For health-conscious pet parents, nothing is more important than making sure your furry friend gets the healthiest food, treats, and supplements available.
So, whether it’s reviewing each ingredient on a product label or doing online research to learn more about the ingredients that brands are using, you’ll do whatever it takes to keep those not-so good ingredients away from your pet’s food bowl. We love that!
But as they say, just because something is on the internet doesn’t make it true!
As such, we want to shed some light (and even debunk a few things) about an ingredient that’s given pet parents like you some cause for pause lately -- Palm Oil.
Chances are, you’ve stumbled upon a few articles that describe Palm Oil as highly toxic and dangerous for pets. We completely understand why that would spark concern from loving pet parents.
However, those articles have caused quite a few misconceptions to form about the overall safety of Palm Oil. So, let’s revisit how these concerns came about, and what it truly means for your favorite furball.
Beach Contamination
Many dog parents love taking their canine companions to the beach for fetching frisbees and fun in the sun. But sadly, not everything that washes ashore is Fido-friendly, as some beaches are located in areas where cargo ships wash their tanks out at sea using palm oil and then dump the waste into the ocean.
Contaminated water is already appalling enough as it is, but it doesn’t just stop there.
This toxic ship fuel waste can wash ashore using the palm oil as a solid carrier. This gelatinous concoction smells of petrol, which attracts dogs to sniff and even consume the oil. Needless to say, such contamination is highly dangerous, and poses a serious health risk to both people and pets.
Understandably, the news of contaminated Palm Oil (in the United Kingdom) traveled fast, which immediately caught the eye of pet parents that recognized Palm Oil as an ingredient used in pet supplements.
In turn, that sparked frightened pet parents to conclude that Palm Oil, in general, is a life-threatening ingredient that should be avoided at all costs. But if you’re concerned, rest easy.
Can Palm Oil Really Harm Your Pet?
If those details about contamination make you cringe, trust us. You’re not the only one.
But as you can see, natural Palm Oil isn’t the culprit. It's the associated diesel fuel and other contaminants that causes harm to pets. But still in all, let’s just hope that one day, ocean waters will stop being used as a dump for harmful chemicals that put our loved ones at risk.
The good news is, Palm Oil that is purchased for use in dog supplements, foods, and treats is not toxic.
We can’t vouch for every brand out there, but at Zesty Paws®, we only purchase reputable Palm Oil for our pet care products. Plus, all of our formulas go through a rigorous quality control process that meets Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.
We hope this shows that Zesty Paws® takes your pet’s well-being just as seriously as you do. So, if you have any additional questions about Palm Oil or some of our other ingredients and formulas, feel free to reach out to us at (800) 738-0661 or bark@zestypaws.com.
32 comments
Zesty Paws
Hey Julia, we recommend this because sometimes when starting something new, it can cause some tummy troubles. The 1/2 dose recommendation is there to help gradually introduce it to them so that it isn’t all too much at once. <3
Zesty Paws
Hey Linda! We have a lifetime 100% satisfaction guarantee backing ALL purchases from us, so simply reach out to us directly (bark@zestypaws.com) and we’ll help you out!
Linda Dewhirst
If I pet tries a product that does not work, can I return it? Thank you.
Julie Woodruff
Why is it necessary to 1/2 the dose of the 8 in 1 vitamin initially and how long before you go to full dose?
Zesty Paws
Hey Delora! This sounds like a question that we would suggest reaching out to your vet about. We are not as familiar with soloxine as we are familiar with our own products, so your pup’s veterinarian would be the best one to ask about this. :)
Zesty Paws
Hi there, Oscar! I am happy to let you know that every ingredient (palm fruit oil and everything else) goes through third-party testing to ensure quality. If they do not meet our high standards, then we immediately destroy that batch and it is not used whatsoever.
I can also provide you with the assurance that most – if not all – of the members here at Zesty Paws used these same products with our own furry friends at home. I have personally given my dogs the Cranberry Bites, Salmon Oil, Turmeric Bites, Omega Bites, and Calming Bites. <3
Delora Livingston
My 7 lb female Pomeranian has high triglycerides. She is on soloxine for her thyroid. Will palm fruit oil help lower her triglycerides? What dosage should I give her?
Thank you for your time
Oscar Cuellar
I am currently using the Omega bites for my dog since maybe 2 years ago from your brand and would like to start the probiotics but I am really concerned about the Palm fruit Oil. Can you please help me getting maybe more information about how do you manage to keep the high quality in your products and to be sure i am not harming my dog by feeding him your products? Thanks
Zesty Paws
Hi Del!
We would love to help you out. Send us an email and we can help you out. :)
Del Boley
We purchased Zesty Paws Liver Bites for our dog. He has chronic pancreatitis and is on a special fat free diet. How much palm oil is in these Zesty Bites?
Thank you
Del Boley
Zesty Paws
Hi Lauren!
That is a great question. :)
Our products are meant to be able to be combined, so there should generally be no issue with giving them 2 of our hemp products at one time. We always recommend consulting a veterinarian before adding anything new into your pup’s diet, just to be extra cautious! <3
Lauren
Can I give my dog 2 different supplements if yours that contain this oil? I give them the joint pills, and I’d like to add the allergy/immune pills. Is that safe?
Zesty Paws
Hi Rosha!
I want to assure you that we would never put something in our products that we know to be harmful to our fur babies. Most, if not all, of us here at Zesty Paws are pet parents ourselves that give these same chews to our furry friends at home. <3
rosha
Hi
is palm fruite oil bad for the liver dog ,cholesterol, triglycerides and heart?
Zesty Paws
Hi Kveron!
That is an excellent question! As explained in the article above, the palm fruit oil that you read about as being bad for our furry friends is not equivalent to what we put into our chews.
If you are still wary regarding the oil, we do have a few products that do not contain it! Feel free to email us directly and we can help you find our products without this ingredient. :)
Kveron
I had been reading that palm fruit oil is bad for our doggies and all your item have that in it what can I do now ?
Zesty Paws
Hi there, Jackie!
Our Mobility Bites are one of our most popular products! We have not heard from any customers that they have experienced this issue.
In addition, almost, if not all, of us here at Zesty Paws are pet parents ourselves. We give our chews to our fur babies every single day. We would never give our pups anything that was not deemed safe, just as we would not want you to with your puppy pals. <3
Jackie Totin
Quick question about the palm oil and pups who have kidney deterioration. Have your products been known to do further damage and harm or should I discontinue?
Thank you.
Currently we use your mobility bites.
Carol
Purchased tumeric/curcumin bites for my Cavalier who has lymphoma. Is it ok to give him these bites while he is on chemo. There seems to be different views on the internet.
Zesty Paws
Thank you for taking the time to read out blog post, Tamara! We value transparency and always want our customers to know everything that they are giving their sweet pup(s). If you ever have questions or concerns, I encourage you to contact us directly. We sincerely value your loyalty to our brand! :)
Zesty Paws
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our blog, Vicky! I am so sorry for any confusion and if you ever have questions or concerns, I encourage you to contact us directly. We value transparency and we will always do our best to answer any question that you may have. We also have a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our products which means we are happy to refund or replace anything that you are not satisfied with- we want our customers to purchase with confidence. I encourage you to reach out to us directly so that we can learn more about your sweet pup’s health goals. :)
Thank you for being a loyal Zesty Paws customer, Vicky!
Tamara Abrams
Thank you for the article about palm fruit oil. I feel good feeding any of your products to my dog. It seems Zesty Paws has the pets health in mind when they create the products. Quality ingredients make all the difference.
Vicky Miller
I’ve been or was giving this to my 5 year old Terrier/Beagle mix for a little over a year. I had just purchased another tub (old label) and began seeing numerous articles that palm oil or palm oil fruit was highly toxic to dogs. As soon as the package was delivered I immediately threw it away. This was about 6 or 7 months ago. Actually, my dog loved these. After debating and reading more articles (especially the Zesty Paws article), I’ve decided to try it again. I’m ordering from Amazon. It’s in my cart but haven’t purchased yet. I’m elderly and disabled and on low income disability and I don’t get my check til the 3rd of each month. I plan to purchase that along with some other products on July 3rd. I really appreciate the articles that Zesty Paws published. I feel a lot better because all the other articles really scared me. My little dog, BabyGirl, is my life. She’s my whole world. Don’t know what I would do without her. I adopted her when she was 4 weeks old. THANK YOU AGAIN ZESTY PAWS for your articles explaining the facts of PALM OIL. As of now I will continue to by this product. I wish I could have found this informative article about 6 months ago before I threw away my last purchase. THANK YOU AGAIN !!
Zesty Paws
Thank you for reaching out and checking out our blog. :) Your sweet Puggle sounds precious. Our products are made with natural ingredients and are designed to work with any existing regimen your pup may be on. With that being said, I recommend consulting our product(s) with your Veterinarian that way he/she can make that call since they know your pup’s health history. I encourage you to reach out to us directly so that we can learn more about your pup’s health goals!
We appreciate you as a Zesty Paws customer, Lissa!
Lissa
My 13 year old puggle is currently taking Keppra (anti seizures). Is it ok to take this zesty paws while taking this med?
Megan Hoeffliger
Thank you so much for clearing up the confusion about palm fruit oil! I wanted to buy your Zesty Paws multi vitamin on amazon but was worried about the palm fruit oil. I will go ahead with my purchase! Thanks! You sound like a company I would like to purchase more of my dogs foods from! Please send me information on your kibble for large breeds. Thanks!
Sheryl
Thank you so much for the explanation on the palm fruit oil. I have been giving this to 3 of my precious 4 legged friends and no way do I want to give them something that would make them I’ll down the road
Zesty Paws
Hi Charlotte,
We are happy to address any concerns that you might have! We also don’t agree with clearing land and harming the environment and for that reason, we take steps to ensure that our standards of production are sustainable. Our palm fruit oil is RSPO SCCS certified for meeting the stringent criteria of sustainable palm oil. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly if you have any further questions or concerns. We’re always happy to lend a paw!
Charlotte
Thank you for the coverage. My concern with use of Palm oil is in sourcing. I don’t agree with clearing land and harming the environment including natural habitats for other animals. Can Zesty Paw speak to that issue please
Zesty Paws
Dear Regina,
Thank you so much for your response as I am so happy that you enjoyed our blog post. Our Allergy Immune Bites help tremendously for any environmental, seasonal or food allergies. It is really important to always start with only 1/2 or one Bite so that way you can slowly work this into your pup’s system so their body can become accustomed to the new supplement. By gradually working up to the recommended dosage, your pup can really take in the full benefits. As mentioned in the blog post, all of our ingredients go through a rigorous quality control process that meets FDA and GMP standards. With that being said, we also have a 100% satisfaction guarantee so that you can purchase all of our products with confidence. I encourage you to reach out to us directly so that we can learn more about your pup’s health goals. :)
Regina
Hello. Thanks for explaining the palm oil issues. I wanted to buy your pet allergy formula, but reviews about dogs getting sick with vomiting and diarrhea due to the palm oil present in the formula. My dog is being on apoquel for about a year, and I would really like to take her off ,since I know this medicine causes more harm than good. I like some feedback from you before I buy it.
Thanks.
Dave Fischer
Thank You, nice job of explaining Palm Fruit Oil issue….