Recall Dogswell and Catswell jerky treats made with chicken or duck

Dogswell and Catswell jerky treats made with chicken or duck and bearing a “Best Before” date of Jan. 28, 2015, or earlier are being withdrawn because they may contain trace amounts of an antibiotic residue not approved for use in the United States.

The treats should not pose a health risk to pets or people, according to the manufacturer, Los Angeles-based Arthur Dogswell LLC.

The company reported Friday that the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets discovered the antibiotic during routine product sampling. The antibiotic is accepted for use in poultry in other parts of the world, the company added.

Happy Hips and VitaKitty are among eight brands subject to an advisory issued by Arthur Dogswell.
The withdrawn products include Chicken Breast and Duck Breast jerky under the Breathies, Happy Heart, Happy Hips, Mellow Mut, Shape Up, Veggie Life, Vitality and VitaKitty brands. Chicken Breast and Duck Breast jerky with a “Best Before” date of Jan. 29, 2015, and later are not affected.

The date is stamped in black ink on the back of the package on the bottom righthand side.

“We encourage our customers to reach out to us with any questions about this withdrawal,” said company spokesman Brad Armistead. “It is important for consumers to know that all Dogswell and Catswell products remaining on the market are safe for dogs and cats to consume and enjoy as directed.

“Since January, the company has been using state-of-the-art testing procedures to ensure that our chicken and duck products do not contain these unapproved antibiotics,” he added.

Pet owners may request a refund by calling 888-559-8833 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time Monday through Friday.