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Toxic pet toys?

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BY CHERYL BENTLEY

THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: February 14, 2009

Use caution.

That's the advice of two area veterinarians regarding toys for pets, an area that is still under the pet safety radar.

A New Port Richey veterinarian, Dr. James Steffes, is raising concerns about toxic chemicals in pet toys. At the same time, a board-certified avian veterinarian, Dr. Joel Murphy of Palm Harbor, is warning about objects meant for other uses that people give to their birds as toys.

But two major pet toy sellers say they impose safety standards on the companies that make the toys they market.
Steffes became concerned about toxicity in pet toys after Tashie, his 6-year-old Doberman pinscher, developed ulcers in her mouth that eventually produces an inch-and-half lump that Steffes had to remove.

Two different biopsies failed to reveal the cause of the infection. Prior to resorting to surgical removal Steffes treated the lump with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents but failed to get results.

To pinpoint the cause, Steffes began to observe the things Tashie chewed. He quickly settled on her favorite rope toys, all of which came from China.

In researching pet toys, Steffes found there are no federal standards for toxic substances in pet toys. He discovered tests on pet toys made in China selected at random turned up the toxic metallic elements lead, chromium and cadmium.

"All these agents are potential carcinogens," Steffes wrote in a summary of his research.

ConsumerAffairs.com, an independent Web-based consumer news center, tested four Chinese-made pet toys. One toy contained what the laboratory's toxicologist called high levels of lead and cancer-causing chromium. Another, a catnip mouse, had levels of cadmium.

Consumer Affairs contacted experts who disagreed on the risk to animals. The laboratory toxicologist felt the levels were dangerous.

One veterinarian said the levels were too low to be of concern. Another veterinarian noted that even though he considered the levels low, lead accumulates in the body. Even small amounts being ingested would add to the body's store of the toxic heavy metal.
Steffes took no chances. He took away Tashie's colored rope toys and started giving her toys without dyes. The infection cleared up. Chromium is often used in dyes, he notes.

Scientists do not consider most forms of chromium a health hazardous. Research suggest, however, that one of the element's oxidation states, called chromium (VI) or hexavalent chromium, can cause cancer or pose other hazards if eaten or inhaled.

In addition, compounds known as chromium salts, or chromates, have been implicated in triggering allergic reactions. Even though there are no national standards for pet toys, Jennifer Erickson, a spokeswoman for the PetSmart chain, said the pet supply retailer makes an effort to ensure the safety of all the products its sells.

PetSmart conducts both random in-house and third-party tests for a large range of toxic substances on its toys, according to Erickson. In addition, it requires its vendors to meet the same standards established for human safety. It is against company policy, however, to divulge information about the frequency and extent of the tests, she said. As for Wal-Mart, Caren S. Epstein, its director of corporate communications, in an e-mail message responding to a request for comment, wrote: "Wal-Mart works with an independent laboratory that conducts some lead and toxicology tests as part of its overall product safety testing. A more extensive program is scheduled for 2010."

Epstein declined to give further specifics. Toys are not the only danger for pets, observes Murphy, the Palm Harbor-area veterinarian. "Lead and zinc poison are the most common toxicities we see in birds," he notes.

But Murphy has found dangers for birds lurk more in household objects such as chains, jewelry, and fishing weights birds put in their mouths. Birds love the taste of lead, he observes. Both veterinarians advise pet guardians to read labels closely and to use care when buying toys made abroad.

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