Q:  What brands are affected by this?
A:  At this time, we do not know what brands are affected by this situation.

Q:  Why don't you know what brands are affected?
A:  The AVMA is not performing the testing of the products; therefore, we do not have results regarding what is/has been found, if anything, in the treats.

Q:  Why did you issue this alert, if you don't know the brands?
A:  We were made aware of a sudden increase in the occurrence of a syndrome/illness that is usually very rare. Ordinarily, a veterinarian would rarely see one of these cases during their entire career, but veterinarians were seeing several in a week's period. We issued the alert out of a responsibility to our member veterinarians, in order to make them aware and assist them in recognizing and treating the problem.

Q:  When will you know what brands are affected?
A:  At this time, we do not know when the brand names will be made available by the FDA.

Q:  Have there been any recalls?
A:  To date, there have not been any recalls issued.

Q:  What is causing this?
A:  It is unknown at this time what is causing the problem. Product testing is a time-consuming process, and cannot be rushed.

Q:  Is this related to the previous pet food recall?
A:  The illness observed appears to be a transient Fanconi syndrome, which causes impaired function of a part of the kidney.

Q:  What disease/syndrome is happening in the pets?
A:  To date, it appears that cats are more commonly affected than dogs, and small dogs may be more affected than larger dogs. This may be because cats and smaller dogs are more sensitive to the causative substance, or because they are more likely to be fed the types of food involved in the recall.

Q:  What should I look for in my pet?
A:  Vomiting, loss of appetite, and lethargy/depression have been reported associated with this issue.

Q:  What should I do if my pet is ill?
A:  If your pet is ill, or if you are at all concerned about your pet's health, you should have your pet examined by a veterinarian.

Q:  My pet has been eating jerky treats and does not appear to be sick. What should I do?
A:  Monitor your pet for any signs of illness, and have it examined by a veterinarian if you are concerned.

Q:  My pet is ill. Is this going to be a long-term problem?
A:  The majority of pets demonstrate a temporary illness that resolves with treatment, and long-term therapy is unlikely to be necessary.

Q:  Where can I get up-to-date information?
A:  We will post information as soon as it is made available to us and can be confirmed. Please continue to check our Web site for up-to-date information.

Q:  How do I report my pet's illness from treats?
A:  You should contact your state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Complaint Coordinator. For a state-by-state list of Coordinators, go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html. Please include as much information as possible, including the specific product name, lot numbers, veterinarian's report and diagnosis, etc.

Q:  What if I want to have the treats from my house tested independently?
A:  We do not provide referrals for private laboratories to perform tests. If you choose to have the pet food tested by an independent laboratory, it is your responsibility to locate and contact the laboratory, and the costs associated with the testing will be your responsibility.

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Source: Staff research, AVMA Communications Division
Contact: Dr. Kimberly May, Medical/Science Writer, AVMA Communications Division, 847-285-6667

This information has been prepared as a service by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Redistribution is acceptable, but the document's original content and format must be maintained, and its source must be prominently identified.