A growing number of veterinarians worry that certain doggy treats made in China are to blame for making some of pets sick.
The FDA issued a warning about these treats just months ago, but the product is still in stores. And that has now prompted Ohio US Senator Sherrod Brown to call for a full FDA investigation.
Love Chicken Treats
Charles and Romeo love their treats, chicken jerky ranked among their favorites. "The ingredients make it sound like it is good. You can't see a bunch of chemicals in there," said the dogs' owner Doreen Haas.
But when Romeo fell ill, Doreen Haas discovered there might be a connection.
Romeo's veterinarian Dr. Shawna Green ran tests that showed Romeo’s kidneys and liver had been affected. She immediately suspected the chicken jerky treats that were part of Romeo's daily diet.
“We have had some cases of diarrhea, and they are eating those treats, and it is suspicious,” said Dr. Green who posted the Food and Drug Administration’s recent warning about the treats for all her patients to see.
At Least 150 Sick
The FDA says 79 similar cases have been reported since November 2011, bringing the total number of dogs that got sick or died to around 150.
In an email the FDA stated, "... to date we have not detected any contaminants and therefore have not issues a recall... We are continuing to test and will notify the public if we find evidence of any contaminants."
The treats in question are chicken jerky treats made by several brands. They may also be sold as chicken jerkey tenders or strips. They are easy to spot, just look for the 'Made in China' label on the back.
Darleen Haas doesn't need scientific proof. Coincidence or not, she replaced the chicken jerky for dog snacks not made in China.
Now the FDA is urging both vets and consumers to report any illnesses they suspect is related to pet food.
You can contact the FDA at www. fda.gov to report an incident.
As always, don't waste your money.
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