Updated on August 12th, 2025
I wandered into what looked like a local bar—its gold embossed lettering peeling from the glass door. Inside, instead of the usual crowd, I found a man with a tattooed arm and a whiskey in hand and another in a colorful smock holding hair shears. It took a moment, but I realized I was in a unique blend of bar and barber shop—scotch and scissors.
While waiting for my haircut, the barber, who also worked as a dog groomer nearby, struck up a conversation. He was passionate about something that surprised me: the “forever chemicals” lurking in pet food and even in its packaging.
As I sipped my drink and watched the colorful autumn leaves outside, I knew I had to dig deeper. This article is about those hidden toxins in pet food and the risks they pose to your pets and your family’s health.
Silent poisoning: How bioaccumulation slowly harms your pet’s health
Bioaccumulation is the gradual buildup of harmful chemicals in a living organism over time. These toxins can accumulate in your pet’s body, leading to serious health risks.
What makes bioaccumulation especially dangerous is that symptoms often develop slowly, if at all—until the damage is already done. You might not notice anything wrong until your pet shows signs of illness, by which time these toxins may have been building up for months or even years.
These chemicals can enter your pet’s system through contaminated food, water or the environment. Once inside, they remain in tissues and organs, potentially causing long-term damage, including immune system problems, neurological issues and cancer.
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), research shows that American pets carry significant toxic industrial chemical loads.
American pets are polluted with even higher levels of toxic industrial chemicals than humans.
Hidden toxins in pet food that build up in your dog’s body
Since March 2007, the pet food industry has faced significant recalls due to contamination with harmful chemicals such as melamine and cyanuric acid. These toxic substances led to acute kidney failure and the deaths of many dogs, triggering nationwide investigations into pet food safety and labeling practices.
This event revealed ongoing risks in the pet food supply chain and emphasized the need for vigilance about what we feed our pets.
Today, pet food options are more diverse than ever—from grain-free to vegan diets—often featuring new ingredients and additives aimed at improving nutrition. However, these evolving formulations and processing methods can also introduce contaminants— such as pesticides, mycotoxins and heavy metals—that may cause serious long-term health issues.
Tip: To protect your pet’s health, stay informed about recalls, choose high-quality foods carefully and be aware of hidden risks associated with some pet diets.
What toxins can harm your cat?
Cats are especially vulnerable to environmental toxins because their bodies lack certain enzymes that help break down chemicals. This means substances that might be mildly irritating to humans can be dangerous—even deadly—to cats.
Common culprits include:
- Heavy metals such as lead and mercury, often found in old paint, contaminated soil or certain imported toys.
- Flame retardants in furniture foam, electronics and carpets.
- Pesticide residues from lawn treatments, flea collars and pest sprays.
- Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in plastics, cleaning agents and air fresheners.
- PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) sometimes present in food packaging and cookware. (See the PFAS section below for why these “forever chemicals” are so concerning for both cats and dogs.)
Did you know?: Because cats groom themselves so frequently, they’re especially vulnerable to ingesting toxins from contaminated surfaces or packaging.
What science says about chemical buildup in cats and dogs
A landmark 2008 study by EWG analyzed blood and urine samples from dogs and cats and revealed alarming contamination levels with industrial chemicals:
- Dogs carried 35 different chemicals, including 11 known carcinogens and 24 neurotoxins.
- Cats showed contamination with 46 chemicals, including 9 carcinogens and 34 neurotoxins.
These findings expose how pervasive chemical exposure is for pets. Because pets share our homes and environments, they often face similar toxic risks. Plus, their smaller size and grooming behaviors make them especially vulnerable to accumulating these dangerous substances.
Why this matters:
- Pets act as sentinels, signaling risk we may also face in our environment.
- Chronic exposure to these toxins can silently undermine your pet's health for years before symptoms appear.
- Understanding bioaccumulation empowers you to reduce your pet's exposure and protect their long-term well-being.
PFAS: What they are & why they matter
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals that have been used for decades to make products water-resistant, stain-resistant and nonstick. That means you may encounter them daily—in items like cookware, carpets and clothing—without realizing it.
These “forever chemicals” are also common in grease-resistant pet food packaging—and sometimes in the food itself—where they can leach into what your pet eats. Once in the body, PFAS don’t break down naturally, so they can build up over time.
No top pet food manufacturer has publicly committed to eliminating forever chemicals (PFAS) from their packaging.
According to an EWG report, that means the bag or box your pet’s food comes in could be a hidden source of harmful toxins.
Linked to cancer, reproductive issues, birth defects, kidney and liver diseases and immune system disorders in both people and pets, PFAS accumulate in animals just as they do in humans.
PFAS exposure: How ‘forever chemicals’ are reaching your family
PFAS contamination is so widespread that the CDC has found them in the blood of nearly all Americans—including newborns. According to Johns Hopkins researchers, more than 200 million people in the U.S. may be drinking water contaminated with PFAS.
Often called “everywhere chemicals,” PFAS persist in air, water, soil, food packaging and household goods.
An estimated 98% of the U.S. population has detectable concentrations in their blood.
What you can do: Choose PFAS-free products for your home, pets and family to help reduce exposure and protect long-term health.
Want to learn more about how PFAS get into our homes and bodies? Read our in-depth investigation: Everywhere and invisible: Tracing PFAS from pesticides to our blood.
How Dr. Killigan’s helps protect your family and pets from toxins
At Dr. Killigan’s, your family’s health—including your pets’ well-being—is our top priority. That’s why products we make are crafted with plant-powered ingredients that are safe for people and animals when used as directed. We believe in transparency, effectiveness and protecting your home without introducing new chemical risks.
From our fast-acting Six Feet Under Insect Spray to our powerful yet gentle Dust to Dust Insect Powder, each formula is designed to eliminate pests while keeping your environment safe. Choosing Dr. Killigan’s means taking an important step toward a cleaner, healthier home—free from the “forever chemicals” and hidden toxins that can harm pets and people alike.
As the Environmental Working Group notes, “A new system of public health protections that required companies to prove chemicals are safe before they are sold would help protect all of us, including the pets we love.” At Dr. Killigan’s, we already live by that principle—proving safety first and creating products you can trust completely.
Your home should be a safe haven. With Dr. Killigan’s, you can protect it from pests without exposing your loved ones to harmful substances.
