Deadly pet treats from China are being removed from the Petco shelves; rival firm, PetSmart, is  planning to do the same by Marcy 2015. These jerky treats from China have reportedly killed 1,000 dogs in the US since 2007.

KRMG.com reports Petco says it has removed dog and cat treats made in China from store shelves because of concerns they have sickened and killed thousands of pets. PetSmart will follow suit in a few months.

The Food and Drug Administration says it targeted the deadly pet treats after receiving almost 5,000 complaints of illnesses, including deaths, after pets ate jerky treats from China. According to Fox News, the majority of the symptoms reported were gastrointestinal or liver disease, and about a third were linked to kidney and urinary disease. About 10 percent of the illnesses included other signs such as neurologic, dermatologic, and immunologic symptoms.

While no specific brands were recalled in the FDA's latest release, Dr. Jonathan Levine, an associate veterinarian at Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners in New York City, said owners should always check the labels of whatever foods they give their pets.

"Always be aware of what you're buying and where it's coming from," Levine said.

However, the FDA warned pet treats stamped "Made in the USA" could still contain ingredients sourced from China or other countries.

In 2007, some pet food companies voluntarily removed some jerky treats from their stores, including: Milo's Kitchen Chicken Jerky Treats and Chicken Grillers, made by Del Monte, and Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch dog treats, made by Nestle Purina. But the FDA said it didn't want to issue a recall without a definitive cause at the time.

Chinese authorities have agreed to conduct additional screenings and follow up with jerky treat manufacturers. The FDA will also continue testing these products for drugs and other antivirals.