How Chinese Dog Treats Are Killing Our Pets

The abundance of Chinese dog treats in the market may dupe you into buying treats that you think your pet will enjoy. But are you unintentionally putting them in harm’s way?

As pet parents, we make it a priority to do everything we can to keep our pets safe from any harm. We never want to feed our babies anything that could adversely affect them or their health.

Yet, horrific incidents take place that affect thousands of pets and kill hundreds of them. We’re all aware of the notorious unhealthy treats, but when our pets’ lives are at risk, is the chance worth taking?

Let’s break down Chinese pet treats and how we can warrant our pets’ safety.

What Difference Does It Make If My Pet’s Treats Come From China?
- Background of Chinese Pet Treats and Food
- Chinese Jerky Pet Treats And The FDA
Risks Of Consuming Chinese Jerky Treats
How Can You Ensure The Treats You Buy Are Safe For Your Pet?

What Difference Does It Make If My Pet’s Treats Come From China?

In 2007, an incident took place in the US. A lot of us Indians may be unaware of it but it plays an important role in truly understanding how dangerous Chinese treats can be.

China is a leading manufacturer of jerky pet treats in the world. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in 2007, started receiving several reports of illnesses in pets associated with the consumption of jerky treats imported from China.

These reports involved more than 5,200 ill pets and 1,140 canine deaths. All related to the consumption of chicken, duck, or sweet potato jerky treats imported from China.

Background of Chinese Pet Treats & Food

China is one of the largest exporters of pet treats in the world. It is also known for offering pet food ingredients at unbelievably low prices. People in China prefer dark poultry meat, which spares huge quantities of light meat available for export.

China has no comprehensive regulations when it comes to pet food manufacturing and exports. Although there are rules for human food poisoning, there aren’t any strict penalties for wrongdoers in terms of pet food safety.

Chinese Jerky Pet Treats & The FDA

The FDA started investigating the possibility of contamination in jerky treats after receiving complaints about a potential link between dog treats from China and the death of around 90 dogs. A majority of complaints involved chicken jerky, but others included duck, sweet potato, and treats where chicken or duck jerky is wrapped around dried fruits, sweet potatoes, yams, or rawhide.

To date, FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has conducted more than 1,200 tests for a variety of chemical and microbiological contaminants, from antibiotics to pesticides and even Salmonella. DNA testing has also been conducted, along with tests for nutritional composition.

Severe cases in pets who consumed these treats have involved kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and a rare kidney disorder. Around 60% of cases involved gastrointestinal illness, and about 30% involved kidney and urinary systems. The remaining cases reported various symptoms, such as convulsions or skin issues.

Additionally, the CVM also visited jerky treat manufacturers in China and collaborated with others in the industry, state labs, and foreign governments but the exact cause of the illnesses still remains difficult to track down.

China has been a country of concern for many pet parents since the 2007 Pet Food Recall and the hundreds of thousands of pet deaths since. Unfortunately, pet food brands are not obligated to disclose where their ingredients come from. This has led manufacturers today to be less than forthcoming with the country of origin information on pet products.

Thus, it is important to get information about the source of the ingredients for anything your pet consumes. And it is always better to purchase products from trusted manufacturers only.

Risks Of Consuming Chinese Jerky Treats

Risks of Chinese Pet Treats for Dogs — *Source: Pexels*

If you have been giving your pet any treats that may have been manufactured in China or use Chinese ingredients, we urge you to consider the risks. Be alert for any of these symptoms that may emerge upon consumption.

Diarrhea with blood or mucus
Decrease in appetite
Lethargy
Frequent urination
Increased water consumption
Vomiting

The symptoms may start to show within hours or even days after consuming the contaminated treats. They can be simple or even life-threatening. Veterinarians that treated affected pets in the USA have reported the following complications:

Gastrointestinal bleeding
Pancreatitis
Kidney failure
Increased glucose content in the urine
Skin irritations
Widespread cancer

A lot of these have a resemblance to the signs shown in pets with Fanconi Syndrome, which is a rare kidney disease shown in certain breeds as a hereditary condition. The Chinese jerky treats cause dogs to get Acquired Fanconi Syndrome.

If your pet is exhibiting any of the mentioned signs or illnesses, please seek veterinary advice as quickly as possible.

How Can You Ensure The Treats You Buy Are Safe For Your Pet

As a pet parent, it can be difficult to protect your pooch from such dangers. But with informed decisions, sound advice, and extra planning, you will be able to feed your pet delicious treats without compromising on their health.

Only purchase treats from reputable sellers and be wary of the mass-produced brands available as cheaper alternatives, as they often contain low-quality Chinese ingredients.
Always read the ingredients label of any product you buy and make it a habit to check where it’s manufactured.
If there is any sort of indication that China was involved in the manufacturing of the treats, or if you’re unsure, then just avoid buying it.

At Pawcrafted, all the ingredients are grown, sourced, and processed locally in India – and absolutely nothing originates from China. Our jerky treats are safe and nutritious, made with high-quality meat and no preservatives or synthetic additives. Like you, we understand the importance of quality in your pet’s diet. Opt for a pet treat brand you can trust, like Pawcrafted.