HOUSTON – If you have a dog or cat that became ill after eating jerky treats, the Food and Drug Administration wants to hear from you.
The agency has been warning consumers about tainted jerky treats since 2007.
A total of 3,600 dogs and small numbers of cats have gotten sick and 580 of those pets have died.
The FDA has done more than 1,000 tests at facilities in China and has talked to experts around the world, but still there have been no leads on a cause.
The agency is offering to pay for tests on blood and tissue samples submitted by dog owners whose pets got sick.
Pet owners should be watching for any symptoms after feeding their pets jerky treats. They include decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and pets who are drinking more than usual.
Some jerky products were removed from the market in January and the FDA says the number of illness did drop following that recall. If your pet becomes sick, stop the treats, get to your vet and save any remaining treats and the packaging for testing.