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Imported chicken jerky treats from China are being blamed for at least 353 reports of illnesses in dogs, federal Food and Drug Administration officials say.
Reports of illnesses in dogs given chicken jerky treats have spiked dramatically following a new government warning about pet snacks made in China.
The federal Food and Drug Administration has logged at least 353 reports this year of illnesses tied to imported chicken jerky products, also sold as chicken tenders, chicken strips or chicken treats, a spokeswoman said.
That’s up from 70 reports of illnesses -- and some deaths -- received in 2011 before the Center for Veterinary Medicine issued an updated warning on Nov. 18.
Dog owners and veterinarians are reporting that animals have been stricken with a range of symptoms within hours or days of eating chicken jerky, including serious problems such as kidney failure and Fanconi syndrome, a condition marked by low blood sugar.
Though the illnesses appear tied to chicken jerky products manufactured in China, the source of the problem remains a mystery, said Siobhan DeLancey, an FDA spokeswoman.
Despite extensive chemical and microbiological testing, the agency has not identified problems with a specific contaminant -- or a specific brand or type of treat.
“[We are] still digging through the reports to see if we can discern a common thread that’s more specific than just chicken jerky,” DeLancey said.
The latest warning was the agency’s third alert about chicken jerky treats, with previous cautions issued in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, 156 reports of dog illnesses tied to chicken jerky were logged, but the number fell sharply, to just 41 in 2008, according to FDA records.
Because the agency has not identified any particular products as the culprit, no recalls have been issued.
In the meantime, FDA officials are warning pet owners to avoid chicken jerky treats imported from China. They’re also urging owners to seek medical care if dogs develop symptoms including decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, increased water consumption and increased urination. Stop feeding the treats to the animal and seek veterinary care, especially if symptoms are severe, or persist for more than a day, officials say.
Consumers can report suspicious illnesses to the FDA’s Pet Food Complaint site.
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I always check to see where dog treats come from before buying them. If it says Made in China - they go back on the shelf.
ejd--i also check the label and if from china i don't buy any food products. we have many 99 cent stores in san diego and i have found dog treats made in china. manufacturers are dumping these products because of recent deaths of many dogs attributed to these treats. some even had purina brand name on package. don't risk your pets life -check label---buy made in usa.
Sounds like chinese food for dogs is nearly as hideous as some chinese food for people.
Never buy anything from China, especially food (pet food) products!
Those fancy gift baskets you see at Christmas time with odd brand named products, they're mostly from China too. Don't eat any of it.
Why would anyone buy food from China? That just seems silly. As far as dog treats go, they are cheaper to make at home.
China poisons their own people. They sure as hell don't care about anyone's dog! Don't they eat dogs anyway??
I don't buy any food product from China. Whether for my dog or for my human family. Check your apple juice too!
On another note, when the heck are American companies going to realize how much damage to their reputation and brand they are doing by importing all of this junk from China? Yes, they are making smoking profit margins now, but at some point these companies will suffer from loss of sales which they might never recover from. Foolish.
Hecho En China - when are you people going to learn?!?!?
My puppy doesn't get anything made in China.
Sometimes I think it's fun to make him treats at home actually.
Forget ALL them treats in a bag! Treat your pets with mini carrots! My pugs love them!
That chicken jerky was for dogs?!? My bad.
omg this is so funny, they are made in china because Americans won't work for 12 cents an hour. so I highly doubt you will buy the treats after all the ingredients and manufacturing is done in the US when the price reflects that. It is really sad but I constantly hear buy made in USA but not for the price associated with that remark. actions speak louder than words and walmart keeps posting good earnings. so Americans are still voting on china with their wallets. Oh wait what am I talking about they are also reading this from their iphone or computer made in china, on their Internet that is connected by a modem made in china etc etc etc(not so much always made in china but rarely USA). If you want your pet snacks or food to come from America think 10% ethanol and how we waste our food for crappy gas mileage instead.
I once went to school with a guy named Chuck Fina.........any questions?
WAGGIN TRAIN PRODUCTS proudly boasts DISTRIBUTED IN AMERICA on their packaging, however, when you look closely under the UPC code it shows, MADE IN CHINA!!! I called the company and they told me, "we distribute the product but it's made in China (regulated of course, yeah right!). I demanded my money back and made my doggy healthy chicken jerky at home. BUYER BEWARE!!!
Sometimes the product will indicate that it is made in the US, but some ingredients are actually imported from China - very misleading. I only feed my dogs Wellness products and I had better never find out that a single ingredient came from China.
And I cook for mine every day. My furbabies have not eaten pet food in years and will never eat it if I have any say. When you call that 1-800 number on the side of the bag or can and they tell you that their products are made in the USA, ask if all the ingredients are from the US as well. When they tell you that they cannot obtain all the ingredients from the US, call it the lie it is.
I don't believe the FDA when they say they can't find anything in samples they say they have tested. When they refuse to name a specific brand of human food that is known to have caused illness or death, or don't/won't tell us the contaminant, they aren't going to jump on being honest about dog treats imho. My family knows to never buy dollar store people food or our dogs treats. Not only those stores but we read labels everywhere else too, and anything in it from China gets put back pronto.
Retired RN-whenever I call one of those 800 numbers, by the time I am finished asking questions nicely but firmly, the person on the other end is stammering and stuttering the "I don't know(s)" and "Let me try to look that up for you." They don't know the answers. I wouldn't want their job. The ones that really do know the true ingredients of a product are oftentimes untouchable. Possibly unaware, or just don't care what goes into their product because the money is there. After all, they're only dogs, cats, etc. (sarcasm) My condolences to anyone who has lost their other family member because of tainted food.
Why are these treats even being made in China? I bought some Hartz "All Natural 97% Fat Free" treats for my dog last week. Read the label. Made in China. They went back to the store.
Milo's Kitchen Chicken Jerkey is also a product of China.
Our dogs loved those treats and they don't get them any more. I was amazed they re made in China. Don't we have enough poultry by products in the US???
its about labor costs , not about enough poutry products available in the usa. greedy manufacturers don't want to pay a honest days wages , instead its easier to pay an asian in china a bowl of rice and a glass of water to do the same thing and ship the inferior product over here. greed my friend ... greed.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT....GREED..PROFIT BEFORE PEOPLE & now dogs...and see..people think I'm eccentric because I make my own organic dog food and buy only made in U.S.A. organic treats, not commercial made in U.S.A. but small business owners who also have pets and care about animals..and this is exactly why you need to take control of what your animal eats...you can not trust what's put in dogfood..yes it's time consuming to make dogfood yourself but I can tell you my dog has a beautiful coat of hair & is healthy & loves the healthy organic dogfood I make for him...Be proactive when it comes to feeding your family & your dog..this world is full of greedy, immoral people and you must protect your loved ones!
Damn, I wondered why Grandpa wasn't feeling so good the other day. Even though he likes them, I told him to quit eating the dogs treats, as they were getting pi$$ed off about sharing. At least after reading this, I hope he switches back to canned food.
I see that Chinas food safety is Job 1! Why would you expect them to care about dogs when a whole bunch of people watched a baby get run over twice and did nothing!! I do everything possible to buy American, sometimes its more expensive but it is worth it!!
The Chik-fil-a cows might disagree with this article.
Everything we buy from china seems to have side effects, now its turning up in dog treats. Come on America wake up, when are we going to quit buying chineese made crap.
When our political and business leaders quit selling us out.
People don't go looking for chinese made dog treats. For many products there is no easy or convenient alternatives to chinese made and for many companies they hide where they get their parts or ingredients. In this case the so called "job creators" decided they could make an extra 20 cents a bag and sold our workers and their customers out.
Thank you, George H. W. Bush for normalizing trade relations with China. This disastrous move will be the undoing of the U.S.
Don't people who purchase/use the products bear the brunt of the responsibility? Just because something is available doesn't mean a person has to purchase it.
No one forces you to buy products from China. I try to buy only American products. You may also want to thank the American unions for making products produced here so expensive.
I agree. And unions will keep hamstringing companies as long as they bring in those union dollars. Unions need to go! Said a protesting union member.
It's Bush's fault China is poisoning our dogs? That is hilarious.......
So the "overpaid" union workers are the cause of your woes? I suppose the outrageous CEO salaries are perfectly acceptable and you wish all blue collar wages to be equal to 3rd world countries? Who said that we are the most dumbed down society in the world? Sadly, they hit the nail on the head.
NIXON did that !!!!!!!
I always read the label. I pay out the rear but my dog and cat eat like the queens they think they are. It is worth it though. My dog has bone cancer, which I am convinced is from the pesticide treatment on the lawns, but of course I cannot prove it. Nevertheless, she has to eat foods that will not interfere with her medication so there is an additional expense but I would bend over backwards for my kids. Why would anyone think that the Chinese care about the products they export when they do not care about the people within their own borders. They care about two things, dominance and money.
Atta BOY Wally World.. Anything to kill our pets, saving money, from CHINA. Live better, die sooner, Wally Mart's new logo.....................What a suprise.................
Uhm, how many treats are folks giving their dogs or is it only little dogs? My smallest is over 80lbs, the "treats" are only given after they are worked and sparingly as praise is their reward.
What isn't imported from China. What a great way for a bio-weapon delivery system. Also, to deliver any germ that is capable for animal to human transmission. Global economy...Global warfare possible, just through our overseas marketing and manufacturing system. Sad.
I have worried about that myself.
Roger that! my thoughts also, besides if we buy american made products! the jobs we save will be our own. One other thought why buy products from a country that has dog and cat on the menu and have you ever seen how they kill the animal. They skined the dog alive. I watched it on a documentry or news show, i think it may have been 60 minutes. I'm a doggie daddy and my doggies only get the best products and the vet agrees, thats why they have had a long healthy life's.
That is awful, I wish I was more shocked to hear this. Skinning animals alive, horrible. I am going to make sure my pets don't get anything from that country, I use Nutro, hope that is OK?!
People, you have got to STOP buying anything made in China!!! Check the label, if its made in America its on the label loud and proud. Its a shame there are so many pet owners with no common sense.
You people keep saying "BUY AMERICAN MADE"! Ummm...Where??? I would if I could actually FIND anything that was American made!
@ wintersakura,
There is stuff still out there but you have to look and may be a little more expensive. But not all greedy american businessmen have sold this country out.
There is stuff still out there, well not in small town USA. We have a choice walmart or krogers, that's it. Canned goods from china, fruit and veggies from china and other countries, come to think of it I don't think I have seen any products from the good ol USA in wallieworld. Farmers markets are great but it is winter and they have closed down.
I don't get it. They seem sure it's from the Chinese treats and at the same time say they haven't identified the source.
No traceability. An American company that is regulated could be shut down just for that. Traceability is part of quality control. If a country does not meet the requirements of ISO 9001, " The products shall be identified and traceable by item, batch or lot during all stages of production..." then it's products shouldn't be entering the country. Most nations will not trade with you if you do not comply with this international standard. So what's wrong with us?
This is old news. Our vet warned us not to buy those damn awful treats a LONG time ago. Why is this news now? Anyhow, only carrots for our pup.
You should look at a company called Nature's Variety. All of their products contain no fillers (wheat, rice, corn), additives, chemicals, or 'meat by-product' type junk. They are all natural, human grade quality protein, and all sourced from here in the US.
I would LOVE to feed my animals this way, but I can barely afford to feed my family wholesome meals, let alone my dog and cat. The dog gets ground turkey and rice that I make at home on his hard food. The cat will only eat one brand of food anyway. I'm just cheesed off because I bought a bag of these treats for my dog for Christmas and now I'm out $16.
Here is some good advice - avoid buying, wearing, consuming anything made in China. I'm not sure how many of these stories need to be published before the demand for cheap, potentially harmful products decrease.
I was told by my dog trainer years ago to avoid anything made in China or South America. They use bleach, like Clorox, to get treats that white color. They use substandard anything, maybe even dog meat as fillers. Never by anything from overseas. There are no rules on how they process animal food or treats. It can be hard to find food made in the U.S.A, but those labels are becoming bigger and easier to find as there is a backlash against overseas products...and so there should be.
Fda can't find cause. Nah, fda won't make china mad so won't find cause.
Exactly!
I also refuse to buy Chinese dog treats. Do you think it could be population control of animals. They eat theirs and poison ours? Kind of like whats happening with our food and all the chemicals in products we use every day. Check out Environmental Working group then go to Above the fold. It will show you whats going on with alot of things.
I've regularly used Chinese jerky, and my dog showed none of these symptoms, but am even more skeptical now. Chinese Duck jerky for dogs is showing up in stores. Guess they killed all the chickens! I may break my dehydrator out and make my own jerky with US meat like I used to.
Woof!
Why are people so stupid to buy any food consumables produced in China? If you are intelligent, you will put nothing in your mouth, your children's mouth, or your pet's mouth if it was produced in China. The country treats its own citizens as subhuman and are quite prepared to treat the rest of the world the same. To the Chinese it is all about the accumulation of wealth, quality and reputation are beyond their ken.
And we actually buy products meant for human consumption from China?
recently read about a number of deaths in south america traced to a cough medicine made in china. investigators found the makers of this cough med were making the med in a broken down garage in filthy condition and were using industrial grade glycerine. they are not regulated and ship around the world. READ LABELS ----the cheap clothing from china won't kill you---their food products just might!
I tried to buy dog treats at Target and I couldn't find any that were made in the USA. I find it alarming that for many products the only choice is from China. Also often the country of origin is written in such small letters that it can be very difficult to find. I went to buy a snow shovel and none of them listed where they were made, so I fixed my broken one. China will destroy our economy by totally eliminating all of our manufacturing industry, and we are helping them every time we buy one of their products.
ken--try purina dog treats-----i'd let me go without treats if all i could find was from china------
Purina used ingredients from China!! Thats what was the cause of the big dog food recall not to long ago, Chinese ingredients in American made dog foods. Most pet food companies and people food companies do. Being made in the us does not mean all the ingredients are from the US. Thats the big problem. We have no way of knowing if any ingredients are from China.
So dont be so secure in thinking if its made here the ingredients are grown and/or processed here.
no china treats for my dog. that would be abuse
Exactly right!