Learn more about the anitmicrobial Triclosan (TCS), which recently has been found to cause a variety of colon issues in small animals.
Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial ingredient found in over 2,000 consumer products such as toothpaste, cosmetics, kitchenware, children’s and dogs’ toys, beds and shampoos. This chemical is also incorporated into plastic pet food bag liners, and the plastic wrap on certain meats. Recent studies show that brief exposure to TCS, at relatively low doses, can cause low-grade colonic inflammation, increases colitis, and exacerbates colitis associated colon cancer. 1 These findings pose another concern regarding the cause of dysbiosis and inflammatory bowel disease in dogs and cats. Chronic exposure and ingestion of TCS may also contribute to skin and thyroid problems as well as food allergies.
For more background information on Triclosan, see: Pat Thomas. “The Dawn of the domestic superbug”. The Ecologist, theecologist.org/2005/jul/01/dawndomestic-superbug.
1 H. Yang, et al. “A common antimicrobial additive increases colonic inflammation and colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis in mice”. Science Translational Medicine, 30 May 2018: Vol. 10, Issue 443, eaan4116 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aan4116).
