The Food and Drug Administration is warning pet owners that many treats coming from China are toxic and have already killed more than 1,000 dogs in the United States,
FoxNY.com reported.
The FDA has fielded almost 5,000 complaints about chicken or duck jerky treats or jerky-wrapped treats, according to FoxNY.com. They are varying brands, but most originate in China.
The treats have been linked to liver and gastrointestinal diseases in dogs and in some cases were the cause of kidney and urinary disease.
"It's something I worry about in general just because it seems they keep recalling dog foods," dog owner Colin Fisher told FoxNY.com. "They don’t know what's in them."
The FDA can't say for sure which ingredient is making dogs sick but adds that the link to all the reported cases were that the dogs ate jerky treats. While some brands pulled the questionable treats, others continue to be sold throughout the US.
FoxNY.com interviewed Jonathan Levine, an associate veterinarian at Blue Pearl, who advised owners to always check labels.
"Always be aware of what you're buying and where it's coming from," Levine said.
But that’s not necessarily any guarantee, FoxNY.com said. Some products that carry the "Made in the USA" label can still have ingredients outsourced from other countries, including China.
The website
dogtreatkitchen.com said the only completely safe alternative is for pet owners to make their jerky treats.