Pet health products should keep your furry friends feeling their best, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, there are some pet products you should avoid entirely due to the ingredients they contain. Some products contain harmful chemicals that can make pets sick or increase their risk of disease. Whether you’re looking for pet grooming products or new pet food to try, it’s wise to keep the following precautions in mind.
Pet Food Ingredients to Avoid
Some pet foods on the market claim to provide certain health benefits or better overall nutrition. However, taking a closer look at the ingredients they contain is essential. The following is a list of ingredients to avoid:
- Artificial preservatives, such as ethoxyquin, BHA, and BHT: Some preservatives have been linked to potential cancer risks. Some can cause other health problems, including allergic reactions.
- Artificial flavors and colors, such as Red 40 and Yellow 6: Some pet foods include these potentially harmful ingredients to improve their look and taste.
- Animal by-products: Some by-products come from diseased animals.
- Corn: Corn adds unnecessary carbs to pet food, which can increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and other health problems.
Harmful Pet Products for Grooming
Keeping your pets well-groomed helps you maintain their health. If you’re using specific ingredients, though, you could be putting your pets at risk of having health problems. A few ingredients to avoid in pet grooming products include the following:
- Preservatives: Some preservatives in grooming products contain formaldehyde, which can cause skin problems or increase cancer risks. Other preservatives, such as parabens, might also raise the risk of severe health problems.
- Sulfates: Sulfates in pet health products make shampoos sudsy, which isn’t a necessary quality. These ingredients can harm your pet’s skin by eliminating natural oils and causing dryness or irritation.
- MEA, DEA, and TEA: These pet shampoo chemicals are used to give these products a creamier texture. However, they aren’t necessary and have been associated with a higher risk of cancer and toxicity.
Preventative Pet Health Products
Preventative pet health products, such as flea and tick control or heartworm pills, are made to lower the risk of health problems for pets. While some are safe to use, others could cause health issues. The American Veterinary Medical Association encourages pet owners to take precautions when using these products. For example, certain parasite prevention products might not be safe for pets that are older or pregnant. Some products might cause severe side effects in some pets, but not others. Before using any of these products, talk to your vet about their safety. Your vet can recommend safe preventative products based on certain factors, such as your pet’s age or whether or not your pet has underlying medical conditions.
If your dogs, cats, or rabbits could use a bath, nail trim, or other pet grooming services, please contact Wags and Whiskers. Our pet salon in the Tucson area doesn’t use any harmful chemicals in our grooming practices.