If you have a dog or cat, it might be wise to consider no longer feeding these animals Jerky treats, as according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it could cause your pets to fall ill or worse. The agency has issued warnings repeatedly to pet owners about Jerky-related treats and the illness it has caused in over 3,600 dogs and 10 cats in the U.S. since the year 2007.
Over 580 of those pets have died, said the FDA.
Most of the Jerky products implicated in the illness of cats and dogs across America originates from China. Furthermore, manufacturers of pet foods are not bounded by U.S. law to list which country the ingredients used in their products come from. This is why the FDA is urging Americans to contact the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their state if their pets fall ill after consuming any Jerky product.
Symptoms witnessed to date includes a fall in appetite, decreased activity, regular vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus), strong need to drink water regularly, and increased urination within hours of eating the treats, FDA said.
Around 60 percent of Jerky treat cases involved gastrointestinal illness, while 30 percent involved urinary systems and kidney. If cases are severe, the veterinarians may come across kidney failures and other symptoms such as gastrointestinal bleeding, and a rare kidney disorder.
"Despite extensive media coverage of the illnesses associated with these products and our own outreach efforts...we know there are still pet owners who are unaware of this issue," FDA veterinarian Dr. Linda Tollefson wrote in a blog post.
The FDA is working tirelessly to get this problem under control. At the moment, the department has a quantity of pet treat samples, along with working with the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN).
"More than 1,200 jerky pet treat samples have been tested since 2011 for a variety of chemical and microbiological contaminants, from antibiotics to metals, pesticides and Salmonella. DNA testing has also been conducted, along with tests for nutritional composition.
"In addition to continuing to test jerky pet treat samples within FDA labs, the agency is working with the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN), an FDA-coordinated network of government and veterinary diagnostic laboratories across the U.S. and Canada," the FDA said in a statement.
As FDA continues with its tests, pet owners will be notified when it is safe to purchase Jerky treats for their beloved animals.
