Keep Your Pet Safe From Poisonous Treats

This year it has been reported there is a rise of pet deaths, due to jerky treats that have since been blacklisted from the market. It’s also noted that since 2007, there have been 361 deaths total, mostly dogs, with one incident reported of a cat.

The FDA has given notice that they are investigating the causes and their panel of experts include toxicologists, vetrinary researchers, among several others. Much of our jerky treats and pet food has been imported from China, and has recently expanded since 2003. The most common illnesses are vomiting and diarrhea, with a number of others included. Currently, the FDA is doing it’s best to investigate all pet treats and food for any signs of contamination.

A few tips from the FDA to keep pets safe when eating dog/cat treats and food:

1. Pet owners can eliminate treats from a diet as they are not necessary or harmful when taken away, as long as they are fed their standard pet food.

2. Should you choose to give treats to your pet, look for abnormal signs after eatching, such as vomiting, diarrhea, becoming lethargic, and anything else that is out of the ordinary; call your vet immediately, if symptoms do not subside.

3. If you suspect your pet has an illness, owners can report it electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal3, or by calling the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators in your state.

Have you, as a pet owner or vetrinarian, experienced an illness such as this with your pet? If so, what precautions and further tips can you provide for our readers to prevent this from happening again?

Sources:

http://www.khou.com/community/blogs/animal-attraction/Animal-Attraction—170150376.html

http://www.fda.gov