Unsafe levels of fluoride found in dog food

Category:

As Seen With - Cathy Rosenthal

Encourage Kindness to Animals!

Highly-acclaimed children's books for your child or organization

Unsafe levels of fluoride found in dog food

dogfoodemailThe Environmental Working Group recently commissioned an independent study and discovered that eight national brands of dog food, marketed to puppies and adults, had unsafe levels of fluoride. In fact, the fluoride was 1.6 to 2.5 times higher than what the EPA has deemed a safe amount in human drinking water.

Why is excessive fluoride a problem for dogs? Combined fluoride exposure from both food and already fluorinated tap water can easily range into unsafe territory. Routine exposure, like eating the same food every day, can predispose dogs to a variety of health problems: weakened bones, hormonal and behavior problems, and even bone cancer.

Where is the fluoride coming from? Some of this extra fluoride comes from the fluoridated water used to manufacture dog food. Most, however, is from the “bone meal” and various meat byproducts that are added to dog food – anything from “chicken byproduct meal” to “beef and bone meal.” These are basically ground bones, cooked with steam, dried, and mashed to make a cheap dog food filler. Since bones store fluoride, any product that includes bone meal is likely to be high in fluoride, too.

What can you do to protect your dog? Check the ingredient list before you buy dog food. Look for and demand pet foods that do not include bone meal and other other animal byproducts. To safeguard the health of pets nationwide, the government should also establish fluoride limits in pet food that would protect both puppies and large breeds more vulnerable to bone cancer.

Click here to read the report and find out more about fluoride in dog food.

Was this article helpful? Share with others!

The Reality of Getting Long Lived Pets for Kids

By Cathy M. Rosenthal Dear Cathy, My daughter got a red-eared slider for her 7th birthday. She’s now eight-years-old. Should […]

Pets as Gifts: To Give or Not to Give – A More Thoughtful Approach

By Cathy M. Rosenthal Tis the season for giving, and for some, the idea of giving a pet as a […]

Thanksgiving and Pets: Gratitude, Boundaries, and a Little Extra Planning

by Cathy M. Rosenthal Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones, share a meal, and reflect on all […]
DSC_4602

Cathy Rosenthal (aka The Pet Pundit), CHES, CFE

Animal Welfare Communications Specialist

Cathy brings more than 35 years' experience in the animal welfare field. She is a sought-after speaker, Certified Humane Education Specialist, a syndicated pet advice columnist, an author, a publisher, and of course - a loving pet parent.
Read more about Cathy here or check out her Non-Profit's page to see more ways she can help you and your organization.

Scroll to Top