News

FDA seeks public help to help identify pet treats sickening animals

NEW YORK — According to an ABC News story, the Food and Drug Administration is asking for the help of pet owners after it was unable to pinpoint why thousands of animals were getting sick from eating jerky treats, mainly manufactured in China.

The FDA has spent years trying to determine why 3,600 dogs and 10 cats in the United States were sickened by different brands of the treats since the agency first received complaints in 2010.

Approximately 580 animals died.

Some pets developed symptoms after ingesting the jerky treats and the severe cases included kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and a rare kidney disorder.

After eating treats made from chicken, duck, sweet potatoes and/or dried fruit some of the animals started to exhibit symptoms, including decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea or increased urination.

The agency has conducted more than 1,200 tests including checks for salmonella, metals, pesticides and other poisonous compounds in different brands of treats, but has been unable to determine the cause of the reported sicknesses.

To read the full ABC News story, click here.