Pet Treat Manfacturers To Develop Feeding Guidelines!

There is still no conclusion of why there have been over 70 complaints
to the FDA that dogs became ill from eating chicken jerky products. Pet
owners continue to look for answers of why their pets became sick or
died from simply eating chicken jerky treats.

In response to pet owners' complaints, some pet treat manufacturers
and retailers are putting something different on their package label.
Recommendations on how many snacks a day should be given to dogs. Some
manufacturers suggested that pets were possibly getting sick because
owners were overfeeding them or using treats as their regular pet food.

Similar to what is on pet food, some companies, like ADI Pet Inc. and
Smokehouse Pet Products, will be placing feeding instructions based on
an animal's weight for pet treats.

"The problem with high-protein treats is that dogs really, really
like them because they taste good. I may like hamburgers for the same
reason, but I shouldn't eat 10 of them a day," said Jerry Peters,
president of ADI Pet Inc., makers of Waggin' Train brand jerky treats.

PetSmart developed feeding guidelines in conjunction with Smokehouse
Pet Products, a product they pulled off the shelves in September, and
veterinarians, based on a pet's weight. The feeding table is in stores
now and will be put on Smokehouse labels by early next year.

Some say since the FDA has not found anything definitive in their
investigation and that there is no scientific evidence that proves
overfeeding is a factor, these new labels are premature.

"Making changes without a solid basis for the changes at best would be
ineffective; at worst, it could ... magnify a problem a problem if a
problem does exist," said David Syverson, pet food committee chairman
for the American Association of Feed Control Officers.

Syverson said that instructions are not required for treats that are
not part of a pet's daily diet because "since treats are really junk
food for pets, in a manner of speaking."

In other chicken-jerky related news, more reports of sick pets
continue. Cathy von Haartman, a Seattle resident, said that one of
her dogs became ill after eating chicken jerky treats.

"She vomited up the jerky and then she was sick for about four days.
She wouldn't eat. She was very lethargic and when she slept it looked
like she was having seizures," von Haartman said.

Dr. Jayne Jensen, a veterinarian, tells pet owners to feed treats
sparingly and to be careful about where the treats are coming from.

"Read the labels very thoroughly. Look where they are from. A lot of
these come in with kind of an American name on them, but they're
actually produced overseas. And as we've seen from previous experience,
overseas products may not be as safe as ones that are made here," said
Jensen.

<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-flhlpjerky1103nbnov03,0,3804945.story>

http://www.kirotv.com/consumer/14499643/detail.html

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In My Personal Opinion:

All Pet Food, Treats And Added Ingredianats, Manfactured In China,
Should Be Boycotted. When Purchasing Pet Food And/Or Treats, Be Sure
To Check The Package, For The Made In China Label And/Or Logo!

Wal-Mart (China-Mart) Is Still Selling Chinese Manfactured Pet Food,
Treats And Toys!

This Also Applies To Every Chinese Manfactured Product.

[Posted in FML 5782]