Dogs face risk of deadly lead poisoning from pheasant meat in pet food

Published

2 years ago

May 3, 2023

admin

Dogs may be at risk of lead poisoning after “very high” concentrations from shotgun pellets were found in raw pheasant pet food.

After testing out samples of raw pheasant dog food, researchers from the University of Cambridge discovered that the majority contained high levels of lead, which could put dogs’ health at risk if they eat it frequently.

The researchers looked at 90 samples of UK dog food products and found that more than three-quarters – 77% – had lead concentrations higher than the maximum residue level (MRL) permitted by law.

How was the study conducted?

The Cambridge scientists tested five pheasant-based dog food products. Three of these were raw meat, one was dried pheasant and partridge, and the other was processed tinned pheasant and goose.

A further three equivalent chicken-based products (raw, dried and processed) were also tested for the study.

Lead concentrations above the MRL were found in the dried pheasant-based product but at levels lower than that found in the raw meat.

Neither of the chicken or tinned pheasant-based products contained unacceptable levels of lead.

The three raw pheasant-based dog food products had lead concentrations which were approximately 245, 135 and 49 times higher than the MRL.

The study, published in the journal Ambio, found that the overall mean average in raw pheasant dog food was found to be 34 times higher than in pheasant sold for human consumption.

Professor Debbie Pain, of Cambridge University’s Zoology Department, said: “We were already aware that lead concentrations in pheasant meat sold for human consumption are often far higher than would be permitted in other meats like chicken, beef or pork.

“However, we were surprised to find that lead concentrations in raw pheasant dog food products were so much higher.”

The dangers of lead poisoning

Lead poisoning can be very dangerous for both pets and humans, with its effects particularly focused on the nervous system – high levels can lead to convulsions, coma and even death.

Despite the dietary danger, lead shot can be used legally to kill game birds, like pheasants, in the UK.

Most pheasants are eaten by people but some are minced and used in pet food.

As the meat is minced for pet food, this then creates small particles in the meat, increasing the chances for it to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Dogs eating food with such high concentrations of lead remain at risk of harm to their health, with puppies being particularly vulnerable – this is due to the developing nervous system.

Are raw meat diets becoming more popular?

Researchers found that raw meat diets for pets are becoming increasingly popular across the UK, which is home to an estimated 13 million dogs and 12 million cats.

After analysing online suppliers, the study found that raw pheasant pet food was sold by 34% of the 50 online raw pet food suppliers they checked – 71% of these said the meat may contain shot.

Professor Rhys Green, co-author of the study, said: “The fact that most samples from three randomly sampled raw pheasant pet food products had very high lead concentrations, and that our recent research on shot types used to kill pheasants found that 94% are shot with lead, suggests that this is a far broader issue than for just these three products.

“However, some producers may source pheasants that have not been shot with lead, and owners could ask about this when buying pet food.”

Symptoms of lead poisoning in dogs

It can be hard to spot, but here are a few common symptoms of lead toxicity that dog owners should look out for:

• Decreased appetite

• Abdominal pain

• Vomiting

• Regurgitation

• Increased thirst

• Diarrhoea

• Weakness

• Shortness of breath

• Muscle Tremors

• Blindness

• Seizures

UK

Prince Harry denies having ‘physical fight’ with Prince Andrew

Published

6 hours ago

August 4, 2025

admin

Prince Harry denies having 'physical fight' with Prince Andrew

Prince Harry has denied having a fight with Prince Andrew after it was claimed “punches were thrown” between the pair in 2013.

The allegations appeared in excerpts from a new book on the Duke of York being serialised in the Daily Mail.

It claims a row started after Prince Andrew said something behind Harry’s back, with Andrew “left with a bloody nose” and the pair needing to be broken up.

It also claimed the Duke of York once warned his nephew about marrying Meghan and suggested it wouldn’t last long.

However, a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex strongly denied the claims.

“I can confirm Prince Harry and Prince Andrew have never had a physical fight, nor did Prince Andrew ever make the comments he is alleged to have made about the Duchess of Sussex to Prince Harry,” a statement said.

They said a legal letter had been sent to the Daily Mail due to “gross inaccuracies, damaging and defamatory remarks” in its reporting.

The book – Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York – is billed as the first joint biography of Prince Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

It’s said to be based on interviews with “over a hundred people who have never spoken before”.

Prince Harry – in his own 2023 book Spare – made his own claims of an altercation with Prince William.

He said his brother once knocked him to the floor amid a confrontation over Meghan’s “rude” and “abrasive” behaviour.

“It all happened so fast. So very fast,” Harry wrote in the book.

“He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog’s bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me.”

“I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out,” the prince added.

Harry claimed his brother wanted him to hit him back “but I chose not to”, and that William later returned and apologised.

Read more from Sky News:
Search for British woman missing in Greece
Two-year-old girl found alive in suitcase

The Duke Of Sussex has described his relationship with his family as extremely strained after he quit as a working royal and took legal action against the media, and over the removal of his UK police protection.

He claimed earlier this year the King wouldn’t speak to him and there had “been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family”.

UK

Search for British woman who disappeared from Greek beach

Published

6 hours ago

August 4, 2025

admin

Search for British woman who disappeared from Greek beach

A search is under way for a British woman who went missing from a beach in Kavala, northern Greece.

The Hellenic Coastguard said the port authority received reports that Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59, was missing on the evening of 1 August.

The woman went missing from the Ofrynio beach area.

The coastguard is investigating reports that her belongings were left on the beach.

On Sunday, three recreational craft, five fishing boats and two patrol boats were involved in the search.

According to local media, she lived with her husband, who is reportedly of Greek origin, in the Macedonian city of Serres.

She had gone to the beach with him and reportedly vanished while he was sleeping on a sunbed.

The charity LifeLine Hellas, which put out an appeal to try and find Ms Bourda, said she went missing at noon on 1 August.

She has been described as having straight blonde hair up to her shoulders and being 1.73m tall.

UK

Martin Lewis reveals who is due for car finance compensation – and how much they’ll get

Published

18 hours ago

August 4, 2025

admin

Martin Lewis reveals who is due for car finance compensation - and how much they'll get

Martin Lewis says motorists who were mis-sold car finance are likely to receive “hundreds, not thousands of pounds” – with regulators launching a consultation on a new compensation scheme.

The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com believes it is “very likely” that about 40% of Britons who entered personal contact purchase or hire purchase agreements between 2007 and 2021 will be eligible for payouts.

“Discretionary commission arrangements” saw brokers and dealers charge higher levels of interest so they could receive more commission, without telling consumers.

Speaking to Sky News Radio’s Faye Rowlands, Lewis said: “Very rarely will it be thousands of pounds unless you have more than one car finance deal.

“So up to about a maximum of £950 per car finance deal where you are due compensation.”

Lewis explained that consumers who believe they may have been affected should check whether they had a discretionary commission arrangement by writing to their car finance company.

However, the personal finance guru warned against using a claims firm.

“They’re hardly going to do anything for you and you might get the money paid to you automatically anyway, in which case you’re giving them 30% for nothing,” he added.

Yesterday, the Financial Conduct Authority said its review of the past use of motor finance “has shown that many firms were not complying with the law or our disclosure rules that were in force when they sold loans to consumers”.

The FCA’s statement added that those affected “should be appropriately compensated in an orderly, consistent and efficient way”.

Lewis told Sky News that the consultation will launch in October – and will take six weeks.

“We expect payouts to come in 2026, assuming this will happen and it’s very likely to happen,” he said.

“As for exactly how will work, it hasn’t decided yet. Firms will have to contact people, although there is an issue about them having destroyed some of the data for older claims.”

He believes claims will either be paid automatically – or affected consumers will need to opt in and apply to get compensation back.

What motorists should do next

The FCA says you may be affected if you bought a car under a finance scheme, including hire purchase agreements, before 28 January 2021.

Anyone who has already complained does not need to do anything.

The authority added: “Consumers concerned that they were not told about commission, and who think they may have paid too much for the finance, should complain now”.

Its website advises drivers to complain to their finance provider first.

If you’re unhappy with the response, you can then contact the Financial Ombudsman.

Any compensation scheme will be easy to participate in, without drivers needing to use a claims management company or law firm.

The FCA has warned motorists that doing so could end up costing you 30% of any compensation in fees.

The FCA estimates the cost of any scheme – including compensation and administrative costs – to be no lower than £9bn.

But in a video on X, Lewis said that millions of people are likely to be due a share of up to £18bn.

The regulator’s announcement comes after the Supreme Court ruled on a separate, but similar, case on Friday.