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It's killing Eagles but is considered safe in pet foods!

You are about to read something you have probably never heard of before, and are going to find difficult to believe. Even though it is shocking information, it is something every pet owner should know before you purchase your next bag or can of pet food.

One of the most disturbing and little known facts about the pet food industry has to be the FDA's findings and acceptance of pentobarbital - the drug used to euthanize animals - being in dog and cat foods. Yes, you read that correctly - pentobarbital, the drug used to euthanize dogs, cats, cattle, and horses IS in some of the most popular pet foods on the market and this IS acceptable according to the FDA.

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."

The FDA has made changes requiring pentobarbital labeling provide information of environmental hazard - the product is toxic to wildlife. New labeling requirements also added "Do not use in animals intended for food." Yet pentobarbital is still legal to be included in a pet food.

So this is what we havepentobarbital is in some ingredients that are commonly used in pet foods and treats. Pets are consuming pentobarbital as you read this right now. Euthanized animals are being rendered and the end ingredients become ingredients used in pet food. Euthanized animals are killing wildlife. The FDA's own rules for the drug specify its limitations 'not for use in animals intended for food.' Yet it's still there. Granted the amount of pentobarbital in pet food - since it is found in only some ingredients (but some VERY commonly used ingredients) of pet foods - it is not at the same levels as would be consumed by wildlife in a euthanized carcass. But the fact remains, the FDA's own label changes of the drug clearly state not for use in animals intended for food and it is in pet food. The source of the pentobarbital is unclear. Pet food manufacturers make the claim that the source is from rendered euthanized cattle and horses - but when you compare the small number of euthanized cattle and horses to the millions of euthanized dogs and cats each year - that is hard to believe. The FDA has tried to determine the species source of the pentobarbital - but no results have been determined. To date, no clinical evidence has been provided to prove the claim of the pet food manufacturers.

It is just a mind boggling thought - the possibility that euthanized dogs and cats are rendered and put back into pet food. As difficult as that is to believe, the possibility remains. Regardless of the species source of pentobarbital, the FDA has told pet owners that the most common feature of a pet food that contains pentobarbital to be the ingredient 'Animal Fat'. My suggestion to all pet owners is to carefully scan the label of your dog food or cat food (and don't forget pet treats) to look for the ingredient 'Animal Fat' - avoiding those pet foods and treats that contain it.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

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