According to the FDA, you might want to consider holding off on giving your pet any jerky-type pet treats -- many jerky snacks imported from China are believed to be causing dogs all across the country to fall ill, and in some cases die. As of the beginning of this month, the FDA has gotten upwards of 5,000 reports of sick dogs, with around 20% of them dead.
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR
As of now, the FDA believes that around half of the reported deaths are, in fact, linked to ingesting these tainted treats. To prepare yourself, the symptoms of the food poisoning are:
Decreased appetite
Lack of energy
Vomiting (possibly w/ mucous)
Diarrhea (possibly w/ blood)
Increased thirst and urination
The symptoms usually occur close to the time in which the treat was ingested. However, to best protect yourself, stop feeding your pet any jerky-type treat immediately.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If you have any jerky treats in your house and they made your pet sick, place the treats in a sealed bag and send them off immediately for analysis, since so much is still unknown about what it is about the jerky that is causing the problem.
You should also take your dog to the vet as soon as possible, as the condition moves quickly and has a high rate of fatality. Also, by taking your pet to the vet, you not only help ensure that they recover, but you also help the greater good, in that a vet will be able to take a look at the illness in progress. Without the vet, the toxins in the jerky will have fully metabolized in a day or two,with your dog either succumbing to the poison or not.
So, not only will the vet help save your dog, but getting to see the toxin first hand could help put researchers that much closer to figuring out the specifics of the condition.
Alternatives
One Earth Peanut Butter Treats
Natural Balance Pumpkin & Chicken Meal w/ Papaya Dental Chews
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Sources:FDA - Latest Information on Jerky Pet Treat InvestigationCBS - Thousands of dogs, and 3 people, sickened by jerky pet treats, FDA says