Chinese pet treats causing serious health concerns for B.C. dog owners; U.S. stores pull product fro

Storm Taylor of Vanderhoof holds Corgi-cross Tazzy in her lap, along with her Labradors Chaos and Shady. Tazzy had a life-threatening reaction after eating pet treats made in China.

Storm Taylor thought she was going to lose little Tazzy, her beloved Corgi-cross, a couple of years ago.
She’d bought her three dogs treats around Christmas 2011 and gave them to her pets to eat early in 2012.
“Tazzy had diarrhea and she was throwing up so bad,” Taylor said from her home in Vanderhoof. “It started at 2 a.m. and as soon as the veterinarian’s office opened, I had her there.”

Being the middle of winter with three feet of snow on the ground, the idea of Tazzy having gotten into anything outside was ruled out.

After several tests, the vet determined the Corgi had had a toxic reaction, with the dog treat being the prime suspect.

Taylor’s Labradors, Chaos and Shady, were sick, too, but being a lot bigger than Tazzy they were nowhere near as ill.

Taylor and other pet owners banded together to start a Facebook page — Animal Parents Against Pet Treats and Food Made in China — and after a slow start, it has gained momentum.

On Wednesday, the two U.S. pet-food giants Petco and PetSmart both announced they would pull Chinese-sourced pet treats from their shelves, although in Petco’s case not until the end of the year and in PetSmart’s case not until March, 2015.

As well, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been documenting deaths and illnesses associated with Chinese pet treats since 2007.

Reports to the FDA involved about 5,600 dogs and 1,000 dog deaths, as of May 1.

The FDA said so far it can’t definitively blame Chinese pet treats, but samples taken from Chinese treats by the FDA have turned up the antiviral drug amantadine.

A further study overseen by a Washington state-based veterinary pathologist uncovered the presence of illegal antibiotics and the insect repellent DEET.

“I don’t trust the big pet-food manufactures,” Taylor said.

When she informed the stores their treats had made her dogs sick, she was told: “You probably overfed them too many treats.”

In Canada, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association has communicated concerns from vets and pet owners to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agencysays it maintains close contact with its U.S. counterparts.

"The CFIA ensures that imported pet foods do not introduce diseases into Canada that could threaten livestock or public health," a spokeswoman said. "If Canadian pet food manufacturers become aware that their product could be harmful to pets, they may choose to conduct a recall or take other action.

"If an importer becomes aware that a pet food product could be harmful to pets, they should contact the manufacturer. If there is a confirmed link between human illness and a pet food product, the provincial or territorial health authority or the Public Health Agency of Canada may issue a health alert."

In announcing Petco’s decision to pull Chinese products, CEO Jim Myers said in a statement: “We know some pet parents are wary of dog and cat treats made in China, especially Chicken Jerky products, and we’ve heard their concerns.

“As a leader in the industry and the trusted partner for our pet parents, we’re eager to make this transition and to expand our assortment of safe and healthy treats, the majority of which are made right here in the U.S. Very simply, we feel this decision is in the best interest of the pets we all love and, ultimately, for our business.”

Some of the symptoms displayed by dogs after eating chicken, duck or sweet potato-based treats made in China include gastrointestinal problems, kidney failure and a kidney-related disease called Fanconi syndrome.

The two big U.S. pet-food stores will replace Chinese-made treats with those made in the U.S., New Zealand, Australia and South America.

One dog owner in Vancouver feels it’s about time.

“I never give Stella anything from China,” Denise Brook said of her Pug. “She gets nothing but the very best natural food and treats.

“I can’t imagine with all the warnings over the past several years that people are still buying [treats] from China for their loved ones.”

http://www.theprovince.com/life/pet...ous+health+concerns+owners/9864519/story.html