FDA Reviewing Real Ham Bone Dog Treats

[Tomcat]

(From the St Louis Globe Democrat)

A popular pet treat distributed by a meat company in Washington, Mo., and sold in stores across the United States is under attack by dog owners who blame the product for injuring or killing their animals.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) said Thursday consumers should be very cautious when giving “Real Ham Bone For Dogs” to their pets. The bones are distributed under the Dynamic Pet Products label of Frick’s Quality Meats of Washington.

Several consumers said their dogs became seriously ill or died when the animals ate pieces of the bones, causing damage or blockage to internal organs.

According to the BBB, a veterinarian who surgically removed bone fragments from one of the dogs said, “Things like this shouldn’t happen. If you can’t say it’s safe, it probably isn’t something you should have in stores.”

The BBB said the company has denied any wrongdoing and a manager there said most consumers are fully satisfied with the bones.

Four consumers have filed BBB complaints against Dynamic Pet Products. Other consumers said the company denied their requests to pay medical bills.

A woman from Richardson, Tex., told the BBB the meat company paid for a new dog after she claimed her bull terrier died after eating one of the bones. Under terms of her agreement with the company, the settlement is confidential. The woman described her dog’s death as “violent” and “horrific.”

Michelle L. Corey, BBB president and CEO, said consumers appear to have a legitimate reason to be concerned. “There simply are too many of these cases to ignore. Consumers have a right to expect that items sold commercially for their pets will not end up causing them harm.”

Sara Frick-Mades, director of plant services for Dynamic Pet Products, told the BBB in an email that the company would not release information on numbers or types of complaints it has received about the product. “I can tell you that the praises and compliments far outweigh the complaints or concerns received,” she said.

The website for Dynamic Pet Products notes that the bones are “smoked.” Dr. Tony Buffington, professor of veterinary clinical services at Ohio State University, said that the more cooked a bone is, the greater the likelihood of the bone splintering and potentially causing problems. He said it is important to weigh the risks against the benefits in giving any food product to your pet. He said pet owners should always use caution when giving a bone to a dog.

The bones are sold in stores across the country, including in the St. Louis area. They retail for about $3 each and are sold wrapped in plastic with labels that say “100% FOOD GRADE INGREDIENTS.” Just beneath those words, in smaller type, is a warning to pet owners:

“Supervise your pet while consuming any natural bone product,” the warning says in part. “Not recommended for dogs with digestive problems or aggressive chewers. Remove bone immediately if splintering occurs or small fragments break off.”

The label also says that the “Pet owner assumes liability associated with the use of this or any natural bone product.”

According to the BBB, most pet owners interviewed by the BBB said they did not read the label. They said they assumed the bones were safe because they are sold in grocery and other stores.

A dog owner from Hebron, Ind., said after her dog ate the bones, her veterinarian used her hand to clean “a bunch of pieces of bone” from the dog’s intestine.

A woman from O’Fallon, Mo., who also filed a complaint with the BBB over the bone, said that in March 2008 she gave the same products to a boxer and a Jack Russell terrier. “It was my first and last time,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to try it again.” She said that soon after giving the dogs the bones, they both began to vomit stomach material that included splintered pieces of bone. She said the animals were ill for two days. She said she contacted the company, which told her the product was safe. She said they offered her coupons for the more of the bones, but she rejected the offer.

A Brandon, Fla., woman sent the BBB copies of extensive veterinary reports compiled during surgery and follow-up treatment of her pet beagle after the animal was given a Dynamic Pet Products ham bone. The reports indicated an 8 centimeter intestinal blockage caused by “small, chewed bony fragments.” The animal subsequently died. The woman said the company’s insurer said it would not pay her veterinary bills.

The St. Louis area BBB points pet owners to an article on the website WebMD, entitled “Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat” that suggests that pet owners not give bones to dogs. “Although it seems natural to give a dog a bone, a dog can choke on it,” the report says. “Bones can also splinter and cause an obstruction or lacerations of your dog’s digestive system.”

[K9 Coach]

Excellent information for dog owners to know. It can be confusing... we all know the old adage "throw the dog a bone". Law of first mention comes to mind and it seems as though there could be nothing but good come from giving the dog a bone.

Yet, there are new factors that play into this old adage. In the article above a piece that is important to note is cooked bones are much more brittle than an uncooked bone. There are many people feeding raw diets that include bones with no untoward consequence for their dog's digestive system. It is important to note, these bones are not cooked.

Many dogs do need something to do with themselves for certain. If you have one of those dogs and give your dog bones, a nylabone may be a great substitute for the real bones. Cooked bones can be dangerous... no matter what size.

[Tomcat]

This bit of advice comes from the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine

You’ve just finished a big weekend family dinner and you are wondering what to do with the bones from the ham and roast, when in trots your big black Labrador Retriever. He longingly looks at the bones, and gives you his saddest puppy eyes. You fall for his begging and think that the bones would be perfect for him to chew on. Even though your vet has told you before that it’s a bad idea to give bones to your dog, you still think that these particular bones are big enough that your dog won’t get hurt. After all, he hasn’t had problems chewing on bones in the past, so what harm could these two bones do? Well, here are 11 reasons why you should think twice before giving your dog any bones to chew on:

1.Broken teeth. (Veterinary dentistry—very expensive)
2.Mouth or tongue injuries. (Very bloody and messy.)
3.Bone could get stuck around the dog’s lower jaw. (May look funny, but it’s not. Time to see your vet.)
4.Bone could get stuck in your dog’s esophagus (food tube). (Time to see your vet.)
5.Bone could get stuck in your dog’s windpipe if he accidentally inhales a small enough piece. (This is an emergency! Very dangerous.)
6.Bone can get stuck in the stomach. (It went in just fine, but is too big to pass out of the stomach into the intestines. Time for surgery.)
7.Bone can get stuck in the intestines and cause a major blockage. (Time for surgery.)
8.Constipation due to bone shards. (Your dog can’t pass the bone shards because they’re very sharp and are scraping the inside of your dog’s intestines, causing him severe pain. Time to see your vet.)
9.Severe bleeding from the rectum. (Known in veterinary speak as Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis—or HGE. Very messy and dangerous.)
10.Peritonitis. (A nasty, difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen caused when bone shards poke holes in your dog’s stomach or intestines. This can kill your dog.)
11.Death.
Always talk with your veterinarian first before you give bones to your dog. And always, if your dog “just isn’t acting right,” call your vet right away!