Poisons expert Jane Ellison updated delegates at BSAVA Congress.

Jerky treat poisoning "eerily similar" to melamine milk scandal

Vets treating dogs with Fanconi syndrome are being advised to consider whether jerky treats form part of the patient's diet.

Information scientist Jane Ellison, of the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS), described some of the more recent toxins to emerge, during a lecture at BSAVA Congress today (5 April).

In recent years, cases of Fanconi syndrome, a rare disorder that affects kidney function, have been linked to the consumption of jerky treats in a number of countries including the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

Eight cases were reported to the VPIS last year, and 22 the previous year. The cause of the toxicity is not yet understood; it does not appear that particular brands of jerky treat are involved and the affected products have been manufactured in various countries.

Ellison said this is a worrying food production issue and "eerily similar" to the melamine milk scandals in China and India. Melamine was added to milk to reduce production costs, which resulted in the deaths of six babies in China in 2008, and many more suffering kidney damage.

The VPIS is the central case registry for jerky treat poisoning. Cases can be reported here: https://vpisglobal.com/poisons/jerky-treats-case-registry/

Other more recently emerging threats include the rising popularity of laundry capsules, which are increasingly replacing liquid or powder detergents. Usually coming in large tubs, they can be consumed in vast quantities by curious dogs and cats, who will often view the small, squashy capsules as toys.

These are very concentrated detergents and can cause problems in the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, skin and respiratory area. The rising number of house bunnies means more rabbits are now at risk of coming into contact with this toxin.

In addition, some vitamin D preparations that were previously prescription only, are now more readily available, Ellison added. Multivitamins and over the counter tablets are generally not a problem, but prescribed vitamin D3 tablets for osteoporosis (cholecalciferol) and, in particular, psoriasis creams (calcipotriol) are a concern.

As calcipotriol is highly toxic, Ellison advised vets to warn clients with psoriasis about the risks. Treated areas must remain covered as even licking the skin where these creams have been applied could be enough to cause toxic effects.

Finally, the VPIS received 120 calls last year about pets that have chewed e-cigarettes or liquid refills. Generally, just under half of cases are asymptomatic and the remainder show only mild effects such as tachycardia, diarrhoea and foaming at the mouth.