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Dr. Michael W. Fox

An Antibacterial Threat to Pets

Thanks to new research brought to our attention by Dr. Michael W. Fox, we have learned that antimicrobial additives can cause harm to pets.

Thanks to new research brought to our attention by Dr. Michael W. Fox, we have learned that antimicrobial additives can cause harm to pets.

From Dr. Fox:

TRICLOSAN, A UBIQUITOUS ANTIBACTERIAL HEALTH THREAT

H. Yang el al., “A common antimicrobial additive increases colonic inflammation and colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis in mice,”  Science Translational Medicine  30 May 2018: Vol. 10, Issue 443, eaan4116 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aan4116

Triclosan (TCS) is a high-volume chemical used as an antimicrobial ingredient in more than 2000 consumer products, such as toothpaste, cosmetics, kitchenware, children’s and dogs’ toys, beds and shampoos. It is also incorporated into plastic pet food bag liners and in plastic meat and poultry wrapping which can finish up in pet foods. Scientists recently reported that brief exposure to TCS, at relatively low doses, causes low-grade colonic inflammation, increases colitis, and exacerbates colitis-associated colon cancer in mice. ( H. Yang el al., “A common antimicrobial additive increases colonic inflammation and colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis in mice,”  Science Translational Medicine  30 May 2018: Vol. 10, Issue 443, eaan4116 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aan4116).

These research findings add yet another concern to what may cause dysbiosis and inflammatory bowel disease in dogs and cats. It is an accountability call to pet food manufacturers to stipulate to their ingredient-providers that all plastic wrappings on discarded meat and poultry parts are removed before processing, plastic liners of dry pet foods and wrapping of frozen pet foods are TCS-free.

Chronic exposure and ingestion of TCS may also contribute to skin and thyroid problems and food allergies.

(For more background information on this antibiotic see Pat Thomas, The Dawn of the domestic superbug – The Ecologist https://theecologist.org/2005/jul/01/dawn-domestic-superbug and Triclosan – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triclosan).

—Michael W. Fox veterinarian, www.drfoxvet.net

Just one example found of Triclosan in a pet product…

Triclosan is included in the ingredients of this dog toothpaste.

For pet owners wishing to avoid this antibacterial ingredient, as with the toothpaste – it might be listed in ingredients. For dry foods bag liners and frozen food liners, consumers will need to ask their manufacturer if the package liner includes Triclosan.

 

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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20 Comments

20 Comments

  1. Roxanne

    June 8, 2018 at 4:08 pm

    Omg, thank you once again for this info.

  2. Jan

    June 8, 2018 at 4:19 pm

    Can anyone explain why I am having trouble reading comments on these articles? I have to leave a comment before I can see the others. Help, please.

    • Susan Thixton

      June 8, 2018 at 4:22 pm

      It might be a browser conflict or a setting within the browser you are using. I’d suggest trying to view articles in a different browser to see if that fixes the issue.

  3. Terry

    June 8, 2018 at 4:39 pm

    Another worry! Called Zymox/ oratene toothpaste to ask if liner has TCS.. Will send answer next week. CET toothpaste does NOT have TCS.
    It’s lined with aluminum!
    Hope others will post/share products found with tcs so we can be informed.

    • Keller

      June 9, 2018 at 1:12 am

      Aluminum carries its own risks. We should not be cooking with it. Dear God, what else???

    • Keller

      June 9, 2018 at 1:16 am

      I just posted a comment and can’t find it even in the pending area. Anyway, aluminum has been found to be dangerous to our health, as well. Dear God, what else???

  4. Pat Williams

    June 8, 2018 at 5:28 pm

    Does this mean the small plastic tubs of dog food (3.5 oz.) such as the ones from Merrick, Wellness, etc., have this dangerous chemical?

    • Susan Thixton

      June 8, 2018 at 5:39 pm

      I don’t think the chemical is included in the plastic tubs – but…I say that with no certainty. I’d suggest asking each manufacturer.

  5. Amy

    June 8, 2018 at 5:45 pm

    It gets better and better! Yuck!!

  6. Audree

    June 9, 2018 at 11:30 am

    I carry I toothpaste from fetch/Triple-pet called EZDog Vanilla Mint Flavored Pet Toothpaste. It doesn’t contain neither Triclosan (TCS) nor Aluminum. So the moral is to read the ingredients. There are products out there that are from responsible manufacturers. It just takes a lot of frog kissing to find the the prince.

  7. Marsha

    June 9, 2018 at 2:01 pm

    Can they find anything else to put in our pets’ products and/or foods. Can’t trust anyone any more.

  8. Carol Cassavaugh

    June 10, 2018 at 1:59 am

    Everyone must take the time read the ingredients, make sure made U.S.A., And look at your packaging…….i know it sucks….hard to trust anyone….but there are some good ones out there and there is affordable ways to get them now.
    No matter what our furry family is worth it. Maybe we can reference what good products we each find that works for us and if someone is aware of taboos thru can feed back together we’ll find the good ones . Who knows better then us?
    We use earthbourne holistic ….and for bags you return they plant a tree. Made U.S.A. and we get it 17$ cheaper on chewy.
    Good luck to all.

  9. Terry

    June 10, 2018 at 11:54 am

    Think we need to contact each company and ask if any antibacterial materials are in their packaging. I just left voicemail for ZiwiPeak and will report their response.
    I feed and I must say I’m confident that Answers Petfood and Small Batch Petfoods are without such chemicals that I did not contact them.
    My crew can’t eat kibbles but if I did I’d look at the companies who signed Susan’s pledge like Open Farm.

  10. Bonnie

    June 11, 2018 at 3:37 pm

    Has anyone found a plastic wrap that is TCS – free. Its found in human toothpaste too. Colgate has it in their produce line for a long time. Triclosan.

    • Terry

      June 11, 2018 at 4:38 pm

      Yes, auromere toothpaste. I contacted them right after reading this post. Container is free of TCS…. It’s a natural toothpaste. Look at the ingredients. Works for sensitive teeth too. Sold at whole foods, swanson vitamins or vitacost on line. I’ve used it for years. Even my dentist is surprised how well it works for something “natural”.
      Some toothbrushes have TCS! Oral B was okay.

  11. Terry

    June 12, 2018 at 10:32 am

    Oratene toothpaste by Zymox does NOT have any triclosan in the package or ingredients. Whew. Although there are some good options for dogs, this is one that can be used with cats and has six enzymes. I have a cat with dental issues. Has been the only product that’s helped. I tried most of the natural options.

  12. Merry

    June 12, 2018 at 12:42 pm

    I sent your article to my dogs and cats food manufacturer, inquiring if they used Triclosan in ANY part of the production or product, and received a positive reply. I have included it here to help anyone who may be looking for just such a product, and perhaps an alternative to the pet food already being used. Thank you for your dedication to the truth about pet food!
    FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF NULO DOG AND CAT FOOD
    Hi Mary!
    Thank you for your support and for reaching out to us here at Nulo! We’re happy to help with your question!
    As you may know, Nulo is a small, independent company based in Austin, TX that prides itself on our nutrition and quality control standards, and the safety of our products and the health of your pets is our top priority. We’re proud to let you know that Nulo’s bags (kibble, freeze-dried, treats, etc.) do NOT contain Triclosan as any part of the material! Additionally, all of Nulo’s products are formulated without the use of artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, etc. — this includes Triclosan, which is certainly not an ingredient used in our products for cats or dogs.
    I hope this has been helpful and has demonstrated our commitment to the safety and well-being of your pets! If there is anything else I can do to help, please let me know — I’m always happy to help a fellow pet parent!
    Sincerely,
    Ashlyn Brandenburg
    Nulo Customer Care Specialist
    512.476.6856 Ext. 130

    • D.h.

      August 24, 2018 at 9:43 am

      Thanks for sharing. I recently switched to Nulo.

  13. Terry

    June 14, 2018 at 11:56 am

    Primal Petfood responded saying no triclosan in their packaging. Have there been any reports of triclosan in rawfood packages?

  14. Marie-José Semet-Raquillet

    February 24, 2019 at 4:32 am

    The copper present in”Hill’s urinary troubles” kibbles as a preservative for freshness is 18% much to much for scotties, westies and above all forbedlington terriers : a mutent gene in these dogs prevent their liver to digest this copper
    It ends up with hepatite or cirrhrose of the liver which finally turns into cancer easily . I lost two scotties (1 female -7 years old in 2002 and 1 male just 5 years old in 2018. (There was no heredity betwween them) which had struvite ,then were feed with the ”proper!” hills kibbles the vets advised, and both dogs died from liver cancer.:an echography showed little black spots on their liver and that was from the copper which their liver could not metabolise (or digest and expel)
    The copper in kibbles for these breeds must NOT excess 4%.
    This has been the topic of a thesis at the veterinarian school of LYON (FRANCE) some years ago, but many vets do not take that seriously because these kibbles bring them a big money back
    Of course not only Hill is concerned ;other brands are concerned too. But the problem is that these kibbles are supposed to cure and not to kill. Had I known that, I would have cooked special adapted meals against struvite . But 17 years ago vets did not know the problem of copper for terriers When my ”boy” died, vets in general were supposed to know. And change their behaviour!.I sure would have cooked special adapted meals at that moment , but I did not know then the danger of copper for scotties :I had moved far away from the place I had lived , so I had a another vet. When I brought him the thesis about ”copper and terriers -livers” he told me he had ”heard about it!”…
    (the president of the scottish club had sent me the part of the french thesis mentioning the danger of copper in kibbles for terriers dogs )
    best regards and thank you for your so helpful work

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