Ingredients to avoid

Can dogs eat garlic?

“Unlike onions, garlic is considered safe when used in low doses.” [2]

“Dogs can healthfully consume 1/4 teaspoon of freshly chopped garlic per 15 pounds of body weight and reap substantial health benefits, just don't go overboard.” [1]

“As long as your pet’s food or supplement comes from a reputable manufacturer, you can rest assured that the amount of garlic it contains is not harmful.” [2]

“Cats and all Japanese dog breeds, such as Akitas and Shiba Inus, are more susceptible to the toxic effects of disulfides and should not receive any amount of garlic.” [2]

“Raw garlic. Garlic must be fed with caution because it can cause changes in blood parameters when fed in very large quantities (much more than pets would naturally eat) or if it is given in a garlic supplement (which I never recommend).” [1]

“One study demonstrated negative changes in blood parameters when dogs were given 5 grams of garlic per kg of body weight.2 This translates to eight cloves for a 12-pound dog! No dog I know would voluntarily consume this much and no owner I've ever met would voluntarily give this amount.” [1]

[1] https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/04/22/prebiotics-whole-food-sources.aspx

[2] Garlic: Beneficial or harmful to companion animals? By W. Jean Dodds, DVM

The list below has items that are “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) in the amounts commonly used. Why feed any of these ingredients when there are alternatives? The same with human foods. You can have simple ingredients or you can buy products with added sugar and hydrogenated oils.

Serious Heart Problems

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an alert about reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as main ingredients. “These reports are unusual because DCM is occurring in breeds not typically genetically prone to the disease.” DCM is a disease of the heart muscle and results in an enlarged heart that often results in congestive heart failure. For more information on Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

I would avoid feeding any foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes that are listed in the first 5 ingredients. For more information on DCM.

RECALL list

Best Dog Foods 2020

Dog Food 101

Know Your Pet Food.org

Did More Pentobarbital Poisoned Ingredients go to Pet Food?

Is There Mercury In Pet Food?

Hair arsenic level in rice-based diet-fed Staffordshire bull terriers

Glyphosate Exposure: Why Organic Matters

• Animal Digest

  • “Animal digest is a material which results from the chemical and/ or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and undecomposed animal tissue”

  • – “rendered un-named source of poor quality protein and flavor, most likely from 4D animals that have undergone chemical, acid, or enzymatic hydrolysis”

• Animal Fat (see rendered fat below)

• Artificial sweeteners like xylitol and sorbitol are toxic for pets,

• BPA

  • – “used in plastics and can linings; higher levels of exposure have been linked to various health conditions including mental and behavioral problems, reproductive disorders, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. May be associated with hyperthyroidism in cats.”

    • “potential health consequences of exposure to BPA”

    • https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2017/02/13/dogs-canned-food-dangers.aspx

  • Dangers of Canned Pet Food

• BHA (preservative)

  • – “banned in many countries, carcinogen, used as a preservative, may be found in Pedigree and Kibbles N Bits”

• BHT (preservative)

  • – “banned in many countries, carcinogen, used as a preservative, may be found in Pedigree and Kibbles N Bits”

• Carrageenan

  • – “binder, has been shown to cause intestinal inflammation (IBD, IBS), found in many pet foods, particularly canned foods”

    • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1242073/

    • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5389019/

    • https://www.facebook.com/pg/PlanetPaws.ca/posts/?ref=page_internal

• Coloring Agents

  • Artificial colors

    • Red 40: Allura red

    • Blue 2

    • Yellow 5: tartrazine

    • Yellow 6: Sunset Yellow

    • Titanium dioxide (a whitener)

    • Iron oxide [2]

    • Caramel Color [2]

• Corn

  “Corn, peanuts, cottonseed and grains are potential sources of aflatoxins in pet foods. (Aflatoxin is a mycotoxin) Dogs and cats are among the species most sensitive to the effects of aflatoxin” [1] Aflatoxins are not destroyed by heat, boiling or food manufacturing methods. [1]

  • Mycotoxins (See bottom of page)

  • FDA Alert: Certain Lots of Sportmix Pet Food Recalled for Potentially Fatal Levels of Aflatoxin

  • Sunshine Mills expands pet food recall for aflatoxin

  • “Smith says pet owners can help prevent their dogs or cats from consuming mycotoxins by avoiding the cheaper petfoods that are more likely to contain vegetable cereals and corn or wheat fillers.” https://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/4042239-veggie-based-petfood-movement-brings-new-safety-questions-university-of-guelph-research-suggests/

  • Comparison of mycotoxin concentrations in grain versus grain-free dry and wet commercial dog foods

  • “Pet owners can minimize the risk of mycotoxins by avoiding cheaper petfoods that are more likely to contain vegetable cereals and corn or wheat fillers” https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/3863-mycotoxins-in-petfoods-with-plant-derived-proteins

  • Mycotoxins and the pet food industry: Toxicological evidence and risk assessment

  • “Corn is especially vulnerable to contamination by aflatoxin.” Potential for dietary protection against the effects of aflatoxins in animals

  • Fusarium Species and Mycotoxins Contaminating Veterinary Diets for Dogs and Cats

  • Aflatoxicosis in dogs and dealing with suspected contaminated commercial foods. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical

  • Petfoods with plant-derived proteins may contain more mycotoxins, researcher says

    University of Guelph researcher examines mycotoxin testing in dog, cat foods

    https://www.petfoodindustry.com

  • What you should know about Grains in your pet’s food

    https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/3833-petfoods-with-plant-derived-proteins-may-contain-more-mycotoxins-researcher-says

  • – “used as a filler and cheap protein source. Look for foods made with high quality meat sources, not loads of corn. Almost all corn is GMO. Commonly contaminated with mycotoxins (mold toxins) which can cause liver failure.“

    • https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2017/05/08/mycotoxin-poisoning-pets.aspx

• Food dyes

  • – “many have been shown to be carcinogenic, cause hyperactivity, and allergic reactions; no place in food other than to make it more appealing to the pet owner. May be found in Beneful, Kibbles N Bits, Moist and Meaty, and many others”

  • See “Coloring Agents”

• Ethoxyquin

  • “The FDA has approved the use of ethoxyquin in animal feed”  “Why ethoxyquin rather than natural antioxidants?”  “this means that pet foods containing fish meal are likely to contain traces of ethoxyquin, even if that antioxidant does not appear in the ingredient list.”

  • – “preservative, carcinogenic, may be added to fish prior to unloading from the boat and does not have to be listed on the label, often associated with the development of kidney and liver damage, cancer (liver, spleen, stomach, skin), immune deficiency syndrome, blindness, and leukemia.”

  • Ethoxyquin does not belong in your food

    • “Ethoxyquin is a synthetic antioxidant not approved for use as a direct food additive in foods for human consumption. “

      • https://www.nutraceuticalbusinessreview.com/news/article_page/Ethoxyquin_does_not_belong_in_your_food/99579

  • “could be genotoxic - i.e. it may damage DNA - indicating a potential safety concern.”

    • http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/151118

• Gluten

  • – “may be found in grains or as a stand-alone on the ingredient panel, often used as a binder, common allergen causing yeasty ears, hot spots, and skin infections”

• Iron oxide is only added for color because the iron found in this form is biologically unavailable.

• Meat and bone meal

  • – “unidentified meat and bone source, could be any animal from any source, usually of the lowest quality”

• Meat or Animal by-products

  • – “unidentified meat source, could be any animal from any source, usually of the lowest quality including diseased, spoiled, and cancerous meats, commonly found in all major brands including Purina, Royal Canin, Pedigree”

  • “The foods most likely to contain pentobarbital indeed were those with rendered ingredients such as meat meals and animal fat as the main ingredients.” Nestle, Marion; Nesheim, Malden. Feed Your Pet Right: The Authoritative Guide to Feeding Your Dog and Cat (pp. 87-88). Atria Books.

  • “The nutritive value of various meat by-products varies widely. As an example, meat by-products such as liver, kidney and lungs have excellent nutritive value whereas other meat by-products such as udder, bone and connective tissue have poor nutrient availability.” Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 5th Edition Hardcover – Michael S. Hand (Editor)

• MSG

  • – “common allergen, often listed on the label as hydrolyzed protein, protein isolate, texturized protein, natural flavors (like chicken flavor), autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed yeast, yeast extracts, soy extracts or concentrate, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, monopotassium glutamate, glutamate or glutanic acid, disodium inosinate or guaylate.”

• Menadione Sodium Bisulfate (K3 - synthetic vitiman K)

• Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex (K3 - synthetic vitiman K)

• Menadione Dimethyl-­ Pyrimidinol Bisulfate (K3 - synthetic vitiman K)

  • Natural vitamin K from foods would be K1 and K2)

    • “There are very significant limitations to menadione vs. natural vitamin K. For example, it doesn’t support blood clotting.”

      • https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/03/08/menadione-synthetic-vitamin-k.aspx

    • – “synthetic version of vitamin K. highly toxic in high doses.  Hazard information regarding menadione states the substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes.  Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage.”

    • “Menadione has been implicated in a variety of negative effects on the body, including damaging the natural vitamin K cycle (natural vitamin K is essential for blood clotting)” Dodds, W. Jean; Laverdure, Diana. CANINE NUTRIGENOMICS: THE NEW SCIENCE OF FEEDING YOUR DOG FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH. Dogwise Publishing

• Ploysorbate 80

  • “polysorbate 80 can cause severe hypersensitive reactions in dogs, which are typical non-immune anaphylactic severe reactions (pseudoallergy) characterized by the release of histamine and univaried IgE antibodies. These findings raise concerns with regard to its use in dogs (Qiu et al., 2013).”

      Review of dietary supplements for the management of osteoarthritis in dogs in studies from 2004 to 2014; J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 39, 1--15. doi: 10.1111/jvp.12251.

    Journal Of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

• Propylene Glycol

  • – “ used a a preservative and humectant, toxic to cats and banned in cat food, banned for food use in many countries, can cause Heinz body anemia. Avoid semi-moist foods where this is found.”

    • https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/propylene-glycol/

• Rendered fat (Animal Fat)

  • – “most likely labeled as poultry fat or animal fat (unknown source), most likely from 4D animals (diseased), generally rancid and filled with fat soluble toxins”

  • “The foods most likely to contain pentobarbital indeed were those with rendered ingredients such as meat meals and animal fat as the main ingredients.” Nestle, Marion; Nesheim, Malden. Feed Your Pet Right: The Authoritative Guide to Feeding Your Dog and Cat (pp. 87-88). Atria Books.

  • – “most likely labeled as poultry fat or animal fat (unknown source), most likely from 4D animals (diseased), generally rancid and filled with fat soluble toxins”

• Sodium nitrite

  • – “approved preservative in pet foods, and can be toxic in high doses by causing a blood disorder called methaemoglobin. Its accumulation over time in the system has also been linked to cancer, especially when combined with added ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E), which are common natural vitamin sources, as well as preservatives.”

• Sodium hexametaphosphate

  • – “promises to reduce tartar, has been shown to cause skin irritation, kidney disease, and retarded growth, found in Iams and others”

• Sodium Tripolyphosphate

  • – “used as a preservative, insecticide, fungicide, and rodenticide. Harmful if inhaled and a skin irritant but considered safe to eat! Found in some bags of Pedigree and cans of Taste of the Wild. Used to reduce tartar.”

• Sodium Metabisulphite

  • – “can trigger severe allergic reactions in dogs. Exposure can also cause nervous system damage and issues with circulation. Used as a preservative and bleaching agent.”

• Sugar in any form

  • – “corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose, sugar, molasses, caramel – all contribute to obesity and diabetes, as well as yeast infections. Artificial sweeteners like xylitol and sorbitol are toxic for pets, yet may be found in some foods.”

TBHQ (Tertiary butylhydroquinone) (preservative)

“Tertiary butylhydroquinone, TBHQ, is a chemical preservative used in food and petfood to delay the onset of rancidness and greatly extend the storage life of foods.”

“According to an article by Shona Botes on NaturalNews.com, the Food and Drug Administration allows amounts of up to 0.02% of the total oils in food to be TBHQ, but consuming high doses (between 1 and 4 grams) can cause nausea, delirium, collapse, tinnitus and vomiting. Long-term, high doses of TBHQ in laboratory animals have shown a tendency for the animals to develop cancerous precursors in their stomachs and begin to present DNA damage.”

Preservative TBHQ may present hazards in petfood

Xylitol

• OTHER NAME(S): Birch Sugar, E967, Meso-Xylitol, Méso-Xylitol, Pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol, Sucre de Bouleau, Xilitol, Xylit, Xylite, Xylo-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol

Judy Morgan DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT

Deal Breaker Pet Food Ingredients (Truth about pet foods.com)

Bread Dough

By Sharon M. Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, PhD, DABVT, DABT, University of Illinois

Last full review/revision May 2013 | Content last modified May 2013

Raw bread dough made with yeast poses mechanical and biochemical hazards when ingested, including gastric distention, metabolic acidosis, and CNS depression. Although any species is susceptible, dogs are most commonly involved because of their indiscriminate eating habits.

Pathogenesis:

The warm, moist environment of the stomach serves as an efficient incubator for the replication of yeast within the dough. The expanding dough mass causes the stomach to distend, resulting in vascular compromise to the gastric wall similar to that seen in gastric dilatation/volvulus. With sufficient gastric distention, respiratory compromise occurs. Yeast fermentation products include ethanol, which is absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in inebriation and metabolic acidosis.

Clinical Findings:

Early clinical signs may include unproductive attempts at emesis, abdominal distention, and depression. As ethanol intoxication develops, the animal becomes ataxic and disoriented. Eventually, profound CNS depression, weakness, recumbency, coma, hypothermia, or seizures may be seen. Death is usually due to the effects of the alcohol rather than from gastric distention; however, the potential for dough to trigger gastric dilatation/volvulus in susceptible dog breeds should not be overlooked.

Diagnosis:

A presumptive diagnosis can be based on history of exposure and clinical signs. Blood ethanol levels are consistently increased in cases of bread dough toxicosis. Differential diagnoses include gastric dilatation/volvulus, foreign body obstruction, ethylene glycol toxicosis, and ingestion of other CNS depressants (eg, benzodiazepines).

Treatment:

With recent ingestions in asymptomatic animals, emesis may be attempted, although the glutinous nature of bread dough may make removal via emesis difficult. In animals in which emesis (whether induced or spontaneous) has been unsuccessful, gastric lavage may be attempted. Cold water introduced into the stomach may slow the rate of yeast fermentation and aid in dough removal. In rare cases, surgical removal of the dough mass may be required. Animals presenting with signs of alcohol toxicosis should be stabilized and any life-threatening conditions corrected before attempts to remove the dough are made. Alcohol toxicosis is managed by correcting acid-base abnormalities, managing cardiac arrhythmias as needed, and maintaining normal body temperature. Providing fluid diuresis to enhance alcohol elimination may be helpful. Anecdotally, yohimbine (0.1 mg/kg, IV) has been used to stimulate severely comatose dogs with alcohol toxicosis.

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/food-hazards/bread-dough

Dr. Karen Shaw Becker

Should You Boycott These Pet Brands That Think You're Dimwitted? -Perhaps Big Pet Food Is Deceptive for a Reason

Mycotoxins in petfoods with plant-derived proteins

Pet owners can minimize the risk of mycotoxins by avoiding cheaper petfoods that are more likely to contain vegetable cereals and corn or wheat fillers. https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/3863-mycotoxins-in-petfoods-with-plant-derived-proteins

Occurrence of mycotoxins in extruded commercial dog food

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272524027/download

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Giampiero_Pagliuca/publication/272524027_Occurrence_of_mycotoxins_in_extruded_commercial_dog_food/links/5a79c844a6fdcc4ffe927446/Occurrence-of-mycotoxins-in-extruded-commercial-dog-food.pdf?origin=publication_detail

Mycotoxins and the pet food industry: toxicological evidence and risk assessment.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17889389

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/ae9f/d799c718f9eeab49abb3ebb2ea9f47ad0a9b.pdf?_ga=2.214555476.2139747082.1537291061-2098117661.1536535884

Mycotoxins in petfoods with plant-derived proteins

Veggie-based petfood movement brings new safety questions, University of Guelph research suggests

Aflatoxicosis in dogs and dealing with suspected contaminated commercial foods

Fusarium Species and Mycotoxins Contaminating Veterinary Diets for Dogs and Cats

Comparison of mycotoxin concentrations in grain versus grain-free dry and wet commercial dog foods

Dogs keep dying: Too many owners remain unaware of toxic dog food

Cornell University - Cornell Chronicle

http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2006/01/dogs-keep-dying-many-owners-remain-unaware-toxic-dog-food

Aflatoxin basics

Penicillin's deadly cousin - past and present

https://www.petfoodindustry.com

https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/518-aflatoxin-basics

Fungal Toxicosis Related To Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, and Penicillium puberulum Fungi In Dogs

Mycotoxicosis-Aflatoxin Toxicity in Dogs

https://www.petmd.com/print/10055

Aflatoxins and Mycotoxins

Aflatoxins are heat stable and not destroyed by boiling, autoclaving or food manufacturing methods." Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition.

Mycotoxins in Cat Food Responsible for Over 350 Deaths

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvim.16615?ref=barkandwhiskers.com

Comparison of mycotoxin concentrations in grain versus grain-free dry and wet commercial dog foods

Corn and Dog Food: Aflatoxins and Mycotoxins

https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/9673-sunshine-mills-expands-pet-food-recall-for-aflatoxin

https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/corn-and-your-dog-secrets-food-companies-dont-want-you-to-know-about/

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-alert-certain-lots-sportmix-pet-food-recalled-potentially-fatal-levels-aflatoxin?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Cancer-Causing Aflatoxins Found In Dog Foods

https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/cancer-causing-aflatoxins-found-in-dog-foods/

A comparison of mycotoxin contamination of premium and grocery brands of pelleted cat food in South Africa

https://jsava.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/1480/2010

Toxicology Brief: The critical care of aflatoxin-induced liver failure in dogs

http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/print/319443?page=full

Toxic To Dogs

• Xylitol (found in gum, sugar-free foods and other products) check the label

• Chocolate

• Grape & Raisins

• Macadamia Nuts

• Onion

• Raw Yeast Dough

• Alcohol

• Coffee & Caffeine

• Fruit Pits & Apple Seeds (apricot, avocado, cherry, nectarine, plum, peach)

[1] Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 5th Edition Hardcover – Michael S. Hand (Editor)

[2] https://www.petfoodindustry.com/blogs/10-debunking-pet-food-myths-and-misconceptions/post/8087-update-can-petco-be-petcoached-to-be-petsmarter