A dog owner has filed a class-action lawsuit against Purina, the maker of Beneful, alleging that thousands of dogs have been sickened or died from eating its dry dog foods. If your pet is on Beneful and is symptomatic or not acting normally, please call your vet right away.

Is Beneful bad for dogs? No, Beneful is not bad for dogs. All Purina products, including Beneful dog food and treats, are good for dogs and can be fed with complete confidence.

2 to 3 days Should beneful be refrigerated after opening? After opening, refrigerate and use within 2 to 3 days.

Recommended Daily Feeding Amounts: Weight of Dog: 3-12 lbs (1.4-5.4 kgs). Amount to feed. 1/2 to 1-1/4 cups (49-121 grams); Weight of Dog: 13-20 lbs (5.9-9.1 kgs). Amount to feed: 1-1/3 to 1-3/4 cups (129-170 grams); Weight of Dog: 21-35 lbs (9.5-15.9 kgs).

A California man has filed a class action against Nestlé Purina PetCare, alleging the company's Beneful brand has led to “serious illness” and even the death of about 3,000 dogs, including his own, in the past four years.

12 HEALTHIEST HUMAN FOODS FOR DOGS

• PEANUT BUTTER. Peanut butter is a healthy and safe treat for dogs to eat in moderate amounts.
• CARROTS. Both raw and cooked carrots are safe for your dog to eat.
• CHEESE.
• PLAIN YOGURT.
• BLUEBERRIES.
• CHICKEN.
• SALMON.
• PUMPKIN.

The lawsuit alleges that the food contains toxins that are generally used in automobile antifreeze, and is produced by fungus that occurs in grain. Some veterinarians, however, have said that tests on the food have failed to produce traces of those specific toxins.

Unopened canned foods have a shelf life of two years from the date of manufacturing, whereas unopened dry pet foods typically have a shelf life of 12 to 18 months. Plan to open and use the dog food before the expiration date. You can usually find this date on the bottom of the can containing dog food.

While dog foods don't technically “expire,” foods past their “best by” or “use by” label dates are not as nutritious and are more likely to become moldy or otherwise compromised (even toxic). Don't use dog food past its “best by” or “use by” date. It's like eating expired breakfast cereal (yuck!).

We're Listening: Visit us online at Purina.com or call 888-Beneful (1-888-236-3385). Recommended Daily Feeding Amounts: Feeding Amount for Weight Maintenance: 1/2 to 1-1/3 cups; Dog's Current Weight: 3 - 12 lbs; Feeding Amount for Weight Reduction: 1/2 to 1 cups.

Assuming your dog has a typical activity level, toy breeds should have about ¼ cups to 1 cup, small breeds should have about 1 cup to 1 2/5 cup, medium breeds should have about 2 cups to 2 2/3 cups, and large breeds should have about 2 4/5 cups to 3 cups.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental A high-end dog food that's supposed to keep pets healthy is being recalled after the Food and Drug Administration found it could actually kill them. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental, a type of prescription dry dog food, has been found to contain elevated levels of vitamin D, according to the FDA.