Many popular dog food brands feature ingredients that may be harmful and lead to cancer, but most people have no idea about that. Being cost effective for manufacturers, these ingredients are harmful for our furry friends. Thus you should be aware of these cancer causing foods for dogs when shopping.

#1. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

GMOs can be linked to many different diseases, including cancer. “Though pet foods can test to be GMO-free, this does not mean that the meat animals were fed GMO-free grain throughout their life,” states the report by The Cornucopia Institute. To avoid feeding your dog harmful GMOs, you are advised to choose certified organic dog foods.

#2. Corn and Corn Syrup

Corn is an inexpensive filler commonly found in dog foods. Corn syrup is often added to dog food to make it sweet. Actually, dogs do not need any type of sweetener in their food. Too much sugar in dog food may lead to cancer later on.

#3. Byproduct

Byproduct is the internal remains of an animal. It may include diseased tissues, organs, and tumors. So don’t feed our dogs anything possibly contaminated with sick animals, as it may lead to various health problems.

#4. Ethoxyquin

Ethoxyquin is used as a preservative in some pet foods to slow the development of rancidity of fats. However, the ingredient in pet foods might lead to multiple health problems, such as immune deficiency and cancers of the spleen, liver, and stomach. Dog foods with fish meal will typically contain ethoxyquin.

#5. Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)

The U.S. National Institutes of Health report that BHA is anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals. As most dog foods will contain some form of preservatives, you are advised to choose natural preservatives which are safer for your dog.

#6. Aflatoxin

No animal species is immune to the acute toxic effects of aflatoxins. Chronic exposure to aflatoxins increases the risk of developing liver and gallbladder cancer.

#7. Blue Dye Coloring

Blue food coloring, specifically Blue 1 and Blue 2 food coloring, is linked to brain tumors. Try to buy dog food that only features organic and natural ingredients to ensure there are no harmful dyes in the food.

#8. Carrageenan

“We now know that, based on peer-reviewed, published research, food-grade carrageenan is a potent inflammatory agent that can cause colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and even cancer,” states a report by The Cornucopia Institute, a non-profit that investigates farming and food issues.

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