A new report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) follows up on concerns about jerky pet treats that first came to light seven years ago. As of May 1, 2014, the FDA has received more than 4,800 complaints of illness in pets that ate chicken, duck, or sweet potato jerky treats, nearly all of which are imported from China. The reports involve more than 5,600 dogs, 24 cats, three people, and include more than 1,000 canine deaths.

In 2007, the FDA warned consumers of a potential association between development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats. At that time, the FDA had received less than 100 complaints of dogs experiencing illnesses related to these treats. The jerky treats from China contained a drug called amantadine, which is an antiviral approved for use in people and has been used off-label for treating pain in dogs. Since then, the FDA has stated that it does not believe amantadine is to blame for the illnesses.

Dogs that have become ill typically display multiple symptoms, including decreased food consumption, decreased activity or lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood), and increased water consumption or increased urination. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure and urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome. At that time, it seemed that dogs would recover and there were no confirmed reports of canine death.

According to the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, Fanconi syndrome is a condition where the tubules of the kidneys do not function properly. The disease is progressive though rate of progression is variable.