Are Pet Treats Making Your Dog Sick? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this week that over 3,600 dogs and 10 cats in the U.S. have been stricken with illnesses related to jerky pet treats. Approximately 580 of those pets have died. As alarming as this is, because these are numbers of veterinarian-reported illnesses, it is likely that many more unreported cases could significantly increase those numbers. Signs of illness: • Vomiting • Diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus) • Decreased activity • Decreased appetite • Increased water consumption • Increased urination These symptoms could occur within hours to days of eating tainted treats. The exact cause of the illnesses are unknown but the FDA is advising that pet owners avoid purchasing jerky treats made in China. To date, the contaminated treats have been jerky tenders or strips made with chicken, duck, sweet potato, dried fruit and in combinations of these ingredients. If your pet does become ill from eating pet treats, the FDA wants to know about it. Pet owners are encouraged to report suspected treat related illnesses to the pet food/treat company that made the treats and the FDA. The FDA has a fact sheet on this jerky treat alert that you can download here for more information.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 05:26:05 +0000