Under The Microscope
Grain-Free Diet Could Be Harmful to Your Dog
With few exceptions, every owner of a dog wants to be taking the best care of their furry family member/s. Veterinary care is only a small portion of the estimated $69 billion spent on pets in 2017 – half of it was spent on food and other products.
But, what if your food choices could potentially be causing harm to your dog?
In June, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration initiated an investigation on the link between grain-free diets, including some raw foods, and a disease of the heart muscle called Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). The investigation was started because veterinary cardiologists across the country noticed a significant increase in the diagnosis of DCM in breeds not typically associated with the disease. Breeds affected have included Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Miniature Schnauzers, Shih Tzus and many mixed breeds.
In all cases, the common link has been a commercially available grain-free diet. At this time, the specific products studied are not known. But, according to Dr. Geri Lake-Bekaar, DAVCIM (Cardiology) of Pulse Veterinary Cardiology, “the suspicion is focused on boutique or grain-free diets with exotic ingredients such as kangaroo, duck, peas, fava beans, tapioca, salmon, lamb, barley, bison, venison and chick peas.”
These diets, particularly those with legumes such as peas or lentils high in the ingredient list, may be deficient in or block absorption of taurine, an amino acid essential to heart muscle function. But there may be more than one contributing factor. Future study results will be key to our understanding.
Clinical signs of concern for DCM can include sudden collapse, weakness, exercise intolerance, increased breathing rate and coughing. At veterinary exams, new heart murmurs or arrhythmias have also been noted.
From Petfoodology, a blog by the veterinary nutrition specialists at the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University, recently noted that many owners are “falling victim to marketing which portrays exotic ingredients as more natural or healthier than typical ingredients.” There is no research to back it up – it is “just good marketing that preys on our desire to do the best for our pets.”
Adding to the mix is the grain-free mythology, which also has been disproved by many veterinary nutritional studies. “Grains do not contribute to any health problems and are used in pet foods as a nutritious source of protein, vitamins and minerals.”*
What can you do to help protect your dog?
1. Speak with your veterinarian about any clinical concerns or for evaluation of your dog’s current diet.
2. Become familiar with the AAFCO statement found on commercial pet products. This tells you the life stage the food is meant for as well as how the food was tested for market. The majority of boutique or exotic foods are only laboratory tested to meet AAFCO established nutrient profiles. The best standard is diets that have been put through feeding trials for at least six months. And, remember, “All Life Stages” means that the diet is equivalent to puppy food – high in fat and calories to meet the needs of gestation and growth.
3. Visit www.wsava.org or for their Global Nutrition Guidelines on Selecting the Best Food for Your Pet.
* (For more, read A broken heart: Risk of heart disease in boutique or grain-free diets and exotic ingredients, at www.vetnutrition.tufs.edu, Petfoodology, by Lisa M. Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVN.)
Dr. Margot Vahrenwald is the owner of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center at 2255 Oneida St. For more information, visit www.parkhillvet.com