May 2014 Update: FDA: Pets and People Sick From Eating Jerky Treats
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued alerts to pet owners about reports it has received concerning jerky pet treat-related illnesses involving 3,600 dogs and 10 cats of which 580 have died in the U.S. since 2007 .
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued alerts to pet owners about reports it has received concerning jerky pet treat-related illnesses involving 3,600 dogs and 10 cats of which 580 have died in the U.S. since 2007 .
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
treats were recalled 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, the FDA noted a
decrease in reports of jerky-suspected illnesses after the products were
removed from the market. The FDA believes that the number of reports may
have declined simply because fewer jerky treats were available.
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, the FDA is reaching out to licensed
veterinarians and pet owners across the United States. "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, the 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.
Jerky Treat Illness Symptoms
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.
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