As advances are made in the field of pet nutrition, new and improved food ingredients are being used to improve pet health. However, increased demand for pet food has led to the usage of low-quality and harmful pet food ingredients, which contain unhealthy agents such as phytoestrogens.
Phytoestrogens are chemical compounds mainly found in plants and plant products such as soy, soy products, vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, and nuts. These compounds resemble the naturally occurring estrogen hormone in a dog’s body and mimic its action.
If you are a dog owner and are concerned about the effect of phytoestrogens on the health of your canine, this article is for you. After extensive research, I have put together this guide on what phytoestrogens are, how they affect dog health, and which dog foods are phytoestrogen-free, so read on.
What Are Phytoestrogens?
Phytoestrogens are non-steroidal chemical compounds that are found in plants and plant products that chemically resemble estrogen hormones naturally present in the canine body.
Since they have a similar chemical structure to naturally occurring estrogen hormones, they can mimic their function in the body and produce similar effects, which can be both beneficial and harmful for a dog’s health.
Phytoestrogens are a big class of compounds; the majority of them are flavonoids, while some are not. Some phytoestrogens produce estrogen-like effects in a dog’s body, while others might produce opposite effects depending on the type of compound.
Over the past few decades, as the use of plants and plant products, particularly soy, has increased in dog food, concerns about phytoestrogens affecting canine health, particularly reproductive health, have also increased.
There is not much scientific research available that provides us with a wider picture, but certainly, there are a few negative effects of phytoestrogens on dog reproductive health.
Sources of Phytoestrogens
Phytoestrogens are found in a variety of plants and plant products, but major sources include the following:
Soy and soy products
One of the richest sources of phytoestrogens is soy and its products, which include soybeans, tofu, soy milk, soy protein products, soy-based meat alternatives, and other soy bi-products.
Legumes
These include peas, lentils, and chickpeas, which are major components of many dog foods.
Nuts and seeds
Sunflower seeds, flax seeds, pistachios, walnuts, and a few others are abundant sources of phytoestrogens.
Vegetables
Vegetables, including potatoes, sweet potatoes, garlic, celery, and others, contain phytoestrogens.
Fruits
Phytoestrogen-rich fruits include apples, pomegranates, berries, and coffee beans.
Whole grains
Wheat, rice, oats, and sesame are some of the grains that have phytoestrogen content.
How Do Phytoestrogens Affect Dog Health?
In general, research is very limited in terms of the effects of phytoestrogens on dog health. However, some concerns regarding phytoestrogens in dogs include:
- Estrogen-like effects of phytoestrogens can cause hormonal imbalances and adversely affect the reproductive health of canines.
- Since they mimic estrogen, they can have a negative impact on the prostate health in male dogs.
- They can also disrupt thyroid function in dogs.
- They might lead to certain types of cancers, such as mammary cancer.
How To Avoid Phytoestrogen Dog Foods?
There are specific dog foods, as per my research, that state they are completely phytoestrogen-free. So you can go for dog foods that don’t contain ingredients that are sources of phytoestrogens. The following dietary choices can help you avoid phytoestrogens in your dog food:
- Animal-based protein dog diets are best if you want to avoid phytoestrogens.
- Avoid dog foods that have soy fillers or soy products. Always read the label on the back of the packet of dog food. If the label states the inclusion of soy or any of its products, steer away from that dog food.
- Go for dog foods with the least legume content, as they are a major source of phytoestrogens in dog diets.
- Choose limited-ingredient diets as they have the least number of ingredients and don’t contain any soy, grain, or vegetable fillers, reducing the number of phytoestrogens.
4 Best Phytoestrogen-Free Dog Foods
There are no dog foods that state that they are 100% phytoestrogen-free. However, going with limited-ingredient dog foods that have high-quality animal protein as their major component can help lower the impact of phytoestrogens on your dog’s health. Some of the best dog foods that have the least phytoestrogens include the following:
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Combining the flavors of roasted bison as well as roasting venison results in a flavor that is one of a kind and cannot be purchased from any other source except the wild. Protein makes up 32 percent of this formula and is also grain-free, reducing the load of phytoestrogens and providing dogs with the highly metabolized energy they require to stay energetic.
Benefits:
- Wild high prairie grain-free dry dog food which are that it is a very easy-to-digest source of protein, roasted bison, along roasted animal species both have a taste that is reminiscent of roasting, which dogs adore.
- The pet’s general well-being depends on its gastrointestinal and respiratory systems being in good shape. To guarantee survivability, we add our exclusive K9 Strain Probiotics during boiling.
These probiotics were created particularly for pups. Eighty hundred million reside, thriving microbes aid in intestinal and respiratory health with each kilogram of Flavor of the Wild. The nutritious, beneficial microbes in the gastrointestinal tract can get their food from this prebiotic food component.
Maintaining proper health of the skin as well as fur is supported by maintaining appropriate amounts of fatty acids known as omega-3 and omega-6.
Purina Beneful Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Beneful dog food is completely risk-free to give your dog the best nutrition possible, also avoiding major ingredients that contain phytoestrogens.
For the aim of providing the dog with the nourishment he needs to have the healthiest life, Purina chooses the components that go into their pet food for a particular reason.
Benefits:
Before being made available for the dog to consume, every single item that Purina manufactures is subjected to hundreds of rigorous safety and quality inspections.
Whatever the adult dog needs to eat will change based on his or her breed or size, level of exercise, as well as metabolic rate. You can find dosing instructions for both pups and adults on the back of every bag of Beneful dog meals.
Since you want to keep the pup in the best possible shape, you may have to tweak the quantity of nourishment you give them based on their breed, level of movement, and digestion.
The optimum proportions of a dog’s body include an abdomen that is visible beneath the rib cage and ribs that are both visible and slightly concealed by fat, which the Purina Beneful diet ensures.
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
If you want a diet that is low in phytoestrogens for puppies, this is a great choice. To ensure proper growth of the puppy’s brain, bones, as well as muscles, CORE Puppy Food contains the ideal amount of calories and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA).
According to the dietary theory behind CORE recipes, pups should consume mostly meat because it is what they naturally eat and because it is what their ancestors ate. Since the major component of this dog food is meat it is low in phytoestrogens.
Benefits:
Many commercially available dog foods are labeled as “grain-free,” with the implication that this diet is more beneficial for the pet. Sometimes dogs may get sick from this, and it’s not accurate either but not with this food.
A free-of-grain diet has no physiological or medicinal justification for canines. For certain animals, like those with food allergies, it’s medically necessary to restrict their carbohydrate intake; one way to achieve this is to provide them with a grain-free diet, which is also low in phytoestrogens.
Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Chicken & Turkey Recipe Dry Dog Food
Entire Earth Organics Grain-Free Turkey & Chicken Cuisine Dried dog chow is healthy and of superior quality. Authentic chicken and turkey provide protein within this free-grain mix for a well-rounded diet, ensuring little to no phytoestrogens.
Benefits:
The taste of real chicken and turkey ensures your dog loves this food. Even the most picky eaters will enjoy feasting on this meal.
A mix of fruits and vegetables provides the antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals needed in the diet of dogs. Although the presence of these ingredients might raise the concern of phytoestrogens, they are used in very limited quantities.
This dog food is appropriate for pups experiencing grain sensitivity or intolerance because it contains no grains. Furthermore, this pet food promotes good skin, coat, and digestion, along with general well-being.
Takeaway
Phytoestrogens are chemical compounds obtained from plants and plant products that resemble estrogen hormones found in the body of mammals, including dogs.
These can have a detrimental effect on the health of dogs, particularly their reproductive health.
The best way to avoid these compounds is to choose a dog diet that is low in ingredients that are major sources of phytoestrogens, such as legumes, vegetables, grains, and soy. Limited-ingredient dog foods are ideal if you want to avoid phytoestrogens.