Dog treat warning
Why experts say popular chews can kill
Pet foods widely sold as treats are suspected of causing a potentially-deadly illness in dogs, experts warn.
One of the country’s top veterinary nutrition scientists says he doesn’t feed his own dogs the imported dried jerky treats, and he wouldn’t advise other owners to either.
‘‘We’re not weighing a cost and a benefit,’’ says Associate Professor Dr Nick Cave, of Massey University’s School of Veterinary Sciences. ‘‘We’re weighing a risk with no reason to give that food at all, and there are so many other alternatives I would choose. I think we can be very cautious.’’
A veterinary clinical pathologist has looked at cases in New Zealand and wants owners, especially of small dogs, to know the risks. ‘‘Even if it can save one dog or prevent one dog from needing hospital treatment,’’ says Dr Julie Tomlinson.
The issue first emerged about 10 years ago when animals in the United States and Australia got sick after eating imported dried jerky dog treats. Products imported from Asia and sold in New Zealand include dried beef, chicken, duck and turkey jerky treats.
Cave says despite extensive research and testing, no-one has identifies why the treats seem to cause acquired Fanconi syndrome, which affects the kidneys. Symptoms can include lethargy, loss of appetite, increased thirst and more frequent urination.
In most cases, once seen by a vet and taken off the treats, the dog’s health will improve. But the disorder can cause serious illness and, in some cases, death.
Tomlinson identified about 10 cases in Auckland and Northland for a study she did in 2018.
An Australian study in 2013 looked at 108 cases over two years and in 2017 scientists in Japan looked at the cases of two small dogs that became sick after eating jerky treats. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) published details of a case in 2019 involving a toy poodle that was regularly eating chicken jerky treats.
While MPI has a system to record concerns with food toxicity, Cave says it’s ‘‘opaque to the public and not well publicised’’. In Australia, where a system was established in response to the issue, vets and scientists continue to warn owners about the problem.
Secretary of the NZ Pet Food Manufacturers Association, Richard Brake, says he isn’t aware of recent New Zealand cases but supports better data-gathering, laws and oversight. Regulations are too broad ‘‘and pretty-well useless when it comes to issues like pet food’’.
The association encourages members to follow human food standard requirements, for instance with labelling of ingredients.
‘‘It’s a matter of transparency for consumers,’’ says Brake. ‘‘We take the business of looking after pet parents very seriously. I think pet food manufacturers, more than most, understand the emotional ties between pets and pet parents.’’
Tomlinson says although the scale of the problem isn’t ‘‘massive’’ in New Zealand, it’s something owners should think about when they buy food for their dogs.
‘‘I think it’s important to know where your animals’ food is coming from.’’
Cave says until about 10 years ago acquired Fanconi syndrome cases were ‘‘very rare’’, although it had been detected in pets that had eaten foods such as blackcurrants, grapes and raisins, which are toxic for dogs. But then cases emerged involving mostly small breed dogs, which were eating an ‘‘inappropriate amount’’ of dried jerky treats over a long period. Many of the treats were manufactured in China.
Cave says nothing in the ingredients or processes used in China, or elsewhere, has been singled-out as the cause. But campaigner Bob Tait, of Friends of the Earth suspects food irradiation may be a cause.
Treats imported from Asia are often treated with gamma irradiation to rid them of unwanted bacteria and improve shelf life. Tait believes changes in the molecular structure due to the irradiation process could be making the foods dangerous. Especially because there are no limits on dosage when it comes to treatment of pet food.
The United States Food and Drug Administration, which has investigated illnesses associated with jerky pet treats, has been looking into whether irradiation, in combination with other factors, could produce toxic metabolites.
But nothing conclusive has been established, even though it has looked at 6200 cases including 1140 dog deaths.
An FDA spokesperson told the Sunday Star-Times the number of illnesses has waned recently, and it was hoping to finalise the investigation soon.
The FDA’s position is that the treats are not a necessary part of a dog’s diet, but if owners choose to use them they should watch them closely.
Tait says part of the problem is that people aren’t aware of the issue in New Zealand. ‘‘People should know there’s a risk, they should know the things to look for if they are giving their dogs treats. Try to get something that is made locally.’’
He wants a moratorium on the sale of the products until there has been a proper investigation, as well as clear labelling, including if a product has been irradiated.
Some imported products sold in New Zealand do say they have been irradiated; others
‘‘People should know there’s a risk, they should know the things to look for if they are giving their dogs treats. Try to get something that is made locally.’’ Bob Tait
say they are not suitable for cats – that’s because of cases in Australia where cats died after eating products that had been irradiated.
In Australia, the RSPCA is calling for all irradiated pet food to be banned.
New Zealand’s SPCA doesn’t go as far as supporting a ban – but it does want greater transparency about ingredients, country of origin, manufacturing processes, and import requirements.
‘‘This would enable potential health
issues to be more readily identified and investigated and evidence-based changes to be made to effectively safeguard the welfare of our pets,’’ says the SPCA’s scientific officer, Dr Alison Vaughan.
Current regulations only require a manufacturer to list details such as directions for use, expiry dates, and any precautions that should be taken.
A spokesperson for the MPI confirmed there were no labelling requirements to say if a product was irradiated.
‘‘If MPI determines there is a risk associated with irradiated pet food that requires regulatory intervention, we may review existing requirements.’’
MPI says it is unaware of any New Zealand-made products being irradiated.
One of the companies that sells dried treats imported from Asia is Masterpet, via its brands Vitapet and Yours Droolly. Its products are widely available in New Zealand supermarkets.
Information on the back of the packaging says where the treats are made, and that they are not suitable for cats. Some also say they have been irradiated.
The labels also advise the treats should not make up more than 10 per cent of a dog’s diet.
Cave said responsible.
There are no known cases of animals which have become unwell after eating Masterpet products in New Zealand. In Australia a consumer website for pet food lists Masterpet products among those which have been irradiated and imported from China and highlights the concerns which have been raised.
The Star-Times approached Masterpet in New Zealand about the issue. A spokesperson from Australia replied, initially saying there would be a response, but in the end there was no comment from the company.
A NZ Veterinary Association spokesperson says the jerky issue is ‘‘old news’’ and was not aware of recent cases. But for Cave, the issue is something he continues to think about, especially with his own animals.
He says he doesn’t want to take the risk with the treats or other irradiated pet food.
He also believes they are unnecessary. When he wants to use a treat to reward a dog for obedience, he uses something from their regular diet – instead of buying something special.
‘‘I’m a nutritionist, so I think about what is going into my animals when I’m feeding them. When I give them a treat, I want it to be of some nutritional benefit.
‘‘But also, I don’t want them to associate food with love. The best treat you can give to your dogs is time, not food. Go and throw a ball to them.’’ information like this was