CooperDog

Thought I should start a topic on this since there is a recall and I don't see a topic started yet. (Sorry, moderators, if I missed something.) http://ava.informz.net/ava/data/images/doc...call_letter.pdf "VOLUNTARY PRODUCT RECALL 1st June 2009 Virbac (Australia) Pty Ltd has decided to announce a voluntary recall of all batches of the following products: • VeggieDent™ Chews For Dogs under 10kg; and • VeggieDent™ Chews For Dogs 10-30kg; and • VeggieDent™ Chews For Dogs over 30kg. Relevant batch numbers of VeggieDent™ include C14808, C14908, C01409 and C1509. This is purely a precautionary measure in the interests of animal welfare and the veterinary profession. The decision has been made after discussion with key opinion leaders including Dr Linda Fleeman BVSc PhD MACVSc Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine from the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney. Virbac has recently received reports of dogs exhibiting signs suggestive of an acquired proximal renal tubulopathy including polyuria, polydipsia and glucosuria in the absence of concurrent hyperglycaemia. As part of their diet history these animals have consumed VeggieDent™ as well as various products. There has been no establishment of a causal link with the VeggieDent™ product range. Virbac is actively investigating this issue and encourages the veterinary profession to report any cases of dogs exhibiting similar changes following consumption of VeggieDent™. For reporting purposes please contact Dr Gerard Lim BVSc on 1800 242 100. Virbac (Australia) Pty Ltd is not aware of reports of similar illness occurring in other regions where VeggieDent™ has already been established including North America, Europe and Asia. VeggieDent™ products sold in Australia differ from products sold in other countries - they are irradiated as required by AQIS. Bruce Bell" It looks like only irradiated VeggieDent treats are associated with Fanconi syndrome. I'm in the U.S., and the FDA has issued a warning about imported, irradiated chicken treats being linked to Fanconi. (The Virbac dental treats recalled in Australia seem to have no meat in them - so only the irradiation seems to be a common factor in the U.S. and Australian Fanconi cases.) The Australian government has now banned irradiation of pet foods as part of importation treatment, if I am understanding an article link here correctly: http://thedailybite.wordpress.com/2009/06/...ndrome-in-dogs/ (There is also a 4 June 2009 AVA Media Release at bottom of page there.)

Looks like there is a new outbreak of Fanconi-like syndrome in Australian dogs. Researchers are looking at a dental treat made without any chicken or other meat product in it this time. http://thedailybite.wordpress.com/2009/06/...ndrome-in-dogs/

There is a good link there for a treatment protocol for vets to use for Fanconi syndrome, whether genetic or induced by a toxin like these treats are doing. http://www.zandebasenjis.com/protocol.htm The testing that companies do on their own products is just so inadequate.

Glad the recipes are helpful, poochmad! We are all in this together. Benny123, I had to look up what lamb fry are and here that might be hard to find in a store. But they sound a lot healthier than the chicken jerky from China! Good for you to be making your dogs wholesome, locally sourced treats.

A lot of people started making their own treats in the U.S. when the bad chicken strips hit there last year. (I sure hope Australian vets and toxicologists will figure out what is going on. Nobody here has.) Lots of treat recipes here: http://www.dogaware.com/treatref.html I've just been simmering lamb to reduce the fat and using that. I freeze it in little packs in wax paper, then put those in a plastic bag in the freezer and pull out the packs as needed. Sometimes I use a couple as the meat base for a homecooked dinner. My toy terrier is allergic to a lot of things, so I have to make it simple.

I'm from the U.S.A. and we have gone round and round with this yet the FDA has not enlightened us to what the toxin is and if the stores or manufacturers know, they are not saying. They are calling this 'Fanconi-like syndrome both in AU and in the U.S.A. This is known to be caused by outdated tetracyclines. Poisoning and Toxicology Handbook By Jerrold B. Leikin, Frank P. Paloucek Seems like all these treats may have undergone higher levels of irradiation at some point. Could it be that irradiation is affecting the residual antibiotics in chicken? Or maybe it is simply that some of the chicken, (China producers tend to source from many small farms), has high levels of antibiotic residues and some not. The FDA does stop meats from China regularly for having problems with antibiotic residues, but they test only a fraction of imports. There are still reports of new illnesses here in the U.S. http://www1.epinions.com/msg/show_~threads...m_id_~247/pp_~3

They are calling it Fanconi-like syndrome here in the U.S., too, and it still seems to be happening. What could be going on? http://www.epinions.com/msg/show_~threads/...m_id_~247/pp_~3

Hi, I live in the U.S.A. and we had what sounds like a very similiar incident in 2007 that did not get as much attention as it should have since the country was reeling with the melamine poisonings of our pets. This UK web site has a good article. http://www.k9obedience.co.uk/doghealth/foo...ydogtreats.html "High dose applications are used to sterilise packaged meat and other products that are to be sold on shelves without refrigeration. The label on Waggin Train Brand Chicken Jerky Tenders reads, “Irradiated food” and on Bestro's brand it says, “Irradiated, not for human consumption”." These experiments upon our pets must stop!