Chicken Jerky Treats & your dog

I know that the FDA has a lot on their plate (so to speak, no pun intended!) but it seems they have been trying to figure out why chicken jerky treats have been causing some illness in dogs since 2007. That's almost SEVEN YEARS.....and over 3,243 illness (not to mention the pain and suffering both the humans and animals have to go through and not even touching the financial issues of having to treat a sick pet). And there have been over 501 deaths. 501. Dead. This may not be 
a huge statistical amount, but if you are one of the ones that has been affected by it, it is the biggest statistic you can imagine.

The FDA states that it can't recall a product based on complaints alone. It needs the scientific research as a basis for the recall.  In fact, you don't really need jerky treats anyway and they have been known to get stuck in the throats of dogs in the past.

Why not a healthy carrot? Or PEAS! I once knew a dog who would push  you out of the way for a rice cake (not any rice cake though, it had to be a low sodium rice cake! She knew the difference! ).

In all seriousness, this is from the FDA's website:

Advice to Pet Owners and Consumers

Should I stop feeding chicken jerky treats to my dog?
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-like syndrome (increased glucose).
What are the signs of illness that are being reported?
The signs that may be associated with jerky pet treat products include decreased appetite; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; increased water consumption and/or increased urination. These signs may occur within hours to days of feeding the products.
Laboratory tests may indicate kidney problems, including Fanconi-like syndrome. Although many dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.
FDA continues to investigate the problem and its origin. Some of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating jerky pet treat products.
What should I do if my dog shows signs of illness after eating pet jerky treat products?
If your dog shows any of the signs listed above, stop feeding the jerky pet treat product. Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours.

Submitting Complaints

How can I submit a complaint associated with jerky pet treat products?
Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator⁵ in their state, or electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal⁶.
More information regarding How to Report a Pet Food Complaint can be found at http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints⁷.


Lisa Mazur, on behalf of her beloved Riley, a 30lb Sheltie, has filed a lawsuit. If any of you have experienced any problems with chicken jerky treats, contact the FDA - the more information they can gather, the better. And hopefully, it won't take another 7 years until the products are either made safe or removed from distribution. 

I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Ms. Mazur as well as the other parents who unknowingly gave their pets these treats. Know that you gave them to your dog because you love your dog and wanted to share a kind moment with them. Our animals know our true hearts and are aware that you do the things you do because you love them.  Be gentle with yourself.