
How to stop chemicals from poisoning your pets
The chemicals that you put in your pet’s food, bath and shower are safe and effective, but you’re still at risk for developing an illness, a new study has found.
The results of the study, published online in the American Journal of Public Health, also showed that pet owners are getting sicker as a result of toxic chemicals being put in their bodies.
“We can now say unequivocally that pet food and pet products are not free of dangerous toxic chemicals, and that they can be dangerous to pets,” said lead researcher Dr. Rachel F. Littman, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the University at Buffalo School of Veterinary Medicine.
“What is not clear is how toxic these chemicals are and if they are getting into the body of pets.
There are a number of different ways that the pet may be exposed to toxic chemicals that can lead to a serious illness.”
The study looked at chemicals known as “antimony salts,” which can cause severe kidney disease in cats and cause respiratory issues in dogs.
They are widely used in pet food to enhance the flavor of meat, such as chicken, beef, lamb and pork.
Pet owners can take steps to prevent them from harming their pets by using only the most effective, safe and environmentally friendly pet foods and products, Littam said.
“The good news is that pet foods can be a powerful tool to help protect pets and pets from potentially harmful substances, like pet products and pet foods that contain arsenic,” she said.
Pet food and products contain a small amount of arsenic, which has been linked to kidney disease.
“If you’re a pet owner and you’re putting your pet food or pet products into your body, it is important that you be diligent in keeping the food or product out of the reach of other animals,” Littama said.
You can check for arsenic in your food and your pet can get the poison if it’s contaminated.
It’s important to check to see if the food has been tested for arsenic.
“It’s important that pet parents do the same, and if there are any signs that there are potentially harmful levels of arsenic in their pet’s diet, it’s best to take action to protect your pet from toxic exposures,” she added.
The research team also found that pets’ body fluids contain chemicals that are similar to those found in pet foods, and could be causing their illnesses.
They also found pet owners could be exposing their pets to arsenic, as it is a toxic compound.
“There are a lot of different chemicals that we can’t completely rule out, but we’re definitely seeing a lot more of it than before,” Litman said.
While pet owners can safely avoid ingesting arsenic in pet products, they still need to be mindful of the food they’re putting into their bodies, especially in a food situation, Litmans findings show.
“Pets have been exposed to these chemicals for centuries, and they have a tendency to take them up and out of their body,” she noted.
“But it’s important for pet owners to be aware of the chemicals they’re consuming in their environment and be vigilant about taking steps to avoid exposure to these substances.”
This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, a nonprofit news service of Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest health insurer.