Hundreds of dogs have died and thousands more have been sickened after eating jerky treats made in China. Now the Food and Drug Administration is issuing an alert warning dog owners about the potential hazard of these jerky treats, which are packaged as jerky tenders or strips made with chicken, duck, sweet potato, or dried fruit, or any combination thereof.
Pet owners and vets have reported illnesses and deaths to the FDA since 2007, with roughly 580 deaths from approximately 3600 illnesses, including cats. The FDA has conducted more than 1200 tests for things like Salmonella, metals, pesticides and antibiotics, but still does not know exactly what about the jerky treats is making pets sick.
“This is one of the most elusive and mysterious outbreaks we’ve encountered,” Bernadette Dunham, director of the FDA’a Center for Veterinary Medicine, said in a statement.
Symptoms include vomitting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, decreased activity, and increased water intake. About 60 percent of the cases involved gastrointestinal illness and 30 pecent involved kidney and urinary systems. The symptoms can appear within hours of eating the treats. If you think your dog has eaten tainted treats, be sure to see your vet immediately. The FDA notes that although 580 dogs have died, many more have recovered.
The easiest way to keep your dog safe is to eliminate jerky treats from their diet. You can also check the packaging to make sure the treats were not made in China, where most of the tainted jerky treats have come from. The FDA has compiled a fact sheet for dog owners with additional tips on how to keep your dog safe.
Yellow Dog Blog 
I stopped giving jerky treats years ago along with bully sticks and rawhide chews. You really have to read the labels carefully too – I have seen usa flags with statement “imported by so and so in the USA” but stuff is made in China. Why any American dog food company can’t make their own dog treats in their own backyard is beyond me.
I agree we need to check labels very carefully. I’m quite picky about what I give my dogs; I give Pure Bites, Charlie Bears, and a treat from Pet Food Express called Smart N Tasty Little Duckies. All three are made in the USA and are limited-ingredient treats. Have you seen my previous article on the commercial dog food industry? Given the standards, I’m not surprised this is happening. I just hope it helps people be more aware of what they are feeding their dog! Thanks for the comment!