Pets that stay mostly indoors can develop chronic diseases, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and hypothyroidism compared to those that live mostly outdoors. Food and chemical substances containing paraben and present at home could contribute to the increase of these diseases, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Environmental Science & Technology.
The parabens are preservatives commonly found in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, but their use in human food products and dog and cat food is regulated by the United States Food & Drug Administration. Research has already shown that endocrine disruptors could interfere with hormones and have adverse effects on the developmental, reproductive and neurological systems. Previous studies have looked at the presence of other endocrine disruptors, such as heavy metals and bisphenol A, in pet foods, but very little is known about parabens.
Researchers from the New York State Department of Health, the State University of New York in the United States and King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia) examined the presence of parabens in the diet of dogs and cats and analyzed their levels. in pet urine.
Dog and cat food contains parabens
The team conducted their study with 58 varieties of dog and cat food, as well as 60 animal urine samples. Researchers found that dry food (kibble) contained higher levels of parabens than wet food. Additionally, scientists report that cat food had higher concentrations of paraben than dog food. Urinalysis revealed that the dogs were exposed to other sources of parabens, not only from their food, but that the cats were contaminated with them mainly through their diet.
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