You probably know weed killers are harmful for us and our pets! But did you know they can be found in places other than your yard...like in your pet's food and water? Herbicides are used to speed up the ripening time of a plant, along with keeping it free from weeds. Glyphosate does just that with it's non-selective nature. Meaning, it destroys most everything. It blocks the shikimic acid pathway, necessary for plants and microorganisms to flourish. The facts on glyphosate: - In 2017, glyphosate was listed as a cancer causing ingredient to humans. - Glyphosate use is banned in Miami, Florida due to its pollution of Biscayne Bay. - In 2015 in Argentina, more than 30,000 healthcare professionals pushed for a ban on glyphosate. Many other countries are advocating for a complete ban or stricter regulations. - A federal jury in California found that glyphosate caused a 70-year old man's cancer (non-Hodgkins lymphoma). 11,200 plaintiffs sued the company Roundup (herbicide, primary ingredient is glyphosate) after being exposed glyphosate. - Glyphosate accumulates in tissues and organs in both humans and pets, making it near impossible to remove. - Glyphosate binds nutrients and minerals in the body, creating deficiencies and destroying "good bacteria" and DNA. - Pets that play outside have higher levels of glyphosate in their body. Even if you don't spray your lawn, they will probably have some form of contamination. - There are many issues linked to glyphosate exposure. Some include: 1. Liver and kidney disease In a study published in Scientific Reports, rats were fed water that contained 0.1ppb (parts per billion, extremely low dose) Roundup. The rats developed clinical signs of fatty liver disease over a 2 year period. It's also been linked to 40,000+ deaths in farm workers in Sri Lanka and El Salvador. (ref) Glyphosate accumulates in the body, affecting kidney and liver function. 2. Seizures Glyphosate has the ability to disrupt brain function. 3. Cancers In areas where Roundup is most commonly used, cancer rates are higher in humans. Nearly half of dogs over the age of 10 develop cancer. 4. Birth defects Exposure to glyphosate can disrupt vitamin A absorption, a key element in development. In a study by the Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology, they found that sick people had higher levels of glyphosate than healthy people. It's all around us Herbicides and genetically modified foods go hand in hand. The GMOs have been modified to withstand the affects of glyphosate, making them accumulate the ingredient at much higher amounts. (ref) The most commonly affected products are corn, soy, alfalfa, vegetables and more. It's expected to go up every year with the increased implementation of GMOs. Non GMO foods like millet, barley, and wheat can also be exposed. All common ingredients in pet foods. Multiple pet food brands were tested for glyphosate inclusion and the results were shocking. The numbers in parts per billion; - Purina Cat Chow contained 102ppb glyphosate - Purina Dog Chow contained 98ppb glyphosate - Kibbles-n-Bits contained 300ppb glyphosate - Friskies contained 79ppb glyphosate - 9 Lives contained 140ppb glyphosate - Rachael Ray contained 22ppb glyphosate - Iams contained 65ppb glyphosate - Rachael Ray Dog contained 140ppb glyphosate - Purina contained 47ppb glyphosate To put things into perspective, the study done on lab rats was just 0.1ppb. According to Dr. Michael W. Fox, "When all the dots are connected, and considering the ubiquitous presence of glyphosate even in human amniotic fluids, the association of this endocrine-disrupting, probable carcinogen with intestinal dysbiosis, allergies, autoimmune diseases, the metabolic syndrome and obesity in people and their cats and dogs may soon be verified.” The fatty liver disease the lab rats experienced is capable of inflammation, liver failure, cancer, poor blood sugar regulation, poor excretion of nitrogen, and poor metabolization of endocrine hormones. What Does the FDA have to say about it? "Remember, it's the dosage that makes the poison. Sure, you could say that glyphosate causes cancer, of course it does, but only when swallowed in small amounts over a long period of time." - Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner, US Food and Drug Administration. I don't understand how this can provide any form of relief to anyone. In our pets, they do consume it daily in small doses over a long period of time. With this statement, the FDA is confirming our concerns. How can we keep our ferrets and other pets safe? It would be practically impossible to completely remove all sources of glyphosate contamination and exposure. It's in the air, our food, and our water supply. There are a few things we can do to minimize the amount, though. 1. Avoid using all herbicides and pesticides on your lawn, and avoid going to places that do. Even if you have indoor ferrets, you can still track in the residue, get it on your clothes and skin, etc. Parks, lakes, golf courses are all known to be exposed. If you do frequent them, make sure to leave shoes away from your ferrets and change into new clothes. List of safe alternatives to herbicides. 2. Avoid commercial kibble and canned foods, feed organic raw foods. Kibbles and canned foods will most likely contain glyphosate due to their ingredients. Air dried and freeze dried raw will be a safer choice. If you feed raw, shoot for organic raw meats. We can't avoid glyphosate exposure completely, but there are some things within our control. For more information on glyphosates.... https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/ https://truthaboutpetfood.com/
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