Beware the Chinese Chicken

True story.

No, a drumstick will not make your brain stop tickin'. However, over the last year the FDA has reported a rather dramatic increase in reports of pet illness that may be related to chicken jerky treats made in China. Concerns are now extending to duck and sweet potato products. Problems have ranged from vomiting and diarrhea to kidney failure and death; however, I should emphasize that no direct link or cause has been identified yet, and nothing has been recalled as of yet. In other words - don't panic.

On the other hand, there have been more than enough reports to warrant avoiding Chinese-made jerky treats and tossing any you may have bought, just to be on the safe side. Frankly, China has jack for safety regulations, a fact underscored by several recalls of very dangerous products produced there in recent years.  I try to avoid anything with "Made in China" on the back, period. Sorry, Beijing.

This is also a good opportunity to point out two great resources for information about pet food and product recalls. The American Veterinary Medical Association maintains two recall lists, one for foods and another for pet products:

• Pet Food Safety Recalls and Alerts (AVMA) 
• Pet Product Safety Recalls and Alerts (AVMA)

Of note, several brands of thyroid medication were also recently recalled. Manufacturing issues may have led to non-uniform pills (that is, varying drug strengths); this probably won't cause serious side effects, but if your dog is on thyroid meds you should ring your vet's office to see if you've received any of the problem lots. Also, some Petco food bowls were recalled due to radioactivity. I couldn't make this stuff up.