• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

UGA veterinary lab offers free testing for jerky-related illness and death

November 27, 2013

Lab partners with FDA in ongoing investigation into problematic treats from China.

UGA veterinary lab offers free testing for jerky-related illness and deathLab partners with FDA in ongoing investigation into problematic treats from China.

The University of Georgia Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories, in Athens and Tifton, Ga., are performing free tests and autopsies on any dogs or cats that die after consumption of jerky treats. The lab, a part of the College of Veterinary Medicine at UGA, is working in partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network.

The FDA has called on veterinarians to provide samples to assist in its ongoing investigation into pet illnesses and deaths associated with jerky pet treats sourced from China. Since 2007, the agency has investigated more than 3,000 reports of pet illnesses related to consumption of jerky treats and, as of Sept. 24, more than 580 deaths have been reported. Despite years of testing, identification of a cause is still elusive.

The UGA labs will test sick animal samples as well as suspect jerky treats for potential bacterial pathogens. The tests and autopsies will be performed at no cost as long as the criteria outlined below are met.

Required for free testing:

> Animal species: Dogs and cats.

> Timeline: Must have consumed jerky treats 7 to 21 days ago.

> Type of treat: Treats made from chicken, duck, sweet potato or dried fruit or combinations of these ingredients.

> Clinical signs: In about 60 percent of cases, gastrointestinal signs such as anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea; in about 30 percent of cases, urinary distress including polydipsia, polyuria and Fanconi syndrome; and in about 10 percent of cases, other signs such as convulsions, tremors, hives and skin irritation.

Information to be collected by clinicians in addition to general case history:

> Lot numbers of the specific suspect jerky treats.

Advertisement

> How long the owner had been feeding the treat.

> How the owner gave the treat or food to the pet—was it an entire piece or broken?

> What else the pet had been eating—all treats, human food and pet food—including how much was given daily of all items.

Pets that have consumed potentially contaminated food or drugs may exhibit the following symptoms within hours to several days following consumption: decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus), increased water consumption and increased urination.

Samples to submit include:

> Feces: For pathogenic bacteria culture.

> Urine: For conducting routine urine analysis and to freeze one subsample—to be used in case of follow-up.

> Blood: For routine blood work for liver and kidney injury.

> Jerky treat sample: Sample of the treat consumed by the patient—both opened and unopened samples, if possible.

> Entire carcass: For autopsy if the patient is dead.

Veterinarians with testing questions should call the Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at 706-542-5568 or the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory at 229-386-3340.

Related Content:

Breaking News
Veterinarian kills 2 police officers in Mississippi
Veterinarian kills 2 police officers in Mississippi
FDA conditionally approves Panoquell-CA1 for acute onset of canine pancreatitis
FDA conditionally approves Panoquell-CA1 for acute onset of canine pancreatitis
Veterinarians reflect on Queen Elizabeth’s legacy and love of animals
Veterinarians reflect on Queen Elizabeth’s legacy and love of animals

Advertisement

Latest News

An update on copper concerns in pet foods

Dental hacks to make every case more manageable

Q&A with a keynote: Walter Brown, RVTg, VTS, ECC

News wrap-up: This week’s headlines, plus dvm360® launches its first CE podcast

View More Latest News
Advertisement