FDA Puzzled over 580 Dog Deaths Linked to Jerky Treats

The US Food and Drug Administration is reaching out to pet owners across the country for assistance in a puzzling investigation into why some dogs have died after eating dried meat jerky treats.

Since 2007, the FDA has documented jerky-related pet illnesses involving 3,600 dogs and 10 cats. Approximately 580 of those pets died, likely as the result of what they ate. But the exact cause of the illness remains unknown, despite upwards of 1,200 tests on pet treats preformed by the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).

It is suspected that jerky treats manufactured in China are largely to blame. The FDA said in a statement Tuesday that it has visited pet treat manufacturers in China and worked across the board with other federal agencies and academic researchers to pin down the exact cause.

"This is one of the most elusive and mysterious outbreaks we've encountered," said CVM Director Bernadette Dunham. "Our beloved four-legged companions deserve our best effort, and we are giving it."

Pet owners and veterinarians are encouraged to contact the FDA it if they encounter a dog that is sickened by a jerky treat.

The FDA did not list any brand names of pet treats, but said cases of sick animals involved "treats sold as jerky tenders or strips made of chicken, duck, sweet potatoes and/or dried fruit." Most of the jerky treats implicated were made in China, the FDA said, adding that US law does not require pet food manufactures to state the origin of the individual ingredients in their products.

Pets sickened by the tainted treats can exhibit a variety of symptoms including decreased appetite and activity, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus), increased water consumption or excessive 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," the FDA said. "The remaining cases reported various symptoms, such as collapse, convulsions or skin issues."

In January of this year, some Chinese-made pet jerky treats were taken off the market after an investigation found six types of unapproved antibiotics in them.

The FDA recommends using caution when feeding jerky treats to pets until the investigation is concluded.

"Pet treats are not a necessary part of a fully balanced diet, so eliminating them will not harm pets," the FDA said, according to Reuters.