There is a government warning out for a popular kind of dog treat.

They’re chicken jerky products, variously described as chicken tenders, strips, or just plain treats.

They're available everywhere and dogs really love them. But they can also make them very sick.

Bella, a 10-month-old puppy, doesn't seem to care for her new treats nearly as much as the dried chicken jerky she used to get that very nearly killed her.

MORE INFORMATION FDA Warning About Dog Treats Report A Pet Food Complaint Pet Food Recalls Contact KIRO 7 Consumer Investigators (206) 728-7677 consumertips@kirotv.com

Owner Cathy von Haartman of Seattle gave the jerky to all three of her dogs, or at least she tried to.

“The dogs loved it. I had to count my fingers after I held the treat out, especially with Bella. She would take the other two dogs’ treats, so she was very excited to see the jerky strips,” said von Haartman.

But that excitement turned to illness within hours of eating the chicken jerky treats.

“She vomited up the jerky and then she was sick for about four days. She wouldn’t eat. She was very lethargic and when she slept it looked like she was having seizures,” von Haartman said.

Bella isn't alone. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates human and pet food, has received more than 70 complaints involving nearly 100 dogs that have become severely ill after eating chicken jerky products. Most recovered, but some died.

However, in its warning to dog owners, the agency says, "to date, FDA has not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses."

And the illnesses haven't been traced to any particular brand or manufacturer, either. But von Haartman noticed, with alarm, that her brand was made in China.

“I don’t know if it’s hysteria because with China because of the toys and lead in the paint and there was the dog and cat food (recalls),” said von Haartman.

“When it comes to treats, you know we all want to give our pets treats. We like to give ourselves treats, so we’re going to give them treats, too,” she said.

Longtime veterinarian, Dr. Jayne Jensen, runs a busy clinic in Issaquah. She says dog treats should be given sparingly as a training incentive.

She suggests avoiding chicken jerky products for now and says dog owners should beware of any treats produced in foreign countries.

“Read the labels very thoroughly. Look where they are from. A lot of these come in with kind of an American name on them, but they’re actually produced overseas. And as we’ve seen from previous experience, overseas products may not be as safe as ones that are made here,” said Jensen.

Cathy von Haartman says she's learned her lesson.

“I will not be feeding my dogs chicken jerky ever again,” she said.

Not all chicken jerky products will make your dog sick, but if you feed them to your pet, the FDA recommends you watch carefully for any signs of illness and call your veterinarian if the illness continues for more than 24 hours.

If you wish to report any animal illness to the FDA, go to their Web site: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html.