Posted on 09/16/2007 7:40:07 AM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
(FORT LAUDERDALE) -- The nation's leading veterinarian association has posted a warning to pet owners that Chinese-made jerky treats might be making animals sick.
The American Veterinary Medical Association, which represents 75,000 vets,issued the statement last week after a member reported numerous unusual cases of dogs suffering from a rare kidney ailment, after consuming the treats. Most of the products were chicken-flavored.......
......Dr. Richard Goldstein, associate professor of veterinary medicine at Cornell University and part of the team assisting the FDA in its investigation, said most of the affected dogs are small breeds that had developed renal problems. Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy and lack of appetite.
"If people have a dog that has exhibited these symptoms in the past few months and they were [being fed] treats, they should take the dog to their vet and make the vet aware of the treat history," he said.
Herndon did not say how many jerky-treat complaints the FDA has logged. But San Filippo said the FDA told the association it had received about 100 calls. None of the cases have been fatal, and Goldstein said dogs usually can recover if the condition is caught early.
China is a primary source of chicken-jerky-style treats, as dark meat is more popular there than white for human consumption.
Unlike the Menu Foods recall, where the products were made in U.S. and Canadian factories using tainted wheat gluten from Chinese suppliers, most jerky treats are made in China and carry that designation on their product labels.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
OMG!! God bless you that you saved his life that day! No raw carrots. Bad news there. Funny that he’ll eat carrots at all though. We’re going to give it a whirl.
The last time we ordered from www.petfooddirect.com, they sent us a free bag of Wellness Pure Rewards chicken & lamb jerky treats. The package says “Made in the USA.”
The critters love these things, but because there is added salt, will stick to things like freeze dried liver treats once the bag is used up.
Our vet says that the only thing of this type that he gives his dogs is the CET dental chews. He recommended that we do the same and we’ve never had a problem.
You have a really big cat? :-)
Our little dog has had pancreatitis so we are careful with fats, and his digestive system also has a lot of trouble with starches. Of course he likes both but we figure he gets plenty (but not too much) in his regular food. Our more recently adopted mini pin seems to have the same food intolerances. On the other hand our older mini schnauzer can eat just about anything without getting sick, but we make her eat the same low fat foods because she is overweight.
The jerky is good because it it has a powerful flavor and very tiny pieces satisfy them. They like regular dog biscuits but they only get one small one at a time.
All rawhides that I have ever seen are whitish in color, unless they have some sort of 'flavor' coating. Having seen deer hide that has dried naturally, seems to me that the light tan to nearly white color is normal. I do not have any specific knowledge that the vet is wrong ... but I can't imagine that anything soaked in bleach would not have some sort of odor afterward. I do give my dogs rawhide pieces, but they are from Brazil. We are very careful to check everything we purchase for origin in China.
"I still worry about their pet food being contaminated and I’m not about to extend that worry to their treats."
Have you ever considered making your dog food at home? I have feeding my dogs homemade food for over a year now, and they are doing really well. First started because one developed a severe allergy and, since I had to cook for one, I now cook for all. I do have to buy a good vitamin/mineral supplement now, but even doing that I am saving $500.00 per year.
The savings, plus the peace of mind of knowing that there is no chance of contamination, are well worth the time it takes to prepare the food.
Carrots have a sweet taste and dogs seem to like anything sweet. Our vet said carrots would be a good healthy snack.
Oops! I meant to say that I give my cat and dog.....
Thats what I get for not proof reading! LOL
... or an unlimited supply of teacup poodles ...
For treats, I give my 6 month old standard poodle Solid Gold Lamb Jerky. According to the website: All Solid Gold products, with the exception of our Blended Tuna canned cat food, are made in the U.S.A.
If it says China, it ain't going in her mouth. For regular food, there is a bowl of dry Eagle Pack Chicken to which she can help herself. And she gets lots of people food: raw beef, cooked chicken, raw lamb and beef bones, cooked eggs, yogurt, and a mixture of oatmeal, raw carrots, asparagus, salmon, and anything else that I have to add.
I did break down and let her have rawhide sticks and they are from Brazil.
She also likes kiwi, cantaloupe, and Corona beer.
Link to the website please? Is Solid Gold its own label? Not available at Fry’s?
Thank you!
Bring your own lunch, don’t eat in the cafeteria.
I don’t know where Fry’s is. I’m in Michigan and I get it at Pets Supplies Plus. It’s about 9 dollars for a one pound bag, but she’s worth it. :)
The Solid Gold website has a store locator:
http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/stores/
Ah! Thank you. Ryan’s Pet Supplies might just have it then. I’ll check my catalog. Need to go over there anyway to p/u a new kitty scratching post I want.
No diarrhea probs with my dogs but they do have looser stools. I give them about 3/4 - 1 cup size portions (Westie & a big Sheltie), so it’s closer to a meal sized portion than just a treat.
And I didn’t think dogs would eat raw carrots, either, but mine love them. They scarf up the carrot sticks that the parrots drop.
Good point esp. with small dogs. I have a big Sheltie & a Westie—they get the carrot sticks (baby carrots quartered lengthwise) that the parrots drop off the top of their cage.
My dogs, well the min pins, love pieces of broccoli or squash, or carrots. Even cabbage when I’m cutting it. The queenslands like a piece of cracker.
Thanks for the ping!
He gets "PUP CORN" made by Sunshine Mills, Inc. Red Bay, AL. They are low fat, low cal, and low sodium...just 3 calories per treat. Rocket loves them. They look like little doggie shaped corn puffs, about $3 for a 7 ounce tub.
Sigh, I’m just waiting for their statement that it’s more American isolationism or double standards or some such nonsense.
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