Vet says common foods we all feed our dogs contain dangerous chemicals

Vet says common foods we all feed our dogs contain dangerous chemicalsDr Ciara Clarke says we are making our dogs ill and shortening their livesCommentsNewsNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)10:55, 22 Apr 2026View 4 ImagesThe research covers cans, pouches and kibbleA vet has warned that many dog foods used in the UK and fed to pets contain chemicals that will shorten your dog's life A new study is warning that pet owners in the UK could be unintentionally shortening the lives of their animals due to the food they are giving them.‌The peer-reviewed study of 15 leading pet food brands says that kibble and wet/canned diets in the UK are "ultra processed" and contain the highest levels of heat-formed chemicals linked to a number of health issues including kidney disease, diabetes and cancer.‌These chemicals, called AGEs, are known to cause inflammation, kidney disease, diabetes and cancer that can shorten and diminish dogs' lives. The research marks the first peer-reviewed and comprehensive analysis of heat-formed chemicals in commercial dog food in the UK and was conducted by the Food Quality and Safety (FoQuS) Research Group and co-authored by Dr Ciara Clarke of Butternut Box.‌View 4 ImagesYou could be shortening your dog's lifeAdvanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) are harmful compounds formed when proteins or fats combine during high-temperature cooking. Also known as glycotoxins, they accumulate with age and high sugar intake, contributing to oxidative stress and chronic disease.Kibble, consumed by 54% of dogs in the UK, is cooked at temperatures of up to 250C. Extreme heat processing is the primary driver of AGE accumulation, so food cooked at lower temperatures causes less long-term harm.‌Dr Ciara Clarke, co-author of the study, said: "Most of us eat some AGEs every day, like the crust on bread or charred meat, and in small amounts, they aren't a problem. The issue for dogs is that they often eat the exact same ultr...