Hundreds of pets die after eating jerky from China

Almost 600 pets have died and a further 3,000 have fallen ill in the US after eating meat jerky treats that have been linked to China.

The US Food and Drug Administration has asked pet owners to contact them after receiving multiple reports of pets falling ill. Since 2007, it has received reports involving 3,600 dogs and 10 cats. Of those, 580 have died.

The FDA has conducted more than 1,200 tests and visited the manufacturers of jerky treats in China, but the exact cause of the illness has yet to be solved. Most of the treats implicated have come from China.

“This is one of the most elusive and mysterious outbreaks we've encountered,” according to Bernadette Dunham, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. “Our beloved four-legged companions deserve our best effort, and we are giving it.”

She added: “Our fervent hope as animal lovers is that we will soon find the cause of – and put a stop to – these illnesses.”