Fanconi syndrome in dogs

Dog owners rewarding their beloved companions with treats could actually be giving them a life threatening condition.

There's been a spike in dogs suffering kidney failure, and it's feared the culprit could be found in dried jerky treats, recalled in the United States.

A statement from the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA) which addresses Fanconi syndrome in dogs.

• The Pet Food Industry Association (PFIAA) is aware of the reported cases of a small number of dogs developing signs of kidney disease and the indication that this illness might be associated with consumption of jerky style treats.

• We are concerned about these reports of illness and we are working cooperatively with the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) to investigate and understand this illness. Working with the AVA we have established an on-line reporting system to allow veterinarians to report any incidences that they might see so we get a more complete picture and allow follow up of any affected pets to gain a greater understanding of the illness.

• While the cause of the reported illness in this small number of dogs is unknown, we are encouraged that it seems that most affected dogs have greatly improved with supportive care. There is an Australian standard covering pet food manufacture and marketing , which states that treats, which are generally not a nutritionally complete meal, are intended for occasional or supplemental feeding. This is reflected on product labelling and we encourage owners to follow the feeding directions on pack.

• We are grateful for the effort and commitment of Australia’s Veterinary profession to help understand what might be causing this illness and we will continue to work with and be guided by their advice in regards to these reports.