WARNING - Jerky Treats

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Rooney's breeder just sent this to me.  Remember that Rooney was in the hospital last week?  Sick but they couldn't fiind the cause - and I told them that I thought perhaps he had eaten too much chicken jerky during his training class Monday night.  OMG.  Rooney's high value treat - going into the trash - he will NEVER get another bite even though it was made in the U.S.A. and organic.  I can't risk it.  Luckily Rooney has made a complete recovery and has no lasting effects and I can't say for certain that it was the jerky but . . . .    Thought you would all want to know. 

Jerky Treats Causing Fanconi Syndrome in Dogs

Background

The American Veterinary Medical Association recently has posted a Media
Alert warning veterinarians that multiple brands of jerky treats
manufactured in China have been making dogs sick.

No cats have been reported to be affected. A contaminant has yet to be
identified. At this time there is no list of specific brands affected
and there is no recall in effect, so these products are still being sold
to consumers.

Presenting Signs and Laboratory Findings

The dogs appear to be developing an acquired Fanconi's syndrome which
appears to be transient. Small dogs with a history of ingesting jerky
treats (mostly chicken jerky) are typically affected. Clinical signs
include vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.

Physical examination findings have been unremarkable. In addition to
mildly elevated liver enzymes, the most common blood abnormalities
include severe decrease in Potassium, called hypokalemia, along with
acidosis and glucose (sugar) in the urine and granular casts on
urinalysis. Elevated kidney enzymes; Blood Urea Nitrogen and Creatinine
may or may not be consistently found.

Testing Recommendations

For dogs with apparent Fanconi's syndrome, we recommend a CBC, chemistry
panel including electrolytes, urinalysis and urine culture. Blood gas
analysis, if available, is ideal. Additional testing for other causes of
acute kidney damage including Leptospirosis blood testing is also
recommended. Kidney x-rays, and Fanconi screens on urine may be
warranted in some cases.

This veterinarian is seeing dogs with apparent acute liver failure
problems associated with canine treats made by Delmonte.

For more information, veterinarian, Dr. Carol Osborne can be reached toll
free at 1-866-372-2765.

 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Thanks Karen - my dh phoned our jerky supplier from Oregon and they assure us that their chicken jerky is made right there, organic with NO additives.  So I guess ours is safe.  I'm not sure why the breeder would have just now received this info.  Thanks for the tip off.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I still won't feed them. I guess I am a paranoid freak. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Ally, after what you and Tacky have been through, I don't blame you. If I didn't have such a picky dog, I wouldn't feed them either. There are enough other good treats out there.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

How scary!  I am staying away from anything that has the word China on it anymore.  Jeez better to be safe than sorry!!  Kinda of funny though - I never give Hunter jerky treats of anykind but last week my 11-year-old conned me into buying her this 6 foot skinny beef jerky thing - she wanted to use it in a video with her friend.  (They are quite creative with some really goofy video's).  Anyway, the jerky was used for the video and then Ava THOUGHT she had put it back far enough on the kitchen counter - she didn't!  Needless to say Hunter's first experience with a jerky treat was 6 feet long!!  It didn't seem to bother her at al - and the same day she also swipped my chicken salad sandwich off my desk! Thief.

[Smita, Ollie and Juno]

I use the organic chicken jerky and brown rice sticks from Trader Joe's as treats. After the melamine thing, there is no way I'll trust any food made in China for Ollie. I don't even trust toys made there since many toys from China have been contaminated with lead. If they can't regulate children's toys, I doubt they will regulate dog toys. I try but it is not always easy to find stuff that is made here.