"FDA seeks pet owner help on dangerous jerky treats" Associated Press, October 24, 2013
WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration is trying to solve a stubborn mystery surrounding the deaths of almost 600 dogs that ate jerky treats, and officials are hoping pet owners and veterinarians can help them figure out what exactly may be causing the illnesses.
The problem appears to be tied to treats made in China, the FDA said, though investigators haven’t yet found a certain cause. The FDA says it has received reports of illnesses in 3,600 dogs and 10 cats in the United States since 2007, and 580 dogs died. The pet treats were sold under a wide variety of brand names.
Since they call a dog a lion, a cat for chicken, a rat for lamb, (and who knows what passes for pork or milk) I suppose it's anyone's guess as to what is in the pet treats.
The complaints were sent in by pet owners. But many others were sent in by veterinarians who have seen repeated cases of kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and a rare kidney disorder, the FDA said.
That means the dog suffered without really being able to verbalize. An innocent animla suffered so someone somewhere could make a buck or yuan or whatever. Is there really anything more cruel than that?
FDA veterinarian Martine Hartogensis said the agency is now appealing to pet owners and veterinarians to send them more information. Pets can suffer from a decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, and diarrhea among other symptoms within hours of eating treats sold as jerky tenders or strips made of chicken, duck, sweet potatoes, or dried fruit.
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Related:
"This has been one of the most mysterious and elusive issues we've had to investigate," Hartogensis said. She said the investigation has been particularly complicated because researchers haven't been able to pin down what ingredient may be causing the problem and because many of the treats and their ingredients are imported. And not much is known about animal deaths. While autopsies on humans can often determine the cause of death, pet owners usually forgo expensive autopsies on their deceased animals.
Dr. Richard Goldstein of the Animal Medical Center in New York said he has been investigating the illnesses since they appeared to begin in 2007, and he is still treating dogs that seem to suffer from the mysterious condition. He was consulted on a case just last week, he said.
In his experience, many of the cases have been small dogs who are eating a large amount of treats. He said the illnesses are rare, so he usually knows immediately when a sickness is connected to the jerky.
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Just thought I would give you the full treat of the print version.
I've said it before, I'll say it again, the entire globali$ed food supply and its safety has been spoiled to the point where you eat at your own risk.
UPDATE: Government moves to regulate food for animals
