A Jerky Treat You Can Trust
February 01, 2013 • Health & Wellness
What’s the deal with Chicken Jerky? FIDO's friend Lori at Hill’s Pet Nutrition shared the following information with us and we wanted to pass it on to you!
Chicken treats and jerky have been in the news quite a lot since 2011, but in the last couple months things have really heated up. As a maker of pet foods and treats, this is very concerning to us. We are, and always have been, 100% dedicated to helping enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets – so when we hear there are products on the store shelf that can potentially hurt the ones we love, we want to make sure people know that there is a safe choice for their dog.
So what is Hill's doing about it? We want to get the word out to pet parents who desire to continue giving treats to their dog that there is a safe option for them: Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Jerky Treats with Real Chicken. These treats are all-natural, made from only the best ingredients. Additionally, the treats are:
Naturally preserved
No corn, artificial colors or flavors
Made with real chicken protein to build and maintain lean muscle
Made in the USA
What should YOU be aware of and avoid? - “I love to treat my dog and frequently mix up flavors and textures to keep things fun. But the other day I was at the pet store and overheard some other customers talking about this “killer chicken jerky”! Not the one to shy away from learning more about how to be a better pet parent, I asked what all the fuss was – and the answer was shocking! They spun me a story how some companies were sourcing not only most of their ingredients, but also the entire chicken jerky product from China. I’ve heard of this a bit in the human world, but for Fluffy? So I investigated more – and what did I find?”
The FDA issued a cautionary warning to consumers in September 2007 about the dangers of chicken jerky dog treats (also called tenders or strips) which are imported from China. The number of complaints being received dropped off during the latter part of 2009 and most of 2010 but resurfaced again in 2011. Throughout 2011, the FDA saw an increase in the number of complaints it received of dog illnesses associated with chicken jerky products imported from China. The issue is the FDA can’t remove a product from the market based solely on complaints and they are currently investigating a number of products so there has not been a dog jerky recall.
Warning signs to watch for are:
o decreased appetite;
o decreased activity;
o vomiting;
o diarrhea, sometimes with blood;
o increased water consumption; and/or
o increased urination.
The good news is, as a consumer you have choice. Now is the time to use the strongest brand influencing tool you have access to, your money, to buy a product that supports happy, healthy pets. I’m not going to mention the brands of the products involved in the investigation but there are trusted brands out there. For example, Hill’s® line of Ideal Balance™ treats are made in the USA, all-natural and made from only the best ingredients. The key here is you want to look for products made in the USA and are naturally preserved with no artificial colors or flavors.
“In the end, I learned quite a bit about not only the treats I was feeding my dog, but also about how I can better spend to support the companies that I feel are doing the right thing, and putting my pet’s health first. I was happy for my little encounter in the pet food aisle; it’s amazing the potentially life changing events that can happen right in the middle of life!”
For more information visit http://www.hillspet.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/HillsPetUS
