An unsettling and little publicized fact regarding pet food comes from FDA test results finding pentobarbital - the drug used to euthanize dogs, cats, cattle and horses - in pet foods. Hard to believe, but the FDA reports that pentobarbital is common to some pet foods and even more challenging to believe the FDA has determined this is acceptable.



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.

My first concern is that this testing was only done for 8 weeks. No consideration was given to pets that are consuming this euthanizing drug in their food for a lifetime. Unfortunately, the concerns don't stop there.

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 some changes however. New labeling requirements for pentobarbital requires a warning statement of environment hazard citing the product is toxic to wildlife. And as well, the new labels must state "Do not use in animals intended for use in food." The drug still remains to be found in 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.