Recalls that Affect Dogs
Recent Recalls
Note that I don't post information about most salmonella recalls, since dogs are usually not affected by this bacteria.
Several dog foods have been recalled in December 2011 due to finding aflatoxin in corn:
- Two more dry dog foods recalled over aflatoxin levels (12/30/11)
- More Aflatoxin-Related Dog Food Recalls Revealed (12/29/11)
- Advanced Animal Nutrition Recalls Dog Power Dry Dog Food (12/12/11)
- Cargill Animal Nutrition Recalls River Run and Marksman Dry Dog Food (12/7/11)
- Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food with Use By or Expiration Dates of February 5 or February 6, 2013 (12/6/11)
I'd avoid any food that uses corn at this point. Aflatoxin is more serious than the more typical salmonella recalls. No illnesses have been reported, but see this old notice for signs to watch for if you've fed these foods: Dogs keep dying: Too many owners remain unaware of toxic dog food.
Additional Resources
- Dog Food Recall Federal Law
- Product Recalls by Email and RSS
- Ordering Office Supplies Via Email
- Discount Office Supplies
- How to Buy Office Supplies
Jerky Treats Imported from China Reportedly Causing Kidney Failure in Dogs
Update 2/11/12: Could diethylene glycol be the toxin in chicken jerky that is causing illness and death? See FDA Silence is Telling on Susan Thixton's Truth About Pet Food site for more information.
In November 2011, the FDA announced another warning about chicken jerky treats causing kidney failure in dogs. This has been going on since 2007. The cause remains unknown, but reports are increasing. See FDA Continues to Caution Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products.
Signs to watch for include decreased appetite; decreased activity (lethargy); vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; and increased water consumption and/or increased urination.
The type of kidney failure associated with chicken jerky strips is called acquired Fanconi syndrome. Urine test results consistently show glucose and granular casts. Blood tests may show hypokalemia (low potassium), mildly increased liver enzymes, and acidosis, along with increased creatinine and BUN (signs of kidney disease).
If your dog develops these signs and test results while being fed chicken jerky treats, contact your state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Complaint Coordinator. See How to Report a Pet Food Complaint for more information, and Consumer Complaint Coordinators for a state-by-state list of who to contact. Please provide as much information as possible, including the specific product name, lot numbers, veterinarian's report and diagnosis, etc.
Avoid feeding chicken jerky strips from China to dogs until we know conclusively that they are safe. Note that these products often appear to be made in the US, but if you search carefully, you'll find "Made in China" in tiny print somewhere on the bag. These products may also be called Chicken Tenders, Strips, or Treats.
If you're looking for safe jerky treats, I recommend Smart Dog Jerky and Kona's Chips, made in the U.S. You can also make your own jerky using a dehydrator or a warm oven. See Super Simple Chicken Jerky for a recipe.
Updates:
- 11/18/11: FDA Continues to Caution Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products.
- 7/8/11: Jerky treats for dogs still suspected in illness.
- 6/17/11: Canadian VMA Cautions About Chicken Jerkey Treats.
- 9/24/09: Incidence of Fanconi-like kidney disease in dogs in Australia appears to have ended after two products were removed from the market. The products were Supa Naturals Chicken Breast Strips, made by KraMar in China, and VeggieDents dental treats, made by Virbac. See Following product recalls, Fanconi-like syndrome outbreak abates in Australia for more information.
- 5/28/09: Researchers in Australia have discovered several cases of unexplained kidney disease that was not associated with chicken jerky strips, but which may be associated with dental chews instead. The chews are called Veggie Dents and are made by Virbac. If your dog develops kidney disease and has eaten these chews recently, you or your vet should contact the FDA to report it. See New mystery arises in cases of Fanconi-like syndrome for more information. These chews were recalled in Australia the week of 6/1/09. See VeggieDent Chews Recalled in Australia.
- 1/12/09: Mystery of illness associated with jerky treats persists.
- 12/19/08: FDA Continues To Receive Complaints about Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs and Cautions Consumers.
- 9/13/07: The AVMA issued a statement warning people of complaints that multiple brands of jerky treats imported from China have been causing kidney failure in dogs. The FDA is investigating these claims, and have ruled out melamine as a possible cause.
- 9/28/07: FDA urges Caution in Feeding Dogs Chicken Jerky.
Here's the rest of the story: On August 20th, 2007 it was learned that Wal-Mart had quietly removed Chicken Jerky treats made by two Chinese companies from their shelves on July 26th, due to complaints about the treats making dogs ill. No recall has been issued. Wal-Mart is no longer selling the treats, but other stores, such as K-Mart, are still doing so. The brands that were removed are Bestro and Pingyang Pet Product Co.
On September 14th, PetSmart removed various Smokehouse brand treats from their shelves due to reports of pets becoming ill. No recall has been issued. This product is reportedly being investigated by Cornell, but information is available only to vets, not to the public.
It is possible that other brands of chicken jerky may also be affected, such as the Kingdom Pets brand sold at Costco, and the Waggin' Train brand, which are also imported from China, as there are unconfirmed, anecdotal reports of dogs becoming ill after eating them, though no testing has been done. One person contacted me to say that her dog began having seizures after she started feeding Waggin' Train chicken jerky treats. The seizures continued once or twice a week for a year, until the owner eliminated all dried chicken treats, at which point the seizures stopped. See this article for another report on Bestro Chicken Jerky making dogs ill and leading to at least one death (read the comments at the bottom of these stories for even more information). The Pet Food Tracker site also has information on the many online reports of non-recalled dog treats suspected of causing illness/deaths (including Waggin Train which has not been pulled).
I have heard one report of dogs becoming ill (vomiting, diarrhea, Inappetence) from two different brands of chicken jerky made in the US.
See these pages for additional information:
6/29/11 (updated 11/18/11): Chicken Jerky from China may be causing Fanconi syndrome in dogs (from a vet)
6/9/11: Canadian Vets Concern of Chicken Jerky Treats for Dogs
12/24/08: FDA Continues to Receive Complaints About Chicken Jerky Products (AVMA)
12/24/08: Caution to Dog Owners About Chicken Jerky Products (FDA)
12/24/08: Caution in Feeding Chicken Jerky to Dogs (FDA)
12/18/08: Preliminary Animal Health Notification - Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs (FDA)
11/1/07: FDA cautions consumers about chicken jerky products for dogs (JAVMA)
10/15/07: Jerky treats from China could be causing illness in pets (JAVMA)
9/14/07: Update: AVMA warns of potential new threat to pets
11/14/07: Reports Of Dog Illnesses From Chicken Jerky Treats Continue
9/19/07: AVMA Issues FAQ's About Alert For Pet Jerky Treats
9/14/07: Smokehouse Brand Dog Treats Pulled From PetSmart Shelves
9/14/07: Indiana State Chemist Office Releases More Test Results For Chicken Jerky
8/23/07: No Melamine Found In Chicken Jerky Strips Dog Treats By Indiana State Chemist
8/22/07: Melamine Found In Wal-Mart Bestros Chicken Jerky Strips For Dogs
8/20/07: FDA Investigating Bestro Chicken Jerky Strips In Dogs' Deaths
8/17/07: Wal-Mart Removes Bestro Chicken Jerky Strips After Dog Death
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me. My name is Mary Straus and you can email me at either or