US Government watchdog warns dog owners about health threat posed by bone treats

[bathroommonkey76]

Dog owners have been warned of the health risks associated with ‘bone treats’ by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA reported receiving approximately 68 reports of pet illness related to bone treats, which are processed and packaged for sale as treats for dogs.

As many as 90 dogs (some reports involved more than one dog) were affected, while 15 dogs are believed to have died after eating a bone treat.

The ‘bone treats’ referred to in the reports are products that may be dried through a smoking process or by baking and may contain other ingredients such as preservatives, seasonings and smoke flavourings.

Read more:

https://www.joe.ie/fitness-health/bone-treats-607972

[GallopingGhost]

1. I wish the

article gave some brand names or specifics about exactly which treats these are.

We're careful about what we give our dogs. Usually just USA-made crunchy type.

[bathroommonkey76]

2. Did you read the FDA link from the article?

FDA has received about 68 reports of pet illnesses related to "bone treats,” which differ from uncooked butcher-type bones because they are processed and packaged for sale as dog treats. A variety of commercially-available bone treats for dogs—including treats described as “Ham Bones,” “Pork Femur Bones,” “Rib Bones,” and “Smokey Knuckle Bones”—were listed in the reports. The products may be dried through a smoking process or by baking, and may contain other ingredients such as preservatives, seasonings, and smoke flavorings.
So if you’re planning to give your dog a stocking full of bone treats this holiday season, you may want to reconsider. According to Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at the FDA, “Giving your dog a bone treat might lead to an unexpected trip to your veterinarian, a possible emergency surgery, or even death for your pet.”

https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm208365.htm

[GallopingGhost]

5. Yes, I did read it,

and I stand by what I said. My point was simply that it would stick more, mentally, with people if brand names were given. Another article I read said, and I am quoting verbatim, "Multiple companies produce these products..." which is a huge part of the problem. Many treats are produced by a big-name company and given an entirely different look & label.

A lot of dog owners may be confused as to whether the treats they are buying are the dangerous kind. There are many factors under which a purchaser could make a buying error... I have. I've accidentally purchased treats Made in China because I neglected to read the label because I was rushed for time, ect.

Oh well, splitting hairs, I suppose. Bottom line, we all love our furbabies; be careful what you give them.

[MineralMan]

3. I've always been skeptical of those treats.

We never buy them or give them to our dogs.

[Egnever]

4. I am somewhat amazed people buy these at all.

They are ridiculously expensive, at least where I live. For a fraction of the cost you can usually get bones from your local butcher that are fresh and not smothered with chemicals. We buy "soup bones" from our local grocers that is usually 4-5 decent sized bones for around $3.50 those same bones would run you $20 at the petsmart and be covered in chemicals.

I actually contemplated going to all the local BBQ places and asking if I could take their waste from them and repackage it for sale just because the prices of "bones" in the pet stores are so ludicrous.