A new story has come out claiming that Chicken Jerky Treats are now safe....
 
Two brands of chicken jerky pet treats will soon reenter the market after years of reports of pet illness – even death – associated with consumption of jerky treats made with chicken sourced from China. Milo's Kitchen and Nestlé Purina (the maker of Waggin' Train treats) say that since the voluntary recall of their jerky treats last year due to antibiotic residue, they have reevaluated, revamped, reformulated and even discontinued certain products mired in suspicion and a nearly decade-old U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation. Now manufacturers are staking their name on the belief that they finally have it right.
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Disturbing Facts
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has received a total of approximately 3,000 reports of pet illness possibly related to the consumption of jerky treats, including 580 deaths.
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Cause STILL Unknown
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The FDA has issued several warnings about jerky products imported from China since it first received reports of pet illness in 2007. However, despite ongoing efforts to identify a cause of illness, testing has been inconclusive.
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What to Look Out For
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Watch your pet closely. Signs that may occur within hours to days of feeding the products are decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus), increased water consumption and/or increased urination. Severe cases are diagnosed with pancreatitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and kidney failure or the resemblance of a rare kidney related illness called Fanconi syndrome.
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Questionable Ingredients
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Milo's Kitchen ingredients
Chicken Jerky Strips: Chicken, soy flour, sugar, glycerin, textured soy protein, salt, guar gum, sodium tripolyphosphate, monoglyceride, garlic powder, sorbic acid, citric acid, BHA (used as a preservative), natural smoke flavor, annatto color, onion extract.
Chicken Grillers: chicken breast, rice flour, glycerin, gelatin, soy flour, wheat gluten, modified tapioca starch, sugar, soy protein concentrate, salt, monoglyceride, sodium tripolyphosphate, potassium sorbate (used as a preservative), citric acid, caramel color, garlic powder, natural smoke flavor, BHA (used as a preservative), dried egg white.
Artificial color, artificial flavor, harmful preservatives (BHA), questionable protein sources, questionable carbohydrate contents
 
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Dr. Jones Responds
My Advice...
Don't EVER feed these to your pets.
The toxin is still unknown, and they contain an array of potential harmful ingredients, providing no nutritive value.

• Dogs: www.thedogsupplement.com
• Cats: www.thecatsupplement.com
  

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Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM has been a practicing Veterinarian for over 20 years. He is a strong advocate of Natural Pet Health Care, and knows that the most important way to heal our pets and prevent disease is through proper nutrition. He developed Ultimate Canine to give our dogs that extra advantage – something that will provide them with everything they need to develop stronger immune systems to fight disease, heal sore or stiff joints, and help them live longer, happier lives. Dr. Andrew Jones' main focus is on alternative, non-traditional remedies for pets. His interest in alternative pet medicine culminated in the writing of his book, Veterinary Secrets Revealed.

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Although dog training has become more of a science than a craft in recent years, some persistent myths still mislead us when reading canine behavior. Don't let a myth harm your relationship with your pooch. Here, we dispel 14 common myths and look at the facts.

1. An old dog can't learn new tricks.

False. Old dogs not only learn new tricks but they thrive when trained. My late Pomeranian, Mr. Teddy, who was adopted at an estimated 10 to 13 years of age, was a training superstar in Vetstreet videos, which were filmed two weeks before he passed away. By the same token, older dogs without housetraining experience as puppies can successfully be housetrained. As long as a dog is mentally and physically capable of learning to perform a behavior and is properly motivated, it's entirely possible to train her. While intense agility training for Teddy was not realistic, teaching basic commands was.

2. A dog shouldn't sleep with you or be allowed on furniture, or she'll think she's the boss and will misbehave.

False. Just like humans, dogs simply want a comfortable place to lie down. If comfort can be combined with being next to their beloved human, whether it's right next to you on the couch, or even on top of your lap, then they're all for it. In rare cases, dogs will guard their sleeping and resting areas, and will show aggression when humans approach these sacred areas. This type of behavior will require remedial training. But for the average Rover, sleeping in bed or resting on the couch has no adverse behavioral effects.

3. When your dog has a potty accident, it's important to rub her nose in it to let her know what she did.

False. When you rub a dog's nose in her own mess, she often sees no association between that and her having had a potty accident. Nor does rubbing her nose in her accident teach her not to potty on the floor again. Instead, rubbing her nose in her accident teaches her that humans are dangerous and unpredictable, and she will likely begin to hide in safety by sneaking into another room to go to the bathroom, making housebreaking even more difficult.

4. A dog who cowers from people was likely abused in the past.

False. There are various reasons for dogs cowering, and not all of them are because a dog was abused. Commonly, the dog was not properly socialized or had negative experiences during her prime socialization period as a puppy. Genetics also play a role in the fearful dog. Other reasons for a dog to duck away might be that she has learned to dodge people who try to grab her collar, or she is uncomfortable with petting, such as having her ears handled. Unfortunately, well-meaning strangers often approach dogs by bending over the top of their heads and reaching down to pet, which will send timid dogs into a cowering position. A better way to approach is by getting into a kneeling position, with your body turned toward the side, and then inviting the dog to approach you. If you practice this method, it will be less likely to cause a canine to cower.

5. Shelter dogs have too much baggage. It's better to adopt a puppy to start with a clean slate.

False. Many shelter dogs are well-behaved pooches who, for an endless list of possible reasons, could not be kept by their original owners. Older shelter dogs make ideal candidates for people wanting to skip the puppy stages of chewing, potty training and mouthing. The interview process at most shelters also pairs canine candidates with the family setting that will best suit the dog's temperament, which can create cohesion from the beginning.

6. All dogs should enjoy being around other dogs. It's essential for dogs to go on outings with other dogs, such as at the dog park. If a dog doesn't enjoy other dogs, there is something wrong with her.

False. Not all people are social butterflies and neither are all dogs. Some dogs may prefer solitude and only a small, select group of people. Dogs also have their own preferences when it comes to other canines. Breeding can play a big role in their sociability, with terriers being notorious for contentiousness with other pooches. Other times, whether from lack of socialization as a puppy or simply an individual preference, dogs may not enjoy canine comradery. Even though plenty of dogs enjoy the dog park, not all of them enjoy the idea of dozens of other dogs frolicking around them and would instead prefer a quiet walk with their owners.

7. You should let dogs just fight it out when they get into a scuffle.

False (well, at least partly false). It's true that you should never get into the middle of a dog fight, because some of the most damaging dog bites occur when owners try to separate fighting dogs. There are some tactics you can use to break up the scuffle without actually getting in the middle of the fray. Try using water, a really loud noise, or even a distraction like grabbing a treat bag or using voice to direct them to do something else. Owners should do everything they can to prevent another fight in the future. Often dogs don't settle matters on their own, and fighting intensifies over time, especially with dogs in the same home. This calls for advanced training with the help of an animal behaviorist or a certified professional trainer.

8. My dog is trying to show she's in charge when she doesn't listen to me.

False. It's easy to attribute human motives like "getting even" or "being spiteful" to our dogs, but dogs don't have the same complex emotions as humans. The more realistic reasons why a dog doesn't do what's being asked is either because she doesn't understand what she's being asked to do, or the dog doesn't have the proper motivation to want to perform the behavior. For example, most dogs don't come when called because the payoff isn't worth it. When they do, they usually are put on a leash or taken into the house when they'd rather stay outside.

9. My dog knows she was bad after she goes potty in the house. Her guilty face says it all.

False. Dogs show a perceived "guilty face" not because they feel an actual emotion of guilt, but they are actually showing appeasement behaviors in response to their owners intimidating body language. Whether we want to or not, it's difficult not to display negative body language when we're upset with our pets. A 2009 study by researcher Alexandra Horowitz at Barnard College in New York revealed that the "guilty look" dogs display is solely attributed by humans and has no relation to whether the dog is actually responsible for an offense. The study found that dogs who had not actually eaten the forbidden treat, but were scolded by their misinformed owners for eating a treat, showed guiltier-looking body language than dogs who had actually eaten the forbidden treat. The guilty look is simply a response of the dog to her owner's behavior.

10. It's always the owner's fault when a dog misbehaves.

False. Most owners are well-meaning, but are simply misinformed or lack knowledge on how to train their dogs effectively. Blaming the owner for all of a dog's problems makes for good TV, but there are a myriad of reasons why a dog misbehaves, including lack of proper socialization or preventive training, or even the genetic tendencies of the dog. It's important for pet parents to push past feelings of shame or guilt; instead get started in the right direction with help from a pet professional using positive reinforcement methods.

11. Using treats for training is bribery, and the dog won't do the behavior later if you don't give her a treat.

False. It's true that dogs need motivation to perform a behavior. That said, the motivation doesn't always have to be a food-based reward. Dogs can be rewarded in many other ways. Reward them with playing, petting or getting to go outside. They can also be put on a random schedule of rewards with a lottery-ticket-like system so they never know when the payout will come. This system helps keep them motivated. For example: learning to walk on a loose leash may be taught in the beginning by using treats, but once the behavior is learned, treats can be phased out so that the only reward becomes getting to go on the walk itself.

12. When a dog chews up shoes or destroys furniture it's because she's punishing the owner.

False. Dogs chew on shoes, furniture and other human items not to punish their owners, but simply because it feels good on their teeth, it relieves boredom, releases energy and, in some cases, may indicate separation anxiety.

13. A dog can't really be happy unless she can run off-leash.

False. Leashes are made for a dog's safety. They should be perceived as tools that keep your dog from running into oncoming traffic, going up to unknown dogs or people, and prevent them from running way. Although regular off-leash play in a fenced area is essential for a dog's well-being, while out in public, dogs can learn to be perfectly content on a leash at their owner's side.

14. Dogs are great judges of people, so if a dog doesn't like someone, it must mean there is something wrong with that person.

False. In the majority of cases, dogs who react aggressively or fearfully to a person are not doing so out of a negative moral evaluation of the individual, but are responding out of their own self-preservation. With that said, there have been plenty of circumstances where pets have used an apparent sixth sense to pick up on cues that went unseen by their human and actually saved their human's life. However, the majority of dogs I see in my training practice are unfriendly with a person because they are reacting out of fear to a certain physical attribute, movement or the physical proximity of a person, and are not reacting based on any moral evaluation of the individual.

Source: VetStreet

Nothing says autumn nourishment more than fresh baked pumpkin. It's a treat you and your dog can enjoy together. When baking a pumpkin for a pie for yourself, scoop out a cup of fresh cooked pumpkin puree and set aside to make this Pumpkin Biscotti for your dog.

You will need:

1 cup fresh baked pumpkin puree (not the pre-spiced canned pie filling) – to make the puree, take a small pumpkin and cut in half through the stem. Scoop out the middle seeds and fiber and place cut side down in a glass baking dish with a little water in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for about 45 
minutes to 1 hour. Allow to cool then scoop out flesh and place in a blender and blend until smooth.

1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp organic, local wild honey
2 tsp olive oil
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp coarsely ground fennel
1/4 tsp ground rosemary
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder

If your oven is not still hot from baking the pumpkin, preheat to to 350 degrees. Mix together dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients. Form a well in the dry ingredient bowl and add wet ingredients. Using your hands, knead the dough until it is smooth. Roll out on a floured surface into 2 baguette shapes. Cut a few little slashes along the top of the baguette shapes. Place on a non-stick or prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 40 minutes. Allow to cool then slice into pieces about 1/2 inch thick. Place each slice on the baking sheet and bake an additional 30 minutes. Allow to cool and store in an air-tight container until ready to serve.

Pumpkin is loaded with fiber and beta-carotene which is full of nutrition for your dog. Just remember like many things, while a little is great, a lot is not necessarily better or even good. Moderation is the key. Too much pumpkin can cause Vitamin A toxicity, so you never want to feed pumpkin in large quantities. A good rule of thumb is a few teaspoons of pumpkin a day for a small dog and a few tablespoons a day for a large dog. As for cookies, a cookie a day for a small pup and two or three for a large dog.

Source: Examiner.com
© 2013 Clarity Digital Group LLC

In an article last November, I reported on the very real danger of future widespread aflatoxin contamination of commercial pet food, primarily dry dog food. Thanks to the very hot, dry summer of 2012, experts predicted U.S. corn crops would be heavily infested with two types of mold – Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.

These molds produce metabolites called aflatoxins. Aflatoxins cause acute lethal illness and cancer in animals and humans, and are among the most carcinogenic substances on earth. Aflatoxins poison the liver, and their carcinogenic properties can lead to tumor formation.

Recalls of Aflatoxin-Contaminated Dog Food have Begun

Reuters reports high levels of aflatoxins have been discovered in bags of dog food on store shelves in Iowa. And according to Michael Wright, the CEO of Pro-Pet, a pet food company in Ohio that recently learned some of its product was contaminated with aflatoxins, "Last year's corn crop – it's a huge issue. We test every load coming in. And we reject a lot of loads."

During the last week of February, the Hy-Vee Inc. grocery chain was forced to recall five different products in its private dog food line due to high levels of aflatoxins in the corn used in the formulas. The dog food was produced at a Kansas City Pro-Pet plant and distributed across eight Midwestern states.

As I explained back in November, the behavior of the A. flavus and A. parasiticus molds makes it very difficult to control or minimize aflatoxin contamination, or to accurately assess the extent of the problem. There can be pockets of plants that are heavily contaminated, while the rest of the crop is relatively mold-free, so analyzing occasional random samples of corn plants can give misleading results.

Corn used in pet foods

The corn used in the recalled Hy-Vee formulas had been tested before it was added to the dog food, and the finished product was reportedly tested as well. But the contamination wasn't discovered until a random bag was pulled from a store shelf in Iowa by an inspector for the Iowa Department of Agriculture.

According to PetfoodIndustry.com, Hy-Vee officials say the recall is only a precautionary measure and no illnesses have been reported. The recalled products were distributed to Hy-Vee stores in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin between October 26, 2012 and January 11, 2013. Specific details of recalled products can be found here.

If you happen to have a bag of recalled product, you should stop feeding it to your pet. You can also return the food, opened or unopened, to a Hy-Vee store for a full refund.

How to Avoid Aflatoxin-Contaminated Pet Food

Aflatoxin-related illness is seen much more often in dogs than cats, because more commercial dog foods than cat foods contain corn products.

To be very safe, I recommend you transition your pet away from all dry food. Replace it with a high quality canned food, a commercially prepared raw diet, dehydrated raw, a balanced home cooked diet, or a combination.

If you want to continue to offer dry food to your dog, I recommend you study the ingredients carefully and avoid products containing corn in any form, including corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, corn flour, etc. Corn is not only highly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination, it is also allergenic and difficult for most pets to digest.

Natura Pet has confirmed they are recalling at least 20 pet food products affecting dogs, cats, and ferrets. We heard a rumor that Natura was having a major recall due to possible salmonella contamination. After spending half an hour on hold with them, a friendly representative finally confirmed the recall and gave us the list. Why they don't have a readily available press release on their website or through the FDA, we don't know.

The products listed below may be contaminated with salmonella. These products appear to be distributed nationwide through Petco, various online retailers and local businesses. This is shaping up to be a large recall. Please spread the word. Like Healing Springs Animal Hospital on Facebook for the latest pet health & safety updates.

This is not the first negative news since Proctor & Gamble purchased Natura Pet in 2010. In 2011, Natura Pet settled a $2.15 million class action lawsuit for allegedly overstating the quality of their ingredients. The lawsuit was started in 2009, one year before Proctor & Gamble became involved with Natura Pet.

The recall affects the products named below that also have an expiration date between 12/17/13 and 1/2/14. If you have products possibly contaminated with salmonella, you should discontinue use. You can contact the company (800) 532-7261 between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (CST) Monday – Friday.

The company now has an official press release on their Web site.
Healthwise:

• Weight Control
• Puppy
• Lamb & Oatmeal

California Naturals:

• Kangaroo & Red Lentil

Innova:

• All three cat formulas
• Puppy
• Adult large bite
• Senior plus
• Prime beef & lamb
• Herring & Salmon
• Herring
• Large breed adult & puppy

Evo:

• Ferret
• Turkey & Chicken Cat & Kitten
• Herring & Salmon Cat food
• Red Meat Large Bites Dog
• Turkey & Chicken - Dog
• Senior
• Weight Management

Source: Food.com
© 2013 Scripps Networks, LLC

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Replacement Product Information

If your product is affected, and you would like a replacement, please download this form (PDF) and follow the instructions.

Updated Press Information
Download official Press Release (PDF)

More info:
EVO, Innova, California Natural and HealthWise Dog Food Recall

Nature's Variety
One batch of Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula for dogs and cats has been recalled after clear plastic was found in some of the bags, posing a possible choking risk to pets, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Nature's Variety says the source of the plastic has been identified and the issue has been resolved. There have been no reports of harm to pets, but a consumer complaint alerted the company to the problem.

The affected product was limited to a single batch of Organic Chicken Formula with the "Best if Used By" date of 10/04/13. This includes:

• UPC number 7 69949 60137 1 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions, 3 lb. bag
• UPC number 7 69949 70137 8 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions, 27 lb. case
• UPC number 7 69949 60127 2 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties, 6 lb. bag
• UPC number 7 69949 70127 9 – Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties, 36 lb. case
  

Consumers with additional questions can call the Nature’s Variety Consumer Relations team at (888) 519-7387, Monday through Friday.

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Kasel Industries
Kasel Associated Industries is pulling a wide variety of dog treats over salmonella contamination. The recall covers a wide variety of treats, from chicken jerky to pig ears to hearts of lamb, produced in its plant in Denver between April and October last year. The items were sold in Target, Costco, Sam's Club and through its Web site.

A Kasel official said the Colorado Department of Agriculture found salmonella in its chicken jerky, prompting a recall of that product in September. The Food and Drug Administration investigated, urging the company to issue the wider recall.

Consumers with additional questions can call Kasel Associated Industries at (800) 218-4417, Monday through Friday.

Best Wishes,
Dr Andrew Jones, DVM

P.S. Neutraceuticals are KEY in treating and preventing diseases associated with toxins. These include Essential Fatty Acids, Probiotics, and even Colostrum. ALL of these can be found in my supplement. You can get your 50% OFF trial here:

• Dogs: www.thedogsupplement.com
• Cats: www.thecatsupplement.com
  

Do you remember back in March of 2007, when thousands of pets died from kidney failure after eating tainted wet cat and dog food ... and the ensuing giant recalls of pet food? Several major companies recalled more than 5,300 pet food products, involving extensive media coverage and much public outrage.

Initially, the culprit was contaminated wheat gluten from a single Chinese company, and recalls were made of pet foods containing the wheat gluten from companies in North America, Europe and South Africa. One month after the initial recall, contaminated rice protein from a different source in China was identified as causing kidney failure in pets in the United States. Contaminated corn gluten also caused it in South Africa. As a result of investigating the 2007 pet food recalls, a broader investigation of the contamination of vegetable proteins in China ensued. It revealed that several Chinese companies sold products labeled wheat gluten, rice protein or corn gluten that were actually contaminated wheat flour. It also raised concerns about the safety of the human food supply. You can learn more at Melamine Pet Food Recall of 2007: Main Page.

Deadly Chicken Jerky Dog Treats
Five years later, the problem is continuing. On Memorial Day, May 28, 2012, a beautiful healthy 8-year-old German Shepherd named Heidi died from eating just two chicken jerky dog treats from China two days earlier. Her owner was devastated. Other reports have come in about dogs getting sick and dying from eating chicken jerky dog treats from China.

On October 5^th, 2012, during a routine sampling inspection, FDA investigators found Salmonella bacteria in Nature's Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats at Kasel Associated Industries of Denver, CO. Once notified of the results, the company responsibly recalled and ceased distribution of its product. Additional information on this recall can be found at www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm322471.htm.

Since 2007, the FDA has received approximately 2,200 reports of pet illnesses related to jerky treats. The majority involve chicken jerky (treats, tenders, and strips), but others include duck, sweet potato, and treats where chicken or duck jerky is wrapped around dried fruits, sweet potatoes, or yams. Over the past 18 months, the reports have contained information on 360 canine deaths and one feline death. There does not appear to be a geographic pattern to the case reports, which have been from all 50 states and 6 Canadian provinces.

While the recent Salmonella incident doesn't seem to be related to the tainted pet food from China, they all raise questions about the safety of the food we give our beloved pets. An even bigger concern was brought up recently by Food & Water Watch: "The FDA regulates the import of pet food and processed human food, but they have done very little to stop contaminated food from China from being sold in the U.S. ... Right now there are more than 60 human food products that are banned from being imported from China because of unsafe substances, including milk products contaminated with melamine. New food safety rules that passed more than a year ago haven't been implemented yet, so there may be other contaminated food ending up in your [home]."

Protein Adulteration is the Problem
So how is the food from the People's Republic of China contaminated? It's called "protein adulteration" and involves adding to food and feed ingredients compounds like melamine, cyanuric acid, ammeline, and ammelide. These inexpensive substances inflate the apparent protein content of products, enabling them to pass for more expensive, concentrated proteins.

The worst culprit has been melamine. An organic compound, melamine is often combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine foam, a polymeric cleaning product, and melamine resin, a plastic that's highly stable, durable, fire resistant, and heat tolerant. End products include Formica countertops, floor tiles, dry erase boards, flame resistant fabrics, glue, sound proofing, and the ever-famous Melmac tableware. Now we all appreciate these products, but I certainly don't want their components in my food!

Some sources indicate melamine alone does not seem to be toxic to animals or humans except possibly in very high concentrations. However, melamine contamination of pet food was implicated as the cause of the deaths of thousands of pets in 2007, and the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid has been implicated in kidney failure in pets and people. There are also reports that cyanuric acid may be independently and widely used as an adulterant in China, which has heightened concerns for both pet and human health.

Buying Healthy Pet Food

• Only buy brands you trust, and carefully read the ingredients on the label.
• When trying a new brand, initially feed your pet only a small amount so in case there's a problem, they've had limited exposure to it.
• Most of the recalls have been wet pet foods and jerky treats, so you might want to stick to dry food until these problems are resolved.
• Always keep the original bag of pet food in case of a recall, or if you suspect you've purchased a bad batch.
• Check the Pet Food Recall Products List of the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), the division of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that regulates the manufacture and distribution of food additives and drugs that will be given to animals, including animals from which human foods are derived. The list contains links to more information about all pet food recalled since March of 2007 ... 1,107 entries as of April 30, 2012! Yikes! However, it's a bit misleading because once listed, each of the recalled products remains listed, even if there are no new recalls associated with that product.
• Report any problems with pet food to the FDA through their Safety Reporting Portal, https://www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov or call your state's FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.
• For dog lovers, sign up to get regular notifications of dog food recalls from Dog Food Scoop, www.dogfoodscoop.com/dog-food-recall-list.html, an organization that "sniffs out" dog food. In addition to recalls, they compare and rate dog foods.

Pet Signs to Contact the Vet
Get your pet to a vet immediately if they show signs of poisoning, which usually include

• Lethargy (severe fatigue, sluggishness or stupor)
• Fever
• Gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and vomiting…especially if there's blood and/or mucus in the vomit or diarrhea.

Other common signs that can lead to kidney failure include:

• Severe thirst
• Frequent urination
• Increased urine

Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Some pets infected with Salmonella can appear healthy, but be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed a recalled product, act quickly. Don't take any chances with the life of your beloved companion!
 

WARNING: Chicken Jerky Treats Made in China

The FDA has issued yet another warning to veterinarians and pet owners about chicken jerky dog treats imported from China.

The most recent FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) update is dated November 18, 2011.


The first warning about these products was issued four years ago in September 2007, after the CVM received in excess of 70 complaints involving more than 95 sick dogs. (This total grew to 156 by year's end, according to an MSNBC.com report.)

Over a year later, in December 2008, the CVM issued an update, which included the fact that the University of Sydney in Australia was also investigating a similar link between chicken jerky products from China and illness in dogs.

At least one company in Australia recalled their chicken jerky product imported from China.
The December 2008 CVM update was followed a few days later by an FDA consumer update outlining the steps the FDA was taking to address the problem, including:

• Working with several veterinary diagnostic labs in the U.S. to find out why the products seemed to be causing illness in dogs; a precise cause for the illness had not yet been determined.
• Conducting chemical and microbial testing; no contaminant had yet been identified.
• Active investigation into the problem was continuing, however, the FDA cautioned that "...many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky."

According to the FDA, complaints dropped off in late 2009 and for most of 2010, but a rise in the number of 2011 cases prompted their most recent warning.
Per MSNBC.com:

"At least 70 dogs have been sickened so far this year after reportedly eating chicken jerky products imported from China, FDA officials said. That's up from 54 reports of illness in 2010. Some of the dogs have died, according to the anecdotal reports from pet owners and veterinarians."


In mid-June 2011, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) issued an alert to its members, state veterinary medical associations and allied organizations about ongoing problems with chicken jerky treat consumption.

This move was prompted by notification from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) of reports of possible toxicity in chicken jerky treats from China.

Symptoms for which Pet Parents Should Watch

If you're still feeding your pet chicken jerky treats – which I certainly do not recommend – signs of illness can include:

• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea, sometimes bloody
• Increased thirst and/or urination
• Decreased activity

These symptoms can appear within a few hours to days after consuming the product. If your pet becomes severely ill or the symptoms last for more than 24 hours, you should make an immediate appointment with your vet.

Blood tests may show an increase in urea nitrogen and creatinine, indicating kidney failure. A urinalysis may point to acquired Fanconi syndrome.

Most affected dogs have fully recovered, however, some reports the FDA has received have involved dogs who have died from chicken jerky-related illness.


Neither the FDA nor U.S. veterinary diagnostics labs working in conjunction with the FDA's Veterinary Laboratory Response Network (VLRN) have yet been able to determine how the chicken jerky treats from China are causing illness. This means nothing has changed or improved since the problem was first identified in 2007.

I find this discouraging, not to mention troubling. I would hope in four years' time, with scientists in at least three different countries looking at the problem, the potentially toxic ingredients and/or manufacturing processes involved with this product could be identified.

Needless to say, I highly recommend you not feed chicken jerky treats – also sold as chicken tenders, strips and treats – to your dog or cat or any pet.

I also recommend you buy only food and treats made in the U.S. Buying pet food made in this country won't remove all risk of winding up with a tainted product, but it will certainly improve your chances of keeping your pet safe.

Try to stick with all-natural, high protein treats or another high quality, made-in-the-USA pet treat.
If your pet happens to be wild for dehydrated chicken strips, you can make your own quite easily.

Just buy some boneless chicken breasts, clean them, and slice into long, thin strips – the thinner the better. Place the strips on a greased or non-stick cookie sheet and bake them for at least three hours at 180 degrees. The low temp dries the chicken out slowly and the strips wind up nice and chewy.

Let the strips cool, and then store them in plastic bags or another airtight container. You can also freeze them.

No matter the treat, it should only be fed occasionally – treats should never be a substitute for a balanced, species-appropriate diet for your pet.

Also, feeding treats daily, or several times a day as some folks do, is a good way to end up with an obese pet. And if you're feeding treats high in sugar, carbs and calories, your pet will get fat that much faster.