I am sure that most of you have heard about the animals that have become sick and died because of contaminated dog and cat food from China. Since 2007, they have found MELAMINE in pet food and treats. Were you aware however, that since then the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported over 4,800 complaints and 1,000+ dogs, 24 cats, and at least 3 people have died? Most of this has been linked to Chicken JERKY TREATS.
According to an article in The Capital newspaper (Tuesday, June 17, 2014) by Dr, Francine Rattner, a veterinarian at South Arundel Animal Hospital in Maryland, samples were taken by the FDA recently of chicken jerky treats from veterinarians across the United States who treated dogs that became ill after eating them. It is shocking to find that the chemical analysis shows the treats contain two really bad things – the insect repellent DEET and the drug AMANTADINE.
DEET is a common insect repellent and pesticide. Amantadine is a drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease, some types of flu viruses, and for pain management in dogs. Dr Rattner supposes that maybe the poultry farmers were using it to prevent avian influenza in their chickens, though it is not legal to use that drug on poultry in the US.
There is no direct proof that the contaminants in the jerky treats are responsible for the problems, so the FDA has not recalled the Chinese-made treats and many stores still sell them.
I thought that I was being smart by avoiding treats labeled “Made in China,” but, what I learned was that packages can be labeled “Made in the USA,” even if they include ingredients sourced from other countries (since it is put together here). The only way that you can actually know where the ingredients come from is to contact the maker of the product, and if you are lucky enough to get the right person, they can tell you where their source is.
Bottom line: If you want to feed your dog jerky treats, make them yourself or do without.
PLZ, DON”T CHANCE GETTING ME SICK!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
angelswhisper2011
June 26, 2014 at 03:09
This is terrible, Dogdaz. Granny is very aware of these issues and she only gives me natural treats, even if I don’t like them…. Pawkisses 🙂
dogdaz
June 26, 2014 at 06:50
Yes, we are running out of store bought treat options too.
fredrieka
June 26, 2014 at 06:34
Reblogged this on Love your dog and commented:
Momwithoutpaws always buys made in the USA if it is made in the us you do not have to search the carton normally it is blazed on the front of the package.
sassybrat1904
June 28, 2014 at 00:04
from above in Blog-Dog daze says what I learned was that packages can be labeled “Made in the USA,” even if they include ingredients sourced from other countries (since it is put together here). The only way that you can actually know where the ingredients come from is to contact the maker of the product, and if you are lucky enough to get the right person, they can tell you where their source is.
dogdaz
June 28, 2014 at 01:42
Thanks sassybrat – DogDaz
fredrieka
June 28, 2014 at 06:50
some companies are wising up and on the lable they put all ingredients from the USA I should start compiling a list
dogdaz
June 28, 2014 at 07:44
That would be great. Thanks.
sassybrat1904
June 29, 2014 at 00:35
That would be very useful. I think i will look and see what I can find also.
fredrieka
June 26, 2014 at 06:35
thank you for this I told momwithoutpaws to reblog it
dogdaz
June 26, 2014 at 06:48
Thank you Fredrieka. I don’t want people to think that it is now safe, when it is not, Stay well.
readingwithrhythm
June 26, 2014 at 08:13
Yikes! I’ve always been a little sad that we don’t get that jerky stuff here, but I guess it’s a good thing. I guess it’s made by jerks. 😦
dogdaz
June 26, 2014 at 08:18
So right. If you want some maybe someone can make it for you. Stay safe
easyweimaraner
June 26, 2014 at 12:12
Oh no, that’s horrible. I decided to buy jerky treats no longer. Mostly they have no country of origin on the packages here, so I think it’s better without that treats.
dogdaz
June 26, 2014 at 14:55
Good idea. It is getting really difficult to trust food, whether for human or beast. Scary.
Tracey Bagatta
June 26, 2014 at 15:12
Thank you so much for keeping this conversation alive! Far too many people are unaware of the deaths and illnesses connected to imported jerky.
dogdaz
June 26, 2014 at 18:24
You are very welcome Tracey. I think that it is easy to forget when something is not placed in front of you regularly. It is hard to believe that we have been talking about this since 2007.
sassybrat1904
June 28, 2014 at 00:07
Get a dehydrator and you can make the jerky yourself. I have one of the as seen on tv ones from way back and it works great.
dogdaz
June 28, 2014 at 01:41
I will look into that option. Thanks.