Treats from China Still Suspect!

One of our volunteers mentioned that her vet had seen two dogs with Fanconi-type kidney failures this month.  Unfortunately, both young dogs died.  They had both been eating dried chicken-strip treats imported from China, recently purchased from the US's largest discount chainstores. 

You may remember that in 2007, there was a wave of dog deaths resulting from treats manufactured in China, involving melamine.  It appears that the problem with death and illness has been ongoing, though it hasn't been publicized, and in recent months, a rise in dog deaths in Canada resulted in this post:  http://news.vin.com/vinnews.aspx?articleId=19077. 

If you purchase your dog's treats from the supermarket or large discount chains, be sure to look very, very carefully at the packaging.  Though the bag may say in larger lettering, "Manufactured in the US," it may say elsewhere, "Made in China" in very small letters.

The vet in the article cited above suggested feeding your dog small quantities of fresh vegetables and fruit (excepting onion, raisins, grapes, etc.) or single cheerios-type cereals.  Don't be like the enthusiastic dog-owner who switched to carrots for treats and whose nauseated dog presented the vet with a one-pound pile of carrots in the exam room!  Let your Frenchies fill up on fruits and veggies between meals, but don't top them off!

Here's a photo of FBRN grad Norm (formerly Albee), anxiously awaiting his healthy, homemade dinner.  Poor guy looks about ready to keel over from the pangs!  He's weak, weak from the hunger! 


We could eat a little something ourselves, now that we mention it, considers

The Frog Princess