Vets warn: New treats from China poisoning pets, cause acute kidney failure
The not-so-sweet sweet potatoes
Despite repeated warnings issued by the FDA about risks associated with chicken and duck jerky pet treats, veterinarians are reporting new cases of illness in dogs following the ingestion of two new types of treats. These treats have never been associated with kidney disease in dogs – until now.
What are the treats?
This time, dogs are being affected by a new, and unexpected, class of pet treat: Sweet potato and yam dog treats.
Aside from the spooky coincidence that dogs consuming sweet potato and yam treats are showing similar signs of an exceedingly rare type of kidney disorder (Fanconi’s syndrome) as dogs that are fed poultry jerky treats – there is another, more sinister, association.
All the treats, regardless of type, are imported from China.
Several sweet potato and yam pet treat brands, cited by veterinarian Dr. Jean Hofve, are suspected of causing new cases of unexplained acute kidney failure include:
- Canyon Creek Ranch Chicken Yam Good Dog Treats by Nestle-Purina
- Beefeaters Sweet Potato Treats
- Drs. Foster and Smith
- Dogswell Veggie Life Vitality
The Veterinary Information Network published an update on the jerky treat problem in May; Chicken Jerky Treats from China may be Associated with Kidney Issues included a reference to the sweet potato treats causing similar problems:
Anecdotal reports from veterinarians indicate similar concerns about sweet potato pet treats made in China. Although no evidence is available that these sweet potato treats cause kidney issues similar to those related to chicken jerky treats, pet owners should be aware of the possibility.
If your pet has the signs listed above, and has eaten chicken jerky or sweet potato treats made in China, contact your veterinarian. Save the treats and packaging so that they can be tested by the FDA if they are suspected to cause the illness.
Beware the numerous ways in which jerky treats are named
It is important to remember that although the type of treat most often mentioned in the press is described as a jerky treat, the treats may also be called by a myriad of other names such as stix, chips, poppers, tenders, drumettes, kabob’s, strips, fries, lollipops, twists, wraps, bars, tops, discs and any other name they can come up with that sounds cute and yummy.
The report goes on to say that there is speculation the problems may also extend to pork treats and cat treats imported from China.
Phorate: One of the most poisonous pesticides known to man
In 2010 the FDA issued an Import Refusal Report, and later issued an Import Alert, for sweet potato dog treats imported from a company in China (whose main business is, oddly, is in rubber and plastic raw materials) were contaminated with a highly toxic pesticide known as phorate.
Phorate is an extremely toxic organophosphorus compound and is among the most poisonous chemicals commonly used for pest control. It is used in agriculture as a pesticide and phorate is identified by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) and Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR) as one of the “most toxic” set of pesticides known (aka a Bad Actor) in the world.
Although phorate is known primarily as a neurotoxin and not classified as a nephrotoxin and therefore unlikely to cause acute renal failure in dogs, its presence in any food item is a disturbing indication that treats of any kind imported from China could pose a risk to the health and safety of pets and to the consumers handling them.
Dr. Hofve warns of new danger
Holistic veterinarian and pet food safety advocate Dr. Jean Hofve warn that sweet potato treats from China may be causing new cases of kidney failure in dogs. The article describing her concern on Little Big Cat is copied below:
Sweet Potato Treats from China Causing Kidney Failure?
April 5, 2012
By jhofve77 (Dr. Jean Hofve of Little Big Cat)
On the Veterinary Information Network, several veterinarians have reported cases where dogs have developed symptoms of kidney failure (Fanconi’s syndrome) similar to dogs that have been poisoned by Chinese-made chicken jerky treats.
So far, the brands implicated are all made in China:
- Beefeaters Sweet Potato Snacks for Dogs
- Canyon Creek Ranch Chicken Yam Good Dog Treats (FDA has issued a warning on this product)
- Drs. Foster and Smith (exact item not specified in the report)
- Dogswell Veggie Life Vitality
There was also speculation that the problem may also extend to pork products (pig ears) and cat treats made in China. Australian veterinarians have reported similar symptoms from chicken jerky treats, as well as several cases associated with “Veggie Dents,” a dog treat made in Vietnam by Virbac, an American company. Virbac recalled one batch of Veggie Dents in Australia in 2009.
The FDA still claims that there is no pending recall of Chinese-made pet treats, even though it has repeatedly issued warnings about the problems associated with chicken jerky treats since 2007.
Symptoms of Fanconi’s syndrome include:
- Increased drinking and urinating
- “Accidents” in the house
- Reduced appetite
- Weight loss
- Weakness
- Blood and urine tests show azotemia (high BUN and Creatinine), dilute urine, and glucose in the urine (that isn’t diabetes)
Most affected dogs have recovered over time with good supportive care.
We strongly recommend that you check the source of all cat or dog treats you may have purchased, and do not give them to your pet if they were made in China. It would be best to avoid any pet food or treat products made in China, and probably a good idea to avoid all dried animal parts, because they are not heated to a temperature that will kill pathogenic bacteria.
Dr. Becker’s opinion on sweet potato treats
In a post on her popular blog, Healthy Pets, Dr. Becker tells pet parents, Don’t let your pets eat any sweet potato treats! In her post, she isn’t shy about telling consumers what she really thinks about sweet potato treats:
If You Feed Sweet Potato Treats to Your Pet, Please Read This!
It seems there is another dog snack from China to worry about; sweet potato treats.
According to the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) 1, vets are now reporting health problems linked to sweet potato treats similar to those related to chicken jerky treats also made in China.
Test results on sick dogs show kidney problems similar to the symptoms of Fanconi syndrome. Most dogs recover, but there have been some deaths related to the chicken jerky treat problem.
Symptoms may show up within hours or days after a treat is eaten symptoms include decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and increased thirst and urination.
Per Poisoned Pets, in 2010 the FDA found that a sweet potato dog treat made by a certain company in China was contaminated with phorate, a highly toxic pesticide.
There is speculation there could be problems with pork treats and cat treats imported from China as well…
…PLEASE know that if you choose to buy any treat made in China, your pet may be at risk. Chicken jerky treats, chicken tenders, chicken strips, chicken treats, or sweet potato treats, they can all pose a potential threat. Play it safe. Buy only food and treats made in the U.S. Buying pet food made in this country won’t remove all risk of winding up with a tainted product, but it will certainly improve your chances of keeping your pet safe.
Dr. Becker’s initial warning included the reference to the brands suspected of causing problems (Canyon Creek Ranch, Beefeaters, Dogswell and Drs. Foster and Smith), but after receiving a carefully worded letter from Doctors Foster and Smith, Dr. Becker chose to remove the reference to their product.
References:
Phorate EXTOXNET (Cornell)
Pesticide Action Network (PAN)
Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR)
Published on: Apr 6, 2012
Updated on: Oct 28, 2014
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279 Comments
lee stampe
Please don’t show your utter ignorance of a complex issue by making comments like “China sucks” and “the chinese people hate the US”. Give the issue a bit more thought than that.
It’s the US corporations running to the developing countries not only for cheap labor, but to operate in an environment with little or no governmental oversight so they can line their pockets with the profit (remember this scenario the next time you go on a typical “anti-government” rant). Since the 60’s, the mainstream business model changed from manufacturing high quality goods meant to last, to cranking out cheap crap that had a short lifespan so consumers would need to buy more and more of the same item. Plus the people in this country love buying their cheap crap. So we’re not totally blameless in all of this.
It’s the Chinese government, after decades of Communism, looking to make as much money as possible, and in doing so, forgoes any sort of regulatory oversight. But in their defense, their previous structure of government had no need for an EPA or an FDA. They had little in the way of manufacturing. In their transition to a capitalistic economy but still retaining a communistic form of government, the movement to form these sorts of agencies moves at a glacial pace.
It’s the people of China, who after decades of an unworkable economic model, want to have something other than bare minimum subsistence.
I actually spent time in China. Do you know that the advertisements for all sorts of products use WESTERN models? How can a whole country hate the US when so many want to look like us, earn like us, be like us? I saw first hand the pollution; the air so polluted in Xian that your eyes burned just walking around the city. The employee at a pottery shop working on a cloisonné vase with the smell of paints and solvents lingering in the air and the residue on the bench top and floor while his toddler sat on the floor under the table while he worked. These same people who many posters claim hate the US, waved at us, started conversations with us and wanted their pictures taken with us. I don’t naively believe that all of China loves us, but neither am I will to go to the other extreme to believe the Chinese people somehow have it in for The U.S.. The manufacturing processes in China obviously need oversight, but that change is up to the Chinese GOVERNMENT and to the US CORPORATIONS to demand it. The Chinese people could demand it, but with the Chinese government’s human rights issues, I understand why they’d be reticent to do so. But the bottom line is its all about the money, so until some sort of crisis hits, I doubt we’ll see either entity committed to doing the right thing.
Mollie Morrissette
I hope you aren’t referring to me! I would NEVER say anything like that. I absolutely DO NOT think the Chinese “hate us”. That is utter rubbish.
Read my comment:
“Well said Diana. The poverty in China is unimaginable to most Americans and their working conditions are unbelievable. That is not an excuse, it is a reality. When people are so poor that survival is their only consideration, ethics and morality are things only the rich can afford.”
The “China sucks ass” comment was made by a reader – to which I replied as a joke, “Right on!” — dude. Clearly the comment was made in the spirit of the idiot who sent it.
If you bothered to read the many, many other articles I have written about China, I have always been sympathetic to the Chinese laborer. However, I am deeply critical of the Chinese government, in general. You cannot argue with me that corruption is not an endemic problem in the Chinese government. And at the local level, they rule with impunity.
I believe the ultimate responsibility lies with the US corporations.
And I don’t go on “anti-government rants”. I do however have valid criticisms of some of the things our government does, but it is mostly about what they are unable or unwilling to do. I would NEVER recommend abolishing the government. That is absurd.
Please, read my other articles before you condemn me. Then we can have an intelligent conversation.
Betty Holzwarth
And the crisis is right around the corner! Our government is accepting all sorts of toxic pet ingredients from China. My view is the Chinese do not care about pets……….they eat dogs and cats for Christ Sakes! Most are ignorant (just like some mainstream Americans) so to me America, Chinese, and all those countries who are big players in the political area participate in horrendous acts on humans and especially animals. These money making evil entities are in it for the money and they do not care if human kind and animal kind suffer the wrath of their evil! Climate Change is real and it is because of the greed of these countries that Man will be destroyed! And most should be annihilated for crimes against nature!
xyvius
Reblogged this on Xyvius's Blog.
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Mollie Morrissette
Thank you! I have heard of these cafes! What a wonderful idea. My sister lives in Vienna Austria and they just opened one there.
First Viennese Cat Café Opens: “Vienna is now the home of the city’s first cat café, the Café Neko. Pawpularized in Japan, cat cafés are scarce in Europe. Café Neko is run by five cats: Sonja, Luca, Moritz, Momo and Thomas who socialize with the patrons and pad across catwalks while customers have coffee or a meal. They can also escape to private quarters when they’ve had it with dealing with the public.
The staff, Alexander Thuer and his Japanese wife Takako Ishimitsu, had to wade through three years of red tape to resolve hygiene issues. (Which, in the U.S. would take about 140 years and innumerable bribes.) We wish them the greatest success.”
Read more here: http://mousebreath.com/2012/05/12/first-viennese-cat-caf-opens/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MousebreathALifestyleMagazineByCatsForCatsKittensCatLovers+%28mousebreath!+A+lifestyle+magazine+by+cats%2C+for+cats%2C+kittens%2C+%26+cat+lovers%29
Lee Foxwell
Thanks Mollie, I would love to read it. Even with their reassurances, I am not going to feed the rest of them to my dogs. Neither one became ill, but they did not have many of the sweet potato treats. They also knew of this web site and seemed very familiar with it
Lee Foxwell
I just spoke to Dogswell.com on the phone and they state that this is an internet myth that their products do not contain any poison and have been thoroughly tested and also referred me to the FDA site to dispel this myth.
I will not feed them to my dogs anymore but it is a shame if this is a hoax to scare pet owners when it may not be true.
Mollie Morrissette
If it’s a myth have them show me the raw data. Their “quality assurance” is a joke. True, the FDA has not found the contaminant YET, but it is still an active and ongoing investigation. For Dogswell to dismiss valid questions that have been raised and to deny any problems exists, is irresponsible. I have asked them on two occasions for more complete evidence of tests conducted on their product and I have been met with silence. Their contempt of myself and others critical of their product is irrational and illogical. Myths are based on fantasy, I have facts.
Alexandra Bonifield
Reblogged this on criticalrant.com Alexandra Bonifield and commented:
Love your pets?
FEED NO TREATS FROM CHINA
Linda
90% of dog treats sold at the Dollar stores are made in China, when customers check out, and they want to purchase them, I tell them. They don”t buy them! Most customers I tell don”t even know about it!
Mollie Morrissette
I wouldn’t buy anything from a Dollar store if you put a gun to my head. Absolute garbage, toxic garbage. Another reason I hate those stores is since I am boycotting goods imported from China, 99% of the crap in those stores is from China. So, needless to say I don’t shop at any of the big box stores either. Until they pull it, I won’t step foot in the big box store (not that I ever really did anyway). And the same goes for PetSmart and Petco – shame on them for ignoring our pleas to remove the products. I will never patronize PetSmart or Petco stores ever again (not that I ever bought pet food from them anyway).
Sally Harper
It’s a little mind boggling that people buy dog food from the dollar store and don’t realize it’s made in China. Firstly, why would you buy your best friend the cheapest food possible anyway, and secondly, it’s a *dollar* store. You thought that stuff was made in the US? Really?
susiep
It’s kind of a shame that the world is getting to the point only the rish people can afford to have an animal when they are often the least likely to really want or care for it. They are too busy making more money and friends, but the people who can only shop at the dollar store are the ones that really know how to love a pet and wish they had the money to do what’s best for them. SUch a horrible world we live in now, I personally hate it.
Linda
WHY AREN”T THESE ITEMS BEING RECALLED AND PULLED FROM STORE SHELVES??????????
Mollie Morrissette
Because until the FDA has found a contaminant, they are not legally permitted to order a recall. The FDA cannot recall any product based on complaints alone. However, there is nothing preventing the manufacturers from ordering a voluntary recall out of an “abundance of caution”.
sherri
this is a blog site people!!!! do your own investigation work!
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ProductSafetyInformation/ucm295445.htm
Mollie Morrissette
Do you have something against “blog sites”?
Do you rely on the FDA for all your information?
Do you expect brands to be fully transparent?
How would you know if pets were becoming ill or dying as a result of a pet food/treat?
The FDA link you provide is a the Q&A regarding the FDA’s THIRD WARNING to consumers about a product safety issue with jerky treats that the FDA has known about since 2007:
“FDA saw an increase in the number of complaints it received of dog illnesses associated with consumption of chicken jerky products imported from China. FDA previously issued a cautionary warning regarding chicken jerky products to consumers in September 2007 and a Preliminary Animal Health Notification in December of 2008…However in 2011, FDA once again started seeing the number of complaints rise to the levels of concern that prompted release of our earlier warnings.
Since the issuance of the CVM Update on November 18, 2011, the agency has received numerous additional complaints regarding chicken jerky products”…
…”to date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses…There is nothing preventing a company from conducting a voluntary recall. It is important to understand that unless a contaminant is detected and we have evidence that a product is adulterated, we are limited in what regulatory actions we can take. The regulations don’t allow for products to be removed based on complaints alone”…
…”This is an ongoing investigation and FDA will notify the public if a recall is initiated. Currently, FDA continues to urge pet owners to use caution with regard to chicken jerky products…FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs that may occur within hours to days of feeding the products:
decreased appetite;
decreased activity;
vomiting;
diarrhea, sometimes with blood;
increased water consumption; and/or
increased urination.
“If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product. Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine). Urine tests may indicate Fanconi-like syndrome (increased glucose).”
As there is no database of reported illness and disease in pets that would provide consumers with information that would help them decide whether a treat they are feeding their pet could be part of a large population of dogs experiencing problems as a result of a pet food/treat, consumers rely on food safety reporters to provide them with information the pet food industry and the Federal government do not. If you know of one, I would love to see it.
In the meanwhile, because the pet food industry and the government lack transparency, consumers rely on credible food safety experts to provide them with information.
For example, take food safety expert Phyllis Entis of http://www.eFoodAlert.com, she writes a blog, right here on WordPress.com. I invite you to challenge her work. As a microbiologist with over 30 years experience in the field, would you dismiss her as just a “bolg site”? I don’t think so.
Pippy Jodorowski
Don’t blame China–why is this crap not tested/regulated here? After 5 days of my dog’s bloody stool, I am making my own dog food and treats. I remember being highly criticized for feeding my dogs people food in the past. Oh, dog’s should only eat dog food. Why? Because vets get a kick back from these profit driven pet food companies?
Mollie Morrissette
Oh honey, it’s not just China, although you must admit they are the most creative people at food fraud. It also just so happens that in the case of the jerky treats – the product is imported from China and no other country. The FDA has been warning consumers about these specific treats imported from China since 2007.
I agree, the ultimate responsibility lies with the company importing the ingredients. It is their duty to test, test, and test some more! If only they had done that in 2007!
And I also think like Senator Brown – if the CEOs of the companies importing toxic crap are caught – throw them in jail! And they should just be thankful they weren’t caught in China where they can execute a person for food adulteration.
swhin
Just called Natural Balance as that is the treat my dog gets, sweet potato/fish. The customer service reps are not allowed to give out the information an where their materials come from. They just lost a customer.
Mollie Morrissette
Yup! That’s a really bad sign. If they can’t be transparent I have to wonder, what are they hiding? Hello! Buh bye!
TGEE
I find the whole “CHINA” thing disgusting! I will be going home & checking all dog treats & food. Anything that has come from “CHINA” is going in the trash immediatly. I will not put my babies health in jeopardy. I will also be passing this along to friends who have pets.
michelle
Is there a treatment? I think my dog currently has this. We thought is was cancer and she is 13 years old so we did not want to test. Can this be treated?
Mollie Morrissette
Your vet should know what to do. Was your dog diagnosed with acquired Fanconi syndrome? If so, I would imagine your vet would want to follow the Gondo protocol for hemodialysis if your dog is in kidney failure. The testing of treats is very expensive. Contact the nearest University toxicology lab and ask them about the costs involved. Call your State agriculture dept. and file a complaint with them (if your vet thinks the treats are the cause of your dogs illness) and they should test it and you won’t have to pay for that. They need to look for nephrotoxins. Your vet should file a complaint with the FDA as well. All the info about how to report a problem with the government is on my sticky post on my home page. You can’t miss it.
Sandra Cannon
This is so sad. Thanks for the heads up. My dog is my life and I will stay away from these treats and anything from China. Thanks
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Liza Wolter
My dog had been eating Waggin Train Chicken Jerky treats for the past 6 months. Last week I noticed that she did not want food (but would accept the treats) was drinking way too much water and was urinationg excessively. I took her to the vet and was told she is diabetic. I joined a support group on facebook named Living with Canine Diabetes and on their wall noticed comments about the treats. I am now wondering if maybe my dog is not diabetic but is very affected by these treats. If anyone has information as to whether this might be a possibility, please reply. Thank you in advance!!
Mollie Morrissette
Is your vet absolutely certain it is diabetes and not acquired Fanconi syndrome?
There is no link btwn diabetes and the treats, although vets sometimes mistakenly diagnose diabetes when in fact it is acquired Fanconi syndrome. If your vet is hip to the whole CJT thing, then they should be able to distinguish btwn the two.
But, never assume, always ask.
Keep me posted Liza.
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Vanessa Suter
Being a dog/animal lover, thanks very much for this info…… I am checking all that I give my dog right now. Can’t there be a class action lawsuit against the FDA for not giving a d*mn about this??????
Adrienne Elizabeth Martorana
My moms dog died 3 weeks ago from eating Waggin Train chicken jerky treats…..come to find out (after google) that this has been going on for a few years!!!! Stores will continue selling the treats until the FDA recalls them. FDA wont recall them until we pressure them too…..
Lorrie
read this and become a better educated consumer! Check the barcode for country of origin!!!! I do it all the time!
Most likely the bag/box will NOT say MADE IN CHINA
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/barcodes.asp
Erica
Screw China. They eat dogs so who knows what is in their products. Do the research. The people of China are the ultimate animal abusers. You have to buy USA and animal friendly. Please read labels for the animals:)
Patti
I feel so bad for those poor dogs :( I only give my dog treats I have made. I make his food and do not feed him anything that comes from a store. Always have and this just reinforces it to me to never change!
Roseann Ranno
This is getting scary! Contacted Hartz about an incident where I had given my dogs Oinkies Pig Skin Treats filled with Sweet Potato and they both got sick! They are refunding me but that’s not important. What’s important is WHY are ANY treats made in CHINA still on shelves? For that matter, try and find any treats made in the USA on shelves! This is ridiculous. People should DEMAND stores get this crap off their shelves or at least pass the word like WILDFIRE!
Jenny
Does anyone know about Pup-A-Roni. I have called and called and no one answers the number on the bag and no country of origin mentioned.
Mollie Morrissette
Big tip off Jenny, if they don’t answer the phone or they won’t tell you where it’s really from – my guess is, they are asleep at the switch.
Besides, COOL laws exempt processed meats and pet treats from that law.
Even if it did say, “Made in the USA” there are no-brainer workarounds to circumvent labeling it a product from China.
Personally, regardless of whether they answer the phone or not is that Pup-A-Roni is an extremely low-quality pet treat, that I would not feed to my pet. “Personally”. What you do is entirely your decision, but since you asked….
Yigal Tropp
My dog, Julie, love the chicken jerkey treats
She has been eating them for the past 4 years with NO ill effects
Yigal
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rosemaryssolutions
Thanks for posting an important article. I immediately checked our stash of treats thinking we were ok. However, I discovered that some of Gracie’s treats were made in China, so out they went. Fortunately I give Gracie zeolite for detox every day, just for prevention. We never know when the toxins they encounter through food or environment will catch up to them. After all, toxins are invisible.
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JoAnn
Please do us a favor in the United States..Let China keep there own poisonous food products to themselves.Sick of there products hurting us..From now on I will only buy USA made..
Leanne Teel
best to buy your own chicken from Safeway or Albertsons and dry or feed the chicken raw as a treat. Or give your dogs little cheese for treats. My cats and dogs love raw chicken and yes, they can handle any salmonella if any they don’t react like we do. I give my cats and dogs raw chicken and cooked chicken I cook myself from the store here in good ole USA
Ange
I believe that the barcode for China is 690-692 (the first 3 digits)
lettucehavewhirledpeas7
To Ange: China’s barcodes are 690-695. BUT the first three numbers of barcodes DO NOT always tell you THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.! It only indicates the country that ISSUED the code, not the country of origin of the product or where it is made. But a product may be issued a number and also have produced the product in that country, such as a 690, etc. There is no guarantee.
Ange
So how DO we tell where the product was MADE?
Mollie Morrissette
You call up the manufacturer – plain and simple. Ask them the country of origin for all their ingredients.
Rex Henderson
Personaly, I try to buy nothing Made in China. A friend bought furniture made in China and returned it to Ashlys Furniture store after threatening to sue if they didnt take it back. The formaldehyde used in the making of the furniture was overwhelming. Made him very ill. Boycot China. Always check where things you purchase are manufactured. China sucks!
margo54
I wrote a long message and its gone but will try to remember China and those other countries has all industries from england and not wasting my time saying everything again,but in england everything is made in that god forsaken place and if they poison our pets what do you expect they have the world industry,through greedy manufacturers paying low wages,if they decide to go against westerners we will starve because we have nothing hardly left that is made here anymore..but it means nothing to some that they torture millions of innocent animals cos of there sick and depraved meat and fur tortures,even chinese in other countries are ashamed of them places…seems that some of these countries are more barbaric than some people who immigrated from there they are normally more compassionate..so beware of might come to pass..stupid industry and governments..
margo54
As with Americans saying Chinese make everything so is the same here in England we make nothing hardly here its all made in that God forsaken place China or Taiwan or any of those places that practically have tortured millions of innocent creatures for there sick MEAT AND FUR LUST,the thing that really makes me angry is how these people are literally taken all our trade and greedy people let them because they can pay them less because the world ecomony has gone mad,so China and others have us where they want,if they ever decided to go against some of us western countries they will destroy and starve us out because of stupid governments who have let them take all our industries…so if they poison our animals with there dodgy treats..what do you expect from a disgusting place as that,even some Chinese who live in other countries do not like what is happening over there..just wake up…
Allison Anderson
Another reason not to buy products made in China. I would feel horrible if I accidentally poisoned one of my pets by feeding them these products. Stop buying Chinese-made products!!
Brenda
Sorry, no. Cheaping out sucks. Western companies cheap out by outsourcing to countries (like China) that have lax or nonexistent laws around things like product safety, minimum wage, worker welfare, etc. The product is ridiculously cheap and hugely unethical in several ways. If we source and manufacture at home we can avoid a lot of this. But companies who only care about the bottom line and having a low sticker price on the product will never do that.
Alex Spencer
My dog had an addiction to the canyon creek treats, literally she would whine for them sometimes until you gave her one like a crack fiend. 1 month after we first started giving them to her she had kidney failure and kidney stones the size of a QUARTER!!! beware and tell your friends! we almost lost her but thank god to a HUGE vet bill we were able to save her.
SHELLY
I use treats and dog food by beneful. Anyone have any information on this company. It’s says USA but how do u know for sure?
Mollie Morrissette
You call them up and ask. If they won’t tell you – toss em. If they are made with chicken jerky – toss em. I personally do not like that brand, I would opt for a human-grade treat.
Tracy hammerich
I did call the company about the waggin trail brand regarging the chicken jerky, of course they said theres nothing wrong with them.They wanted to send me coupons,I said no thanx and tossed the bag out….
Mollie Morrissette
Report any problems with the treats to the FDA. Really important.
TracyD
Open your eyes (if you still have them). Does any of the companies or brand actually come from China, or are they Western conglomerates who want to make a quick buck by exploiting the country’s cheaper resources?
Your ignorance shows just how much you suck ass.
Nancy
Both. And there is no need to get (a) insulting, or (b) crude. Your foul mouth discredits what you have to say, which is unfortunate because it’s true. In fact, if you had bothered to read the other posts you would see that this same point was made by others, much more clearly and thoroughly than you make it. Slow down, my friend, take a deep breath, ditch the swearing, and learn to make your points effectively without constant insults. Let your intelligence show instead of covering it up with insults and curse words.
Tracy hammerich
About a month ago there was an alert for waggin train jerky treats causing kidney failure..has anyone else heard this????
Rhonda Withers
yes!
D Renee Dykes
lets just keep on buying this stuff from china why don’t we. I guarantee if it were on the ppl isle and this happened, ppl would start paying more attention to where it came from.
Lor
Please call your pet treat manufacturer, and if they can’t tell you were they purchase their ingredients, stop giving it to your pets. My small dog suffered from temporary Fanconi’s syndrome and was in great physical distress. Our vet was wonderful, treated him aggressively for a toxic reaction, and fortunately he has recovered with only minor long term impact. Our treats where supposedly “all natural”, “made in USA”, no preservatives, colorings, etc. and the company prides itself is supposedly lab testing all batches of its food. Yet they refused to tell me where they purchased the main ingredient of their sweet potato and fish treats. That tells me they don’t want to tell me they purchase from China.
mccallib1
Do you know if this is a recent health issue with these products from China? My Cairn terrier died in Dec of 2010. I had been feeding him Canyon Creek Ranch and Waggin’ Tails treats (both from China, but unbeknownst to me at the time)…he developed the acute symptoms of poisoning listed in this article. Within a month, he had become so ill, I had to have him put down.
Sally Harper
No this is not a recent issue it’s been in the news since 2007.
Mollie Morrissette
Please read my other articles on the treats. Everything you could possibly want to know is there.
lisaannette43
I saw Petsmart was still selling these treats yesterday and I asked them why they weren’t removed and the cashier showed me a page in their book from Petsmart Headquarters that tells them they are safe. I told her as far as I’m concerned they ARE NOT safe and I don’t plan on buying any treats that come from China.
Marie
Im very concerned have 2 dogs whom are adored by us all and now I’m in panic mode as they have been eating these treats for years but so far no ill health thank the lord!! Thanks :i
Mollie Morrissette
I don’t know about that brand, but if it is made in China stop feeding them. If you can, contact the company and ask the source of their ingredients. If you are worried about their health have a vet look them over. Better to be safe than sorry.
Marie
Mollie any idea if the Wanpy range is in that category??
Mollie Morrissette
Never heard of that brand. Why don’t you call them up or look them up online? If they are from China, stop feeding them, best not to risk it.
rocky143
I work at a pet store and yes majority of everything on the market was made in China but all of blue buffalo’s treats are made in the USA a lot of customers were happy about this because its also healthy & they don’t have to stop giving their pups chicken jerky.
Belva
I quit buying anything made in china years ago when there was an issue with raw hide bones. Just rememeber USA owes China billions of dollars so not a whole is going to done about this