More than 100 people in 33 states have fallen ill to salmonella from handling pet treats made from pig ears, health officials say.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 127 people have gotten sick from the bacterial disease, including 26 who have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration are advising pet owners to stop buying and using all pig ear dog treats, including those already in homes, due to contamination risks.
The two health agencies also recommend that all retailers stop selling pig ear pet treats.
Through product testing, the CDC has identified many different strains of the salmonella bacteria in pig ears from various suppliers and brands.
The FDA has traced some of the contaminated pig ear products to sources in Argentina and Brazil. The agency is working with affected businesses to remove pig ear pet treats from the market and to identify areas of distribution.
The investigation into the outbreaks is ongoing. An additional 34 people have reported getting sick from salmonella since the CDC’s last update on July 17.
Lennox Intl Inc., a distributor of pig ear treats, initiated a recall of all its bulk supplies on July 3 due to contamination. Pet Supplies Plus also issued a recall of its pig ear treats.
Salmonella can cause illness and death in humans and animals. Infected people can develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after exposure.
More serious ailments can include arterial infections, arthritis, endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves), muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms.
The illness typically lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment.
Pets carrying the salmonella bacteria can infect people and other animals.
Infected pets don’t always exhibit symptoms, but signs can include vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever, loss of appetite and decreased activity level. If a pet has these symptoms, consult a veterinarian.
Health agencies are urging people to throw away the treats in a secure container so that animals cannot eat them.
When feeding pets treats such as pig ears, health officials suggest:
χ Monitoring pets while they eat.
χ Picking up treats when pets are done with it.
χ Keeping treats away from small children.
χ Cleaning the areas the treat touched.
χ Washing hands with soap and water after handling pet food.
χ Not allowing pets to lick people or home surfaces.
The following states have reported cases of Salmonella illnesses: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
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