Toys Containing BPA May Cause Obesity in Dogs, New Research Finds

Dog parents, there's new research that indicates there may be a link between obesity in dogs and material found in some plastic toys.

A new study published in the journal Chemosphere reports finding a connection between obesity in dogs and chew toys that contain Bisphenol A (BPA). Here's what you need to know.

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New research builds on previous findings on the impact and effects of BPA's that negatively impact humans and dogs.

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"The growing number of companion dogs has contributed to a rapidly growing market for pet products, including dog toys," the study's abstract reads. "However, little is known about the hazardous substances released from dog toys."

Researchers set out to find that, specifically by looking at dog toys that contain BPA and their impact on dogs' health .

The research team, led by Eun-Jung Park, designed the study so that no dogs were harmed. They found that when a dog chews on a toy that contains BPA, the BPA is released into the dog's saliva.

Once it's released into the saliva, the BPA has a marked impact, altering certain gene receptors, which in turn leads to the creation of more fat cells.

So what does that mean exactly? "Our findings suggest that companion dogs are at risk of BPA exposure, which may contribute to obesity in dogs," Park explained. "Therefore, the implementation of precautionary measures is crucial."

This study is important not only because it shows that we definitely need to look at the products we give our dogs to play with but also because having BPA linked to dog obesity may hold keys to bringing the overall numbers down.

Obesity in Dogs Is a Concerning and Growing Trend

According to the study, obesity in dogs is a very real problem. "Recent reports indicate that approximately 40% of dogs in Korea and 54% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese," the study explains.

The research team says the growing trend of obesity in dogs is really concerning because it's "associated with a range of comorbidities such as chronic metabolic diseases and osteoarthritis, which can significantly reduce their quality of life."

Also, caring for a dog who has complications due to obesity is expensive and hard on the whole family.

According to statistics cited by the American Kennel Club , 43.8 million dogs are estimated to be overweight or obese in the United States, yet 95% of dog parents don't realize their pup is overweight.

This means there's a significant delay in dogs being identified as needing to lose pounds and implementing the steps that will help them obtain a healthier weight.