As of May 1, 2014, the FDA has received in total more than 4,800 complaints of illness in pets that ate chicken, duck, or sweet potato jerky treats, nearly all of which are imported from China.
The reports involve more than 5,600 dogs, 24 cats, three people, and include more than 1,000 canine deaths. These include about 1,800 reports received since FDA’s last update in October 2013.
Jerky Treat Illness Symptoms
Within hours of eating treats sold as jerky tenders or strips made of chicken, duck, sweet potatoes and/or dried fruit, some pets have exhibited decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus), increased water consumption, and/or increased urination.
Severe cases have involved kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and a rare kidney disorder. About 60 percent of cases involved gastrointestinal illness, and about 30 percent involved kidney and urinary systems. About 15 percent of the kidney or urinary cases also tested positive for Fanconi syndrome, a rare kidney disease that has been associated with this investigation.
The remaining 10 percent of cases reported various symptoms, such as neurologic, dermatologic, and immunologic symptoms.
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