My first Publication CC May Edition for Web | Seite 40

Pet Nutrition
Fluoride in dog food
Dr A C Beynen
was professor of
veterinary nutrition
at the Faculty
of Veterinary
Medicine, Utrecht
University, Th e
Netherlands in the
period of 1993-2007.
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Fluorine is an elemental gas that occurs rarely in nature, but
in ionic form as fl uoride-containing compounds, it is widely
distributed in the earth’s crust and soil. Hydrogen fl uoride is
released to the air from volcanic eruptions and industrial high-
temperature processing of mined resources. Various fl uorides
end up in land or water and may be taken up by plants.
Animals eating those plants can accumulate fl uoride in their
bones.
Fluoride is not intentionally added to petfood, but comes
with bone residues in animal ingredients. Perhaps, fl uoride
is an essential nutrient for dogs in minute amounts, but high
intakes are toxic, depending on the chemical form. European
legislation has set a maximum for fl uoride: 170 mg total
fl uoride per kg complete canned or kibbled dog food when
completely dried (1, 2). Public, fl uoridated drinking water, to
help prevent human dental decay, has about 1 mg fl uoride/kg.
Excessive intake of absorbable fl uoride during dental
development causes chalk-like patches in tooth enamel. Such
dental mottling was seen in puppies fed a diet with added
sodium fl uoride, but not with other fl uoride sources; the diets
contained 167 mg fl uoride per kg dietary dry weight. It is likely
that long-term feeding of a diet high in absorbable fl uoride
induces skeletal fl uorosis in dogs, which is typifi ed by bone
outgrowth and stiffness. Fluoride is also called a bone-seeking
element.
Canine dental and skeletal fl uorosis may still occur in areas
with groundwater high in dissolved fl uoride. The scant
research data suggest that commercial dog food normally
does not cause fl uorosis. Food fl uoride measured in 2009 (3)
was much lower than the European maximum, while bone-
derived fl uoride is limitedly absorbed. There is no evidence
that fl uoride in dog foods imposes risk of diseases, including
fl uorosis.
Creature Companion | May 2019 • Vol. XII • Issue 5 • Noida