600 PETS DEAD IN USA AFTER EATING JERKY TREAT
Most of
the cases have been in dogs of all breeds, ages and sizes — although 10 cats
have been sickened, too — after eating chicken, duck and sweet potato jerky
treats. The pace of the reported illnesses appears to have slowed, but federal
Food and Drug Administration officials are now seeking extra help from
veterinarians and pet owners in solving the ongoing puzzle.
“To
date, testing for contaminants in jerky treats has not revealed a cause for the
illnesses. “Despite these warnings, we have continued to receive reports of illnesses
in both cats and dogs.” Martine Hartogensis, a deputy director for the FDA’s
Center for Veterinary Medicine, said in the new report.
The new
numbers are up from some 500 deaths and 3,200 illnesses tallied in January, but
the rate of reports has fallen sharply since then, mostly because two of the
largest sellers of pet jerky treats announced recalls tied to the presence of
unapproved antibiotic residue detected in the products.
FAST
FACTS ON THE JERKY TREAT INVESTIGATION:
FDA
officials don’t think that antibiotic residue is the big problem that has
stumped the agency since 2007,instead, it’s likely that the recall of Nestle
Purina PetCare Co.’s Waggin Train and Canyon Creek Ranch treats, plus Del Monte
Corp.’s Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers home-style dog treats
simply resulted in fewer treats being available.
- FDA officials remain as uncertain as ever about the source of the problem that has led to reports of illnesses possibility of Fanconi syndrome and other kidney problems in animals that ate jerky treats.
- Kendal Harr, a veterinary clinical pathologist who has been tracking the problem, says "I think that what it tells us is that the intoxicant is something that we're not used to dealing with as a toxin in North America."
- FDA officials are asking the vets to track and send detailed information about any animals sickened by jerky treats, including results of blood and urine tests.
- About 60 percent of reports cite gastrointestinal illness in the animals, and about 30 percent flag kidney or urinary troubles, the report said. About 135 cases of Fanconi syndrome, a specific kind of kidney disease, have been reported.
- At the same time that they’re seeking help from vets, FDA officials are putting out a fact sheet for owners that can be posted at veterinary hospitals, pet supply stores and other sites.
The
agency has repeatedly cautioned that the treats are not necessary for a
balanced diet, but the warnings stop short of a recall. Because
there's no formal recall, it's not possible to list affected brands, although a
previous FDA analysis indicated that three of the top-selling brands of jerky
treats sold in the U.S. were mentioned in connection with pet illnesses.
That
doesn't sit well with pet owners like Robin Pierre of Pine Bush, N.Y., who
contends that Waggin' Train chicken jerky treats were responsible for the
sudden death in 2011 of her previously healthy 2-year-old pug, Bella, who
developed kidney failure. She has long called for FDA to crack down on treat
makers — and manufacturers.
"I
am disgusted that our government continues to protect corporate American and
China," she told NBC News. "They need to start protecting the
American consumer so that this does not happen again. As soon as a product is
in doubt, a warning label should be placed at the point of sale so that
consumers can make an educated choice."
If a pet
does become ill after eating the treats, FDA is asking owners to provide
detailed information — up to and including results of a necropsy to test an
animal’s tissues after death.
In the
meantime, officials are trying to reach pet owners who might still have treats
on hand to make sure they know about the potential problems. “Right
now, the focus for us is to make the public aware that these cases are still
coming in,” she said.
