A veterinary clinical pathologist, who has looked at cases in New Zealand, agrees, and wants owners, especially of small dogs, to know the risks. “Even if it can save one dog or prevent one dog from needing hospital treatment,” says Dr Julie Tomlinson. The issue first emerged about 10 years ago when animals in the United States and Australia got sick after eating imported dried jerky dog treats. Products imported from Asia and sold in New Zealand include dried beef, chicken, duck and turkey jerky treats.
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Dr Nick Cave, an animal nutrition specialist at Massey Veterinary School, says he doesn’t feed the treats to his own dogs.
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