A reader recently pointed out to me that in her prayer line group, there were an increasing number of people praying for dogs with mouth cancer. Mouth cancer as with other cancers is increasing in the dog population and there are some reasons for why this is happening right now.
It has been reported that today, there is cancer in about 50 percent of our pet population. In the study of cancer there is a term known as Mutagenic Activity and you may want to know all about what this means if you have a pet dog or cat. Mutagenic means anything that promotes a mutation.
A mutation is a sudden departure from the parent type, in one or more genetic characteristics. A mutation is the act of changing a process, or changing or altering a form or nature. Doesn’t sound good does it. The very word mutation to me reminds me of a sci-fi movie where the mutants from other planets come to earth and eat us, or mutate us to become them. I am not fond of the word mutation, but in the world of science it’s a common term. A word that comes to mind is “ deviant” or “ permutation” or “ anomaly “ which means its not normal activity on the biological or physiological level. It a word or two, not good.
A study was conducted on the Mutagenic Activity and “ Heterocyclic” amine carcinogens in commercial pet foods. It is dated August 5th, 2003, four years before the pet food recall hit critical mass in March, of 2007.
This report is published in the Pub Med site at: http://www.pubmed.gov/ and the link is Biology and Biotechnology Research Program, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
Received 23 April 2003; revised 2 July 2003; accepted 2 July 2003. ; Available online 9 August 2003.
Abstract:” Twenty-five commercial pet foods were analyzed for mutagenic activity using the Ames/Salmonella test with strain TA98 and added metabolic activation. All but one gave a positive mutagenic response. Fourteen of these samples were analyzed for heterocyclic amine mutagens/carcinogens and all but one contained 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) and 10 of 14 contained 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) as analyzed by HPLC and confirmed by photodiode array peak matching. From these findings it is hypothesized that there is a connection between dietary heterocyclic amines and cancer in animals consuming these foods. ” See PubMed site:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12948828?dopt=Abstract
In conclusion there is documented proof that there are cancer agents in dog food and in approximately 25 commercial dog foods tested positive for cancer causing ingredients.
Written by: Teri Salvador Tags: mouth cancer in dogs, dogs, dog cancer, dog mouth cancer, mutations, mutation activity, Pub Med, national institute of health, pet foods, cancer agents
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I just had to put my 18 year old pet down for mouth cancer…it was a horrible way to see him go.
I am so sorry to hear of your pet’s passing of mouth cancer. It is reflective of the increase in cancers in our pet population of what is happening to people also. I am again saddened by your loss Mike, thank you for your comment.
As sad as this news is, it’s great to receive knowledge about this very thing. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Rena, I try to provide information that is both useful and researched to help pet owners have healthy pets, thanks for stopping in and your comment.
Teri