My 2.5 year old minaiture schnauzer has always been maintained on a strict diet.  She gets no table scraps, for example.  She's been eating the same dogfood for at least two years.

Recently I discovered Bestro's chicken jerky.  I also bought two bags of Pet Essentials lamb jerky strips (they have a consumer affairs telephone line, but the number printed is missing three digits; packaged states 'distributed by Target Corp, Mineapolis...Made in China'.  Inside the bag are a couple of dessicants (the packets that absorb moisture in order to keep a product fresher, longer).  Printed on the dessicantes appears to be Chinese, but also BESTRO's deoxidizer.

She loved the chicken strips.  Since it was dehydrated chicken, I did not think it was dangerous for her to enjoy two or three pieces every day.  If she ate the lamb jerky strips, she'd only eat one.

I noticed that her behavior was a little different than normal....that she was somewhat lethargic.  Next came the vomiting.  She'd eat her dinner, and then vomit everything up within the hour.  She would eat and then vomit for two days.  The next day I noticed the lethargy was profound, and even more alarming was that she demonstrated no interest in food....not even boiled, shreaded chicken breast. 

The short version is that I took her to the emergency vet.  Bloodwork indicated some renal problems, but at that time the most likely cause was the body's compensation for dehydration.  Then she transferred to regular vet.  There we ran every conceivable test.  She was not vomiting, but was now lethargic and anorexic and her renal values were all over the place.  Equally alarming was that her potassium level was very low in spite of very large IV potassium supplementation.

They performed the tests to attempt to identify the most common causes of concern...possible pancreatitis, obstruction, adrenalcortico-abnormaility.  Two ultrasounds.  Though you cannot rule out most anything 100%, they felt strongly that these were not the cause of here condition. 

This has been the most emotionally frustrating experience of my life.   In desperation, we contemplated either sending her to A&M University or to a specialty clinic here in Houston.  The clinic has veterinarians that work only in a specific field, and usually deal only with animals with unique or unusual presentations.

My bill exceeded $9,000.  At that point I explained that I could not afford any more testing.  I'd take a second job to pay off the debt.  And if there was anything they could do that would either provide a definitive answer or identify a means to resolve, I would not hesitate to incur the additional expense.  But instead I have this unbelievable bill, and a dog who has lost 1/2 her original body weight.

She came home.  The first day was terribly alarming.  She simply would not eat.  But then things seemed to take a turn for the better.  She had a voracious appetite.  She ate an entire chicken breast three times a day for three days.  She was playful and appeared to be improving.  But I noticed with each passing day she was drinking more and more water throughout the day.  She was urinating more frequently.

I took her to a new vet that specializes in the smaller breeds, and provided all the info from the ER Vet, regular vet and specialty vet.  Right now, we're sorta in a holding pattern.  They're keeping her hydrated.  At the vet's, her appetite has disappeared.  And her potassium level is consistently low.

The veterinarians are puzzled, but all have said they feel strongly that her condition is the result of a toxic agent (from the strips) which has created a fanconi syndrome-like presentation.

I have NO doubt that her kidney condition has been caused by something in the Bestros dog treat.  I'm torn up over this ordeal.  I'm still optimistic that hopefully whatever has caused the kidney damage will diminish with each passing day. 

I welcome any suggestions or thoughts.  Does anyone know how to contact Bestro?  I read the earlier posting that indicated the dog owner had gotten in contact with Bestro.   

This might be completely irrelevant, but Fanconi syndrome in humans is caused by taking out-of-date tetracycline.  I've read about companies adding antibiotics to the feed of livestock and poultry in an effort to prevent disease.  I wonder if antibiotics were given to the chickens or lambs that ultimately ended up as jerky strips? 

I read that Walmart pulled their Bestro Chicken Jerky off the shelves.  If there is something that gives them enough concern to jeopardize potential sales, then I would hope they would share it with the proper authorities.  My bag of Lamb Jerky strips was sold as a Target brand.  I'd never have known it was Bestro if I hadn't seen the deoxidizer packet.

scott