Chris and Natasha Burns of the Verona-based dog training company Dog’s Best Friend have passed along news of dog treats that are apparently making some dogs very ill.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning in mid-November that it has seen an increase in complaints of dogs getting sick from eating Chinese-made chicken jerky products. This is apparently a long, sorry saga: The FDA issued a cautionary warning regarding chicken jerky products, which are also sold as chicken tenders, strips or treats, to consumers in September 2007 and a follow-up warning in December 2008. The FDA’s notice does not name the manufacturers of these treats, so you’d be well advised to check where the products you are considering buying are manufactured.
According to the FDA the signs of potential problems include decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea, increased water consumption and/or increased urination. If you see these, stop feeding the treats to your dog (if you haven’t stopped buying them altogether) and call your vet if the problems are severe or last for more than 24 hours.