by Diane Burket
An absurd amount of cat & dog treats are made in China…so don’t be surprised that these Chinese products are killing and/or making our pets sick.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is again cautioning consumers that chicken jerky products for dogs (also sold as chicken tenders, strips or treats) may be associated with illness in dogs. Since 2007, the FDA has become aware of increasing numbers of illnesses in pets associated with the consumption of jerky pet treats. The majority of complaints involve chicken jerky, but others include duck, sweet potato, and treats where chicken or duck jerky is wrapped around dried fruits, sweet potatoes, or yams. In the last 12 months, the FDA has seen an increase in the number of complaints it received of dog illnesses associated with consumption of chicken jerky products imported from China. These complaints have been reported to the FDA by dog owners and veterinarians.
The FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs that may occur within hours to days of feeding the products:
- Decreased appetite
- Decreased activity
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea, sometimes with blood
- Increased water consumption and/or increased urination
If your pet shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product. Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine). Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.
The FDA has received approximately 2,200 reports of pet illnesses which may be related to consumption of the jerky treats. The majority of the complaints involve dogs, but cats also have been affected. Over the past 18 months the reports have contained information on 360 canine deaths and one feline death. Cases have been reported from all 50 states and 6 Canadian provinces in the past 18 months.
What can you do? Buy treats that are made in America….and sign the petition, below.
There’s a petition for you to sign to ban all poisonous chicken jerky treats from China. Please read and sign the petition here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/901/169/744/
