Almost 600 dogs have died and thousands more have fallen ill in an
outbreak linked to jerky treats made in China. The FDA can’t find
anything wrong with the treats, so it can’t do a recall.
If you’re a pet owner, beware of jerky treats made for dogs. For quite some time, jerky treats made in China
have been suspected of killing hundreds of dogs and making many more
sick (and a few cats, too). The Federal Drug Administration issued a caution to dog owners at the end of 2011 and has now issued a consumer update about the jerky treats.
According to NBC News,
rates of sick animals have fallen since January. Two major
manufacturers and some smaller ones voluntarily recalled their jerky
treats after almost 500 pet deaths were reported. Since the FDA has not
issued a recall, there still may be versions our there on store shelves.
Pet owners should not think that jerky treats sold on the market are
safe. Since January, about 80 more deaths have been reported.
The FDA has done extensive testing, but it cannot find the source
of the problem that has led to the animal deaths and illnesses. The
problem has affected breeds of all sizes that have eaten chicken, duck
and sweet potato jerky treats. Since the agency can’t find the source of
the problem, it can’t issue a recall; it can only issue consumer
updates.
Now the FDA is asking veterinarians to “to track and send detailed
information about any animals sickened by jerky treats.” It is also
telling pet owners that treats are not necessary to keep pets healthy.
The take-away here? If you have been giving your dog or cat jerky
treats, stop — even if your pet hasn’t gotten sick yet. This illness is
so mysterious, there’s no way to know your pet won’t get sick
eventually.
