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.

In 2002 the FDA released it's findings of a two years study that determined pentobarbital is in pet food. Many pet foods purchased from local grocery and pet stores contained the drug. To determine the risk to U.S. pets, the FDA also provided the results of their eight week study as to the effects of the drug when consumed in pet food. Their 8 week test determined that pentobarbital was safe in pet food.

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.

Recently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency published a report stating that pentobarbital is responsible for the deaths of "over 140 Bald and Golden Eagles in recent years - as well as numerous other wildlife and dogs." The Agency also named California Condors, Vultures, Hawks, Wood Storks, Gulls, Crows, Ravens, Bears, Lynxes, Foxes, Bobcats, and Cougars having died from consuming the euthanized carcasses of farm animals and/or small animals in land fills. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency reports that poisoning of eagles or other wild birds, even if it is accidental, violates Federal law and can result in fines.

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.

Pets are consuming pentobarbital as you read this. Even though the FDA's new labeling clearly states the drug should not be used in animals intended for food - pentobarbital is still found in common pet food ingredients. And not that I have already given you enough to be concerned over, the next worry is how pentobarbital could be found in pet food. Rumor has been for many years that pentobarbital is from euthanized dogs and cats from animal shelters all across the U.S. being rendered - cooked - and end ingredients of the rendering process are put back into pet food. Pet Food manufacturers adamantly deny these claims stating the species source is from euthanized cattle and horses. The FDA has done testing trying to clinically prove the species source - pets or livestock - no clinical proof has ever been provided to the pet owning public.

The possibility of euthanized dogs and cats being cooked and put into pet food is horrendous. We might not ever learn the species source of the drug. The FDA does provide us with the information that the common pet food ingredient 'Animal Fat' is the ingredient that is most likely to contain pentobarbital. Please carefully look at the ingredients in your pets food and treats for the ingredient 'Animal Fat'. Since no testing has ever been done on long term effects of consuming pentobarbital, and we know consuming the drug is killing wildlife - this is a risk too serious to ignore.

About the Author, Susan Thixton:

Before you feed your pet one more meal, please visit Susan Thixton's website and gain knowledge of many more secrets of the pet food industry. Also please register for the free Truth About Pet Food newsletter. pet food, dog food, cat food. Glyconutrition.