[NFB-Greeley] Fwd: Possible link between pet food and heart disease?

[Melissa R Green]

Melissa R Green and PJ 
Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Guide Dog Foundation" <Grete at guidedog.org>
> Date: July 1, 2019 at 2:40:54 PM MDT
> To: graduate56 at juno.com
> Subject: Possible link between pet food and heart disease?
> Reply-To: Grete at guidedog.org
> 
> 
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> 1-800-548-4337
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> July 1, 2019
> Dear Melissa, 
> 
>  
> 
> You may have seen some buzz on social media or on your TV news about a recent report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), providing the latest update on their ongoing study of the possible link between certain pet foods and a type of heart disease in dogs called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We know how worrisome these reports can be, so we wanted to send a short mailing that aims to cut through some of the noise and provide you with the basic information that will be most helpful for you.
> 
> We’ll start with the super short version: If your dog is still eating the standard food he or she was eating when you graduated from the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs (Nature’s Select, Natural Balance, Iams, or Purina), then you do not need to read any further and there is no need to change food! If after graduation you switched your dog to a grain-free diet, you may want to consider switching to a non-grain-free version of the same brand of food you are currently feeding.
> 
> And now, for the somewhat longer version:
> 
> One year ago, the FDA announced that it had begun studying a possible link between pet foods labeled as “grain free” and the occurrence of the heart condition DCM. Since announcing the study, the FDA has investigated 515 reported cases of canine DCM.   The condition has been reported in a wide variety of breeds, including labradors, golden retrievers, and standard poodles.
> 
> The diets of dogs reported to have DCM included a large number of brands of dog food, and a wide variety of protein sources. One of the more striking findings was that 93% of the diets were characterized as “grain free”, and contained high amounts of peas, lentils, or potatoes/sweet potatoes in the recipe.
> 
> The FDA is looking at other factors, including amino acid content of the pet diets, blood chemistry and genetic makeup of the dogs, and other laboratory findings. As of today, there are no official recommendations or definitive findings to come out of the investigation and no foods have been pulled from the market. At this time, the exact nature of the link is unknown and there may be many factors at play. Click here to read the full report from the FDA.
> 
> Many of the brands that are currently part of the FDA investigation are reputable companies that make high quality pet food. At this time, we recommend that if you are feeding a grain-free diet to your dog, keep the same brand you are using but simply switch to a non-grain-free version just to err on the side of caution. If you are unsure what to do, consult with your local veterinarian or feel free to call us at (800) 548-4337 to connect to the Consumer Services team.
> 
>  
> 
> Warm regards,
> 
> Grete Eide
> 
> Chief Canine Care Officer
> 
> (631) 930-9067
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