WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is trying to solve a stubborn mystery surrounding the deaths of almost 600 dogs that ate pet treats from China, and officials are hoping pet owners and veterinarians can help them figure out what exactly may be causing the illnesses.
Investigators haven't yet found a certain cause. The FDA says it has received reports of illnesses in 3,600 dogs and 10 cats in the United States since 2007, and 580 dogs died. The pet treats were sold under a wide variety of brand names.
The complaints were sent in by pet owners, some of them unsure of the cause of their pet's illness. But many others were sent in by veterinarians who have seen repeated cases of kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and a rare kidney disorder, the FDA said.
FDA veterinarian Martine Hartogensis says the agency is now appealing to pet owners and veterinarians to send them more information on animals who may have gotten sick after eating the treats. Pets can suffer from a decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting and diarrhea among other symptoms within hours of eating treats sold as jerky tenders or strips made of chicken, duck, sweet potatoes or dried fruit.
"This has been one of the most mysterious and elusive issues we've had to investigate," Hartogensis said. She said the investigation has been particularly complicated because researchers haven't been able to pin down what ingredient may be causing the problem and because many of the treats and their ingredients are imported. And not much is known about animal deaths. While autopsies on humans can often determine the cause of death, pet owners usually forgo expensive autopsies on their deceased animals.