Claim: Chicken jerky treats from China are causing illness in dogs.
Example:[Collected on the Internet, November 2011]
WARNING!!!!! It was on Fox news earlier that 70 dogs have died as a result of eating chicken jerky treats made from chicken that has come from China. Kingdom Pets brand from Costco is one of them. Also certain Blue Buffalo brand pet foods have a recall for the same thing. Please re post and make sure all your dog friends are aware.
Origins: Over the past few years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued several warnings to consumers about a possible association between the consumption of chicken jerky treats and illness in dogs: one in September 2007, one in December 2008, and another in November 2011. However, although the FDA has noted that they "continue to receive complaints of dogs experiencing illness that their owners or veterinarians associate with consumption of chicken jerky products," they also state that "To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. FDA continues extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified a contaminant."
Although the FDA specifies the suspect chicken jerky treats as products imported from China, they have not identified any specific brands in their warnings. The claim that "70 dogs have died as a result of eating chicken jerky treats made from chicken that has come from China" appears to be a misparsing of the FDA's September 2007 statement that the agency had "received more than 70 complaints involving more than 95 dogs that experienced illness that their owners associated with consumption of chicken jerky products."
The text of the most recent FDA advisory (18 November 2011) is as follows:
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. In the last 12 months, 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 FDA by dog owners and veterinarians.
FDA issued a cautionary warning regarding chicken jerky products to consumers in September 2007 and a Preliminary Animal Health Notification in December of 2008. After seeing the number of complaints received drop off during the latter part of 2009 and most of 2010, the FDA is once again seeing the number of complaints rise to the levels of concern that prompted release of our earlier warnings.
Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be fed occasionally in small quantities.
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 the dog 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.
FDA, in addition to several animal health diagnostic laboratories in the U.S., is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs. FDA's Veterinary Laboratory Response Network (VLRN) is now available to support these animal health diagnostic laboratories. To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. FDA continues extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified a contaminant.
The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem and its origin. Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky. Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their state or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.
Blue Buffalo, one vendor of canine chicken jerky treats identified by name in the warning reproduced above, has affirmed both that they do not use meat from China (or anywhere in Asia) in their products, and that there have been no reports of illness of any kind associated with any of their Chicken Jerky Treats.
