Caution with Dog Toys from China
The suspicion of products from China is well worth the scrutiny. Fox News ran a story a short while ago where a range of dog toys made in China was examined. Yep, highly toxic amounts of lead were found. Sheldon Rubin, DVM, of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, conducted a random test of a variety of toys, and his conclusion for the time being was that people should throw out any pet toy made in China with paint on it such as the tennis balls with the black paw prints stamped on them found at PetCo and PetsMart. These toys were tested to have 30,000 parts per billion of lead, going straight into the dog's mouth. Other items listed were plastic squeaker balls made to look like soccer or footballs, where they have the black paint squares/stripes stamped on them. He warned about certain ceramic food dishes, too.
Expertox, a Texas lab, has found elevated levels of lead, chromium, and cadmium (a cancer producing agent) in two Chinese-made pet toys sold at Wal-Mart. The lab was hired by ConsumerAffairs.com to test two dog toys and two cat toys for heavy metals and other toxins. A dog chew toy, a green monster, tested positive for what the lab categorizes as high levels of lead and chromium. The lab detected lead levels of 907.4 micrograms per kilogram (almost one part per million). Chromium was found at levels of 334.9 micrograms per kilogram. Levels of cadmium, arsenic and mercury were also found in the green monster toy. How ironic that the breed of dog on the packaging is a Westie! The lab said with that kind of concentration, if a dog puts the toy in his mouth and chews or licks it, he is being exposed to a good amount of lead and runs the risk of metal toxicity that may shorten his life.
But two veterinarians said the levels found by the lab are not a health risk to cats and dogs. Dr. Fred Oehme from Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine said the toxicity risks to pets from the toys depend on how much is absorbed in their bodies. He said most animals require 30 parts per million of their total daily diet before it results into a problem with lead. (see first paragraph please). My personal answer to that is, who wants to take the chance? Certainly not me, and not with my dogs.
Today, we have to be educated about all the products we purchase for ourselves and our companions. Everywhere you look products are made in China. Even if the product is made in America, don't get comfortable. Many raw materials come from other countries including China. If Chinese companies didn't think much of the lead that was being applied to children's toys, don't think for a minute they have concern about the toys exported for our companions. Contact the manufacturer of the product and ask them where the raw products come from and can they guarantee no toxicity to your companion?
It's a sad state of affairs when, as consumers, we have to start checking to be sure our products are truly safe. Many companies are now listening, too. I'm sure there will be more on this coming in the news as people start to look at our pet's toys with the same scrutiny as children's toys.
Reference:
www.ITCHMO.com (news for dogs and cats)
Fox News story
{Christine Swingle has been a breeder/exhibitor of Westies, under the Bonnie Brier prefix, since 1964. Since 1996, she now raises her Westies the Natural Rearing way, which focuses on long-term wellness and well being through feeding a species-appropriate raw food diet (ARF), supporting natural immunity and using safer and natural alternatives to conventional drugs and chemicals.}
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