You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  in North America recently issued a public health warning following reports of human illness following the handling of dog chew products made from Beef or Pork

30 cases of Salmonella infection in humans in Canada were contracted from handling dog chews. This  finding prompted the FDA to issue a warning to consumers to take care when handling dog chews derived from beef or pork. Everyone should wash their hands with hot water and soap after handling chews and it is recommended that they should not be handled by children, old people or anyone with an immune disorder who might be susceptible to infections.

Although all the cases reported so far have occurred in Canada, examination of similar products in the US  and the UK showed that they could pose a risk to humans. Further studies are ongoing to determine the actual risk involved, but according to one medical epidemiologist any meat-derived chew could harbour salmonella.

Updated October 2013