Petco Pulls Jerky Treats from Shelves After Reports of Pets Dying

By SHANNON ANTINORI

Petco is in the process this week of removing all China-made dog and cat treats from its shelves.

The company announced the decision Tuesday, after years of concern from pet owners who believe the treats are making dogs and cats sick, sometimes fatally.

• Read: Flossmoor Family Says Jerky Treats Killed Dog
  
  

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued a warning about toxic jerky treats, saying that as of May 1, more than 1,000 dogs have died as a result of eating tainted treats. The FDA has received more than 4,800 reports of jerky treat-related pet illnesses since 2007.

Nearly 2,000 new reports of illness have come since the FDAissued a warning in October 2013 about the potential dangers of treats made in China.
So far, the FDA has been unable to pinpoint why so many pets are getting sick and developing kidney-related diseases, theHuffington Post reported. However, the majority of cases appear to derive from consumption of a jerky treat that was imported from China.
In a report, the FDA said illness has been reported in pets within hours of eating jerky tenders or strips made of duck, chicken, sweet potatoes and/or dried fruit. Most of the implicated jerky treats have been made in China.

Signs of illness in pets have included decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea, increased water consumption and/or increased urination. Severe cases have involved kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and a rare kidney disorder, according to the FDA.

View a list of recalled treats on the Humane Society of the United States' website.

• To report an illness online, use the FDA's Safety Reporting Portal
• In Illinois, call 312-353-7840
• For more information, check the FDA's consumer fact sheet on jerky treat-related illnesses.