Do You Really Know What's In Your Pet Food?
June 23, 2018
You might not think to look for the same preservatives they use in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals in your dog food, but they do exist. Preservatives like parabens carry serious side effects and scientists believe they can contribute to higher rates of diseases in your pets, like diabetes, kidney disease and hypothyroidism.
Parabens can interfere with hormones
Parabens are known to obstruct certain hormones related to reproduction and development. Recognized as endocrine disrupting compounds or EDC, parabens can also negatively affect the nervous system.
But that doesn’t stop manufacturers putting them in all kinds of products, including dog and cat food, as well as human food. So start reading your labels and keep an eye out for methyl paraben or 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HB). These are the two most common EDC found in pet food, according to one scientific study published by the American Chemical Society.
Parabens are in your dog and cat food
Researchers examined 58 types of dog and cat food and took 60 samples of pee from pets who ate the same food. Dry food showed higher levels of EDC compared to wet food, and cat food was the worst offender. Analysis of the pets’ urine also provided the researchers with a clue into what happens with long-term exposure to parabens.
Pets are exposed to parabens in the home
But it’s not just pet food that poses a threat to your pets. Cosmetics, human food and other pharmaceuticals can also have an effect on your pet. The study showed that dogs fared worse than cats when it comes to paraben exposure in the home. Dogs lick our faces and hands much more than cats and here lies one way they can come into contact with more parabens. So make sure you start checking the labels on your lotions, creams, shampoos and conditioners, because parabens are abundantly used in all products.
Meanwhile, let’s hope that in light of this study, reportedly the first of its kind, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration will sit up and listen, and put stricter regulations on dog and cat food.
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