I am wondering how safe GMOs are for your French Bulldog?
Do GMO foods have any health consequences on dogs?
Well, in this article, we will give you all the things you need to know about GMOs.
Read on for this and more.
But first
What exactly is GMO in dog food?
Let’s find out.
What is GMO in dog food?
Standing for genetically modified organisms refers to plants and animals with scientifically altered genes.
They are created when genes from the DNA of species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of another plant or animal.
Is GMO good for dogs?
There is limited information regarding the health effects of GMOs on dogs. With little scientifically sound, unbiased research available, it’s hard to tell whether GMOs are good for dogs.
Some proponents believe there are benefits of this choice over natural products. However, more studies are needed to determine their consequences.
Can Frenchies eat GMOs?
Since GMOs contain potential allergens, it’s best to avoid feeding them to your Frenchie and instead opt for natural foods to prevent allergic reactions.
5 Things You Need to Know About GMO
The majority of dog foods available today contain GMOs.
Soy and corn are the primary ingredients in most traditional dog foods. Essentially, 95% of these two ingredients are GMO.
Therefore, it’s not surprising to know that these are present in the food you buy and feed your dog on.
It’s safe to assume that your dog food contains genetically modified ingredients unless it expressly states that it’s GMO-free.
So, if you don’t want to give your dog GMO foods, you’ll need to be on the lookout for foods that specifically state to be non-GMO.
Nearly everything has GMOs.
According to the Organic Consumers Association, (1)GMO crops have penetrated every crop. GMOs are present in 93% of soy, 86% in corn, and 90% of canola.
It implies that even if you opt for grain-free dog food, it may still include some GMO components.
So, unless you’re feeding certified organic dog food, you can presume your dog’s diet contains GMOs.
Even if the listed components aren’t GMO, the animals used to produce the meat likely ate GMO feed. If you buy raw dog food from a grocery store, the meat animal most likely ate GMO components as well.
They have likely drawbacks.
Although the potential consequences of genetically modified organisms are still a hotly debated topic, consuming GMO foods may have some downsides.
For starters, your dog may be affected by the presence of novel allergens or alteration of the gut flora due to consuming foods with genetically modified ingredients.
Some studies have indicated that dogs fed on genetically modified corn or soy have specific health issues.
GMOs have also led to various organ damage such as liver, kidney, pancreas, reproductive system, etc.
They are also associated with endocrine disruption, leaky gut, digestive disorders, skin and food allergies, cognitive issues, and cancer.
The risks are not very clear.
Although the consumption of GMOs has some potential health risks, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to support this.
The anecdotal information is not sufficient to link GMOs to adverse health effects. Their immediate health effect on dogs is yet not known.
Although millions of dogs and the human population consume GMOs daily, there aren’t an equivalent number of problems reported associated with their consumption.
This could be because GMOs may not necessarily harm everyone easily.
As such, more studies and research are required to explain GMOs’ consequences on health more precisely.
If you want to stay clear of GMOs
Since the health effects of GMOs are not apparent, you may want to avoid them altogether.
To do this, you can consider corn and soy-free food. However, the surest guarantee to ensure your dog’s food is GMO-free is opting for a 100% organic diet.
You can also source for GMO- free ingredients and prepare them yourself. Although these options are costly, they can guarantee your Frenchie a GMO-free life.
5 Common Foods That are Genetically Modified?
Soy
It’s the most heavily genetically modified crop in the US, with up to 94% being GM. It appears on the ingredient list under multiple names such as monosodium glutamate, hydrolyzed protein, vitamin E, lecithin, and tocopherols.
Most of the products containing vegetables, plants, or beans in the name are all soy-based. It is modified to have a high level of oleic acid, which occurs naturally in olive oil.
Alfalfa
Most of the alfalfa available commercially has been genetically modified with a gene that makes it resistant to the herbicide.
This allows farmers to spray roundup over the crop to kill weeds without killing the alfalfa itself.
Alfalfa is used as livestock feed. As such, you can expect it to find its way into your dog’s meat or dairy unless you buy certified organic or Non-GMOs verified animal products.
Corn
Up to 88% of the corn crops grown in the US are genetically modified. This includes sweet corn mostly consumed in households to the field corn fed to livestock.
Corn is modified to make it resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, used to kill weeds.
Canola
About 90% of US canola crops are genetically modified.
Canola is readily available and can be used for various things, including cooking or as biofuels. It is most prevalent in processed foods such as crackers, snacks, cereals, chips, bread, etc.
Cotton seeds
Besides being used in many vegetable oils, cottonseed is also used in animal feeds. Up to about 94% of cotton crops in the US are genetically modified.
Genetically modified cotton produces an insecticide to kill specific pests. You will find cottonseed oil in packaged foods like potato chips and margarine or animal feed and food fillers like cellulose.
What are the risks of using GMOs?
Consumption of GMO foods leads to adverse health effects. It leads to organ failure.
Studies have shown consumption of GMO foods to cause, among others:
- Damage to internal organs like the pancreas and reproductive organs
- Immune system damage
- Cognitive issues
- Liver damage
- Kidney damage
- Digestive malfunctioning
- Skin and food allergies
- Cancer
- Alteration in gut bacteria leading to leaky gut and immune system disorders
- Endocrine disruption
Which GMO foods to avoid?
These are some of the GMO foods you should avoid giving your Frenchie.
- Soybeans and soy products, including soy lecithin, soy protein, soy flour, and isolated soy, are heavily modified.
- Corn and corn derivatives like corn starch, high-fructose corn syrup, corn oil, etc
- Canola oil
- Dairy products
- Sugar beets
What foods have no GMOs in them?
If you want GMO-free foods, look out for organic or Non-GMOs verified items. This will assure you that the foods are safe.
Some of the GMO-free foods include:
- Organic grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts
- Fruits and veggies excluding corn, beets, zucchini, summer squash, and Hawaiian papaya.
- 100% organic butter, eggs, and whole chicken.
- Meat from 100% organic fed or grass-fed animals
- Grass-fed dairy products
- Non-processed or unpackaged foods
- Foods labeled 100% organic or marked by the third-party non-GMO project
- Locally grown foods
- Own grown foods
How to Identify Pet Food Made with GMO words
There are several ways to identify pet food made with GMOs. These include;
Carefully going through the ingredient list: Before buying your dog food, ensure you read through the ingredient list on the food label. This will help you identify and understand what the food has. Be on the lookout for foods containing soy, corn, wheat, or canola, as these are primarily GMOs.
Be keen on foods with unclear ingredients: Any food containing vague ingredients is likely GMO. Every food should clearly state what it has; otherwise, you’ll need to avoid it.
Look out for foods not certified organic or Non-GMO verified foods: Certified organic foods aren’t allowed to use GMOs. Hence any non-certified food is most probably GMO.
Is GMO Safe for Frenchies? Final Thoughts
So, how safe is GMO for your Frenchie?
Although the direct health impact of GMOs in dogs remains debatable, there are potential risks in feeding it to your dog.
Frenchies are prone to many issues, and GMOs will not help matters. As such, it’s best to stay clear of them to ensure your dog’s safety.
For optimal health, it’s best to go for certified organic foods and avoid ingredients such as soy or corn. You can also opt to buy organic ingredients and cook yourself.
Well, there’s everything you need to know about GMOs and Frenchies. Make your decision now.
Happy parenting.