goldendoodle, happen early in the morning or after the sun starts to drop in the evening. Sophie especially overheats fast with her coat and short muzzle, so we keep water on every walk and cut things short the second she starts slowing down or panting harder than usual.

The bigger pattern

Pet food recalls happen fairly often, but this one is a little different from the typical contamination or mislabeling case. It is closer to a supply chain failure, product that should never have reached a store shelf getting there anyway through what Mars is describing as fraud. It is a reminder that checking a lot code before you feed a new can takes thirty seconds, and it is one of the easier things you can do to catch a problem before it becomes one.

Not veterinary advice, just a plain summary of what Mars Petcare and the FDA have published. Check with your vet about anything specific to your dog. For the studio's privacy-first, on-device apps, the full lineup is at jcmobileappstudio.com/apps.