Of Ham Bones & Common Sense

Hey Everyone!

Cary shared this article with me, as he often does, so that I can stay up to date on pet products and so I can share them with you.  I have to admit, I have some reservations about this one.

First, please note that this is NOT a recall, it is simply reports that have been made to the St. Louis Better Business Bureau.

But the biggest reason I have reservations about publishing this is because I feel that consumers need to take responsibility in using products wisely.  We've all seen the labels: On coffee - Caution: Product is Hot.  On Toasted Almonds - Allergy information: Contains almonds.  On a cardboard windshield sunshade - Do Not Drive with Sunshade in Place.  And they just go on and on.  Companies putting long lists of warning statements to prevent lawsuits over what should be common sense.

Now, I'm not excusing companies from responsibility in creating safe products, there is no excuse for producing a product you know is sub-par and may specifically endanger its users.  But I am advocating consumer common sense.  And when it comes to your dog and anything they chew, you have to realize that it could be a choking hazard.  And things can go bad quickly, so you need to keep an eye on your dog the entire time they are chewing.  So, that said, here is the information that Cary sent to me.  Read it, consider it, but ultimately let common sense be your guide.

"Real Ham Bone for Dogs could be a real problem: Dogs are reported to be sickened or killed after ingesting Dynamic Pet Products’ “Real Ham Bone for Dogs,” carrying the Frick’s Quality Meats label.  According to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, the Better Business Bureau of St. Louis has issued an alert saying the treats, made from 8-inch smoked pork femur bones, are splintering, creating intestinal blockages and death.

According to the BBB, a veterinarian who surgically removed bone fragments from one of the dogs said, “Things like this shouldn’t happen. If you can’t say it’s safe, it probably isn’t something you should have in stores.”

ConsumerAffairs.com has received similar complaints.  The bones are sold in stores such as Dollar General, as well as supermarkets nationwide.  Where is the FDA, you ask?  They are looking into it. Meanwhile, the company in question is quoted in a post from omidog saying, well, you can read it here:

The company said Thursday it was saddened to learn of the illnesses and deaths of customers’ pets, and that quality and safety remain priorities. The packaging contains a warning about the product not being for all dogs, and the possibility that it could splinter.
"That is why every package contains a label that provides detailed instructions to owners on how they can help their pets best enjoy our products,” the company said in a statement. “We strongly encourage owners to supervise their pets with any treats or snacks.”

If you have any of these treats in your home, you might want to consider not feeding them to your dogs and taking them back to the store."