Comments on: FDA Warns Dogs to Avoid Chicken Jerky http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/ The Dogster Community Dog Blog Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:33 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Susan http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/comment-page-1/#comment-733619 Susan Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:24:31 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/#comment-733619 My five-year-old Boston Terrier was diagnosed with pancreatitis this morning after throwing up three times within two hours, the last time with blood. After waiting 30 minutes for blood tests, the enzyme levels were off the charts and didn't even register except for a large red arrow pointing to the right indicating it couldn't be measured it was so high. My four small dogs have been eating Waggin' Train chicken treats for years, and just three weeks ago I started giving them the Waggin' Train pig ear wraps from Sam's. That's the only change in their diet and I think I'm fortunate at this point that only one of my four babies is sick. But it makes me sick to my stomach to think that I poisoned my own dog by giving her a treat that I thought was safe. She's hospitalized for a minimum of two days without any food or water and on an IV with antibiotics. I've picked up every leftover pig ear chew in the house and thrown them away. I will never buy another chicken treat either, even though like other stories, my dogs are addicted to them and know where I keep them and beg for their two-three time daily chicken bites. No more! I will now start making my own homemade treats where I can control the quality and no worry about unknown food safety controls or indredients. My sweet Bella doesn't deserve to be in pain because of a treat! NO MORE! My five-year-old Boston Terrier was diagnosed with pancreatitis this morning after throwing up three times within two hours, the last time with blood. After waiting 30 minutes for blood tests, the enzyme levels were off the charts and didn’t even register except for a large red arrow pointing to the right indicating it couldn’t be measured it was so high. My four small dogs have been eating Waggin’ Train chicken treats for years, and just three weeks ago I started giving them the Waggin’ Train pig ear wraps from Sam’s. That’s the only change in their diet and I think I’m fortunate at this point that only one of my four babies is sick. But it makes me sick to my stomach to think that I poisoned my own dog by giving her a treat that I thought was safe. She’s hospitalized for a minimum of two days without any food or water and on an IV with antibiotics. I’ve picked up every leftover pig ear chew in the house and thrown them away. I will never buy another chicken treat either, even though like other stories, my dogs are addicted to them and know where I keep them and beg for their two-three time daily chicken bites. No more! I will now start making my own homemade treats where I can control the quality and no worry about unknown food safety controls or indredients. My sweet Bella doesn’t deserve to be in pain because of a treat! NO MORE!

]]> By: Terri http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/comment-page-1/#comment-733578 Terri Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:46:32 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/#comment-733578 I bought a bag of Waggin' Tails chicken jerky from Costco to give to my finicky, 6lb. poodle-Shih Tzsu mix. Within two days, she began to vomit yellow bile and refused her regular meals. Luckily for me--and her--I had only given her 1/3 of a piece for each treat, and she recovered within a few days. What really upset me was that I had examined the jerky bag before purchasing it to make sure that it was NOT a product of China. After my dog became suddenly ill, I examined the bag more closely, carefully looking at all sides, including the bottom. There in tiny, tiny print on the lower corner of the bag almost on the bottom seam were the words, "product of China." I returned the bag to Costco and told the customer service rep what had happened to my dog. I was assured that their purchasing department would be notified, but the product remains for sale to this date, many months later. After extensive research into all brands of chicken jerky, I have yet to find a brand that isn't made in China, although a few companies have simply left out the location of the manufacturer and state only the distribution location which is often in the US. I now avoid ANY product made in China--not only the ones that go into my dog's mouth, but mine, as well. That includes plastic straws, cups, plates, utensils--anything plastic or ceramic glazed used for food preparation or service in particular. I was appalled, for example, to find that those cute, little sippy cups I'd been buying for my granddaughter, carried a "made in China" stamp. Now, I check EVERYTHING before purchasing. Since we can't trust the individuals whose job it is to police this problem, we are forced to do it ourselves. I bought a bag of Waggin’ Tails chicken jerky from Costco to give to my finicky, 6lb. poodle-Shih Tzsu mix. Within two days, she began to vomit yellow bile and refused her regular meals. Luckily for me–and her–I had only given her 1/3 of a piece for each treat, and she recovered within a few days. What really upset me was that I had examined the jerky bag before purchasing it to make sure that it was NOT a product of China. After my dog became suddenly ill, I examined the bag more closely, carefully looking at all sides, including the bottom. There in tiny, tiny print on the lower corner of the bag almost on the bottom seam were the words, “product of China.” I returned the bag to Costco and told the customer service rep what had happened to my dog. I was assured that their purchasing department would be notified, but the product remains for sale to this date, many months later.

After extensive research into all brands of chicken jerky, I have yet to find a brand that isn’t made in China, although a few companies have simply left out the location of the manufacturer and state only the distribution location which is often in the US.

I now avoid ANY product made in China–not only the ones that go into my dog’s mouth, but mine, as well. That includes plastic straws, cups, plates, utensils–anything plastic or ceramic glazed used for food preparation or service in particular. I was appalled, for example, to find that those cute, little sippy cups I’d been buying for my granddaughter, carried a “made in China” stamp.

Now, I check EVERYTHING before purchasing. Since we can’t trust the individuals whose job it is to police this problem, we are forced to do it ourselves.

]]> By: Cristy Xtremedolls http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/comment-page-1/#comment-682397 Cristy Xtremedolls Wed, 08 Apr 2009 03:32:50 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/#comment-682397 These treats almost killed my dachshund this weekend. $6,000 worth of treatment and test and they all come back to these treats Waggin Train Chicken Treats, BEWARE These treats almost killed my dachshund this weekend. $6,000 worth of treatment and test and they all come back to these treats Waggin Train Chicken Treats, BEWARE

]]> By: Eleanor (Furby's mom) http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/comment-page-1/#comment-626401 Eleanor (Furby's mom) Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:03:07 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/#comment-626401 My 9 1/2 year old female Maltese (my fur child) was recently diagnosed with diabetes and chronic pancreatitis. She underwent an abdominal ultrasound and a liver biopsy which revealed the pancreatitis. She had been having the Waggin'Train chicken jerky strips for several years - and loved them. I have no way of knowing for sure if the treats have caused her illnesses, but I will never again give her anything to eat where any part of it is made in China. Her vet said that in his 13 years of practice he has not treated a dog with two serious illnesses at one time. I give her an injection of Vetsulin twice a day to treat her diabetes, and she takes some expensive medication every day (which we are hoping will help her liver to heal). She also recently (and suddenly) lost her eyesight. I now cook for her (turkey, brown rice, and vegetables). I make some of her treats - and also found that she loves Carvers (roasted slices for dogs, made by Purina). They are made in the USA and the package says they have over 80% real chicken. I purchase them at Pet Smart. I plan to check out the Kona's Chips that have been mentioned by a couple of you as being safe. I keep hoping and praying that my little girl will eventually regain her health and at least partial eyesight. She is such a good part of my life. My 9 1/2 year old female Maltese (my fur child) was recently diagnosed with diabetes and chronic pancreatitis. She underwent an abdominal ultrasound and a liver biopsy which revealed the pancreatitis. She had been having the Waggin’Train chicken jerky strips for several years – and loved them. I have no way of knowing for sure if the treats have caused her illnesses, but I will never again give her anything to eat where any part of it is made in China. Her vet said that in his 13 years of practice he has not treated a dog with two serious illnesses at one time. I give her an injection of Vetsulin twice a day to treat her diabetes, and she takes some expensive medication every day (which we are hoping will help her liver to heal). She also recently (and suddenly) lost her eyesight. I now cook for her (turkey, brown rice, and vegetables). I make some of her treats – and also found that she loves Carvers (roasted slices for dogs, made by Purina). They are made in the USA and the package says they have over 80% real chicken. I purchase them at Pet Smart. I plan to check out the Kona’s Chips that have been mentioned by a couple of you as being safe. I keep hoping and praying that my little girl will eventually regain her health and at least partial eyesight. She is such a good part of my life.

]]> By: sheltiemom59 http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/comment-page-1/#comment-566915 sheltiemom59 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:25:51 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/#comment-566915 I have read about all these terrible incidents and am so glad that most of us are becoming much more aware of the edible products made for our pets. There are many chewies, rawhide chips, rollbones, etc. carried at most of the pet food and supply stores that are franchises; even some of the smaller, family-owned and operated franchises and they TOO carry some products made in china...It is very difficult to find bones, rawhides and roasted knuckle type bones for larger dogs, as well as the smaller size for the medium to small dogs that are MADE IN AMERICA...It really shouldn't be that difficult to find these items since so so many of us want QUALITY foods and treats and bones for our beloved pets. Yes, the pet industry seems to only have the "bottom line" in mind for their profit margins...whatever happened to making quality items that may cost a little bit more than buying poisoned food and treat items...we should all ask these franchises to take the made in china items off their shelves if they want our business. I have, on more than one occasion, gone in to these franchise pet stores and when they ask me if I need any help, I ask the employee that offered their assistance to me if they carry any of these types of products "not made in china or argentina or brazil, etc." They usually don't know the answer and go ask their manager on duty... the responses I get vary, but usually they don't know what to say, either they say they didn't know they were made there or that they didn't realize anything was wrong with products from these countries. The reason I stated those other countries is due to the fact that usually the hides, etc. are chemically sprayed with poisonous pesticides and hung to dry out before they are cut up and made into the products we purchase for chew products for our dogs...like the rawhide chips, flips, pig ears, roll bones, etc....and I am sure that you all already know this from reading all the above entries...It sure is a sad state of affairs that poisonous, edible products can make it on the shelves of our stores here without any repercussions to speak of. We really need to boycott these items and at least tell one other person in those stores that are shopping, or checking out with one of these products in question and let them know why they shouldn't buy these type items...just like a pyramid or the domino effect...we can pass this word around to these poor, uneducated pet owners and then they can pass this info around too...we need to change the products that are offered to us by boycotting these potentially life threatening poisonous products--but the stores and companies need to know that we are doing this and are spreading the word! Sorry to go on so long and thank you for those jerky recipes, I am going to make those for my pack of dogs too! I have read about all these terrible incidents and am so glad that most of us are becoming much more aware of the edible products made for our pets. There are many chewies, rawhide chips, rollbones, etc. carried at most of the pet food and supply stores that are franchises; even some of the smaller, family-owned and operated franchises and they TOO carry some products made in china…It is very difficult to find bones, rawhides and roasted knuckle type bones for larger dogs, as well as the smaller size for the medium to small dogs that are MADE IN AMERICA…It really shouldn’t be that difficult to find these items since so so many of us want QUALITY foods and treats and bones for our beloved pets. Yes, the pet industry seems to only have the “bottom line” in mind for their profit margins…whatever happened to making quality items that may cost a little bit more than buying poisoned food and treat items…we should all ask these franchises to take the made in china items off their shelves if they want our business. I have, on more than one occasion, gone in to these franchise pet stores and when they ask me if I need any help, I ask the employee that offered their assistance to me if they carry any of these types of products “not made in china or argentina or brazil, etc.” They usually don’t know the answer and go ask their manager on duty… the responses I get vary, but usually they don’t know what to say, either they say they didn’t know they were made there or that they didn’t realize anything was wrong with products from these countries. The reason I stated those other countries is due to the fact that usually the hides, etc. are chemically sprayed with poisonous pesticides and hung to dry out before they are cut up and made into the products we purchase for chew products for our dogs…like the rawhide chips, flips, pig ears, roll bones, etc….and I am sure that you all already know this from reading all the above entries…It sure is a sad state of affairs that poisonous, edible products can make it on the shelves of our stores here without any repercussions to speak of. We really need to boycott these items and at least tell one other person in those stores that are shopping, or checking out with one of these products in question and let them know why they shouldn’t buy these type items…just like a pyramid or the domino effect…we can pass this word around to these poor, uneducated pet owners and then they can pass this info around too…we need to change the products that are offered to us by boycotting these potentially life threatening poisonous products–but the stores and companies need to know that we are doing this and are spreading the word! Sorry to go on so long and thank you for those jerky recipes, I am going to make those for my pack of dogs too!

]]> By: Barbara http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/comment-page-1/#comment-566829 Barbara Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:25:17 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/#comment-566829 I have purchased Chicken Nibbles and Chicken Strips from Pet Professional's Choice with, so far, no ill effects. No mention was made that any product came from China. However, their NEW labels clearly state that this product is from China!! Why weren't we notified before? I, too, am opting for home-made treats from now on. This is scary! I have purchased Chicken Nibbles and Chicken Strips from Pet Professional’s Choice with, so far, no ill effects. No mention was made that any product came from China. However, their NEW labels clearly state that this product is from China!! Why weren’t we notified before? I, too, am opting for home-made treats from now on. This is scary!

]]> By: BILL http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/comment-page-1/#comment-554053 BILL Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:41:10 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/#comment-554053 WELL I'VE BEEN GETTING CHICKEN STRIPS FOR MY TWO KIDS FOR TWO YEARS KNOW. I HAVE'NT HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT AS OF YET. BUT THE KIDS HAVE EAT'EN CHICKEN SINCE THEY WERE BORN. THEY WILL NOT EAT ANYTHING ELSE. AND THERE WHAT I WOULD AND MY VET. WOULD CALL HEALTHY. THANK YOU, BILL WELL I’VE BEEN GETTING CHICKEN STRIPS FOR MY TWO KIDS FOR TWO YEARS KNOW. I HAVE’NT HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT AS OF YET. BUT THE KIDS HAVE EAT’EN CHICKEN SINCE THEY WERE BORN. THEY WILL NOT EAT ANYTHING ELSE. AND THERE WHAT I WOULD AND MY VET. WOULD CALL HEALTHY. THANK YOU, BILL

]]> By: Suzanne Kelly http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/comment-page-1/#comment-512791 Suzanne Kelly Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:04:07 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/#comment-512791 I have read some info on your website related to Chicken Strips that are made in China. I have 4 Dogs and the one Dog that I fed Chicken Buddies Chicken Strips has contacted Toxoplasma Gondii which is a parasite that has affected my beautiful,healthy, strong Standard Poodle's brain and muscles. In less than a 4 month period my dog is blind, lacks muscle coordination, lethargic, has dementia among other systems. I am not sure this is where she has contacted the parasite but I am having the last bag of chicken strips I purchased tested for the parasite. I would like to know if anyother readers to this blog have had the same issues with this product.. I would urge anyone that has a dog with the symtems described above (my dog started with just being lethargic, having diarrea, drinking water constantly and progressed quickly to the other systems) to have their dog check for Toxoplasma Gondii immediately! They have started my dog on Antibiotics for a 6 week cycle to kill the parasite but we don't know if there will be permanent damage. my e-mail mistybleu@msn.com I have read some info on your website related to Chicken Strips that are made in China. I have 4 Dogs and the one Dog that I fed Chicken Buddies Chicken Strips has contacted Toxoplasma Gondii which is a parasite that has affected my beautiful,healthy, strong Standard Poodle’s brain and muscles. In less than a 4 month period my dog is blind, lacks muscle coordination, lethargic, has dementia among other systems. I am not sure this is where she has contacted the parasite but I am having the last bag of chicken strips I purchased tested for the parasite. I would like to know if anyother readers to this blog have had the same issues with this product..

I would urge anyone that has a dog with the symtems described above (my dog started with just being lethargic, having diarrea, drinking water constantly and progressed quickly to the other systems) to have their dog check for Toxoplasma Gondii immediately!

They have started my dog on Antibiotics for a 6 week cycle to kill the parasite but we don’t know if there will be permanent damage.

my e-mail mistybleu@msn.com

]]> By: Cici http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/comment-page-1/#comment-480851 Cici Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:38:28 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/#comment-480851 Oops! Sorry, I didn't realize I had already posted here! Just trying to spread the word about dog products from China! Oops! Sorry, I didn’t realize I had already posted here! Just trying to spread the word about dog products from China!

]]> By: Cici http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/comment-page-1/#comment-480846 Cici Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:37:04 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/2007/09/26/fda-warns-dogs-to-avoid-chicken-jerky/#comment-480846 Our dog, Pooky, a 10 lb pomeranian got sick from eating the chicken jerky too. We are so thankful that he recovered, but he had all the symptoms listed on the warnings such as lethargy, drinking water, refusing food, etc. Both the dogs were totally addicted to those chicken jerky treats! I'm trying to get the word out, but it seems like the word is out on this blog--don't feed treats from China! Also, to let everyone know about Kona's Chips, which we found a wonderful chicken jerky replacement, produced here in the U S of A and you can buy them online at konaschip.com Our vet recommended them and our dogs love them! :) Our dog, Pooky, a 10 lb pomeranian got sick from eating the chicken jerky too. We are so thankful that he recovered, but he had all the symptoms listed on the warnings such as lethargy, drinking water, refusing food, etc. Both the dogs were totally addicted to those chicken jerky treats! I’m trying to get the word out, but it seems like the word is out on this blog–don’t feed treats from China! Also, to let everyone know about Kona’s Chips, which we found a wonderful chicken jerky replacement, produced here in the U S of A and you can buy them online at konaschip.com

Our vet recommended them and our dogs love them! :)

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