Pet jerky treat death toll: 360 dogs, 1 cat, FDA says

[joeybee12]

At least 360 dogs and one cat reportedly have died in the U.S. after eating chicken jerky pet treats made in China, even as claims of illnesses tied to the products have topped 2,200, federal veterinary health officials said.

Food and Drug Administration officials this week issued the first summary of reports of pet deaths linked to the jerky treats in the past 18 months, along with the strongest suggestion to date that owners might want to avoid the products all together.

“The FDA is reminding pet owners that jerky pet treats are not necessary for pets to have a fully balanced diet, so eliminating them will not harm pets,” agency officials said in an online report.

At the same time, the FDA said it will begin testing treats to see whether irradiation of the products may have contributed to reports of treat-related problems ranging from diarrhea and vomiting to kidney failure, Fanconi syndrome and death.

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/14/13865945-pet-jerky-treat-death-toll-360-dogs-1-cat-fda-says?lite

This really makes me

What was it, 2007 when there were all those deaths from pet food made in China and now, 5 years later, apparently squat has been done to make these products safer.

[myrna minx]

1. This is outrageous.

indeed!

[NYC_SKP]

2. Fuck China, and Fuck the Dealers of China Shit, and Fuck the Legislators Who Pave the Way....

For all this shit to come into our lives.

[lastlib]

35. And ESPECIALLY--FUCK the PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES (lookin' at you, rmoney) who PROFIT

from it!!!!

. . . . . . .

. . . . . . .

. . . . . . .

. . . . . . .



AND the corporate WHORES who build their bottom lines on it!!!

[geckosfeet]

3. Kidney failure killed my dog.

I am convinced it was those damn jerky treats. He loved them so much.

[glinda]

27. That or any number of bad ingredients in their food.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

55. geckosfeet, I am so sorry to hear this

your heart must be breaking. I know how I would feel if something happened to my little Shrimpy.

[geckosfeet]

56. Thanks for your thoughts. Losing Jack was horrible.

Having lost the ability to walk, and getting weaker by the hour, we had to put him to sleep. He was on his bed in front of warm fire surrounded by those that loved him.

His grave is in the back yard, the yard he loved, covered by a mound and a small garden.

My best to you and Shrimpy!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

58. *sniff*

our babies....

[geckosfeet]

61. Yes they are. Love them while you can!

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. Why the HELL do we import pet food and pet treats from China????

[Major Nikon]

5. People food is imported from all over the world

I'm not sure why pet food should be any different. The food I feed my dogs is made in Canada.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

13. But pets eat the same bland stuff every day and generally aren't fussy about it.

People food is imported because we like variety and the cache of certain things like Russian caviar and Italian olive oil or fruits and veggies and sometimes animal products that are out of season here.

[Major Nikon]

17. Most any type of protein is costly in the states and in Canada

Gone are the days when you had by-products from the beef or poultry industry which can be made into dog food, and horse meat isn't an option either anymore.

[csziggy]

33. Butchering of horses has been re-legalized in the US

But I wonder if the market will go back to it now that we can get cheap crap from China to kill our pets?

[Major Nikon]

38. I'm not sure any of it will be used for dog food since there's a people consumer market for it

[jsmirman]

43. Oh, you again. Please post evidence of any consumer market in the US

or are you in agreement that the only market for this is overseas?

And are you clear that the horse slaughter plants that used to operate in the US contributed no taxes to the US treasury?

Also, see this post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021346620#post44

Which will tell you that your horse slaughtering friends may be shit out of luck, because good luck running a horse slaughter operation targeting a domestic "consumer" market.

[jsmirman]

44. Not so fast (and by the way, it was never "re-legalized")

the ban was always in the form of a refusal to fund USDA inspections of horse slaughter operations which meant the "meat" could never make it into interstate commerce which meant no point in running a horse slaughter operation because, wait for it... there's no domestic consumer market for their "product."

But the ban was restored by the House Appropriations Committee in June of this year: http://blog.aspca.org/content/victory-us-horse-slaughter-rejected-us-house-committee

It remains to be seen what happens when the Ag Bill is in House-Senate Joint Committee, but things aren't looking good for those delightful businessmen looking to open horse slaughter operations.

[Locut0s]

12. Considering we import a lot of human food from China I'm not sure why pet food...

would be singled out to be removed.

We do it cause it's cheaper.

And yes China has a HUGE problem with corruption.They are exactly what happens when the free market is set loose to handle everything.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

14. I don't think the Chinese stuff is much cheaper than the American stuff.

[Major Nikon]

18. It doesn't have to be much cheaper

Let's say the cost of meat is 50 cents per pound cheaper in China, even after increased transportation costs are figured. Meat is 75% water, so by the time you dehydrate it you're actually looking at $2 per pound in savings. Let's say the company sells 100 tons of product per year. That's $400,000 per year in savings which can either go towards profit and/or reduced pricing to undercut competition.

[savannah43]

36. The pet food isn't being removed. The FDA has only issued a warning about it.

You're on your own, folks. Please tell me why taxpayers have to fund the corrupt and essentially useless USDA/FDA?

[glinda]

50. Pet Food Corporations have mega lobbying people.

If the Government entities would hire, inspect and actually test and remove products, then I think it would be mostly fine. They have put "animals" literally on the back burner in consideration viewing them still as "objects" and not living parts of families.

[glinda]

28. Bush cut back on inspectors also. China also makes most of the vitamins so when you buy

pet food that has added vitamins to it you are risking melamine or other fillers that are toxins. There is no inspection on this crap. The Gov has been dragging its feet on dealing with this. I had 10 pets that all ate poisoned foods from Menu Foods and I claimed four in the lawsuit. I have had my pets die from massive cancers and tumors and kidney failure. I know the heartbreaking cost of this and I am pissssed off!

[HiPointDem]

60. The fruits of 'free trade' & neoliberalism = death

[napkinz]

6. does anyone know if DENTASTIX are safe?

please let me know

[Indpndnt]

9. I did a quick search for problems with them.

They aren't made with great ingredients for dogs, but the worst result I've read about is that some dogs get bad digestive effects from them. Which makes sense since they are made with some ingred. (like rice and wheat) that dogs just don't digest well.

That doesn't mean others haven't had other results (+ or -) from them, though, so keep an eye out.

[boppers]

10. Where are they made?

Simple enough to look at the labels, no?

[Major Nikon]

19. A lot of the stuff that has killed pets or has been recalled has been made in the states

[Indpndnt]

20. I had no idea. Like what? Brands? I need to avoid those. nt

[Major Nikon]

22. Here's the list

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/newpetfoodrecalls/

[Indpndnt]

23. Thanks. They sure make it hard to understand, though. Recalls w/o specific reasons listed.

But I'll bookmark it. All info. helps.

[glinda]

30. Subscribe to Truthaboutpetfood.

They do a heads up early a lot of the times.

[Indpndnt]

41. Thanks, I will def. do that!

[napkinz]

46. Well it says Tennessee

But someone else who used them and stopped using them said Tennessee is where they are distributed from, and therefore, they could have been MADE in China. She wasn't sure but to play it safe she stopped using them. Now I'm worried because I've been giving our dog Dentastix for the past year and this latest story posted at the top of this thread has me very worried. I called PetSmart and they weren't of much help.

[Auntie Bush]

11. I gave them to my dog once. No proplem and he loved them.

Didn't take him long to finish. thanks for reminding me...I'll get them again. I tossed him one every time I left. I think he was happy to see me go. LOL

[napkinz]

47. I think the problem could be with long-term use

Once or twice might not harm a dog, but we give our dog the Dentastix one every morning.

The woman who told me she had stopped using them said she "heard they were made in China" but she wasn't sure and to be safe she switched to something called "Greenies" ... not sure if that's the correct spelling.

Of course I'll check with our vet, but last night scared me and I was hoping someone would know right off the bat if Dentastix were safe (and where they were made) so I could have some relief until I contact our veterinarian.

[Auntie Bush]

57. Greenies are suppose to be thr absolutely the best of the best...if you can afford them

Too bad they are so damn expensive.

My dog used to be so upset when he knew I was leaving. If I gave him Greenies ...he'd be wagging his tail and jumping with excitement. Yeah! Mom's going somewhere!

[Major Nikon]

21. The FDA has a pet food recall list

That should be your first place to check.

I'm not sure what they are made from, but personally I tend to stay away from any pet food or snacks made from chicken.

[napkinz]

48. thanks for that info

I wasn't aware that chicken could be a problem. We don't give our dog table food, so she doesn't eat chicken, but if it's in the treat and it could pose a health problem, that's something I have to further explore.

[MADem]

7. Crump's Sweet Potato treats...

Ingredients: Sweet Potato. Made in Canada. Cost seven bucks and change for a very small bag.

They're like crack for dogs, though. Safe. No odd ingredients. Won't last as long as a chew, but they'll put those teeth to work.

I got a dehydrator. I'm gonna make my own!!

[JoeyT]

32. It works great.

We did the dehydrator thing for our italian greyhound mix and he loves the sweet potatoes.

We also had a bunch of pumpkins we cut up and dried for him and he'd kill someone to get at one of those.

Either are awesome for their health.

[MADem]

42. I used to have an italian greyhound mix--helluva dog. He was from Italy, too!

A rescued street dog. Smart as hell and sensitive as all get-out.

[JoeyT]

49. That's how we got ours too.

He's half Iggy half chihuahua...when he was a puppy he looked all chihuahua. So imagine my surprise when the "chihuahua" got as big as a full grown iggy.

[MADem]

63. Mine had a bit of border collie in him--he looked like a rolypoly fattie as a pup.

I didn't expect him to grow up to be such a long-stemmed bundle of energy!

[Auntie Bush]

8. I think my dog died from that 2007 pet food. He got all those symptoms about that time and never

recuperatrd...died in 2008. He was sooo very sick for sooo long! Bastards!

[abolugi]

39. My cat died in 2007

at the time that bad food was around. I'm absolutely convinced her food killed her...
Broke my heart!

[joeybee12]

45. Sorry to hear that...at around that time one of my cats got a bladder infection...

Indoor cat, never sick before...I did try some treats she hadn't had before...fortunately she recovered, although now, at 17, she has CRF, which may not be related.

[mike_c]

15. fuck me, I just gave the dogs chicken jerky treats five minutes ago....

I've been feeding them jerky treats for the last couple of years now, mostly duck jerky purchased at Costco and assuming the product is consistent, I'm not worried about that. But I ran out last week and bought a short-term bag of chicken jerky from the supermarket.

[Indpndnt]

16. If that chicken jerky was made in China, then toss it.

I think the effects are cumulative, but keep an eye on them anyway.

[Fuddnik]

25. Waggin Train Chicken Jerky.

They were my dogs favorite treats until a year ago, when I first started learning about this shit.

Made in China. I stopped buying them. I went to Sams Club today, and they're still fully stocked with them. I bought Pupperoni instead.

As for the sweet potato treats, my sweet potatoes are ready to harvest this week, and they'll be dehydrated and I'll have at least a year's supply.

[TexasBushwhacker]

26. Walmart and Sam's refuse to take them off the shelves

There have been hundreds if not thousands of complaints about sick and dying dogs after eating Waggin Train treats, but Walmart and Sam's keep selling them. They aren't the only chicken jerky made in China though. Personally, we don't buy any treats amde in China anymore. Quite a few are made in Canada though. Lately I've been making homemade treats.

[Indpndnt]

40. Other big box stores, including PetSmart and PetCo, sell them as Canyon Creek.

They are in Pet Supplies Plus, too. They're everywhere. I cringe every time I see them.

[RebelOne]

62. I give my dogs Waggin Train Duck Jerky.

I have given them to my dogs for years. My Rottweiler died in 2010 from cancer. She was 13 years old and I doubt the duck jerky caused her cancer.

[valerief]

24. Fuck the U.S. for letting poison be sold as food in this country!!!!

[jsr]

29. Make sure there is a "Made in" or "Product of" on the container

If it's "Made in China" or "Product of China", don't buy it.
If it's "Distributed by XYZ" without a country, it's probably China, so don't buy it either.

[glinda]

31. Many of the petfoods distributed by Menu Foods were NOT made in China. It is the

ingredients in them (some from China) as well as other toxins that they are introducing here in the USA also into the foods. It is a shell game run by these Companies that are also buying up smaller good pet food companies in order to give us even less choices. Proctor and Gamble bought up quite a few in the last year or so.

[magic59]

34. Watch the crap you get from the dollar stores

for people or pets, made in China means poison!

[SoapBox]

37. It's really criminal

Be sure and read the full story.

Thanks for posting joeybee12.

[NYC_SKP]

51. Sergeant's "Uncle Sam" brand duck jerky treats, these HAVE to be American, right????

I have a bag right here, bought them yesterday.

No.

Made in China.

FUCK!

[B2G]

52. Homemade chicken jerky...

Completely safe and much cheaper.

[hollysmom]

53. my dog loved waggin treats - but then she loves all treats.

She never got more than one of those large treats a day, but I threw out the new bag when I read about this. I make her her own sweet potato treats and bake dog cookies now. She would kill for them.
My problem is that more and more pet foods from large brands are questionable. I went to a place that rated dog food and hope they know what they are talking about. She now gets dog food rated 5 star, but she ate some dog shit the other day, so what can I say, she is a dog.
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/

[99Forever]

54. We've got 5 dogs. Here's a great tip.

The best "treat" we have found for them are frozen green beans! They absolutely love them, they are cheap (almost free from our garden!) and they are GOOD for them. Great nutrition and fiber, and they gobble them up. What could be better?

Pre-packaged "treats" are for the most part, dietary garbage, regardless of where they are made. Relying on our government to protect us from shitty Chinese or any other countries unsafe products is quite obviously folly. Rich corporations don't care who or what they kill, wound, make sick, or maim in their pursuit of profits and they OWN the government.

[Auntie Bush]

59. Another cheap and healthy treat are carrots...especially if you grow your own.

They keep forever in the refrig. My vet recommended them for keeping their teeth clean.

[MADem]

64. This is true! I spend the extra money and get the organic "baby" carrots that

are very sweet--I have one dog who thinks they are candy!