KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Ed. Note: This is the first in a continuing series looking at concerns regarding the regulation of household pet foods and concerns about what we’re feeding our pets.
Pentobarbital, the most commonly used drug for animal euthanasia, was found in a national dog food brand last week. Perhaps more concerning, this isn’t the first time, and Party Animals isn’t the only offender.
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Updates with response from FDA officials.
Pentobarbital, the most commonly used drug for animal euthanasia, was found in a national dog food brand last week. Perhaps more concerning, this isn’t the first time, and Party Animals isn’t the only offender.
Party Animals food company announced a recall April 24, after two of their products, Cocolicious Turkey and Beef and Cocolicious Chicken and Beef, were discovered to contain pentobarbital, a product used in the euthanasia of animals.
FDA officials were still working on a response to KHTS’ questions at the time of this story’s publication.
From a previous story: Dog Food Recalled Over Concerns About Euthanasia Drug
What is pentobarbital?
Pentobarbital is commonly used as an anesthesia drug for animals that need to be put under for surgery and small operations. However, the drug can also be used for euthanasia when it is introduced intravenously in large doses.
The injection leads to a barbiturate overdose, and the animal painlessly falls asleep and then passes away. This is one of the most humane ways to euthanize an animal, according to the Euthanasia Guidelines posted by University of Minnesota. An injection of pentobarbital is also the most widely used practice for euthanizing animals in Shelters and Veterinary Clinics.
According to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), nearly 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized each year.
Has pentobarbital been discovered in pet food before?
Pentobarbital has been discovered in dog food before.
In March of this year, Evanger’s Dog Food expanded its recall of their products to include a total of three products of theirs. This was due to the presence of pentobarbital within the food.
Furthermore, during the 1990s, FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) received reports from veterinarians that pentobarbital, an anesthetizing agent used for dogs and other animals, seemed to be losing its effectiveness in dogs. Based on these reports, CVM officials decided to investigate a plausible theory that the dogs were exposed to pentobarbital through dog food, and that this exposure was making them less responsive to pentobarbital when it was used as a drug.
Why is this a problem?
The FDA declared that the levels of pentobarbital were harmless.
“In 2002, researchers at the FDA further concluded that the low levels of pentobarbital that dogs might receive through such food are unlikely to cause any adverse health effects and that further research on that theoretical risk was unnecessary,” according to a study released by the National Renderers Association.
However, while the FDA holds that the levels of pentobarbital are harmless, NBC4i reports that after four dogs ate the same type of Evangers pentobarbital-ridden food, all four appeared disoriented immediately after eating the food, with one of them eventually dying.
Furthermore, according to the most recent case of Party Animal food being laced with pentobarbital, there were reports of discomfort being experienced by the pet who consumed this food.
The FDA acknowledged the presence of pentobarbital in pet food in 2002, declared it was harmless to the safety of animals, and yet food that has been positively tested for having pentobarbital and consumed by animals has lead to reports of discomfort, disorientation and even death of the pet.
Our next story in a continuing series will look at the regulation that allows pentobarbital into pet food, and how pet owners can avoid purchasing tainted pet food.
This is absolutely heart breaking. The lack of regulation is only good for the companies who will benefit. Not from the defenseless animals, or their owners, who will be subject to the wanton disregard these lack of regulations will harm.
What is pentobarbital doing in dog food in the first place??? Does anybody know?
Excellent question that deserves an answer. This is disturbing.
Unfortunately the dog & cat food companies buy euthanized animals from animal shelters and crooked veterinarians. Disgusting to think that any pet food that says animal by products is anything that used to be an animal or someone’s pet ! Never have your pet euthanized at the vet and leave their body for the vet to dispose of ! Turning our pets into sickly cannibals !
they probably are using animals that died or were put to sleep in the dog food. I say it’s time we make our own dog food. it’s cheaper and healthier.
Many animals that have been euthanized are sold to rendering plants that then turn it into dog food. Many vets & kill shelters will sell euthanized animals to supplement costs. To save labor costs the rendering plants don’t check. Animals will be rendered with body bags never being removed.
I have heard that some pet food co. Are using euthanized dogs and cats in their food.
Horse meat was found to be a component of the Evanger’s food that contained pentobarbitol. Horses are typucally euthanized with pentobarbitol. Party Animal co-packs at Evanger’s a must use the same supplier.
Ok i read in another article that people are leaving their pets that they put to sleep. They dont claim the remains the veterinarian place that they leave the bodies with either give or sell to the slaughterhouses Didnt really specify. This is one way They said EVERYONE should always pick up the pet,never let the veterinarian dispose of the remains Unless you fully trust your vet
They are using dead animals which have been put down with phenobarbital. It makes me wonder what else we are exposing ourselves and animals to. Animals that are put down are often sick.. so our dogs are eating sick and
Think about it. Dog food is not regulated like human food . It makes me sick to think. About it.
One explanation…they are using the animals in our pet food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The animals that are killed every year amounts to a lot and to use their bodies would save the pet food industry millions
Why can’t any of these articles explain exactly HOW the phenobarbital is getting into the pet food in the first place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They use “recycled pets” for protein in the pet food. Its horrible. Read the label “animal by-product meal or meat” listed under ingredients is dog and cats that have been euthanized and sold by vets to the company. They are then ground up,collars and all, into meal and added to the food. Also added is waste from slaughterhouses and tainted meat from stores. Its not cost effective to remove flea collars or plastic packaging from the meat. Takes to much time, so they just ground it all together. And we feed this to our pets. NOT ANYMORE! Read the labels and boycott these companies!
This is Utterly horrendous that the FDA is/did/was allow this!!!! To not reply or do something regarding helping with punishment, charges etc. is beyond me.
I cannot comprehend most of this. Please, whomever has the power to stop this/not allow it ….. do so.
These are lives, they may not be human (no excuse) but experience the same pain/Illnesses as a human!
Why would the FDA even allow phenobarbital in the dog food in the first place. That it’s wrong and there should be more regulation’s for dog food company’s. I’d been pissed off something happened to my dogs due to bad food. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If phenobarbital is in dog food it is in animals that were used for meat in dog food!!! If an animal was put to sleep with it it’s not to be used for dog food. That’s always been a fact!!! Guess someone forgot to tell them!!!!!
I read another article stating that the food contained “recycled pets.” Pets that had been euthanized with the drug ending up in the food.
The drug is there because our dogs are eating other dogs that were put to sleep. It’s called recycled animal protein.
This is ludicrous & appalling. The idea that this is really happening makes me really question humanity. Omg, who are the real animals here?! How can humans(the supposed. most advanced species on the planet) allow such a travesty? These once living & breathing beings were probably a beloved family member at one time! SHAME ON ALL WHO PARTAKE. IN ANY OF THIS TRAVESTY!!!!!
I guess I will have to start making dog food for my 2 yorkies
Dog food manufacturers are using dogs That are sick and old in making dog food.
They.e use animals that have been euthanized with phenobarbital
A horrible practice and it has been going on much too long!!
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Unfortunately, when the mindset is to remove regulations so corporations can profit, anything can and will go wrong. Consider what might be happening in people food as well.