Well, this story is now back in the news. This is not really new news though. This horrible situation has
been going on for quite some time. The jerky treats that are made in
China have been killing dogs and cats in the US for a while now. It is an
awful story and it is now going around again.
So, to keep any more pets from getting ill or dying, here is the
information you need to know about these jerky treats! If everyone would
take the time to read this information and stop feeding their pets these
treats, there will be no more deaths.. so please share this story with everyone
you know!
So, here is the information directly from the FDA website. I am sharing this on my blog so everyone will have this information.
If you would like additional information please visit the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm371413.htm
If you have a dog or cat
that became ill after eating jerky pet treats, the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) would like to hear from you or your veterinarian.
The agency has repeatedly
issued alerts to consumers about reports it has received concerning jerky pet
treat-related illnesses involving 3,600 dogs and 10 cats in the U.S. since
2007. Approximately 580 of those pets have died.
To date, FDA’s Center for
Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has conducted more than 1,200 tests, visited jerky
pet treat manufacturers in China and collaborated with colleagues in academia,
industry, state labs and foreign governments. Yet the exact cause of the
illnesses remains elusive.
To gather even more
information, FDA is reaching out to licensed veterinarians and pet owners
across the country. "This is one of the most elusive and mysterious
outbreaks we've encountered," says CVM Director Bernadette Dunham, DVM,
Ph.D. "Our beloved four-legged companions deserve our best effort, and we
are giving it."
In a letter addressing U.S.
licensed veterinarians, FDA lists what information is needed for labs testing
treats and investigating illness and death associated with the treats. In some
cases, veterinarians will be asked to provide blood, urine and tissue samples
from their patients for further analysis. FDA will request written permission
from pet owners and will cover the costs, including shipping, of any tests it
requests.
Meanwhile, a consumer fact sheet will accompany the
letter to veterinarians so they can alert consumers to the problem and remind
them that treats are not essential to a balanced diet. The fact sheet also explains to consumers
how they can help FDA's investigation by reporting potential jerky pet
treat-related illnesses online or by calling the FDA Consumer Complaint
Coordinator for their state.
Within hours of eating
treats sold as jerky tenders or strips made of chicken, duck, sweet potatoes
and/or dried fruit, some pets have exhibited decreased appetite, decreased activity,
vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus), increased water
consumption, and/or increased urination.
Severe cases have involved
kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and a rare kidney disorder. About 60
percent of cases involved gastrointestinal illness, and about 30 percent
involved kidney and urinary systems.
The remaining cases
reported various symptoms, such as collapse, convulsions or skin issues.
Most of the jerky treats
implicated have been made in China. Manufacturers of pet foods are not required
by U.S. law to state the country of origin for each ingredient in their
products.
A number of jerky pet treat
products were removed from the market in January 2013 after a New York State
lab reported finding evidence of up to six drugs in certain jerky pet treats
made in China. While the levels of these drugs were very low and it's unlikely
that they caused the illnesses, FDA noted a decrease in reports of
jerky-suspected illnesses after the products were removed from the market. FDA
believes that the number of reports may have declined simply because fewer
jerky treats were available.
Meanwhile, the agency urges
pet owners to be cautious about providing jerky treats. If you do provide them
and your pet becomes sick, stop the treats immediately, consider seeing your
veterinarian, and save any remaining treats and the packaging for possible
testing.
More than 1,200 jerky pet
treat samples have been tested since 2011 for a variety of chemical and
microbiological contaminants, from antibiotics to metals, pesticides and
Salmonella. DNA testing has also been conducted, along with tests for
nutritional composition.
In addition to continuing
to test jerky pet treat samples within FDA labs, the agency is working with the
Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN), an
FDA-coordinated network of government and veterinary diagnostic laboratories
across the U.S. and Canada.
Inspections of the
facilities in China that manufacture jerky products associated with some of the
highest numbers of pet illness reports did not identify the cause of illness.
However, they did identify additional paths of investigation, such as the
supply chain of some ingredients in the treats. Although FDA inspectors have
found no evidence identifying the cause of the spate of illnesses, they did
find that one firm used falsified receiving documents for glycerin, a jerky
ingredient. Chinese authorities informed FDA that they had seized products at
the firm and suspended its exports.
To identify the root cause
of this problem, FDA is meeting regularly with regulators in China to share
findings. The agency also plans to host Chinese scientists at its veterinary
research facility to increase scientific cooperation.
FDA has also reached out to
U.S. pet food firms seeking further collaboration on scientific issues and data
sharing, and has contracted with diagnostic labs.
"Our fervent hope as
animal lovers," says Dunham, "is that we will soon find the cause
of—and put a stop to—these illnesses."
So, please when shopping for treats for your cat or dog, remember this blog and make sure you check the information before you buy these treats.
