Endocrine disruptors in dog food and their influence on canine health

Abstract

Dogs can be exposed to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) through commercial food, but the influence of this exposure on their health remains unknown. The objective of this review was to explore the scientific evidence regarding the presence of EDCs in commercial dog food and the hormonal effects they cause in canines. A search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science following the PRISMA guidelines, including original studies on detection in food and endocrine effects in dogs. Organohalogen compounds, Bisphenol A, mycotoxins, and heavy metals were found to be present in canned, dry, and wet foods. However, no studies on endocrine effects were found for heavy metals, while obesogenic, reproductive, and thyroid effects related to the other compounds were described. Dogs are exposed to multiple EDCs through their diet; however, direct evidence of this relationship is limited due to the lack of studies correlating exposure through food already containing EDCs with the development of hormonal alterations.