If you ranked treats by wagging tails, it's quite possible chicken jerky treats might be begged for as much as bacon. Unfortunately it looks like they are causing an increasing number of illnesses in dogs.
Feed Your Best Friend, Better
Since 2007, the FDA has been receiving reports of dogs experiencing vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood in the stool), increased water consumption and/or increased urination. These symptoms can be the results of Fanconi Syndrome and kidney damage and deaths have been reported.
The reason this is occurring is still unknown and until the contaminant is identified the FDA cannot issue a recall. Although companies can recall jerky product on their own, none have acted in the best interest of our pets.
The affected products were produced in China and do far are limited to chicken. However many of the companies also produce duck jerky and it's not unlikely that the poor manufacturing practices or purposeful contamination (whichever it turns out to be) will affect the duck jerky as well.
There is a long history of food products from China being contaminated continues and recent detective work by Susan Thixton, a pet food advocate, points to continued import refusals due to melamine. The FDA has tested for melamine, but doesn't believe that is the cause of the current jerky issue.
You can read more about Susan's research here: http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/is-it-melamine-again.html.
As a pet owner, it's probably best to dump any poultry jerky treats made in China. Personally I'd rather dump $10 worth of treats if it protects my dogs from harm and saves me from a potentially costly trip to the veterinarian. It's not a bad idea to avoid all food and treats from China; if Susan's research reveals anything it's that there are continued problems with contaminated products and it's just a matter of time before another large recall is made. I'm not trying to be an alarmist, but I urge you to check labels and buy products that are labeled 'Made In The USA', it's a better bet for your dog and our country's economy.
Feed Your Best Friend, Better
Rick
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