Ethoxyquin is a commonly found preservative in dog food. Dog foods with fish meal will typically contain ethoxyquin , because the U.S. Coast Guard requires that all fish meal transported by boat be treated with ethoxyquin, according to USDA (PDF).
Ethoxyquin was originally developed as a herbicide. So, why are we feeding this to dogs?
Dog food manufacturers use this preservative because it's cheap, but it was linked to a plethora of health problems . Not only can this preservative cause cancer of the liver, spleen, stomach, and skin, but it is also linked to kidney and liver damage, immune deficiency syndrome, and blindness .
All dog food with animal protein meals and animal fats are treated with preservatives. This includes fish meal, chicken meal, beef meal, lamb meal, etc. But some dog food manufacturers use natural preservatives instead of potentially toxic ones.
Legally, dog food manufacturers have no requirement to disclose preservatives added ingredients before they reach the pet food manufacturing plant. This means that if dog food contains ethoxyquin, manufacturers aren’t required to put it on the label.
The more fat that is in a product, the more preservatives the product will need, so look for dog foods with lower fat content. Check with your vet when purchasing a new brand of food, as they will know and often advise against certain cancer causing foods for dogs.
Ethoxyquin was originally developed as a herbicide. So, why are we feeding this to dogs?
Dog food manufacturers use this preservative because it's cheap, but it was linked to a plethora of health problems . Not only can this preservative cause cancer of the liver, spleen, stomach, and skin, but it is also linked to kidney and liver damage, immune deficiency syndrome, and blindness .
All dog food with animal protein meals and animal fats are treated with preservatives. This includes fish meal, chicken meal, beef meal, lamb meal, etc. But some dog food manufacturers use natural preservatives instead of potentially toxic ones.
Legally, dog food manufacturers have no requirement to disclose preservatives added ingredients before they reach the pet food manufacturing plant. This means that if dog food contains ethoxyquin, manufacturers aren’t required to put it on the label.
The more fat that is in a product, the more preservatives the product will need, so look for dog foods with lower fat content. Check with your vet when purchasing a new brand of food, as they will know and often advise against certain cancer causing foods for dogs.