Its Killing Eagles But Is Considered Safe In Pet Foods!

What you are about to read is something that is very startling - and have probably never heard of before. As shocking as it might be, it is something that you should know before you feed your pet it's next meal.

A very disturbing fact of pet food comes from FDA testing. The FDA has determined that pentobarbital, the drug that is used to euthanize animals - is commonly found in many popular pet foods. You did read that correctly. Pentobarbital, a euthanizing drug, is in some popular pet foods and treats and according to the FDA is safe for pets to consume.

Back in 2002, the FDA released a report of their 2 year study/testing finding pentobarbital (the drug used to euthanize animals) in pet food. Their findings were that many brands of pet foods - purchased right off of store shelves - contained the euthanizing drug pentobarbital. With that finding, the FDA began an 8 week test to see if levels of pentobarbital in pet food could be harmful to pets. The FDA testing showed that the amounts of pentobarbital in pet food would not harm pets (even though their study only tested dogs). The FDA ran their testing on 42 twelve week old Beagles - and again the testing was only for 8 weeks.

Although the FDA did determine it to be safe for our pets to consume pet food containing pentobarbital, my concern is that the testing only lasted eight weeks. What about the long lasting effects? What about the concern of pets consuming pentobarbital in their food over a lifetime? These are genuine concerns, but there is more to the story.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency recently published a report stating that pentobarbital is considered an environmental hazard - "responsible for the deaths of over 140 Bald and Golden Eagles in recent years - as well as numerous other wildlife and dogs." Other wildlife named in the report were California Condors, Vultures, Hawks, Wood Storks, Gulls, Crows, Ravens, Bears, Lynxes, Foxes, Bobcats, and Cougars. This report stated the reason the wildlife was exposed to pentobarbital is from access to euthanized carcasses of farm animals and small animals in land fills. In big bold letters the report stated "Poisoning of eagles or other wild birds, even if accidental, violates Federal law!" This report also stated that Veterinarians and livestock owners have been recently fined for 'involuntary killing' of eagles. "Veterinarians must inform clients that a pentobarbital euthanized carcass is poisonous and requires proper disposal. The client needs to know that the carcass can poison and kill scavenging animals, including federally protected species, other wildlife, or even pet dogs."

A little over a year after the FDA's report that pentobarbital found in pet food was determined to be safe for our pets to consume - the FDA posted a change in the labeling requirements for pentobarbital and a change in the definitions. Today euthanizing drugs must provide a warning statement of environmental hazard - that the product is toxic to wildlife. The FDA labeling changes also added 'Do not use in animals intended for food.' Yet the drug remains to be found in pet food.

The facts are - pets are consuming pentobarbital every day. Regardless of the FDA's requirement of use of the drug - 'not to be used on animals intended for food' - pentobarbital is commonly found in many popular pet foods. How the drug gets into pet food is a unresolved controversial argument. It has been rumored for years that the source of the pentobarbital is from rendered (cooked) euthanized dogs and cats picked up from animal shelters all over the U.S. The pet food manufacturers deny such claims stating the only source could be euthanized cattle or horses. The debate continues - because there has never been any clinical evidence provided to the public that the source is from cattle or pets.

It is a horrendous thought that the possibility of euthanized dogs and cats could be being fed to our pets. Even if we never learn the truth of the source - I would encourage pet owners to avoid pet foods and treats that could contain the drug. The FDA provides the information that the most common pet food ingredient that could contain pentobarbital is 'Animal Fat'. Please scan the ingredient listings of your pets food and treats and look closely for the ingredient 'Animal Fat'. Consuming pentobarbital has already killed countless wildlife - the FDA only tested puppies consuming the pentobarbital laced pet foods for eight weeks - we do not know the long term effects to our pets.