Dogs live in the same plastic-filled homes we do. This fact sheet from Beyond Plastics, a US campaign group, gathers the early research on how they are exposed and what it may mean for their health.
It cites a 2013 study that found some plastic dog toys and training devices released phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), chemicals that disrupt hormones, into simulated dog saliva; a 2026 study that found microplastics in 84% of the pet food brands tested in the United Kingdom; microplastics in every sample of cat and dog faeces collected in Albany, New York; and a study that found microplastics in every dog testicle tested, with higher amounts linked to signs of reduced fertility.
The sheet calls for safety rules on pet food and toys rather than listing tips for owners. The research on dogs is still thin and mostly small studies, so read it as a summary of early findings, not settled science.
Thanks to Carly Wilson, director of the documentary Rubber Jellyfish, for sharing this with us.