Michigan Salmonella Cases Possibly Linked To Pig Ear Dog Treats

MICHIGAN — A dog treat in Michigan is the subject of a consumer alert due to possible salmonella contamination.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) issued a consumer advisory for pig ears sold in bulk at retailers statewide because the pet treats could potentially be contaminated with salmonella, officials said.

Consumers who have purchased bulk pig ear products may wish to avoid giving them to their pets and consider discarding them.

According to the Center for Disease Control , of the 24 people with available information, 17 or 71 percent of them reported contact with pig ear dog treats or with dogs who were fed pig ear dog treats. There has been a total of 45 cases reported nationwide and Michigan was the second hardest hit after Iowa, which had 12 cases. Michigan has reported seven cases.

Samples of bulk pig ears were reportedly collected by MDARD feed inspectors from two retailers and tested positive for Salmonella at MDARD’s Geagley Laboratory. Both retailers have voluntarily removed these bulk pig ear products from sale.

MDARD inspectors also collected samples of other brands of individually wrapped or bagged pig ears being sold at multiple retail locations. These samples tested negative for Salmonella.

“It’s not clear why some brands of pig ears have tested positive for Salmonella and others have not. Pet owners should consider the possibility of Salmonella contaminating pig ear products before feeding them to their pets. As an added precaution, pet owners should wash their hands after handling pig ears,” said Jeffrey Zimmer, acting director of MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Pets exposed to contaminated food can be infected without showing symptoms. If your pet has consumed this product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. Infected animals can also shed Salmonella through their feces and saliva, spreading pathogens into the home environment and to humans and other animals in the household.

For more information on the CDC and FDA investigations, visit their websites.