Microplastics and Your Dog’s Health: What Every Pet Parent Needs to Know

Have you ever thought about how much plastic your dog comes into contact with every day? From food packaging to grooming products and toys, plastics are everywhere. And while they may seem harmless, science is showing that microplastics - tiny fragments that shed from these items - can enter your pet’s body and pose real health risks.

What Are Microplastics?

Microplastics are fragments of plastic smaller than 5 millimetres. They come from many sources, including the breakdown of larger plastics, microbeads once used in cosmetics, and particles that shed from packaging and synthetic materials. Because they are so small, microplastics can travel through air, water, and soil - and into living bodies.

How Packaging Breaks Down

Plastic packaging isn’t stable forever. Over time, exposure to heat, light, and even the ingredients inside a product can cause it to degrade. Oily or acidic ingredients, common in grooming products and pet food, can react with plastic, speeding up the release of microplastic particles and chemical additives such as phthalates and bisphenols. These particles end up:

• In food and treats: where they are swallowed by your dog.

• In shampoos or sprays: where they can sit on the skin or coat and be absorbed or licked off.

The Health Risks

Scientists are still uncovering the full impact of microplastics, but evidence is growing:

• A 2022 study found microplastics in 80% of human blood samples, proving they can circulate throughout the body.

• Microplastics have been detected in human lungs, placentas, and animal tissues, suggesting they can cross biological barriers.

• They may trigger inflammation and oxidative stress, disrupt gut health, and place extra load on detox organs such as the liver and kidneys.

• For dogs, with their smaller body size and thinner skin, the risks could be even greater relative to their exposure.

Why Dogs May Be at Higher Risk

• Constant floor contact: Dogs spend more time close to the ground where dust, a major carrier of microplastics, collects.

• Licking behaviour: Dogs groom themselves by licking their paws and fur, directly ingesting any microplastics that have settled on their coat or skin.

• Chewing toys: Dogs chew and break down synthetic toys, swallowing plastic fragments in the process.

• Smaller body mass: Compared to humans, the same amount of exposure represents a much higher dose per kilogram of body weight.

How Microplastics Enter Your Pet's Body

• Food and water: Processed pet foods and treats often come in plastic packaging. Oils and fats in food can speed up the release of microplastics from packaging into the product. Contaminated water is another source.

• Grooming products: Shampoos, sprays, and conditioners stored in plastic bottles can pick up microplastic particles that leach from packaging. These may be absorbed through the skin or ingested when dogs lick themselves after bathing.

• Toys: Chew toys and synthetic playthings can shed plastic fragments as they wear down. Dogs then swallow these particles during chewing.

• Household environment: Dogs spend much of their time close to the floor, where dust containing microplastics from carpets, textiles, and cleaning products accumulates.

The Myth of BPA-Free Plastics

Many products now claim to be BPA-free, which sounds reassuring. BPA (Bisphenol A) is a chemical used in plastics and linked to hormone disruption and health risks. But “BPA-free” doesn’t mean safe:

• Manufacturers often replace BPA with other bisphenols such as BPS or BPF. Research suggests these can act in the body in similar or even more harmful ways.

• Dogs, who chew toys and lick food containers, are at higher risk of ingesting these substitutes.

• The safest choice is to avoid plastic altogether where possible, opting instead for glass, stainless steel, or natural materials.

Practical Plastic-Free Swaps

• Shampoo bars or liquid shampoos in glass or aluminium bottles.

• Natural rubber or hemp rope toys instead of synthetic plastic toys.

• Stainless steel or glass bowls for food and water instead of plastic ones.

• Glass or stainless-steel storage containers for treats and dry food once opened.

Microplastics are everywhere - in food, packaging, toys, and even grooming products. Dogs face higher risks than humans because of their behaviours and body size. While research is ongoing, what we already know is enough to take action. By making mindful swaps and reducing plastic use, you can lower your dog’s exposure and protect their long-term health.