Many complaints
FDA records show that the agency issued its first warning in September 2007 after receiving more than 70 complaints involving 95 dogs purportedly sickened by the treats. According to the warning, symptoms included vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite and increased water consumption. Lab tests indicated that some of the afflicted animals were suffering from kidney failure or elevated levels of glucose. A similar warning was issued in November 2008. A third warning was issued last November, the same month Arthur purchased the treats. None of the warnings reference specific brands, but merely mention chicken jerky products, also sold as chicken tenders, strips or treats.
In an e-mail response to an inquiry from the Saugerties Times, FDA spokeswoman Tamara Ward said the investigation was continuing. Ward said the agency was currently testing 80 samples of chicken treats from all over the country; 64 were tested for salmonella another 16 were tested for “chemical toxicants.” So far, Ward wrote, none of the tests have come back positive.
“FDA, in addition to several animal health diagnostic laboratories in the U.S., is working to determine why these products are associated with illnesses in dogs,” Ward wrote. “To date, scientists have been [not] able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses nor has a contaminant been found.”
Wow, my dog got violently ill from them as well last year! Perhaps a recall is in order??
So very sorry to hear about your dog Steve and Debi.As a dog lover I cannot believe that a massive recall hasn’t been issued. I bet it probably won’t either. What a shame. I only buy products that are produced and made in the USA for my 2 pomeranians. Buffalo Blue and California Natural are 2 of them. If you need more products go to Dr. Fox vet on the web he has a list of excellent foods for our pets. Again my heart goes out to you for your loss.
My dog did also. And they’re still being sold in stores.
Anyone who has been affected by these treats please contact me at [email protected]. I have a petition on care 2 to try and ban these treats with over 2600 signatures from around the world along with a Facebook Group called “Animal Parents Against Pet Treats Made In China” with over 500 members. We are making a difference Ohio’s Senator has been able to get it to the Senate Floor last week urging the FDA for swift action and we have been able to get some media attention mostly from Ohio. NY is not yet on board as far as companion animals are concerened as most of all the other states. Please join in our crusade help stop the needless killing of our dogs due to poisoning from these “treats”. My baby was a 2 year old healthy dog up until the night of 11/13/11, she passed on 11/21/11 due to the Waggin Train Chicken Jerky Treats from Nestle.
I sent the following to WagginTrainBrand in January 2007:
I have two large dogs about 70 lbs each. I wanted to try a treat that was easier on their teeth than the regular rawhide treats.
I gave them both a Waggin Train Chicken Tender after their dinner. Several hours later, I noticed one of my pets was having trouble breathing. She looked like she could have had something wrong with her airway, as she would not bend her neck down. She was not choking, but was definitely in some distress.
Before I could get her to an animal hospital, she had stopped breathing (she was still concious when her breathing stopped, and she was in obvious panic) and died within minutes, despite respiration attempts.
I did a sweep of her mouth and throat, and did not find anything, but I wanted you to know in case there is a problem with this product.
Both dogs ate them readily, but I am afraid to give any to my other dog.
If you’re looking for a SAFE, REAL ‘American Made’ chicken jerky for dogs or cats, we started making our own Chicken Jerky for our 3 dogs after we ran across the FDA warning of 2008 about Chinese chicken treats making dogs sick or killing them. It turned into a cottage “Mom & Pop” business and we now sell our TriPom Chews online and in 20 stores in the New England area. Our products are the only homemade, handmade, ‘Maine Made’, ‘American Made’ Chicken Jerky produced from whole, restaurant-quality chicken breasts containing NO Additives and NO Preservatives. Our 3 Pomeranians (our babies!) taste test every batch for quality.
Saugerties thank you for your support and kind words. We are planning a huge protest rally on April-1st, (Remember Lacy Day, We won’t get fooled again). If you would like to come out and support us or would like more details please contact us. ([email protected]) Thank you.
Keep getting the word out, it’s our only defense against these companies who won’t voluntarily recall their poisonous dog treat products. I just lost our Kuroi to the same fate after feeding her a Chik’n Biscut from Waggin’ Train dog treats. Made with chicken jerky from China. I didn’t know about the FDA warning til afterwards. It was too late for her.
Anyone fighting this please contact me, my Boston terrier dog died from these in 2009
[email protected]
An FDA document leaked this week from a confidential source within the US Congress details the chronological timeline of tests that the agency has performed on chicken jerky treats since 2007 – tests which many pet owners say have ignored some of the most potentially lethal substances possibly responsible for the rash of pet illnesses and deaths.
Read the report at: www.TriPomChews.net/fda-tests-jerky-treats