Self and selfish prejudices shape the life stories we share with the world and ourselves. The good news: internal calculations will help us better understand our true identity.

Published on October 18, 2021 | Commented by Devon Frye

Since COVID, my home has been like a clearing house. A steady stream of trucks transports household items, clothes, groceries, and-most importantly, according to our dog Bernie-pet food and snacks.

My husband recently opened one of the packages and smiled and took out a soft stuffed toy from it. This is a gift to Bernie. To be precise, it is a raccoon. Mr. Raccoon is to commemorate the living people who marched on our overgrown property and trees, mocking and angering our canine ward.

Bernie received his gift with interest and curiosity. After several rounds of enthusiastic throwing and chasing aerial creatures, Bernie ran away, his tail fluttering like a flag, and Mr. Raccoon tightly clamped in his chin. He settled down in a far corner of the lair and began to dictate and taste the newcomers from all angles.

When it was time for dinner, the dog's eyes were strange and dull.

It seems that he is not suffocating, but he seems to be a little swollen. I placed a gentle hand on Bernie's wing and noticed a disturbingly fast and jerky vibration, like a small motor running under his fur, trying to shift gears. Oops!

My first thought was: Why is there always a health crisis after the veterinary office is closed? My second thought is: Mr. Raccoon, what have you done?

I hunted down the suspect and found him intact: there was no torn fabric, all the padding was there and it said everything. Nonetheless, polyester artificial fur is sticky, wet, and dull. Fortunately, Bernie’s pain passed, but Mr. Raccoon was banished for safety.

A few days later, a package arrived, confirming our caution. In their new book "Forever Dogs: Surprising New Science Helps Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier, and Longer", authors Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Shaw Becker explain how dogs share our humanity Lifestyle.

The possibility of hiding toxic substances did not completely surprise me because they played a role in my own health crisis many years ago. As a result, I turned to "cleaner" food and carefully considered my lifestyle choices. For example, the reverse osmosis water filtration system installed in the kitchen can now remove pollutants from our drinking water. Of course, this purer water also filled Bernie's water bowl.

But what am I missing?

I have become suspicious of plastic and rubber toys, because phthalates are common substances used to make plastics flexible. These substances are known to disrupt normal endocrine functions and are toxic to germ cells. According to a new study in the journal "Environmental Pollution", higher urine concentrations of phthalates, especially phthalic acid called DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) Salt is associated with a higher mortality rate among people aged 55-64.

I asked Dr. Becker, one of the authors of The Forever Dog, about the potential risks of using a dog’s mouth and carrying plush toys made of synthetic materials, and the practice of filling rubber toys with food as chewing food for dogs or Distracted.

As for pet toys, she replied: “Most of them are imported. They don’t need to pass any safety or pollutant tests, and most do not have ingredient labels, so in short: buyers need to be careful.”

Dr. Becker and others are paying close attention to how the hazards of modern lifestyles penetrate into pet dogs. Researchers are analyzing toxic substances in dog hair, a laboratory technique previously used to study human exposure.

A 2020 study found that half of the baby plastic toys tested contained substances with significant estrogenic activity—in other words, causing hormonal disorders—so it is not big to assume that pet dogs face similar risks.

How can responsible pet guardians truly understand the degree of toxicity of plastic pet toys to their beloved partner? Or from everyday household choices-such as fabric softeners, perfumes, personal grooming products and herbicides, or even synthetic grass or rubber floors in kennels, dog daycares, and dog sports or training facilities.

"The consequences of exposure to potentially harmful environmental substances depend on the burden of the body, the frequency of exposure, heredity (the body's ability to metabolize or eliminate environmental toxins), and the route of exposure," Dr. Becker explained. "Unlike human family members, pets do not bathe often and are naked, which means that pets may have more exposure opportunities, not to mention that they will use their mouths to groom themselves."

After immersing myself in this information, I now question to let my dog ​​"kiss" a friendly visitor because their face is covered with cosmetics and sunscreen, and may be full of parabens and phthalates Formate. What about the invisible residue that Bernie picked up from a lawn or sidewalk covered with toxic substances? How will the cumulative effects of exposure to toxic substances affect his health and behavior?

"I think it is safe to say that our pets are continuously exposed to higher levels of endocrine disrupting chemicals than previously thought," said Dr. Becker. "The extent to which these chemicals affect physical and mental health has yet to be explored, but knowing that endocrine imbalance can and does affect psychology [mental activity] and behavior, we are anxiously waiting for further research to confirm our suspicions!"

I am offering Bernie meals purchased at the veterinarian's office, assuming they are of good quality. But The Forever Dog points out that canned foods and shelf-stable foods such as kibbles are treated with additives and high temperatures, making them full of cancer-related toxic substances. Even cans that are said to be "BPA-free" may contain equally toxic alternatives. A typical American pet meal is a veritable alphabet soup made of undesirable substances.

How can a caring pet parent minimize toxic substances?

Fortunately, we can support dogs' natural resistance to toxic substances in two simple ways. One, optimize the natural immune system through regular and adequate exercise. Due to inactivity, dogs that are kept in crates or on their bodies for a long time face higher health risks.

Secondly, we can use limited time feeding, that is, only provide food and snacks for a limited fixed time every day. This allows the dog's organs and systems to effectively collect and discard biological waste during critical downtime.

For Bernie’s sake, I plan to carefully check the labels on toys, chews, and food. My next DIY project will be to make a toss toy out of old cotton T-shirts or jeans that have been washed with an odorless detergent without fabric softener. (There is no doubt that the resulting toy will not resemble Mr. Raccoon, but I hope Bernie can forgive it.)

I think more about the things that the dog’s feet, mouth, and nose often touch. With smarter choices, we hope that the packages that arrive at our home will bring less dangerous poisons and more healthy pleasure to our dogs.

Habib, R., & Becker, KS (2021). The Forever Dog: Surprising new science that can help your canine partner be younger, healthier and live longer. Harper Collins Press.

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Wendy Lyons Sunshine, MA, is the co-author of "Raising Challenging Children" and "Connected Children".

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Self and selfish prejudices shape the life stories we share with the world and ourselves. The good news: internal calculations will help us better understand our true identity.