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DATE: 2019
CITATION: Rosendahl, S., Anturaniemi, J., Hielm-Björkman, A.
(2019) Hair arsenic level in rice-based diet-fed Staffordshire bull terriers
Veterinary Record Published Online First: 30 October 2019.
ABSTRACT:
Background There have been concerns related to inorganic arsenic (iAs) in rice and the risk of chronic toxicity in human beings, especially children. Rice is a common constituent of pet food, and dogs often eat the same food on a continual daily basis for long periods of time. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the risk of chronic iAs exposure in rice-based diet-fed dogs. Methods Hair iAs level was measured in seven rice-based diet-fed dogs (mean age 3.8 years) and in nine dogs that did not consume any rice (mean age 4.4 years), using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results The hair iAs level was significantly higher (P=0.005) in dogs fed a rice-based diet (mean 0.143 µg/g) than in dogs that did not consume any rice (mean 0.086 µg/g), while age and sex did not show associations with hair iAs level. Conclusion The results suggest that eating a rice-based diet for long periods of time represents a risk for chronic iAs exposure in dogs.