GENERAL NEWS

Storing Powder Milk Replacement Products

Recently, questions have arisen as to the proper storage of powder milk replacement products for puppies and kittens. A bit of background information may assist in what may happen when these products are in transit or stored in any facility including your home.

First, it is important to understand that KMR and Esbilac are manufactured for neonatal kittens and puppies with THEIR needs in mind. This means that there are no preservatives in these products and since they closely match the profile for mother’s milk they are high in unsaturated fatty acids which can be susceptible to oxidation under certain conditions. Use of these ingredients means these products are very sensitive to their surroundings and should be considered to be perishable. “Store under cool, dry conditions” is clearly defined on our milk replacer product labels.

High heat stresses these types of products. These high heat conditions may occur in transit, in warehouses, in in-store storage, in your automobile, or in your house. PetAg, Inc. tests all of these products before leaving its warehouse to assure that they meet specifications and are suitable for use. Changes occurring after leaving the PetAg warehouse can only be noted by the consumer.

BEFORE using KMR or Esbilac Powders you should always: Examine it visually for any off colors. If the color is extremely yellow, please call. Sniff to determine if the product smells right to you (milk replacement powders should have a bland, somewhat milky aroma). If the aroma is strong, smells old or smells like something other than milk, please call. Reconstitute the product in water and look at and sniff it again. If it does not mix well, it looks or smells different from what you are expecting, there may be a problem so please call.

If the animal you are feeding is hesitant to take the formula or develops diarrhea, please call. It may or may not be a problem with the formula but either way we would like to know so that we may be able to help you with pointers for feeding your newborn or send replacement product if necessary.

If you notice any of these questionable characteristics please call 800-323-0877. PetAg, Inc. has a live Technical Service person to answer your calls between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday-Friday. If you call after hours, your call will be returned within 24 hours except on weekends or holidays. When calling please have your container of powder available as we will need you to give us packaging information so that we can investigate any issues that may have arisen. PetAg, Inc. has been supplying milk replacers for neonatal animals in the form of KMR, Esbilac and FoalLac for over 50 years. We continue to improve not only the nutrition supplied but also the processing and packaging. Preserving the integrity and the freshness of the product used to feed your orphan pets is our highest priority.