I'd like to follow up on Missy's Brother excellent diary yesterday entitled Dog Owners Beware - I found them in my house. This diary discussed the concerns regarding Chinese-made chicken jerky products.
There are other minefields out there for pet owners, and they involve lead and other potentially harmful chemicals found in items as seemingly innocuous as pet beds and toys. Join me below the squiggle for a brief list, as well as a valuable resource that will help you with purchasing decisions.
We'll start with pet bedding, and this one surprised me. Who would have guessed that bedding made from established companies would contain high levels of lead?
Coleman Classic Rectangular Bed for Dogs-Small 18"X24"
HealthyStuff.org tested this bed and found a high level of lead in the fabric exterior of the bed, as well as traces of bromine in all of the components.
Nap Pet Beds Kennel Bed 19x12" (green)
This bed contains high levels of lead in the fabric cover as well as traces of arsenic. This product is still being offered for sale on Amazon.com.
SSS Ortho Care Fleece Top - 40"X30"
This bed has a high level of lead in the foam used as well as traces of lead in some of the fabric cover. The foam also contains traces of bromine and the white foam has traces of mercury. This bed is still available for sale on Amazon.com and its advertising is directed at older pets.
Even items meant to contain food or water contain potentially hazardous chemicals.
Spot Party Animal Dish 6" Dog
This food or water bowl tested for high levels of lead, as well as trace levels of arsenic. It's still being offered for sale on Amazon.com.
Kool Pet Club Pet Paws 8" Bowl - Cobalt
This pet bowl, which can hold either food or water, was tested and classified as having a "medium" amount of lead.
Toys, particularly for cats, also tested for high levels of chemicals: Play N Squeak "Batting Practice", Penn-Plax Purr Pet Wiggle Wand, Play N Squeak "Twice the Mice".
You can peruse all of the pet items that were tested at the pet section of HealthyStuff.org.
They also test a variety of consumer products and it's surprising how many items, such as Christmas lights, contain high levels of lead.
Obviously, only a tiny fraction of pet care items were able to be tested by this small organization. It's difficult to know if these might be signs of a larger issue but for now it might be a good idea to look at their list and see if any of these products are in your home, and while you're doing so you can wonder why there are so few consumer protections to prevent our pets from drinking out of water bowls containing lead.