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Despite reports of pet illness and deaths tied to jerky treats, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says it won't warn pet owners against feeding the treats to their dogs, according to an NBC News report.
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The AVMA rejected a resolution this month that would have discouraged use of the jerky products until further evidence about safety is available.
"The resolution as presented is basically dead," said David Kirkpatrick, an AVMA spokesman. "We don't have the scientific proof to say, 'Don't do it.'"
Instead, the AVMA's house of delegates recommended that the group tell its 85,000 members to report jerky-related pet problems to the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to work with the FDA to safeguard animals through "quality control of pet food and treats."
The strips, nuggets and other treats have been linked to nearly 600 pet deaths and 4,500 illnesses since 2007. The conditions include gastrointestinal illnesses, kidney failure and Fanconi syndrome. The AVMA and the FDA remind owners that jerky treats are not a necessary part of a pet's diet and to seek medical care at the first sign of gastric distress or kidney trouble.
The AVMA resolution came weeks before Nestle Purina Pet Care said it plans to introduce new versions of its Waggin' Train products in February, and Del Monte Foods Corp. said it would offer new versions of its Milo's Kitchen treats in March.
The companies issued nationwide recalls last year after New York state agriculture officials detected trace levels of unapproved antibiotics in jerky treat samples. The FDA and company officials said that the antibiotics weren't tied to the ongoing reports of illnesses.
Nestle Purina said it has made "significant enhancements" to the Waggin' Train production process, including limiting meat sourcing to single suppliers and requiring that each batch of treats be tested for a range of contaminants.
Although the majority of US pet owners are families, the gap in pet ownership between families and single adults has significantly narrowed over the last five years, the American Veterinary Medical Association says.
The number of single adults who own pets grew by 16.6 percent from 46.9 percent in 2006 to 54.7 percent in 2011, according to data from the AVMA 2012 US Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook. Over the same period, families with pets grew by 1.37 percent, from 65.5 percent of families owning pets in 2006 to 66.4 percent in 2011.
Likewise, pet ownership among single men living alone rose by 27.7 percent over the same 2006-11 period to 42.8 percent in 2011, while the number of single women living alone with pets rose by 22 percent to 57.1 percent in 2011. Pet ownership among divorced, widowed or separated adults also increased 17.7 percent over the period to 60.4 percent in 2011.
Following an earlier recommendation to pet owners, the American Veterinary Medical Association has approved a policy that discourages feeding raw animal-source protein diets to cats or dogs, unless the petfood has undergone a process that eliminates pathogens.
The new policy on raw petfood states that cooking and pasteurization are the “traditional” methods for eliminating pathogens in dog and cat food, but recognizes that safety methods such as irradiation are “being developed and implemented.” The new policy had two revisions, including a change from, “Never feed inadequately treated animal-source protein to cats and dogs” to, “Avoid feeding inadequately treated animal-source protein to cats and dogs.”
Nearly 91 percent of the association's delegates voted for the new policy during the organization’s convention in early August. Also at the meeting, the association provided a look at findings from its 2012 US Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, which will be made available in the fall. This survey of nearly 50,000 US households found that US pet ownership decreased by 2.4 percent from 2006-11, while pet spending increased. The average expenditure per dog was US$227 in 2011, up from US$200 in 2006. Expenditures per cat increased from US$81 to US$90.
The American Veterinary Medical Association passed a new resolution discouraging the feeding of raw pet food diets to dogs and cats due to human health concerns.
The association is discouraging pet owners from feeding raw meat diets because pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria can be easily transmitted to humans by handling the raw food or through contact with the animal's feces.
Dr. Ashley Hughes of Friendship Hospital for Animals says bacteria is very difficult to get rid of, even with proper washing of bowls and utensils. She says feeding raw food is especially dangerous in homes with children, elderly people or people with weak immune systems.
"The Internet tells [pet owners] raw food is the best thing to feed, and if they love their dog, this is what they should be feeding them, and so I hope people research it more and, you know, make an informed decision if that's what they want to feed," Dr. Hughes says. "I think it's about discussing your feeding choices with your veterinarian and working out a system and a way of feeding that works for you and your pet."
A 14-year study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Association has managed to bust several canine nutrition myths.
Forty-eight pairs of Labrador Retriever littermates were followed. Among other things, the results suggested that a 25% restriction of food intake—or maintaining an ideal body condition throughout a dog's life—increased the median lifespan of a dog by 1.8 years and delayed the onset of chronic disease symptoms. "Knowing what to feed and how much to feed are equally important," said Mike Grant, PA, the nutritional science director for SeniorPetProducts.com "Your veterinarian is always the best way to get the correct information. They are up to date on all the new science."
Several nutrition myths were disproved during the study:
1) A raw meat diet is the only one for canines: Today's domesticated dogs are not true carnivores. They need small amounts of grains, like rice, oatmeal, pasta, vegetables and fruits to round out their dietary needs.
2) Raw eggs are an absolute no-no for dogs: Dogs are far less susceptible to Salmonella poisoning and the occasional raw or boiled egg is a good source of protein for canines.
3) Dogs should never have any dairy products: Some dogs may be lactose intolerant, but cottage cheese and yogurt are two low-lactose options that are high in calcium.
4) Fat only gives dogs empty calories: Fats are the main source of energy for dogs. Fat is also necessary for the proper absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K, especially in low-saturated forms such as omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
5) A dog is unable to digest grains: This is partially true, but dogs can digest starch grains that have been converted by the cooking process. Rice is a better option than wheat or corn.
6) All commercial dog foods are bad: Research has shown that the quality of commercial dog foods is more than able to meet a dog's nutritional needs.
7) A diet must be specifically tailored to a dog's age or breed: In most cases, the same diet throughout a dog's life is sufficient. However, puppies need more food than seniors and older dogs may need nutritional supplements.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)'s annual convention expected an attendance of over 9,000 veterinary professionals looking to expand their knowledge and help local animals, at the event held July 31 through Aug. 3 in Atlanta.
The convention offered sessions on topics like animal welfare, food safety, trends in pet ownership and advances in veterinary medicine. Convention attendees also had access to over 250 companies and organizations in the exhibit hall, showcasing high-tech surgical instruments, the latest equipment for pets, petfood and educational materials, among other industry-related products.
AVMA convention also gave veterinarians and attendees a chance to give back by volunteering their time to the "Our Oath in Action" event, which helps to refurbish local animal facilities. Additionally, a "Trails for Tails" 5K run/walk event was held by AVMA to raise funds for animal welfare programs and the PAWS animal shelter in Atlanta.
“Making a difference in the lives of people and animals is the reason we chose the veterinary profession,” said Ron DeHaven, DVM, chief executive of AVMA. “Whether it is in practice, at home or even during a continuing education conference, improving animal and public health and welfare is essential to us. Knowing that Atlanta shares our passion for animals, we have expanded what used to be ‘AVMA’ 5K run into a community event.”
