Pet Lovers

[SeaMaiden]

The FDA named 16 dog food brands linked to canine heart disease –

    Unpacking the Myth of the Grain Free Diet

A year after the FDA warned about “grain free” diets possibly being linked to canine dilated cardiomyopathy, they have gone a step further and have identified 16 brands to be associated with the disease. While FDA is not calling for a complete stop in the use of said brands, many vets are suggesting to move away from grain free brands that don’t meet nutritional standards.

With all this controversy surrounding it, we wanted to share some facts that every pet owner should consider before taking a side.

The History

One of the arguments supporting grain free diets for dogs is the fact that wolves, the ancestors of dogs, don’t eat grains in the wild. However, dogs aren’t wolves, they’re dogs, and that over time they have evolved to be able to consume grains and carbohydrates through living alongside humans. The real reason grain free diets for dogs have become so popular is not because they’re necessary, but because they’re easy to market.

The Science

Not all grain-free diets are created equal, and this seems to be the source of the problem. Many brands that sell grain-free dog foods are replacing nutrient-dense meats with plant-based proteins like potatoes, which are an inadequate substitute for real meat. When you feed your dog grain free food, it usually ends up having more fats and more complex carbohydrates from those replacement ingredients like potatoes and lentils, which leads to your dog gaining weight over time.

The other issue at the heart of the grain-free debate is taurine, an amino acid found only in animal tissue, which plays a vital role in maintaining cardiac functions in dogs. Since many grain-free dog foods are using these real meat alternatives, dogs aren’t receiving the proper protein to produce the taurine they need. This isn’t the case with fresh diets, where whole, quality meats are a sufficient source of taurine.

The Effects

Along with causing weight gain, low quality grain free diets may actually contribute to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and other types of heart disease. There are over 500 grain free dog food brands that are currently being investigated by the FDA for their effect on DCM in dogs, and the FDA has recently released their first list of brands to be directly linked to the disease. While the FDA hasn’t mandated for owners to change their pets diets, they do warn against food that contains lots of lentils, peas, and potatoes, and not enough meats.

The full warning list

• Acana
• Zignature
• Taste of the Wild
• 4Health
• Earthborn Holistic
• Blue Buffalo
• Nature’s Domain
• Fromm
• Merrick
• California Natural
• Natural Balance
• Orijen
• Nature’s Variety
• NutriSource
• Nutro
• Rachael Ray Nutrish

[on the bay]

@SeaMaiden -

Thank you for this good comprehensive article!

[haddon9]

Thanks!

[CrazyDaisy]

So the problem is not the lack of grains....it is the lack of real meat.  Who would have thought.  Raw feeders use lots of fresh meat, yet seem to be marginalized. 

[geezerette]

I don’t see where this gives any further information than what they came out with a couple of months ago.

[CrazyDaisy]

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@chessielady wrote:

Wolves ate many small animals that DID eat grains and grasses. The first thng they ate was the stomach and intestines...so yes wolves did consume grain and grass.

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Stomach and intestines are not the first choice.  And while there would have been some grain, grass, veggies etc.,it was a very small part of the diet.  Muscle meat was always the first choice then organ meats such as liver, heart, kidney etc.

[SahmIam]

@SeaMaiden Very interesting, thank you!!  Still sticking to the raw diet for my boy

[Kachina624]

I'm tired of reading that same old list of "bad" foods.  Why dont' they publish a list of brands that contain the adequate nutrients?  I have no idea what they might be.  All the premium brands seem to be on the bad list.  Wonder what they plan to do to fix the situation and when?

[nyc1]

Our vet, who is very knowledgeable about canine nutrition and so many important things to maintain your dog's health....  told us from the beginning NOT to feed a GRAIN FREE DIET.  She said that from out first visit, almost 9 years ago.  Her reply was BALANCE.  Give your dog a BALANCED healthy diet with a good food and that will serve her well.  That's what we've done, and our almost 9 year old Airedale acts, has the spunk and attitude, of a dog half her age (KNOCK WOOD).

Edited to add....    she even called us about 2 years ago to let us know that the food we were feeding our girl just went Grain Free, and she was no longer recommending it.  She didn't like that or their new sourcing.