[NAGDU] FW: [GDUI Chat] 16 Dog Foods Causing Heart Failure Concerns

Mon Jul 1 16:32:39 UTC 2019

Thanks Danielle for your thoughtful analysis.
I suspect that the big brands are not only the ones educating the vets,
but are also educating the FDA. There's a big revolving door between the
FDA and the companies it's supposed to regulate.
I may check out some of the brands you mention as alternatives, although,
as my dog has a chicken allergy, and hasn't done well with food switches,
I'll be very careful before making any changes.  Actually, grain-inclusive
is one of the things he doesn't do very well with, despite being raised on
the stuff.
Tracy

> Tracy,
>
> I tend to agree with you. The link between taurine and DCM is still
> being investigated. The FDA presents the issue as "grain free diets
> cause heart failure', but I would be willing to bet it is more like
> "diets high in legumes increase the risk of DCM for those dogs already
> predisposed."
> There are also some misconceptions popular among both pet owners and
> veterinarians. For example, it is not a lack of grain that is the
> problem, it is something popular in grain free diets that is causing
> the uptake of taurine to be inhibited. Because of this, simply adding
> grain or a taurine supplement to the dog's current diet isn't going to
> solve anything.
>
> The FDA article states that vets recommend feeding Purina, Iams,
> Hills, Royal Canin, and Eukanuba. This just seems a little too
> convenient to me, considering these are the exact five brands with the
> most influence over vet schools. I'm not saying vets receive any
> financial gain for recommending these brands, but simply that these
> brands are often affiliated with what little nutrition training is
> required in vet school.
>
> I've already had this conversation on social media, and the only
> things I will say are:
>
> 1. Of the brands listed with reported cases of DCM, many include both
> grain free and grain inclusive options. I don't think it is entirely
> fair to lump them together for this reason.
>
> 2. Many of the five "recommended" brands still produce grain free
> formulas. It's a bit perplexing to me how these are supposedly the
> safest brands, but they are no different than some other brands--they
> have some formulas with suspected problem ingredients, and some
> formulas with no suspected ingredients.
>
> 3. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to DCM independent of diet,
> and Goldens are one such breed. Responsible breeding won't eliminate
> this risk entirely, but it will certainly decrease it.
>
> 4. Some grain inclusive formulas also contain legumes or potato. Just
> because it has grain, doesn't mean it doesn't have non-grain
> carbohydrate sources too.
>
> 5. DCM is certainly a very important issue and it may be a good choice
> to be safe than sorry, but it is not the only factor you should look
> at when choosing a dog food. The quality of ingredients and sourcing
> of ingredients don't automatically not matter anymore just because a
> new concern has developed.
>
> **most important of all IMO** 6. There are brands aside from the
> recommended ones that both have no legumes/potato/sweet potato with no
> reported DCM cases, but also have better quality ingredients. It
> doesn't have to be an either or situation, and it's interesting that
> the FDA doesn't make this clear. Farmina, Nature's Logic, Victor, and
> Nature's Select come to mind as other brands offering formulas that
> meet this criteria.
>
> All this to say that people should try to be educated about pet food
> and not just blindly switch from grain free to grain inclusive without
> doing some research about the formula/brand. Likewise, just because it
> is AAFCO approved, doesn't mean it is the best choice. If that means
> feeding Farmina after careful research, awesome. If that means ProPlan
> after careful research, great.
>
> Danielle
>
>
>
>
> On 7/1/19, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> I don't know what to make of this.  I feed Taste of the Wild, and my dog
>> is doing well on it.  The other foods are premium foods as well.  I
>> wonder
>> if the FDA examined bigger brands, like Purina.  I'd bet not.
>> The problem they talk about is hereditary, the article says first off.
>> So
>> I guess I'm going to bet that TSE has monitored their breeding program
>> to
>> minimize or eliminate hereditary heart problems, and feed the food I
>> think
>> is good for my dog.
>> Tracy
>>
>>
>>> 	Hi all,
>>> Not sure if any of you feed your guides any of these brands, but I
>>> thought
>>> that I'd pass this along.
>>> Madison
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Sarah Calhoun [mailto:sc-tico at att.net]
>>> Sent: June-29-19 11:25 AM
>>> To: GDUI Chat <chat at guidedogusersinc.org>
>>> Subject: [GDUI Chat] 16 Dog Foods Causing Heart Failure Concerns
>>>
>>> Article from UPI News Unspecified Section 2019 06 28
>>>
>>> FDA names 16 dog food brands most linked to cases of heart failure.
>>> June
>>> 28
>>> (UPI) --. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it has expanded a
>>> year-long investigation into links between certain dog foods and
>>> congestive heart failure, and has named more than a dozen brands most
>>> often associated with reported cases. The agency, which began
>>> investigating potential connections a year ago, on Thursday pointed to
>>> 16
>>> brands it said are most frequently identified with more than 500 cases
>>> of
>>> dilated cardiomyopathy
>>> (DCM) in dogs. While the underlying cause of DCM is unknown, it is
>>> believed to be a genetic component. Large and giant dog breeds are most
>>> typically affected. Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Great Danes
>>> and Pit Bulls are the most common dogs that acquire the disease, the
>>> FDA
>>> said, and dogs were fed dry food in nearly all of the reported cases.
>>> Canine DCM is a disease that effects dogs' heart muscles, which can
>>> often
>>> result in congestive failure. We know it can be devastating to suddenly
>>> learn that your previously healthy pet has a potentially
>>> life-threatening
>>> disease like DCM, Steven M. Solomon, director of the FDA's Center for
>>> Veterinary Medicine, said in a statement. That's why the FDA is
>>> committed
>>> to continuing our collaborative scientific investigation into the
>>> possible
>>> link. The brands identified by the FDA are: Acana (67 cases), Zignature
>>> (64), Taste of the Wild (53), 4Health (32), Earthborn Holistic (32),
>>> Blue
>>> Buffalo (31), Nature's Domain (29), Fromm (24), Merrick (16
>>>  ), California Natural (15), Natural Balance (15), Orijen (12),
>>> Nature's
>>> Variety (11), Nutri Source(10), Nutro (10) and Rachael Ray Nutrish
>>> (10).
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> Sarah
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
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