The dangers of BPA for your dogs

For years now, we have been hearing about the dangers of Bisphenol A (BPA). Scientists and health experts alike have been sounding the alarm on the damage that BPA can do to our health. BPA is a chemical that disrupts the endocrine system and has been proven to cause health issues (including reproductive problems) in humans. BPA is often found in household products such as canned goods, receipts, water bottles, and other plastic food containers. The dangers of BPA also affect your dogs and all your household pets. BPA can be found in a variety of pet products, including canned dog food, dog dishes, treat containers, and more. 

The dangers of BPA for your dogs

There are many things that can increase your dogs’ BPA levels and those increased levels can create health problems in your dogs. Read on to get an idea of what can happen and what you can do to prevent this. 

What is Bisphenol A?

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is an organic chemical which is used in the manufacturing of polycarbonates, epoxy resins, and other plastics. It is used to enhance the durability and heat resistance of plastic products which helps with food preservation. 

What will increased BPA levels do to my dogs?

Studies and testing have shown that increased BPA levels can do many things to the health of your dog. Here are just a few of the commonly known effects in animals:

• Increased fat cells
• Reproductive issues
• Diabetes
• High blood sugar
• Glucose intolerance
• Beta cell function issues
• Insulin resistance

This is by no means all of the effects that increased BPA levels cause, but as you can see, it is definitely something to take into account as you decide how and what to feed your pets.

How much does canned food affect my dogs’ BPA levels?

Recent studies have shown that dogs who are switched to a canned dog food diet are found to have triple the levels of BPA in their systems, whereas dogs who are supplemented with canned food in addition to their bagged food have double the amount of BPA in their systems. This is when compared to dogs who are fed a dried food only diet.  

Can my dogs’ dishes increase their BPA levels?

Yes, the dish that your dogs use can affect the levels of BPA that are found in your dogs’ systems. While the levels may not grow quite to the degree that it will when dogs are eating canned food, it can increase them a bit. Plastics can leech into food and water from the bowls and they can degrade more over time. 

The same is true for water dishes, especially if you use a gravity fed water dish as those are often much larger therefore more plastic. 

How can I reduce my dogs’ BPA levels and/or lower their risk of BPA exposure?

There are several ways that you reduce your dogs’ BPA levels and work toward improving their health. 

Make good food choices

Just like people, we need to make good food choices for our dogs. In addition to choosing healthy foods, we need to make good food choices to avoid any added BPA getting into their systems. A good rule of thumb is a best to worst list for dog food:

• Best – Fresh food
• Good – Frozen food
• Okay – Dried food
• Not Good – Canned food

This list is good to follow if you are looking to avoid BPA in your dogs’ food. If you do feed your dogs canned food, really ensure that the is actually BPA free. 

Avoid plastic toys

When buying your dog’s toys, make sure to avoid plastic toys. It’s best to stick with natural products such as bamboo, hemp, etc. There are plenty of BPA-free toys out there for your dogs that they will love. Be sure and check out our dog toy page for non-toxic toys that your dog will love. 

Avoid plastic dog food and water dishes

Don’t forget that the dishes your dog eats and drinks out of can make a difference in their BPA levels too. Choosing natural products can help you to avoid this unnecessary risk. We have some non-toxic bowls in our shop. 

The dangers of BPA for your dogs could be lurking in the most innocent-looking places. But doing what you can to avoid raised BPA levels in your dogs is going to pay off in the long run with continued health in your canine kids.