Is it time to reconsider current guidelines for copper content in commercial dog foods?
Keith Richter, David C. Twedt, Joseph J. Wakshlag, Penny Watson, Cynthia R. L. Webster
Abstract
O ver the past 15 to 20 years, we have seen what we believe to be an increased incidence of copper-associated hepatopathy in dogs. The onset of this increase appears to have coincided with a change in the type of copper used in premixes added to commercial dog foods. And, more recently, the increased incidence may have been exacerbated by consumerdriven desire for pet foods formulated with a high content of animal-based ingredients (eg, evolutionary diets), including certain organ meats, that might introduce additional copper and by trends favoring foods containing vegetables with a high copper content (eg, sweet potatoes). In light of the increased incidence of copper-associated hepatopathy in dogs, the association between dietary copper and hepatic injury, and the higher copper content of current commercial dog foods, compared with foods marketed prior to the revised guidelines for dietary copper, we believe that it would be prudent to reexamine dietary copper recommendations for dogs and reconsider current guidelines for copper content in commercial dog foods.