My Billings Gazette

To promote her “Nutrish” line of packaged dog food, Food Network's Rachael Ray published a recipe intended for human consumption in a popular dog lover’s magazine (Modern Dog Magazine, Winter 2008/2009 Edition). The recipe, “Isaboo’s Butternut Squash Mac and Chedder” was inspired, states Ray, by her pit bull Isaboo’s love of squash. But readers were confused and believed the recipe, which included an ingredient that could potentially kill dogs, was intended for dogs.

Nowhere in the magazine article did it state that the recipe was intended for humans, not dogs. And the text accompanying the recipe contained a disclaimer suggesting owners check with their dogs’ veterinarians, again leading many to believe the recipe was for dogs.

Any veterinarian can tell you that onions can cause potentially fatal hemolytic anemia.  The amount ingested makes little difference in terms of size of dog, or ability to metabolize or filter toxins.

Modern Dog Magazine has since added a mild disclaimer (but not before promoting and praising Ray first)  to the website, stating:

"[Rachael Ray's recipe includes onions, which are NOT good for dogs, but the amount included in the recipe is small when considered over the whole of the recipe. Always check with your vet which foods are appropriate to share with your dog. --Ed.] "

The feedback shows readers were still upset, however, and say the magazine should have known better than to publish a recipe containing onions intended for dogs. Some commenters also included links to the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center website page concerning onion toxity yet the magazine has taken no further action on the matter.

The recipe is still on Ray’s “Everyday” Magazine website  --under a “Pet Friendly” header, accompanied by a photo of her dog appearing to be eating the concoction-- which, yep, still contains onion.

So what's wrong with the recipes?

Not only is it onions that pet owners need to be concerned about, but a large number of the 36  "pet friendly" recipes Ray has posted, contain ingredients that are potentially toxic, other ingredients are completely inappropriate for pets. 

Let's look at the list of ingredients Ray includes in various recipes intended for pets.  I've also included the dangers that Ray failed to disclose:

Garlic (toxic to pets, particularly cats, causes Heinz body anemia, potentially fatal)
Onion (toxic to pets - causes Heinz body/Hemolytic anemia, potentially fatal - large amounts are used in the recipes)
Salt (detrimental to kidneys and heart in pets, plus high potential for fluid losses and electrolyte imbalances)
Various cheeses (including cheddar, swiss, monterey jack, parmesan, etc - high in fat, causes constipation and/or diarrhea)
Pepper (non-palatable to pets, unnecessary)
Bacon (very high in fat content - in a large majority of the recipes)
Various breads (including wheat - wheat intolerances are common in pets - high in carbohydrates and sugar - large amounts of breads in the recipes, including "buttered" bread)
Avocado (high in fat, some evidence of toxicity in pets)
Spinach (some evidence of spinach leaves toxicity in pets)
Lettuce (no nutritional value - unnecessary)
Lime juice (non-palatable to pets, unncessary)
Orange juice (non-palatable to pets, uncessary)
Hot pepper sauce (she has got to be kidding!)
Chicken and Turkey (high fat content, potential for GI upset and diarrhea)
Soy sauce (high level of salt)
Peanuts (high in protein and fat, no nutritional purpose to give to pets)
Flour and wheat flour (as noted above, wheat intolerances common in pets)
Corn meal (many dogs have allergic reaction to corn products)
Olive oil (fat content - used in nearly every single one of her recipes)
Milk (high in fat, cats in particular are lactose intolerant, causes diarrhea, excess gas in the stomach and intestine, distended abdomen)
Baking spices (used in many of the recipes, no established safety margin in pets, no nutritional purpose for pets)
Deli ham (high levels of fat and salt)
Corned beef (high in fat and salt)
Half and half (high fat content)
Heavy cream (high fat content)
Eggs (used in a large number of the recipes, in large amounts, whole, high protein content)
Peppercorns (use your head, Rachael!)
Barley (some dogs have intolerances)
Macaroni (high in carbohydrates)
Cream Cheese (high in fat)

There are large amounts of ingredients in most of the recipes (as if she were feeding a human family of four), yet small yields, i.e., 4 servings, all loaded with high fat and ingredients inappropriate for pets. As a matter of fact, most of the recipes could cause pancreatitis in dogs, a painful, debilitating, serious condition that requires extensive (and expensive) veterinary treatment.  If a dog survives an episode of acute pancreatitis, it can subsequently lead to chronic pancreatitis (potentially affecting the dog's health for life).

Rachael Ray ignores veterinarians and pet health care advocates who have tirelessly campaigned against pet obesity and continue to diligently educate pet owners on proper diet and nutrition, promote pet exercise, promote early prevention to avoid serious health complications associated with obesity such as: heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, arthritis, and pancreatitis, to name a few.  Rachael Ray seems to be the poster child for irresponsible pet ownership.

Ray and her parent company, Reader's Digest, have also ignored numerous complaints and requests citing the dangers, to have the recipes taken down from the website, to no avail.

Last I checked, in April of this year, Ray had various, inconsistent disclaimers scattered among few recipes and elsewhere on the website:

"Always check with your vet about which foods are appropriate for you to share with your pet."

"Check with your pet's doctor before feeding it any human food.  Pets can't digest the same things we can and your vet is the best person to help you decide if this recipe is right for your pooch."

"Note!  You should not feed your pet human food without first clearing it with your pet's vet.  Every animal's needs are different and we want to make sure this one's okay for your furry friend before you try to serve it to him or her."

"Since every animal's needs are different, check with your vet to see if this recipe is good for your pet."

But, those disclaimers have mysteriously disappeared.  There is not one disclaimer accompanying any of her pet recipes. Not one.

I propose that Ray include the disclaimer, " I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist, yet I pretend to know about pet nutrition on tv and on the internet.  My recipes do not intend to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure a disease and unfortunately may kill your dog, but I'm a celebrity so get over it."

List of Registered Products:  

EPA has provided a listing of EPA-registered spot-on flea and tick products (16 pp, 186 K, About PDF). Since the chart previously located on this page reflected only a portion of the numerous pet spot-on products available, EPA felt that pet owners and consumers might be led to believe that only those products listed were the focus of concern. In fact, EPA is intensifying its evaluation of all spot-on products and is providing a more comprehensive list of these products.

EPA is not initiating a product recall of these products nor is the Agency suggesting that the products not be used. EPA recognizes the importance of the products in effective flea and tick control. EPA’s objective at this stage is simply to advise consumers and pet owners to exercise caution when using the products and to monitor pet behavior following their use, as some animals have experienced adverse reactions following treatment.
Regulatory Agencies are Taking Action

EPA is evaluating all available data and information, including:

    * reports of adverse reactions,
    * product market share,
    * clarity of product use directions and label warnings,
    * product ingredients, and
    * pre-market safety data submitted to the Agency in support of registration of these products

This assessment may result in EPA action to require changes in the registration status of certain spot-on products. EPA will be working collaboratively with Health Canada to address this issue, as Canadian regulatory officials have identified similar concerns about the use of spot-on flea and tick products. EPA intends to update this page periodically to provide the public with the most current information on this issue.

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If this is any indication of the EPA's past history, it is clear they have no real intention of taking any "regulatory action" against these products and their manufacturers.  Remember, these problems and incident reports date back to 2001 and earlier.

One staff member of the EPA told me directly, "etofenprox is not a pyrethroid". How many monkeys at the EPA does it take to research data that concludes that etofenprox is a pyrethroid, synthetic or not, and has the exact same mechanism of action as any pyrethrin? Apparently, it takes several monkeys to come to that conclusion. Add the pesky little fact that when inert ingredients are added to an active substance (like etofenprox or any other pyrethroid/pyrethrin), the inert ingredients intensify the active ingredient and significantly increase the toxicity risk. Add another pesky little fact that with repeated use over time, the likelihood of increased toxicity is evident.

Hartz, for example, recommends multiple-product use of their products on and around pets, simultaneously, as part of their "total flea and tick control" approach. These products include spot-ons, home environment sprays and powders, and other products, which include permethrins, allethrins, pyrethrins, organophosphates.

Wake up, EPA!

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Report: Poison on Pets II - Toxic Chemicals in Flea and Tick Collars
 
Report: Poison on Pets I - Health Hazards from Flea and Tick Products  
 
Green Paws Product Guide 
 
Take Action: Tell the EPA to protect kids and pets from dangerous pesticides in pet flea products
 

Although chocolate toxicosis is more common in dogs, the toxin has been known to affect or kill cats, birds, rodents and reptiles as well.

Keep candy and baked goods out of pets' reach, do not let pets in the kitchen unsupervised while baking, and never feed a dog milk chocolate as a treat because the dog may develop a taste for it and subsequently seek it out.

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are both methylxanthines. The amount of methylxanthines present depends on the type of chocolate (see table). In general, the less sweet it is, the more toxic it could be. Unsweetened baking chocolate contains almost seven times more theobromine than milk chocolate, which is why a dog can eat an occasional piece of milk chocolate and not show clinical signs. The theobromine in chocolate-coated candy is more dilute than that in solid chocolate bars.

The following table is a common example of toxicity for a 60 lb. dog, for a more detailed table with several variations in amounts and weights, see here.

The toxicity depends on the type of chocolate, the amount ingested, the size of the animal, and the animal's sensitivity to methylxanthines.  Clinical signs of chocolate toxicosis include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity (including restlessness, agitation, and pacing), polyuria, polydipsia, lethargy, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, tremors and seizures, and death. Some of these signs can be seen with the ingestion of as little as 0.25 oz of baking chocolate by a 10-lb dog. Based on Animal Poison Control Center experience, mild signs occur in animals ingesting 20 mg/kg and severe signs are seen at doses over 40 mg/kg. The half-life of chocolate in the dog is 17.5 hours.

Treatment for chocolate toxicosis involves:

• Stabilizing the pet; treating life-threatening cardiovascular and respiratory abnormalities and controlling seizures.
• Using standard gastrointestinal decontamination procedures: emesis, repeated dosing with activated charcoal, and a cathartic.
• Administering fluids to help eliminate methylxanthines. A urinary catheter is recommended to prevent reabsorption of caffeine by the bladder wall.
• Providing supportive care until complete recovery (sometimes for up to 72 hours).

Also beware of Xylitol

Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including chewing gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. In dogs (it is uncertain if cats are also affected), ingestion of just a minute portion can cause liver failure. The increase in insulin leads to hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy, depression, and loss of coordination.  Signs can progress to recumbancy and seizures. These signs can develop rapidly, in as little as 30 minutes after ingestion.  Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.

Read more about xylitol toxicosis in dogs...