Shih Tzu - CAUTION TO PET OWNERS

Please take the time to remember when the holiday season comes upon us, many pets will receive gifts such as pet treats and toys including chew toys. Each year FDA receives a small number of reports of adverse events associated with pet treats. Pet owners should be aware that occasionally, pet treats and chew toys may cause choking or blockage problems for their pets and may want to monitor their pets for signs of potential problems.

Pet treats that are meant to be consumed are most digestible (edible) when chewed into small pieces. It may be harder for your pet to digest larger pieces, and this can pose serious health consequences especially in small dogs. Through chewing, pet treats and toys may become broken into pieces that may become lodged in your pet's airway or gastrointestinal tract.

The sign(s) that your pet exhibits may help your veterinarian determine where the obstruction has occurred. If pieces of treats or toys are stuck in the back of the throat, your pet may become frantic and you may notice signs such as drooling and choking. Severe airway obstructions are not uncommon, and they should be considered life threatening. This calls for an emergency visit to your veterinarian.

If your pet experiences an esophageal obstruction, you may notice repeated gulping and drooling. Also, your pet may regurgitate undigested food after eating.

If something is stuck in your pet's stomach or intestines, your pet may vomit, exhibit depression or a loss of appetite, have abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Chronic obstructions may lead to severe illness and a life-threatening abdominal infection (known as peritonitis.)

If you observe your pet swallowing a piece of a holiday decoration, toy, or small piece of a pet treat, it is important to contact your veterinarian for medical advice. Your veterinarian may take x-rays to evaluate the problem. Veterinarians may also use other procedures (called endoscopic procedures) to remove objects from the esophagus and stomach. Your veterinarian may also need to perform surgery for intestinal blockages.

Please remember to always keep small objects from within reach of your pets and contact your veterinarian if you have concerns about something your pet has swallowed or exhibits symptoms of having a problem.

Pet Chews
May Cause Illness in People, Agency Warns

Based on a number of reports of human illnesses in Canada, FDA recently warned U.S. consumers about the potential risk from contact with dog chew products made from pork or beef.

According to FDA, dog chew products, including pig ears, beef jerky treats, smoked hooves, and pig skins, may pose a risk of bacterial infection, such as Salmonella infantis. In normally healthy people, these infections can cause flu-like symptoms (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, for example), but in those with weakened immune systems the infection can be more serious--even life-threatening.

FDA is urging pet owners to wash their hands with hot water and soap after coming into contact with these pet chews. Elderly people, young children, and those with weakened immune systems should avoid contact with the treats altogether.

FDA is working with other U.S. and Canadian health officials and has issued an import bulletin on products that have been directly linked to illnesses. Also, the agency is examining the manufacturing processes for products containing pig ears to determine how this product and similar ones can be made safely.