FDA warns of danger of jerky treats for pets

There is apparently a medical mystery that involves dogs and jerky treats from China. 

The Food and Drug Administration has put out a call to dog owners and veterinarians who know of an animal that got sick after eating the snacks. 

“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,” the FDA website said.

“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.”

So this is kind of a big deal. Usually food illness issues get traced and resolved pretty quickly. This one is proving to be trickier to get a handle on. 

About 3,600 cases involving dogs have been reported and there have even been 10 cases involving cats in the past eight years. Almost 600 animals 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,” the website reports.

To help solve the mystery, the FDA is reaching out to the public and to vets to ask for their data.

It’s a funny request because on the one hand, the strong suggestion is that you not buy these jerky products and give them to your pet. 

The consumer fact sheet from the FDA goes so far as to share this helpful reminder: “Pet treats are not a necessary part of a fully balanced diet, so eliminating them will not harm pets. All the nutrients your pet needs can be found in commercially produced pet food.”

If, however, you go ahead and give jerky treats to your dog (or cat), and if your pet gets sick, then the FDA asks that you “hold on to any unused portion of the product in its original container for at least 60 days, in case FDA calls to request samples for testing. Owners should place the container inside a sealable plastic bag, if possible.”

If you take your pet to the vet, or if you are a vet and you see these symptoms in an animal under your care, the FDA might ask for blood, urine and tissue samples from the animal. 

“FDA will request written permission from pet owners and will cover the costs, including shipping, of any tests it requests.”

The director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine, Bernadette Dunham, said, “This is one of the most elusive and mysterious outbreaks we’ve encountered. Our beloved four-legged companions deserve our best effort, and we are giving it.”