Dog Food Ingredient Dangers

10 Dangerous Ingredients in Dog Food


Carrageenan

Carrageenan is a common ingredient in dairy products, meats, baby formula, and – you guessed it – dog/puppy food. Carrageenan acts as a thickener and stabilizer in over 70% of canned dog foods in the market. Despite the fact it is sourced from red seaweed, carrageenan adds no nutritional value.
Why is it dangerous?
A 2009 study reported that carrageenan initiates inflammation in the intestines of animals.
The inflammation indisputably leads to polyps and eventually colorectal cancer.
The Cornucopia Institute echoes the dangers of carrageenan and reports that the inflammation caused by carrageenan is linked to several IBS cases in cats and dogs. Even food-grade carrageenan affects the digestive systems of pets.
Don’t be misled
Pet (and even human) foods labeled as organic potentitally still contain carrageenan, which makes searching for carageenan-free canned food difficult. Use dry food if necessary until you can locate a carrageenan-free wet version.

Ethoxycin

Monsanto manufactures ethoxycin as a preservative used to prevent the fat content of dog food from becoming rancid. Interestingly, this preservative is also used a pesticide in pear orchards.
Why is it dangerous?
While banned in the European Union, ethoxycin continues to cause health problems for pets in America.  Side effects from consuming ethoxycin include:
  • Liver damage
  • Kidney damage
  • Thyroid damage
  • Allergic reactions
  • Reproductive issues
  • Leukemia
  • Birth defects (if consumed while pregnant)
  • Cancerous tumors

What is an alternative?
Look for pet food labels that list naturox, a combination of tocopherols, rather than ethoxycin. Use hypoallergenic dog foods without this ingredient.

BHT

Manufacturers in the food and beauty industries incorporate BHT, butylated hydroxytoluene, as a safeguard against rancidificaiton.
Why is it dangerous?
In 2011, Chemico-biological Interactions published the results of a study conducted by the Pharmaceutical Department of the University of Colorado which showed that BHT directly led to inflammation in the lungs and increased tumor growth, particuarly in the liver.
In the study on mouse lungs, inflammation consistently led to cancer. BHT is also an allergen, skin irritant, and negatively affects the reproductive systems.
What is the alternative?
Choose a dog food that lists Vitamin E as a preservative instead of BHT.

Propylene glycol

Proplyene glycol, a preservative, is also included in canned dog food because it retains water, keeping the food moist.
Why is it dangerous?
The FDA prohibits the use of proplyene glycol in cat food because it damages red blood cells, yet it is still present in dog food. This preservative also causes intestinal blockage and lesions in the stomach.
What is the alternative?
Vitamin E, C, and flavinoids are natural antioxidants that will preserve the food without damaging your pet.

BHA (butylated hyroxyanisole)

Like ethoxycin, BHA is waxy solid used to keep the fat in pet food from turning rancid.
Why is it dangerous?
While the FDA contends that BHA is safe at low doses, the repetitous diet of dog food with BHA has a cumulative effect on the dog. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment of the state of California found that in lab studies, cancerous tumors consistently grew in the presence of BHA. BHA also halts the blood clotting process.
What is the alternative?
Purchase pet food that lists vitamin E as a perservative rather than BHA. 

Food dyes

Industrial food production plants include food dyes in recipes for aesthetics. For example, green food dye is added to make spinach-flavored kibble green while orange food dye mimics the orange hue of carrots. No nutritional value is gained from the dyes.
Why is it dangerous? 
Non-organic food dyes are chemically created, and it is these chemicals that cause problems for both dogs and humans alike. The number one complaint is hyperactivity. Consuming food dyed artificially also damages organs and increases the risk of cancer.
What is the alternative?
When scanning labels, look for food dyes that are naturally sourced. For example, beet juice is a natural substitute for Red Dye 40 while annatto is frequently used to replace artificial orange dyes.

Corn syrup / Corn

Corn (among other grains) is used as a filler in both cat and dog food while corn syrup sweetens the food, making it more palatable.
Why is it dangerous?
  • Corn: Cats and dogs tolerate grains, but meat should compromise the majority of pet food because cats and dogs are carnivores. Corn and grain byproducts become unhealthy additions because there is little quality control over these ingredients. Like the meat byproducts, the “corn” in pet food is not held to the same standards of human consumption and therefore can be moldy or otherwise inedible. The presence of mold creates mycotoxins, which is the number one cause of pet food recalls.
  • Corn syrup: Consuming food on a daily basis with corn syrup leads to weight gain and diabetes. Because so many foods contain corn syrup, it’ s no surprise that nearly one in 400-500 dogs are diabetic.
What is the alternative?
Be diligent about purchasing grain-free pet foods. Avoid foods and treats that contain corn syrup.

Byproducts

Rendered meat byproducts consist of waste products from the food industry. Livestock that died of disease or age, expired grocery store meats, and remnants left over from restaurants are three examples of waste products present in byproducts. Byproducts that do not specifically list which animal the waste came from is likely to contain beaks, bones, feet, or other organs from a mix of animal species.
Why is it dangerous?
Because pet food companies include diseased animals and condemned animal parts in byproducts, there is a high risk for toxic ingredients including:
  • Traces of the euthanasia drug
  • Fungus
  • Bacterial pathogens
  • Free radicals
What is an alternative?
Pet food manufacturers list byproducts as animal fat, blood meal, or meat and bone meal on the nutrition labels. Search for pet foods that clearly mark “No filler or animal byproducts.”

Xylitol

Xylitol, a sugar alcohol, is a commonly used sweetener in sugar-free products such as gum, candy, and toothpaste. Xylitol exists naturally in fruits and vegetables; however, xylitol extracted for use in food and oral health products is derived from corn cobs.
Why is it dangerous?
It is well known that xylitol caused hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, in dogs. However, a recent study by the ASPCA indicated that severe liver damage is associated with xylitol consumption.  Because xylitol is becoming more present in human foods and snacks, it is even easier for a dog to ingest xylitol. Never feed human desserts to your dog, especially if it may contain this sweetener.

What is the alternative?
Out of precaution, consider creating a xylitol-free home.

Sorbitol

Like xylitol, sorbitol is a sugar alcohol extracted from corn (in this case, cornstarch). Sorbitol has also been prescribed for humans as a laxative or as an ingredient in a laxative.
Why is it dangerous?
Apart from causing diarrhea in dogs, sorbitol can cause dogs to enter into a vicious cycle of hyperactivity followed by exhaustion.
What is the alternative?
Avoid any pet foods with sorbitol listed as an ingredient. Be cautious of giving a dog any table scraps containing sorbitol.
Whats Next?


Pawfect's Partner





Copyright 2017. Pawfect Dog Blog


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Potty Training

Image
Is Your Dog Potty Trained Enough? House Training a puppy or adult Dog is such an essential issue for its owner that even a single exclusive tip turns out to be extremely helpful. The first step in making your Dog fit for polite company would be to potty train him. Some see this training as a hassle and some as a challenge. For me, it is part of bringing up a pet. Click here to subscribe to a FREE course on housetraining puppies and dogs. There are a few things you need to know before you actually start potty training a puppy or adult Dog. I explain these below: You need to understand your dog's body language. Watch for signs that will indicate to you when your pet wants to eliminate. If you own puppies, remember that they need to go potty at fairly frequent intervals - as soon as they wake up, after short naps, after play-time, after meals, before and after being crated and finally, before retiring for the night. Take your Dog for walks at
Read more

Dog Body Language

Image
How to Read Your Dog's Body Language What is your dog trying to tell you? Dogs have a language that allows them to communicate their emotional state and their intentions to others around them. Although dogs do use sounds and signals, much of the information that they send is through their body language, specifically their facial expressions and body postures. Understanding what your dog is saying can give you a lot of useful information, such as when your dog is spooked and nervous about what is going on, or when your dog is edgy and might be ready to snap at someone. You do have to look at the dog's face and his whole body. To help you, I have created a sort of visual version of a Berlitz phrase book to allow you to interpret the eight most important messages your dog is sending to you. Body Language Illustrations 1.  Relaxed and Approachable This dog is relaxed and reasonably content. Such a dog is unconcerned and unthreatened by any activities
Read more