Warning:
In November 2011, the FDA announced another warning about chicken jerky treats causing kidney failure in dogs. This has been going on since 2007. The cause remains unknown, but reports are increasing. See FDA Continues to Caution Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products.
Signs to watch for include decreased appetite; decreased activity (lethargy); vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; and increased water consumption and/or increased urination.
The type of kidney failure associated with chicken jerky strips is called acquired Fanconi syndrome. Urine test results consistently show glucose and granular casts. Blood tests may show hypokalemia (low potassium), mildly increased liver enzymes, and acidosis, along with increased creatinine and BUN (signs of kidney disease).
If your dog develops these signs and test results while being fed chicken jerky treats, contact your state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Complaint Coordinator. See How to Report a Pet Food Complaint for more information, and Consumer Complaint Coordinators for a state-by-state list of who to contact. Please provide as much information as possible, including the specific product name, lot numbers, veterinarian's report and diagnosis, etc.
Avoid feeding chicken jerky strips from China to dogs until we know conclusively that they are safe. Note that these products often appear to be made in the US, but if you search carefully, you'll find "Made in China" in tiny print somewhere on the bag. These products may also be called Chicken Tenders, Strips, or Treats. http://www.dogaware.com/recall.html#jerky
In November 2011, the FDA announced another warning about chicken jerky treats causing kidney failure in dogs. This has been going on since 2007. The cause remains unknown, but reports are increasing. See FDA Continues to Caution Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products.
Signs to watch for include decreased appetite; decreased activity (lethargy); vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; and increased water consumption and/or increased urination.
The type of kidney failure associated with chicken jerky strips is called acquired Fanconi syndrome. Urine test results consistently show glucose and granular casts. Blood tests may show hypokalemia (low potassium), mildly increased liver enzymes, and acidosis, along with increased creatinine and BUN (signs of kidney disease).
If your dog develops these signs and test results while being fed chicken jerky treats, contact your state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Complaint Coordinator. See How to Report a Pet Food Complaint for more information, and Consumer Complaint Coordinators for a state-by-state list of who to contact. Please provide as much information as possible, including the specific product name, lot numbers, veterinarian's report and diagnosis, etc.
Avoid feeding chicken jerky strips from China to dogs until we know conclusively that they are safe. Note that these products often appear to be made in the US, but if you search carefully, you'll find "Made in China" in tiny print somewhere on the bag. These products may also be called Chicken Tenders, Strips, or Treats. http://www.dogaware.com/recall.html#jerky