A lot of dogs have died needlessly because of jerky treats. Treats! Dogs are dying from the treats we give them! Think about that. And it’s not just the jerky from China or just the meat jerky. I’ve run across an article of recent, The Problem With Dogs and Jerky Treats, and posted excerpts below. Though I used to boycott jerky from China, and meat jerky only, now I’m boycottting any jerky. There are plenty of other treats to use. Jerky is not indispensable. And it’s not worth the risk of my dogs’ health or demise. No way!
These excerpts are take from Dr. Barchas’s original article.
“…nobody knows why jerky treats make dogs sick. The problem was initially considered to be an issue with ‘Chinese chicken jerky.’ However, it is now known that duck, sweet potato, and dried fruit jerkies also can cause illness.”
” Long story short: no jerky, regardless of where it comes from, should be considered safe.”
“The analogy between grapes and jerky may actually be a very good one. There are some people who are beginning to suspect that there is no contaminant. Rather, they suspect that jerky itself, like grapes, may be safe for people yet toxic to some dogs (but not others).”
“According to this theory, jerky (and not just the Chinese-made variety) has been poisonous all along and the problem simply wasn’t identified until 2007. This is similar to our experience with grapes, which were recommended as healthy treats for dogs until the early 2000s.”
“The theory is backed up by anecdotal evidence from vets going back 30 years or longer. I have heard stories of dogs dying after eating jerky intended for humans many decades ago.”
“Of course, the FDA could simply ban chicken jerky treats, but it has so far refused to do that, supposedly because the adulterant, contaminant, or cause of the problems is unknown. Or maybe someone is paying them off.”
“Fortunately, as long as strangers, friends, and neighbors don’t give treats to your dog, the problem is easy to avoid. Don’t feed jerky, imported or domestic, marketed for dogs or for humans, commercial or homemade, to your dog. Period.”
There is an excellent website that will email anyone who signs up recall alerts pertaining to pet food and treats. I would advise anyone with a pet and an email address to get on the list. There are a surprising number of recalls and without having a news source about these pet food and treat recalls, you may miss out on important and relevant information. The site is the Dog Food Advisor.
Update on June 27, 2024: The link to Dr. Barchas’s article on dogster had redirected to a new article that was watered down and ineffective information about the dangers of jerky. As I researched for 2 days, I found an article written by a veterinarian in Australia who echos Dr. Barchas’s information. Please click here for Dr. Andrew’s post about the dangers of jerky. This is a serious matter.
By Helen Verte
Certified Pet Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed, Certified Trick Dog Instructor
Positive Dog Training Broward County Florida
