Aflatoxins

[Lynda Kamrath]

I know it is out there, but after many lost nights of wondering why my two beautiful doodles died at such an early age - one of liver failure and one of liver cancer - I read this, and it makes sense to me.  They ate good food (highly recommended) but when it was discovered that Hondo had liver failure, we was on a special home-cooked diet.  He could eat NO processed food at all.  Still, he died after a second surgery and his liver was essentially gone.  Groucho Too died four years later (liver cancer and many tumors).  Then I read this:

"Because eating small amounts of aflatoxins over a period of time will cause cumulative liver damage or cancerous tumors, a very small percentage of affected dogs would be reported.  This means that tens of thousands of cases of liver disease and cancer could be caused by contaminated foods every year but the link would never be reported."

So, are my doodles two of these tens of thousands of cases?  I think so, and I am more careful than ever of what I feed my dogs.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The molds that produce aflatoxins are found in the following foods:

Peanuts and peanut butter

Tree nuts such as pecans

Corn

Wheat

Oil seeds such as cottonseeds

In the case of dogs who have been affected by aflatoxins, it has typically been corn in the kibble that has been the culprit.

As long as you steer clear of foods that contain any of these ingredients, which is not hard to do (none of the foods on the Food Group's Recommended Brands list contain these), you need not worry about aflatoxins in your dog's food.

Of course, they can also be in human food products. Last year, there was a massive recall of many brands of peanuts and peanut butter. Although aflatoxins are known to cause cancer in animals, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows them at low levels in nuts, seeds, and legumes because they are considered "unavoidable contaminants. The FDA believes occasionally eating small amounts of aflatoxin poses little risk over a lifetime. It is not practical to attempt to remove aflatoxin from food products in order to make them safer.

It is suggested that you buy only major brands of nuts and nut butters, and discard any nuts that look discolored, moldy, or shriveled. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

We knew about aflatoxins years ago and I think we should avoid them. I don't really think they are unavoidable in the manufacture of human food products but it probably is not easy : (

[Lynda Kamrath]

Oh, I know.  It is so hard knowing just what to eat these days - let alone feed our dogs.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Thanks, Karen, that helps.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Linda,

F., and Karen, answered your questions I would just like to add dont beat yourself up about this. I know at times it is impossible to do, but you did right by your dogs.  You did the best you could at the time.  I'm sorry.

I'm glad you posted though so others can be informed. 

[Lynda Kamrath]

Oh, I know.  I guess I am still just grieving and probably always will be.  It just seems so unfair for dogs to die so early and with liver disease.  Did you see these photos?  We are going to the beach tomorrow and this is the first time for Zeppo at the beach.  The other two are fine and very experienced.

[Kyoko]

Have fun!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Enjoy!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Have fun at the beach, Linda!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I second what Joanne says here too. You are a great doodle Mom and you did your very best. It will never be posssible to say what caused the liver disease and we can only take the most sensible precautions based on sound knowledge when making choices as to what to feed our dogs. All of us here are so lucky to have the best advice here on DK. 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Hope you have a wonderful beach day!