Posted on the Living with Leishmania page on facebook. Regular readers will have read Ann O’Connor’s article on her experience with her podenca Livia. Here’s what she says about the above subject.
‘Here is an interesting article on the dangers of molds that grow on plant proteins used in animal food, like kibble…”These molds are potent carcinogens which have been directly correlated to adverse health effects, resulting in both acute toxicity and chronic health problems in pets; problems such as liver cancer, in many animal species.” I think this could compromise a leish positive dog’s immunity seriously. This article focusses on the US pet food industry but it would be interesting to see if there are similarities in other countries.
From Planet Paws Pet Essentials
If you are a veterinarian, a pet retailer or especially a pet owner, you are going to want to read this until the end!
There is a growing problem in today’s pet foods. That problem is mold, or the technical term, mycotoxins. No, this mold isn’t caused because food was left out too long (although that is never good). It’s because the plant-based proteins that are used to make these pet foods are being harvested this way and then sold to the manufacturers.
Purina told the South China Morning Post that certain mycotoxins were an “unavoidable natural contaminant” found in grains such as corn, barley and rice.
“Mycotoxins contaminate cereal grains worldwide, and their presence in pet food has been a potential health threat to companion animals. Aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and Fusarium mycotoxins have been found in both raw ingredients and final products of pet food around the globe.” – American Chemical Society